# Lewis and Clark journals, extract of ~10000 words
# Last edited on 1999-07-26 22:15:57 by stolfi

the commanding officer feels himself mortifyed and disappointed at the
disorderly conduct of reubin fields in refusing to mount guard when in the
due roteen of duty he was regularly warned nor is he less surprised at the
want of discretion in those who urged his oposition to the faithfull discharge
of his duty particularly shields whose sense of propryety he had every reason
to believe would have induced him reather to have promoted good order than
to have excited disorder and faction among the party
the abuse of some of the party with respect prevelege heretofore
granted them of going into the country is not less displeasing to such as have
made hunting or other business a pretext to cover their design of visiting a
neighboring whiskey shop he cannot for the present extend this previlege
river a dubois opposet the mouth of the missouri river
sunday may the nnth
all in health and readiness to set out boats and everything complete with
the necessary stores of provisions and such articles of merchandize as we
thought ourselves authorised to procure tho not as much as i think nessy
for the multitude of inds thro which we must pass on our road across the
continent etc etc
rained the fore part of the day
i set out at oclock p m in the presence of many of the neighboring
inhabitents and proceeded on under a jentle brease up the missourie a heavy
rain this after noon
the corps consisted of forty three men part of the regular troops of the
united states and part engaged for this particular enterprize
the best authenticated accounts informed us that we were to pass through a
country possessed by numerous powerful and warlike nations of savages of
gigantic stature fierce treacherous and cruel and particularly hostile to white
men and fame had united with tradition in opposing mountains to our course
which human enterprize and exertion would attempt in vain to pass
a journal commenced at river dubois
monday may the nnth
showery day
capt clark set out at oclock p m for the western expedition one gun
fired a nomber of citizens see us start the party consisted of sergeants and
good hands we sailed up the missouri miles and encamped on the
side of the river
hard showers of rain we got in readiness we fired our swivel on the bow
hoisted sail and set out in high spirits for the western expedition
a journal commenced at river dubois
showery day capt clark set out at oclock p m for the western expidition
the party consisted of serguntes and working hands which maned the
batteow and two perogues we sailed up the missouria miles and encamped
on the side of the river
persons accustomed to the navigation of the missouri and the mississippi
also below the mouth of this river uniformly take the precaution to load their
vessels heavyest in the bow when they ascend the stream in order to avoid the
danger incedent to runing foul of the concealed timber which lyes in great
quantitites in the beds of these rivers
the boat run on logs three times to day owing her being too heavyly
loaded a sturn i saw a number of goslings to day on the shore the water
excessively rapid and banks falling in
orderly book st charles may nnth
note the commanding officer is full assured that every man of his
detachment will have a true respect for their own dignity and not make it
necessary for him to leave st charles for a more retired position
rived at st charls and passed the evening with a eat deal of
satisfaction all chearful and in good spirits this place is an old french village
situated on the north side of the missourie and are dressy polite people and
roman catholicks
a fair day compelled to punish for misconduct
orderly book orders st charles thursday the nnth of may
a sergeant and four men of the party destined for the missouri expidition
will convene at oclock to day on the quarter deck of the boat and form
themselves into a court martial to hear and determine in behalf of the capt
the evidences aduced against william warner and hugh hall for being absent
last night without leave contrary to orders and john collins nst for being
absent without leave nnd for behaveing in an unbecomeing manner at the
ball last night ndly for speaking in a language last night after his return
tending to bring into disrespect the orders of the commanding officer
signd w clark comdg
we bought some acceseries etc for the voiage passed the evening verry
agreeable dancing with the french ladies etc
i gave the party leave to go and hear a sermon delivered by a roman
carthlick priest
the vilage contains a chappel one hundred dwelling houses and about
inhabitants their houses are generally small and but illy constructed a great
majority of the inhabitants are miserably pour illiterate and when at home
excessively lazy tho they are polite hospitable and by no means deficient in
point of natural genious they live in a perfect state of harmony among each
other and place as implicit confidence in the doctrines of their speritual pastor
the roman catholic priest as they yeald passive obedience to the will of their
temporal master the commandant
these people are principally the decendants of the canadian french and it is
not an inconsiderable proportion of them that can boast a small dash of the
pure blood of the aborigines of america
i and a nomber of the party went to the mass
several of the party went to church which the french call mass and sore
their way of performing etc
we set out early ran on a log and detain one hour sent out two hunters
one killed a deer
arrived at st johns a small french village situated on the north side and
encamped a quarter of a mile above it this is the last settlement of white
people on the river
a fair morning we set out oclock a m and proceeded on verry well passed
some inhabitants called boons settlement
we set out at oclock a m plesent day passed the wife of osoge river three
miles and half we pased the tavern or cave a noted place on the south side of
the river long feet in debth feet purpendickler on the south side
of the river high cliftes
the swiftness of the current wheeled the boat broke our toe rope and
was nearly over setting the boat all hands jumped out on the upper side and
bore on that side untill the sand washed from under the boat and wheeled on
the next bank
this place i call retragrade bend as we were obliged to fall back miles
towards evening we arived at a french village called st johns a boat came
