Clark: August 20, 1806
A violent rainstorm at dawn soaked most of the party before they embarked just after sunrise against a moderate headwind. They passed the mouth of the Cannonball River, noting remains of a recent large Sioux encampment, then the Wardepon River, observing many wolves and some buffalo and elk. Strong winds pushed waves into the small canoes, requiring constant bailing, and they made only 8 miles before camping on a sandbar. Clark noted the plains grass yellowing and significant changes in the Missouri's channel, sandbars, and riverbanks since 1804.
Wednesday 20th of August 1806 a violent hard rain about day light this
morning. all wet except myself and the indians. we embarked a little after
Sun rise wind moderate and ahead. we proceeded on at meridn. passed the
enterance of Cannonball river imediately above is the remains of a large
Sieoux encampment which appears to have been made this Spring. at 3 P M
passed the enterance of Wardepon River Saw great number of wolves on the
bank Some Buffalow & Elk, tho not so abundant as near the River
Rochejhone. passed the place where we left the last encampment of Ricaras
in the fall 1804 and encamped on a Sandbar from the N. E. Side, having
made 8 miles only, the wind blew hard all day which caused the waves to
rise high and flack over into the Small Canoes in Such a manner as to
employ one hand in throwing the water out. The plains begin to Change
their appearance the grass is turning of a yellow colour. I observe a
great alteration in the Corrent course and appearance of this pt. of the
Missouri. in places where there was Sand bars in the fall 1804 at this
time the main Current passes, and where the current then passed is now a
Sand bar Sand bars which were then naked are now covered with willow
Several feet high. the enteranc of Some of the Rivers & Creeks Changed
owing to the mud thrown into them, and a layor of mud over Some of the
bottoms of 8 inches thick.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Wednesday, 20th of August 1806. A violent, hard rain fell about daylight this morning. All were wet except myself and the Indians. We embarked a little after sunrise, with the wind moderate and ahead. We proceeded on, and at noon passed the entrance of Cannonball River. Immediately above it are the remains of a large Sioux encampment, which appears to have been made this spring.
At 3 P.M. we passed the entrance of Wardepon River. We saw a great number of wolves on the bank, and some buffalo and elk, though not so abundant as near the River Rochejhone (Yellowstone). We passed the place where we left the last encampment of the Ricaras (Arikaras) in the fall of 1804, and camped on a sandbar on the northeast side, having made only 8 miles. The wind blew hard all day, which caused the waves to rise high and splash over into the small canoes in such a manner as to require one hand to be employed in throwing the water out.
The plains are beginning to change their appearance; the grass is turning a yellow color. I observe a great alteration in the current, course, and appearance of this part of the Missouri. In places where there were sandbars in the fall of 1804, at this time the main current passes; and where the current then passed is now a sandbar. Sandbars which were then bare are now covered with willows several feet high. The entrances of some of the rivers and creeks have changed, owing to the mud thrown into them, and there is a layer of mud over some of the bottoms 8 inches thick.
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