Clark: September 19, 1804
On a clear, cool Wednesday with favorable southeast winds, the expedition set out early and passed Prospect Island and the mouths of three rivers known as the Sioux Pass of the Three Rivers, a neutral meeting ground where Clark went ashore to explore old Sioux campsites. The party passed several creeks, which Clark named Elm Creek, Night Creek, and Prickley Pear Creek, camping late after Clark rejoined the boat. Hunters had a successful day, killing buffalo, elk, and deer across handsome plains teeming with game. Clark noted he had hurt his hands and feet the previous night.
(1) & (2) passed a large Island Situated nearest the S. S. 1/2 a mile
from the Lower pt. of this Island, the 1st of the 3 rivers mouths which is
about 35 yards wide, running from the N E. one mile above the 2nd Comes in
this is Small not more that 15 yards wide a Short Distance above a 3d
comes in scattering its waters thro a bottom. I walked on Shore to See
this great Pass of the Sioux and Calumet ground, found it a handsom
Situation, and Saw the remains of their Campt on the 2d river, for many
years passed(3) passed a Creek on the L. S. 15 yds wide we (4)
passed a Creek 20 yds wide (5) passed a Creek 20 yd. wide on the L. S. I
call Night C. as I did not get to it untill late at night, above the mouth
of this Creek we camped, the wind being favourable, for the boat I Killed
a fat Buffalow Cow, and a fat Buck elk, york my Servent Killed a Buck, the
Huntes Killed 4 Deer, & the boat Crew killed 2 Buffalow Swiming the
river, handsom Countrey of Plains, I saw many trovs of Buffalow & a
Gangue of 30 or 40 Elk and othr Scattering elk &c. a find evening I
hurt my hands & feet last night
—
19th of September Wednesday 1804 Set out early, a Cool morning verry Clear
the wind from the S. E a Bluff on the L. S.here Commences a
Butifull Countrey on both Sides of the Missourie, (2) passed a large
Island Called Prospect Island op posit this Isd. the 3 rivers Coms in,
passing thro a butifull Plain, here I walked on Shore & Killed a fat
Cow & Sent her to the boat and proceeded on to the first of the 3
rivers, this river is about 35 yards wide Contains a good deel of water, I
walked up this river 2 miles & Cross, the bottom is high and rich Some
timber, I crossed & returned to the mouth, & proceeded up one mile
to the 2d river which is Small 12 yards wide, and on it but little timber,
on this Creek the Seaux has frequently Camped, as appears by the Signsthe
lands betwen those two Creeks in a purpindicular bluff of about 80 feet
with a butifull Plain & gentle assent backa Short distance
above the 2nd a 3rd Creek Comes into the river in 3 places Scattering its
waters over the large timbered bottom, this Creek is near the Size of the
middle Creek Containing a greater quantity of water, those rivers is the
place that all nations who meet are at peace with each other, Called the
Seaux pass of the 3 rivers.
The boat proceeded on passd. the Island (3) passed a Creek 15 yds wide on
the L. Side (4) passed a Creek on the L. S. 20 yards wide which I Call Elm
Creek passing thro a high Plain (5) passed a Creek on the L. S. 18 yds.
wide above which the boat Came too, I joined them late at night, and Call
this Creek Night Creek the winds favourable all Day, I killed a fat buck
Elk late and could only get his Skin and a Small part of his flesh to
Camp. My Servent Killed a Buck, the Crew in the boat Killed 2 buffalow in
the riverThe Hunters on Shore Killed 4 Deer with black tails one of
which was a Buck with two men Prongs on each Side forked equally, which I
never before Seen. I saw Several large gangs of Buffaloes 2 large Herds of
Elk & goats &c. (6) pass a Small Island on the S. S. opposit to
this Island on the L. S. a Creek of about 10 yards wide Coms in passing
thro a plain in which great quantities of the Prickley Pear grows. I call
this Creek Prickley Pear Creek, This Isld. is Called the lower Island it
is Situated at the Commencement of what is Called & Known by the Grand
de Tortu or Big Bend of the Missourie.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
(1) & (2) Passed a large island situated nearest the south side. Half a mile from the lower point of this island is the first of the three rivers' mouths, which is about 35 yards wide, running from the northeast. One mile above, the second comes in; this is small, not more than 15 yards wide. A short distance above, a third comes in, scattering its waters through a bottom. I walked on shore to see this great Pass of the Sioux and Calumet ground, and found it a handsome situation, and saw the remains of their camp on the second river, used for many years past. (3) Passed a creek on the larboard side, 15 yards wide. We (4) passed a creek 20 yards wide. (5) Passed a creek 20 yards wide on the larboard side. I call it Night Creek, as I did not get to it until late at night. Above the mouth of this creek we camped. The wind being favorable for the boat, I killed a fat buffalo cow and a fat buck elk; York, my servant, killed a buck; the hunters killed 4 deer; and the boat crew killed 2 buffalo swimming the river. Handsome country of plains. I saw many troops of buffalo and a gang of 30 or 40 elk and other scattering elk, etc. A fine evening. I hurt my hands and feet last night.
19th of September, Wednesday 1804. Set out early, a cool morning, very clear, the wind from the southeast. A bluff on the larboard side. Here commences a beautiful country on both sides of the Missouri. (2) Passed a large island called Prospect Island. Opposite this island, the three rivers come in, passing through a beautiful plain. Here I walked on shore and killed a fat cow and sent her to the boat, and proceeded on to the first of the three rivers. This river is about 35 yards wide and contains a good deal of water. I walked up this river 2 miles and crossed. The bottom is high and rich, with some timber. I crossed and returned to the mouth, and proceeded up one mile to the second river, which is small, 12 yards wide, and on it is but little timber. On this creek the Sioux have frequently camped, as appears by the signs. The land between these two creeks is a perpendicular bluff of about 80 feet, with a beautiful plain and gentle ascent back. A short distance above the second, a third creek comes into the river in 3 places, scattering its waters over the large timbered bottom. This creek is near the size of the middle creek, containing a greater quantity of water. These rivers are the place where all nations who meet are at peace with each other, called the Sioux Pass of the Three Rivers.
The boat proceeded on, passed the island. (3) Passed a creek 15 yards wide on the larboard side. (4) Passed a creek on the larboard side, 20 yards wide, which I call Elm Creek, passing through a high plain. (5) Passed a creek on the larboard side, 18 yards wide, above which the boat came to. I joined them late at night, and call this creek Night Creek. The winds favorable all day. I killed a fat buck elk late and could only get his skin and a small part of his flesh to camp. My servant killed a buck; the crew in the boat killed 2 buffalo in the river. The hunters on shore killed 4 deer with black tails, one of which was a buck with two main prongs on each side, forked equally, which I never before saw. I saw several large gangs of buffalo, 2 large herds of elk and goats, etc. (6) Passed a small island on the starboard side. Opposite this island on the larboard side, a creek of about 10 yards wide comes in, passing through a plain in which great quantities of the prickly pear grow. I call this creek Prickly Pear Creek. This island is called the Lower Island. It is situated at the commencement of what is called and known as the Grand de Tortu, or Big Bend of the Missouri.
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