February 15, 1805

The group that was dispatched yesterday to gather the meat from the hunting expedition arrived into the fort about 10 pm. They had a surprise attack from a group of Indians. Captain Clark writes: " the men that dispatched yesterday for the meat returned and informed us that as they were on their march down about 105 Indians which they took to be Souis rushed on them and Cut their horses from the Slays, two of which they carried off with great hast."

This news alarmed the Corps and they warned the villages around them and invited them to pursue the robbers. Captain Clark continues: " we dispatched two men to inform the mandans, and if any of them chose to pursue those robers, to come down in the morning and join Capt Lewis who intended to Set out with a party of men verry early."

February 16, 1805

Captain Lewis along with 24 men set out : " the Inds. who Commited the roberry of the 2 horses was So far a head that they could not be overtaken."


February 17, 1805

Mr. McKenzie, Northwest Trading Company, came to the Fort and requested that his horse be returned.  Captain Clark writes: " one of the horses the Sous robed a fiew Days past belonged to this man."

February 18, 1805

After an extended visit Mr. McKenzie, Northwest Trading Company, left later in the day.  Clark spent the afternoon reviewing notes on locations of rivers, mountains and valleys, information he had gained from the Mandans & Hidatsas..  " I am much engaged makeing a discriptive List of the Rivers from Information our store of meat is out to day."

February 19, 1805

 " our Smiths are much engaged mending and makeing Axes for the Indians for which we get corn."

February 20, 1805

"I am informed of the Death of an old man whome I saw in the Mandan Village.  this man, informed me that he "was 120 winters old, he requested his grand Children to Dress him after Death & Set him on a Stone on a hill with his face towards his old village or down the river, that he might go streight to his brother at their old village under ground."

February 21, 1805

"a Delightfull Day  put out our clothes to sun - Visited by the big white & Big man  they informed me that several men of their nation was gorn to consult their Medison Stone * about 3 day march to the South West to know what was to be the result of the insuing year - they have great confidence in this stone and say that it informs them of every thing which is to happen, & visit it every Spring & Sometimes in the Summer  ... The Big Bellies have a Stone to which they ascribe nearly the Same Virtues  Capt Lewis returned with 2 slays loaded with meat, after finding that he could not overtake the Souis party."

Medison Stone * - This stone is on Medicine Hill, in Medicine Rock State Historic Site - Grant County, North Dakota