August 05, 1805
Meriwether Lewis
As Charbono complained of being unable to march far today I ordered him and Sergt. Gass
to pass the rappid river near our camp and proceed at their leasure through the level
bottom to a point of high timber about seen miles distant on the middle fork which was in
fiew; I gave them my pack that of Drewyer and the meat which we had, directing them to
remain at that place untill we joined them. I took Drewyer with me and continued my
rout up the stard. side of the river about 4 miles and then waded it; found it so rapid
and shallow that it was impossible to navigate it. continued up it on the Lard. side
about 1 1/2 miles futher when the mountains put in close on both sides and arrose to great
high, partially covered with snow. from hence the course of the river was to the
East of North. I took the advantage of a high projecting spur of the mountain which with
some difficulty we ascended to it's summit in about half an hour. from this eminance
I had a pleasing view of the valley through which I had passed many miles below and the
continuation of the middle for through the valley equally wide above me to the distance of
about 20 miles when that also appeared to enter the mountains and disappeared to my view;
however the mountains which termineate the valley in this direction appeared much lower
than those up either of the other forks. on the rapid fork they appeared still to
rise the one range towering above another as far as I could perceive them. the
middle fork as I suspected dose bear considerably to the West of South and the gap formed
by it in the mountains after the valley terminates is in the same direction. under
these circumstances I did not hesitate in beleiving the middle fork the most proper for us
to ascend. [Lewis continued up the Big Hole (Wisdom) River about three miles
beyond the Madison-Beaverhead county line where he climbed a ridge for a commanding view.
Lewis still assumed that by reaching the head of the principal affluent of the Missouri he
would be near the headwaters of the Columbia or a main tributary. The middle fork
was the Beaverhead, which modern geographers agree with Lewis in calling the main stream,
and the mountains in that direction were probably the Tendoy Mountains. In the direction
of the "rapid fork"--the Big Hole River-- he would be looking at Pioneer
Mountain.] about South from me, the middle fork approached within about 5
miles. I resolved to pass across the plains to it and return to Gass and Charbono,
accordingly we set out and decended the mountain among some steep and difficult precipices
of rocks. here Drewyer missed his step and had a very dangerous fall, he sprained
one of his fingers and hirt his leg very much. in fifteen or 20 minutes he was able
to proceed and we continued our rout to the river where we had desighned to interscept it.
I quenched my thirst and rested a few minutes examined the river and found it still very
navigable. an old indian road very large and plain leads up this fork, but I could
see no tracks except those of horses which appeared to have passed early in the spring.
as the river made a great bend to the South East we again ascended the high plain
and steered our course as streight as we could to the point where I had directed Gass and
Sharbono to remain. we pass the plain regained the bottom and struck the river at
the point of timber to which I had directed them but [they] having
mistaken a point of woods lower down, had halted short of the place. we continued
our rout after dark down the bottom through thick brush of the pulppy leafed thorn
[Greasewood, Sarcobatus vermiculatus.] and prickly pears for about 2
hours when we arrived at their camp. [On the Beaverhead a few miles above the
mouth of the Ruby (Philanthropy) River.] they had a small quantity of meat
left which Drewyer and myself eat it being the first we had taisted today. we had
traveled about 25 miles. I soon laid down and slept very soundly untill morning. I saw no
deer today nor any game except a few Antelopes which were very shy. the soil of the
plalins is a light yellow clay very meager and intermixed with large proportion of gravel,
producing nothing except the twisted or bearded grass, sedge and prickly pears. the
dryer parts of the bottoms are also much more indiferent in point of soil to those below
and are covered with the southernwood pulpy leafed thorn and prickley pears with but
little grass. the moist aprts are fertile and covered with fine grass and sand
rushes.
This morning Capt. Clark set out at sunrise and dispatched Joseph & Reubin Fields
to hunt. they killed two deer on one of which the party breakfasted. the rive
today they found streighter and more rapid even than yesterday, and the labour and
difficulty of the navigation was proportionably increased, they therefore proceeded but
slowly and with great pain as the men had become very languid from working in the water
and many of their feet swolen and so painfull that they could scarcely walk. at 4
P.M. they arrived at the confluence of the two rivers where I had left the note.