here loaded with fur and skins had been a long destance up the river
tradeing with the savages etc we camped near this small village this is the
last settlement of white people on this river
encamped at a french village called st johns this is the last setelment of
whites on this river
detachment orders may nnth
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 rotiene provisions will continue to be issued to the party
untill further orders shouled any of the messes prefer indian meal to flour
they may receive it accordingly no poarch is to be issued when we have
fresh meat on hand
rained hard all last night some thunder and lightning
as i was a hunting this day i came across a cave on the south side or fork of a
river about yards from the river i went a yards under ground had
no light in my hand if i had i should have gone further their was a small
spring in it it is the most remarkable cave i ever saw in my travels
rained last night
one man whitehouse lost hunting
rained all last night set out at oclock after a heavy shower and proceeded
on a heavy wind accompanied with rain and hail we made miles to day the
river continud to rise the country on each side appear full of water
rained the greater part of last night
i have a bad cold with a sore throat
passed a small creek we named nightingale creek from a bird of that
discription which sang for us all last night and is the first of the kind i ever
heard
the serjt at the helm run under a bending tree and broke the mast
a fair day hunters went out our mast broke by my stearing the boat near
the shore the rope or stay to her mast got fast in a limb of a secamore tree and
it broke verry easy passed a creek on the south side about yds wide
which we name nightingale creek this bird sung all last night and is the first
we heard below on the river rising land delightfull timber of oak ash
black walnut hickery etc our hunters killed deers it was jerked this
evening etc
ouer stersman let the boat run under a lim and broke our mast off
miles past a creek on the south side called mast creek a butifull a peas of
land as ever i saw walnut shoger tree ash and mulber trees level land on
both sides
we passed a high clifts of rocks on which was painted the pickture of the
devil on south side of the river
the banks are falling in verry much to day river rose last night a foot
some buffalow sign to day
those praries are not like those or a number of those e of the mississippi
void of every thing except grass they aboud with hasel grapes and a wild
plumb of a supeior quallity called the osages plumb grows on a
bush the hight of a hasel and hang in great quantities on the bushes i saw
great numbers of deer in the praries the evening is cloudy our party in high
spirits
the w wind blew hard and cold as this wind was immediately a head we
could not proceed we took the advantage of this delay and dried our wet
articles
in the wind blew so strong in the morning that the commanding officer
halted there that day drewyer killd two bears and one buck
day clear wind from the west lay by all day on account of the wind the
latter part of the day clouday ouer hunters kiled bar and deer
met with peirogues loaded with peltry for captn chatto in st
louis our men of each craft exchangd blankets for buffalow robes and
mockisons roed miles that day
we met cannoes from the soux nations loaded with peltry and greece
thay have been mounthes up the missorea river delayed day with the
french bought some tallow of them ouer hunters did not rettern last night
one french man hiard to go with us up the missorea who can speak the
difernt
capt lewis and myself walked to the hill from the top of which we had a
butifull prospect of serounding countrey in the open prairie we caught a
raccoon our hunter brought in a bear and deer we took some lunar
observations this evening
about oclock the barge struck a sandbar she keeld on her labord the
sand being quick vanquishd suddently from under her the currant being
rappid neerly swept the men of their legs while bearing her up from
sinquing roed miles
a large praria of good land on the side at this praria antient missourue
indianes had a village at this place of them were killed by the saukees on
former times
we met canoes loaded with peltry
the hunters met us with four bears and three deer the party drank a drachm
of whisky and roe on
we set out at oclock after much feteaged of yesterdays worke ouer
hunters killed bars and deer strong water encampt on the side opset
to antent old villag of missures indians but the saukies beng two trobelsom
for them was forst to move and take protections under the gran ossags as they
war redused small handsom a prarie as ever eney man saw the river is
miles wide hear
the wind rose we saild miles got in strong water in the evening towed
the boat by cutting the timber off the banks got on successfully campd at the
riffel island whare the water rolld over in quicksand
the party is much aflicted with boils and several have the deassentary
which i contribute to the water the ticks and musquiters
are verry troublesome
we renued our journey much fetegeued of yesterdays work came one mil
encamped for the purpos of maken ores for ouer boat and make a rope for the
pursos of towen on the north side of the river ouer hunters returned and
killed on bar one deer and found a stray horse who had been lost for
sometime nothing remarkeble to day
the water so swift that we were obledged to hole the boat by a rope we
camped on south side opposite a poind which was near to where we camped
the musquetoes are verry troublesome got musquetoes bears from capt
lewis to sleep in
the currant was strong towed our boat untill we came to the head of the
strong watter island whare the watter run so rappid that the men of the
french peirouge could not make headway by roeing or poleing the had to
jumpd out and push her through the water
the land high on south on the fine rich bottom i went on shore with
drewyer all day and i never saw as fine timbered land in my life nor such
rich handsome bottom land drewyer killed one deer and him and me brought it
to the river one turkey likewise
the rain came on rapidly in the morning interupd our starting at the usal
hour the day cleard up at oclock the two latter days was the hotist that has
been seen or felt a long time the water was strong with the heat of the day
which made the times disagreeble to the party roed miles
got on our way at day light the wind arose and blew a head of us
