Missouri River near Platte River mouth — John Ordway: July 16, 1804
The expedition traveled along a prairie where hills came close to the Missouri River, passing several small islands including a large one called Fair Sun. The boat briefly ran onto a sawyer. At noon they paused so the captains could take the meridian altitude and set their watches. They passed a sliding sandbank and a sandstone bluff filled with bird nests, then camped on a large prairie on the north side. The horse party rejoined them with two deer. The Nishnabotna River runs behind the bottom prairie.
proceded on the side of a prarie above the prarie the hills make
near the River passed several small Islands, one large one called
fair Sun1 the Boat Ran fast on a Sawyer the wind from the
South, we delayed at 12 oClock for the Captains to take the
Meridian altitude & Set their watches &.C. we then sailed along &
Stoped to Dine, little above where the hills came close to the R. on
South Side we passed a high Sand Bank which appeared to be
slideing in at times, little above a Bank of Sand Stone which was
high & many Birds Nests in the holes we proceded on to a large
handsome prarie on the North Side where we camped the party
who were with the horses joined us with 2 Deer The River neesh-
nah-bo-to-na Runs along back of the Bottom prarie under the Ball
hill2 along this River is plenty of Timbers every fiew miles which
Stands in Handsome Groves, these hills are in some places from
3 to 6 miles from the Missouris.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
We proceeded on along the side of a prairie. Above the prairie, the hills come close to the river. We passed several small islands and one large one called Fair Sun. The boat ran fast onto a sawyer. The wind was from the south. We stopped at 12 o'clock for the Captains to take the meridian altitude and set their watches, etc. We then sailed along and stopped to dine, a little above where the hills came close to the river on the south side.
We passed a high sand bank which appeared to be sliding in at times, and a little above it, a bank of sandstone which was high and had many birds' nests in the holes. We proceeded on to a large, handsome prairie on the north side, where we camped. The party who were with the horses joined us with 2 deer.
The River Neeshnahbotona runs along the back of the bottom prairie under the Bald Hill. Along this river there is plenty of timber every few miles, which stands in handsome groves. These hills are in some places from 3 to 6 miles from the Missouri.
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