The expedition sets off again after wintering at Fort Mandan, in the midst of what is now called the Garrison Reach.

Photo: Missouri River near Fort Mandan, courtesy North Dakota Tourism Department.

April 7, 1805. Lewis: Our vessels consisted of six small canoes, and two large perogues. This little fleet altho' not quite so rispectable as those of Columbus or Capt. Cook, were still viewed by us with as much pleasure as those deservedly famed adventurers ever beheld theirs; and I dare say with quite as much anxiety for their safety and preservation. we were now about to penetrate a country at least two thousand miles in width, on which the foot of civilized man had never trodden; the good or evil it had in store for us was for experiment yet to determine, and these little vessells contained every article by which we were to expect to subsist or defend ourselves. however, as the state of mind in which we are, generally gives the colouring to events, when the immagination is suffered to wander into futility, the picture which now presented itself to me was a most pleasing one. entert[ain]ing as I do, the most confident hope of succeeding in a voyage which had formed a da[r]ling project of mine for the last ten years, I could but esteem this moment of my departure as among the most happy of my life.

More about the people October 29, 1804. Clark: after Brackfast we were visited by the old Cheaf of the Big bellies     this man was old and had transfired his power to his Sun, who was then out at War against the Snake Indians who inhabit the Rocky Mountains. we Collected the Chiefs and Commenced a Councel ounder a orning, and our Sales Stretched around to keep out as much wind as possible.     we delivered a long Speech the Substance of which Similer to what we had Delivered to the nations below. The old Chief of the Grosvanters was verry restless before the Speech was half ended observed that he Could not wait long that his Camp was exposed to the hostile Indians, &c. &c.     he was rebuked by one of the Chiefs for his uneasiness at Such a time as the present, we at the end of the Speech mentioned the Recare who accompanied us to make a firm Peace, they all Smoked with him (I gave this Cheaf a Dollar of the American Coin as a Medal with which he was much pleased) …

Find out more: Sprawl in North Dakota Lewis and Clark in North Dakota Natural History of North Dakota Endangered Species in ND Intertribal Bison Cooperative "Beauty and the Badlands" Sierra Magazine: Lewis and Clark