At Fish Camp near present Homer, Nebraska, Drouillard‘s party returns with deserter Pvt. Reed, and some Omahas arrive for a council. Three Otoe chiefs witnessing Reed’s corporeal punishment ask for mercy. To end the day, the enlisted men are given an extra gill of whiskey to celebrate Lewis’s birthday.
Pvt. Moses B. Reed, Guilty
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
Arrival of the Omahas
Painting created by Split Rock Studios, Sioux City, Iowa. Original in the collection of the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation and photographed by Kristopher K. Townsend.
Incoming Indians and Deserter
G. Drewyer & the other 2 men Returned. brought with them Reed the deserter, likewise a the Big chief of the Zottaus [The Otoes] called the Big horse, and another chief called petevaliar, of Missouri, & a Frenchman & 7 of the wariers came for the purpose of treating with the Mahas [The Omahas] &C—
—John Ordway
Reed’s Trial and Punishment
proceeded to the trail of Reed, he Confessed that he “Deserted & Stold a public Rifle Shot-pouch Powder & Bals” and requested we would be as favourable with him as we Could consistantly with our Oathes—which we were and only Sentenced him to run the Gantlet four times through the Party & that each man with 9 Swichies Should punish him and for him not to be considered in future as one of the Party—
—William Clark
Petition for a Pardon
The three principal Chiefs petitioned for Pardin for this man [Reed]
After we explained the injurey Such men could doe them by false representation, & explang. the Customs of our Countrey they were all Satisfied with the propriety of the Sentence & was witness to the punishment.
—William Clark
Otoe-Omaha War
we had Some talk with the Chiefs about the orrigan of the war between them & the Mahars &c. &c.— it commenced in this way i’e’ in two of the Missouries Tribe resideing with the Ottoes went to the Mahars to Steel horses, they Killed them both which was a cause of revenge on the part of the Missouris & Ottoes, they also brought war on themselves Nearly in the Same way with the Panea Loups [Pawnees]
. . . .
they are greatly in fear of a just revenge from the Panies for takeing their Corn from the Pania Towns in their absence hunting this Summer.
—William Clark
Celebrating Lewis’s Birthday
the evening was Closed with an extra Gill of Whiskey . . . . had a Dance which lasted untile 11 oClock, the Close of Cap Lewis Birthday.
—William Clark
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. |
|---|
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.
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.
This page was funded in part by the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, U.S. National Park Service.
This site is provided as a public service by the
Lewis and Clark Trail Alliance
with cooperation and funding from the following organizations:
- Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail
- Montana Committee for the Humanities
- Idaho Governor's Lewis and Clark Trail Committee
- The Capital Gallery (Lewis and Clark Fort Mandan Foundation)
- Yellowstone Public Radio
Unless otherwise noted, journal excerpts are from The Journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, edited by Gary E. Moulton, 13 vols. (Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1983-2001).