renderd our days work mighty hard for the hands of each craft saild only
miles
on this pt of the river we observe feeding on the banks and the adjasent
praries imince hurds of deer bear is also plenty in the bottoms
we killed a large rattle snake sunning himself in the bank passed a bad
sand bar where our tow rope broke twice and with great exertions we rowed
round it and came to and camped in the point above the kansas river i
observed a great number of parrot queets this evening our party killed several
deer to day
the morning was clear the water was strong at the head of the island we
campd on towed our boat by cutting the timber of the banks the day got
mighty hot g druery killd deer that day took them on board miles before
we reachd the river decaugh at sun set roed miles
cleard off the point and formd a temperery brest work or piqet least the
savages would attempt comeing in the night i was informd by one of our
men that traded up the river that warriers lives in one village up the
river about leagues
i am told they are a fierce and warlike people being badly supplied with fire
arms become easily conquered by the aiauway and saukees who are better
furnished with those materials of war this nation is now out in the plains
hunting the buffalow the high lands come to the river kansas on the upper
side at about a mile full in views and a butifull place for a fort good
landing place the waters of the kansas is verry disigreeably tasted to me
pleasant the loading put out to air i went out hunting miles and passed a
fine spring running from under the hills i drank hearty of the water and found
it the best and coolest i have seen in the country several of the party went
hunting and deer r and j fields killed a young woolf and brought one
home to camp for to tame one man saw several buffelow up the kansas
river
the hunters kill five deer one woolf and catchd an other about five months old
kept it for three days cut its rope got away
camp mouth of the kansies june nnth
ordered a court martiall will set this day at oclock for the trial of
john collins and hugh hall
john collins charged with getting drunk on his post this morning out of
whiskey put under his charge as a sentinal and for suffering hugh hall to
draw whiskey out of the said barrel intended for the party
the commanding officers approve of the sentence of the court and orders
that the punishment take place at half past three this evening at which time
the party will parrade for inspection
a verry large wolf came to the bank and looked at us this morning the
being hot the men becom verry feeble farnts thermometer at oclock
stood at degrees above broke our mast
we broke our mast comming to shore against a small tree which hung over
the river
we found a white horse on the bank of the river near whare their was an old
trading house built by a french merchant from st louis to trade with the
kansas indians
ussered in the day by a discharge of one shot from our bow piece proceeded
on jos fields got bit by a snake which was quickly doctered with bark by
cap lewis passed a creek yds wide as this creek has no name and this
being the nth of july the day of the independance of the u s call it nth of july
creek we closed the by a descharge from our bow piece an extra
gill of whiskey
we passed a creek on the south side and as it has no name and as it is the
of july capts name it independence creek we fired our bow piece this
morning and one in the evening for independance of the u s we camped in
the plans one of the most beautiful places i ever saw in my life open and
beautifully diversified with hills and vallies all presenting themselves to the
river
the day mighty hot when we went to toe the sand calded our some
fled from the hope had to put on our mockisons
a snake bit jo fieldes on the side of the foot which sweled much apply
barks to coor and passed a creek on the south side a bout yards
wide coming out of an extensive prarie as the creek has no name and this
day is the nth of july we name this independance creek saw grat nomber
of goslins to day nearly grown we camped at one of the butifules praries i
ever saw open and butifulley divided with hills and vallies all presenting
themselves
i observe that the men swet more than is common for some cause i think
the missouris water is the principal cause
the weather is verry warm several days the sweet pores off the men in
streams a whiper will perched on the boat for a short time
those praries on the river has verry much the appearance of farms from the
river divided by narrow strips of woodland one man verry sick struck
with the sun capt lewis bled him and gave niter which has revived him much
i went on shore with the horses in the afternoon in the north side crossed a
creek miles up in the evening followed down to the mouth and camped it
being too late to find the boat the musquitoes troubled me so that i could not
sleep as this creek is without name and my describing it to my capt he named
it ordway creek
five men sick to day with a violent head ake etc
detachment orders nadawa island july nth
trid a man w c for sleeping on his post and inspected the arms
amunition etc of the party found all complete
set out errley this morning prosed on came to about oclock p m for the
porpos of resting on or two days the men is all sick
the commanding officers capts m lewis and w clark constituted
themselves a court martial for the trial of such prisoners as are guilty of
capatal crimes and under the rules and articles of war punishable by
death
alexander willard was brought forward charged with lying down and
sleeping on his post whilst a sentinal
to this charge the prisoner pleads guilty of lying down and not guilty of
going to sleep
the court after duly considering the evidence aduced are of oppinion that
the prisoner alexdr willard is guilty of every part of the charge exhibited
against him it being a breach of the rules and articles of war do sentience
him to receive one hundred lashes on his bear back at four different times in
equal proportion and order that the punishment commence this evening at
sunset and continue to be inflicted every evening untill completed
wm clark
m lewis
we lay by for to rest and wash our cloaths one sentinel a sleep on his post
last night and tried by court martial this day
ouer object in delaying hear is to tak some observations and rest the men who
are much fategeued armes and amunition enspected all in good order
some hard showers of rain this morning prevented our setting out untill
