Clark: May 24, 1804
The expedition set out early and passed a treacherous stretch of the Missouri River where the current rushed against projecting rocks for half a mile, a spot Clark named the Devil's Race Ground. Above it they passed the mouth of a small creek called Quiver and several islands. While trying to tow the boat past a falling bank, it ran aground on a sandbar, the tow rope snapped, and the boat nearly capsized, wheeling three times before being secured. Clark dubbed the spot Retrograde Bend. Drouillard and Willard rejoined the party, and they camped at an old plantation.
Thursday May the 24th 1804 Set out early passed a Small Isd in the Midlle
of the river, opposit the on the Lbd. Side is projecting Rock of 1/2 a
mile in extent against which the Current runs, this place is called the
Devils race grounds,1 above this Coms in a Small Creek called the little
quiver, a Sand Island on the Stbd Side, passed Several Islands & 2
creeks, on the Stbd Side a Small Island on the Lbd Side above we wer verry
near loseing our Boat in Toeing She Struck the Sands the Violence of the
Current was so great that the Toe roap Broke, the Boat turned Broadside,
as the Current Washed the Sand from under her She wheeled & lodged on
the bank below as often as three times, before we got her in Deep water,
nothing Saved her but
—
May 24th Set out early, Killed a Deer last night. examined the mens arms,
& Saw that all was prepared for action, passed an Island in the M. R,
opposit a hard place of water called the Devill race grown, S 63° W 4
miles to a point on the Sd. Starboard Side N 68 W to a point on Lbd Side 3
ms. Passd. a Small Willow Island on the Lbd. Side to the point of a Isd. L
SideS 75° W to a point on Stbd Side 3 Miles, Passed the upper point
of the Island. Crossed and in a verry bad place we got our Boat a ground
& She Bocke the Toe Roap & turned the Land, the in Wheeling three
times, got off returned to the head of the aforesaid Island, and Came up
under a falling Bank. hard water this place being the worst I ever Saw, I
call it the retregrade bend. Camped at an old house.
—
May 24th Thursday 1804 Set out early passed a Verry bad part of the River
Called the Deavels race ground, this is where the Current Sets against
Some projecting rocks for half a mile on the Labd. Side, above this place
is the mouth of a Small Creek Called queivere, passed Several Islands, two
Small Creeks on the Stbd. Side, and passed between a Isld. an the Lbd.
Shore a narrow pass above this Isld is a Verry bad part of the river, we
attempted to pass up under the Lbd. Bank which was falling in So fast that
the evident danger obliged us to Cross between the Starbd. Side and a Sand
bar in the middle of the river, we hove up near the head of the Sand bar,
the Sand moveing & banking caused us to run on the Sand. The Swiftness
of the Current wheeled the boat, Broke our Toe rope, and was nearly over
Setting the boat, all hand jumped out on the upper Side and bore on that
Side untill the Sand washed from under the boat and wheeled on the next
bank by the time She wheeled a 3rd Time got a rope fast to her Stern and
by the means of Swimmers was Carred to Shore and when her Stern was down
whilst in the act of Swinging a third time into Deep water near the Shore,
we returned, to the Island where we Set out and assended under the Bank
which I have just mentioned, as falling in, here George Drewyer &
Willard, two of our men who left us at St. Charles to Come on by land
joined us, we Camped about 1 mile above where we were So nearly being
lost, on the Labd Side at a Plantation. all in Spirits. This place I call
the retragrade bend as we were obliged to fall back 2 miles
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Thursday, May 24th, 1804. Set out early. Passed a small island in the middle of the river. Opposite, on the larboard side, is a projecting rock half a mile in extent against which the current runs. This place is called the Devil's Race Grounds. Above this comes in a small creek called the Little Quiver. A sand island lies on the starboard side. Passed several islands and two creeks on the starboard side, and a small island on the larboard side. Above, we were very near losing our boat while towing. She struck the sands, and the violence of the current was so great that the tow rope broke. The boat turned broadside, and as the current washed the sand from under her, she wheeled and lodged on the bank below as often as three times before we got her into deep water. Nothing saved her but...
May 24th. Set out early. Killed a deer last night. Examined the men's arms and saw that all was prepared for action. Passed an island in the middle of the river, opposite a hard place of water called the Devil's Race Ground. S 63° W 4 miles to a point on the starboard side; N 68° W to a point on the larboard side, 3 miles. Passed a small willow island on the larboard side, to the point of an island on the larboard side. S 75° W to a point on the starboard side, 3 miles. Passed the upper point of the island. Crossed, and in a very bad place we got our boat aground. She broke the tow rope and turned the land, wheeling three times. Got off, returned to the head of the aforesaid island, and came up under a falling bank. Hard water. This place being the worst I ever saw, I call it the Retrograde Bend. Camped at an old house.
May 24th, Thursday, 1804. Set out early. Passed a very bad part of the river called the Devil's Race Ground. This is where the current sets against some projecting rocks for half a mile on the larboard side. Above this place is the mouth of a small creek called Queivere. Passed several islands and two small creeks on the starboard side, and passed between an island and the larboard shore through a narrow pass. Above this island is a very bad part of the river. We attempted to pass up under the larboard bank, which was falling in so fast that the evident danger obliged us to cross between the starboard side and a sand bar in the middle of the river. We hove up near the head of the sand bar; the sand moving and banking caused us to run on the sand. The swiftness of the current wheeled the boat, broke our tow rope, and was nearly oversetting the boat. All hands jumped out on the upper side and bore on that side until the sand washed from under the boat and wheeled it on the next bank. By the time she wheeled a third time, we got a rope fast to her stern, and by means of swimmers it was carried to shore. When her stern was down, while in the act of swinging a third time into deep water near the shore, we returned to the island where we set out and ascended under the bank which I have just mentioned as falling in. Here George Drewyer (Drouillard) and Willard, two of our men who left us at St. Charles to come on by land, joined us. We camped about 1 mile above where we were so nearly being lost, on the larboard side at a plantation. All in spirits. This place I call the Retrograde Bend, as we were obliged to fall back 2 miles.
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