Fort Mandan, preparing for departure — John Ordway: March 26, 1805
The party retrieved the pirogues, returning around 2 p.m. Just before landing, river ice began moving, forcing the men to quickly haul the boats out to prevent damage. Four pirogues had not yet reached the fort, but those were also pulled ashore in time, sustaining no injury. All hands worked together to drag the boats onto the riverbank and carry one down to the fort. The ice started and stopped several times throughout the day before halting completely by nightfall.
went for the perogues. about 2 oClock they returned with the
perogues, but before they had landed the Ice Started So that we
had to draw them out with Speed we hailed 4 of them had not
Got down to the Fort but they took them on Shore So that [they]
took no Injury, all hands turned out and took them on the Bank
of the River and carried one down to the Fort, the Ice Stoped
and jamed up. Started Several times but Stoped entirely before
night.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Went for the pirogues. About 2 o'clock they returned with the pirogues, but before they had landed the ice started so that we had to draw them out with speed. We hauled four of them; they had not gotten down to the Fort, but they took them on shore so that they took no injury. All hands turned out and took them on the bank of the river and carried one down to the Fort. The ice stopped and jammed up. It started several times but stopped entirely before night.
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