Jefferson/Beaverhead River near present-day Dillon — John Ordway: August 6, 1805
The party continued hauling canoes up rapids on the Big Hole fork before stopping for breakfast, where hunters spotted a large Indian trail. George Drouillard arrived with word from Captain Lewis that they had taken the wrong fork and should instead ascend the middle (Jefferson) fork. Turning back down the rapids, one canoe overturned, losing clothing, a shot pouch, powder horn, and moccasins, spoiling a keg of powder, and injuring Joseph Whitehouse's leg. They reunited with Lewis at the forks, dried the goods, and camped. Hunters killed three deer and an elk fawn, but George Shannon went missing again.
usal, and proceeded on hailing the canoes over the rapids, the
bottoms low and covred with small timber, about 8 oClock
we halted for breakfast. Several men went out a Short distance
to hunt. Some of them Saw a large Indian path, or road along
the plain. George Drewyer came to us and Informed us that we
were on the wrong fork that we could not go far up this [one]
for the Sholes & rapids & that their was 3 forks in this valley and
the middle one was the best for us to go up. one of the hunters
did not return, So we left George Drewyer expecting the hunter in
Soon, we turned about and proceeded on down the rapids to the
forks, with the crafts, in passing the bad place of bushes & drift
1 The junction of the Big Hole and Jefferson rivers, in Madison County.
2 Up the Big Hole. Lewis had reached the junction of the two streams
two days before. His exploration convinced him that the middle, or Jefferson
fork was the proper one to ascend. Accordingly he wrote a note to Clark
apprizing him of this fact, and affixed it to a pole at the forks. But the pole
was green, and the beavers cut it down before Clark’s arrival. In ignorance
of Lewis’ note Clark proceeded, with great difficulty, to ascend the Big Hole
for a mile, where he encamped on an island that had lately been overflown.
260 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS [Aug. 7
which we went up last evening, one canoe turned over another
partly filled and was near turning over also, one knapsack, full
of cloaths leather &. C. lost, allso a Shot pouch powder horn &
some mockisons.1 the rest all got down Safe to the forks and
put out all the goods and articles to dry. Several men out to
hunt, one man Jo8 Whitehouse got his leg lamed when the canoe
turned over. Several things damaged by gitting wet. found
Some difficulty in gitting the canoes down over the Sholes and
rapids, one kig of powder Spoild we found Cap* Lewis and
party at the forks they informed us that they had been about 30
miles up the middle fork and they allowed that to be much the
best for us to go up. we Camped on the L. Side of the forks in
the evening all the hunters returned had killed 3 deer & a faun
Elk the man who left us this morning has not returned and we
expect he is lost again, his name is george Shannon, we blew
the horn and fired Several guns in hopes he would hear it.2
the Indian goods &C did not all git dry this evening.3
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
As usual, we proceeded on, hauling the canoes over the rapids. The bottoms were low and covered with small timber. About 8 o'clock we halted for breakfast. Several men went out a short distance to hunt. Some of them saw a large Indian path, or road, along the plain. George Drewyer (Drouillard) came to us and informed us that we were on the wrong fork, that we could not go far up this one because of the shoals and rapids, and that there were 3 forks in this valley and the middle one was the best for us to go up. One of the hunters did not return, so we left George Drewyer (Drouillard) expecting the hunter in soon. We turned about and proceeded on down the rapids to the forks with the crafts. In passing the bad place of bushes and drift which we went up last evening, one canoe turned over and another partly filled and was near turning over also. One knapsack, full of clothes, leather, etc., was lost, also a shot pouch, powder horn, and some moccasins. The rest all got down safe to the forks and put out all the goods and articles to dry. Several men went out to hunt. One man, Joseph Whitehouse, got his leg lamed when the canoe turned over. Several things were damaged by getting wet. We found some difficulty in getting the canoes down over the shoals and rapids. One keg of powder was spoiled.
We found Capt Lewis (Capt. Lewis) and party at the forks. They informed us that they had been about 30 miles up the middle fork and they allowed that to be much the best for us to go up. We camped on the L. (left) side of the forks in the evening. All the hunters returned, having killed 3 deer and a fawn elk. The man who left us this morning has not returned, and we expect he is lost again. His name is George Shannon. We blew the horn and fired several guns in hopes he would hear it. The Indian goods, etc., did not all get dry this evening.
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