Fort Mandan, North Dakota — John Ordway: December 8, 1804
On a clear, bitterly cold day with a northwest wind and ice hanging in the air like fog, Captain Clark and 14 men, including Ordway, set out from the fort to hunt buffalo. They spotted a large herd along with mounted Native hunters chasing them. Scattered shots cost them some opportunities, but the party killed six buffalo and a deer about five miles from the fort. Two men stayed behind to guard the meat while the rest returned after dark. Clark rewarded the hunters with a drink of taffia.
ing than I ever new it to be in the States clear the wind N. W.
about 9 o. C. Cap* Clark and 14 of the party set off a hunting [Ms.
too worn to decipher] The prarie we Shortly cam in cite of a
large gang of Buffalow. we Saw a nomber of the Savvages on
horse back running after them, we proceeded on Cap’ Clark
& myself Saw 2 or 3 Buffalow by themselves we got near them
& fired at them [and] wounded one. the men all Scattered So that
we missed oppertuntities of Surrounding the gangs of Buffalow.
But we saw the praries Black at a distance down the River & in
a Bottom which is ab* 5 miles from our fort we then went in
to the Bottom and killed 2 cow Buffalow out of a large gang &
wounded Several more, one of our men came to us who had
killed a calf Buff we left 2 men to take care of the meat, we
then Set off to return to our fort walked a short distance to
where [the] calf was and carried it with us. walked fast. Saw a
Deer 2 men met us with horses, we got to the fort a little after
dark the hunters all come in had killed in all 6 Buffalow &
one Deer, the men who went with Cap* Clark he gave a drink
of Taffee the air thick with Ice all this day, like a fog.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
It was colder than I have ever known it to be in the States. Clear, with the wind from the N.W. About 9 o'clock Capt. Clark and 14 of the party set off hunting. [Manuscript too worn to decipher.] On the prairie we shortly came in sight of a large herd of buffalo. We saw a number of the Indians on horseback running after them. We proceeded on. Capt. Clark and I saw 2 or 3 buffalo by themselves. We got near them and fired at them, wounding one. The men were all so scattered that we missed our chances of surrounding the herds of buffalo.
But we saw the prairies black at a distance down the river and in a bottom about 5 miles from our fort. We then went into the bottom and killed 2 cow buffalo out of a large herd, and wounded several more. One of our men came to us who had killed a buffalo calf. We left 2 men to take care of the meat. We then set off to return to our fort, walking a short distance to where the calf was and carrying it with us. We walked fast. We saw a deer. Two men met us with horses. We got to the fort a little after dark. The hunters all came in, having killed in all 6 buffalo and one deer. The men who went with Capt. Clark, he gave a drink of taffia. The air was thick with ice all this day, like a fog.
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