Missouri River through Dakota territory — John Ordway: September 5, 1806

John Ordway · Missouri River near Little Sioux River · Thwaites Vol. Quaife 1916

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