Journal Entry

Clark: July 13, 1806

July 13, 1806
Lewis: Great Falls / Clark: crossing to Yellowstone
AI Summary

The party set out early and reached the mouth of the Madison River by noon, meeting Sergeant Pryor and his horse party, who had killed six deer and a white bear. After driving the horses across the Madison and Gallatin rivers and dining, Clark dispatched Sergeant Ordway with ten men and six canoes downriver, sending written instructions to Captain Lewis. Clark's overland group of nine, plus Sacagawea, her child, and York, continued east with 49 sore-footed horses, camping on the Gallatin. Sacagawea recommended a southern mountain gap for their crossing.

Sunday 13th July 1806 Set out early this morning and proceded on very well
to the enterance of Madicines river at our old Encampment of the 27th July
last at 12 where I found Sergt. Pryor and party with the horses, they had
arived at this place one hour before us. his party had killed 6 deer &
a white bear I had all the horses driven across Madicine & gallitines
rivers and halted to dine and let the horses feed imediately below the
enterance of Gallitine. had all the baggage of the land party taken out of
the Canoes and after dinner the 6 Canoes and the party of 10 men under the
direction of Sergt. Ordway Set out. previous to their departur I gave
instructions how they were to proceed &c. I also wrote to Capt Lewis
by Sergt. Ordway-. my party now Consists of the following persons Viz:
Serjeant N. Pryor, Jo. Shields, G. Shannon William Bratton, Labiech,
Windsor, H. Hall, Gibson, Interpreter Shabono his wife & Child and my
man york; with 49 horses and a colt. the horses feet are very sore and
Several of them can Scercely proceed on. at 5. P. M I Set out from the
head of Missouri at the 3 forks, and proceeded on nearly East 4 miles and
Encamped on the bank of Gallitines River which is a butifull navigable
Stream. Saw a large Gange of Elk in the plains and Deer in the river
bottoms. I also observe beaver and Several otter in galletines river as I
passed along. Gibson killed an otter the fur of which was much longer and
whiter than any which I had Seen. Willard killed 2 deer this morning. all
the meat I had put into the Canoes except a Sufficiency for Supper. The
Country in the forks between Gallitins & Madisens rivers is a butifull
leavel plain Covered with low grass.on the lower or N E. Side of
Gallitins river the Country rises gradually to the foot of a mountain
which runs nearly parrelal. those plains are indefferant or the Soil of
which is not very rich they are Stoney & Contain Several Stratas of
white rock. the Current of the river is rapid and near the mouth contains
Several islands, it is navigable for Canoes. I saw Several Antelope Common
Deer, wolves, beaver, Otter, Eagles, hawks, Crows, wild gees both old and
young, does &c. &c. I observe Several leading roads which appear
to pass to a gap of the mountain in a E. N E. direction about 18 or 20
miles distant. The indian woman who has been of great Service to me as a
pilot through this Country recommends a gap in the mountain more South
which I shall cross.-.

Read this entry in modern English AI-translated

Sunday 13th July 1806. Set out early this morning and proceeded on very well to the entrance of Madicine's (Madison) River at our old encampment of the 27th of July last, at 12, where I found Sergt. Pryor (Sergeant Pryor) and party with the horses. They had arrived at this place one hour before us. His party had killed 6 deer and a white bear. I had all the horses driven across Madicine and Gallitine's (Madison and Gallatin) rivers and halted to dine and let the horses feed immediately below the entrance of Gallitine. Had all the baggage of the land party taken out of the canoes, and after dinner the 6 canoes and the party of 10 men under the direction of Sergt. Ordway (Sergeant Ordway) set out. Previous to their departure I gave instructions how they were to proceed, etc. I also wrote to Capt Lewis (Captain Lewis) by Sergt. Ordway.

My party now consists of the following persons, viz: Serjeant N. Pryor, Jo. Shields, G. Shannon, William Bratton, Labiech, Windsor, H. Hall, Gibson, interpreter Shabono (Charbonneau), his wife and child, and my man York; with 49 horses and a colt. The horses' feet are very sore and several of them can scarcely proceed on.

At 5 P.M. I set out from the head of Missouri at the 3 forks, and proceeded on nearly east 4 miles and encamped on the bank of Gallitine's (Gallatin) River, which is a beautiful navigable stream. Saw a large gang of elk in the plains and deer in the river bottoms. I also observed beaver and several otter in Gallitine's River as I passed along. Gibson killed an otter, the fur of which was much longer and whiter than any which I had seen. Willard killed 2 deer this morning. All the meat I had put into the canoes except a sufficiency for supper.

The country in the forks between Gallitin's and Madisen's (Gallatin and Madison) rivers is a beautiful level plain covered with low grass. On the lower or N.E. side of Gallitin's River the country rises gradually to the foot of a mountain which runs nearly parallel. Those plains are indifferent, or the soil of which is not very rich; they are stony and contain several stratas of white rock. The current of the river is rapid and near the mouth contains several islands; it is navigable for canoes. I saw several antelope, common deer, wolves, beaver, otter, eagles, hawks, crows, wild geese both old and young, does, etc., etc.

I observed several leading roads which appear to pass to a gap of the mountain in an E.N.E. direction about 18 or 20 miles distant. The Indian woman, who has been of great service to me as a pilot through this country, recommends a gap in the mountain more south, which I shall cross.

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

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