On their way to the mouth of the Vermillion River in present South Dakota, the expedition passes a burning bluff that some call the Ionia Volcano. York kills an elk, and the captains express curiosity about a small mound in the prairie—present Spirit Mound—that the Omahas, Sioux, and Otoes fear.
Arrival at the Vermillion River
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
Missouri River Sandbars Above Ponca State Park
Courtesy U.S. National Park Service, Missouri National Recreational River. (Altered)
Vermillion River
About the center of this Sand Island the river of white Stone [Vermillion River] . . . falls in on the Stard. Side it appear to be about 25 or 30 yards Wide; at the mouth of this river 10 Indians had latterly cross Supposed to be Soues, the part of a band which are at war with the Mahars [Omahas], This Soues [Sioux] nation are divided into bands Som 100 to 500 men in a band at peace with eath other, ther Interest & prejudices different, for instance one band the most envetterate enimy of the mahars, all the other Bands in the greatest harmony with that nation and even go with thim to War, those Soues, follow the Buffalow, & Kill them on foot, they pack their Dogs, which carry their Bedn.
—William Clark
Burning Bluff
we found also a burning bank or Bluff which was verry high & had fire in it. it had a Sulpheras Smell, we found in it a great quantity of asney [arsenic] & a great quantity of different kinds of mineral Substance, &.c.
—John Ordway
Hunting Elk
I took my Servent [York] and a french boy I have and walked on Shore I killed a Deer which york Packed on his back In the evening I Killed two Buck Elk and wounded two others which I could not pursue by the Blood as my ball was So Small to bleed them well, my boys each Shot an elk—
—William Clark
Buffaloberry Tarts
Great quantities of a kind of berry resembling a Current except double the Sise and Grows on a bush like a Privey, and the Size of a Damsen deliciously flavoured & makes delitefull Tarts, this froot is now ripe
—William Clark
Tales of Spirit Mound
Back about 2 miles we are informed that their is a verry high hill called The Hills of the little Devils [Spirit Mound] by the natives & they amagan that it is inhabited by little people with Big heads & they are afraid to go up to them for fear they will shoot them with their Bows & arrows,
—John Ordwayso much do the Mahas Souix Ottoes [Otoes] and other neibhbouring nations believe this fable that no consideration is sufficient to induce them to approach this hill.
—William Clark
Ionia Volcano is a High Potential Historic Site along the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail managed by the U.S. National Park Service. “The The Ponca Tribe considers the bluff to be a sacred site. Located north of Newcastle, Nebraska, the Ionia Cemetery is across the road from a small overlook and the top of the Ionia Volcano remnants.”
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. |
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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.
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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).