Missouri River through Dakota territory — John Ordway: September 5, 1806
Plagued by mosquitoes, the party pushed on without delays and covered 75 miles on the river. They made camp on a sand beach, choosing the open location specifically to escape the worst of the mosquitoes, since breezier spots away from the mainland tended to offer more relief from the insects. The editor's notes add context, including a recent meeting with trader James Aird near Prairie du Chien, who had shared news from the outside world such as the Burr-Hamilton duel.
light by the Musquetoes. we Set out and procd on verry well with-
out without making any delay, we having made 75 miles this
day and Camped on a Sand beach to git as much out of the
Musquetoes as possable.4
1 The trader was James Aird, long prominent in the fur trade of the North-
west. His headquarters were at Prairie du Chien, where he died in 1819.
2 In view of their two-year isolation in the wilderness it is not difficult to
imagine the eagerness with which the explorers listened to the news Aird had
to communicate. Among other things they learned of the duel between Aaron
Burr and Alexander Hamilton, which had been fought in July, 1801, over two
years before.
3 In the vicinity of the camp of Aug. 13-20, 1804.
* Because of the freer currents of wind the mosquitoes were commonly less
troublesome in such a location than when the camp was pitched on the main-
land. Today’s camp was a little In-low that of Aug. 9, 1804.
1806]
SERGEANT ORDWAY’S JOURNAL 397
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
light by the mosquitoes. We set out and proceeded on very well without making any delay, having made 75 miles this day and camped on a sand beach to get as much away from the mosquitoes as possible.
This modernization is AI-generated for accessibility. The original above is the authoritative version.
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