Mandan Indians

October 24, 1804 "The Mandans are at war with all who make war only, and wish to be at peace with all nations, Seldom the ogressors."
Location: In the fall of 1804 the Mandan lived in two villages along the upper Missouri River. It was near these villages, Matootonha and Rooptahee (now known as Mitutanka and Nuptadi) that the Corps built Fort Mandan and passed the winter of 1804-05. Mitutanka, built around 1787, was on the west bank of the Missouri. Lewis situated his fort across the river from this village. Nuptadi was farther north, on the east bank.
Information: Each of the Mandan villages was centered on a cedar post on an open plaza. The permanent earthern lodges each held about 10 people. A wall enclosed the complex for protection from enemy raids. During the winter months, when the frigid winds blew across the Dakota plain, these lodges were abandoned for temporary, more sheltered structures nearer the river.
The Mandan's settlement lay at the center of trade along the Upper Missouri River, in what would become Dakota Territory. Together with their neighbors and allies, the Hidatsa, the Mandan served an important role in trade throughout the Plains.
During the expedition's stay at Fort Mandan, the Americans and the Mandan wintered together, trading and visiting for five months along the Missouri River. We continued to try to secure peace between the Mandan-Hidatsa and the Arikara, but any peace was tenuous at best.
Ravaged by smallpox in 1837, the few remaining Mandan were taken in by their former enemies, the Arikara. Although later they separated once again into two tribes, today there are very few full-blooded Mandan. They are a relatively small tribe and share with the Hidatsa and Arikara the Fort Berthold Reservation northwest of Bismarck, North Dakota.

Arikara Indians

October 8, 1804
Location: The Arikara were an agricultural people who lived in earth lodges between the Grand and Cannonball Rivers in what is now northern South Dakota.
Information: Twenty years before the arrival of the Corps of Discovery, the Arikara numbered nearly 30,000 and controlled the land along the Missouri for a hundred miles (160 kilometers). But by the time of the expedition, a series of smallpox epidemics had swept through their settlements, reducing them to three small villages which were visited by us!!
The Arikara were farmers, raising corn, beans, tobacco, and squash both for food and to trade with other tribes in the area. Their agricultural success also balanced the power with the non-farming Teton Sioux, aggressive neighbors who needed the food the Arikara produced.
We stayed at the Arikara villages for five days, discussing trade issues and the possibilities of Arikara peace with the Mandan and Hidatsa. The Indians agreed to consider peace with the tribes to the north, which was very satisfying.
During our stay, our men gave the Arikara gifts, but the Indians were fascinated most with York. The Arikara had never seen a black person before—his skin color was a marvel to them. The Indians considered him "Big Medicine," spiritually powerful because of his size and appearance.
Many years after the expedition, smallpox outbreaks in 1836 and 1856 decimated the Arikara population. In 1862 the remaining Arikara joined the last Mandan and Hidatsa in North Dakota.

Minitari Indians

While wintering at Fort Mandan, November 1804 to April 1805
Location: The Minitari lived in Metaharta, the middle of three Hidatsa villages near the confluence of the Knife and Missouri Rivers. Metaharta's 40 or so earthen lodges were enclosed by a defensive wall.
Information: Like the other Hidatsa and the Mandan in the region, the Minitari were an integral part of the local economy. They traded their agricultural produce for the horses and mules that their Assiniboin and Cree neighbors required. These Indians in turn traded British and French goods for the animals.
The Minitari were allies of the peaceable Mandan but often raided other tribes, stealing horses and kidnapping women and children. Five years before the our expedition, Minitari Indians had surprised a band of Shoshone from the other side of the Rocky Mountains, in what is now southwest Montana. The Minitari captured several of the Shoshone, among them Sacagawea.
A pregnant Sacagawea joined the expedition during the winter of 1805 when her husband Toussaint Charbonneau was hired by us. Many times throughout the long journey she proved invaluable to the expedition's success, through her ability to translate, her knowledge of edible plants and roots, and her connections to the Lemhi Shoshone, who later provided horses to the expedition.

