John Ordway: July 4, 1804
On July 4, 1804, the expedition traveled past present-day Leavenworth, Kansas, noting a large lake (likely modern Sugar or Bean Lake) on the north side that the captains observed teeming with geese and goslings. They paused at midday to dine near hills and prairies on the south side, where Joseph Fields was bitten on the foot by a snake. They passed and named Independence Creek in honor of the holiday, firing the bow gun morning and evening to celebrate U.S. independence. They camped in beautiful, hilly prairie country.
of the out let of a large lake3 which comes in on the north side.
may be accounted for by the changes that have taken place in the channel of
the former.
1 There is considerable contradiction between the different journals of the
expedition concerning the creeks passed this day. Clark speaks of passing
(1) “Turquie Creike” on the south side, and (2) Turkey Creek on the same side.
The first is evidently the “parques or fence creek” of Ordway, and the second
Ordway’s Turkey Creek. The expedition passed Leavenworth, Kans.. this
day. Coues identifies the spot where the noon stop was made with Kickapoo
Island, shown on the U. S. Geological Survey map immediately above the Fort
Leavenworth military reservation.
2 Then and still called Cow Island (by the French, Isle de Vache); it lies
opposite the town of Iatan, Mo.
3 Probably represented by modern Sugar, or Bean Lake, in southwestern
Buchanan and northwestern Platte counties, Mo. Clark named it Goslin
Lake, because of the large numbers of “Gees & Goslings” seen on it.
92 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS [July 5
this pond or lake is large & their has been a great many bever
found in it, high land on the South side & praries, we Delayed a
short time at noon to dine, a Snake bit J° Fields on the out side
of his foot,1 this was under the hills near the praries on the South
Side, we passed a Creek on the South Side about 15 yards wide,
comes out of the large prarie, and as it has no name & as it is the
4 of July, Capts name it Independence Creek2 we fired our Bow
piece this morning & one in the evening for Independance of the
U. S. we saw a nomber of Goslins half grown to day. we
camped in the pla[i]ns one of the most beautiful places I ever saw
in my life, open and beautifully Diversified with hills & vallies
all presenting themselves to the River.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
of the outlet of a large lake which comes in on the north side. May be accounted for by the changes that have taken place in the channel of the former.
This pond or lake is large and there have been a great many beaver found in it. High land on the south side and prairies. We delayed a short time at noon to dine. A snake bit Jo. Fields on the outside of his foot. This was under the hills near the prairies on the south side. We passed a creek on the south side about 15 yards wide, which comes out of the large prairie, and as it has no name and as it is the 4th of July, the Captains named it Independence Creek. We fired our bow piece this morning and one in the evening for the Independence of the U.S. We saw a number of goslings half grown today. We camped in the plains, one of the most beautiful places I ever saw in my life, open and beautifully diversified with hills and valleys, all presenting themselves to the river.
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