StL Surveyor, St. Louis, MO (2026)

10/15/2026

October 15, 1804. LEWIS & CLARK EXPEDITION.
Arikara Exchanges. York's Curiousities. Gass' "Young Squaw".

Photo: Fort Yates, Standing Rock Reservation, North Dakota. View North, upstream. © 2000 Airphoto—Jim Wark.

As the expedition travels near present Fort Yates, North Dakota, they pass various Arikara hunting camps. A young Indian girl traveling with the boats is summoned to shore, and YORK is “the Greatest Curiousity to them”.

YORK'S CURIOUSITIES.
"the Greatest Curiousity to them was YORK Capt. CLARKS Black Man. all the nation made a Great deal of him. the children would follow after him, & if he turned towards them they would run from him & hollow as if they were terreyfied, & afraid of him.
—JOHN ORDWAY"

GASS' "YOUNG SQUAW".
"we saw another party of hunters, who asked us to eat and gave us some meat. One of these requested to speak with our young squaw, who for some time hid herself, but at last came out and spoke with him. She then went on shore and talked with him, and gave him a pair of ear-rings and drops for leave to come with us; and when the [sounding] horn blew for all hands to come on board, she left them and came to the boat.
—PATRICK GASS"

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.

10/14/2026

October 14th, 1804. LEWIS & CLARK EXPEDITION.
Pvt. Newman's Punishment.

Photo: Cat o' nine Tails. © 2015 by Kristopher K. Townsend.

The day is rainy and most of the leaves have fallen as the expedition enters present North Dakota. The ex*****on of Pvt. NEWMAN'S court martial sentence startles Arikara chief Too Né who is traveling with them. Camp is near present Fort Yates.

NEWMAN'S CORPORAL PUNISHMENT.
"The punishment of this day allarmd. the Indian Chief verry much, he Cried aloud (or effected to Cry) I explained the Cause of the punishment and the necessity He thought examples were also necessary, &l he himself had made them by Death, his nation never whiped even their Children, from their burth.
—WILLIAM CLARK"

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.

10/13/2026

October 13th, 1804. LEWIS & CLARK EXPEDITION.
Newman's Court Martial.

Photo: Enlisted Men In Full Dress. © 2011 by Kristopher K. Townsend.

Private JOHN NEWMAN is tried for making mutinous remarks, and he is removed from the “permanent party engaged for North Western discovery”. CLARK learns of an Arikara legend about some unusual rocks. After moving on, they camp near present Vanervorsite Bay in present South Dakota.

NEWMAN'S SENTENCE.
"The court after having duly considered the evidence aduced, as well as the defense of the said prisonor, are unanimously of opinion that the prisonar JOHN NEWMAN is guilty of every part of the charge exhibited against him, and do sentence him agreeably to the rules and articles of war, to receive seventy five lashes on his bear back, and to be henceforth discarded from the perminent party engaged for North Western discovery
—MERRIWETHER LEWIS"

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.

10/09/2026

October 9th, 1804. LEWIS & CLARK EXPEDITION.
York's Big Medicine.

Photo: York. by Charles Fritz. © 2009 by Charles Fritz.

At Sawa-haini—an Arikara village near Mobridge, South Dakota—the planned council is delayed by weather. The captains meet several key people including Pierre-Antoine Tabeau and Chief Too Né. YORK fascinates the Arikara who apparently have never seen a black man before.

YORK'S BIG MEDICINE.
"the Indians much asstonished at my Black Servent [YORK] and Call him the big medison, this nation never Saw a black man before
—WILLIAM CLARK"

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.

10/09/2026

November 4th, 1804. LEWIS & CLARK EXPEDITION.
MEETING CHARBONNEAU.

Photo: Fort Mandan Ceiling Beams. Taken with cooperation from the Fort Mandan Visitors’ Center. Photo © 2013 by Kristopher K. Townsend. Permission to use granted under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.

Waking to a white frost, the enlisted men continue building Fort Mandan lifting the heavy ceiling beams into place. Fur trader TOUSSAINT CHARBONNEAU visits the site, and because he speaks French and Hidatsa and has two Shoshone wives, the captains hire him as an interpreter.

