John Ordway: April 29, 1805
Setting off early in present-day Sheridan County, Montana, the party spotted a stray bay horse on a plain rich with wild hops, likely lost from local Native peoples. They observed mountain sheep with lambs on steep bluffs, and one man unsuccessfully tried to shoot them. Captain Lewis and a hunter rejoined the boats around 9:30 with meat from a light-colored bear—the expedition's first grizzly. They passed high bluffs, bottoms, and abundant game including antelope, buffalo, elk, and more mountain sheep. After 25 miles, they camped after dark at the mouth of a small stream they named Little Yellow River.
off eairly. proceeded on round a bend Saw a bay horse in a
beautiful Smooth plain on the N. S. where we Saw a great quantity
of wild Hop Growing we Suppose that this horse had Strayed
from Some Savages he appeared to be a tollarable Good horse
but wild, proceeded on a Short distance. Saw a Mountain Sheep
on a high Steep bluff on N. S. which had a lamb with it one man
went up the bluff to Shoot them, they took down the bluffs and ran
along whare it was nearly Steep where there was a black Stripe
in the bluffs he Shot at them but at too Great a distance, they
run untill they got round the bluffs and ran in to the prarie. the
coulour of the Sheep was white had large crooked horns, &
resembled our tame Sheep only much larger Size & horns. Cap’
Lewis and one hunter who walked on Shore this morning came
to us about | past 9 oClock had killed a Whiteish bair2 what is
called the white bair, but is not White but light coullour we
delayed untill past 10 to git the meat on board, then proceeded
on passed high bluffs & bottoms on each Side. Saw large flocks
of the Cabberree or antilopes and handsom bottom on s. s.
also buffaloe & elk. Saw a nomber of Mountain Sheep &. lambs on
a verry high bluffs as nearly like rough mountains Some red
ceeder in the hollows & gullies in the Mountains, these Sheep are
verry wild, and keep mostly in these bare hills or mountains
1 In Sheridan County, Mont., about midway between the Yellowstone
River and Big Muddy Creek.
2 This was the first grizzly slain by the party, and accordingly Lewis gives
a somewhat detailed description of it. Alter being wounded it chased Lewis
and his companion seventy or eighty yards, when, having reloaded their guns,
they succeeded in killing it. Commenting upon the respect in which the Indians
held the grizzly bear, Lewis adds, “but in the hands of skillfull riflemen they
are by no means as formidable or dangerous as they have been represented.”
A fuller acquaintance with them prepared him to revise this estimate. Lewis
and Chirk usually speak of Hie grizzly as while, although in the first instance
they call it “brown or yellow.” (iass notes. “The natives call them white but
they are more of a brown grey.”
1805] SERGEANT ORDWAY’S JOURNAL 205
Some of these hills are red Earth resembling Spanish brown, but
the most of them are whitish & naked. Some large Stone
at the foot of the bluffs, the country back from the river is I
belive is barron & no timber & Good for nothing but Game,
proceeded on passed a large timber bottom on the S. S. Camped
after dark at the Mouth of a Small river which came in on the
N. S. at a beautiful Smoth plain, we named it little yallow River.1
Came 25 miles this day.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Off early. Proceeded on around a bend. Saw a bay horse in a beautiful smooth plain on the north side, where we saw a great quantity of wild hops growing. We suppose that this horse had strayed from some Indians. He appeared to be a tolerably good horse but wild. Proceeded on a short distance. Saw a mountain sheep on a high steep bluff on the north side, which had a lamb with it. One man went up the bluff to shoot them. They took down the bluffs and ran along where it was nearly steep, where there was a black stripe in the bluffs. He shot at them but at too great a distance. They ran until they got around the bluffs and ran into the prairie. The color of the sheep was white, had large crooked horns, and resembled our tame sheep only much larger in size and horns.
Capt Lewis (Capt. Lewis) and one hunter, who walked on shore this morning, came to us about half past 9 o'clock. Had killed a whitish bear, what is called the white bear, but is not white but light colored. We delayed until half past 10 to get the meat on board, then proceeded on. Passed high bluffs and bottoms on each side. Saw large flocks of the cabri or antelopes and handsome bottom on the south side, also buffalo and elk. Saw a number of mountain sheep and lambs on very high bluffs nearly like rough mountains. Some red cedar in the hollows and gullies in the mountains. These sheep are very wild, and keep mostly in these bare hills or mountains.
Some of these hills are red earth resembling Spanish brown, but the most of them are whitish and naked. Some large stones at the foot of the bluffs. The country back from the river, I believe, is barren and has no timber, and is good for nothing but game. Proceeded on, passed a large timber bottom on the south side. Camped after dark at the mouth of a small river which came in on the north side at a beautiful smooth plain. We named it Little Yellow River. Came 25 miles this day.
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