oclock at half past seven the atmispr became sudenly darkened by a black
and dismal looking cloud the storm would have thrown up on
the sand island and dashed to pieces in an instant had not the party leeped
out on the leward side and kept her off with the assistance of the ancker and
cable until the storm was over the tarpaulins kept waves from inundated
the lockers but a lot of water washed into the boat in this situation we
continued about minits when the storm sudenly seased and the river
become instancetaniously as smoth as glass
we saw three large elk the first wild ones i ever saw capt clarks notes
and remarks of days blew overboard this morning in the storm and he was
much put to it to recolect the courses and c
the rain came on before we left camp with a smart wind that inragd the
watter to such a degree that all hands had to get in the watter to keep up the
boat roed on after the storm was over miles
after i went on shore with capt clark on the south side we
walked on over a ridge came to high large praries and hills we walked on found
some cherries near a handsome spring river at the forks then followed it or
one branch to the head which came out of a ridige which joines the praries
and went up on a high r ridge of prarie where we could see all around for a
long distance in the open praries or as far as our eyes could behold and on the
opposite side of the missouris we saw a large and extensive prarie which looked
verry handsome
several of the party much inflicted with tumers of different kinds some of
which is verry troublesom and dificcelt to cure
this is the most open country i ever beheld almost one continued prairie
we set out at sun rise the day clear wind fair sailed the side of the prarie
hear we toed for about or miles the elke sine is erry plenty deer is not
as plenty as it was below passed a verry strong pace of water saw a dog
on the bank which we sepose to be indians had ben lost this is the first sine
of indians we have saw
worthey of remark as we approach this great river platt the sand bars
much more numerous and the quick or moveing sands much worst than they
wer below at the places where praries approach the river it is very wide those
places being much easier to wash and under mine than the wood land s
as we came along shore there was two large cat fish had hold of each other
could not get off one of the french men shot the two the first shot on the w
shore at butter run the men pulld a great quantity of wild cherrys put them
in the barrel of whisky
it is worthey of observation to mention that our party has been much
healthier on the voyage than parties of the same number is in any other
situation tumers have been troublesom to them all
this great river being much more rapid than the missourie forces its
current against the opposit shore the current of this river comes with great
velosity roleing its sands into the missouri filling up its bead and compelling it
to incroach on the s shore we found great dificuelty in passing
around the sand at the mouth of this river capt lewis and myself with
men in a perogue went up this great river platt about miles found the
current verry rapid roleing over sands passing through different channels
none of them more than five or six feet deep about yards wide at the
mouth the indians pass this river in skin boats which is flat and will not
turn over
we arived at the mouth of the platte river
set out at oclock a m prossed on ouer jouney rain this morning wind fair
sailed passed the mouth of the grait river plate on the south side it is much
more rappided than the missorea it is about from one mile to miles wide the
sand roles out and formes large sand bares in the middel of the missorea
this river is not navigable for boats to go up
this being a good situation and much nearer the otteaus town than the
mouth of the platt we concluded to delay at this place a fiew days and send
for some of the chiefs of that nation to let them know of the change of
government the wishes of our government to cultivate friendship with them
the objects of our journy and to present them with a flag and some small
presents
we mad large and long fags staff and histed it up histed ouer collars
in the morning for the reseptions of indians who we expected hear
when the rain and wind came so that we wase forst to take it down
i opened the tumer of a man on the left breast which discharged half a
point
as we were setting out to day one man killed a buck and another cut his
knee verry bad
the reasen this man gives of his being with so small a party is that he has
not got horses to go in the large praries after the buflows but stayes about
the town and river to hunte the elke to seporte thare famileys
cought three verry large cat fish
one man in atttempting to cross this creek on a log let his gun fall in r
fields dived and brought it up
the missouri is much more crooked since we passed the great river platte
than before but no so rapid in general more praries the timber scarser and c
willard lost his rifle in a large creek
joseph fields shot a brareowe he is the form of a dog his colour is gray his
talents on the four feet is inch long his picture never was seen by any of
the party before
the white horse which we found near the kanzus river died last night
joseph fields killed and brought in an anamale called by the french brarow
we have his skin stuffed
several men with verry bad boils great no musquitors this evening
two of our hunters went out and killed an animal called a prarow about the
size of a ground hog and nearly of the same colour it has a head similar to
that of a dog short legs and large claws on its forfeet some of the claws are
an inch and an half long
the white horse dyed last night fell down the bank being weak by gitting
filled with water swimming the missouri on nnth ult jo fields and reuben
went hunting jo killed and brought in an animel which the french call a brarow
this animal resembles our ground hogs in colour and shape nearly but the
head like a dogs four feet like a bear especially the claws inside like a hog
long teeth they live on flyes and bugs and c and dig in the ground like a g hog
they say they gravel like a possom capt lewis had this naimal skined
the skin stuffed in order to send back to st louis
sergeant floyd has been sick several days but now is gitting some better
g druier catched a young beavour kept him for a pet
we lay by for to see the indianes who we expect hear to see the captains i
