Clark: September 20, 1806
With three men unable to row due to eye troubles, the party abandoned and set adrift two lashed canoes made on the Rochejhone River, redistributing the men among the remaining boats. They set out at daylight, passed the low Osage River and the Gasconnade, and met a pirogue of five Frenchmen. Sighting cows brought cheers, as did reaching the small French village of Charriton, where they fired a salute. Two young Scotchmen, Mr. Aird's clerk and Mr. Reed, hosted them with food and shelter. They paid an inflated eight dollars for two gallons of whiskey. Locals were astonished, having presumed them lost. Traveled 68 miles.
Saturday 20th Septr. 1806 as three of the party was unabled to row from
the State of their eyes we found it necessary to leave one of our Crafts
and divide the men into the other Canoes, we left the two Canoes lashed
together which I had made high up the River Rochejhone, those Canoes we
Set a drift and a little after day light we Set out and proceeded on very
well. The Osage river very low and discharges but a Small quantity of
water at this time for so large a river. at meridian we passed the
enterance of the Gasconnade river below which we met a perogue with 5
french men bound to the Osarge Gd. village. the party being extreemly
anxious to get down ply their ores very well, we Saw Some cows on the bank
which was a joyfull Sight to the party and Caused a Shout to be raised for
joy at ____ P M we Came in Sight of the little french Village called
Charriton the men raised a Shout and Sprung upon their ores and we soon
landed opposit to the Village. our party requested to be permited to fire
off their Guns which was alowed & they discharged 3 rounds with a
harty Cheer, which was returned from five tradeing boats which lay opposit
the village. we landed and were very politely received by two young Scotch
men from Canada one in the employ of Mr. Aird a Mr. ____ and the other Mr.
Reed, two other boats the property of Mr. Lacomb & Mr. ____ all of
those boats were bound to the Osage and Ottoes. those two young Scotch
gentlemen furnished us with Beef flower and Some pork for our men, and
gave us a very agreeable supper. as it was like to rain we accepted of a
bed in one of their tents. we purchased of a Citizen two gallons of
Whiskey for our party for which we were obliged to give Eight dollars in
Cash, an imposition on the part of the Citizen. every person, both French
and americans Seem to express great pleasure at our return, and
acknowledged them selves much astonished in Seeing us return. they
informed us that we were Supposed to have been lost long Since, and were
entirely given out by every person &c.
Those boats are from Canada in the batteaux form and wide in perpotion to
their length. their length about 30 feet and the width 8 feet &
pointed bow & Stern, flat bottom and rowing Six ores only the
Skeneckeity form. those Bottoms are prepared for the navigation of this
river, I beleive them to be the best Calculated for the navigation of this
river of any which I have Seen. they are wide and flat not Subject to the
dangers of the roleing Sands, which larger boats are on this river. the
American inhabitants express great disgust for the govermt of this
Teritory. from what I can lern it arises from a disapmt. of getting all
the Spanish Grants Confirmed-. Came 68 ms. to day.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Saturday, 20th September 1806. As three of the party were unable to row because of the state of their eyes, we found it necessary to leave one of our crafts and divide the men into the other canoes. We left the two canoes lashed together which I had made high up the River Rochejhone (Yellowstone); we set those canoes adrift, and a little after daylight we set out and proceeded on very well. The Osage River is very low and discharges only a small quantity of water at this time for so large a river. At noon we passed the entrance of the Gasconnade River, below which we met a pirogue with 5 Frenchmen bound to the Osage Grand Village. The party, being extremely anxious to get down, plied their oars very well. We saw some cows on the bank, which was a joyful sight to the party and caused a shout to be raised for joy.
At ____ P.M. we came in sight of the little French village called Charriton (Charette). The men raised a shout and sprang upon their oars, and we soon landed opposite the village. Our party requested to be permitted to fire off their guns, which was allowed, and they discharged 3 rounds with a hearty cheer, which was returned from five trading boats which lay opposite the village. We landed and were very politely received by two young Scotchmen from Canada, one in the employ of Mr. Aird, a Mr. ____, and the other Mr. Reed. Two other boats were the property of Mr. Lacomb and Mr. ____; all of these boats were bound to the Osage and Ottoes. Those two young Scotch gentlemen furnished us with beef, flour, and some pork for our men, and gave us a very agreeable supper. As it was likely to rain, we accepted of a bed in one of their tents. We purchased from a citizen two gallons of whiskey for our party, for which we were obliged to give eight dollars in cash—an imposition on the part of the citizen. Every person, both French and American, seemed to express great pleasure at our return, and acknowledged themselves much astonished at seeing us return. They informed us that we had been supposed to have been lost long since, and had been entirely given up by every person, etc.
Those boats are from Canada in the batteau form, and wide in proportion to their length. Their length is about 30 feet and the width 8 feet, with pointed bow and stern, flat bottom, and rowing only six oars in the Schenectady form. These bottoms are prepared for the navigation of this river. I believe them to be the best calculated for the navigation of this river of any which I have seen. They are wide and flat, not subject to the dangers of the rolling sands which larger boats are on this river. The American inhabitants express great disgust for the government of this Territory. From what I can learn, it arises from a disappointment in getting all the Spanish grants confirmed. Came 68 miles today.
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