Jefferson/Beaverhead River near present-day Dillon — John Ordway: August 6, 1805

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