Daily 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 plain. 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 portage?
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?

Daily 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; its current is not as
swift, but its waters run in the same boiling and rolling manner as the Missouri. The south fork is very
rapid, with smooth round stones like most rivers 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 branch will you take—the north or the south?

Daily Dilemma #4

May 14, 1805
Several of your men in the rear canoes discover a large brown bear [grizzly] lying in the open ground a
short distance from the river bank. 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 follows 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 one of the pirogues—the white canoe. He cannot swim,
and is a very timid waterman. Both co-captains are on shore opposite the pirogue, too far away 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 with 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?

Daily 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 sperits, 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.”
Meriwether Lewis
Your 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 Hidatsa had advised you and your men if you take the Yellowstone 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 & longitude, at all remarkable points on the river, & especially at the
mouths of rivers, at rapids, at islands, & other places & objects distinguished by such natural marks &
characters of a durable kind,” you also remember that he wanted you take the shortest route to the
Pacific Ocean.
Should you follow the Yellowstone, the shortest route to the Pacific Ocean, (according to the Hidatsa)
or continue upstream on the Missouri River?

Daily Dilemma #2

November 1804
Winter is upon you. The depth of the snow is about 18 inches. The temperature plunges below zero.
Around eight 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 the their young
chiefs.
The Chief is not interested. Do you seek revenge of the Mandans and go after the Sioux and Arikaras
anyway?