Departure from Fort Mandan, Missouri River — John Ordway: April 10, 1805
On a pleasant morning, the expedition pushed upriver past high plains and cottonwood bottoms with a swift current, stopping for breakfast above a sand bank and willow island. Captain Clark and Drouillard hunted ashore, while the party noted bear tracks, nesting eagles, and elk. Around 1 o'clock they met three French trappers who had taken 12 fat beaver and shared tails and meat. A man shot a bald eagle, whose quills Ordway took for writing, and Clark killed a prairie hen. They camped on a sand beach after about 27 miles.
pleasant morning, proceeded on passed a handsome high plain
on N. S. and a beautiful bottom covered with c.wood the cur-
rent Swift, we halted for breakfast at 10 oClock above a falling
in Sand bank & a Small willow Island, proceeded on a Short dis-
tance further. Saw the track of a verry large white bare. Cap*
Clark & G. Drewyer went out out hunting on S. S. in a bottom of
timber, bare hills on N. S. we Saw a nomber of large Eagles
which had nested on large cottonwood trees, the wind raised
from West, about one oClock we overtook 3 frenchmen who were
trapping for beaver on the river.1 they had Caught 12 beaver in
a fiew days they were fat they Gave us the tails and Some of
the meat which eat verry Good; at 2 oClock we halted [and] took
dinner, one of our men Shot a bald Eagle. I took the quills to
write, proceeded on Cap1 Clark killed a prarie hen & joined us.
Saw two large Elk in a bottom on S. S. passed round a verry
crooked bend in the River, and Camped on a Sand beach on N. S.
of the River.2 about 27 mls to day.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Pleasant morning. We proceeded on, passing a handsome high plain on the north side and a beautiful bottom covered with cottonwood. The current was swift. We halted for breakfast at 10 o'clock above a falling-in sand bank and a small willow island, then proceeded on a short distance further.
Saw the track of a very large white bear. Capt Clark (Capt. Clark) and G. Drewyer (George Drouillard) went out hunting on the south side in a bottom of timber; bare hills on the north side. We saw a number of large eagles which had nested on large cottonwood trees. The wind rose from the west.
About one o'clock we overtook three Frenchmen who were trapping for beaver on the river. They had caught 12 beaver in a few days; they were fat. They gave us the tails and some of the meat, which ate very good.
At 2 o'clock we halted and took dinner. One of our men shot a bald eagle. I took the quills to write. We proceeded on. Capt Clark killed a prairie hen and joined us. Saw two large elk in a bottom on the south side. Passed around a very crooked bend in the river, and camped on a sand beach on the north side of the river. About 27 miles today.
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