Jefferson/Beaverhead River near present-day Dillon — Joseph Whitehouse: August 10, 1805
A clear, pleasant day of travel marked by official naming decisions for the river system. The party set out as usual with hunters on shore, subsisting on lean venison and goat meat that proved insufficient for their hard labors. They passed high rock cliffs on the south side as the valley widened. The officers decided the Missouri ended at the earlier three forks, naming them Jefferson, Madison, and Gallatin Rivers, and naming Jefferson's three branches Wisdom, Philanthropy, and Jefferson. The river grew shallow, requiring wading and hauling. A thunderstorm brought hail. Hunters killed one deer; they made 13 miles.
a clear pleasant morning. we Set out as usal. Several
hunters out on Shore. we now begin to live on fresh meat &
that poor venson & goat meat at this time. as our fatigues
[are] hard we find that poor meat alone is not Strong diet, but
we are content with what we can git. the high land make near
the River on each Side. passed a high clifts of rocks on S.
Side. proceeded on the valley gits wider and the hills make
further from the River our officers thought proper that the
Missourie Should loose its name at the 2″ forks we passed
Some time ago where we expected to have found the Snake
nation of Indians. So they named the North fork Feffersons
River, the west or middle fork Maddison River, the South fork
Gallitine River, on which is a most beautiful Spring ab! 2 m*
from its mouth. the Small River that puts in above the forks
to Jeffersons River they call phillosify River. So Jeffersons
River is the one which we Still keep on. the last 3 forks they
call the North fork, Wisdom R. the South Philandrophey and
the west or middle fork Still retains its name Jeffersons River
it is now gitting Small crooked & Shole in places So that we
have to waid and hall the canoes over. about one oClock we
halted to dine. hada hard Thunder Shower of large hail and
rain thin proceeded on the bottom and river as usal. the
hunters killed only one deer this day. Came 13 miles this
day and Camped on the Star? Side.
[ 131 ]
CHAPTER Kia
FROM THE BEAVER’S HEAD TO THE GREAT DIVIDE
August 11-16, 1805
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
A clear, pleasant morning. We set out as usual. Several hunters out on shore. We now begin to live on fresh meat, and that poor venison and goat meat at this time. As our fatigues are hard, we find that poor meat alone is not a strong diet, but we are content with what we can get. The high land comes near the river on each side. Passed a high cliff of rocks on the south side. Proceeded on; the valley gets wider and the hills lie further from the river.
Our officers thought it proper that the Missouri should lose its name at the two forks we passed some time ago, where we expected to have found the Snake nation of Indians. So they named the north fork Jeffersons River, the west or middle fork Maddison (Madison) River, and the south fork Gallitine (Gallatin) River, on which is a most beautiful spring about 2 miles from its mouth. The small river that flows into Jeffersons River above the forks they call Philosophy River. So Jeffersons River is the one which we still keep on. The last three forks they call the north fork Wisdom River, the south Philanthropy, and the west or middle fork still retains its name, Jeffersons River.
It is now getting small, crooked, and shoal in places, so that we have to wade and haul the canoes over. About one o'clock we halted to dine. Had a hard thunder shower of large hail and rain, then proceeded on the bottom and river as usual. The hunters killed only one deer this day. Came 13 miles this day and camped on the starboard side.
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