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Journal entry · August 2, 1805

Jefferson River ascending toward divide — John Ordway: August 2, 1805

John Ordway · Jefferson River ascending toward divide · Thwaites Vol. Quaife 1916

The place today: Jefferson River ascending toward divide

eairly and proceeded on. The River is now Small crooked Shallow
and rapid, passed bottoms covered with cotton Timber. Saw
abundance of beaver lodges to day. Some trees newly cut down
by them. Saw pond where they darned up the water one dam
above another which is curious to behold, passed a high bank in
which was villages of bank Swallows passed large beautiful
bottom praries on each side and bottoms of timber &. C. Saw
Several old Indian Camps on S. Side. Some of the high hills look
black with pine timber and Solid rocks. &.C. the day warm, we
proceeded on. passed a nomber of Islands, and bottoms covd with
cotton & birch timber, passed Smooth prarie. Saw Several grey
Eagles &C. we Came 14f miles to day and Camped on the edge
of a Smooth plain on L. Side.3 Saw a gang of Elk back under the
hills, the country in general back from the river is broken and
mountaineous.

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The NPS atlas for this night

inter-channel area of 1805 Jefferson River area near Whitehall, MT

NPS campsite reconstruction (Bergantino)

From the NPS Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Park Atlas, mirrored here on September 21, 2026. This copy is not authoritative; NPS remains the system of record. About the mirror

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