September 14, 1805
William Clark
Course Distance &c. Septr. 14th 1805
S. 20o W. |
6 |
miles over a high <hilly> mountain Countrey thickley Covered with
pine to the forks <passed> of the Creek one of equal Size from the right Side,
passed much falling timber this <hi> Mountain is covered with Spruce & Pitch
pine fir, & what is called to the Northard hackmatack & Tamerack, The Creeks verry
stoney and has much fall |
S. 60o W. |
9 |
miles over a high mountain Steep & almost inaxcessible much falling
timber which <cause the> fatigues our men a horses exceedingly, in Slipping over So
great a number of logs added to the Steep assents and decents of the Mounts. to the forks
of the Creek, the one on our left which we had passed down falling into one Still larger
from the left which heads in the Snowey Mountains to the S. E. & South, those two
Creeks form a rive of 80 yards wide, Containing much water, verry Stoney and rapid. The
Creek we Came Down I call Glade Creek, the left hand fork the Killed Colt Creek from our
Killing a Colt to eate, abov th mouth of Glade fork, the Flatheads has a
were across to catch sammon [one line missing, page damaged] |
S. 70o W |
2 |
miles down the [blank] River to the mouth of a run on the
right Side opposit an Island & camped turned our horses on the Island
rained Snowed & hailed the greater part of the day all wet and Cold |
m |
17 |
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a Cloudy day in the valies it rained and hailed, on the top of the mountains Some Snow
fell we Set out early and Crossed a high mountn on the right of the Creek for 6
miles to the forks of the Glade Creek [Brushy Creek, on the left, and Crooked
Fork, on the right.] [NB: one of the heads of the Koos koos kee] [Nicholas
Biddle's insertion refers to the captains' name for the Clearwater River; actually the
stream is the Lochsa, which the captains considered a fork of the Clearwater.]
the right hand fork which falls in <from> is about the Size of the other, we Crossed
to the left Side at the foks, [Crossing Brushy Creek.] and Crossd a verry
high Steep mountain for 9 miles to a large fork from the left [They called it Colt
Killed or Killed Colt Creek.] which appears to head in the Snow toped mountains
Southerley and S. E. we Crossd. Glade Creek above its mouth, [Crossing
Lochsa River.] at a place the Tushepaws or Flat head Indians have made 2 wears
across to Catch Sammon and have but latterly left the place I could see no <Signs
of> fish, and the grass entirely eaten out by the horses, we proceeded on 2 miles &
encamped opposit a Small Island [The camp was on the north bank of the Lochsa
River, some two miles below the mouth of White Sand (Killed Colt) Creek, near Powell
Ranger Station. In going down into the valley of the Lochsa they had, probably by an error
of their guide, deviated from the Lolo Trail, which follows the ridge tops. This would
make the journey more difficult and probably about a day longer.] at the mouth of
a branch on the right side of the river which is at this place 80 yards wide, Swift and
Stoney, here we were compelled to kill a Colt for our men & Selves to eat for the want
of meat & we named the South fork Colt killed Creek, and this river we Call Flathead
River-- [WC: The flat head name is Koos koos ke R] [Again, the Lochsa River at
this point and again a later insertion by Clark. "Flathead" apparently refers to
the Nez Perces, not the Salish of Montana. The word "Flathead" appears to have
been inserted in place of an erased word.] The Mountains which we passed to day
much worst than yesterday the last excessively bad & Thickly Strowed with falling
timber & Pine Spruc fur Hackmatak & Tamerack, [The major trees growing at
higher elevations here are the ones noted by Clark: Lodgepole Pine, Engelmann Spruce, and
Subalpine Fir. In the course table Clark uses the term "Pitch pine" for the
Lodgepole Pine, referring to the eastern species with which he was familiar, Pinus
rigida. Earlier references to pitch-pine designated different species, but here
Lodgepole Pine is appropriate. The last two named are apparently the same tree, known
variously as Western, Montana, or Mountain, Larch, Hackmatack, and Tamarack, Larix
occidentalis.] Steep & Stoney our men and horses much
fatigued, The rain [blank]
September 14, 1805
John Ordway
we Set out as usal, and ascended a mountain about 4 miles, then descended it down to on
the forks of the creek [Brushy Creek & Crooked Fork, Idaho] where it
ran verry rapid and is full of rocks. we then assended a verry high mountain about 4
miles further to the top of it and verry step. Came Some distance on the top then
descended down about 6 miles Some places verry Steep. came down on another fork
where the creek [Crooked Fork & Colt Killed Creek (White Sand Creek) merge to
form the Lochsa River, Their camp was on the north bank of the Lochsa, about two miles
from where the streams merge and in the area of Powell Ranger Station.] is
got to be verry large. the Savages had a place fixed across the River and worked in
with willows where they catch a great quantity of Sammon in the Spring, as our guide tells
us. we Crossed the right hand fork where it was very rapid. we proceed
on had nothing to eat but Some portable Soup we being hungry for meat as the
Soup did not Satisfy we killed a fat colt which eat verry well at this time a little
Thunder hail and rain. Saw high Mountains covred with Snow and timber.
