Day-by-Day / February 28, 1805

February 28, 1805

Arikara and Sioux news

Traders arrive at the Knife River Villages with news of the Arikaras and Sioux and two plant specimens for Lewis. About six miles from Fort Mandan, several enlisted men cut down cottonwood trees to make dugout canoes.

Sacacomis and Indian Remedy

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

Bearberry and Echinacea

two men of the N W Compy arrve with letters and Sacka comah also a Root and top of a plant presented by Mr. Haney, for the Cure of mad Dogs Snakes &c,
William Clark

Arikara Pacification

Mr. Gravelin two frenchmen & two Inds. arrive from the Ricara [Arikara] Nation with Letters from Mr. Anty Tabeaux [Pierre-Antoine Tabeau], informing us of the peaceable dispositions of that nation towards the Mandans & Me ne ta res [Hidatsas] & their avowed intentions of pursueing our Councils & advice, they express a wish to visit the Mandans, & Know if it will be agreeable to them to admit the Ricaras to Settle near them and join them against their common Enimey the Souis
—William Clark

Sioux Aggression

Mr. Gravilin informs that the Sisetoons and the 3 upper bands of the Tetons [Lakota Sioux], with the Yanktons of the North intend to come to war in a Short time against the nations in this quarter, & will Kill everry white man they See—
—William Clark

News of Recent Robbers

they all Informed us that they Saw the Souix Savvages who Robed our men of the 2 horses, & they said their was 106 in nomber and that they had a mind for to kill our men & that they held a counsel over them whether to kill them and take their arms and all or not. but while they were doing that our men were off and got clear, but they Say if they can catch any more of us they will kill us for they think that we are bad medicine and Say that we must be killed.
John Ordway

Felling Cottonwood Trees

in the evening the men returned who had been cutting trees to day for the perogues. they Said they had Several good trees cut, but had Broke Several of their axes.—
—John Ordway

 

Weather Diary

State of the Ther. at sun symbol rise Weather Wind at sun symbol rise Thermt. at 4 oCk. P.M. Weather Wind at 4 oCk. P.M. River
24 [above 0] fair E 38 [above 0] cloudy S E  

Mr. Gravlin arrived with some Ricaras & two frenchmen
Meriwether Lewis[2]To assist the reader, the editor of this web page has omitted the date column, merged the “State of the River at sun symbol rise” columns, and spelled out some abbreviations.

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 28, 1805:

Logo: Lewis and Clark.travel
 

Notes

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 sun symbol rise” 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.