Clark: June 4, 1805
Captains Lewis and Clark each led small scouting parties up the two forks of the river to determine which was the Missouri. Lewis took Drouillard, Pryor, Shields, Cruzatte, LePage, and Windsor up the north fork, while Clark took Gass, the Field brothers, Shannon, and York up the south fork. Clark's group traveled through level plains covered in prickly pear and prairie dog towns, spotting buffalo, mule deer, antelope, and wolves. Two white bears appeared near camp, one nearly catching Joseph Fields whose gun was wet. Rain fell through the afternoon.
June 4th Tuesday 1805 Capt. Lewis & my Self each with a Small party of
men Set out earlythose who accompanied Capt Lewis were G. Drewyer Serjt.
Pryor, J Shields, P. Crusat J. B. de Page, R. Winser, went up the N. side
of the N. fork. those who accompanied me were Serjt. Gass Jos. & Ruben
Fields G. Shannon & my black man York, and we Set out to examine the
South fork, our first Course was S. 25° W. 7 miles to the S. fork at a
Spring, at which place the little river which falls into the N. fork is
100 yards distant only Seperated from the South fork by a narrow ridge.
our course from thence S. 20° W. 8 miles to the river at an Island where
we dined below a Small river falls in on the S E Side which heads in a
mountain to the S. E about 20 miles. North of this place about 4 miles the
little river brakes thro a high ridge into the open Leavel plain thro
which we have passd. from the point, this plain is covered with low grass
& prickley pear, emence number of Prarie dogs or barking Squirel are
thro this plainafter eating we proceeded on N. 45° W. Struck the
river at 3 miles 5, 9 & 13 miles at which place we encamped in an old
Indian lodge made of Stiks and bark at the river near our camp we Saw two
white Bear, one of them was nearly catching Joseph Fields who could not
fire, as his gun was wet the bear was So near that it Struck his foot, and
we were not in a Situation to give him assistance, a Clift of rocks
Seperated us the bear got allarmed at our Shot & yells & took the
river.Some rain all the afternoon Saw Several Gangues of Buffalow
at a distance in the open plains on each Side, Saw Mule deer antilopes
& wolvesThe river is rapid & Closely himed on one or the
other Side with high bluffs, Crouded with Islands & graveley bars
Containing but a Small quantity of timber on its bottoms & none on the
high land.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
June 4th, Tuesday, 1805. Capt. Lewis (Capt. Lewis) and myself each set out early with a small party of men. Those who accompanied Capt. Lewis were G. Drewyer (Drouillard), Sergt. Pryor, J. Shields, P. Crusat (Cruzatte), J. B. de Page (Lepage), and R. Winser (Windsor); they went up the north side of the north fork. Those who accompanied me were Sergt. Gass, Joseph and Ruben (Reuben) Fields, G. Shannon, and my black man York, and we set out to examine the south fork.
Our first course was S. 25° W., 7 miles to the south fork at a spring, at which place the little river that falls into the north fork is only 100 yards distant, separated from the south fork by a narrow ridge. Our course from there was S. 20° W., 8 miles to the river at an island where we dined, below a small river that falls in on the southeast side, which heads in a mountain to the southeast about 20 miles away. North of this place, about 4 miles, the little river breaks through a high ridge into the open level plain through which we have passed from the point. This plain is covered with low grass and prickly pear, and an immense number of prairie dogs, or barking squirrels, are throughout this plain.
After eating, we proceeded on N. 45° W., striking the river at 3 miles, 5, 9, and 13 miles, at which place we camped in an old Indian lodge made of sticks and bark at the river. Near our camp we saw two white bears; one of them was nearly catching Joseph Fields, who could not fire, as his gun was wet. The bear was so near that it struck his foot, and we were not in a situation to give him assistance, a cliff of rocks separating us. The bear got alarmed at our shots and yells and took to the river.
Some rain all afternoon. Saw several gangs of buffalo at a distance in the open plains on each side. Saw mule deer, antelopes, and wolves. The river is rapid and closely hemmed on one or the other side with high bluffs, crowded with islands and gravelly bars, containing but a small quantity of timber on its bottoms and none on the high land.
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