Missouri River near Yellowstone approach — John Ordway: April 23, 1805
The expedition set off as usual along a very crooked stretch of river, passing high bluffs on the south side. Men caught two beavers overnight, shot another in the willows, and bagged a goose. Strong winds let the large pirogues sail rapidly, but the small canoes took on water, forcing the party to halt for about three hours to wait out the wind and dry wet articles. They resumed travel in the evening, making 14.5 miles, and camped in a cottonwood bottom. Captain Clark killed a buffalo calf and three black-tailed deer.
Set off as usal proceeded on. Some of the men caught two
beaver last night passed high bluffs on the S. S. and a bottom
in a bend on the N. S. the river verry crooked halted and took
breakfast on a sand beach s. s. one man Shot a beaver in the
willows, another Shot a Goose in the river, proceeded on the
wind blew So hard that the large perogues Sailed in a bend where
the wind came fair [and] verry high the Small canoes took in
Some water, the large perogues Sailed verry fast. [After] a
Short distance we were obledged to halt the first Safe place untill
1 In McKenzie County, two miles above the mouth of Little Muddy River.
2 In McKenzie County, about one-fourth of the distance from the Little
Muddy to the Yellowstone.
1805] SERGEANT ORDWAY’S JOURNAL 201
the wind abated which was about 3 hours, dryed the articles
which was wet. towards evening the wind abated and we pro-
ceeded on round a point and Camped in a bottom covered with
c.w. timber oh N. S.1 came 14| miles to day. Cap1 Clark killed
to day one buffaloe Calf, and three black taild deer.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Set off as usual and proceeded on. Some of the men caught two beavers last night. We passed high bluffs on the south side and a bottom in a bend on the north side. The river is very crooked. Halted and took breakfast on a sand beach on the south side. One man shot a beaver in the willows, and another shot a goose in the river. We proceeded on. The wind blew so hard that the large pirogues sailed in a bend where the wind came fair and very high. The small canoes took in some water, while the large pirogues sailed very fast.
After a short distance we were obliged to halt at the first safe place until the wind abated, which was about 3 hours. We dried the articles which were wet. Towards evening the wind abated and we proceeded on around a point and camped in a bottom covered with cottonwood timber on the north side. Came 14½ miles today. Capt Clark (Capt. Clark) killed today one buffalo calf and three black-tailed deer.
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