Trading with the Mandans

January 12, 1805

The Mandan have been very hospitable as we waited out the long winter.  We had a relatively warm stay gathering around the fear huddled in our fur coats that we had obtained from the Mandan.  Trading was a regular part of life in the Corps.  It was sometimes the only way to survive in this harsh winter.  John Shield has been hard at work as the only blacksmith.  He has spent hours working up a sweat in the forge repairing tools, guns, and battle axes.  We finally had to charge the Indians food to get repairs, which worked out nicely.  Captains Lewis is also making a prophet as a doctor caring to the needs of ill Indians.  

R.I.P. Sergeant Floyd

August 21, 1804

Captain Clark and Captain Lewis had been hard at work, caring for Sergeant Floyd's ailments.  It started as a simple stomach pain, but as the journey progressed he worsened.  We did not have proper medicine and Rush's Thunderbolts didn't having an effect.  I fear the worst, and I hope he will fare well.  I was wrong.  Sergeant Floyd died August 20, 1804.  They say he died a violent death.  We buried him on a bluff overlooking the missouri.  He had a formal military burial.  Captain Lewis read from the bible and marked the grave.  He blamed himself for the death.  We voted for a new sergeant and moved on.

Four-Wing Saltbush

September 21, 1804

The Four-Wing Saltbush was on of the most interesting plant we have found today on the Big Bend.  It appeared to grow in many ways; compact and rounded, sprawling and low, or open-branched and treelike.  The plant has greenish purplish leaves that grow in small clusters on the bush.  Its height ranges from 6ft to even 15ft.

Aromatic Aster

September 21, 1804

We found a new flower today at the big bend on the Missouri River.  It has a sweet smell and I was surprised by its design.  The stem of the flower is  about 20 inches.  It has narrow peddles which meet at the canter, a yellow ball of pollen.  I counted around 30 peddles.  The peddles and stem  have small hairs that feel rough at the touch.

Lewis 'n Clark

Captain Lewis and Captain Clark are similar and different in many ways.  They both were muscular and around around six feet tall.  The men are great friends and they complement each other on about everything.  Captain Clark is a better boatman, and Captain Lewis is a better navigator of the two. Captain Clark is a better mapmaker, he is always at the bow of the boat maping the landscape.  Captain Lewis is a better botanist and biologist, he is collecting samples wherever we go.  Captain Clark is comfortable with company and enjoys a good laugh.  Captain Lewis is a man of few words, he only speaks when he needs to.

Our Boats

We are taking two canoe like boats that are called pirogues.  They carry men and supplies.  Our mothership the 55 foot keelboat witch could be towed, pulled from the shore, poled, our sailed.  It carries most of our supplies, making it the most important asset of our trip.  The keelboat is not as versatile as the other two pirogues.  We have already had trouble with sandbars, logs, and even overhanging branches.  It has been a pain getting this boat upriver.  A good day we would make it ten miles up river, but on bad days we may only make a mile.

My Crew

Amanda is a cook, plays the piano, clarinet, drums, xylophone, is an exceptional artist, is a hard worker, and is a brave rafter.  On our trip she hopes to discover new recipes, fashion, and art.

Brian is a great sailor and knows his way around any boat.  He will also cook or eat anything.  He hopes to collect instruments and maybe some recipes.

Clay can read a map and is good with a compass.  He says he is a great story teller and that his stories will boost the morale of our group.  Clay loves to make people laugh.

Quinn has many talents and interests.  He is a great cook and can whip up some delicious meals on the trip.  Quinn always has a sense of direction.  He likes to hike and enjoy the outdoors.

Alex loves to cook, is good with kids , loves to meet new people, and is always the first to ask "are we there yet?"

Jake has a natural sense of direction, knows how to survive in unfamiliar places.  He is a great swimmer and he also knows how to tame a horse.

Ryan is very creative and has a different perspective on things.  He would like to bring back memories.

Morgan is a good cook and handles very well with children.

Andrew is an expert negotiator.  He can easily sway Natives to trade us their goods along the trip.  He wishes to learn from the Natives a we head west.

Gabe is an inspired poet.

Evy is a good actor and plays the violin.  She is interested in making up stories and mythology.

Sammie is a talker, which may prove to be useful on the trip.