Missouri River near Porcupine River — John Ordway: May 2, 1805
Snow and wind kept the expedition in camp through the morning. While stopped, hunters went out and killed buffalo and deer, and came across an old Indian camp where pieces of red cloth had been left as religious offerings. Around 3 p.m. the snow stopped and the wind shifted west, allowing the party to set off. Snow lay a foot deep on sandbars but only lightly on the hills. Captain Clark and a hunter shot three beaver along the river. In cold air and wind, they camped on the north side after traveling only about five miles.
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.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
The snow and wind continued so that we did not set off. Some of the party went out hunting; they killed some buffalo and deer, and found several pieces of red cloth at an old Indian camp, which showed that they had left them as a sacrifice, as that is their form of worship. They have some knowledge of the Supreme Being, and anything above their comprehension they call Big Medicine, etc.
About 3 o'clock it stopped snowing, and the wind shifted to the west. We set off and proceeded on. The snow lay on the edge of the sand bars and sand beaches, where the wind had blown it up a foot deep, but on the hills it was not more than half an inch deep. Capt. Clark (Capt. Clark) and one of the hunters shot 3 beaver at the edge of the river on the south side. The air and wind were very cold. We camped at a handsome bottom on the north side, which is a very large bottom, part cottonwood timber and part prairie, with high plains back from the river. Came only about 5 miles today.
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