Clark: June 13, 1804
The expedition set out early and passed a sharp bend with two creeks named for it, along with a prairie that had once held a Missouri Indian village where 300 of the tribe were killed by the Sauks. Clark noted the Missouri nation, once the most numerous in the region, was nearly extinct, with survivors living among the Otoes on the Platte. The boat nearly capsized on a sand bar before camping at the mouth of the Grand River. Hunters killed a bear and deer, a raccoon was caught, and the captains stayed up past 11 taking lunar observations.
13th June Wednesday we Set out early passed a verry round bend to L. S.
passed two Creeks 1 me. apt. Called Creeks of the round Bend, between
those Creeks Stbd S. is a butifull Prarie, in which the antient Missourie
Indians had a Village, at this place 300 of them were killed by the
Saukees, a fair Day. Passed the antient Missouries villages on right
Course N 40° W 21/2 pt. L S., S 29° W 3 ms. pt. S. S., this nation once
the Most Noumerous is now almost extinct, about 30 of them, liveing with
Otteaus on the R. Platt, the remainder all distroyed, took altd. of S. U L
with qdt. which gave N 28 W. 11/2 ms to a pt. S. S. Passed some Charming
land, I have not Seen any high hils above Charliton and the hits below for
Several days Cannot to turmed hills but high Land, not exceeding 100 abov
the high water mark N 30° W, to a pt. L. S. 2 ms. passed a verry bad Sand
bar, where the boat was nearly turning & fastening in the quick Sand
and came too in the mouth of Grand R. S. S. this River is about 120 yards
wide and navigable for Purogues a great distance, it heads with the River
Dumoine, passing the river Carlton. a Butifull open Prarie Coms to the
river below its mouth, we landed and walked to the hills which is abt. 1/2
a mile. the Lower prarie over flows. the hunters Killd. a Bare & Dere,
this is a butifull place the Prarie rich & extinsive, Took Some Looner
Observations which Kept Cap L. & my Self up untill half past 11
oClock.
—
13th June Wednesday, 1804 We Set out early passed a round bend to the S.
S. and two Creeks Called the round bend Creeks between those two Creeks
and behind a Small willow Island in the bend is a Prarie in which the
Missouries Indians once lived and the Spot where 300 of them fell a
Sacrifise to the fury of the Saukees This nation (Missouries) once the
most noumerous nation in this part of the Continent now reduced to about
80 fes. and that fiew under the protection of the Otteaus on R Platt who
themselves are declineing passed Som willow Isds. and bad Sand bars, Twook
Medn. altitude with Octent back observation it gave for altd. on its Low L
36° 58′ 0″ the E Enstrement 2° 00′ 00″ +. the Hills or high land for
Several days past or above the 2 Charletons does not exceed 100 foot
passed a Batteau or Sand roleing where the Boat was nearly turning over by
her Strikeing & turning on the Sand. We came too in the Mouth of Grand
River on S. S. and Camped for the night, this River is from 80 to 100
yards wide at its Mouth and navagable for Perogues a great distance This
river heads with the R. Dumoine below its mouth is a butifull Plain of
bbttom land the hills rise at 1/2 a mile back
The lands about this place is either Plain or over flown bottom Capt Lewis
and my Self walked to the hill from the top of which we had a butifull
prospect of Serounding Countrey in the open Prarie we Caught a racoon, our
hunters brought in a Bear & Deer we took Some Luner observation this
evening.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
13th June Wednesday. We set out early, passed a very round bend to the L. S. (larboard side), and passed two creeks one mile apart, called Creeks of the Round Bend. Between those creeks on the starboard side is a beautiful prairie, in which the ancient Missouri Indians had a village; at this place 300 of them were killed by the Saukees. A fair day. Passed the ancient Missouri villages on the right.
Course N 40° W 2½ points L. S., S 29° W 3 miles point S. S. This nation, once the most numerous, is now almost extinct, with about 30 of them living with the Otteaus on the River Platte, the remainder all destroyed. Took altitude of the sun's upper limb with the quadrant, which gave N 28° W, 1½ miles to a point S. S. Passed some charming land. I have not seen any high hills above Charliton (Chariton); the heights below for several days cannot be termed hills but high land, not exceeding 100 feet above the high water mark.
N 30° W, 2 miles to a point L. S., passed a very bad sand bar, where the boat was nearly turning and fastening in the quicksand, and came to in the mouth of Grand River on the S. S. This river is about 120 yards wide and navigable for pirogues a great distance. It heads with the River Dumoine (Des Moines), passing the River Carlton (Chariton). A beautiful open prairie comes to the river below its mouth. We landed and walked to the hills, which are about half a mile away. The lower prairie overflows. The hunters killed a bear and a deer. This is a beautiful place, the prairie rich and extensive. Took some lunar observations, which kept Capt. L. (Capt. Lewis) and myself up until half past 11 o'clock.
13th June Wednesday, 1804. We set out early, passed a round bend to the S. S. and two creeks called the Round Bend Creeks. Between those two creeks and behind a small willow island in the bend is a prairie in which the Missouri Indians once lived, and the spot where 300 of them fell a sacrifice to the fury of the Saukees. This nation (Missouries), once the most numerous nation in this part of the continent, is now reduced to about 80 families, and that few under the protection of the Otteaus on R. Platt (River Platte), who themselves are declining. Passed some willow islands and bad sand bars.
Took meridian altitude with octant back observation; it gave for altitude on its lower limb 36° 58' 0", the error of the instrument 2° 00' 00" +. The hills or high land for several days past, or above the two Charletons (Charitons), do not exceed 100 feet. Passed a batteau or sand rolling where the boat was nearly turning over by her striking and turning on the sand. We came to in the mouth of Grand River on S. S. and camped for the night. This river is from 80 to 100 yards wide at its mouth and navigable for pirogues a great distance. This river heads with the R. Dumoine (Des Moines). Below its mouth is a beautiful plain of bottom land; the hills rise at half a mile back.
The lands about this place are either plain or overflown bottom. Capt Lewis (Capt. Lewis) and myself walked to the hill, from the top of which we had a beautiful prospect of the surrounding country. In the open prairie we caught a raccoon. Our hunters brought in a bear and deer. We took some lunar observations this evening.
This modernization is AI-generated for accessibility. The original above is the authoritative version.
Entities mentioned in this entry
Auto-extracted from the entry text. Hover any entity for context.