this note had unfortunately been placed on a green pole which the beaver had cut and
carried off together with the note; the possibility of such an occurrence never onc
occurred to me when I placed it on the green pole. this accedent deprived Capt. Clark of
any information with ripect to the country and supposing that the rapid fork was most in
the direction which it was proper we should pursue, or West, he took that stream and
asscended it with much difficulty about a mile and encamped on an island that had been
lately overflown and was yet damp; [Clark's camp was a mile or so up the Big Hole
River from its mouth northwest of the present town of Twin Bridges.] they were
therefore conpelled to make beds of brush to keep themselves out of the mud. in
ascending this stream for about a quarter of a mile it scattered in such a maner that they
were obliged to cut a passage through the willow brush which leant over the little
channels and united their tops. Capt. Clarks ankle is extreemly painfull to him this
evening; the tumor has not yet mature, he has a slight fever.-- The men were so much
fortiegued today that they wished much that navigation was at an end that they might go by
land.--
Courses and distances traveled by Capt. Clark and party August 5th
1805.
| S.45o E. |
1/2 |
to a Lard. bend passing a baou on Lard. side. |
| S. 15o W. |
1/2 |
to a Stard. bend passing an island. |
| South |
1 |
to a Lard. bend passing a small Island, and a bayou on the Stard. side. |
| S. 45o W. |
1/2 |
to a Stard. bend passing an island. |
| S. 30o W. |
2 |
to a low clift at the mouth of a bayou on Stard. side passing three bad
rappids in this course |
| S. 60o E. |
1/2 |
to a lard. bend passing an Island Stard. side. |
| S. 30o W. |
1/2 |
to a bluff in a Stard. bend |
| South-- |
1/4 |
in the Stard. bend passing a bad rapid. |
| S. 45o E. |
1/4 |
to a Lard. bend. |
| South-- |
1/2 |
to a bluff in a Stard. bend. |
| South 45o E. |
1/2 |
to a Lard. bend. |
| S. 15o W. |
1/4 |
to a Stard. bend under a bluff. |
| East-- |
1/2 |
to a lard. bend passing a bayou on Stard. side. |
| S. 5o W. |
1/4 |
to a bayou in a Lard. bend. |
| S. 45o W. |
1/2 |
to a Stard. bend passing an island. |
| West-- |
1/4 |
to a bayou in a Stard. bend. |
| S. 45o E. |
1/4 |
to a Lard. bend passing an island |
| South-- |
1/2 |
to the forks. these forks are neaerly of the same size tho' the N.W.
fork possesses the most water at this time and is infinetely the most rapid.
ascending the last one mile on a course of S 30 W. and encamped on an Island. |
Miles |
9 1/4 |
|
August 05, 1805
William Clark
a Cold Clear morning the wind from the S.E. the river Streight & much more
rapid than yesterday. I Sent out Jo. & R. Fields to kill some meat they killed 2
Deer & we brackfast on one of them and proceeded on with great dificuelety from the
rapidity of the Current, and numerable rapids we had to encounter, at 4 oClock P M Murcury
49 ab. o, passed the mouth [Here Clark has placed the courses of several days
(August 1-5) together and written the August 5 entry around it.] of principal
fork which falls in on the Lard. Side, this fork is about the Size of the Stard. one less
water reather not so rapid, its Course as far as can be Seen is S.E & appear to pass
through between two mountains, the NW. fork abeing the one most in our course i.e. S 25 W.
as far as I can See, deturnind me to take this fork as the principal and the one most
proper the SE Fork is of a Greenish Colour & contains but little timber. The SW fok
contians more timber than is below for Some distance, [Clark's terminology is
somewhat confusing since he appears to refer to the Big Hole River as both the "
NW" and "SW" fork. The southeast fork is the Ruby River.] we
assended this fork about one mile and Encamped on an Island which had been laterly
overflown & was wet we raised our bead on bushes, we passed a part of the river
above the forks which was divided and Scattered thro the willows in Such a manner as to
render it dificuelt to pass through for a 1/4 of a mile, we wer oblige to Cut our way
thro' the willows-- Men much fatiqued from their excessive labours in hauling the
Canoes over the rapids &c. verry weak being in the wate all day. my foot verry
painfull
| N. 30o W. |
1 |
to a Pooint of rocks on the Lard Side, at this place the river passes thro
a Spur of the Mountain of perpendicul Clifts |
| N. 60o W |
3/4 |
to the upper part of a rock in Std bend |
| S. 70o W. |
1 1/2 |
to a Clift on the LardSide |
| S W |
1/2 |
to the Stard. Bend |
| S. 26o w. |
1 3/4 |
to a Bluff in the Stard Side |
| South |
1/2 |
to the lard Bend, at this place the river enter a high mountn. of Step
uneaven Clifts |
| N. 30o W |
1 1/4 |
to a Stard. Bend under a high Clift |
| N. 80o W |
1/4 |
to a Clift of high rocks in Std. bend a Small bottom on the Lard.
