Clark: September 7, 1806
Worried that the two Field brothers had fallen behind, Clark ordered Sergeant Ordway and four men to wait for them until noon. After traveling about eight miles by water, the party spotted the missing men's fire, signaled Ordway with a gunshot, and took them aboard. Clark noted the unusually high evaporation rate on the Missouri, which dried out his inkstand daily. Hunters killed three elk for dinner, and the group pushed on against headwinds, camping on a sandbar plagued by mosquitoes. They covered 44 miles.
Sunday 7th September 1806 as we were doubtfull that the two fieldses were
behind I derected Sergt. Ordway with 4 men to Continue untill Meridian and
if those men did not arive by that hour to proceed on. if we met with them
at any Short distance a gun Should be fired which would be a Signal for
him to proceed on. we had proceeded on about 8 miles by water and the
distance through not more than 1 mile when we Saw the fire of those 2 men,
I derected a gun fired as a Signal for Sergt. ordway to proceed on, and
took the boys on board. they had killed nothing & informed me they had
been Somewhat almd. at our delay, that the distance across from the little
Sieoux river was about 1 1/2 miles only, the bottoms thick and Grass very
high. we proceded on with a Stiff Breeze ahead (note the evaperation on
this portion of the Missouri has been noticed as we assended this river,
and it now appears to be greater than it was at that time. I am obliged to
replenish my ink Stand every day with fresh ink at least 9/10 of which
must evaperate.) we proceded on to a bottom on the S W Side a little above
the Soldiers river and Came too and Sent out all the hunters. they killed
3 Elk which was at no great distance we Sent out the men and had the flesh
brought in Cooked and Dined. Sergt. Ordway Came up & after takeing a
Sumptious Dinner we all Set out at 4 P M wind ahead as usial. at Dusk we
came too on the lower part of a Sand bar on the S W side found the
Musquetors excessively tormenting not withstanding a Stiff breeze from the
S. E. a little after dark the wind increased the Musquetors dispersed our
Camp of this night is about 2 miles below our Encampment of the 4th of
august 1804 ascending we came 44 miles to day only
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Sunday 7th September 1806. As we were doubtful that the two Fieldses were behind, I directed Sergt. Ordway (Sergeant Ordway) with 4 men to remain until noon, and if those men did not arrive by that hour, to proceed on. If we met with them at any short distance, a gun should be fired, which would be a signal for him to proceed on. We had gone about 8 miles by water, though the distance overland was not more than 1 mile, when we saw the fire of those 2 men. I directed a gun to be fired as a signal for Sergt. Ordway to proceed on, and took the boys on board. They had killed nothing and informed me they had been somewhat alarmed at our delay, and that the distance across from the Little Sioux River was about 1 1/2 miles only, the bottoms thick and the grass very high.
We proceeded on with a stiff breeze ahead. (Note: the evaporation on this portion of the Missouri was noticed as we ascended this river, and it now appears to be greater than it was at that time. I am obliged to replenish my ink stand every day with fresh ink, at least 9/10 of which must evaporate.)
We proceeded on to a bottom on the SW side a little above the Soldiers River and came to, and sent out all the hunters. They killed 3 elk, which were at no great distance. We sent out the men and had the flesh brought in, cooked, and dined. Sergt. Ordway came up, and after taking a sumptuous dinner, we all set out at 4 P.M., wind ahead as usual. At dusk we came to on the lower part of a sandbar on the SW side, and found the mosquitoes excessively tormenting, notwithstanding a stiff breeze from the S.E. A little after dark the wind increased and the mosquitoes dispersed. Our camp of this night is about 2 miles below our encampment of the 4th of August 1804 ascending. We came 44 miles today only.
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