Establishing Rock Fort

Establishing Rock Fort. . Although the Lewis and Clark expedition established Rock Fort under ominous conditions, their experience was not as threatening as they had been warned. It is possible that the perceived hostility had more to do with the tensions between the up-river Nez Perce and the mid-Columbia Wasco and Wishram than with animosity toward the white men. , After the harsh, veeless game-scarce region the expedition had passed through east of here, the Dalles was a welcome change. Clarke noted that the Rock Fort camp was in "a timbered bottom and the first timber we have Seen near the river for a long distance." To Clark the timber signaled a welcome change in diet from the rich pounded salmon to game that was virtually unavailable in eastern Oregon. Clark wrote in his journal that this place was "Convenieant to hunt" and that "one man killed a Small deer... I killed a goose, and Suped hastily on venison and goose." On October 26, 1805 Clark made an entry in his journal noting cordial relations. He said."In the evening 2 Chief and 15 men came over in a single canoe, those Chfs proved to be the 2 great Chiefs of the tribes above, one gave me a dressed Elk Skin, and gave us Som deer meet, and 2 Cakes of white bread made of white roots." Lewis and Clark reciprocated "we gave each Chief a Meadel of the Small Size a red Silk handkerchief and a knife to the 1st a arm ban and a pin of Paint and a Comb to his Son a piece of ribbon tied to a tin gorget and 2 hams of Venison They determined to Stay with us all night, we had a fire made for them and one man played on the violin which pleased them much my Servent danced." , The expedition arrived at Rock Fort October 25th and departed on the 28th. These three days were spent hunting, drying wet cargo, gathering pine rosin and using it to repair their dug out canoes. Visitors from up and down the Columbia visited the Rock Fort camp each day and the expedition shared their food and smoked with their guests. There was no attack at Rock Fort.