Day-by-Day / January 13, 1805

January 13, 1805

Large Mandan hunting party

Fort Mandan, ND Clark estimates that half the Mandan population has formed a large hunting party and are heading down the river. Charbonneau tells Clark why Hidatsa Chief Le Borgne has kept his distance.

A Major Buffalo Hunt[2]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

Massive Hunting Party

(great number of Indians move Down the River to hunt) . . . . about ½ the Mandan nation passed this to day to hunt on the river below, they will Stay out Some Days
William Clark

Mandan Hunting and Farming

those people Kill a number of Buffalow near their Villages and Save a great perpotion of the meat, their Custom of makeing this article of life General leaves them more than half of their time without meat Their Corn & Beans &c they Keep for the Summer, and as a reserve in Case of an attack from the Soues [Sioux], which they are always in dread, and Sildom go far to hunt except in large parties
—William Clark

Sour Hidatsa Relations

Chaboneu [Charbonneau] informs that the Clerk of the Hudsons Bay Co. with the Me ne tar res [Hidatsas] has been Speaking Some fiew expressns. unfavourable towards us, and that it is Said the N W Co. intends building a fort at the Mene tar re’s— he Saw the Grand Chief of the Big bellies who Spoke Slightly of the Americans, Saying if we would give our great flag to him he would Come to See us.
—William Clark

Celestial Observations

Observed Meridian altitude of sun symbol U. L. with Sextant and glass artifical Horizon. 43° 18′ 30″

Latitude deduced from this observation. N. 47° 20′ 52.6″.
Meriwether Lewis

 

Weather Diary

Ther. at sun symbol rise Weather Wind at sun symbol rise Thert. at 4 P.M. Weather Wind at 4 P.M. River
34 [below 0] fair N W 20 below [0] fair N W raise 2 in.

—Meriwether Lewis[3]To assist the reader, the editor of this web page has omitted the date column, merged the “River” columns, and spelled out some abbreviations.

Notes

Notes
1 New Yorka Public Library Digital Collections. Accessed February 22, 2019. http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47da-c46b-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99.
2 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.
3 To assist the reader, the editor of this web page has omitted the date column, merged the “River” columns, and spelled out some abbreviations.

Discover More

  • The Lewis and Clark Expedition: Day by Day by Gary E. Moulton (University of Nebraska Press, 2018). The story in prose, 14 May 1804–23 September 1806.
  • The Lewis and Clark Journals: An American Epic of Discovery (abridged) by Gary E. Moulton (University of Nebraska Press, 2003). Selected journal excerpts, 14 May 1804–23 September 1806.
  • The Lewis and Clark Journals. by Gary E. Moulton (University of Nebraska Press, 1983–2001). The complete story in 13 volumes.