Epping in Williams County, North Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

"Lewis Mistaken For an Elk"

Lewis and Clark State Park

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, February 2, 2011

1. "Lewis Mistaken For an Elk" Marker

Inscription. On August 11th 1806, Captain Meriwether Lewis and Pierre Cruzatte, a fiddler blind in one eye and with poor sight in the other, went to shore to hunt for elk. Then, as Lewis wrote in his journal, "a ball struck my left thye about an inch below my hip joint, missing the bone it passed through the left thye and cut the thickness of the bullet across the hinder part of the right thye; the strike was very severe; I instantly supposed that Cruzatte had shot me in mistake for an Elk as I was dressed in brown leather and he cannot see very well."

Cruzatte pleaded innocence, but conceded that he must have done this when he shot at an elk in the willows. Lewis held no grudge toward Cruzatte but, as a result of his injury, Lewis spent much of the return voyage on his stomach in the bottom of a perogue.

Erected by North Dakota Parks & Recreation Department.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Disasters • Exploration. In addition, it is included in the Lewis & Clark Expedition series list. A significant historical date for this entry is August 11, 1806.

Location. 48° 7.44′ N, 103° 13.895′ W.

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Marker is in Epping, North Dakota, in Williams County. It can be reached from 119th Road Northwest near 121 Street North West. The marker is located st a kiosk in Lewis and Clark State Park, ND. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 119th Road Northwest, Epping ND 58843, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Dakota’s Bakken Oil Patch.

It is also in the American Lewis & Clark Corridor,

on the prairies,

and on the Northern Plains.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 5 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: "Handsome High Planes" (here, next to this marker); Lewis and Clark State Park (here, next to this marker); "Great Numbers" (here, next to this marker); "Keeping up with Necessities" (here, next to this marker); Tobacco Garden Bay (approx. 6 miles away).

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, February 2, 2011

2. "Lewis Mistaken For an Elk" Marker

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, February 2, 2011

3. "Lewis Mistaken For an Elk" Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on July 26, 2024. It was originally submitted on July 26, 2024, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 157 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 26, 2024, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.