September 14, 1805
Patrick Gass
We set out early in a cloudy morning; passed over a large mountain, crossed Stony
creek, about 30 yards wide, and then went over another large mountain, on which I saw
service-berry bushes hanging full of fruit; but not yet ripe, owing to the coldness of the
climate on these mountains: I also saw a number of other shrubs, which bear fruit, but for
which I know no names. There are black elder and bore-tree, pitch and spruce pine all
growing together on these mountains. Being here unable to find a place to halt at, where
our horses could fee, we went on to the junction of Stony creek, with another large creek,
which a short distance down becomes a considerable river, and encamped for the night, as
it rained and was disagreeable travelling. The two hunters, that had gone back here joined
us with Capt. Lewis's horse, but none of the hunters killed any thing except 2 or 3
pheasants; on which, without a miracle it was impossible to feed 30 hungry men and
upwards, besides some Indians. So Capt. Lewis gave out some portable soup, which he had
along, to be used in cases of necessity. Some of the men did not relish this soup, and
agreed to kill a colt; which they immediately did, [This took place on Colt Killed
(now White Sand) Creek, on the Lochsa River, near the Powell Ranger Station] and
set about roasting it; and which appeared to me to be good eating.
September 14, 1805
Joseph Whitehouse
a cloudy morning. we eat the last of our meat, and Set out as usal. ascended a mountain
covred with pine. abt. 4 miles we descended it down on the Creek at a fork [Brushy
Creek (Gass's Stony Creek) and Crooked Fork] where it ran very rapid and full of
rocks. we then ascended a verry high mountain, about 4 miles from the forks of the creek
to the top of it went Some distance on the top then descended it about 6
miles. Some places verry Steep. came down at another fork of the Creek [Crooked
Fork and Colt Killed creeks (formerly White Sand Creek but now restored to Lewis and
Clark's name) merge to form the Lochsa River] where it was considr. larger.
the Natives had a place made across in form of our wires [weirs]
in 2 places, and worked in with willows verry injeanously, for the current
verry rapid. we crossed at the forks and proceeded on down the creek. passed
Several late Indian Encampments. our <Intrepter> Guide tells us that the
natives catch a great nomber of Sammon along here. we went down the creek abt. 4
miles and Camped [On the north bank of the Lochsa, some two miles below the mouth
of Colt Killed Creek, neaer Powell Ranger Station.] for the night. Eat a
little portable Soup, [Lewis purchased this soup in Philadelphia; it may have been
kept in the form of dry powder or thick liquid. It was staple army rations of the time.]
but the men in jeneral So hungry that we killed a fine Colt which eat verry well, at this
time. we had Several light Showers of rain and a little hail. Several claps of
Thunder, we came in all [blank] miles this day. the 2 hunters
joined us with Capt. Lewis horse which had been lost. Saw high mountan. a little to
the South of us, which are covred with Snow. the most of these mountains are covred
with pine. Saw Some tall Strait Siprass, or white ceeder [The words,
"or white ceeder" appear to have been interlined in another hand, perhaps as a
correction to Whitehouse's cypress. It is Western Red Cedar, Thuja plicata.]
to day. the Soil indifferent, and verry broken. the Countrey all
mountaineous. our hunters found a Stray horse on the road. a Small
Indian horse came to us this evening.
September 14, 1805
Joseph Whitehouse
A Cloudy Morning, & we did not set out till we had breakfasted, at which we eat the
last of our Meat; we then proceeded on our Journey, and ascended a Mountain which was
cover'd with Pine timber, and was about 4 Miles from where it began to ascend to the top;
we descended this mountain; & came down to a Creek on a fork of it; at this place the
Water run rapid, & it was very full of Rocks.-- We ascended then, another
Mountain; which was about 4 Miles from the fork we left to the top of it.--
We continued on our way on the top of this mountain where we had a most delightful
prospect of the Hills & Vallies which lay below us, & then descended this Mountain
about 6 Miles, which in some places, we found very steep, and came down on another fork of
the Creek, which we last left, which was considerable larger, the Natives had here made
places across this fork of the Creek, in the form of Weirs to catch fish in, which we
found in 2 different parts of this fork, it was worked in with willows very ingeniously
& strong, the current running very rapid at where these Weirs were set.-- We
crossed below this place at where the Creek forked, and proceeded on down the creek and
passed several Indian encampments, which the Natives had lately left. Our guide
informed us, that the Natives catch great Quantities of Salmon at this place, We went down
this Creek about 4 Miles & encamped. the Men here eat a little portable Soup,
but still are all very hungry.-- Our officers concluded on having a fine Colt that
we had along with us killed, which was done, & hunger made us all think that it eat
delecious, We had towards Evening several small Showers of rain, some hail & several
severe Claps of thunder, The hunters that went after Captain Lewis's horse & the Colt,
joined us in the Evening; they had found the horse only, We saw in the course of this days
travel, several Mountains, which were covered with Snow which lay to the South of us.--
The Tops of most of these Mountains are cover'd with pine, & tall white Cedar
Trees. The Soil during this days travell is very indifferent, and the Country broken
& very mountaineous. Our Hunters found a stray horse on the Path, & a small
Indian horse came to our Camp in the evening.-- We came about 18 Miles this day.--
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