Clark: July 15, 1806
Clark's party gathered their horses and set out at 8 AM, crossing a low mountain gap and following an old buffalo road along the heads of branches of the Gallatin to reach the Yellowstone (Rochejhone) River by 2 PM, after an 18-mile trek. After resting and dining, they continued nine miles downriver, passing Shield River, before camping in a large bottom. The horses' feet were badly worn from stones. Clark observed black bears, large herds of elk and antelope, abundant beaver, and noted the snow-covered mountains, river bottoms, and lack of timber large enough for canoes.
Tuesday 15th July 1806 we collected our horses and after an early brackft
at 8 A M Set out and proceeded up the branch to the head thence over a low
gap in the mountain thence across the heads of the N E. branch of the fork
of Gallitins river which we Camped near last night passing over a low
dividing ridge to the head of a water Course which runs into the
Rochejhone, prosueing an old buffalow road which enlargenes by one which
joins it from the most Easterly branch of the East fork of Galetins R.
proceeding down the branch a little to the N. of East keeping on the North
Side of the branch to the River rochejhone at which place I arrived at 2 P
M. The Distance from the three forks of the Easterly fork of Galletines
river (from whence it may be navigated down with Small Canoes) to the
river Rochejhone is 18 miles on an excellent high dry firm road with very
incoiderable hills. from this river to the nearest part of the main fork
of Gallitine is 29 miles mostly through a leavel plain. from the head of
the Missouri at the 3 forks 48 miles through a leavel plain the most of
the way as may be seen by the remarks in the evening after the usial delay
of 3 hours to give the horses time to feed and rest and allowing our
Selves time also to Cook and eate Dinner, I proceeded on down the river on
an old buffalow road at the distance of 9 miles below the mountains Shield
River discharges itself into the Rochejhone on it’s N W. side above a high
rocky Clift, this river is 35 yards wide deep and affords a great quantity
of water it heads in those Snowey Mountains to the N W with Howards Creek,
it contains some Timber Such as Cotton & willow in it’s bottoms, and
Great numbers of beaver the river also abounds in those animals as far as
I have Seen.
passed the creek and over a high rocky hill and encamped in the upper part
of a large bottom. The horses feet are very sore many of them Can Scercely
proceed on over the Stone and gravel in every other respect they are Sound
and in good Sperits. I saw two black bear on the side of the mountains
this morning. Several gangs of Elk from 100 to 200 in a gangue on the
river, great numbers of Antelopes. one Elk only killed to day.
The Roche passes out of a high rugid mountain covered with Snow. the
bottoms are narrow within the mountains but widen from 1/2 a m. to 2 ms.
in the Vally below, those bottoms are Subject to over flow, they contain
Some tall Cotton wood, and willow rose bushes & rushes Honey suckle
&c. a Second bottom on the N E. Side which rises to about 20 feet
higher the first & is 1 m. wide this bottom is coars gravel pebils
& Sand with Some earth on which the grass grow very Short and at this
time is quit dry this 2d bottom over flows in high floods on the opposit
Side of the river the plain is much higher and extendes quite to the foot
of the mountain. The mountains to the S. S. E on the East side of the
river is rocky rugid and on them are great quantities of Snow. a bold Snow
mountain which bears East & is imediately at & N W of the 3 forks
of the East fork of Gallitins river may be Seen, there is also a high
rugid Mtn. on which is Snow bearing North 15 or 20 miles. but fiew flowers
to be Seen in those plains. low grass in the high plains, and the Common
corse grass, rushes and a species of rye is the growth of the low bottoms.
the mountains have Some scattering pine on them, and on the Spurs and hill
Sides there is some scrubby pine. I can See no timber Sufficient large for
a Canoe which will Carry more than 3 men and Such a one would be too Small
to answer my purpose
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Tuesday 15th July 1806. We collected our horses and after an early breakfast at 8 A.M. set out and proceeded up the branch to its head, then over a low gap in the mountain, then across the heads of the N.E. branch of the fork of Gallitins (Gallatin) river, which we camped near last night, passing over a low dividing ridge to the head of a watercourse which runs into the Rochejhone (Yellowstone), pursuing an old buffalo road which is enlarged by one which joins it from the most easterly branch of the East fork of Galetins (Gallatin) River. Proceeding down the branch a little to the north of east, keeping on the north side of the branch to the river Rochejhone, at which place I arrived at 2 P.M. The distance from the three forks of the easterly fork of Galletines river (from where it may be navigated down with small canoes) to the river Rochejhone is 18 miles on an excellent high, dry, firm road with very inconsiderable hills. From this river to the nearest part of the main fork of Gallitine is 29 miles, mostly through a level plain. From the head of the Missouri at the 3 forks, 48 miles through a level plain most of the way, as may be seen by the remarks in the evening. After the usual delay of 3 hours to give the horses time to feed and rest, and allowing ourselves time also to cook and eat dinner, I proceeded on down the river on an old buffalo road. At the distance of 9 miles below the mountains, Shield River discharges itself into the Rochejhone on its N.W. side above a high rocky cliff. This river is 35 yards wide, deep, and affords a great quantity of water. It heads in those snowy mountains to the N.W. with Howards Creek. It contains some timber such as cottonwood and willow in its bottoms, and great numbers of beaver. The river also abounds in those animals as far as I have seen.
Passed the creek and over a high rocky hill and camped in the upper part of a large bottom. The horses' feet are very sore; many of them can scarcely proceed on over the stone and gravel. In every other respect they are sound and in good spirits. I saw two black bear on the side of the mountains this morning. Several gangs of elk from 100 to 200 in a gang on the river, great numbers of antelope. Only one elk killed today.
The Roche passes out of a high rugged mountain covered with snow. The bottoms are narrow within the mountains but widen from 1/2 a mile to 2 miles in the valley below. Those bottoms are subject to overflow; they contain some tall cottonwood and willow, rose bushes, rushes, honeysuckle, etc. A second bottom on the N.E. side which rises to about 20 feet higher than the first and is 1 mile wide; this bottom is coarse gravel pebbles and sand with some earth, on which the grass grows very short and at this time is quite dry. This 2nd bottom overflows in high floods. On the opposite side of the river the plain is much higher and extends quite to the foot of the mountain. The mountains to the S.S.E. on the east side of the river are rocky and rugged, and on them are great quantities of snow. A bold snow mountain which bears east and is immediately at and N.W. of the 3 forks of the East fork of Gallitins river may be seen. There is also a high rugged mountain on which is snow, bearing north, 15 or 20 miles distant. But few flowers are to be seen in those plains. Low grass in the high plains, and the common coarse grass, rushes, and a species of rye is the growth of the low bottoms. The mountains have some scattering pine on them, and on the spurs and hillsides there is some scrubby pine. I can see no timber sufficiently large for a canoe which will carry more than 3 men, and such a one would be too small to answer my purpose.
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