Jefferson/Beaverhead River near present-day Dillon — John Ordway: August 9, 1805
The party set out at sunrise with a strong southeast wind and stopped for breakfast around 8 a.m. George Shannon, missing for three days, rejoined them with three buck skins and some meat. Captain Lewis, Shields, Drouillard, and McNeal departed ahead on foot to search for Indians, hoping to obtain horses. The captains named one fork the Jefferson River and another the Sensible River. Game was scarce, mosquitoes troublesome, and snow was visible on distant mountains. Some prairie ground was boggy. After scattered showers, they traveled 18 miles and camped on the left side.
out eairly. we Set out at Sun rise and proceeded on. the wind
high from S. E. took on board a deer which the hunters killed,
about 8 oClock we halted for breakfast. George Shannon who
had been 3 days lost joined us with 3 buck Skins Skins which he
killed & found fat. he brought in a little of the meat also. Cap*
Lewis, Shields, Drewyer & Mcneal set out to go on a head a long
distance to make discoveries in hopes to find Indians &.C.2 we
proceeded on took on board another Deer which the hunters had
killed, the game is generally Scarse along here, only a fiew Deer
to be Seen, the River & bottoms prarie continues as yesterday
back at the 3 forks our Captains named this fork Jefferson River the
North we call Sensable River3 because we were Sensable of it. the
South fork named4 not known for certn yet So I expect the forks
ought to be called the head of the Missourie, although we are yet
on a branch which we expect to see the head of it in a fiew days.
Some thunder the Musquetoes troublesome, the beaver as
pleanty as usal, &.C. Saw Snow on the Mountains Some dis-
tance a head, proceeded on passed the head of the old channel
where the River formely ran along the high land at the South
Side of the prarie. Some timber along the old bed. Some part of
the prarie is low and boggy and will Shake for Some distance
around a man when he walks on it. we expect it would be good
turf to burn. Some Showers passed over, we Came 18 mls and
Camped at a fiew trees on L. Side.6
1 Nineteen miles by water, but owing to the crookedness of the river only
eight land miles. The camp was in Madison County, six miles above the mouth
of Stinking Water River.
2 This excursion was made because Sacajawea had given information that
her people were not far away, and the explorers stood in urgent need of finding
them and procuring horses for use in place of boats as a means of transportation.
Lewis set out with the determination to cross the continental divide and pro-
ceed down the Columbia until he should find either the Snake or other Indians
possessed of horses, “if it should cause me a trip of one month.”
3 This name is unknown, hitherto, to the records of the expedition. That
the explorers should be “Sensable” of Wisdom River is not strange, in view
of their arduous experience while attempting its navigation. Apparently
Lewis and Clark debated whether to commemorate, in naming the stream,
their experience with it, or the wisdom of their patron, President Jefferson.
4 The words in italics are marked out in the manuscript.
6 Sixteen miles, according to Lewis, but the distance gained was by land
only five miles. Camp was two miles by land (6j by water) below the Heaver
18051 SERGEANT ORDWAY’S JOURNAL 263
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Out early. We set out at sunrise and proceeded on. The wind was high from the S.E. We took on board a deer which the hunters killed. About 8 o'clock we halted for breakfast. George Shannon, who had been lost for 3 days, joined us with 3 buck skins which he had killed and found fat. He brought in a little of the meat also. Capt Lewis (Capt. Lewis), Shields, Drewyer (Drouillard), and McNeal set out to go ahead a long distance to make discoveries in hopes of finding Indians, etc.
We proceeded on and took on board another deer which the hunters had killed. The game is generally scarce along here; only a few deer to be seen. The river and bottom prairie continue as yesterday. Back at the 3 forks our Captains named this fork Jefferson River; the North we call Sensable River (Sensible River) because we were sensible of it. The South fork's name is not known for certain yet. So I expect the forks ought to be called the head of the Missourie (Missouri), although we are yet on a branch of which we expect to see the head in a few days.
Some thunder. The mosquitoes are troublesome. The beaver are as plentiful as usual, etc. Saw snow on the mountains some distance ahead. Proceeded on and passed the head of the old channel where the river formerly ran along the high land at the south side of the prairie. Some timber along the old bed. Some part of the prairie is low and boggy and will shake for some distance around a man when he walks on it. We expect it would be good turf to burn. Some showers passed over. We came 18 miles and camped at a few trees on the L. Side (Larboard, or left, side).
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