John Ordway: July 4, 1804

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.