USA > North Dakota > Early history of North Dakota: essential outlines of American history > Part 8
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The region comprehended in this purchase included all the country west of the Mississippi not occupied by Spain, as far north as British Territory, and com- prised the whole or part of the present states of Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Washington and Wyoming.
The American flag was first raised in New Orleans, December 20, 1803. By act of Congress March 26, 1804, the territory was divided into two govern- ments, that of "Orleans," including the present State of Louisiana west of the Mississippi, and a portion east of the river, and a section called "Louisiana," comprising all the country north and west of that river. April 8, 1812, the Territory of Orleans was admitted into the Union under the title of the State of Louisiana, and on the 14th of the same month the remainder of the region east of the Mississippi now under the jurisdiction of the state was added. The name of the remainder of the territory which had been organized as the "Territory of Louisiana" with its capital at St. Louis on March 3, 1805, was on the 4th of June, 1812, changed to "Missouri."
On the day of the Louisiana Centennial Celebration, April 12, 1912, the courthouse commissioners floated over the new courthouse in New Orleans, a magnificent Louisiana flag, consisting of a solid blue field with the coat-of-arms of the state, the pelican feeding its young in white in the center, with a ribbon beneath, also in white, containing in blue the motto of the state, "Union, Justice and Confidence." This flag had been in use previous to 1861, and after 1877, but was not legalized as the state flag until July 1, 1912. Together with the stars and stripes it now waves over the state house whenever the General Assembly is in session, and on public buildings throughout the state on all legal holidays and whenever otherwise declared by the governor or the General Assembly.
The last conflict of arms between Great Britain and the United States, closing the War of 1812, was a great battle of which Gen. Andrew Jackson was the commanding officer, fought at New Orleans, January 8, 1815, now a legal holiday in Louisiana. The British were defeated. Accounts of casualties differ. Some give the loss to the British as 2,000, killed, wounded and captured, and the Americans as seven killed and six wounded; otherwise reported eight killed and fourteen wounded. James Monroe in a despatch at the time said: "History records no example of so glorious a victory obtained with so little bloodshed on the part of the victorious." See p. 127.
WESTERN EXPLORATION
In 1776, John Ledyard of Connecticut, accompanied Captain James Cook on his third voyage around the world, in the hope of reaching the Pacific Coast for the purpose of exploration. Captain Cook was murdered by the natives of the Sandwich (now the Hawaiian) Islands, and his expedition returned to Eng-
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land, but persisting in his efforts to explore the Pacific Coast, armed with passports from the Russian Government, procured through Thomas Jefferson, then United States minister to France, Ledyard, in 1786, left St. Petersburg, intending to go by land to Kamschatka, cross on one of the Russian vessels to Nootka Sound, enter the latitude of the Missouri, and penetrate through to the United States ; departing on his journey with full assurance of protection while passing through Russian territory. Two hundred miles from Kamschatka, he went into winter quarters, and while preparing for his journey the next spring, he was arrested February 24, 1788, by an officer of the Russian Government, and, forbidden to proceed on his explorations, was conveyed by day and night in a closed carriage direct to Poland, where he was released and given to under- stand that if again found in Russian territory, he would be hanged. Broken in health and spirits, he died in Cairo, Egypt, January 17, 1789, at the age of thirty-eight. Many extracts from his letters to Jefferson have been published.
In 1792, Thomas Jefferson, then secretary of state in the cabinet of George Washington, President of the United States, proposed to the American Philo- sophical Society a subscription to engage some competent person to explore Louisiana, by ascending the Missouri River, crossing the mountains and descend- ing to the Pacific Coast, as Lewis and Clark finally did.
Capt. Meriwether Lewis of the First United States Infantry, then stationed at Charlottesville, Va., on recruiting service solicited his selection for this service. He was to be accompanied by a single person only, and Andre Michaux, a dis- tinguished French botanist, received the appointment. They went as far as Kentucky, when the French minister recalled Michaux, on the plea that his services were required elsewhere by his government in botanical research. Thus a second attempt to explore Louisiana failed.
