Clark: June 23, 1805
On a cloudy Sunday with southeast winds, Clark and his party ate the remaining meat at camp, then set out on the return trip, planting poles across the prairie as guides and straightening the route. They reached the lower camp in time to haul two canoes up the hill from the creek. Men reinforced their moccasins with double soles to protect against prickly pears and rough buffalo-trampled ground. Clark finalized the portage route at 18¼ miles, noting creeks, currants, and prairie birds. Despite exhaustion and sore feet, the men worked cheerfully without complaint.
June 23rd Sunday 1805 a Cloudy morning wind from the S. E, after getting
the Canoe to Camp & the articles left in the plains we eate brackfast
of the remaining meat found in Camp & I with the party the truck
wheels & poles to Stick up in the prarie as a guide, Set out on our
return, we proceeded on, & measured the Way which I Streightened
considerably from that I went on yesterday, and arrived at our lower camp
in Suffcent time to take up 2 Canoes on the top of the hill from the
Creek, found all Safe at Camp the men mended their mockersons with double
Soles to Save their feet from the prickley pear, (which abounds in the
Praries,) and the hard ground which in Some & maney places So hard as
to hurt the feet verry much, the emence number of Buffalow after the last
rain has trod the flat places in Such a manner as to leave it uneaven, and
that has tried and is wors than frozen ground, added to those
obstructions, the men has to haul with all their Strength wate & art,
maney times every man all catching the grass & knobes & Stones
with their hands to give them more force in drawing on the Canoes &
Loads, and notwithstanding the Coolness of the air in high presperation
and every halt, those not employed in reparing the Couse; are asleep in a
moment, maney limping from the Soreness of their feet Some become fant for
a fiew moments, but no man Complains all go Chearfully onto State
the fatigues of this party would take up more of the journal than other
notes which I find Scercely time to Set down. I had the best rout Staked
out and measured which is 17 miles 3/4 to the river & 1/2 a mile up
i.e 181/4 miles portagefrom the lower rapid to the 1st Creek is 286
poles, to a Deep run of water, Called Willow Run is 6 miles thence to the
river 3 miles above Medison Riv at 3 Island Called White Bear Islands is
11 miles all prarie without wood or water except at the Creek & run
which afford a plenty of fine water and a little wood the plain is
tolerably leavel except at the river a Small assent & passing a low
hill from the Creek a rough & Steep assent for about 1/4 of a mile and
Several Gullies & a gradual hill for 11/2 miles the heads of Several
gullies which have Short assents & the willow run of a Steep hill on
this run grows Purple & red Currents. the red is now ripe the Purple
full grown, an emence number of Prarie birds now Setting of two kinds one
larger than a Sparrow dark yellow the Center feathers of its tail yellow
& the out Sides black Some Streeks about its neck, the other about the
Same Size White tail
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
June 23rd Sunday 1805. A cloudy morning, wind from the S.E. After getting the canoe to camp and the articles left in the plains, we ate breakfast of the remaining meat found in camp. I, with the party, the truck wheels, and poles to stick up in the prairie as a guide, set out on our return. We proceeded on and measured the way, which I straightened considerably from the route I went on yesterday, and arrived at our lower camp in sufficient time to take up 2 canoes on the top of the hill from the creek. Found all safe at camp.
The men mended their moccasins with double soles to save their feet from the prickly pear (which abounds in the prairies) and the hard ground, which in some and many places is so hard as to hurt the feet very much. The immense number of buffalo after the last rain has trod the flat places in such a manner as to leave it uneven, and that has dried and is worse than frozen ground. Added to those obstructions, the men have to haul with all their strength, weight, and skill, many times every man all catching the grass and knobs and stones with their hands to give them more force in drawing on the canoes and loads. Notwithstanding the coolness of the air, they are in high perspiration, and at every halt those not employed in repairing the course are asleep in a moment. Many are limping from the soreness of their feet, and some become faint for a few moments, but no man complains; all go cheerfully on. To state the fatigues of this party would take up more of the journal than the other notes, which I find scarcely time to set down.
I had the best route staked out and measured, which is 17 3/4 miles to the river and 1/2 a mile up, i.e. 18 1/4 miles portage. From the lower rapid to the 1st creek is 286 poles; to a deep run of water, called Willow Run, is 6 miles; thence to the river 3 miles above Medison River (Madison River) at 3 islands called White Bear Islands is 11 miles, all prairie without wood or water except at the creek and run, which afford plenty of fine water and a little wood. The plain is tolerably level, except at the river a small ascent, and passing a low hill from the creek a rough and steep ascent for about 1/4 of a mile, and several gullies, and a gradual hill for 1 1/2 miles, the heads of several gullies which have short ascents, and the Willow Run of a steep hill. On this run grow purple and red currants. The red is now ripe, the purple full grown.
An immense number of prairie birds are now sitting, of two kinds: one larger than a sparrow, dark yellow, the center feathers of its tail yellow and the outsides black, with some streaks about its neck; the other about the same size, white tail.
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