Page 6 - DrivingTourBooklet2020

Viewing points: Clark said “in about 10 minits (sic) the bank was lined with men armed,
1. Medicine Knoll Creek runs under a bridge on Highway 34, fourteen
miles east of the Federal Building in downtown Pierre. An interpretive
sign explains the creek’s connection with Lewis and Clark, as well as
other historical information about the area. The drive from Pierre to
Medicine Knoll Creek, including a stop at Farm Island, is very scenic
and historical.
Monday, September 24, 1804
With the help of an early morning east wind, the explorers sailed over
that straight portion of the Missouri River between Medicine Knoll Creek
and the mouth of the Bad River. After passing Antelope Creek, located on
the south side of the river, they approached a two and one-half mile long
island (later named Farm Island by the fur traders at Fort Pierre Chouteau).
En route Captains Lewis and Clark laid out gifts of medals and clothing
for the Teton Indian Chiefs, whom they planned to meet at the Bad River.
President Thomas Jefferson had warned the captains earlier that they
could expect trouble from the Teton who controlled that portion of the
river. As a precautionary measure for the meeting, they prepared their
keelboat, weapons, and men “for action in case of necessity.”
As they passed along the north side of Farm Island, Clark observed
many rocks on the hillsides. Soon the party saw their hunter, Private John
Colter on the shore. He had killed four elk and camped on the island the
prior night. One of the rowboats stopped to pick up Colter and the meat.
He said that the Indians had stolen his horse. Later five Indians were seen
walking along the south shore. They were blamed for the theft of the
horse but neither side could understand the other. Their request to come
aboard was refused.
Later in the afternoon, the explorers passed along the south side of a
mile and one-half long island on which they saw many elk and buffalo.
Clark named it Good Humored Island (now La Framboise Island). They
turned northward and soon arrived at the mouth of a river called the
Little Missouri on their map. The captains renamed it the Teton River in
honor of the Teton Sioux who camped nearby. (The Teton Sioux called it
the Bad River, and that name has survived.)
After sailing and rowing thirteen miles that day, they anchored the
fifty-five-foot long keelboat in the Missouri River, 100 yards in front of the
mouth of the Bad River. Clark noted that the Bad River was seventy yards
wide at the mouth. Captain Clark’s men, using one of the rowboats, took
him to shore (in the vicinity of what is now known as Lilly Park in the city
of Fort Pierre). Here he smoked and had a friendly visit with one of the
chiefs, Buffalo Medicine, who had come from the main village located a
few miles upstream.
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the first chief at their head. About 200 men appeared and after about
1/2 hour all (returned) but 60 men who continued on the bank all night.
The chiefs continued with us all night. This allarm I as well as Captain
Lewis considered as a Signal of their intentions (which was to stop our
proceeding on our journey and if possible rob us).”
The keelboat was rowed to shore and tied up near a fallen bank, leaving
them much exposed. Clark wrote “all prepared on board for anything which
might hapen (sic), we kept a Strong guard all night in the boat, no Sleep.”
Friday, September 28, 1804
It was a clear and pleasant autumn morning. Captain Clark and his
men, with their two rowboats, returned to the spot where they lost the
anchor. Using boat hooks, poles and dragging the river, they were unable
to find it. Many Indians from the village were standing on the riverbank
watching the search.
Captain Clark and his men returned to the keelboat and tied the two
rowboats to it. The captains began preparations to depart. They had
great difficulty removing the various chiefs from the keelboat. Chief Black
Buffalo was still on board when several of his men grabbed the rope
holding the keelboat in place. Chief Buffalo told Captain Lewis, who was
at the bow of the ship, that he could not go any further up the river unless
his men were given more tobacco. Captain Lewis would not be forced
into giving it to them. Tension grew on board and on the western shore
of the river where about 200 armed warriors were standing on the shore
awaiting orders. Some were armed with muzzle-loading guns, others with
bows and arrows.
Joseph Whitehouse wrote in his journal that Captain Lewis was about
to cut the rope with his sword and order his men to fire their weapons
unless Black Buffalo and his chiefs left the keelboat. Captain Clark seized
“the port fire” from his gunner and was prepared to fire the large swivel
gun. Black Buffalo indicated that all they wanted were several twists of
tobacco. Captain Lewis gave them to him. Then Chief Black Buffalo jerked
the rope from his warriors and gave it to the steersman. The confrontation
with the Teton was over. The keelboat then sailed north under a good
favorable breeze and around the curve of the river to the west.
After traveling about four miles, they halted near the shore. They
made a new anchor using two large stones, and continued their journey.
At sunset, after traveling upstream six miles that day, they camped on a
sand bar in the middle of the river [above Oahe Dam and about three
miles below the site of the former Oahe Mission, now under the waters
of Lake Oahe].