THE UNITED STATES IN THE PURCHASE OF LOUISIANA
In 1801 Thomas Jefferson was inaugurated President of the United States. Spain had ceded Louisiana back to France and Napoleon Bonaparte was pre- paring to defend it against the whole world, but the war clouds of Europe were threatening. Spain had denied to the United States rights previously enjoyed in Louisiana and there was dissatisfaction with France through her attitude in the Floridas. The Mississippi was practically closed to the United States. A proposition had been submitted to the United States Congress, to appropriate $5,000,000, and send an army of 50,000 men to seize the mouth of the Mississippi River. Robert R. Livingston, United States minister to France, was in Paris, endeavoring to arrange the matter amicably with the French. He was joined by James Monroe, of Virginia, commissioned to assist in the work, in whose hands the sum of $2,000,000 was placed to secure the cession of New Orleans and the Floridas. While these negotiations were pending with no apparent likelihood of success, President Jefferson had proposed to Congress that an expedition be sent to trace the Missouri River to its source, crossing the highlands, and follow- ing the best water communication to the Pacific Ocean.
Congress had made this appropriation, and Captain Lewis, who was then President Jefferson's private secretary, had been chosen to carry the plan into effect. Suddenly Napoleon's policy changed and he demanded the United
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States take not only New Orleans and the Floridas, but the whole of Louisiana, and the price finally agreed upon was 80,000,000 francs (about fifteen million dollars) the French commissioners insisting, however, that the compact must be signed and sealed without delay. The envoys assumed the responsibility and completed the treaty, which was ratified by a vote of twenty-four to seven in the United States Senate, October 20, 1803. The purchase price included 20,000,000 francs for the payment of the debts of the Louisiana Province which the United States assumed. The total expense of the purchase up to June 20, 1880, was $27,267,621. The population of the province at the time of the purchase did not exceed 90,000.
With the conclusion of the treaty, Napoleon, who realized that he must lose this vast possession, was happy in the thought that it would not fall to England, and that he was free to attack that nationality in another direction.
Greatness had been "thrust upon" our country. Jefferson was perplexed, for he did not believe that the constitution warranted this transaction. The opposition stormed and ridiculed. The East was bitter in its opposition, but those who were pushing their way westward, knew there was no longer danger of attack upon our country from the West. The South rejoiced.
THE LEWIS AND CLARK EXPEDITION
The instructions to Captain Lewis were signed June 20, 1803. It was not then known that Louisiana had been ceded to the United States, though such treaty was signed on the 30th of April, for the information did not reach this country until about the first of July. There were no ocean liners in those days, no steamships, no cables to transmit news now flashed across an ocean or a con- tinent in a moment; therefore Captain Lewis bore the passports of both the French and English ministers, the latter for use on the western part of their trip.
Captain Lewis had been intimate with the Indians; he was familiar with their habits and customs, their hopes and fears, and the tender spots in their hearts, and Jefferson knew that nothing but the impossible would divert him from his purpose. He could confide in his capacity and courage, for he had known him from boyhood, and for two years had employed him as his private secretary. He caused him to take special instruction on scientific subjects and to make other needful preparation for his work. His instructions required him to study the soil and climate, the topography, the inhabitants, etc., and urged upon him the importance of extending to the Indians the most friendly treat- ment.
July 5, 1803, Captain Lewis left Washington, proceeding to Pittsburgh, and reaching St. Louis in December of the same year. spent the winter in further preparation for work, at the mouth of Wood River on the east side of the Mississippi River, outside of the jurisdiction of the Spanish officers.
William Clark, a younger brother of Gen. George Rogers Clark, was asso- ciated with Captain Lewis. He had been in the regular army, had resigned on account of ill health, and had served as a captain of militia. His rank on the expedition was second lieutenant of artillery until January 31, 1806, when he was promoted first lieutenant. He was promised, however, before undertaking
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the expedition the rank of captain of engineers, and was to have equal rank and authority with Captain Lewis. He was so recognized by Captain Lewis. His official signature was captain of engineers.
