Lewis and Clark "The Corps of Discovery"
Uploaded by BluesMaster on Mar 18, 2005
The Relationship Between the Natives and the Corps of Discovery
For the corps of discovery the trek was a long and treacherous one with many unknowns. One of their biggest fears were the natives or savages as they called them. On their journey their goal was not only to discover the new land Jefferson purchased but to make peace with the Indians and tell them they now belonged to the U.S. or their new “Great Father”. This was a difficult task, but in most cases they succeeded in doing it without bloodshed. However, there were a few occasions where swords were drawn. This essay will detail the relationship between the Indians and the corps from the good, bad and the indifferent.
Further along in the expedition near the northwest tip of Oregon on the southern side of the Columbia River the Corps built Fort Clatsop. While in the process of building they were visited by Coboway, a chief of the Clatsop tribe. The Clatsops were a flourishing people who fought few wars and had few enemies. While Coboway was there he traded goods with the expedition and made himself welcomed. During the winter he was a frequent visitor. On his many visits he aided them in dealing with the harshness of the winter. He told them about the abundance of elk and in time when food was low he informed them about a beached whale a couple of miles away. At the end of the journey for his kindness Coboway was left Fort Clatsop. This was one friendly Indian encounter, however not all tribes were this congenial.
In July of 1806 the expedition met eight Blackfeet warriors. When the Indians found out the corps had come in peace they camped out with them. The Blackfeet were a belligerent tribe. For 20 years they had dominated their rivals the Shoshone and Nez Perce because of their trade with British merchants for guns. This gave them the edge over their neighbors. When the expedition told them that they would now belong to the U.S. they were fine. However, when it was mentioned that the Shoshone and Nez Perce had already accepted the integration and would receive munitions and supplies the warriors recognized that this posed a threat to the Blackfeet rule. They devised a plan to steal the expedition’s guns, but it was hampered when two warriors were killed by Reuben Field and Lewis....