Clark: September 2, 1804
The party set out early on a cold, rainy Sunday with hard northwest winds, thunder, and lightning, landing on the south side beneath a yellow clay bluff about 110 feet high. Drouillard, Reuben Fields, Newman, and Howard killed four fat elk, whose meat was jerked and skins dried to cover the pirogues. Clark noted bear grass and rue on the bluff. He surveyed an extensive ancient earthwork fortification on a level plain three miles from the hills, recording detailed measurements of its walls, mounds, gates, and a circular pond. Shannon and his pursuer remained missing.
2nd of Sept. Sunday 1804Set out early & proceeded on passed the
Island & Came too above below a yellow Bluff on the S S. the Wind
being hard from the N W. verry Cold Some rain all day much Thunder &
lightning G Drewyer R. Fields Howard & Newmon Killed four fat Elk on
the Isld. we had them Jurked &the Skins Stretched to Cover the
Perogues water riseing, I observe Bear grass & Rhue in the Sides of
the hills at Sunset the wind luled and cleared up coolAired the
meet all in high SpiritsShannon & the man Sent after him has
not yet joind us
2 Sepr. description of a antient fortification
(1) From the river on the top of the antient fortification at this the 12
foot high 75 feet Base first Corse is from the river is S 76° W 96 yards.
S 84° W. 53 yds. at this angle a kind of ravilene covering a Saleport,
bearing East widing N 69 W 300 yds. passed a gate way at 280 yds. the bank
lower & forming a right angle of 30 yardstwo wings or mounds
running from a high nold to the West of the way one 30 yards back of the
other Covering the gate (at this place the mound is 15 feet 8 Inches
higher than the plain forming a Glassee outwards & 105 feet base N. 32
W. 56 yards N. 20 W. 73 yards this part of the work is about 12 feet high,
leavel & about 16 feet wide on the top) at the experation of this
course a low irregular work in a Direction to the river, out Side of which
is several ovel mounds of about 16 feet high and at the iner part of the
Gouge a Deep whole across the Gauge N.
32 W 96 yds. to the Commencment of a wall of about 8 feet high N.81° W.
533 yards to a Deep pond 73 yds in Deamuter, and 200 yards further to a
Saleport, where there is evident marks of its being Covered, the Same
Course Contined 1030 yards to the river bottom.
One half of the first part of the Fortification is washed into the river,
a Second line, has run from the Northrn extremity parrelel with the river
(as it appears to have run at that time) N. 56 W. this of different hith
from 4 to to 10 feetThe high land is about 3 me. from this
fortress, and rise to Small mountains Say from 3 to 400 feet the high land
on the opposit or North Side of the Missourie is 110 feet forming a yellow
Clay bluff to the water and is leavel back as fur as can be Seen. I am
informed by the inteperter & french, that they have Seen, numbers of
those fortifications in different parts of this Cty. pirtcularly on the
Platt Kansies and the North of this place on the river Jacque.
two Small fortifications is on the Arc Creek on the upper side 1st 1/4 of
a mile up & the 2d 1/4 higher, nearly Square each angle 100 yards
—
2nd September Sunday 1804 Set out early and proceeded on Passed the Island
and Landed on the S. S above under a yellow Clay bluff of 110 feet high,
the wind blew verry hard a head from the N. W. with Some rain and verry
Cold, G. Drewnyer R. Fields Newman & howard Killed four fine Elk we
had the meat all jurked and the Skins Dried to Cover the Perogue, on the
Side of the Bluff I observed Bear Grass & Rhue, at Sun Set the wind
luled and Cleared up Cold, the high land on the L. S. is verry high, &
uneaven, that on the S. S from 80 to 120 foot & is leavel back but
fiew Small Streems falling into the river.
I went out and made a Survey of the antient works which is Situated in a
level plain about 3 miles from the hills which are high.
A Discription of the Fortification
(1) Commenceing on the river opsid the Good Mans Island, first Course from
the river is
S. 76d W. 96 yards thence
S. 84 W. 53 yards (at this angle a kind of angle or horn work)
N. 69 W. 300 yards to a high part, passing the gateway Covered by two half
Circler works one back of the other lower than the main work the gate
forms a right angle projecting inward
N.32 W. 56 yards
N 20 W. 73 yards This part of the work appears to have either double, or a
covered way. from this Some irregular works appear to have been on mounds
between this and the river with a Deep round whole in the center of a
gorge formed by another angle (578)
This part of the work is from 10 to 15 feet 8 Inchesthe mounds of
various hightsthe base of the work is from 75 to 105 feet, steep
inward and forming a kind of Glassee out wards
the Same Cours continued i e
N. 32°W. 96 yards to the Commencement of a wall from 8 to 10 feet high
this corse not on the wall but thro to the commencment of another detached
N. 81° W 1830 yards to the river & above where this bank Strikes the
river is the remains of a Circular work
in this Course at 533 yards a Deep Pond of 73 yards Diameter perfectly
round is in the Course of the bank which is about 8 feet high, from this
Pond the bank it lowers graduallya bank about the Same hight runs
near the river, and must have joined the main work at a part which is now
washed into the river, this is also perfectly Streight and widens from the
main work, as the river above has washed in its banks for A great distance
I cannot form an Idear How those two long works joinedwhere they
Strike the river above, they are about 1100 yds apart, I am informed by
our freench interpeters that a great number of those antint works are in
Different parts of this Countrey, on the Platt River, Kansus, Jacque,
Osarge Mine river &c.