In addition to Captain Lewis and Captain Clark, the party consisted of four- teen picked men from the United States army-born and bred among the dangers and difficulties incident to frontier life, nine young men from Kentucky, two French watermen, an interpreter, a hunter and the colored servant of Captain Clark, named "York," also, a corporal and six men and nine water- men, who were to return when they reached the Mandan nation.
Their means of transportation was a keel-boat fifty-five feet long drawing three feet of water. It carried one large square sail and twenty-two oars, and had a deck of ten feet in the bow and stern, affording cabin and forecastle. Midships it was fitted with lockers, which might be raised for breastworks in case of need. There were, also, two open boats, one of six and the other of seven oars.
After spending the winter at Wood River, they broke camp May 14, 1804, at 4 P. M. and made four miles that evening, the next day making ten miles, and reached St. Charles the third day. St. Charles then had about four hundred and fifty inhabitants, relying principally for subsistence upon hunting and trade with the Indians.
THE JUNE RISE IN THE MISSOURI
On the 23rd they found a small American settlement at Goodman Creek, and in a few days evidently encountered the "June rise" in the Missouri River, for they speak of the cut banks of the river falling so rapidly as to force them to change their course instantly to the other side. The sand bars were shifting continuously, and the current was so strong, that it was scarcely possible to make any headway. Some days by the aid of the sail, even, it was impossible to make more than four miles.
The current of the river at the time of the June rise is about seven miles an hour. The river runs nearly bank full from the melting snows in the mountains, and the heavy rains of that season, and wherever the current strikes the shore it . quickly cuts away the banks, which tumble in; several rods of the bank often disappearing in one day. The water is extremely muddy, but when settled is considered perfectly pure and healthful, and is clear above the mouth of the Yellowstone River, where that stream joins the Missouri.
THE ARIKARA VILLAGES
Lewis and Clark arrived at the three Arikara- villages about three miles above the mouth of the Grand River, October 8, 1804. The villages extended up the river about four miles, and numbered about two thousand six hundred men. The first composed of about sixty lodges, was on an island three miles in length, covered with fields of corn, beans, potatoes and squashes. The prin- cipal chiefs of the first village were Kakawissassa or Lighting Crow, Pocasse or Hay and Piaheto or Eagle's Feather.
The chief of the second village was Lassel and the chief of the third village,
WILLIAM CLARK
MERIWETHER LEWIS
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Ar-ke-tar-na-shar, who accompanied the expedition to the Mandan villages for the purpose of negotiating a peace treaty between the Arikaras and Mandans, who were then at war.
Lewis and Clark met the Indians in council at their respective villages, and after stating the object of their visit, urged the importance of maintaining peace with the Mandans and Hidatsas, especially in view of the aggressive disposition of the Sioux. In token of their appreciation of the friendly advice given them, the Indians supplied them liberally from their store of corn and beans. They also gave them a quantity of large, rich beans, collected by the gophers ("prairie mice" as written in their journal), and secured from their burrows by the squaws. In return they gave the Indians a steel corn mill and other appropriate presents.
Several Frenchmen were living at the Arikara villages; among them Joseph Gravelines and Anthony Tabeau, traders, were active in bringing the Indians together for a conference on October 10th. Another meeting was held on the IIth at the upper Arikara Village, and another on the 12th. On the 14th they passed the forty-sixth parallel.
Gravelines accompanied one of the chiefs to the Mandan villages in connec- tion with the proposed peace negotiations, and a peace treaty was finally arranged between the Arikaras, Mandans and Hidatsas, now known as the Berthold Indians, which has been maintained between these tribes for more than one hundred years.
Sergt. Patrick Gass, who accompanied the expedition, visited a large number of Indian lodges, and in his memoirs left a very interesting description of the Arikara lodge or dwelling house, as follows:
"In a circle of a size suited to the dimensions of the intended lodge, they set up sixteen forked posts, five or six feet high, and lay poles from one fork to another. Against these poles they lean other poles, slanting from the ground and extending about four inches above the cross poles; these are to receive the ends of the upper poles that support the roof. They next set up four large forks fifteen feet high and about ten feet apart, in the middle of the area, and poles or beams between these. The roof poles are then laid on, extending from the lower poles across the beams, which rest on the middle forks of such a length as to leave a hole at the top for a chimney. The whole is then covered with willow branches, except the chimney and a hole below to pass through. On the willow branches they lay grass and lastly clay. At the hole below they build a pen about four feet wide and projecting ten feet from the hut, and hang a buffalo skin at the entrance of the hut for a door. This labor, like every other kind, is chiefly performed by the squaws."
