Missouri River near Niobrara River — John Ordway: September 2, 1804
After a brief overnight wind and rain storm, the party set off early under cloudy skies, briefly sailing with a southeast wind before strong northwest winds forced them to halt near a high bluff by Bonhomme Island. Hunters Drouillard, Reuben Fields, Collins, Newman, and Howard killed four elk during the day. The group breakfasted at a prairie bottom containing what appeared to be an ancient fortification, which Captain Clark went ashore to survey with a compass, later reporting earthworks over a mile long and up to five feet high. They also found plums and abundant grapes.
last night § past 1 oC. of wind & rain from N. W. which lasted
ab* 2 hours. Cloudy this morning we Set off eairly. Sailed a
Short distance with a S. E. wind & in less than 2 hours the wind
Shifted in to the N. W. which Blew hard a head, G. Drewyer
R. Fields & Collins out hunting this morning on N. S. as we
passed or [were] passing a prarie on S. S. we heard Several guns
fire which we Supposed to be our hunters, directly we heard
them hollow from the Island for help to bring in their Game,
R. Fields killed one Buck Elk, and Drewyer killed 2 Elk & New-
man & Howard killed one on the opposite Shore; we halted to
take Breakfast at 8 o.C. at a Bottom prarie, where their was an
ancient fort.2 the Entrenchment which formed a Circle from the
river in the form of a half moon, at the lowest End Cap* Clark
went on Shore with the compass in order to find the angles & the
Boats went on to the head of Elk or Bon hommen Isd Island, the
wind Shifted into the North & Blew So heard that we were
obledged to lay by at a high Bluff, ab* Elk or Bon hommen Isd3
handsome high praries back from the river, we found plumb or-
chads on a Spring run & an amence Site of Grapes as before, we
Scarcely passed a day as yet on the Missouri, in the time or Season
1 Near the eastern boundary of Bonhomme County, S. Dak. The island
opposite which the camp was pitched still retains the name Bonhomme, which
it bore in 1804.
2 Clark gives an elaborate description <>f the fortification; but modern au-
thorities agree that the supposed earthworks were in fact only natural for-
mations made by the drifting sand.
JThe camp for the day was in Knox County, Nebr., opposite the town of
Bonhomme, S. Dak.
1804] SERGEANT ORDWAY’S JOURNAL 125
of them but what we found them in great abundance &. C.
the weather is Cool & rainy to day Cap* Clark returned to the
Boat, & Informed us that [there] had been a large ancient fortifi-
cation made their. Some places remains yet 5 feet high & on one
Side of it is nearly Strait across the point & strikes the river, & is
more than a mile & half in length & so ancient that Some Trees
Stands on the works &. C. considerable of cottonwood Timber on
the Upper part of this point back from the river is Broken Barren
hills which are verry high & Sandy &. C.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Last night past 1 o'clock there was wind and rain from the N.W. which lasted about 2 hours. Cloudy this morning. We set off early. Sailed a short distance with a S.E. wind, and in less than 2 hours the wind shifted into the N.W., which blew hard ahead. G. Drewyer, R. Fields, and Collins were out hunting this morning on the north side. As we were passing a prairie on the south side, we heard several guns fire, which we supposed to be our hunters. Directly we heard them holler from the island for help to bring in their game. R. Fields killed one buck elk, Drewyer killed 2 elk, and Newman and Howard killed one on the opposite shore.
We halted to take breakfast at 8 o'clock at a bottom prairie, where there was an ancient fort. The entrenchment formed a circle from the river in the form of a half moon. At the lowest end, Capt. Clark went on shore with the compass in order to find the angles, and the boats went on to the head of Elk or Bon Homme Island. The wind shifted into the north and blew so hard that we were obliged to lay by at a high bluff, about Elk or Bon Homme Island. Handsome high prairies lie back from the river. We found plum orchards on a spring run and an immense sight of grapes as before. We have scarcely passed a day as yet on the Missouri, in the time or season of them, but what we found them in great abundance, etc.
The weather is cool and rainy today. Capt. Clark returned to the boat and informed us that there had been a large ancient fortification made there. Some places remain yet 5 feet high, and on one side of it is nearly straight across the point and strikes the river, and is more than a mile and a half in length, and so ancient that some trees stand on the works, etc. There is considerable cottonwood timber on the upper part of this point. Back from the river are broken barren hills which are very high and sandy, etc.
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