On the Lewis and Clark’s journey to explore the west side of the United States they encountered several Indian tribes but the ones that were the most dangerous and tense were Blackfeet and the Teton Sioux.

When Lewis came to the Blackfeet nation Wolf Calf was only 13 years old. Wolf Calf said that the Blackfeet met the “white men” in a friendly fashion. The chief directed some warriors to steal some of their goods. The next morning the “white men” sited them trying to steal their goods so one Blackfeet got killed. The first Native American was just killed by the “white men.” Wolf Calf also said that another white man chased down an Indian boy and killed him with a pistol. Wolf Calf said these were boys who were just horse herders they were not warriors. Darrell Kipp said, “The ultimate insult was Lewis deliberately left a peace medal around the neck of a dead Indian boy.” Lewis quoted in July 26, 1809, “From their known character I expected that we were to have some difficulty with them.”

Lewis’s side of the story was Lewis and the Field brothers were ahead on a scouting mission. His mission brought him right into Blackfeet country. He spotted some Blackfeet Indians and went ahead to meet with them while the Field Brothers stayed behind. They sat down and the Blackfeet Indians asked for some pipe and smoke, and they both said who they were. Lewis misunderstood them for the Atsian Indians. Lewis handed them a medal, a flag, and a handkerchief. Blackfeet made a rough dome with willow branches and they threw dressed buffalo skins over it, and they slept in it for the night. Blackfeet invited them in and they accepted. They took turns asking each other a question. Blackfeet said that the 3 divisions of their tribe was only a day’s march away. They were going to all march to a British trading post. It reminded Lewis of Thomas Jefferson’s worries about how the Canadians were already trading and already supplying some of the Indian tribes. However this gave Lewis an opportunity.

He said they would get a better deal from the Americans. Also he said that neighboring tribes had agreed to a peace treaty and that they would be supplied goods including guns including their rivals. Blackfeet left the dome right away. Lewis had just made a big mistake. He told them he had organized alliances with their enemies. As James Ronda quoted, “The clash of the empires had come to Blackfeet.” That night Lewis fell asleep writing in his journal.

Lewis woke to Drouillard shouting, “Damn you! Let go my gun!” Lewis saw Drouillard and an Indian scuffling for Drouillard’s gun. Lewis reached for his gun but it was not there. He grabbed his pistol and shouted to the Indian, which was running away with his gun, that he would shoot him if he did not drop his rifle. The Indian dropped it so no one shot him. When everyone came back to camp and all the guns were picked up Lewis asked what happened. They explained how they left their guns in the open, how the Indians tried to steal their guns where they left them and how they ran and got them back. However Reubin stabbed one Indian in the heart. But before Lewis could hear that Reubin stabbed and Indian in the heart Lewis noticed that some Blackfeet Indians were trying to drive off their horses. Lewis told them to go after their own horses and shot them if they try to steal their horses. Lewis pursued the Indians that were driving off his horse while the others went after theirs. Lewis caught up with Indians that were trying to drive off his horse. One Indian was armed and pointed a British musket at Lewis.

Lewis reacted fast he took out his rifle and pointed it at the Indian and shot. It hit him right through the belly. But the Blackfoot was not done. He took quick aim and fired. Lewis said, “I felt the wind of his bullet very distinctly.” Lewis thought he did not have the odds so he retreated back to camp. When everybody was back everybody started packing up, putting the saddles on the horses. Four of which were stolen from Blackfeet’s and three of which were from his original bunch of horses.

While everybody was getting ready Lewis burned a couple of things. Articles the Indians left behind, four shields, two bows, and two quivers of arrows. What Lewis took was a musket Blackfeet left behind, the flag Lewis had given them, and he cut off the amulets before throwing the shields in the fire. Mad at the Blackfeet treachery, he left the peace medal; he had given out at last night’s campfire, around the neck of the Indian that Reubin had killed. Then he went on to discover more land out there and leaving the Blackfoot tribe in his dust.

The other hostile interference with Indians was with the Teton Sioux Indians. Lewis and Clark were coming into the Teton Sioux territory. Traveling on boat they spotted some Sioux Indians on the bay in the distance. They went to get the rest of the tribe and tell them that “white men” are coming. They were going up the river and they spotted what looked to be the Teton Sioux campsite and they were right. Lewis and Clark presented medals and a cheap hat to the chiefs. The chiefs were not satisfied. So Clark and Lewis said for them to go on their boat so they could negotiate. So they accepted. When they got on the boat the chiefs demanded that they needed a whole boat full of gifts for the expedition to go on. The Teton Sioux got mad then that all they gave them was some worthless medals and a silly hat. Lewis could not take it anymore. The insults were becoming more and more personal. He took his rifle and ordered all hands on deck. His men loaded up their rifles and prepared to fight. Some Teton Sioux on shore saw this and began to cock their shotguns and they also loaded their arrows and what ever they had on them. He came ashore with caution with his rifle cocked and ready. He started to make dire threats. He said he had, “More medicine on board his boat than would kill twenty such nation in one day.” Also he said to Black Buffalo that, “The expedition must go on and will go on.” He said, “His men were not squaws but warriors.” Clark came ashore and offered his hand to the chiefs, but the chiefs refused. They said the night their.

In the morning Black Buffalo made a request they stop at his tribe. So they accepted and stayed over Black Buffalo tribe’s campsite for a couple of nights. They were about to leave, but Black Buffalo wanted more tobacco for the paying of their stay and the letting go of their boat. Clark through a carrot of tobacco on the bay to satisfy them. Black Buffalo was still not pleased. By this time there were three other Indians holding onto the boat. Lewis could not get why he had to pay for the letting go of the boat. Also why he should supply them when they did not nearly have enough to make it through the whole trip. Now Clark was mad that he had to give extra just for the departure. By this point Black Buffalo mad they would not give them three more carrot sticks of tobacco. To let themselves get away from Black Buffalo’s tribe he threw a piece of tobacco on each of Indian’s hands that were holding their boat. Also he threw some pieces on the bay too and the were off again. On their way to discover new land out there for the Americans.

In the end I think Lewis and Clark were both lucky to come out of both Indian’s campsite alive. I think it would and will be their most hostel points in their lives to the day they died. They were lucky enough to not start a war with both tribes.