am verry sick and has ben for somtime but have recoverd my helth again
the indianes have not come yet this place is called council bluff
a pt of otteau and missourie nation came to camp sent them some
rosted meat pork flour and meal in return they sent us water millions every
man on his guard and ready for anything
of the zottoe indians arivd at our camp calld the council bluffs the
commanding officer orderd them plenty of provisions
the indianes came whou we had expected thay fired meney guns when thay
came in site of us and we ansered them withe the cannon capt lewis and
clark met them at shakeing handes we fired another cannon thare wase
chiefs and men and one french man with them who has lived with them
for som yeares and has a familey with them
after brackfast we collected those indians under an owning of our main
sail in presence of our party paraded and delivered a long speech to them
expressive of our journey the wishes of our government some advice to them
and directions how they were to conduct themselves
those chiefs all delivered a speech
we gave them a cannister of powder and a bottle of whiskey
the situation of our last camp councile bluff appears to be a verry proper
place for a tradeing establishment and fortification
the air is pure and helthy so far as we can judge
captain lewis and captain clarke held a council with the indians who
appeared well pleased with the change of government and what had been
done for them
this morning the two captains held a counsel with the zottous indians and
made chiefs under the american government they all recd their medel and
other presents with great kindness and thankfulness they all appeared to be
glad that they had got freed from all other powers and c they made some
verry sensable speeches smoked and drank with us shook hands and parted
jo barter the man who went for those indians set out from their camp a day
before them and has not returned
captn lewis brought them to a treaty after the hour of oclock there was
six of the zottoe cheifs and six of the missueriees he gave of the head chiefs
a meaddle each and the other three commissions in the name of the
president of the u s the was well content with what the recd the
officer commanding gave each of the privates some small presents which
made them all on an eaqual satisfactory atonement for their visit the
was well content in the presence of their two fathers which was m lewis and
wm clark do when the articles was opend out the said as long as the
french had traded with the never gave them as much as a knife for
nothing
the council was held and all partes was agreed the captens give them meney
presentes
reed a man who went back to camp for his knife has not joined us
on the nth of this month one of ouer men by the name of moses b reed went
back to ouer camp whare we had left in the morning to git his knife which
he had left at the camp the boat went on and he did not return that night
nor the next day nor night pon examining his nap sack we found that he
had taken his cloas and all his powder and balles and had hid them out that
night and had made that an excuse to desarte from us with out aney jest case
the man who went back after his knife has not yet come up we have some
reasons to believe he has deserted
read deserted from our party
dispatched george drewyer r fields wm bratten and wm labieche back
after the deserter reed with order if he did not give up peaceibly to put him to
death etc to go to the ottoes village and enquire for la liberty and bring him
to the mahar village also with a speech on the occasion to the ottoes and
missouries and derecting a few of their chiefs to come to the mahars and we
would make a peace between them and the mahars and souex
four of our people were dispatched to the oto nation of indians after the
man who had not returned on the nth with orders to take him dead or alive if
they could see him there is no timber in this country except some cotton
wood and willows in the bends of the river all the high land is a continued
prairie the musquetoes here are very numerous and troublesome
on the nth of this month one of ouer men by the name of moses b reed went
back to ouer camp whare we had left in the morning to git his knife which
he had left at the camp the boat went on and he did not return that night
nor the next day nor night pon examining his nap sack we found that he
had taken his cloas and all his powder and balles and had hid them out that
night and had made that an excuse to desarte from us with out aney jest case
we sent men after him
the musquitors so bad in the praires that with the assistance of a bush i
could not keep them out of my eyes some hundreds of pelicans were
collected
one of the hunters killed a pelican on a sand bar and captain lewis killed
another very large we encamped on the north bank in the bag under the bill
and neck of the pelican which captain lewis killed we put five gallons of
water
we saw the sand bars covered white with pillicans this afternoon capt lewis
shot one which had a bag under his neck and bill which held gallons of
water
there was better than or of them flying they kept before us one day
captn m lewis shot a pillican the bagg that it carried its drink in contained
gallons of water by measure after we passd the pillican island there was
better than or of them flying they kept before us one day roaed
miles
the morning was clear the musquitoes was mighty troublesome untill the
sun rose to some hight
mahars king black bird was burried years ago
great nos of herrons
we kept under way till ten when we came to a high bluff where an indian
chief had been buried and placed a flag upon a pole which had been set up at
his grave his name was blackbird kind of the mahas an absolute monarch
while living and the indians suppose can exercise the power of one though
dead
we see a grave where an indian chief was buried years ago called the
black bird and c capt lewis and clark went up to the grave and carried a
white flag and put up on the pole
passd a bluff whare the black bird the late king of the mahars was buried
years ago the officers took a flagg with them and assended the hill which was
feet higher than the water left the white flagg on a pole stuck on his
grave
prosed on passed a high bluff whare the kinge of the mahas died about
yeares ago the hill on which he is berred is about feet high the nathion
goes or times a year to cryes over him capt lewis and clark went up on
the hill to see the grave thay histed a flage on his grave as noner
