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In October, the Corps reaches the territory of the Hidatsa and Mandan Indians. The people of these tribes are friendly to the group. The weather is starting to get cold. Men are starting to talk of preparing for winter. You wonder, though, if you should put more distance between yourself and the Lakota tribe, who are not friendly when you met them a few weeks ago. Do you stop and build a camp for the winter? - or - Do you travel another week before building winter camp? Feedback: Though tense, the encounter with the Lakota tribe was resolved. The Corps chose to build winter cabins across the river from the Hidatsa. Though the cold was miserable, settling here was a smart move. The Hidatsa welcomed the Corps on hunting trips. Natives and the Corps shared food and supplies. The Corps also met the Sacagawea here. View Journal Entry: Pages 1 and 2 of 3: (Image of an old worn out book with tattered pages. There is text on page one and an image of the writer of this journal entry with a button to view his biography. Page two shows an image of a dome shaped, sod hut. It has a crude doorway and flags are flying at the entrance.) Fort Mandan, ND October 24, 1804 " ... verry cold R. Fields with the Rhumitisim in his neck, P. Crusat with the Same complaint in his legs -- the party other wise is well, as to my self I fel but slight Simptoms of that disorder at this time," Bio of Journal Writer: William Clark, Captain (Image showing another angle of the sod hut and we can see that it is a rather large structure) Pages 3 of 3: (Image shows the head of a bird as drawn by William Clark) (When we close the book we see the image of a map, showing the same elements as location 2. By clicking the "Next" button we see a new red dot next to the last point.) Back to top Location 4 of 10: Sacagawea at Fort Mandan, ND - April 7, 1805 At Fort Mandan, the Corps meets a man named Toussaint Charbonneau. He is French trader who lives among the Hidatsa and offers to join the Corps. Lewis and Clark do not like him much, but he has a young wife who speaks not only Hidatsa but also Shoshone and French. They expect to meet the Shoshone tribe later on the journey. However, Sacagawea has an infant son only two months old, nicknamed Pomp. The trip is already physically and mentally difficult between rowing the boats all day, setting up camp nightly, hiking, dealing with the weather, illness, and spending all the time with the same people. If something bad happens to the woman or her child, it could be very hard on the Corps. Do you invite Charbonneau and his wife to join the Corps? - or - Do you learn all you can but decline Charbonneau's Offer? Feedback: Charbonneau, Sacagawea, and their son joined the journey. Many historians believe this was Lewis and Clark's smartest decision. She may have given directions in the Hidatsa and Shoshone areas with which she was familiar. However, most dispute the idea that she served as a regular guide. She was skilled at finding edible plants, keeping the Corps from starvation. She also was a sign of peace to any Native American tribes the Corps met, as a woman and child would not be with a war party. Sacagawea also served as a Shoshone interpreter. View Journal Entry: Pages 1 and 2 of 3: (Image of an old worn out book with tattered pages. There is text on page one and an image of the writer of this journal entry with a button to view his biography. Page two shows an image of Sacagawea wearing traditional clothing, she carries her child in one hand in a carrier and what appears to be an antler in the other.) Sacagawea (still at Ft. Mandan) April 7, 1805 "when we halted for dinner the squaw busied herself in searching for the wild artichokes which the mice collect and deposit in large hoards. ... her labour soon proved successful, and she procured a good quantity of these roots." Bio of Journal Writer: Meriwether Lewis grew up on a Virginia plantation. His training in the U.S. Army prepared him physically and mentally to lead the expedition. President Jefferson chose him to lead the journey because he know Lewis had great attention for detail in his work as Jefferson's secretary. Lewis's mother was an herb doctor, which may help explain his fascination with plant life. He was well educated and a deeply thoughful person. Page 2 of 3: (Image of a statue representing Sacagawea, carrying her child on her back in a carrier.) (When we close the book we see the image of a map, showing the same elements as location 