The ground on the inside of the lodge was excavated for about a foot and a half below the surface, and the earth from the excavation was thrown up against the poles, forming an embankment which added to the warmth and served as a protection in case of attack. The lodges were large enough to admit the horses belonging to the family, separated by a partition from the living part.
In approaching the Arikara villages the expedition had passed through a long strip of country occupied by the Sioux, who were threatening and defiant in their attitude. Captain Lewis in his journal, thus writes of them:
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"Relying on a regular supply of merchandise through the channel of the St. Peters (Minnesota) River, they viewed with contempt the merchants of the Missouri, whom they never fail to plunder when in their power. Persuasion or advice with them is viewed as supplication, and only tends to inspire them with contempt for those who offer either. The tameness with which the merchants of the Missouri have hitherto submitted to their rapacity, has tended not a little to inspire them with contempt for the white persons who visit them through that channel. A prevalent idea among them, and one that they make the rule of their conduct, is that the more illy they treat the traders, the greater quantity of merchandise they will bring them, and that they will obtain the articles they wish on better terms; they have endeavored to inspire the Ricaras ( Arikaras) with similar sentiments, but, happily without considerable effect."
Yet the Sioux were in the possession of some good qualities. The late Gen- eral Gouverneur K. Warren served among them as an officer of the United States army, and knew them well, and in his reports spoke kindly of them. In 1855, he wrote :
"I have always found the Dakotas exceedingly reasonable beings, with a very proper appreciation of their rights. What they yield to the whites they expect to be paid for, and I have never heard a prominent man of their nation express any opinion in regard to what was due them in which I did not concur. Many of them view the extinction of their race as the inevitable result of the operation of present causes, and do so with all the feeling of despair with which we should contemplate the extinction of our nationality."
The Sioux claimed a vast extent of country and within its limits were at all times ready to contend for what they regarded their rights. Among the characteristics of the Sioux was their fondness for intoxicating liquors, and they would make almost any sacrifice to obtain it; but of the Arikaras it was said by Lewis and Clark :
"We were equally gratified at the discovery that the Ricarees made use of no spirituous liquors of any kind, the example of the traders who bring it to them, so far from tempting, having, in fact, disgusted them. Supposing it was as agreeable to them as to other Indians, we had offered them whiskey, but they refused it with the sensible remark that they were surprised that the father should present to them a liquor which would make them fools."
On another occasion they observed that no man could be their friend who tried to lead them into such follies.
None of the Missouri River Indians were then addicted to the use of intoxi- cating liquors, excepting the Sioux, who obtained it from the British traders on the Minnesota River, and the Assiniboines who secured it from the British traders on the Assiniboine River.
The attitude of the Arikaras was friendly, and in speaking of the Sioux who had closed the way to trade to them, forcing them to rely on the Sioux for arms and ammunition, their principal chief said the door to their country was now open and no man dare close it.
There were some things, however, they believed to be essential to their happiness. They were poor, but they would give anything for red paint. They were tender-hearted and very proud. When one of the soldiers of the expedi- tion was punished by whipping, an Indian chief cried aloud in agony. He said
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his people sometimes exacted the penalty of death for misdemeanors, but never that of being whipped, not even from children.
GREAT HERDS OF BUFFALO
October 18th the party reached Cannonball River, and in their journal great herds of buffalo, elk, deer and goats (antelope) are noted. From one point they counted fifty-two distinct herds of buffalo and three of elk. The great plains surrounding the location of the future City of Bismarck were literally covered with buffalo, elk, antelope and other game.
