Clark: September 23, 1804
On a clear Sunday with a gentle southeast breeze, the expedition traveled past Goat Island, two small willow islands, and Elk Island, noting wide sandbars and a shoal river. Clark walked ashore and saw large herds of buffalo, while Reuben Fields discovered a 16-yard-wide creek they named Reuben's Creek. They observed smoke to the southwest, an Indian signal. After camping, three Sioux boys swam over and reported two Teton Sioux camps totaling 140 lodges nearby. The captains sent tobacco and arranged to council with the chiefs the next day. Lewis hunted; Fields killed a pronghorn.
23rd Septr. Sunday 1804 (days and nights equal) Set out early under a
gentle Breeze from the S E N. 46°W 33/4 Miles to the mo. of a Creek on the
S. S. passd. a pt. on the L. S. (1) a Small Island opsd. in the bend to
the S. S. This Island is Called goat Island, (1) this Creek is 10 yards
wide. passed bad Sand barsS. 46°W 23/4 mes. a wood at a Spring in
the bend to the L. S. Saw the Prarie a fire behind us near the head of
Ceder Island L. S. N. 80° W. 41/2 to the lower pt of Elk Island pass 2
Willow Islands & Sand I saw this morning 12 of those Black & white
birds of the corvus Species.
Capt Lewis went out to hund on the Island a great number of Buffalow in
Sight I must Seal up all those Scrips & draw from my Journal at Some
other time Win Clark Cpt.
—
Sunday the 23rd September 1804 Set out under a Gentle breeze from the S. E(1)
passed Goat Island Situated in a bend to the S. Sabove passed a
Small Creek 12 yards wide on the S. S.we observed a great Smoke to
the SW. which is an Indian Signal of their haveing discovered us, I walked
on Shore and observed great numbers of Buffalows. (2) passed 2 Small
Willow Islands with large Sand bars makeing from their upper points (3)
passed Elk Island Situated near the L. S. about 21/2 mes. long & 3/4
wide, Covered with Cotton wood, a red berry Called by the French “grise de
buff,” Grapes &c. the river is wide Streight & contains a great
numr of Sand bars, (4) passed a Small Creek on the S. S. 16 yds wide I
call Reubens Cr.R. Fields was the first who found itCame too
& Camped on the S. S. in a Wood. Soon after we landed three Soues boys
Swam across to us, those boys informed us that a Band of Sieux called the
Tetons of 80 Lodges wer Camped near the mouth of the next River, and 60
Lodges more a Short distance above them, they had that day Set the praries
on fire to let those Camps Know of our approachwe gave those boys
two twists of Tobacco to carry to their Chiefs & Warriors to Smoke,
with derections to tell them that we wished to Speak to them tomorrow, at
the mouth of the next riverCapt Lewis walked on Shore, R F. Killed
a She Goat or “Cabbra.”
—
23rd of September Sunday 1804 Set out under a gentle breeze from the S. E,
(1) passed a Small Island Situated in a bend to the L. S. Called Goat
Island, a Short distance above the upper point a Creek of 12 yards wide
corns in on the S. S. we observed a great Smoke to the S W.I walked
on Shore & observed Buffalow in great Herds at a Distance (2) passed
two Small willow Islands with large Sand bars makeing out from them,
passed (3) Elk Island about 21/2 miles long & 3/4 mile wide Situated
near the L. S. covered with Cotton wood the read Current Called by the
French Gres de Butiff & grapes &c. &c. the river is nearly
Streight for a great distance wide and Shoal. (4) passed a Creek on the S.
S. 16 yards wide we Call Reubens Creek, as R Fields found it Camped on the
S. S. below the mouth of a Creek on the L. S. three Souex boys Came to us
Swam the river and informd that the Band of Soauex called the Teton of 80
Lodges were Camped at the next Creek above, & 60 Lodges more a Short
distance above, we gave those boys two Carrots of Tobacco to Carry to
their Chiefs, with derections to tell them that we would Speek to them
tomorrow Capt Lewis walked on Shore this evening, R. F Killed a Doe Goat,-
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
23rd September, Sunday 1804 (days and nights equal). Set out early under a gentle breeze from the S.E. N. 46°W 3¾ miles to the mouth of a creek on the starboard side. Passed a point on the larboard side (1), with a small island opposite in the bend to the starboard side. This island is called Goat Island. (1) This creek is 10 yards wide. Passed bad sand bars. S. 46°W 2¾ miles to a wood at a spring in the bend on the larboard side. Saw the prairie on fire behind us near the head of Cedar Island, larboard side. N. 80°W 4½ miles to the lower point of Elk Island, passing 2 willow islands and sand. I saw this morning 12 of those black and white birds of the corvus species.
Capt Lewis (Capt. Lewis) went out to hunt on the island. A great number of buffalo in sight. I must seal up all these scraps and draw from my journal at some other time. Wm Clark, Cpt.
Sunday the 23rd September 1804. Set out under a gentle breeze from the S.E. (1) Passed Goat Island, situated in a bend to the starboard side. Above, passed a small creek 12 yards wide on the starboard side. We observed a great smoke to the S.W., which is an Indian signal that they have discovered us. I walked on shore and observed great numbers of buffalo. (2) Passed 2 small willow islands with large sand bars making from their upper points. (3) Passed Elk Island, situated near the larboard side, about 2½ miles long and ¾ mile wide, covered with cottonwood, a red berry called by the French "grise de buff," grapes, etc. The river is wide, straight, and contains a great number of sand bars. (4) Passed a small creek on the starboard side, 16 yards wide, which I call Reubens Creek. R. Fields was the first who found it. Came to and camped on the starboard side in a wood. Soon after we landed, three Sioux boys swam across to us. Those boys informed us that a band of Sioux called the Tetons, of 80 lodges, were camped near the mouth of the next river, and 60 lodges more a short distance above them. They had that day set the prairies on fire to let those camps know of our approach. We gave those boys two twists of tobacco to carry to their chiefs and warriors to smoke, with directions to tell them that we wished to speak to them tomorrow at the mouth of the next river. Capt Lewis (Capt. Lewis) walked on shore. R.F. killed a she-goat, or "cabbra."
23rd of September, Sunday 1804. Set out under a gentle breeze from the S.E. (1) Passed a small island situated in a bend to the larboard side, called Goat Island. A short distance above the upper point, a creek of 12 yards wide comes in on the starboard side. We observed a great smoke to the S.W. I walked on shore and observed buffalo in great herds at a distance. (2) Passed two small willow islands with large sand bars making out from them. Passed (3) Elk Island, about 2½ miles long and ¾ mile wide, situated near the larboard side, covered with cottonwood, the red currant called by the French "Gres de Butiff," and grapes, etc. The river is nearly straight for a great distance, wide and shallow. (4) Passed a creek on the starboard side, 16 yards wide, which we call Reubens Creek, as R. Fields found it. Camped on the starboard side below the mouth of a creek on the larboard side. Three Sioux boys came to us, swam the river, and informed us that the band of Sioux called the Teton, of 80 lodges, were camped at the next creek above, and 60 lodges more a short distance above. We gave those boys two carrots of tobacco to carry to their chiefs, with directions to tell them that we would speak to them tomorrow. Capt Lewis (Capt. Lewis) walked on shore this evening. R.F. killed a doe goat.
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