Lewis, twenty volunteers, and a few Knife River Villages villagers leave Fort Mandan at sunrise in pursuit of the Sioux who stole horses and knives the previous day. After a 30-mile march, they spend the night at an abandoned village.
In St. Louis, fur merchant, Indian agent, and friend of the expedition, Pierre Chouteau suffers from a devastating housefire.
Chasing the Sioux Thieves
by Yellowstone Public Radio[1]Originally aired weekdays by Yellowstone Public Radio during the Bicentennial observance of 2003-2006. Narrated by Hal Hansen. Scripts by Whit Hansen and Ed Jacobson. Produced by Leni Holliman. © … Continue reading
Trade Fusil Lock
Photo by Michael Carrick.
Cold Morning
the morning fine the Thermometer Stood at 16° below 0, Nought
—William Clark
Pursuing the Sioux Robbers
At day light, Captain Lewis & the party of our Men under his command left the Fort, in pursuit of those Savages [ Sioux Indians], that had robbed our Men, they proceeded on, and marched 30 Miles that day, without being able to overtake them; that Party encamped on the North side of the River Mesouri for that night, in a thick Wood.— Nothing worth relating happen’d at the Fort this day
—Joseph Whitehouse
Indian Weaponry
Several Indians accompanied him Some with Bows & arrows Some withe Spears & Battle axes, a 2 with fusees
—William Clark
30-Mile Pursuit
proceeded on to the place where the horses was taken. we found a Sled their which they had cut the horse out of. found also a nomber pair of moccasons at their camp. we took the Sled and proceeded on their trale untill late in the evening. we then arived at 2 old Indian lodges . . . . Some of the mens feet were sore walking 30 odd mls. on the Ice to day.
—John Ordway
Weather Diary
State of the Ther. at rise
Weather Wind at Thermt. at 4 oCk. P.M. Weather Wind at 4 oCk. P.M. River 16 [below 0] fair S. W. 6 [below 0] fair W. Lewis Set out in pursute of a party of Souis who forced 2 horses from a party (Dispatched after meat on the river below) with 24 men
—William Clark[2]To assist the reader, the editor of this web page has omitted the date column, merged the “State of the River at
Pierre’s Chouteau’s Fire
St. Louis, 2 Mch. 1805
Dear Sir [Thomas Jefferson],
Since my last letter, which left here on the 16th of the month, a great misfortune has befallen me. During the night of Thursday to Friday the 15th, my house and all its contents were destroyed by fire. In an hour I saw the flames devour the work of 25 years of assiduous effort. I could barely save my family and a small fraction of my papers. Everything else is gone. This loss, which I will never be able to replace, affected me deeply, for my wife and children even more than for myself.
Pre. Chouteau[3]Pierre Chouteau to Thomas Jefferson, 2 March 1805, Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-45-02-0622, accessed 1 February 2026. [Original source: The … Continue reading
Experience the Lewis and Clark Trail
The Lewis and Clark Trail Experience—our sister site at lewisandclark.travel—connects the world to people and places on the Lewis and Clark Trail.
Plan a trip related to February 15, 1805:
Fort Mandan is a High Potential Historic Site along the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail managed by the U.S. National Park Service. The North Dakota Department of Parks and Recreation manages a modern reconstruction and the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center located at US Hwy 83 and ND Hwy 200A.
Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site is a High Potential Historic Site along the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail managed by the U.S. National Park Service. A unit of the National Park System, the site is located at 564 County Road 37, one-half mile north of Stanton, North Dakota. It has exhibits, trails, and a visitor center.
Notes
| ↑1 | Originally aired weekdays by Yellowstone Public Radio during the Bicentennial observance of 2003-2006. Narrated by Hal Hansen. Scripts by Whit Hansen and Ed Jacobson. Produced by Leni Holliman. © 2003 by Yellowstone Public Radio. |
|---|---|
| ↑2 | To assist the reader, the editor of this web page has omitted the date column, merged the “State of the River at rise” columns, and spelled out some abbreviations. |
| ↑3 | Pierre Chouteau to Thomas Jefferson, 2 March 1805, Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-45-02-0622, accessed 1 February 2026. [Original source: The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, vol. 45, 11 November 1804 to 8 March 1805, ed. James P. McClure et al. (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2021), 610–615.] |
