Missouri River near Gasconade River — John Ordway: May 30, 1804
The party traveled roughly 14 miles up the Missouri River through heavy rain and a hailstorm, encamping at Grind Stone (or Panther) Creek. The previous night, gunshots were heard downstream, believed to be Frenchmen signaling for Whitehouse, who had become separated from the group on the north side opposite an island after exploring a cave. Along the way they passed Tavern Cliffs (Monbrans) around noon, as well as Rush Creek and Mud Creek on the north side. Ordway noted good soil and timber including cottonwood, sycamore, hickory, and white walnut.
after a hard rain, rained all last night, a little after dark last
night Several Guns were fired below we expect the Frenchmen
were firing for Whitehouse who was lost in the woods on N. Side
oppisite an Island [Passed] a Cove Clifts called Monbrans
1 More commonly called La Charette. Clark describes it as “a Small french
Village of 7 houses and as many families.” Its site, long since swept away by
the Missouri River, was near modern Marthasville, Warren County. The
U. S. Geological Survey map shows an island, creek, and township bearing
the name St. Johns in Franklin County opposite the mouth of Charette Creek.
2 More commonly given the French designation of L outre River (or Creek).
It joins the Missouri in Montgomery County, opposite the town of Hermann.
3 The Gasconade River, a stream 200 miles in length, flows in a general
northerly direction to the Missouri in Gasconade County.
4 Modern Bailey Creek; it joins the Missouri from the south near the Osage-
Gasconade county boundary.
5 Clark, Floyd, and Gass all mention this incident, but fail to identify
the man who was lost. From Whitehouse’s own journal we learn the reason
for his getting “lost.” In the course of his hunting tour he discovered “the
most remarkable cave I ever Saw in my travels.” After exploring it he re-
turned to the river to find the boat had gone on, leaving the pirogue with the
Frenchmen behind to wait for him. As printed by Thwaites, Whitehouse’s
entry for this day is misdated May 28.
82 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS [May 31
Tavern1 at 12 oClock a hard Shower of rain & hail passed
a Creek called rush Creek on the N. Side of the River Came
4 miles passed Mud creek on River on N. Side of the River,
the Soil is good the timber is Cottonwood Secamore hickery &
white walnut &. C. Some Grape vines Rushes &. C. came
about 14 miles encamped at Grind Stone Creek or Panther Cr.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
After a hard rain — it rained all last night. A little after dark last night several guns were fired below. We expect the Frenchmen were firing for Whitehouse, who was lost in the woods on the north side opposite an island. Passed a cove of cliffs called Monbrans Tavern.
At 12 o'clock a hard shower of rain and hail. Passed a creek called Rush Creek on the north side of the river. Came 4 miles, passed Mud Creek on the north side of the river. The soil is good. The timber is cottonwood, sycamore, hickory, and white walnut, etc. Some grape vines, rushes, etc. Came about 14 miles and camped at Grind Stone Creek, or Panther Creek.
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