Timeline & Map PDF  720 KB        "Close Encounters on the Great Plains"   PDF  637 KB

"Made an excellent day’s sail of twenty-six and a quarter miles. Our game this day consisted chiefly of deer."

"Passed a long chain of bluffs on the north side, of a dark colour.  From these and others  of the same kind the Missouri gets its muddy colour.  The earth of which they are composed dissolves like sugar; every rain washes down great quantities of it, and the rapidity of the stream keeps it mixing and afloat in the water, until it reaches the mouth of the Mississippi."

September 21, 1804 (Camped on an island in Hughes County, South Dakota)

"at half past one o'clock this morning the Sand bar on which we Camped began to under mind and give way which allarmed the Serjeant on Guard, ... we had pushed off but a few minits before the bank under which the Boat & perogus lay give way, which would Certainly have Sunk both Perogues, by the time we made the opsd shore our Camp fell in, ... proceeded on to the Gouge at this Great bend"

" Fog detained us until seven o'clock; our course was through inclined prairies on each side of the river, crowded with buffalo."

"The river is here almost straight for a considerable distance, wide & shallow with many sandbars.  three  Souex boys came to us swam the river and informd that the Band of Soauex called the Teton of 80 lodges were camped at the next creek above & 60 lodges more a short distance above."

"We prepared some clothes and a few medals for the Chiefs of the Teton’s bands of Sioux which we expect to see to at the next river.

At thirteen and a half-miles, we anchored one hundred yards off the mouth of a river on the south side. As the tribe of the Sioux which inhabit it are called Teton, we gave it the name of Teton river. I went & smoked with the Chiefs who came to see us here. We prepare to speak with the Indians tomorrow. 2/3 of our party Camped on board the remainder wit the Guard on shore. "

" all things made ready to receive the band of the Souix nation of Indians, called the Tribe of Tetons. Gave the head chief the Black Buffalow a red coat & cocked hat & feather. Likewise some tobacco. We had no good interpreter but the old frenchman could make them understand tollarable well. Capt Lewis shewed them the air gun. Then we told them that we had a great ways to goe & that we did not wish to be detained any longer. They began to shows sings of stopping or attempting to stop us. Capt. Lewis who was on board ordered every man to his arms. The large swivel was loaded. They then requested that their women & children see the boat… Capt Clark took the chief and warriors on board to stay all night with them. "

"after Captain Lewis had been on shore about 3 hours I became uneasy for fear of Deception & sent a Serjeant to See him and know his treatment which he reported was friendly & they were prepareing for a Dance this evening. ." 

Later in the afternoon, Lewis & Clark at Council  House: " under this shelter about 70 men Set forming a Circle in front of the Chiefs  a plac of 6 feet Diameter was clear and the pipe of the peace raised on sticks under which there was Swans down scattered, on each Side of the Circle two pipes, The flags of Spain 2 & the Flag we gave them in front of the Grand Chief.  A large fire was near in which provisions were cooking in the Center about 400 lbs. of excellent Buffalo Beef as a present for us -  an old man rose and spoke approveing what we had done & informing us of their situation and take pity on them .... The Great Chief then rose with great state to the Same purpote as far as we Could learn & then rose  with Great Solemnity  took up the pipe of the peace he took one hand some of the most delicate parts of the Dog which was prepared  for the feist & made a sacrifice to the flag & after pointing it to the heavens, the 4 quarters and the earth , lit it and prosist presented the Stem to us to Smoke, after a Smoke had taken place, & a short Harange to his people, we were requested to take the meal.  ( put before us the dog which they had been cooking & Pemitigon* & ground potatoe in Several platters.) All in good spirits this evening."   Clark

Pemitigon*  - Pemmican was meat dried and pulverized, mixed with melted fat and stored in sealed leather satchels; various kinds of berries might be added to improve the flavor.  Other kinds of meat than buffalo might be used.  Best results were obtained in a sunny, dry climate like that of the Great Plains.  Pemmican was a basic travel ration with Indians and fur traders.  The Northwest and Hudson's Bay companies carried on a considerable trade with the northern Plains tribes to obtain pemmican for their employees in the sub-artic.  Pemmican come from the Cree word pimikan," manufactured grease"