Clark: September 17, 1806
On a warm day, the party set out early and navigated past the Little Osage Village island, considered the worst stretch of the Missouri due to a narrow, snag-filled channel. Around 11 a.m. they encountered Captain McClellan, a former U.S. Army artillery officer ascending the river on a speculative trading venture toward New Spain via the Pawnees and Santa Fe. He shared news that the public had largely given them up for lost, though the President still had hope. They exchanged information until midnight, traded corn for biscuit, chocolate, sugar, and whiskey, sent five hunters ahead, and camped 30 miles downstream above Grand River.
Wednesday 17th September 1806 We Set out as usial early pass the Island of
the little Osage Village which is considered by the navigater of this
river to be the worst place in it. at this place water of the Missouri is
confined between an Island and the S E main Shore and passes through a
narrow chanel for more than 2 miles which is crouded with Snags in maney
places quite across obligeing the navigater to pica, his passage between
those Snags as he can, in maney places the current passing with great
velocity against the banks which cause them to fall &c. at 11 A.M. we
met a Captain McClellin late a Capt. of Artily of the U States Army
assending in a large boat. this gentleman an acquaintance of my friend
Capt. Lewis was Somewhat astonished to See us return and appeared rejoiced
to meet us. we found him a man of information and from whome we received a
partial account of the political State of our Country, we were makeing
enquires and exchangeing answers &c. untill near mid night. this
Gentleman informed us that we had been long Since given out by the people
of the U S Generaly and almost forgotton, the President of the U. States
had yet hopes of us; we received some civilities of Capt. McClellin, he
gave us Some Buisquit, Chocolate Sugar & whiskey, for which our party
were in want and for which we made a return of a barrel of corn & much
obliges to him. Capt. McClellin informed us that he was on reather a
speculative expedition to the confines of New Spain, with the view to
entroduce a trade with those people. his plan is to proceede up this river
to the Entcrance of the river platt there to form an establishment from
which to trade partially with the Panas & Ottoes, to form an
acquaintance with the Panias and provail Some of their principal Chiefs to
accompany him to Santa Fee where he will appear in a stile calculated to
atract the Spanish government in that quarter and through the influence of
a handsome present he expects to be promited to exchange his merchindize
for Silver & gold of which those people abound. he has a kind of
introductory Speach from Govr. Wilkinson to the Panias and Ottoes and a
quantity of presents of his own which he purposes distributing to the
Panias and ELeatans with a view to gain their protection in the execution
of his plans, if the Spanish Governmt. favour his plans, he purposes
takeing his merchendize on mules & horses which Can easily be procured
of the panias, to Some point convenient to the Spanish Settlements within
the Louisiana Teritory to which place the inhabitants of New mexico may
meet him for the purpose of trade &c. Capt McClellins plan I think a
very good one if strictly prosued &c.
we Sent 5 hunters a head with directions to halt below Grand river and
hunt untill we arived which would be in the morning. This day proved
worme. we decended only 30 miles to day and encamped 4 miles above Grand
river on S E. Side.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Wednesday, 17th September 1806. We set out as usual early and passed the Island of the Little Osage Village, which is considered by the navigators of this river to be the worst place in it. At this place the water of the Missouri is confined between an island and the southeast main shore and passes through a narrow channel for more than 2 miles, which is crowded with snags in many places quite across, obliging the navigator to pick his passage between those snags as he can. In many places the current passes with great velocity against the banks, which causes them to fall, etc.
At 11 A.M. we met a Captain McClellin, late a Captain of Artillery of the U.S. Army, ascending in a large boat. This gentleman, an acquaintance of my friend Capt. Lewis (Captain Lewis), was somewhat astonished to see us return and appeared rejoiced to meet us. We found him a man of information, and from him we received a partial account of the political state of our country. We were making inquiries and exchanging answers, etc., until near midnight. This gentleman informed us that we had long since been given up by the people of the U.S. generally and almost forgotten, but the President of the United States still had hopes of us.
We received some civilities from Capt. McClellin; he gave us some biscuit, chocolate, sugar, and whiskey, of which our party were in want, and for which we made a return of a barrel of corn and were much obliged to him. Capt. McClellin informed us that he was on rather a speculative expedition to the confines of New Spain, with the view of introducing a trade with those people. His plan is to proceed up this river to the entrance of the River Platte, there to form an establishment from which to trade partially with the Pawnees and Otoes, to form an acquaintance with the Pawnees and prevail on some of their principal chiefs to accompany him to Santa Fe, where he will appear in a style calculated to attract the Spanish government in that quarter, and through the influence of a handsome present he expects to be permitted to exchange his merchandise for silver and gold, of which those people abound.
He has a kind of introductory speech from Governor Wilkinson to the Pawnees and Otoes, and a quantity of presents of his own which he proposes distributing to the Pawnees and Eleatans, with a view to gain their protection in the execution of his plans. If the Spanish government favors his plans, he proposes taking his merchandise on mules and horses, which can easily be procured from the Pawnees, to some point convenient to the Spanish settlements within the Louisiana Territory, to which place the inhabitants of New Mexico may meet him for the purpose of trade, etc. Capt. McClellin's plan I think a very good one if strictly pursued, etc.
We sent 5 hunters ahead with directions to halt below Grand River and hunt until we arrived, which would be in the morning. This day proved warm. We descended only 30 miles today and camped 4 miles above Grand River on the southeast side.
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