Clark: April 12, 1805
On a fine, mild morning, the expedition set out early and reached the mouth of the Little Missouri River, making camp on an elevated plain to take latitude and longitude observations. Clark recorded the river's dimensions and noted information from Baptiste, who had previously descended it. Clark walked the area, describing the hilly terrain, soil, and wildlife including a molting hare, magpies, and grouse. A violent southerly wind with thunder and rain struck in the afternoon. Mice were found chewing food bags in the canoes, and clouds prevented the evening celestial observation.
12th April Friday 1805 a fine morning Set out verry early, the murcery
Stood 56° above 0. proceeded on to the mouth of the Little Missouri river
and formed a Camp in a butifull elivated plain on the lower Side for the
purpose of takeing Some observations to fix the Latitude & Longitude
of this river. this river falls in on the L. Side and is 134 yards wide
and 2 feet 6 Inches deep at the mouth, it takes its rise in the N W
extremity of the black mountains, and through a broken countrey in its
whole course washing the N W base of the Turtle Mountain which is Situated
about 6 Leagues S W of its mouth, one of our men Baptiest who came down
this river in a canoe informs me that it is not navagable, he was 45 days
descending.
One of our men Shot a beaver Swimming below the mouth of this river.
I walked out on the lower Side of this river and found the countrey hilley
the Soil composed of black mole & a Small perportion of Sand
containing great quantity of Small peable Some limestone, black flint,
& Sand Stone I killed a Hare Changeing its Colour Some parts retaining
its long white fur & other parts assumeing the Short grey, I Saw the
Magpie in pars, flocks of Grouse, the old field lark & Crows, &
observed the leaf of the wild Chery half grown, many flowers are to be
seen in the plains, remains of Minetarra & Ossinneboin hunting Camps
are to be Seen on each Side of the two Missouris
The wind blew verry hard from the S. all the after part of the day, at 3
oClock P M. it became violent & flowey accompanied with thunder and a
little rain. We examined our canoes &c found Several mice which had
already commenced cutting our bags of corn & parched meal, the water
of the little Missouri is of the Same texture Colour & quallity of
that of the Big Missouri the after part of the day so Cloudy that we lost
the evening observation.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
12th April, Friday, 1805. A fine morning. Set out very early; the mercury stood at 56° above 0. Proceeded on to the mouth of the Little Missouri River and formed a camp in a beautiful elevated plain on the lower side, for the purpose of taking some observations to fix the latitude and longitude of this river. This river falls in on the left side and is 134 yards wide and 2 feet 6 inches deep at the mouth. It takes its rise in the northwest extremity of the Black Mountains, and runs through a broken country its whole course, washing the northwest base of the Turtle Mountain, which is situated about 6 leagues southwest of its mouth. One of our men, Baptiest (Baptiste), who came down this river in a canoe, informs me that it is not navigable; he was 45 days descending.
One of our men shot a beaver swimming below the mouth of this river. I walked out on the lower side of this river and found the country hilly, the soil composed of black mold and a small proportion of sand, containing a great quantity of small pebbles, some limestone, black flint, and sandstone. I killed a hare that was changing its color, some parts retaining its long white fur and other parts taking on the short gray. I saw the magpie in pairs, flocks of grouse, the old-field lark, and crows, and observed the leaf of the wild cherry half grown. Many flowers are to be seen in the plains. Remains of Minetarra (Minnetaree) and Ossinneboin (Assiniboine) hunting camps are to be seen on each side of the two Missouris.
The wind blew very hard from the south all the latter part of the day. At 3 o'clock P.M. it became violent and gusty, accompanied with thunder and a little rain. We examined our canoes, etc., and found several mice which had already begun cutting into our bags of corn and parched meal. The water of the Little Missouri is of the same texture, color, and quality as that of the Big Missouri. The latter part of the day was so cloudy that we lost the evening observation.
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