Journal Entry

Clark: August 9, 1806

August 9, 1806
Lewis/Clark descending Missouri/Yellowstone to reunion
AI Summary

On a dewy morning, the party loaded canoes and traveled about six miles to meet hunters Shields and Gibson, who had killed five deer. After breakfast, Clark walked roughly ten miles across an open bottomland, killing three lean deer but passing on fatter elk too far from the river to carry. He noted a 25-yard-wide creek flowing through rolling plains. Sacagawea brought him gooseberries and purple currants the engagés called Indian currants. That evening Clark killed an exceptionally large, fat buck elk, the fattest animal taken on the journey, and had its meat sliced for drying.

Monday 9th August 1806 a heavy dew this morning. loaded the Canoes and
proceeded on down about 6 miles and landed at the Camp of the 2 hunters
Shields and Gibson whome I had Sent down to hunt last evening, they had
killed five deer two of which were in good order which they brought in.
here I took brackfast and proceeded on a fiew miles and I walked on Shore
across a point of near 10 miles in extent in this bottom which was mostly
open I saw Some fiew deer and Elk. I killed 3 of the deer which were
Meagure the Elk appeared fat. I did not kill any of them as the distance
to the river was too great for the men to Carry the meat at the lower part
of this bottom a large Creek of runnig water 25 yds wide falls in which
meanders through an open roleing plain of great extent. in the low bottoms
of this Creek I observed Some timber Such as Cottonwood, ash & Elm. on
my arival at the lower part of the bottom found that the canoes had been
in waiting for me nearly two hours. The Squar brought me a large and well
flavoured Goose berry of a rich Crimsin Colour, and deep purple berry of
the large Cherry of the Current Speces which is common on this river as
low as the Mandans, the engagees Call it the Indian Current. I landed
opposit to a high plain on the S. E. Side late in the evening and walked
in a Grove of timber where I met with an Elk which I killed. this Elk was
the largest Buck I ever Saw and the fattest animal which have been killed
on the rout. I had the flesh and fat of this Elk brought to Camp and cut
thin ready to dry. the hunters killed nothing this evening.

Read this entry in modern English AI-translated

Monday, 9th August 1806. There was a heavy dew this morning. We loaded the canoes and proceeded on down about 6 miles, then landed at the camp of the two hunters, Shields and Gibson, whom I had sent down to hunt last evening. They had killed five deer, two of which were in good order, which they brought in. Here I took breakfast and proceeded on a few miles, and I walked on shore across a point of near 10 miles in extent. In this bottom, which was mostly open, I saw a few deer and elk. I killed 3 of the deer, which were meager; the elk appeared fat, but I did not kill any of them, as the distance to the river was too great for the men to carry the meat.

At the lower part of this bottom, a large creek of running water, 25 yards wide, falls in, which meanders through an open rolling plain of great extent. In the low bottoms of this creek, I observed some timber, such as cottonwood, ash, and elm. On my arrival at the lower part of the bottom, I found that the canoes had been waiting for me nearly two hours. The Squaw brought me a large and well-flavored gooseberry of a rich crimson color, and a deep purple berry of the large cherry of the currant species, which is common on this river as low as the Mandans; the engagees call it the Indian currant.

I landed opposite a high plain on the S. E. side late in the evening and walked into a grove of timber, where I met with an elk, which I killed. This elk was the largest buck I ever saw and the fattest animal that has been killed on the route. I had the flesh and fat of this elk brought to camp and cut thin, ready to dry. The hunters killed nothing this evening.

This modernization is AI-generated for accessibility. The original above is the authoritative version.

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