Clark: August 5, 1805
On a cold, clear morning with southeast winds, the party struggled up an increasingly rapid and rocky river. Joseph and Reubin Field were sent hunting and killed two deer, providing breakfast. By 4 p.m. the temperature reached 49 degrees. Reaching a major forks, Clark chose the northwest fork as best matching their southwesterly course, rejecting the greenish southeast branch. They cut through dense willows, ascended about nine miles, and camped on a recently flooded island, raising beds on bushes. The men were exhausted from hauling canoes through rapids, and Clark's foot was very painful.
August 5th Monday 1805 a Cold Clear morning the wind from the S. E. the
river Streight & much more rapid than yesterday, I Sent out Jo. &
R. Fields to kill Some meat they killed 2 Deer & we brackfast on one
of them and proceeded on with great dificuelety from the rapidity of the
Current, and numerable rapids we had to encounter, at 4 oClock P M Murcury
49 ab. 0, passed the mouth of principal fork which falls in on the Lard.
Side, this fork is about the Size of the Stard. one less water reather not
so rapid, its Course as far as can be Seen is S. E & appear to pass
through between two mountains, the N W. fork being the one most in our
course i. e. S 25 W. as far as I can See, deturmind me to take this fork
as the principal and the one most proper the S E fork is of a Greenish
Colour & contains but little timber. The S W fok contains more timber
than is below for Some distance, we assended this fork about one mile and
Encamped on an Island which had been laterly overflown & was wet we
raised our bead on bushes, we passed a part of the river above the forks
which was divided and Scattered thro the willows in Such a manner as to
render it dificuelt to pass through for a 1/4 of a mile, we wer oblige to
Cut our way thro the willowsMen much fatigued from their excessive
labours in hauling the Canoes over the rapids &c. verry weak being in
the water all day. my foot verry painfull
Assended the N W Fork 9 miles on a Course S. 30° W. to a Bluff on the
Stard. Side passed Several Bayous & Islands
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
August 5th, Monday, 1805. A cold, clear morning with the wind from the S.E. The river was straight and much more rapid than yesterday. I sent out Jo. and R. Fields to kill some meat. They killed 2 deer, and we breakfasted on one of them and proceeded on with great difficulty due to the rapidity of the current and the numerous rapids we had to encounter. At 4 o'clock P.M. the mercury stood at 49 above 0. We passed the mouth of a principal fork which falls in on the larboard side. This fork is about the size of the starboard one, with less water and not quite as rapid. Its course, as far as can be seen, is S.E. and appears to pass between two mountains. The N.W. fork, being the one most in our course (i.e., S. 25 W.) as far as I can see, determined me to take this fork as the principal one and the most proper. The S.E. fork is of a greenish color and contains but little timber. The S.W. fork contains more timber than the river below for some distance. We ascended this fork about one mile and camped on an island which had recently been overflowed and was wet; we raised our beds on bushes. We passed a part of the river above the forks which was divided and scattered through the willows in such a manner as to render it difficult to pass through for a quarter of a mile; we were obliged to cut our way through the willows. The men were much fatigued from their excessive labors in hauling the canoes over the rapids, etc., and were very weak from being in the water all day. My foot is very painful.
Ascended the N.W. fork 9 miles on a course of S. 30° W. to a bluff on the starboard side. Passed several bayous and islands.
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