Side |
| S. 60o W. |
1/2 |
to a Lard Bend under a pine hill |
| N. 25o W. |
1/4 |
to a Small Island on the Lard Side |
| N. 30o E |
1/4 |
to a Stard. Bend high Clifts both Sds. |
| N. 80o W |
3/4 |
to the mouth of a bold Creek on the Lard. Side passing an Isld. and riffle
of 6 feet fall Frasures fall & creek here the river again enters a valle |
| North |
1/2 |
to the Stard. bend under a hill |
| N W. |
1/2 |
to a lard. bend |
| N. 70o W |
1 1/2 |
to the point of an Island passed Several Small Islands |
| North |
1/4 |
to a Stard. bend |
| West |
3/4 |
to the lower point of an Island |
| N W |
1/4 |
to the mouth of a large Creek Std. R. Fields Creek & valley 28 yd. wd.
(Encamped the 1st of Augt.) |
| S. 80o W. |
3/4 |
to a Stard. Bend |
| S. 30o W |
1/4 |
to a lard. Bend |
| West |
1/4 |
to a Bayou in the Lard. Bend |
| North |
1/2 |
to a Stard bend passing a riffle and 2 Small Islands |
| S. 30o W |
3/4 |
to a Lard. bend passed an Island |
| N. 45o W |
1/2 |
to a Std. bend passed a Bayou Ld. |
| West |
2 |
to an Island passing two points on the Lards. Side two Islands and several
Bayous on the Lard Side the Vallee from 6 to 10 miles wide |
| South |
1 1/8 |
to a lard Bend |
| N W |
1/4 |
to a Stard bend on the Island |
| S 40 W |
1/8 |
in the Stard. bend of the Isld. |
| S. 60 E. |
1/4 |
to a Lard. bend passing the point of the island on the Stard. Side |
| S W. |
1/2 |
in the Lard. bend |
| N. 10o W. |
3/4 |
in the Stard bend passed a Bayou |
| N. 80o W. |
1/4 |
in the Stard. Bend of an Island |
| S. 30o W |
3/4 |
to a Lard. Bend passthe Island |
| North |
1/4 |
to a Stard. Bend |
| S W |
1 |
to the mouth of 3 Bayous in a Std. bend |
| S. 30o E |
1/2 |
in a Lard. Bend |
| S. 50o W. |
1/8 |
in the lard Bend |
| N. 20o W |
1/2 |
to a Bayou in the Stard. Bend |
| S 20o W |
1/2 |
to a Lard. Bend |
| N.W. |
1/4 |
to a low Bluff in a Stard. Bend |
| S.W. |
1/8 |
in a Stard. Bend passd. a Bayou Std. Side. |
| S. 20o E |
1/2 |
to a Lard Bend |
| S. 50o W |
1/4 |
to an lower point of an island |
| West |
1/4 |
to a Stard. Bend passing a Bayou on the Std. Side and the isd. to a Bayou
Std. |
| S 60o W. |
1/2 |
to a Stard. Bend at the mouth a Bayou rapid & 30 yds wide [White
tail deer = Birth Cr.] |
| S.E. |
1/8 |
to the Stard. bend |
| East |
1/8 |
to the Lard Bend |
| South |
1/2 |
to the mo. of a Bayou in Stard. Bend |
| S. 70o W |
3/4 |
to a Stard. Bend |
| South |
1/4 |
to a high bottom in a Stard. Bend |
| S. 70o E |
1/2 |
to a Lard. Bend |
|
23 3/4 |
(Campd. 2d August) |
|
|
3d Augt |
| South |
1/2 |
in a Lard. Bend |
| West |
1 1/4 |
to a Stard. Bend |
| S.W. |
1/2 |
to the Stard. Bend a Small <run> [creek called panther C.]
