Clark: July 22, 1806
Strong northeast winds continued, with a cool predawn. Clark sent Sergeant Pryor and Charbonneau upriver to the first narrows to search for the missing horses, but they returned at 3 P.M. having found no tracks. The plains around camp were too hard and dry to show hoofprints. Clark then ordered Pryor, Shannon, Charbonneau, and Bratton to circle the camp searching for tracks, but they found nothing. Suspecting Indians had stolen the horses and led them across the hard plains, Clark directed Labiche, a skilled tracker, to set out early the next morning.
Tuesday 22nd of July 1806. The wind continued to blow very hard from the
N. E. and a little before day light was moderately Cool. I Sent Sergt.
Pryor and Shabono in Serch of the horses with directions to proceed up the
river as far as the 1st narrows and examine particularly for their tracks,
they returned at 3 P M and informed me that they had proceeded up the
distance I derected them to go and could See neither horses nor tracks;
the Plains imediately out from Camp is So dry and hard that the track of a
horse Cannot be Seen without close examination. I therefore derected
Sergt. Pryor Shannon Shabono & Bratten to incircle the Camp at Some
distance around and find the tracks of the horses and prosue them, they
Serched for tracks all the evening without finding which Course the horses
had taken, the plains being so remarkably hard and dry as to render it
impossible to See a track of a horse passing through the hard parts of
them. begin to Suspect that they are taken by the Indians and taken over
the hard plains to prevent our following them. my Suspicions is grounded
on the improbibility of the horses leaveing the grass and rushes of the
river bottoms of which they are very fond, and takeing imediately out into
the open dry plains where the grass is but Short and dry. if they had
Continued in the bottoms either up or down, their tracks Could be followed
very well. I directed Labeech who understands traking very well to Set out
early in the morning and find what rout the horses had taken if possible
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Tuesday, 22nd of July 1806. The wind continued to blow very hard from the N.E., and a little before daylight it was moderately cool. I sent Sergt. Pryor and Shabono (Charbonneau) in search of the horses, with directions to proceed up the river as far as the first narrows and examine particularly for their tracks. They returned at 3 P.M. and informed me that they had proceeded up the distance I directed them to go and could see neither horses nor tracks. The plains immediately out from camp are so dry and hard that the track of a horse cannot be seen without close examination.
I therefore directed Sergt. Pryor, Shannon, Shabono, and Bratten (Bratton) to encircle the camp at some distance around and find the tracks of the horses and pursue them. They searched for tracks all the evening without finding which course the horses had taken, the plains being so remarkably hard and dry as to render it impossible to see the track of a horse passing through the hard parts of them.
I begin to suspect that they have been taken by the Indians and led over the hard plains to prevent our following them. My suspicions are grounded on the improbability of the horses leaving the grass and rushes of the river bottoms, of which they are very fond, and taking immediately out into the open dry plains where the grass is but short and dry. If they had continued in the bottoms either up or down, their tracks could be followed very well. I directed Labeech (Labiche), who understands tracking very well, to set out early in the morning and find what route the horses had taken, if possible.
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