Jefferson/Beaverhead River near present-day Dillon — John Ordway: August 9, 1805

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