Jefferson River ascending toward divide — John Ordway: August 5, 1805
The party continued upriver, sending hunters ahead who killed two deer. They struggled up severe rapids, some dropping three to four feet nearly vertically. Cold south wind and rocky shores made travel hard. Around 7 p.m. under clouding skies, they reached a fork where the right branch appeared slightly larger. Unsure which way Captain Lewis had gone, Captain Clark left a note and led the group up the right fork. They fought through brush, beaver dams, and fierce currents before camping on the starboard side after eight exhausting miles. The fatigued men wished to travel overland.
as usal 2 hunters sent on a head to kill some meat. passd
rapids as usal. one of the hunters killed a deer before brakfast.
the wind cold from the South, the Shores and hills rocky the
bottom of the River covred with Slippery Small Stone and gravvel.
we proceeded on passed over rapids worse than ever it is with
difficulty & hard fatigue we git up them Some of which are all-
most perpinticular 3 or 4 feet fall in a Short distance, our other
hunter joined us at noon had killed nothing but had seen where
1 Ten and three-fourths miles, by Clark’s measurements, above the mouth
Of Pipestone Creek.
1805] SERGEANT ORDWAY’S JOURNAL 259
the River forks again, about 7 oG. P. M. clouded up wind
high, we proceeded on about a mile further up came to a
another forks1 one nearly as [large as] the other if any difference
the right hand fork the largest, we was not certian whether Cap*
Lewis was up the left fork or right So Cap’ Clark left a note for
him on the point which is level prarie, & proceeded on up the
right hand fork,2 which is amazeing rapid Some of which falls
nearly 3 feet in the length of a canoe, but with hard labour we
draged them over, we passed thro a channel which was filled
with willows and young cotton wood &, brush, Some of which was
fell across by the beaver, the currents so rapid we were oblidged
to hall by the bushes, and Some places be out in the water where
we could Scarsely kick our feet for the rapidity of the current.
Saw Several high beaver dams, passed several Islands, we
could scarsely croud the canoes through the bushes in several
places, night came on and we Camped on the Stard Side at a
bottom which is level and low, has been over flowed lately, it
appars this little Stream is verry high, but has been high by the
Snow melting off the Mountains, it is now falling a little, was
it low we could not proceeded by water any further, our hunter
killed a deer. Came 8 miles to forks this day. the party much
fatigued and wish to go by land.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
As usual, 2 hunters were sent ahead to kill some meat. Passed rapids as usual. One of the hunters killed a deer before breakfast. The wind cold from the south, the shores and hills rocky, the bottom of the river covered with slippery small stones and gravel. We proceeded on, passed over rapids worse than ever; it is with difficulty and hard fatigue that we get up them, some of which are almost perpendicular, 3 or 4 feet fall in a short distance. Our other hunter joined us at noon, had killed nothing but had seen where the river forks again. About 7 o'clock P.M., clouded up, wind high. We proceeded on about a mile further up and came to another forks, one nearly as large as the other, if any difference the right-hand fork the largest. We were not certain whether Capt Lewis (Capt. Lewis) was up the left fork or right, so Capt Clark (Capt. Clark) left a note for him on the point, which is level prairie, and proceeded on up the right-hand fork, which is amazingly rapid, some of which falls nearly 3 feet in the length of a canoe, but with hard labor we dragged them over. We passed through a channel which was filled with willows and young cottonwood and brush, some of which were felled across by the beaver. The current so rapid we were obliged to haul by the bushes, and in some places be out in the water where we could scarcely kick our feet for the rapidity of the current. Saw several high beaver dams, passed several islands. We could scarcely crowd the canoes through the bushes in several places. Night came on and we camped on the starboard side at a bottom which is level and low, has been overflowed lately. It appears this little stream is very high, but has been higher from the snow melting off the mountains; it is now falling a little. Were it low, we could not proceed by water any further. Our hunter killed a deer. Came 8 miles to the forks this day. The party much fatigued and wish to go by land.
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