Small one is on Island opposit the one I have Discribed, and two of our
Party Saw two of those antient frtresses on the Pittiet Arc Creek on the
upper Side near the mouth, each angle of which were 100 yards and about 8
feet high-
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
2nd of September, Sunday 1804. Set out early and proceeded on. Passed the island and came to above (below) a yellow bluff on the S.S. The wind being hard from the N.W., very cold, some rain all day, much thunder and lightning. G. Drewyer (Drouillard), R. Fields, Howard, and Newman killed four fat elk on the island. We had them jerked and the skins stretched to cover the pirogues. Water rising. I observe bear grass and rue on the sides of the hills. At sunset the wind lulled and cleared up cool. Aired the meat. All in high spirits. Shannon and the man sent after him have not yet joined us.
September 2. Description of an ancient fortification.
(1) From the river on the top of the ancient fortification at this place: 12 feet high, 75 feet base. First course from the river is S. 76° W. 96 yards. S. 84° W. 53 yards. At this angle a kind of ravelin covering a sally port, bearing east, winding N. 69° W. 300 yards. Passed a gateway at 280 yards. The bank lower and forming a right angle of 30 yards. Two wings or mounds running from a high knoll to the west of the way, one 30 yards back of the other, covering the gate (at this place the mound is 15 feet 8 inches higher than the plain, forming a glacis outwards, and 105 feet base). N. 32° W. 56 yards. N. 20° W. 73 yards. This part of the work is about 12 feet high, level, and about 16 feet wide on the top. At the expiration of this course, a low irregular work in a direction to the river, outside of which are several oval mounds about 16 feet high, and at the inner part of the gorge a deep hole across the gorge.
N. 32° W. 96 yards to the commencement of a wall about 8 feet high. N. 81° W. 533 yards to a deep pond 73 yards in diameter, and 200 yards further to a sally port, where there are evident marks of its being covered. The same course continued 1,030 yards to the river bottom.
One half of the first part of the fortification is washed into the river. A second line has run from the northern extremity parallel with the river (as it appears to have run at that time), N. 56° W. This is of different heights, from 4 to 10 feet. The high land is about 3 miles from this fortress, and rises to small mountains, say from 300 to 400 feet. The high land on the opposite or north side of the Missourie (Missouri) is 110 feet, forming a yellow clay bluff to the water, and is level back as far as can be seen. I am informed by the interpreter and the French that they have seen numbers of these fortifications in different parts of this country, particularly on the Platt (Platte), Kansies (Kansas), and to the north of this place on the river Jacque.
Two small fortifications are on the Arc Creek on the upper side, the 1st a quarter of a mile up and the 2nd a quarter higher, nearly square, each angle 100 yards.
2nd September Sunday 1804. Set out early and proceeded on. Passed the island and landed on the S.S. above under a yellow clay bluff 110 feet high. The wind blew very hard ahead from the N.W. with some rain and very cold. G. Drewnyer (Drouillard), R. Fields, Newman, and Howard killed four fine elk. We had the meat all jerked and the skins dried to cover the pirogue. On the side of the bluff I observed bear grass and rue. At sunset the wind lulled and cleared up cold. The high land on the L.S. is very high and uneven; that on the S.S. from 80 to 120 feet, and is level back, but few small streams falling into the river.
I went out and made a survey of the ancient works, which are situated in a level plain about 3 miles from the hills, which are high.
A Description of the Fortification
(1) Commencing on the river opposite the Good Man's Island, first course from the river is:
S. 76° W. 96 yards, thence
S. 84° W. 53 yards (at this angle a kind of angle or hornwork)
N. 69° W. 300 yards to a high part, passing the gateway covered by two half-circular works, one back of the other, lower than the main work. The gate forms a right angle projecting inward.
N. 32° W. 56 yards.
N. 20° W. 73 yards. This part of the work appears to have had either a double or a covered way. From this, some irregular works appear to have been on mounds between this and the river, with a deep round hole in the center of a gorge formed by another angle (578).
This part of the work is from 10 to 15 feet 8 inches. The mounds are of various heights. The base of the work is from 75 to 105 feet, steep inward and forming a kind of glacis outwards.
The same course continued, i.e.,
N. 32° W. 96 yards to the commencement of a wall from 8 to 10 feet high. This course is not on the wall, but goes through to the commencement of another detached.
N. 81° W. 1,830 yards to the river. Above where this bank strikes the river are the remains of a circular work.
In this course, at 533 yards, a deep pond of 73 yards diameter, perfectly round, is in the course of the bank, which is about 8 feet high. From this pond the bank lowers gradually. A bank about the same height runs near the river, and must have joined the main work at a part which is now washed into the river. This is also perfectly straight and widens from the main work. As the river above has washed in its banks for a great distance, I cannot form an idea how those two long works joined. Where they strike the river above, they are about 1,100 yards apart. I am informed by our French interpreters that a great number of these ancient works are in different parts of this country, on the Platt (Platte) River, Kansus (Kansas), Jacque, Osarge (Osage), Mine River, etc.
A small one is on the island opposite the one I have described, and two of our party saw two of those ancient fortresses on the Pittiet Arc (Petit Arc) Creek on the upper side near the mouth, each angle of which was 100 yards and about 8 feet high.
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