Clark: July 19, 1804
The expedition set out early and passed between two small islands the French called Four le Tourtre, or Baker's Oven Islands, then navigated past yellow-earth clifts and numerous wide, shallow sand bars that grew more dangerous as they neared the Platte River. Clark walked ashore chasing elk sign and was struck by a vast, seemingly boundless prairie of tall grass, then explored two small wooded streams and found what he took to be iron ore in a slumped clay bank. They named Butter Island after finishing their last butter, camped by a willow island, and hunters Drouillard and Bratton killed two deer.
July 19th after breakfast which was on a rosted Ribs of a Deer a little
and a little Coffee I walked on Shore intending only to Keep up with the
Boat, Soon after I got on Shore, Saw Some fresh elk Sign, which I was
induced to prosue those animals by their track to the hills after
assending and passing thro a narrow Strip of wood Land, Came Suddenly into
an open and bound less Prarie, I Say bound less because I could not See
the extent of the plain in any Derection, the timber appeared to be
confined to the River Creeks & Small branches, this Prarie was Covered
with grass about 18 Inches or 2 feat high and contained little of any
thing else, except as before mentioned on the River Creeks &c, This
prospect was So Sudden & entertaining that I forgot the object of my
prosute and turned my attention to the Variety which presented themselves
to my view after continueing on this rise for Some minits, I deturmined to
make my course to a line of woods to S. E. I found in this wood a butifull
Streem of running water, in prosuing it down Several others Joined it and
at 3 miles fell into the river between 2 clifts, I went up & under one
clift of dark rich Clay for 1/2 me. above this a Clay bank which had
Sliped in here I found Sand Stone Containing Iron ore, this ore appears to
be inbeded under the Clay just above the water
—
July 19th Thursday 1804 Set out early pass between 2 Islands one in mid.
& the other L. S. opsd. wher Prarie aproaches the river S. S. This
place is called the Bakers oven or in french Four le Tour tere passd. Some
highlands 41/2 ms. above the Isds. on the L. S. forming a Clift to the
river of yellow earth, on the top a Prarie, passd. many a bad Sand bar in
this distance, & the river wide & Shallow, above this Clift 2
Small butiffull runs Come from the Plains & fall into the river, a
Deer lick on the first, above those two Creeks, I found in my walk on
Shore Some ore in a bank which had Sliped in to the river 3/4 me. above
the Creeks, I took a cerequite around & found that those two runs
mentioned contained a good proposion of wood Surrounded by a plain, with
grass about 18 Inchs. high, (Capt Lewis walked on Shore after Dinner) in
the first bind to the right above those Runs passed a Small Island opsd.
is a Sand bar I call this Island Butter Island, as at this place we mad
use of the last of our butter, as we approach this Great River Platt the
Sand bars are much more noumerous than they were, and the quick &
roleing Sands much more danjerous, where the Praries aproach the river it
is verry wide, the banks of those Plains being much easier to undermine
and fall than the wood land passed (4) a willow Island Situated near the
middle of the river, a Sand bar on the S. S. and a Deep bend to the L S.
camped on the right Side of the Willow Island-W. Bratten hunting on the L.
S Swam to the Island. Hunters Drewyer killed 2 Deer, Saw great numbers of
young gees. The river Still falling a little Sand bars thick always in
view.
—
July 19th, Thursday 1804 Set out early passed between two Small Islands,
one in the middle of the river, the other Close on the L S. opposit a
prarie S. S. Called (1) by the french Four le tourtre, The Bakers oven
Islands, passed (2) Some high Clift 41/2 miles above the Islands on the L.
