In April 1804, trader Lewis Crawford was asked by Meriwether Lewis to be a diplomatic envoy to the Iowas and Yanktonai Sioux. Lewis gave Crawford a “parole and speech” and blank Indian vocabulary forms. Crawford was also to send a representative delegation of Indians—limited to twelve from each nation—to Washington City via St. Louis. The vocabularies were sent to Amos Stoddard before the end of the same year.[1]Lewis to Amos Stoddard, 16 May 1804, Amos Stoddard to Henry Dearborn, 3 June 1804, Amos Stoddard to Thomas Jefferson, 19 October 1804 in Letters of the Lewis and Clark Expedition with Related … Continue reading
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April 4, 1804
Packing provisions
At camp across from the mouth of the Missouri, Clark has corn, salted pork, flour, and other provisions packed. He also writes a speech for the Iowa Nation to be delivered by trader Lewis Crawford.
April 5, 1804
A speech for the Iowas
At Camp River Dubois, Clark and Lewis write speeches for the Iowa and Yanktonai People. They send the speeches—along with Jefferson’s questions, vocabulary, and invitation to visit Washington City.
April 6, 1804
Tomahawks and knives
A birch bark canoe bound for the Mackinac post sets out from the expedition’s winter camp at the Wood River. Clark distributes knives and tomahawks, and in the evening, it snows for a short time.
May 16, 1804
St. Charles arrival
The boats set out early, pass the coal beds of Charbonier Bluff, and reach St. Charles, an early French settlement on the Missouri River. Many citizens come out to see the event and socialization commences.
October 29, 1804
Mandan and Hidatsa council
Opposite the Knife River, Mandan and Hidatsa chiefs come from each village to council with the captains. A long speech is given, and the captains ask them to smoke the pipe of peace with an Arikara chief.
March 24, 1805
Bird cages
At Fort Mandan, cages are made for the live birds that will soon be sent to Washington City. In St. Louis, Capt. Amos Stoddard updates President Thomas Jefferson regarding Lewis’s delegation of Iowas.
Notes
| ↑1 | Lewis to Amos Stoddard, 16 May 1804, Amos Stoddard to Henry Dearborn, 3 June 1804, Amos Stoddard to Thomas Jefferson, 19 October 1804 in Letters of the Lewis and Clark Expedition with Related Documents: 1783-1854, 2nd ed., ed. Donald Jackson (Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1978), 196,189–90, 212–13. |
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- 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.
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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).