for him which will pleas the indianes passed the mouth of a creek on the
south side called waie con di peeche or the grait sperit is bad whare this
chief died and about hundred of his men with the small pox this chiefs
name was the black bird
got under way before day light the musquetoes last night were worse than
i ever experienced
we broke our way through them till we came to where their had been a village
of about cabbins called the mahar village it was burned about years
ago immediately after near half the nation died with the small pox we
found none of the natives about the place
the ravages of the small pox which swept off men
and womin and children in perpopotion has reduced this nation not exceeding
men and left them to the insults of their weaker neighbours which before
was glad to be on friendly turns with them i am told when this fatal malady
was among them they carried their franzey to verry extroardinary length not
only of burning their village but they put their wives and children to death
with a view of their all going together to some better countrey
thes indians has not live at the town sence the smallpoks was so bad abut
years ago thay burnt thare town and onley live about it in the winter and in
the spring go all of them in the praries after the buflow and dos not return
untill the fall to meet the french traders thay rase no corn nor aney thing
excep some times thay rase som corn and then the ottoe nation comes and
cuts it down while thay are in the praries
with some small willows and bark we made a drag and hauled up the
creek and cought fish of different kind i e pike bass salmon perch red
horse small cat and a kind of perch called silver fish on the ohio
crouded with large musstles verry fat ducks plover
captain lewis went with a party of twelve men to fish and took fish
of which were large pike the fish here are generally pike cat sun perch and
other common fish what we caught were taken with trails or brush nets
captn clark and some of the men went a fishing the had good success
the catchd fish
capt clark and of his men and my self went to the mahas creek a fishen
and caut and fish of difernt coindes
cought upwards of fine fish
capt lewis and of the party went out to the mahar creek a fishing they
returned in the afternoon with more than a barrell or in nombers
captn lewis went out the nixt day with his party and returned with fish
neerly pike fish amongst them
capt lewis and of his men went to the creek a fishen caut fish
differnt coindes
set the praries on fire to bring the mahars and soues if any were near this
being the useal signal
trial of reed requested we would be as favourable with him as we could
consistantly with our oathes which we were and only sentenced him to
run the gantlet four times through the party and that each man with
swichies should punish him and for him not to be considered in future as one
of the party the three principal chiefs petitioned for pardin for this man
after we explained the injurey such men could doe them by false
representations and explan g the customs of our countrey they were all
satisfied with the propriety of the sentence and was witness to the punishment
cap l birth day the evening was closed with an extra gill of whiskey and a
dance until oclock
proceeded to the trial of reed he confessed that he deserted and stold a
public rifle shot pouch powder and ball and requested we would be as
favourable with him as we could consistantly with our oathes which we
were and only sentenced him to run the gantlet four times through the party
and that each man with swichies should punish him and for him not to be
considered in future as one of the party the three principal chiefs petitioned
for pardin for this man after we explained the injurey such men could doe
them by false representations and explan g the customs of our countrey they
were all satisfied with the propriety of the sentence and was witness to the
punishment
g drewyer and the other men returned and brought with them m reed the
deserter m reed tried and towards evening he recd his punishment the
chiefs sorry to have him punished la liberty has not returned it is
expected that he has deserted
sertificate to the others of their good intentions
we showed them many curiosities and the air gun which they were much
astonished at those people beged much for whiskey serjeant floyd is taken
verry bad all at once with a biliose chorlick
this day sergeant floyd became very sick and remained so all night he was
seized with a complaint somewhat like a violent cholick
sergt floyd taken verry ill this morning with a collick
sergeant floyd much weaker and no better serjeant floyd as bad as he can be
no pulse and nothing will stay a moment on his stomach or bowels passed two
islands on the s s and at the first bluff on the s s serj floyd died with a
great deal of composure before his death he said to me i am going away i
want you to write me a letter we buried him on the top of the bluff mile
below a small river to which we gave his name he was buried with the
honors of war much lamented a seeder post with the name sergt c
floyd died here nnth of august was fixed at the head of his grave this
man at all times gave us proofs of his firmness and determined resolution to
doe service to his countrey and honor to himself after paying all the honor to
our decesed brother we camped in the mouth of floyds river about yards
wide a butifull evening
sergeant floyd continued very ill we embarked early and proceeded having
a fair wind and fine weather till o clock when we landed for dinner here
sergeant floyd died notwithstanding every possible effort was made by the
commanding officers and other persons to save his life we went on about a
mile to high prairie hills on the north side of the river and there interred his
remains in the most decent manner our circumstances would admit we then
proceeded a mile further to a small river on the same side and encamped our
commanding officers gave it the name of floyd s river to perpetuate the
memory of the first man who had fallen in this important expedition
sergt charles floyd expired directly after we halted a little past the middle of
the day he was laid out in the best manner possable we dug the grave on
a handsome slightly round knob close to the bank we buried him with the
honours of war the usal serrymony performed by capt lewis as
custommary in a settlement we put a red ceeder post hughn and
branded his name date and c we named those bluffs sergeant charles floyds