[Pipestone] |
| S. 20oW. |
1/2 |
in the Stard. Bend |
| S. 80o E |
1 1/4 |
to the Lower point of an island |
| South |
1/4 |
to a Std. point of the Island |
| S. 30o E |
1/4 |
to a Bayou in the Island |
| South |
1 1/2 |
to the upper point of the Island haveing passed 3 points and a Cliff |
| S. 10o W. |
4 |
on a Direct line to the mouth of a Creek Small the Dreans of a mountain in
which there is Snow in view, river passed under this mountain [S. Bould Mt.]
on the Lard Side & has several Short bends in this Course vallie wide & to the
Stard Side |
| S. 25o W. |
1 |
to a Small run in a Lard. bend |
| S. 60o W. |
1 |
to a low Stoney bluff in a Stard. bend opposit an Island passed 1 |
| S. 20o W. |
1 |
to the loer point of a Island Ld. passed one and thro a narrow
rockey Channel under the bluff (Encamped the 3 of Augt.) |
| S. 45o W. |
5 |
on a Direct Course to a Lard. bend passed 4 bends to the Lard. Side
& Several Bayous on either Side |
| S. 20o W. |
4 |
with the river to a Bluff on the Lard. side, passed three bends on the
Stard. and two Small Islands & 2 Bayoes Sd. |
| S. 60o W. |
6 |
with the river to an island passed six round bends on the Stard. and
Several Small Bayoes. (Campd. 4h Augt) |
| S. 45o E |
1/2 |
to a Lard. bend a Bayou Ld. Side |
| S. 15o W |
1/2 |
to a Stard. bend passed an Island |
| South |
1 |
to a Lard. bend psd. a Small island and a Bayou on the Stard. Side |
| S. 45o W. |
1/4 |
to a Stard. Bend passed an island |
| S. 30o W. |
2 |
to a low Clift at the mouth of a Bayou [Cherry Cr.] on
the Stard. Side passed 3 rapids in this course |
| S. 60o E. |
1/2 |
to a Lard bend passed an Island Std. Side |
| S. 30o W. |
1/2 |
to a Bluff in the Stard. bend |
| South |
1/4 |
in the Stard. bend passed a bad rapid |
| S. 45o E |
1/4 |
to a Lard bend |
| South |
1/2 |
to a Bluff in a Stard. bend |
| S. 45o E. |
1/2 |
to a Lard. bend |
| S. 15o W. |
1/4 |
to a Stard. Bend under a Bluff |
| East |
1/2 |
to a Lard Bend passed a Bayou on Std Side |
| S. 5o W |
1/4 |
to a Bayou in the Lard. Bend |
| S. 45o W |
1/2 |
to a Stard. bend passed an island |
| South |
1/2 |
to the forks, passed an Island Those Forks is nearly of the Same
Size the N W. fork the most rapid & Clear and the one most in our Course, the
S.E. fork is Still of a Greenish Colour and appears to come from the S.E between two
mountains |
|
61 |
|
|
37 |
|
|
98 |
up the North Fork |
Assended the N W Fork 9 miles on a Course S. 30o W. to a bluff on the Stard.
Side passed Several Bayous & Islands.
August 05, 1805
John Ordway
a clear cool morning we Set out as usal 2 hunters Sent on a head to kill
Some meat. passd. rapids as usal. one of the hunters killed a deer before
brakfast. the wind cold from the South. the Shores and hills rocky the bottom
of the River covred with Slippery Small Stone and gravvel. we proceeded on passed
over rapids worse than ever it is with difficulty & hard fatigue we git up them
Some of which are allmost perpinticular 3 or 4 feet fall in a Short distance. our other
hunter joined us at noon had killed nothing but had Seen where the River forks
again. about 7 oC. P. m. clounded up wind high we proceeded on about a
mile futher up came to a another forks [The forks of the Jefferson River are the
Big Hole and Beaverhead rivers. The Big Hole was referred to as the Wisdom River by the
party, while they continued to use the name Jefferson for the Beaverhead] one
nearly as the other if any difference the right hand fork the largest. we was
not certian whether Capt Lewis was up the left fork or right So Capt Clark left a note for
him on the point which is level prarie, & proceeded on up the right hand fork, which
is amazeing rapid Some of which falls nearly 3 feet in the length of a canoe, but with
hard labour we draged them over. we passed thro a channel which was filled with
willows and young cotton wood & brush, Some of which was fell across by the beaver.
the currents so rapid we were oblidged to hall by the bushes, and Some places be
out in the water where we could Scarsely kick our feet for the rapidity of the current.