In spring 1834 the village of Metaharta and the Amahami village just north were destroyed by Sioux raiding parties.

Hidatsa Indians

While wintering at Fort Mandan, November 1804 to April 1805
Location:Of the three Hidatsa villages located at the confluence of the upper Missouri and the Knife Rivers in modern-day North Dakota, the Hidatsa-proper occupied the largest, northernmost one at Menetarra. Two other tribes, the Amahami and the Minitari, were also known as Hidatsa.
Information: Unlike the Mandan, the Hidatsa regularly sent war parties as far west as the Rockies, where they battled the Shoshone and Blackfeet. During the winter of 1804-05, these Hidatsa were led by Le Borgne, or One Eye. Like the other Hidatsa tribes in the area, the Amahami and the Minitari, the Hidatsa proper were farmers. They served an important role in the local economy, providing corn, beans, and squash needed by their nomadic neighbors. Population counts around 1833 estimated there were about 2,100 Hidatsa in the three villages along the Missouri. A smallpox epidemic in 1837 wiped out many of the Hidatsa in the three villages, and the remaining Indians relocated to one village farther to the north. In 1845 a combined settlement of Hidatsa and Mandan moved up the Missouri River and founded Like-a-Fishhook Village.

Indian Breadroot

October 17, 1804 in the British Territory is where i found the Indian Breadroot. This is plant was very unique because the edible root, which measures one and a half to two inches in length, resembles a dahlia tuber. It has a high starch and sugar content. Historically, Indian breadroots were harvested in late summer and eaten raw, boiled, roasted, or dried in the sun. The dried roots were generally ground between stones for flour to mix with soups and stews. We will fortunatley use this plant for our foods now, which is very useful. I have taken a description of course and here it is.
Description: Purplish blue flowers and palm-shaped leaves. The entire plant is covered with dense light-colored hairs. That habitat of this plant is also Prairies.
This is a wonderful and, useful discovery i cannot wait until i have this tonight in the stew we are having.

Pronghorn Antelope

September 14, 1804 is when i found the most extraordinary animal i have seen yet in the Louisiana Purchase Territory. It is almost like a deer, but much more extravagant. I have decided to name this unique animal the Pronghorn Antelope. We have not cooked this Antelope yet, but when we do, i will be looking forward to it. Here is the description i took on it.
Description: A medium-size, deerlike mammal. Upper body pale tan or reddish tan; chest, belly, inner legs, cheeks and lower jaw, sides, and rump patch are white. Height: 35–41 in (88–103 cm); length: 4.1–4.8 ft (1.3–1.5 m); tail: 2.4–6.8 in (6–17 cm). Weight: male 90–140 lb (41–64 kg), female 75–105 lb (34–48 kg).
I hope everyone enjoys this great find, because its a very beautiful animal.

Squaw Bush

October 1, 1804 in the Louisiana purchase territory is where i found the plant Squaw bush. Its not a very "extraordinary" plant but it is very interesting. I do hope you like my notes i had taken on them.
Description: Squaw bush is a member of the cashew family (family Anacardiaceae) which includes trees, shrubs, and few woody vines with resinous sap often in bark and other parts; in a few species the resin or volatile oil is caustic and poisonous to the skin. Flowers tiny or small; commonly white. Height: to 8 ft (2.4 m).
I found this plant in Coastal sage scrub, chaparral area.

Nuttall's (Common) Poorwill

October 17, 1804 is when i discovered this little bird in the British territory. I have decided to name this little critter a Poorwill. The reason i name it this is because its voice is like a mellow poor-will. I have taken some notes on what the bird looks like, because the bird was so still i got a pretty good description of it.
See what i find so interesting and unique about this bird is that the common poorwill can hibernate, surviving in a torpid condition, without food and with its body temperature lowered almost to that of its surroundings. This adaptation is unique among birds.

