Overland to Walla Walla, council with Yelleppit — John Ordway: April 23, 1806

John Ordway · Columbia River near the John Day River · Thwaites Vol. Quaife 1916

That night's camp, per the NPS campsite reconstruction (Bergantino): right bank, east of mouth Rock Creek, in Wa

and Strayed away last night we delayed to hunt for him & made
two pack Saddles, we could not find our lost horse, about 10
AM. [we] Set out proced on through high plains and banks of
Sand along the river, the day warm, towards evening we arived
at a large village at the mouth of a creek4 where we Camped our
canoes came up. we purchased 4 dogs and a considerable quan-
tity of Chappalell &C. the day warm, these Savages have lately
mooved here & have a great number of horses, our horses are
troublesome as the most of them are Studs, but the feed is good
[and] the prarie covred with flowrs the natives are numerous at
this place, they had a dance at our fire this evening, nearly the
Same manner & way as those on the Missourie. we played the
fiddle and danced &C. Several of the flat heads continue on with
us & assist us as much as lyes in their power.
1 The Deschutes River, the largest tributary of the Columbia between the
Willamette and the Snake. In its lower course it forms the boundary between
Wasco and Sherman counties, Ore.
2 But not until Captain Lewis had formed the resolution of burning the In-
dians’ lodges by way of punishment for their misconduct. Fortunately it
proved unnecessary to carry this resolution into effect.
3 In Klickitat County, Wash., about twelve miles above the mouth of the
Deschutes, and a little below John Day River.
* Rock Creek, in Klickitat County, Wash.
346 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS [April 24