3. By clicking the "Next" button, we see the dot move west into central Montana. We then lose sight of the last locations.) Back to top Location 5 of 10: Great Falls, MT - June 13, 1805 From Ft. Mandan, the Corps continues to follow the Missouri River, which now heads west. In June 1805, the Corps finds the Great Falls in present day Montana, where the level of the Missouri River drops. It's beauty and the beauty of the animals awe them. The Corps sees what appears to be a sea of buffalo stretching across the plain. Unfortunately, there are several instances in their travels of chases by grizzly bears. Lewis ran for his life once from what may have been a bobcat or mountain lion. A grizzly bear is approaching your camp. Do you run? - or - Do you shoot the bear? Feedback: The Corps of Discovery found that a grizzly bear could definitely outrun them. One man sought refuge in a tree during one chase. The men used their rifles against grizzlies, but to their shock found that as many as a dozen shots were required to stop such a strong beast. However, bears were not the only danger the Corps faced. They were often ill but had to keep on each day. Mosquitos were a constant complaint of each man keeping the diary. The only defense they had was mosquito netting, and not all the men had such netting. View Journal Entry: Pages 1 and 2 of 3: (Image of an old worn out book with tattered pages. There is text on page one and two, and an image of the writer of this journal entry with a button to view his biography.) Great Falls, MT June 13, 1805 " ... It now seemed to me that all the beasts of the neighbourhood had made a league to destroy me, or that some fortune was disposed to amuse herself at my expence, for I had not proceeded more than three hundred yards from the burrow of this tyger cat, before three bull buffalo, which wer feeding with a large herd about half a mile from me on my left, seperated from the herd and ran full speed towards me, ... at sometimes for a moment I thought it might be a dream, but the prickley pears which pierced my feet very severely once in a while, particularly after it grew dark, convinced me that I was really awake, and that it was necessary to make the best of my way to camp." Bio of Journal Writer: Meriwether Lewis, Captain (Image of a large waterfall, which is tall and very wide, the drop is almost straight down.) Page 3 of 3: (Image of a very large grizzly bear.) (When we close the book we see the image of a map, showing the same elements as location 4. By clicking the "Next" button we see the dot move west into southwestern Montana. The dot leaves a broken red line behind it.) Back to top Location 6 of 10: Camp Fortunate - August 17, 1805 In August 1805, Sacagawea helps lead the Corps to the Shoshone villiage near the foot of the Rocky Mountains. They discover that Sacagawea's brother is the tribes chief. The river has become very shallow and dangerous for the boats. The Shosone have horses. They are interested in firearms, but the corps does not have enough to trade for the horses. Do you promise that giving the horses now will bring future trade? - or - Do you abandon the deal attempt and cross the Rockies on foot? Feedback: The Corps likely would not have survived an attempt to hike across the Rocky Mountains. Indeed, Lewis and Clark knew their fate across the huge Rockies depended on securing horses. The Shoshone chief was pleased with Lewis's promise. The Corps left Camp Fortunate with 29 horses and a Shoshone guide. View Journal Entry: Pages 1 and 2 of 3: (Image of an old worn out book with tattered pages. There is text on page one and an image of the writer of this journal entry with a button to view his biography. Page two shows an image of a recreation of the meeting with the Shoshone tribe. We can see the Missouri River in the background of the picture as the people walk about.) Camp Fortunate August 17, 1805 "The Great Chief of ths nation provided to be the brother of the woman with us and is a man of Influence Sence & easey & reserved manners, Appears to possess a great deel of Cincerity. ... every thing appeared to astonish those people. the appearance of the men, their arms, the Canoes, the Clothing my black Servent & the Segassity of Capt Lewis's Dog." Bio of Journal Writer: William Clark, Captain (Image of a map of Camp Fortunate) Page 3 of 3: (Image of a Native American canoe) (When we close the book we see the image of a map, showing the same elements as location 5. By clicking the "Next" button we see the dot move in