bluffs we then proceeded on a short distance to a creek which we call
floyds creek
we sailed on verry well till noon when we landed for to take dinner sergeant
charles floyd expired directly after we landed he was layed out in the most
decent manner possable we proceeded on to the first hills on s where we
halted and dug a grave on the top of a round knob and buried the desed with
the honours of war the funeral serrymony performed etc we named this hill
sgt floyd s bluff we then proceeded on to a creek on the same side which
we named sgt floyds creek
capt lewis took a dost of salts to work off the effects of the arsenic
ordered a vote for a serjeant to chuse one of three which may be the highest
number p gass
we see a great deal of elk sign etc
killed a buffalow the wind blew hard and raised the sands off
the bar in such clouds that we could scercely this sand being fine and
verry light stuck to everry thing it touched and in the plain for a half a mile
the distance i was out every spire of grass was covered with the sand or
durt
captain clarke and one of the men killed a deer and a buffaloe and some of
the men were sent to dress and bring the buffaloe to the boat we stopped at a
prairie on the north side the largest and handsomest which i had seen
captain clarke called it buffaloe prairie we salted two barrels of buffaloe
meat
jo fields came to the boat informed us that he had killed a bull buffelow
capt lewis and myself and more of the party went out bucherd and brought it
to the boat the sand blew so thick from the sand island that we could not
see across the river for a long time
jo fields came to the boat had killed a buff buffelow
in a northerley derection from the mouth of this creek in an emence plain a
high hill is situated and appears of a conic form and by the different nations
of indians in this quarter is suppose to be the residence of deavels that they
are in human form with remarkable large heads and about inches high
that they are very watchfull and are arm d with sharp arrows with which
they can kill at a great distance they are said to kill all persons who are so
hardy as to attempt to approach the hill so much do the maha soues
ottoes and other neighbouring nations believe this fable that no
consideration is suffecient to induce them to approach the hill
back about miles we are informed that their is a verry high hill called hills
of the little devils by the natives and they amagan that it is inhabited by little
people with big heads and they are afraid to go up to them for fear they will
shoot them with their bows and arrows
capt lewis and myself concluded to go and see the mound which was viewed
with such turror by all the different nations in this quarter our dog was so
heeted and fatigued we was obliged send him back to the creek capt
lewis much fatigued
one evidence which the inds give for believeing this place to be the residence
of some unusial sperits is that they frequently discover a large assemblage of
birds about this mound is in my opinion a sufficent proof to produce in
the savage mind a confident belief of all the properties which they ascribe
it
numerous herds of buffalow
two of our men last night caught nine catfish that would together weigh
three hundred pounds captain lewis and captain clarke went to see a hill
on the north side of the river where the natives will not or pretend that they
will not venture to go and say that a small people live there whom they are
afraid of captains lewis and clarke did not return this evening
when we came near the hill we saw a great flock of birds flying about the top
of it we ascended the hill found none of the little people ther we saw several
holes in the ground
capt lewis and clark and more of the party went back to see the hill of little
devils

the commanding officers have thought proper to appoint patric gass a
sergent in the corps of volunteers for north western discovery he is
therefore to be obeyed and respected accordingly
one of the horses lost drewyer and one man hunting them
about o clock captain lewis and captain clarke with the party
accompanying them came to camp but had not been able to discover any of
those small people the hill is in a handsome prairie and the party saw a great
many buffaloe near it
they informd us that their was nothing but birds to be seen and that it is about
nine miles from the missouri and a handsom round hill in a mence large
prarie they saw a great many buffelow from the hill they were all most
famished for water etc
could neither find shannon nor horses
above this bluff we had the prarie set on fire to let the soues see that we
were on the river and as a signal for them to come to it
capt lewis and my self much indisposed owing to some cause for which we
cannot account
shannon had the horses ahead and that they could not overtake him this
man not being a first rate hunter we deturmined to send one man in pursute
of him with some provisions
sent on colter with provisions in pursute of shannon
the scioues camps are handsom of a conic form covered with buffalow
roabs painted different colours and all compact and handsomly arranged a
fat dog was presented as a mark of their great respect for the party of which
they partook hartily and thought it good and well flavored
we are generally well supplied with catfish the best i have ever seen some
large ones were taken last night
serg pryor and the men returned brot with them indians of the souix
nation they appear to be friendly they camped on the opposite shore we
carried them over some provisions and capt lewis sent them tobacco etc
sergt pryor informed us that their town was abt miles from the missouri
and consisted of lodges and built with dressed buffelow skins etc painted
different coulers etc
a council under an oak tree near where we had a flag flying on a high
flagstaff the souex is a stout bold looking people and well made the greater
part of them make use of bows and arrows some fiew fusees i observe among
them notwith standing they live by the bow and arrow they do not shoot so
well as the nothern indians the warriers are verry much deckerated with
paint porcupine quils and feathers large leagins and mockersons all with
buffalow roabs of different colours the squars wore peticoats and a white
buffalow roabe with the black hare turned back over their necks and sholders
this nation is divided into tribes
at nine o clock the indians came over the river four of them who were
