The Journals of Lewis and Clark, 1804-1806 Part 3

The guard shall hereafter consist of one sergeant and six privates & engages.

Patroon, Dechamp, Copl. Warvington, and George Drewyer, are exempt from guad duty; the two former will attend particularly to their perogues at all times, and see that their lading is in good order, and that the same is kept perfectly free from rain or other moisture; the latter will perform certain duties on sh.o.r.e which will be a.s.signed him from time to time. all other soldiers and engaged men of whatever discription must perform their regular tour of guad duty.

All detales for guard or other duty will be made in the evening when we encamp, and the duty to be performed will be entered on, by the individuals so warned, the next morning.--provision for one day will be issued to the party on each evening after we have encamped; the same will be cooked on that evening by the several messes, and a proportion of it reserved for the next day as no cooking will be allowed in the day while on the mach

Sergt. John Ordway will continue to issue the provisions and make the detales for guard or other duty.--The day after tomorrow lyed corn and grece will be issued to the party, the next day Poark and flour, and the day following indian meal and poark; and in conformity to that ratiene provisions will continue to be issued to the party untill further orders.--should any of the messes prefer indian meal to flour they may recieve it accordingly--no poark is to be issued when we have fresh meat on hand.

Labuche and Crusat will man the larboard bow oar alternately, and the one not engaged at the oar will attend as the Bows-man, and when the attention of both these persons is necessary at the bow, their oar is to be maned by any idle hand on board.

Meriwether Lewis Capt.

Wm. Clark Cpt.

[Clark, May 27, 1804]

Sunday May 27th as we were Setting out this morning two Canoos loaded with Bever elk Deer Skins & Buffalow Robes, from the Mahars nation, they inform that they left that place 2 months, a gentle Breese from the S. E, we camped on an Isd in the mouth of Gasconade R, this river is 157 yards wide a butifull stream of clear water. 19 foot Deep Hills on the lower Side

[Clark, May 27, 1804]

May 27th Sunday 1804 as we were pus.h.i.+ng off this Morning two Canoos Loaded with fur &c. Came to from the Mahars nation, which place they had left two months, at about 10 oClock 4 Cajaux or rafts loaded with furs and peltres came too one from the Paunees, the other from Grand Osage, they informed nothing of Consequence, pa.s.sed a Creek on the Lbd Side Called ash Creek 20 yds wide, pa.s.sed the upper point of a large Island on the Stbd Side back of which Comes in three Creeks one Called Orter Creek, her the men we left hunting Came in we camped on a Willow Island in the mouth of Gasconnade River. George Shannon Killed a Deer this evening

[Clark, May 28, 1804]

Monday 28th May rained hard all the last night Some wind from the S W, one Deer Killed to day, one Man fell in with Six Indians hunting, onloaded the perogue, & found Several articles Wet, Some Tobacco Spoiled. river begin to rise

[Clark, May 28, 1804]

May 28th Munday 1804 Gasconnade Rained hard all last night Some thunder & lightening hard wind in the forepart of the night from the S W. Ruben Fields Killed a Deer Several hunter out to day I measured the river found the Gasconnade to be 157 yds. wide and 19 foot Deep the Course of this R. is S 29 W, one of the hunters fell in with 6 Inds. hunting, onloaded the large Perogue on board of which was 8 french hands found many things wet by their cearlenessness, put all the articles which was wet out to Dry--this day So Cloudy that no observations could be taken, the river begin to rise, examine the mens arms and equapage, all in Order

[Clark, May 29, 1804]

Tuesday 29th May Sent out hunters, got a morning obsvtn and one at 12 oClock, rained last night, the river rises fast The Musquetors are verry bad, Load the pierogue

[Clark, May 29, 1804]

May 29th 1804 Set out from the mouth of the gasconnade, where we took obsevn &c. left a Perogue for a man lost in the woods, Course N. 54 W 2 m to a point Lb. Side. Pa.s.sed the Isd. on which we Camped, river still rised, water verry muddey N. 78 W 2 Ms. to a pt. on Lb Side pa.s.sed two willow Islands first Smaller and a Creek on Lbd. called Deer Creek one oposit the point St. Side and incamped on the Lb Side rain all night the tents together along the N; 76 W 25 Poles S 26 W, to the point above--S 19 to the pot below the River

[Clark, May 29, 1804]

May 29th Tuesday rained last night, Cloudy morning 4 hunters Sent out with Orders to return at 12 oClock Took equal alt.i.tudes of Suns Lower limb found it 105 31' 45"

