Corps reunites with the Nez Perce Indians Series on Web site

May 27, 2006 12:50 am

This painting by E. S. Paxson depicts the Corps of Discovery during their stay with the Nez Perce Indians while the explorers waited for the snow to melt in the mountains.

Part 75 of a series

AS THE EXPLORERS proceeded up the Columbia and Clear- water rivers by land, on foot and horseback, they had plenty of good horses to help carry their effects. This was due to the kindness of the Walla-Wallas. This tribe had been exceptionally generous with their horses as a result of Capt. Clark's medical efforts for their tribe members. The Nez Perce had also been keeping horses for the corps since the previous fall. Once the Corps members re ached the Nez Perce, they would have a herd of 60 horses.

Bad news from the Nez Perce: The Bitterroot Mountains were blocked with snow, often 10 to 15 feet deep or more, and the Corps would not be able to cross this range until the middle of June.

From the Journals, week of May 8, 1806:

MAY 8, 1806: "Drewyer [George Drouillard] and [Private Pierre] Cruzatte brought [in] each a deer. [Pvt. John] Collins wounded another which my dog caught at a little distance from the camp we met the Twisted Hair [a Nez Perce leader] and a party of six men. To this Chief we had confided the care of our horses and a part of our saddles when we decended the river last fall..A quarrel had taken place between Chiefs " --Capt. Lewis

MAY 9: "Proceeded on through a butifull open rich country for 6 miles to the camp of twisted hair. Late in the evening they [several of the Corps members and a couple of Indian boys] returned with 21 of our horses [part of the string of horses left in the care of the Nez Perce Indians the previous fall] and about half of our saddles The greater part of the horses were in fine order, tho' five of them had been rode & worsted in such a manner by the Inds. [Indians] and 3 with sore backs wind blew hard from the S.W. accompanied with rain until from 7 oClock until 9 P.M. when it began to snow and continues all night." --Capt. Clark

MAY 10: "The air clean and cold the snow 8 inches deep on the plain, we collected out horses and set out for the village of the Chief with a flag " --Capt. Clark

MAY 10: "At 4 in the afternoon we decended the hills to Commearp creek and arrived at the Village of Tunnachemootoolt, the cheeif at whos lodge we had left a flag last fall. This flag was now displayed on a staff placed at no great distance from the lodge. Underneath the flag the Chief met my friend Captain C [Clark} " --Capt. Lewis

MAY 11: "The last evening we were much crouded with the indians in our lodge, the whole floor of which was covered with their carcases. We arrose early and took breakfast all those chiefs were present in our lodge thought it a favorable time to repeat the views of our government " --Capt. Lewis

MAY 12: "Capt Clark attended on the Sick natives. Three brave men of this tribe painted up three of their horses the best they had & were excellent horses they made a present of them to our officers. our officers gave them some Some ammunition and they locked hands as a Sincere token of friendship " --Sgt. Ordway

MAY 13: " we collected all our horses 60 in number now together and all good except 4 which has Sore backs, &c went a short distance down the kookooskee river [now the Clearwater River] and halted to wait for a canoe we intend crossing the river here and Camp on the other Side until Such time as the Snow will admit of our crossing the mountains " --Sgt. Ordway

MAY 14: "The morning fair arose early and dispatched a few hunters to the opposite side of the river, and employed a part of the men in transporting our baggage to a position previously selected for our camp as we are compelled to reside a while in this neighborhood I feel perfectly satisfied with our position " --Capt. Lewis

BILL SPEIDEN of Orange County serves on the board of directors of the Lewis and Clark Exploratory Center in Charlottesville. Call him at 540/672-2596, or e-mail
Email: oxpwr@yahoo.com.

To see the entire "Lewis and Clark This Week" series on The Free Lance-Star's Web site, visit fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/ Projects/2005/lewis_and_clark.