Marias River decision camp — John Ordway: June 12, 1805
The party retrieved three forgotten traps and departed Point Deposit, located 2,508 miles from the Missouri's mouth, around 7 a.m., continuing up the south fork they still called the Missouri. They navigated rapid currents past high black and yellow bluffs and gravelly islands, with two canoes nearly capsizing. Several rattlesnakes were spotted, and one man narrowly avoided being bitten. The interpreter's wife (Sacagawea) was very sick. Captain Clark and other men killed elk and deer. After 18 miles, they camped in a cottonwood bottom on the starboard side.
ryed 3 traps which was forgot when we made the Deposite yes-
terday, about 7 oClock we Set out from Camp on point Deposite
which is 2508| miles1 from the Mouth of the Missourie. we pro-
ceeded on [up] the South fork which we continue to call the Mis-
sourie. we passed 5 or 6 Islands before we got out of cite of the
point, one man caught a large beaver on one of them last night.
we passed verry high black & yallow bluffs on each Side of the
River. Saw Elk antilopes & Geese & Goslings &. C. found
penerial [pennyroyal] along the Stoney banks, the current verry
rapid. 2 canoes were in some danger to day one came near
turning over. Several rattle Snakes has been seen by the party
to day one man took hold of one which was in a bunch of bushes
as he was taking along the towing line, but luckley escaped being
bit. our Intrepters wife verry Sick. Cap* Clark killed this evening
1 Elk & a deer Some of the men killed 1 Elk & a deer also, we
passed in the course of the day a nomber of Gravelly Islands &
bars in the River, the Shore on each Side is covred with Small
Stone of different Sizes, we Came 18 miles to day & Camped at
a handsom bottom of cotton timber, where the Elk & Deer was
killed, on Stard Side.2
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Retrieved 3 traps which were forgotten when we made the deposit yesterday. About 7 o'clock we set out from camp at Point Deposit, which is 2508 miles from the mouth of the Missouri. We proceeded on up the south fork, which we continue to call the Missouri. We passed 5 or 6 islands before we got out of sight of the point. One man caught a large beaver on one of them last night.
We passed very high black and yellow bluffs on each side of the river. Saw elk, antelopes, geese, and goslings, etc. Found pennyroyal along the stony banks. The current was very rapid. Two canoes were in some danger today; one came near turning over. Several rattlesnakes have been seen by the party today. One man took hold of one which was in a bunch of bushes as he was carrying along the towing line, but luckily escaped being bitten.
Our interpreter's wife is very sick. Capt Clark (Capt. Clark) killed this evening 1 elk and a deer. Some of the men killed 1 elk and a deer also. We passed in the course of the day a number of gravelly islands and bars in the river. The shore on each side is covered with small stones of different sizes. We came 18 miles today and camped at a handsome bottom of cottonwood timber, where the elk and deer were killed, on the starboard side.
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