Description: Mottled gray-brown with no white mark on wings; whitish collar separates black throat from mottled underparts. Dark outer tail feathers are tipped with white, more conspicuously in male; tail is rounded. Length: 7-8.5 in (20 cm).

It is a fascinating bird, and i hope you guys find much interest in it.

Aromatic Aster

Aromatic Aster: September 21, 1804, at Big Bend, Missouri River. Today i had a privalge to spot a beautiful flower that just shined when you looked at it! Here is some information i took on it.
Information: This perennial's rigid stems, usually less than 20 in (50.8 cm) tall, are much-branched from the base. The narrow leaves and stems are sparsely covered with short hairs. Pink or lavender flowers are many petaled and aromatic with a yellow center. its habitat is Dry prairies; eroded bluffs; rocky or sandy, open sites.
You can find this beautiful thing in Pennsylvania to North Carolina, west to northeastern Wyoming and Texas. I hope you like this beautiful discovery we have made. We are now starting to find many wonderful things! and i will tell you about every single one them.

Mule Deer

Mule Deer: September 17, 1804, below present-day Chamberlain, South Dakota.

Today we spotted a prairie that we are now calling a "Mule Deer", i don't have to much information on this fascinating animal but i did do as best as i could.
Information: A medium-size deer. Stocky body, with long, slim, sturdy legs. Tail white above and tipped with black. Height: 3–3.4 ft (90–105 cm); length: 3.8–7.5 ft (1.16–1.99 m); tail: 4.5–9 in (11.4–23 cm). Weight: male 110–475 lb (50–215 kg), female 70–160 lb (32–73 kg). My hypothesis on its habitat that i have noticed is that they are always around: forest edges, mountains, and foothills.
Once i see more of the mule deer i will give you more information on this animal.

Rush's Thunderbolts

With only a few weeks into our historical journey west already my men are feeling sick! For awhile i was worried because i didn't know what to cure the bad side pains/ stomach pains, but after a few hours of thinking i of course remembered the great rush's thunderbolts! So i got in contact with Dr. Rush and he gave me the ingredients (below) to make the pills, so my men can get better and we can all move on. As i am typing now most of them men have made progress in their pains which is good! Plus, we really don't need our whole mess squad getting sick, living on the side of the boat;-).

Corps of Rediscovery 2002

Summer 2002'

Wow! So much to say about this week of our journey of the corps of the rediscovery. We visited the town of Paducah, Kentucky, see in my opinion i think this town is in the category of unique because it is the only town in the state to be named after an Indian. We went to the National Quilt Museum which has extraordinary quilts! But after a blink of time i had the lights of red white and blue flashing right in front of me escorting me through the Ohio river from Kentucky to Illinois. I know its not that great and you shouldn't be that happy from just getting a few drinks along the ride of our journey......but try doing it in the temperature of 110 and being on black ass-fault boiling on our hot, dehydrated, and hungry bodies. When your having an adventure like we are having your aren't really worrying about how we looked, or if our nails are clean, or how disgusting the pools of our sweat is. But i guess it was time to get a haircut so the guys went to go get a haircut at the barber shop and the girls went to go and get theirs also. Wednesday was a very special day because it was Roxy's birthday! Wow who knew you could have such a great birthday! We first had breakfast at the great Waffles House which filled up my tank! but since we had to burn some of that fat off we went to Six Flags! That's a day any of us won't forget. One last thing i learned is that riding on flat land isn't always the best because everyone always says "O well because its flat land which is easy, you probably don't need a lot of stops!" Well that is completely wrong because you do need stops! So during our riding of the flat land a lot of us were wishing we could be rolling up some uphill instead so we could take a break!
P.S. This was a very busy week that i will never forget, and i want to thank John for making this happen for me!:-)
~Michael R.