Camp Fortunate / Shoshone contact — John Ordway: August 13, 1805

proceeded on. Several hunters [sent out] to hunt, passed a hand-
some Spring run3 which came in on L. Side the hills make nearer
the River, the valley not so wide as below & a little higher.
Smooth plains covred with grass & Sun flowers &. C. Saw Some
pine timber on the high hills back from the River, we halted and
took breakfast at a high clift of rocks on L. Side the hills above
make near the River on the L. Side, we proceeded on the current
rapid, the plains continues on the L. Side and hills along the
1 Seven miles by land above the Beaver Head, and an equal distance below
the town of Dillon. Coues.
2 Twelve miles by water, four by land. The camp was a short distance
below the mouth of modern Black Tail Deer Creek, in the immediate vicinity
of the town of Dillon.
1 Named in honor of McNeal. a member of the expedition; modern Black
Tail Deer Creek.
1805] SERGEANT ORD WAY’S JOURNAL 265
Stard. Side a fiew Scattering cotton trees along the River, in
the afternoon the current more gentle, we had caught a nomber
of fine Trout this Several days passed high clifts of rocks and
fine Springs on S. Side Saw a nomber of large otter diveing in
the River before us. Saw bald eagles ducks &.C. we took on
board a deer the hunters had killed. Came 15 miles this day and
camped on the Smooth prarie on L. Side.1 Cap1 Clark Shot a
duck, considerable of flax in these praries. Some of the party
saw some of the Seed. 2 of the hunters have not joined us this
evening, the mountains appear near a head of us.