Clark: September 6, 1806
The party set out early from the Great Cut Off, plagued by mosquitoes, and unsuccessfully chased a herd of elk. Near Pelican Island they encountered a trading boat belonging to Auguste Chouteau of St. Louis, run by Henry Delorn, bound for the Yanktons on the River Jacques. They bought a gallon of whiskey—the men's first liquor since July 4, 1805—and traded leather for linen shirts. Exchanging salutes, they pushed on 30 miles total, halting on a sandbar to wait for the missing Field brothers. Weather turned cloudy and windy; the Indian children grew weary.
Saturday 6th of September 1806 The Musquetors excessively troublesom we
Set out early at the great Cut off Saw a herd of Elk, we landed and Sent
out Several hunters to kill Some of the Elk, they returnd. without killing
any as the Elk was wild and ran off much fritened. I Sent the two Small
Canoes on a head with derections to hunt in two bottoms below, and after a
delay of half an hour proceeded on wind-hard a head at the lower point 7
of Pelecan Island a little above the Petite River de Seeoux we met a
tradeing boat of Mr. Ag. Choteaux of St Louis bound to the River Jacque to
trade with the Yanktons, this boat was in Care of a Mr. Henry Delorn, he
had exposed all his loading and Sent out five of his hands to hunt they
Soon arived with an Elk. we purchased a gallon of whiskey of this man and
gave to each man of the party a dram which is the first Spiritious licquor
which had been tasted by any of them Since the 4 of July 1805. Several of
the party exchanged leather for linen Shirts and beaver for Corse hats.
Those men Could inform us nothing more than that all the troops had movd.
from the Illinois and that Genl. Wilkinson was prepareing to leave St.
Louis. We advised this trader to treat the Tetons with as much Contempt as
possible and Stated to him where he would be benefited by such treatment
&c &c. and at 1 P. M Set out those men gave us 2 Shots from a
Swivell they had on the bow of their boat which we returned in our turn.
proceeded on about 3 miles and Came up with two of the hunters, they had
not killd. any thing. at 5 miles we over took the Canoe of the other
hunters with Shannon in it floating down, the two fields being in the
woods behind we Came too on a Sand bar on the N. E. Side and delayed all
the after part of the day for the two Fields, Sent out 3 men to hunt in
the bottom up the river and observe if they Saw any Sign of the hunters.
the evening proved Cloudy and the wind blew hard two pelicans were killed
to day. we came 30 Miles only to day the 2 fieldses did not join us I
think they are below. The Chief & the Squaws & children are awarey
of their journey. Children cry &c.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Saturday, 6th of September 1806. The mosquitoes were excessively troublesome. We set out early at the Great Cut Off and saw a herd of elk. We landed and sent out several hunters to kill some of the elk, but they returned without killing any, as the elk were wild and ran off much frightened. I sent the two small canoes ahead with directions to hunt in two bottoms below, and after a delay of half an hour we proceeded on. The wind was hard ahead. At the lower point of Pelican Island, a little above the Petite River de Sioux, we met a trading boat of Mr. Aug. Chouteau of St. Louis, bound for the River Jacques to trade with the Yanktons. This boat was in the care of a Mr. Henry Delorn. He had unloaded all his cargo and sent out five of his hands to hunt; they soon arrived with an elk. We purchased a gallon of whiskey from this man and gave each man of the party a dram, which was the first spirituous liquor that had been tasted by any of them since the 4th of July 1805. Several of the party exchanged leather for linen shirts and beaver for coarse hats. These men could inform us of nothing more than that all the troops had moved from the Illinois and that Gen. Wilkinson was preparing to leave St. Louis. We advised this trader to treat the Tetons with as much contempt as possible and explained to him how he would benefit by such treatment, etc., etc.
At 1 P.M. we set out. These men gave us 2 shots from a swivel gun they had on the bow of their boat, which we returned in our turn. We proceeded on about 3 miles and came up with two of the hunters; they had not killed anything. At 5 miles we overtook the canoe of the other hunters with Shannon in it, floating down, the two Fields being in the woods behind. We came to on a sand bar on the N.E. side and delayed all the latter part of the day for the two Fields. I sent out 3 men to hunt in the bottom up the river and to observe whether they saw any sign of the hunters. The evening proved cloudy and the wind blew hard. Two pelicans were killed today. We came only 30 miles today. The two Fields did not join us; I think they are below. The Chief and the squaws and children are weary of their journey. The children cry, etc.
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