Saw Several high beaver dams. passed Several Islands. we could Scarsely croud
the canoes through the bushes in Several places, night came on and we Camped on the Stard.
Side at a bottom which is level and low, has been over flowed lately. it appears
this little Stream is verry high, but has been high by the Snow melting off the Mountains.
it is now fallling a little. was it low we could not proceeded by water any
further. our hunter killed a deer. Came 8 to forks miles this day. the party
much fatigued and wish to go by land.
August 05, 1805
Patrick Gass
This morning Capt. Lewis thought it would be best for me and one of the interpreters [Charbonneau]
to go over to the west branch [The Beaverhead River, which the expedition called
the Jefferson.], and remain there, until he and the other [Drouillard]
should go higher up the north, cross over in search of Indians and then go down and join
us. At night they came to our camp [On the Beaverhead River a few miles above the
mouth of Ruby River.], but had not seen any of the natives, nor any fresh signs.
August 05, 1805
Joseph Whitehouse
a clear cool morning. we Set out at Sunrise 2 hunters
Sent on a head to kill Some meat. one of them joined us with a deer he had
killed before breakfast time. the wind cold from the South. the Shores
and hills rockey & bottom of the River covd. with Small Stones. our other
hunter joined us at noon, had killed nothing. the rapids gits worse that ever.
it is with difficulty we git over them, & verry fatigueing.
at 1 oC. P. M. clouded up. wind high. proceeded on
about a mile further up came to a fork [The forks of the
Jefferson River. On the right is Big Hole (the party's Wisdom) River and on the left,
Beaverhead River, which they continued to call the Jefferson]
we took the right hand fork which was amazeing rapid. Some of the rapids falls
3 or 4 feet or their abouts in the length of our canoes. we passed through a
channel where the water was rapid and ran through the willows & young cotton
wood the beaver had fell Some of them across the channel and it
crooked it was with much difficulty we got thro. obledged
to forse our way through the bushes and hall by them. Some places out in the
water could Scarsely keep our feet for the rapidity of the current. Saw
Several beaver dams verry high. night came on. Camped [A
mile or so up the Big Hole River from its mouth.] on S. Side at a low bottom,
which has lately been overflowed. we expect this little Stream is high from
the Snow melting on the mountains. it appears it has lately been higher, but
is now falling a little. was it low their would not be water enofe in it for
us to proceed any further by water. our hunter killed a deer. Came
8 miles this day. the party much fatigued and wish to leave the canoes &
go by land.
August 05, 1805
Joseph Whitehouse
A Clear, cool morning, we set out as usual, and sent 2 of our hunters ahead in order to
kill some Game for us, One of which joined us before breakfast with a deer he had killed.
The wind blew cold from the South, the Shores & hills rockey & the
bottoms of the river, covered with small Stones, The other hunter jjoined us at Noon, but
had not kill'd anything. The rapids of the River, we find here, worse than nay
that we have yet met with; and it is with great difficulty that we can pass them, and very
fataigueing to our party-- About 1 o'Clock P. M. the weather clouded up, and
the wind got high. We proceeded on about a Mile further up, & came too.--
We halted here for a short time, & then proceeded on, and came to where the
River forked, We here took the right hand fork, which we found run very rapid, some of the
Rapids of the River; here fell 3 feet, and bwas between 3 & 4 feet in length.
We passed through a channel where we found the water run rapid through
Willows & Cotton wood trees, The Beaver had cut down some of those trees, which had
fell across the Channel, & the River running Crooked, it was with much difficulty we
got through them, being obliged to force our Canoes through the bushes, & hawl the
Canoes by them. Several of our party were forced to go out into the Water in
several places, to hawl along the Canoes, and the rapidity of the Current made it very
difficult for them to keep <on> their feet.-- We saw several beaver dams,
which was very high; Night came on, & we encamped on the South side of the River in a
low bottom, which had been lately overflowed. The fork that we are at (or
rather small stream of water) is high, which we suppose is occasioned from the Water
melting on the Mountains. this River has the appearance of having been
considerable higher, than it is at present, and at any common time. we are of
oppinion that there would not be water sufficient for our Canoes to proceed any further.--
We came 8 Miles this day, & encamped; our party are much fataigued, & it is the
wish of all of them, that we would proceed on our Voyage by land to the Columbia River--
Our hunter joined us at our encampment, and brought with him a Deer, he had
killed.--
|