Finishing Up the Trail

1. Finishing Up the Trail Chapter 4, Section 3

2. The Salish • The expeditions’ Shoshone guide, Old Toby, led the men north over Lost Trail Pass (there was actually no trail.) Though it was August, the temperature was freezing cold and snow was deep. • They soon reached Ross’ Hole, where they met the Salish Indians. The Salish fed, clothed and traded with the Corps for a week, then departed to meet the Shoshone at the Three Forks.

3. Salish History of Meeting Salish elder Pierre Pichette tells the story of the meeting between the Salish and the Corps: “Chief Three Eagles ordered buffalo robes to be brought and to be spread in the gathering place. By signs, he told the strangers to sit on the robes. The men were a puzzling sight to all the Indians surrounding them.”

4. Salish History of Meeting “After the white men had sat down, they took their little packs off their backs. The Chief looked through their packs and then began to explain to the people, ‘I think they have had a narrow escape from their enemies. All their belongings were taken away by the enemy. That’s why there is so little in their packs. Maybe the rest of the tribe were killed. Maybe that is why there are only seven of them. These men must be very hungry, perhaps starving. And see how poor and torn their clothes are.’”

5. Salish History of Meeting “The chief ordered food to be brought to them – dried buffalo meat and dried roots. He ordered clothing also to be brought to them – buckskins and light buffalo robes that were used for clothing. “All the men had short hair. So our people thought that the seven were in mourning for the rest of the party who had been slaughtered. It was the custom for mourners to cut their hair.”

6. Salish History of Meeting “By signs, Chief Three Eagles and his counselors came to a little understanding with the white men. Then the Chief said to his people, ‘This party is the first of this kind of people we have ever seen. They have been brought in safely. I want them taken out safely. I want you warriors to go with them part of the way to make sure that they leave our country without harm.’ “They did not take with them the robes and clothing Chief Three Eagles had given them. Perhaps the white men did not understand they were gifts.”

7. Salish Impressions • As can be seen by this account, the Salish thought the expedition had just lost a battle because of their small numbers, torn clothes and short cut hair (as if they were in mourning.) • Mourning means the process of grieving for a dead loved one.

8. Crossing the Bitterroot Mountains • The Salish had assured the Corps that crossing the Lolo Trail would take only six days, but the expedition moved much slower than the Indians normally did. • After a short stop at Travelers’ Rest the men traveled eleven days with little food through severe cold and snow. The men even had to resort to eating horses. It was the closest most of the men came to death.

9. Traveling across Montana (1805)

10. Saved Again • Finally, on September 22nd the party reached Weippe Prairie, where they met the Nez Pierce Indians. Sick and weak again, the tribe nurtured the failing party back to health. • The tribe helped them make canoes and the expedition was once again on the water (Clearwater River), but for the first time they traveled downstream.

11. Racing to the Coast • Not wanting to camp another winter in the West, the expedition raced to the Pacific coast in October. • The Corps rapidly reached the Colombia River and dared to float down the Dalles in Oregon – a half mile of swift rapids and craggy chutes. • The Corps dealt less with the Colombia River tribes, whom they deemed less generous than those of the Rocky Mountains.

12. The Ocean at Last! • The Corps finally saw the Pacific on November 2nd. Clark wrote, “Ocian in view! O! the joy.” • They quickly built Fort Clatsop, named for the local Indians, near modern-day Astoria. • The winter was wet and miserable, and the expedition left months earlier than was wise, in March of 1806.

13. Returning Home 1806 • The Corps headed up the Colombia and reached the Nez Pierce by May. They stayed with the tribe until more snow melted from the Bitterroot Mountains. • The party crossed the mountains successfully in June and relaxed at Travelers’ Rest again (in Lolo) before dividing the group on July 3rd.

14. Near present-day Billings, Clark signed his name in a huge rock pillar he named for Sacagawea’s son. Pompey’s Pillar is the only physical sign left behind by the expedition that can still be seen today. The Separation • Clark and most of the others explored the Yellowstone River. • Along the way they looked for the Crow Indians, but never saw them. However, all of their horses were taken by the Crow in only two nights. • Clark was forced to build bull boats and float down the Yellowstone to its confluence with the Missouri on Montana’s eastern border.

15. The Separation • Lewis tried a shortcut east between the Missoula Valley and the Great Falls. • After only nine days he reached the Great Falls and immediately set out north into known Blackfeet Indian country to determine the northern reaches of the Louisiana Purchase.

16. Disappointment and Danger • Lewis failed to determine the U.S.’s new northern latitude due to cloudy skies. • He called his camp, “Camp Disappointment.” • While heading back to Great Falls with a few of his soldiers, Lewis came across a small Blackfeet party. • The two groups cautiously met and camped together for the night.

17. Disappointment and Danger • Lewis gave his usual speech, informing the Blackfeet that the Americans were now in charge and that all tribes would soon be treated equally. • This encounter with the Blackfeet was different than with other tribes because they were the dominant tribe in the region and did not want to lose power or territory.

18. Disappointment and Danger Lewis left peace medals around each the Indian’s necks so, “that they might be informed who we were.” • In the morning, Lewis was awaken by a fight between the Blackfeet and some of the men. • One of the Blackfeet teens was stabbed. Lewis shot another after barely dodging a bullet to the head. Both Blackfeet braves died and Lewis and his men fled 120 miles in one day, fearful of revenge.