S. of yellow earth passed Several Sand bars that were wide and at one
place verry Shallow (two Small butifull runs falls into the river near
each other at this Clift, a Deer Lick 200 yards up the Lowest of those
runs) Those runs head at no great distance in the plains and pass thro of
timber to the river. In my walk on Shore I found Some ore in the bank
above those runs which I take to be Iron ore (3) at this place the Side of
the hill has Sliped about half way into the river for 3/4 of a Mile
forming a Clift from the top of the hill above. In the first bend to the
right passed a Small Island a Sand bar opposit,worthey of remark as
we approach this great River Plate the Sand bars much more numerous and
the quick or moveing Sands much worst than they were below at the places
where Praries approach the river it is verry wide those places being much
easier to wash & under Mine than the wood Land’s. (4) passed a Willow
Isd. Situated near the Middle of the river and a large Sand makeing out
from the S. S. a Deep bend to the L S. we Camped at the head of this
Island on the Starboard Side of it, Hunters Killed Two Deer. Saw great
numbers of young Gees River falling a little.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
July 19th. After breakfast, which was a little roasted ribs of deer and a little coffee, I walked on shore intending only to keep up with the boat. Soon after I got on shore, I saw some fresh elk sign, which induced me to pursue those animals by their tracks to the hills. After ascending and passing through a narrow strip of woodland, I came suddenly into an open and boundless prairie. I say boundless because I could not see the extent of the plain in any direction. The timber appeared to be confined to the river, creeks, and small branches. This prairie was covered with grass about 18 inches or 2 feet high and contained little of anything else, except as before mentioned on the river, creeks, etc. This prospect was so sudden and entertaining that I forgot the object of my pursuit and turned my attention to the variety which presented itself to my view. After continuing on this rise for some minutes, I determined to make my course to a line of woods to the southeast. I found in this wood a beautiful stream of running water. In pursuing it down, several others joined it, and at 3 miles it fell into the river between 2 cliffs. I went up and under one cliff of dark rich clay for 1/2 mile. Above this was a clay bank which had slipped in. Here I found sandstone containing iron ore. This ore appears to be embedded under the clay just above the water.
July 19th, Thursday 1804. Set out early. Passed between 2 islands, one in the middle and the other on the L. S., opposite where the prairie approaches the river on the S. S. This place is called the Baker's Oven, or in French Four le Tourtere. Passed some highlands 4 1/2 miles above the islands on the L. S., forming a cliff to the river of yellow earth, with a prairie on top. Passed many a bad sand bar in this distance, and the river wide and shallow. Above this cliff, 2 small beautiful runs come from the plains and fall into the river, with a deer lick on the first. Above those two creeks, in my walk on shore, I found some ore in a bank which had slipped into the river 3/4 mile above the creeks. I took a circuit around and found that those two runs mentioned contained a good proportion of wood surrounded by a plain, with grass about 18 inches high. (Capt Lewis (Capt. Lewis) walked on shore after dinner.) In the first bend to the right above those runs, we passed a small island; opposite is a sand bar. I call this island Butter Island, as at this place we made use of the last of our butter. As we approach this great River Platte, the sand bars are much more numerous than they were, and the quick and rolling sands much more dangerous. Where the prairies approach the river, it is very wide, the banks of those plains being much easier to undermine and fall than the woodland passed. (4) Passed a willow island situated near the middle of the river, a sand bar on the S. S., and a deep bend to the L. S. Camped on the right side of the willow island. W. Bratten, hunting on the L. S., swam to the island. Hunters Drewyer killed 2 deer. Saw great numbers of young geese. The river still falling a little. Sand bars thick always in view.
July 19th, Thursday 1804. Set out early. Passed between two small islands, one in the middle of the river, the other close on the L. S., opposite a prairie on the S. S., called (1) by the French Four le Tourtre, the Baker's Oven Islands. Passed (2) some high cliff 4 1/2 miles above the islands on the L. S., of yellow earth. Passed several sand bars that were wide and at one place very shallow. (Two small beautiful runs fall into the river near each other at this cliff, with a deer lick 200 yards up the lowest of those runs.) Those runs head at no great distance in the plains and pass through timber to the river. In my walk on shore, I found some ore in the bank above those runs which I take to be iron ore. (3) At this place, the side of the hill has slipped about halfway into the river for 3/4 of a mile, forming a cliff from the top of the hill above. In the first bend to the right, passed a small island with a sand bar opposite, worthy of remark. As we approach this great River Platte, the sand bars are much more numerous, and the quick or moving sands much worse than they were below. At the places where prairies approach the river, it is very wide, those places being much easier to wash and undermine than the woodlands. (4) Passed a willow island situated near the middle of the river, and a large sand bar making out from the S. S., with a deep bend to the L. S. We camped at the head of this island on the starboard side of it. Hunters killed two deer. Saw great numbers of young geese. River falling a little.
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