Arriving at Sibley Island on the 20th they made note of the deserted Mandan villages in the vicinity of Bismarck and Mandan, and the old fortified village about a mile from the site of the present capital of North Dakota. The beau- tiful plains and the presence of coal near the locality where Washburn is situated were specially attractive features.
The Mandans informed Lewis and Clark that it was about forty years since they left their villages about Bismarck and Mandan, and moved up to the Knife River.
MANDAN VILLAGES
October 27. 1804. they went into camp for the winter at a point a short distance below the mouth of Knife River, in latitude 47 degrees, 21 minutes, and 47 seconds, and the computed distance from the mouth of the Missouri, 1,600 miles.
On the second day after their arrival, an extensive prairie fire raged in the vicinity of the Mandan villages, resulting in several serious accidents. One woman, caught by the fire with a half-white baby in her arms, dropped the child on the prairie, covered it with a green or uncured buffalo skin, and made good her own escape from the flames. The fire passed around the child, leaving it uninjured. The Indians accepted this incident as proof that the whites were good medicine, and this to a large extent, accounted for their kindly disposition toward the expedition.
October 29th, they had a council with the Indians, and gave appropriate presents to the chiefs of each village. To Black Cat the Grand Chief, they gave an American flag.
The chiefs made or recognized that day by Lewis and Clark, were as follows :
Of the first or lower Mandan village, situated on the present site of Deapolis, then known as Matootonha, first chief, Shahaka or Big White; second chief, Ka-goh-ha-mi or Little Raven; inferior chiefs were Ohheena or Big Man, a Cheyenne captive adopted by the Mandans, and She-ta-har-re-ra or Coal.
Of the second village, called Roop-tar-hee, the only one situated on the north side of the Missouri River, they made Pose-cop-sa-he or Black Cat, the first chief of the village and the grand chief of the whole Mandan tribe. His second chief was Car-gar-no-mok-she, or Raven Man Chief; the inferior chiefs were Taw- nuh-e-o Bel-lar-sara and Ar-rat-tana-mock-she, Wolf Man Chief.
The third village in the immediate vicinity of the present site of Stanton, was called Mah-har-ha and of this Ta-tuck-co-pin-re-ha or White Buffalo Robe Un- folded, was the first chief, and Min-nis-sur-ra-ree, or Neighing Horse, and
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Le-cong-gar-ti-bar, or Old-Woman-at-a-Distance, were recognized as inferior chiefs.
Half a mile from this village was a Minetaree village called Me-te-har-tan. Of this Omp-se-ha-ra, or Black Moccasin, was first chief, and Oh-harh, or Little Fox, second chief.
The Ahnahaways, called Souliers by the French, lived in this village. They merged with the Hidatsas about thirty years later, and have since been recognized as a part of that tribe. The Souliers numbered, at this time, about 50 men, the Hidatsa 450, and the Mandans 350.
The fourth village was called Me-te-har-tan. The principal chief was Mar- noh-tah, or Big Thief ; he was at war and was killed soon afterwards.
The chiefs recommended were Mar-se-rus-se, or Tail-of-the-Calumet-Bird, Ea-pa-ne-pa, or Two-Tailed-Calumet-Bird, and War-ke-ras-sa, the Red Shield.
The fifth or Hidatsa village was on the north side of the Knife River, 11/2 miles above its mouth, near Causey. It was the home of Le Borgne, Mau-pah- pir-re-cos-sa-too, the dominating influence in the Mandan villages, but he was absent at the time of the arrival of Lewis and Clark. The chiefs recommended at the council for recognition were Sha-hake-ho-pin-nee, or Little Wolf Medi- cine and Ar-rat-toe-no-mook-ge, Man Wolf Chief, who was at war. He was represented by Cal-tar-co-ta, or Cherry-on-the-Bush, by whom the usual chief's presents were sent to Le Borgne.
When David Thompson of the North-West Company visited the Mandan villages in 1796, he found in the five villages 318 houses and seven tents. There were then two villages on the north side of the Missouri River, united in one before the visit of Lewis and Clark. This village was about three miles from the other Mandan villages on the Knife River.
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