Dilemma #6

Summer 1805

You continue on your course about two miles with Goodrich at your side; soon your ears are treated to the sound of water falling. Advancing further, you notice a spray rising above the plains. The roar is “too tremendous to be mistaken for any cause short of the Great Falls of the Missouri.”

You advance down the river about three miles, seeking a spot where the canoes can be taken on shore for the portage. You return without a plan. The river seems to be one continuous scene of rapids and cascades.

Clark provides you with information concerning the portage. The north side of the river appears to have many ravines. The cliffs perpendicular to the river rise 150 to 200 feet above the banks.

Two scouts continue to explore the river and the creek above it. Their reports increase your uneasiness. There are two deep ravines on the south side; higher than any you have seen. The river appears to bend southwest. Does it continue bending, making the south side a shorter passage?

You are eager to continue your journey. Winter is approaching fast; you must make it over the mountains before the snow gets too deep. Which side of the river should you portage – the south or the north?

Dilemma #5

June 3, 1805

You and your men form a camp at the junction of two rivers. You have yet to reach the Great Falls of the Missouri that the Native Americans told you about. Which river is the Missouri? A mistake at this point in the journey would disappoint the entire Corps: it could even defeat the expedition.

You decide to scout both rivers on foot. The north fork is deeper than the south; it current is not as swift, but its water run in the same boiling and rolling manner as the Missouri. The south fork is very rapid, with smooth round stones like most river coming from a mountainous country.

You become convinced that the branch you scouted, the northern branch, travels much too far to the north for a route to the Pacific. You return the next day to the fork.

It continues to rain through the night. Everyone is disagreeable and restless. The rain has not stopped. The ground is slippery; no one is able to walk on the sides of the bluffs. The ground is clay, making the water saturation difficult and the ground slippery.

As you were walking along the face of one of the bluffs you slip and almost fall ninety feet. You manage to  save yourself with your espontoon. Suddenly you hear Windsor cry out, “Good god Captain, what shall I do?” He too has slipped and fallen. He is lying on his belly, with one hand. One foot is holding on to the edge of the cliff.

Knowing the clay is slippery, how will you attempt to save Windsor? Provided you all survive this experience, which river will you take – the north or the south? 

Dilemma #4

May 14, 1805

Several of your men in the rear canoes discover a large brown bear [grizzly] lying the open ground a short distance from the river banks. Six of your best hunters decide to kill the bear. They manage to get within 40 paces of the bear without being heard. Then, each of them fires at it! Instantly the bear rises up and charges your men. Two of them make it to a canoe; the others hide in the willows. The bear continues to follow two of your men who jump into the river, even though they face a twenty foot drop into the river. The bear is so enraged that he follow the men into the river. Luckily, the two men who remain on shore are able to reload their weapons. They shoot the bear in the head. After your men drag the bear on shore, they discover the bear took eight shots before he was killed. Today’s drama does not stop there!

Back on the river, the pirogues are under sail and cruising along when a sudden squall of wind strikes! Unfortunately, Charbonneau is at the helm of helm of one of the pirogues – the white canoe. He cannot swim, and is very timid waterman. Both co-captains are on shore opposite the pirogue, too far to be heard even if you could yell directions to the out-of-control pirogue.

Instead of turning the rudder into the wind, which is what most good sailors would have known to do, Charbonneau began shouting for God’s mercy. The pirogue fills the water and important articles such as your journals, maps, and instruments begin floating away! Sacagawea and Cruzatte (the bowsman) along with other Corps members on board this pirogue begin to take action, but this is happening very quickly.

Your instinct is to jump in the river and try to save what you can. Should you follow your instinct?

Dilemma #3

April 7, 1805

“We are now about to penetrate a country at least two thousand miles in width, on which the foot of civilized man had never trodden… I could but esteem this moment of my departure as among the most happy of my life. The party are in excellent health and speris, zealously attached to the enterprise, and anxious to proceed; not a whisper of murmur or discontent to be heard among them, but all act in unison, and with the most perfict harmony.”

Meriwhether Lewis

You journey continues. The water is still extremely cold, freezing on the oars. From the report of hunters, you know the river is crooked and the Yellowstone River is near. The wind is blowing violently, making your progress difficult. You need to make observations of the Yellowstone River, yet you do not wish to be detained.

The Hidasta had advised you and your men if you take the Yellowston you could paddle your pirogues all the way to the river’s source in the Rocky Mountains. More importantly, they shared that the Yellowstone’s source was next to the source of the Missouri. Taking this journey would save you time.

Recalling President Jefferson’s instructions, “Beginning at the mouth of the Missouri you will take careful observations of latitude and longitude, at all remarkable points on the river, & especially at the mouths of rivers, at rapids, at islands and other places & objects distinguished by such natural marks & characters of a durable kind, “ you also remember that he wanted you to take the shortest route to the Pacific Ocean.

Should you follow the Yellowstone, the shortest route to the Pacific Ocean, (according to the Hidasta) or continue upstream on the Missouri River?

Dilemma #2

November 1804

Winter is upon you. The depth of the snow is about 18 inches. The temperature plunges below zero. Around 8 o’clock in the morning, a Mandan tribesman from the other side of the lake calls to you to report something of significance.

You send a pirogue to fetch him and the Mandan reports the following:

“five men of the Mandan nation out hunting in a SW direction about eight leagues, was surprised by a large party of Seeoux [Sioux] & Panies [Arikaras], one man was killed and two wounded with arrows and nine horses taken.”

-from the journals of William Clark,

November 30, 1804

Peace is important in the area; this gives you an exceptional opportunity to show your support for the Mandans and to display the firepower of the United States.

You and 23 men cross the river approaching the Mandan nation. They are surprised at the size of the party of men that has come to meet them. You discuss the events that have occurred and offer to help the Mandans pursue – with your weapons – the Native Americans who killed one of their young chiefs.

The Chief is not interested. Do you seek revenge of the Mandans and go after the Sioux and Airkaras anyway?