Clark: July 14, 1806
Clark's party set out east across the Gallatin River plains, sending Shields ahead to hunt. Beaver dams choked the river bottoms, forcing Clark to detour onto an island plain, where Sacagawea pointed out a large Indian road heading toward a gap in the mountains he was aiming for. They nooned after Shields killed a fat buck, then continued southeast to the three forks of the east branch of the Gallatin, following an old buffalo road and camping at the mouth of a mountain gap. Game was abundant; Sacagawea explained buffalo had grown scarce due to Shoshone hunting patterns.
Monday 14th July 1806 Sent Sheilds a head to kill a deer for our brackfast
and at an early hour Set out with the party Crossed Gallitines river which
makes a Considerable bend to the N. E. and proceeded on nearly S. 78° E
through an open Leavel plain at 6 miles I Struck the river and crossed a
part of it and attemptd to proceed on through the river bottoms which was
Several Miles wide at this place, I crossed Several chanels of the river
running through the bottom in defferent directions. I proceeded on about
two miles crossing those defferent chanels all of which was damed with
beaver in Such a manner as to render the passage impracticable and after
Swamped as I may Say in this bottom of beaver I was compelled to turn
Short about to the right and after Some difficuelty made my way good to an
open low but firm plain which was an Island and extended nearly the Course
I wished to proceed. here the Squar informed me that there was a large
road passing through the upper part of this low plain from Madicins river
through the gap which I was Stearing my Course to. I proceeded up this
plain 4 miles and Crossed the main Chanel of the river, having passed
through a Skirt of cotton timber to an open low plain on the N E. Side of
the river and nooned it. the river is divided and on all the small Streams
inoumerable quantities of beaver dams, tho the river is yet navagable for
Canoes. I overtook Shields Soon after I set out; he had killed a large fat
Buck. I saw Elk deer & Antelopes, and great deel of old Signs of
buffalow. their roads is in every direction. The Indian woman informs me
that a fiew years ago Buffalow was very plenty in those plains &
Vallies quit as high as the head of Jeffersons river, but flew of them
ever come into those Vallys of late years owing to the Shoshones who are
fearfull of passing into the plains West of the mountains and Subsist on
what game they Can Catch in the Mountains principally and the fish which
they take in the E. fork of Lewis’s river. Small parties of the Shoshones
do pass over to the plains for a few days at a time and kill buffalow for
their Skins and dried meat, and return imediately into the Mountains.
after Dinner we proceeded on a little to the South of East through an open
leavel plain to the three forks of the E branch of Gallitines River at
about 12 miles, crossed the most Southerly of those forks and Struck an
old buffalow road which I kept Continuing nearly the Same Course up the
middle fork Crossed it and Camped on a small branch of the middle fork on
the N E. Side at the commencement of the gap of the mountainthe
road leading up this branch, Several other roads all old Come in from the
right & left. emence quantities of beaver on this Fork quit down, and
their dams very much impeed the navigation of it from the 3 forks down,
tho I beleive it practicable for Small Canoes by unloading at a fiew of
the worst of those dams. Deer are plenty. Shannon Shields and Sergt. Pryor
each killed one which were very fat much more So than they are Commonly at
this Season of the year. The Main fork of Galletins River turn South and
enter them mountains which are yet Covered with Snow. Madisens river makes
a Great bend to the East and enters the Same mountain. a leavel plain
between the two rivers below the mountain.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Monday, 14th July 1806. Sent Shields ahead to kill a deer for our breakfast, and at an early hour set out with the party. Crossed Gallatin's river, which makes a considerable bend to the N. E., and proceeded on nearly S. 78° E. through an open level plain. At 6 miles I struck the river and crossed a part of it and attempted to proceed on through the river bottoms, which were several miles wide at this place. I crossed several channels of the river running through the bottom in different directions. I proceeded on about two miles crossing those different channels, all of which were dammed with beaver in such a manner as to render the passage impracticable, and after being swamped, as I may say, in this bottom of beaver, I was compelled to turn short about to the right, and after some difficulty made my way good to an open, low but firm plain which was an island and extended nearly the course I wished to proceed. Here the Squar (Sacagawea) informed me that there was a large road passing through the upper part of this low plain from Madison's river through the gap which I was steering my course to. I proceeded up this plain 4 miles and crossed the main channel of the river, having passed through a skirt of cottonwood timber to an open low plain on the N. E. side of the river, and nooned it. The river is divided, and on all the small streams are innumerable quantities of beaver dams, though the river is yet navigable for canoes.
I overtook Shields soon after I set out; he had killed a large fat buck. I saw elk, deer, and antelopes, and a great deal of old sign of buffalo. Their roads are in every direction. The Indian woman informs me that a few years ago buffalo were very plenty in those plains and valleys, quite as high as the head of Jefferson's river, but few of them ever come into those valleys of late years, owing to the Shoshones, who are fearful of passing into the plains west of the mountains and subsist on what game they can catch in the mountains principally, and the fish which they take in the E. fork of Lewis's river. Small parties of the Shoshones do pass over to the plains for a few days at a time and kill buffalo for their skins and dried meat, and return immediately into the mountains.
After dinner we proceeded on a little to the south of east through an open level plain to the three forks of the E. branch of Gallatin's River at about 12 miles, crossed the most southerly of those forks, and struck an old buffalo road which I kept, continuing nearly the same course up the middle fork. Crossed it and camped on a small branch of the middle fork on the N. E. side at the commencement of the gap of the mountain, the road leading up this branch. Several other roads, all old, come in from the right and left. Immense quantities of beaver on this fork quite down, and their dams very much impede the navigation of it from the 3 forks down, though I believe it practicable for small canoes by unloading at a few of the worst of those dams. Deer are plenty. Shannon, Shields, and Sergt. Pryor each killed one, which were very fat, much more so than they are commonly at this season of the year. The main fork of Gallatin's River turns south and enters the mountains, which are yet covered with snow. Madison's river makes a great bend to the east and enters the same mountain. A level plain lies between the two rivers below the mountain.
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