History:
On July 22, 1806, Lewis halted his northward exploration
of the Marias River here. It was not the natural
boundary for the Louisiana Purchase he had hoped
for. He had also hoped to find an easy portage route
between the Marias and Saskatchewan rivers. Such
a route would have allowed America to divert Canadian
fur trade into American territory at the Missouri
River. It was not to be. Dreary weather and gloomy
prospects gave this camp its name.
Lewis and the nine men with him camped here for
three days before beginning their return to the
Missouri. It was a risky stay as they were deep
in the land of the Blackfeet. In fact, the next
day, they encountered eight Blackfeet warriors and
shared a camp with them. Unfortunately, Lewis also
shared the fact that Americans would trade with
all the tribes in coming years, including enemies
of the Blackfeet. The Blackfoot Confederacy was
the most powerful coalition in Montana at the time.
The prospect of American rifles in the hands of
their enemies threatened their dominance of the
area and their existence.
Early the next morning, Lewis woke to the sounds
of struggle. The warriors and expedition members
fought for possession of the Corps' rifles and horses.
Two of the warriors were killed in the only fatal
encounter of the expedition.
Lewis compounded the gravity of the situation:
"While the men were preparing the horses I
put four sheilds and two bows and quivers of arrows…on
the fire, with sundry other articles…I also
retook the flagg but left the medal about the neck
of the dead man, that they might be informed who
we were."
The other Blackfeet survived to return to their
tribe, and it is thought that this encounter had
lasting consequences. George Drouillard, present
at this fight, was one of three expedition members
to return west after the expedition only to die
in later conflicts with the Blackfeet.
