Missouri River near Porcupine River — John Ordway: May 2, 1805

continued Snowing & blowing so that we did not Set off. Some of
1 Clark named it Martha’s River, “in honor to the Selebrated M. F.” It is
modern Big Muddy Creek, in Sheridan County.
2 About midway between Big Muddy Creek and Poplar River, in the vicinity
of Brockton, Sheridan County.
3 In Dawson County, about two-thirds of the way from Big Muddy Creek
to Poplar River. Among the day’s occurrences Clark notes a minor tragedy.
One of the men shot the Indian dog, that had joined the party several days
earlier, because “he would steal their cooked provision.”
206 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS [May 3
the party went out a hunting, they killed Some buffaloe & deer,
& found Several pieces of red cloath at one old Indian camp that
attested they left them as a Sacrifice as that is their form of
worship, as they have Some knowledge of the Supreme being, and
any thing above their comprehention they Call Big Medisine
&. C. about 3 oClock it left off Snowing, the wind Shifted into
to the West, we Set off & proceeded on. the Snow lay on the
edge ofthe Sand bars & Sand beaches where the wind had blew it up
one foot deep, but on the hills it was not more than half an Inch
deep. Cap* Clark & one of the hunters Shot 3 beaver in the edge
of the River s. s. the air & wind verry cold, we Camped at a
handsom bottom on the N. S.1 which is a very large bottom part
c. w. timber & part prarie high plains back from the River.
Came only ab* 5 miles to day.