Clark: July 3, 1806

William Clark · Travelers' Rest - party splits: Lewis north, Clark south

That night's camp, per the NPS campsite reconstruction (Bergantino): on Blodgett Creek, 4 mi north of Hamilton, MT

Thursday July 3rd 1806 we colected our horses and after brackfast I took
My leave of Capt Lewis and the indians and at 8 A M Set out with ____ men
interpreter Shabono & his wife & child (as an interpreter &
interpretess for the Crow Inds and the latter for the Shoshoni) with 50
horses. we proceeded on through the Vally of Clarks river on the West Side
of the river nearly South 18 Miles and halted on the upper Side of a large
Creek, haveing Crossed 8 Streams 4 of which were Small. this vally is from
10 to 15 Ms. in width tolerably leavel and partially timberd with long
leaf & pitch pine, Some cotton wood, Birch, and Sweet willow on the
borders of the Streams. I observed 2 Species of Clover in this vally one
the white Clover Common in the Western parts of the U. States, the other
Species which is much Smaller than either the red or white both it’s leaf
& blossom the horses are excessively fond of this Species. after
letting our horses graze a Sufficient length of time to fill themselves,
and taking dinner of Venison we again resumed our journey up the Vally
which we found more boutifully versified with Small open plains covered
with a great variety of Sweet cented plants, flowers & grass. this
evening we Crossed 10 Streams 8 of which were large Creeks which comes
roleing their Currents with Velocity into the river. those Creeks take
their rise in the mountains to the West which mountains is at this time
Covered with Snow for about 1/5 of the way from their tops downwards. Some
Snow is also to be Seen on the high points and hollows of the Mountains to
the East of us. our Course this evening was nearly South 18 Ms. makeing a
total of 36 miles today. we encamped on the N. Side of a large Creek where
we found tolerable food for our horses. Labeish killed a Deer this
evening. We Saw great numbers of deer and 1 bear today. I also observed
the burring Squirel of the Species Common about the quawmarsh flatts West
of the Rocky Mountains. Musquetors very troublesom.one man Jo.
Potts very unwell this evening owing to rideing a hard trotting horse; I
give him a pill of Opiom which Soon releve him.