Departure from Fort Mandan, Missouri River — John Ordway: April 10, 1805

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.