Cap Lewis observed meridean alt.i.tude of sun U L-back observation with the octant & artificeal horozen--gave for alt.i.tude on the Limb 38 44'

00" sun octant Error 2 0 0 +

had the Perogues loaded and all perpared to Set out at 4 oClock after finis.h.i.+ng the observations & all things necessary found that one of the hunters had not returned, we deturmined to proceed on & leave one perogue to wate for him, accordingly at half past four we Set out and came on 4 miles & camped on the Lbd Side above a Small Creek Called Deer Creek, Soon after we came too we heard Several guns fire down the river, we answered them by a Discharge of a Swivile on the Bow

[Clark, May 30, 1804]

May 30th, Wednesday, Set out at 7 oClock after a heavy rain, rained all last night, a little after Dark last night Several guns were herd below, I expect the French men fireing for Whitehous who was lost in the woods.

[Clark, May 30, 1804]

May 30th Wednesday 1804 Rained all last night Set out at 6 oClock after a heavy Shower, and proceeded on, pa.s.sed a large Island a Creek opposit on the St. Side just abov a Cave Called Monbrun Tavern & River, pa.s.sed a Creek on the Lbd. Side Call Rush Creek at 4 Miles Several Showers of rain the Current Verry Swift river riseing fast Pa.s.sed Big Miry River at 11 Miles on the Starboard Side, at the lower point of a Island, this River is about 50 yards Wide, Camped at the mouth of a Creek on Lbd Sd of abt 25 yds. Wide Called Grinestone Creek, opposit the head of a Isd. and the mouth of Little Miry River on the St Side, a heavy wind accompanied with rain & hail we Made 14 miles to day, the river Continue to rise, the County on each Side appear full of Water.

[Clark, May 31, 1804]

May 31st Thursday 1804 rained the greater part of last night, the wind from the West raised and blew with great force untile 5 oClock p.m.which obliged us to lay by a Cajaux of Bear Skins and pelteries came down from the Grand Osarge, one french man one Indian, and a Squar, they had letters from the man Mr. Choteau Sent to that part of the Osarge Nation Settled on Arkansa River mentioning that his letter was Commited to the flaims, the Inds. not believeing that the Americans had possession of the Countrey they disregarded St Louis & their Supplies &c.--Several rats of Considerable Size was Cought in the woods to day--Capt Lewis went out to the woods & found many curious Plants & Srubs, one Deer killed this evening

[Clark, June 1, 1804]

June 1st Friday 1804 Set out early, the Same Course S 48 W of Wednesday contd. 4 ms pa.s.sed the Mouth of Little Miry on the Stb & high rich Land on the Lb Side, S. 45W to an Island opposit a hill on the S. Sd. 6 Ms.

this Isd is on the Lbd. pa.s.sed the Mo. of Bear creek 25 yds wide at 2 ms. & three Small Isd., Some Swift water and banks falling in, Wind a head from the West, S 39 W 3 ms. to the Pt. above the mouth of Osage River Larb Side, Camped fell a number of Trees in the Point to take observation a fair after noon, Sit up untill 1 oClock to take Som observations &c.

[Clark, June 1, 1804]

June 1st 1804 Friday Set out early a fair morning Pa.s.sed the mouth Bear Creek 25 yds. Wide at 6 Miles, Several Small Islands in the river the wind a head from the West the Current exceedingly rapid Came to on the point of the Osarges River on the Labd Side of Missouries this osages river Verry high, felled all the Trees in the point to Make observations Sit up untill 12 oClock taken oservation this night

[Clark, June 2, 1804]

June 2nd--Took the Dirts. of Son & moon &c &c. I measured the Osage & Missouris at this place made ther width as follows, the Missoure 875 yd. wide The Osage R 397 yds. wide, the distance between the 2 rivers 80 poles up is 40 Ps. Took equal alt.i.tudes & Mredian alt.i.tude also-and made them ____ I a.s.sended the hill in the point 80 ps. from the pt.

found it about 100 foot high, on the top is 2 graves, or mouns, a Delightfull prospect from this hill which Comds. both rivers

Drewyer & s.h.i.+elds came to the opposit Side to day at SunSet we sent across & brought them over, they had been absent 7 Days Swam many creeks, much worsted. They informed us that the Countrey on both Sides of muddy river's to the hill called by the french ____ 3 ms. below this place, a Small Praries below the hill, 4 Deer Killed to day I a.s.send a hill &. after measuring the river &c. &c. &c.