Clark: June 5, 1804
The expedition jerked the previous day's venison, sent out a small hunting party, and set off at 6 a.m., passing several creeks they named Lead, Little Good Woman, Big Rock, Little Manitou, and Sand, along with a rock painted with a figure. They met two French trappers in a small boat returning from the Kansas River, who had wintered there and lost most of their beaver pelts to prairie fires. York swam to a sandbar to gather greens. A broken mast prevented use of a favorable wind. Clark felt feverish from a cold. Their scout found signs of about ten warriors, possibly Sauk.
June 5th Tuesday, Jurked the Vennison Killed yesterday, after Seting over
the Scouting Party or hunder of 3 men Set out at 6 oClock Course N 57° W
to a pt. on S. Sd. 5 ms. passed a Creek on L. Sd. I call Lead C of 15 yds
passed one on the S. Called Lit. good-womans Creek about 20 yds. wide
Passed a Willow Isd. a Butifull Prarie approaching near the river above
Lead C & extends to the Mine river in a westerly Derection, passed the
Mouth of the Creek of the Big Rock 15 yds Wide at 4 ms. on the Lbd Sd. at
11 oClock brought a Caissie in which was 2 men, from 80 League up the
Kansias River, where they wintered and caught a great qty of Beever but
unfortunatey lost it by the burning of the plains, the Kansas Nation
hunted on the Missourie last Winter and are now persueing the Buffalow in
the Plains, passed a Projecting Rock called the Manitou a Painting from
this Deavel to the Pt. on the Lbd Side N 23° W 71/2 Ms. The Same course
21/2 ms. Creek Cld. Manitou passed a on the Lbd. Side about 40 yd. wide, a
Sand bar in the middle of the River passed up between the Sand & L.
Shore one Mile to a Small Creek 10 yd. wide, (I call Sand C). We run on
the Sand and was obliged to return to the Starbd Side, I am verry unwell
with a Slight feever from a bad cold caught three days ago at the Grand so
Rpassed a Small Willow Isd. on S. Side, a large one in the Middle
of the river, York Swam to the Isd. to pick greens, and Swam back with his
greens, the Boat Drew too much water to cross the quick Sands which
intervened, She draws 4 foot water, a fair wind our mast being broke by
accidence provented our takeing the advantage of it passed the lower point
of a large Island, opposit the Current devides between 4 Small Isds on the
St Side. we found the water excessively hard for 12 Miles as we were
oblged to pass up the center of the Current between two of the Isds. &
round the heads of the other 2 the Current Setting imediately against the
points which was choked up with Drift for a mileAbove those Isd. on
the St. Side we camped altogether our Hunter or Spis discovered the sign
of a war party of abt. 10 Men
—
June 5th Tuesday 1804 after Jurking the meet Killed yesterday and Crossing
the hunting party we Set out at 6 oClock, from the last Course &
distance, N 51° W. 5 ms. to a pt. on the St. Sd. passed a Small Creek on
the Ld. S. I call Lead C. passed a Creek on the S. S. of 20 yds. wide
Cald. Lit. Good Womans C. on the L. S. a Prarie extends from Lead C.
parrelel with the river to Mine river, at 4 ms. Passed the Creek of the
big rock about 15 yds. wide on the L. Sd. at 11 oClock brought too a Small
Caissee in which was two french men, from 80 Leagues up the Kansias R.
