Journal Entry

Clark: August 22, 1804

August 22, 1804
William Clark Missouri River near Vermillion area

22nd of August Wendesday 1804 Set out early wind from the South. G Shannon
joined the Boat last night. Course this morning is S 47° W. 11/4 on the S.
point West 11/4 me. to the Commencement of a Bluff on the L. S. the High
land near the river for Some distance below. This Bluff contain Pyrites
alum, Copperass & a Kind Markesites also a clear Soft Substance which
will mold and become pliant like wax) Capt lewis was near being Poisened
by the Smell in pounding this Substance I belv to be arsenic or Cabalt. I
observe great Quantity of Cops. ans and almin pure & Straters of white
& brown earth of 6 Inch thick. a Creek Corns in above the Bluffs on
which there is great quantities of those minerals, This Creek I call
Roloje a at those Allom banks Shields joined in with two Deer

Camped on the S. S. a Great Deel of Elk Sign fresh Capt. Lewis took a Dost
of Salts this evening to carry off the effects of (arsenec) or cobalt
which he was trying to find out the real quallity (2) passed a Clift of
Rock much impregnated with alum, Containing also a great quantity of
Cabalt

ordered a Vote of the men for a Sergeant of the three highest numbers a
choice to be made Gass Bratton & GibsonGass is worth remark,
that my Ink after Standing in the pot 3 or four days Soaks up & becons
thick

22nd August Friday 1804 Set out early wind from the South at three miles
we landed at a Bluff where the two men Sent with the horses were waiting
with two Deer, by examonation of this (1) Bluff Contained alum, Copperas,
Cobalt, Pyrites; a alum rock Soft & Sand Stone. Capt. Lewis in
proveing the quality of those minerals was near poisoning himself by the
fumes & tast of the Cabalt which had the appearance of Soft IsonglassCopperas
& alum is verry pure, Above this Bluff a Small Creek Coms in from the
L. S. passing under the Clifts for Several miles, this Creek I Call Roloje
a name I learned last night in my Sleep. (2) Eight) Seven miles above is a
Clift of Allom Stone of a Dark Brown Colr. Containing also in crusted in
the Crevices & Shelves of the rock great qts. of Cabalt, Semented
Shels & a red earth. from this the (3) river bends to the East and is
within 3 or 4 miles of the River Soues at the place where that river Coms
from the high land into the Low Prarie & passes under the foot of
those Hills to its mouth.

Capt Lewis took a Dost of Salts to work off the effects of the Arsenic, we
Camped on the S. S. Sailed the greater part of this day with a hard wind
from the S. E. great deel of Elk Sign, and great appearance of wind from
the N. W.

ordered a vote for a Serjeant to chuse one of three which may be the
highest number the highest numbers are P. Gass had 19 Votes, Bratten &
Gibson

Terrain360 · the place today

Missouri River near Vermillion area in 360°

Yankton to Sioux City · 1,183 panoramas on this trail · 18 journal entries written here Nearest capture is 2.4 mi from the tagged location.

Terrain360 panorama near Missouri River near Vermillion area

10 frames across 1.6 mi of the route around this location

Help improve this record

See something that needs correcting, or know a source we are missing? The archive gets better through its readers.

Send a correction

Our Partners

Follow the research

New findings, additions, and corrections from the archive. One email a month, no noise.