INTERPRETER TOUSSAINT CHARBONNEAU.
"a french man by Name Chabonah [TOUSSAINT CHARBONNEAU], who Speaks the Big Belley [Hidatsa] language visit us, he wished to hire & informed us his 2 Squars were Snake Indians, we engau him to go on with us and take one of his wives to interpet the Snake language
—WILLIAM CLARK"

"Toussaint Charbonneau, a fur trader living at one of the Knife River villages, arrives at the Fort Mandan building site. Because he speaks French and Hidatsa and has two Shoshone wives, the captains hire him as an interpreter."

NOTES:
Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site is a High Potential Historic Site along the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail managed by the U.S. National Park Service.

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.

10/06/2026

October 6th, 1804.
Empty Arikara Village. LEWIS & CLARK EXPEDITION.

Photo: Mandan Earthen Lodge. Edward S. Curtis (1868-1952). Courtesy Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, LC-USZ62-114582.

The expedition comes to an empty, but recently inhabited, Arikara village. They find bull boats, baskets, and a live garden. On the shore, LEWIS observes several types of birds including the sharp-tailed grouse and black-billed magpie. On the river, the numerous channels make navigation difficult. Camp is near present Swan Creek in South Dakota.

EMPTY ARIKARA VILLAGE.
"About 11 we passed a handsome bottom, where a band of the Rees [Arikaras] lived last winter. They had left a number of round huts covered with earth, some of their water craft made of buffaloe hides [bull boats], and some garden truck, such as squashes.
—PATRICK GASS"

TOO MANY CHANNELS.
"we have been obgd to hunt a Chanl. for Some time past the river being devided in many places in a great number of Chanels
—WILLIAM CLARK"

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.

10/04/2026

October 4th, 1804.
Turn Around. LEWIS & CLARK EXPEDITION.

Photo: Empty Mandan Lodge. Taken in cooperation with the Knife River Villages National Historic Site, U.S. National Park Service. Photo © 2011 by Kristopher K. Townsend.

The day begins by dropping back three miles to the start of a better river channel. Various Sioux along the banks are avoided, and the day’s camp is across from an abandoned Arikara village near present Forest City, South Dakota. LEWIS adds fire-on-the-mountain to his plant collection.

DROPPING BACK.
"we were obliged to drop down 3 miles to get a Channel Sufficient Deep to pass Several Indians on the bank, Call’d to us frequently to Land, one gave 3 yels & Sciped a Ball before us, we payed no attention to them
—WILLIAM CLARK"

ABANDONED ARIKARA VILLAGE.
"Camped on a Sand bar at the upper point of an Island on which is the remains of an old ricara [Arikara] Village fortified Called La hoo call It was circular, this Village appears to have been deserted about 5 or 6 years, 17 houses yet remain
—WILLIAM CLARK"

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.

10/02/2026

Visit the MSPS STL Table for raffle tickets, down to 60! If we sell them all, we might have the drawing tomorrow!

09/30/2026

September 30th, 1804.
Black Buffalo's Bad Medicine. LEWIS & CLARK EXPEDITION.

Photo: Three-point blanket, To***co and Trade Knife. © 2014 by Kristopher K. Townsend.

BAD MEDICINE.
"[Un-Tongar-Sar-bar (Black Buffalo)] Said he thought our Boat was a medicine & he would go no further with us. we then put him to Shore our Captains Gave him a Blanket, Some to***co a knife and Some other Small articles. he then Set of to return to his Band. We Sailed on verry fast. came 24 miles this day. Camped on a Sand bar on N. S.
—JOHN ORDWAY"

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.

09/29/2026

September 29th, 1804.
Avoiding The Lakotas. LEWIS & CLARK EXPEDITION.

Photo: To***co Twist on a Sandbar. River sand added to the original photo © 2010 by Kristopher K. Townsend.

Above present Pierre, South Dakota, the enlisted men and engagés move the boats up the Missouri River, and they encounter another band of Lakota Sioux asking for to***co. Without landing the barge, they place two carrots on a sandbar. At night, everyone but the guard sleeps on the boats.

MORE TO***CO.
"they [Lakota Sioux] Sayed that they would be Glad if we would give one carrit of to***co for the chiefs of the other band to Smoak. we sent them 2 carrits to a Sand bar but told them we Should not land any more untill we got to the Rick Rea [Arikara] Nation
—JOHN ORDWAY"

THE NIGHT AT ANCHOR.
"Continud all night at anchor (we Substitute large Stones for anchors in place of the one we lost[)] all in high Spirits &c
—WILLIAM CLARK"

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.

StL Surveyor

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