Fort Mandan, North Dakota — John Ordway: December 8, 1804

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.