where they wintered, and Cought a great quantity of Beaver, the greater
part of which they lost by fire from the Praries, those men inform that
the Kansas Nation are now out in the plains hunting Buffalow, they hunted
last winter on this river Passed a projecting rock on which was painted a
figue and a Creek at 2 ms. above Called Little Manitou Creek from the
Painted rock this Creek 20 yds. wide on the L. Sd. passed a Small Creek on
L. S. opposit a Verry bad Sand bar of Several ms. in extent, which we
named Sand C here my Servent York Swam to the Sand bar to geather greens
for our Dinner and returnd with a Sufficent quantity wild Creases or Teng
grass, we passed up for 2 ms on the L. S. of this Sand and was obliged to
return, the Watr. uncertain the quick Sand Moveing we had a fine wind, but
could not make use of it, our Mast being broke, we passed between 2 Small
Islands in the Middle of the Current, & round the head of three a
rapid Current for one mile and Camped on the S. S. opsd. a large Island in
the middle of the river; one Perogue did not get up for two hours, our
Scout discovd. the fresh sign of about 10 Inds. I expect that those
Indians are on their way to war against the Osages nation probably they
are the Saukees
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
June 5th, Tuesday. Jerked the venison killed yesterday. After setting across the scouting party of 3 men, we set out at 6 o'clock. Course N 57° W to a point on the south side, 5 miles. Passed a creek on the larboard side I call Lead Creek, of 15 yards. Passed one on the south called Little Goodwoman's Creek, about 20 yards wide. Passed a willow island. A beautiful prairie approaches near the river above Lead Creek and extends to the Mine River in a westerly direction. Passed the mouth of the Creek of the Big Rock, 15 yards wide, at 4 miles on the larboard side.
At 11 o'clock we brought in a caissie (small boat) in which were 2 men, from 80 leagues up the Kansas River, where they wintered and caught a great quantity of beaver, but unfortunately lost it by the burning of the plains. The Kansas Nation hunted on the Missouri last winter and are now pursuing the buffalo in the plains.
Passed a projecting rock called the Manitou, a painting. From this Devil to the point on the larboard side N 23° W 7½ miles. The same course 2½ miles, a creek called Manitou passed on the larboard side, about 40 yards wide. A sandbar in the middle of the river. We passed up between the sand and larboard shore one mile to a small creek 10 yards wide (I call Sand Creek). We ran onto the sand and were obliged to return to the starboard side. I am very unwell with a slight fever from a bad cold caught three days ago at the Grand.
Passed a small willow island on the south side, a large one in the middle of the river. York swam to the island to pick greens, and swam back with his greens. The boat drew too much water to cross the quicksands that intervened; she draws 4 feet of water. A fair wind, but our mast being broken by accident prevented our taking advantage of it.
Passed the lower point of a large island; opposite, the current divides between 4 small islands on the starboard side. We found the water excessively hard for 1½ miles, as we were obliged to pass up the center of the current between two of the islands and round the heads of the other 2, the current setting immediately against the points, which were choked up with drift for a mile. Above those islands on the starboard side we camped altogether. Our hunter or spy discovered the sign of a war party of about 10 men.
June 5th, Tuesday, 1804. After jerking the meat killed yesterday and crossing the hunting party, we set out at 6 o'clock. From the last course and distance, N 51° W, 5 miles to a point on the starboard side. Passed a small creek on the larboard side I call Lead Creek. Passed a creek on the south side of 20 yards wide called Little Goodwoman's Creek. On the larboard side a prairie extends from Lead Creek parallel with the river to the Mine River. At 4 miles passed the Creek of the Big Rock, about 15 yards wide on the larboard side.
At 11 o'clock brought to a small caissie in which were two Frenchmen, from 80 leagues up the Kansas River, where they wintered and caught a great quantity of beaver, the greater part of which they lost by fire from the prairies. Those men inform us that the Kansas Nation are now out in the plains hunting buffalo; they hunted last winter on this river.
Passed a projecting rock on which was painted a figure, and a creek at 2 miles above called Little Manitou Creek from the painted rock; this creek 20 yards wide on the larboard side. Passed a small creek on the larboard side opposite a very bad sandbar of several miles in extent, which we named Sand Creek. Here my servant York swam to the sandbar to gather greens for our dinner and returned with a sufficient quantity of wild cresses or tongue grass.
We passed up for 2 miles on the larboard side of this sand and were obliged to return; the water uncertain, the quicksand moving. We had a fine wind, but could not make use of it, our mast being broken. We passed between 2 small islands in the middle of the current, and round the head of three. A rapid current for one mile, and camped on the south side opposite a large island in the middle of the river. One pirogue did not get up for two hours. Our scout discovered the fresh sign of about 10 Indians. I expect that those Indians are on their way to war against the Osage nation; probably they are the Saukees.
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