Clark: September 8, 1806
The party set out very early and made excellent progress downriver, covering 78 miles. They passed an old trading house above the Council Bluffs, where Lewis and Clark stopped around 11 A.M. to walk the bluffs and reassess the site, again judging it well-suited for an establishment due to its commanding height and rich bottomland. Eager to reach the Platte River, the men rowed hard and reached their old White Catfish Camp, 12 miles above the Platte. Clark noted the Missouri seemed no larger here despite many tributaries, suggesting immense evaporation.
Munday 8th September 1806 Set out very early this morning, passed an old
tradeing house on the S W Side a few miles above the Council bluffs, at 11
A M we Came too at the bluffs and Capt Lewis and myself walked up on the
bluffs and around to examine the Country and Situation more particularly,
the Situation appeared to us eaqually as eligable as when we passed up for
an establishment, the hill high and Commanding with a high rich bottom of
great extent below. we proceeded on very well all being anxious to get to
the River Platt to day they ply’d their orers very well, and we arived at
our old encampment at White Catfish Camp 12 miles above the river platt at
which place we lay from the 22th to the 26th of July 1804 here we encamped
haveing made 78 Miles to day. The Missouri at this place does not appear
to Contain more water than it did 1000 Miles above this, the evaperation
must be emence; in the last 1000 miles this river receives the water 20
rivers and maney Creeks Several of the Rivers large and the Size of this
river or the quantity of water does not appear to increas any-
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Monday 8th September 1806. We set out very early this morning, and passed an old trading house on the SW side a few miles above the Council Bluffs. At 11 AM we came to at the bluffs, and Capt Lewis (Capt. Lewis) and myself walked up on the bluffs and around to examine the country and situation more particularly. The situation appeared to us equally as eligible as when we passed up, for an establishment—the hill high and commanding, with a high rich bottom of great extent below.
We proceeded on very well, all being anxious to get to the River Platt today; they plied their oars very well, and we arrived at our old encampment at White Catfish Camp, 12 miles above the River Platt, at which place we lay from the 22nd to the 26th of July 1804. Here we camped, having made 78 miles today.
The Missouri at this place does not appear to contain more water than it did 1000 miles above this; the evaporation must be immense. In the last 1000 miles this river receives the water of 20 rivers and many creeks, several of the rivers large, and the size of this river, or the quantity of water, does not appear to increase any—
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