January 16, 1805

"one of the 1st War Chiefs* of the big bellies nation came to see us to day.  we shot the air gun and gave two shots with the cannon which pleased them verry much... this war chief gave us a chart in his way of the Missourie, he informed us of his intentions of going to war in the Spring against the Snake Indians  we advised him to look back at the number of the nations who had been distroyed by war, and reflect upon what he was about to do, observing if he wished the hapiness of his nation, he would be at peace with all, by that by being at peace and haveing plenty of goods amongst them & free intercourse with those defenceless nations, they would get on easy terms a gret Number of horses, and that nation would increas, if he went to was against those Defenceless people, he would displease his great father, and he would not receive that pertection & care from him as other nations who listened to his word -   This Chief who is a young man 26 yr. old replied that ifhis going to war against the Snake indians would be displeasing to us be would not go, he had horses enough." 

From the Journal of Whitehouse - "I came to the fort & 2 more men with me  my feet got some easier."  (On January 14, Joseph Whitehouse could not return to the Fort because of frost bite).

War Chiefs* - Perhaps Seeing Snake of the Hidatsas, who came again February 1.

January 17, 1805

" the wind blew hard from the north and it began to freeze."

January 18, 1805

" Mr. La Rock & McKinzey* Came down to see us."

La Rock & McKinzey*  - Larocque and McKenzie with the Northwest Trading Company

January 19, 1805

 " two men were sent with horses for meat, to the hunter’s Camp, which is thirty miles down river."

January 20, 1805

A few of the men visit a neighboring village: " they treated us friendly and gave us victuals… they believe by using the head well the living buffaloe will come and that they will get a supply of meat." Patrick Gass

January 21, 1805

" our hunters returned to the fort, and brought with them three horse load of venison and elk meat."
 

January 22, 1805 (Lewis and Clark's weather journals from January 1 - 22, 1805, documented 16 days of sub-zero temperatures; January 10th as the coldest day at 40º  below 0.)

  " attempted to Cut the Boat & the perogues out of the Ice, found water at about 8 inches under the 1st Ice, the next thickness about 3 feet."  Clark
 

January 23, 1805

"continue cutting the ice from about our craft, in order to get them out of the river."