February 8, 1805 - (Lewis is visited by Black Cat, Chief of the upper Mandan Village)

  Lewis: " this man possesses more integrety, firmness, inteligence and perspicuety of mind. The black Cat presented my with a bow and apologized for not having completed the shield he had promised alledging that the weather had been too cold."

February 9, 1805 - (Private Thomas Howard spent the day at one of the Mandan villages.  Howard arrived back at Fort Mandan late in the evening and decided to climb the fort fence which caused a reaction by an innocent observer.)

 Lewis : " Howard returned after the gate was shut and rether than call the guard to have it opened scaled the works an indian who was looking on shortly after followed his example. I gave the indian a small piece of tobacco and sent him away. Howard I had comitted to the care of the guard with a determineation to have him tryed by a Courtmartial for this offence."


February 10, 1805 - (Charbonneau returns from the hunting expedition and informs  Lewis that the group of hunters he left behind were having problems transporting the meat up river.)

 Lewis : " I determined to send down some men with two small slays for the meat and accordingly I gave orders that they should set out early the next morning."

February 11, 1805 - (Before sunset Sacagawea gives birth to a male child. )

 Lewis : " about five oclock this evening one of the wives of Charbono was delivered of a fine boy. it is worthy of remark that this was the first child which this woman had boarn and is common in such cases her labour was tedious."

February 12, 1805 - (The hunting expedition returns with 40 deer, 3 buffalo bulls & 16 elk however, the wolves had helped themselves to a considerable portion of the hunt.)

 Lewis : " the wolves also which are here extreemly numerous heped themselves... if an animal is killed and lyes only one night exposed to the wolves it is almost invariably devoured by them."

February 13, 1805 - ( Black Cat returns to the Fort.)

 Lewis:  " visited by the Black-Cat gave him a battle ax with which he appeared much gratifyed."


February 14, 1805 (Transporting the meat up river became difficult so some of the game was left behind.)