Lewis: up Marias River / Clark: down Yellowstone — John Ordway: July 19, 1806
The party's hunters crossed a river bend on foot and killed four buffalo and a buck deer, while the canoes proceeded around. After taking the best meat, they arrived at White Bear Camp at the head of the portage by 3 PM, joining Sergeant Gass and five others camped there since the 11th. Gass reported a smooth route via the Big Blackfoot River. Captain Lewis had lost seven horses, presumed stolen, and had departed up the Marias River with only Drouillard and the Field brothers. McNeal was attacked by a grizzly bear and broke his gun stunning it.
hunters went on Shore to go across a bend after the buffaloe &
we proceeded on with the canoes round sd bend, about 11 A.M.
the hunters killed 4 buffaloe and a buck deer, we halted and took
the best of the meat or fat and proceed on about 3 PM. we
arived at the white bear Camp at the head of the portage. Serg1
Gass and five more of the party were Camped here, they in-
formed us that they had a fine road over.1 they followed up the
Tus-e-paw or buffaloe river2 a Smooth road, then crossed a low
dividing ridge came on Smooth plains, the blanket Mountains
to the left, they had a large road, a band of Indians had went
before them. Saw one of their Sculp poles &C. they Struck the
Meddison river above its forks and followed on down it about 3
days travvel to this place, considerable of cotten timber on its
bottoms, the plain Smooth Soil indifferent except Some of the
river bottoms are rich & good land, they arived here on the 11th
Ins* they had killed a number of fat buffaloe and fat buck deers.
Cap1 Lewis and party lost 7 fine horses at this place, they ex-
pect they were stole by the war parties they hunted for them
untill the 16th Ins1 then gave them out for lost, and then he set
out for to go up morriahs river Drewyer J° & R. Fields only with
him as he left 4 horses to hale the canoes past the portage, he had
not horses enofe to take any more men with him. they had
opened the cash or hole at this place & found Several Small articles
Spoiled and opened the one below the portage and found everry
thing Safe except some of the mens robes, they have geers fixed
for the horses. Mcneal was attacked by a white bear, his horse
threw him So near the bear that he had not time to shoote but
drew his gun and Struck the bear across the head and broke off
the brich of his gun and Stonded3 the bear So that he had time to
1 From the place at the mouth of Lolo Creek whence the parties of Lewis
and Clark had set out in opposite directions on July 3, Lewis down the Bitter
Root River, and Clark up that stream.
2 Modern Big Blackfoot River, a tributary of Hell Gate River, which Lewis
had first ascended to the mouth of the Big Blackfoot. From its upper course
the party crossed the mountains by the misnamed Lewis and Clark Pass to
one of the head streams of Dearborn River. Instead of following the trail
down this river, however, Lewis turned directly north to Medicine, or modern
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Hunters went ashore to go across a bend after the buffalo, and we proceeded on with the canoes around said bend. About 11 A.M. the hunters killed 4 buffalo and a buck deer. We halted and took the best of the meat or fat, and proceeded on. About 3 P.M. we arrived at the White Bear Camp at the head of the portage. Sergeant Gass and five more of the party were camped here. They informed us that they had had a fine road over. They followed up the Tus-e-paw or Buffalo River, a smooth road, then crossed a low dividing ridge and came onto smooth plains, with the Blanket Mountains to the left. They had a large road; a band of Indians had gone before them. They saw one of their scalp poles, etc. They struck the Medicine River above its forks and followed on down it about 3 days' travel to this place. There is considerable cottonwood timber on its bottoms; the plains are smooth, the soil indifferent, except some of the river bottoms which are rich and good land. They arrived here on the 11th instant. They had killed a number of fat buffalo and fat buck deer.
Capt Lewis (Capt. Lewis) and party lost 7 fine horses at this place. They expect they were stolen by the war parties. They hunted for them until the 16th instant, then gave them up for lost, and then he set out to go up Maria's River, with only Drewyer (Drouillard), J. Fields, and R. Fields with him, as he left 4 horses to haul the canoes past the portage. He had not horses enough to take any more men with him. They had opened the cache or hole at this place and found several small articles spoiled, and opened the one below the portage and found everything safe except some of the men's robes. They have gears fixed for the horses.
McNeal was attacked by a white bear. His horse threw him so near the bear that he had not time to shoot, but drew his gun and struck the bear across the head and broke off the breech of his gun, and stunned the bear so that he had time to
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