19. The Blackfeet Perspective A Piegan Blackfeet Indian named Wolf Calf witnessed Lewis’ encounter with the Blackfeet on the Marias. He was only 13 when it happened. Wolf Calf said that he and some other teens were riding home from a raiding party. Once they camped with the expedition, Wolf Calf’s leader dared the teens to steal a few of Lewis’ belongings. A fight broke out when one teen was caught stealing.

20. The Blackfeet Perspective When asked why the Blackfeet didn’t chase Lewis and take revenge, Wolf Calf replied that the teens were also frightened, and ran away in the opposite direction.

21. Traveling across Montana (1806)

22. Reunited • Lewis finally caught up to Clark in early August near the confluence of the Missouri and Yellowstone Rivers. • The Captains dropped off Sacagawea, Pomp and Charbonneau at the Mandan Villages, as well as John Colter, who stayed behind to become a mountain man. • They weren’t safe yet though, as Cruzatte proved when he shot Lewis in the butt after mistaking him for an elk!

23. The Swift Ride Home (1806) • Now headed downstream the party moved about 70 miles a day (instead of 10 to 20 upstream). • They paid their respects at Floyd’s grave and shouted a few unkind words as they sped past the Teton Sioux. • They also passed a number of fur trappers headed upriver.

24. St. Louis (1806) • Finally, on September 23rd – almost three full years after they set out – Lewis and Clark returned to St. Louis. • The villagers were shocked to see them, having assumed they had died long ago. • One man claimed it was as if they had just returned from the moon!

25. Afterwards • Lewis was named Governor of Louisiana Territory. • Clark was appointed Indian Agent for the West and Brigadier General of the territory’s militia. • However, Lewis died mysteriously at a Tennessee Inn. Was it murder or suicide? • Clark completed his 1814 map, showing trappers and explorers the way into the West.

26. Montana’s Importance • The expedition mapped the land that they explored, met with dozens of tribes and catalogued animals and plants that were new to Americans. • The Corps spent most of the expedition in Montana and made more discoveries here than anywhere else. • They identified 31 new plant species and 32 animal species in Montana. • Though there was conflict with the Blackfeet, they established good relations with all the other Montana tribes they met.

27. The Entire Journey

28. Resources • Pictures • Jefferson: http://www.lewrockwell.com/vance/-jefferson.jpg • Napoleon: http://www.uv.es/entresiglos/oleza/img/-napoleon.jpg • Mastodon: http://www.wearescientists.com/mastodon.gif • Lewis: http://www.lewisandclark.org/pages/userimages/Lewis_1.jpg • Clark: http://lsm.crt.state.la.us/cabildo/-cab5b.gif • Boat Animation: www.animationfactory.com • Medallion: http://www.archerscompany.com/images/pic_coin.jpg • Keel Boat: http://www.ngs.noaa.gov/LewisAndClark/images/-WASH7.JPG • Franklin: http://www.priceofliberty.net/wp-content/images/franklin-vi.jpg • York: http://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu/internet/library/historical/medical-history/lewis_clark/assets/york_big.jpg • Floyd’s Grave: http://www.lewis-clark.org/media/images/co_floyd-obelisk-lcthf.jpg • Drouilliard: http://www.lewisandclarkinkentucky.org/images/people/drouillard.jpg • Seaman: http://lightwriter.smugmug.com/photos/popup.mg?ImageID=4572923&Size=-Original • Missouri Map: http://www.sd4history.com/Unit2/images/Lewis&Clark%20Trail.jpg • Return: http://www.explorepahistory.com/images/ExplorePAHistory-a0a8z0-a_349.jpg

29. Resources • Sacagawea: http://www.mariananderson.com/paintings/sacagawea.jpg • Lewis: http://www.mt.net/~rojomo/jpegs/lewsfthr.jpg • Griz: http://www.bronxzoo.com/media/image/GrizzlyBearStandingWeb-JMaher.JPG • White Cliffs: http://www.lewis-clarkstore.com/ArtJewelry/FineArt-Reproductions/Dolack_LC_Corps.htm • Lewis @ Falls: http://epod.usra.edu/archive/images/lewisgf.jpg • Great Falls: http://www.ngs.noaa.gov/LewisAndClark/images/great-falls.jpg • Portage: http://www.l3-lewisandclark.com/Resources/Content/GF-P02th.jpg • Boat: http://www.nps.gov/hafe/lewis/photo12-hist.htm • Beaverhead Rock: http://www.exploredillon.com/images/photo_tour-/outskirts/beaverhead_rock1.jpg • Fortunate: http://montanakids.com/discoverypoints/campfortunate.jpg • Salish: http://www.his.state.mt.us/lewisandclark/css/images/russell-salish_l-c_at_ross_.jpg • Dalles: www.voyageofrediscovery.com • Whale: http://www.tomlaidlaw.com/elderhostel/2004/whale2.jpg • Traveler’s Rest: http://www.lewis-clark.org/media/NewImages/LEWISRETURN/Paxn_trav-rest.jpg • Cruzatte: http://www.bakercityherald.com/photos/upload/20010725151702_medium.jpg • Lemhi: http://www.naturescapes.net/portfolios/pics/userpics/10183/ID16-1Ab%20%20lupines%20from%20lemhi%20pass%20copy.jpg • Rockies: http://www.johnpaulstrain.com/images/art/medium/Lewis-and-clark-med.jpg • Rockies 2: http://www.poplarforest.org/westward/clymer5med.jpg