Rapid descent of Missouri, 70-80 miles/day — John Ordway: August 21, 1806

and proceed on soon met three frenchmen one by the name of
Revey5 they have been trapping as high as the river Roshjone
1 At the site of an old Ankara village, several miles below Fort Mandan.
Going ashore to view their habitation of the winter of 1804-5, Clark found
that only some pickets and one of the houses in the rear bastion remained
standing, the greater portion of the fort having been destroyed by an accidental
fire. The site of the fort itself disappeared a few years later, being worn away
by the erosion of the river.
2 Modern Heart River; the camp was near the site where the party had
encamped Oct. 20, 1804, a short distance below Bismarck, N. Dak.
3 Having descended but ten miles below the camp of the day before. This
night Clark enjoyed a rare luxury. Through the liberality of Jessaume and
the squaws he was provided with a “piece of a lodge,” the only covering he had
enjoyed, since leaving the Columbia, sufficient to keep off the rain.
* “haveing made 81 miles only.” Clark. This remark may be taken as
an indication of the eagerness of the explorers to be at their journey’s end.
At noon the party passed the mouth of Cannon Ball River, and at three o’clock
that of Big Beaver Creek. The camp was therefore some distance below the
latter point.
6 Revey (Rivet) had been with the expedition during the autumn of 1804
392 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS [Aug. 22
but have made out but poorly and have been living at the Ricka-
rees and are now going to the Mandans for their traps and and
then they Say they will return to S4 Louis. So we procd on about
11 A. M. we arived at the upper village of Rickarees where we
halted after fireing our blunderbusses, they gathered on the
bank verry numerous a party of the Chiens are here trading
with these natives for corn give buffaloe meat dryed meat in return
three frenchman are living here & one Spanyard. they informed
us that 15 hundred of the Souix nation had gone up to war with
the Mandans. our officers gave a principal man of the chien
nation a meddle, he gave in return Some fat dryed buffaloe meat,
our officers tryed to git Some of these natives to go down with us
but they did not incline to go as they Said they had Sent one
with Mr Gravveleen and he had not returnd this nation of chien
or dog Indians live at the heads of chien river towards the black
hills, they say they are afraid of the white people and of any
thing they have for they think it to be great medicin. Still Say
that they have a great deal of fur in their country and have no
trade for it &C. in the evening we mooved down to the lower
village of Rickarees and Camped Ross joined us in order to go
down with us. we traded for Robes & Mockasons Some of which
was handsome &C.