musicians went backwards and forwards through and round our camp
singing and making a noise after that ceremony was over they all sat in
council captain lewis and captain clarke made five of them chiefs and gave
them some small presents at dark captain lewis gave them a grained deer
skin to stretch over a half keg for a drum when that was ready they all
assembled round some fires made for the purpose two of them beat on the
drum and some of the rest had little bags of undressed skins dried with beads
or small pebbles in them with which they make a noise these are their
instruments of music ten or twelve acted as musicians while twenty or thirty
young men and boys engaged in the dance which was continued during the
night no squaws made their appearance among this party
the talk was finished by our comdg officers about oclock after
dark we made a large fire for the indians to have a war dance all the young
men prepared themselves for the dance some of them painted themselves in
curious manner some of the boys had their faces and foreheads all painted
white and c a drum was prepared the band began to play on their little
instruments and the drum beat and they sand the young men commenced
dancing around the fire it always began with a houp and hollow and ended with
the same and in the intervales one of the warrier at a time would rise with
his weapen and speak of what he had done in his day and what warlike actions he
had done and c this they call merrit and c they would confess how many they
had killed and of what nation they were off and how many horses they had stole
and c they camped along side of us and behaved honestly and cleaver and c and c
the fog is so thick on the river this morning that we could not see across the
river untill late in the morning about oclock the indians was brought
across the river in our pearogue our captains counseled with them read a
speech to them and made of them chiefs and gave them all some marchandize
etc etc they received them verry thankfully divided them out among
themselves and play on their juze harps sung etc they boys shot with
their bows and arrows for beeds and appeared to be merry and behaved well
among our parte capt lewis shot his air gun told them that their was
medician in hir and that she would doe great execution they were all amazed
at the curiosity and as soon as he had shot a fiew times they all ran hastily to
see the ball holes in the tree they shouted aloud at the site of the execution
she would doe etc the captains gave them provisions etc as soon as it was
dark a fire was made a drum was repaired among them the young men
painted themselves different ways some with their faces all white others with
their faces part white round their forehead and breasts etc then they
commenced dancing in curious manner to us their was a party that sung and
kept time with the drumm they all danced or all their young men especially
they gave a houp before they commenced dancing they would dance around
the fire for some time and then houp and then rest a fiew minutes one of the
warrirs would git up in the centre with his arms and point towards the different
nations and make a speech telling what he had done how many he had killed
and how many horses he had stole etc all this make them great men and fine
warriers the larger rougues the best men etc or the bravest men and them
that kills most gets the greatest honoured among them
some of them had round their necks strings of the white bear s claws some of
the claws three inches long
the weuche head chief of the bob brulee tribe my great father his
sons i see before me this day you see me and the rest of the chiefs and
warries we are verry poor we have neither powder ball or knifves nor the
women at the village has no cloaths nor our children to war and
wishes that my fathers sons would be charitable enofe to give them some
things the captains told them that they were not traders that they had only
come to make the road open for the traders to come and that in a short time
their would be pleanty of traders on with goods and would supply their wants
on better terms than ever they had got them before
nth chief began again you made my old chief so fine that i will not go to
war but take his advise and burry the tomahawk and knife in the ground and
go with my old chief to see my great father when i was a young man i went
to the spanish and did not like their sayings so well as yours etc we want
a little powder and lead their is one tribe of red men my fathers that have not
their ears open but the old chief and us will do the best we can for you
some signs of the two men shannon and colter shannon appeared to be ahead
of colter
there is no timber in this part of the country but continued prairie on both
sides of the river a person by going on one of the hills may have a view as far
as the eye can reach without any obstruction or intervening object and enjoy
the most delightful prospects
we looked for tracks of shannon but could not see whether he had passd or
not
one of the men sent to the village killed a buffalow in the town the other
a large buck near it
i saw several goats on the hills on the s s also buffalow in great numbers
colter joined us had not found shannon the hunters kille buffalow one elk
deer one woolf deer and four turkies
discovered a village of small animals that burrow in the grown those
animals are called by the french petite chien killed one and caught one a
live by poreing a great quantity of water in his hole we attempted to dig to the
beds of one of those animals
contains great numbers of holes on the top of which those little animals set
erect make a whistleing noise and whin allarmed step into their hole
shields killed a prarie dog which was cooked for the capts dinner the
captains went out with some men of the party to see the ground where
those little dogs make their village and they found more than an acre of ground
covered with their holes they attempted to drown several of them out of their
holes but they caught but one which they brought in alive they are a curious
animal about the size of a little dog and of a grayish coulour resembles them
nearly except the tail which is like a ground squirrel they will stand on their
hind feet and look
one of the hunters killed a prarie dogg and sd he saw a village of them we
halted the capts went out with men and drounded out one and took it alive
and kept it it is a curious annimal much like a little dog and live in holes all in a
compact place like a village