Camp Fortunate / Shoshone contact — Joseph Whitehouse: August 15, 1805

Joseph Whitehouse · Camp Fortunate / Shoshone contact · Thwaites Vol. Thwaites Vol 7

That night's camp, per the NPS campsite reconstruction (Bergantino): right shore of Beaverhead River at mouth Gallagher Creek, MT

a cold clear morning. we Set out as usal and proceeded on
entered the Mountains verry high clifts of rocks near the
River & Steep on each Side. passed Several Springs on L.
Side which run from under the Mountains. passed Several
bad rapids caught a nomber of fine Trout below the rapids.
the bottoms narrow timber Scarse, the River more Shallow
passed clifts of rocks & high rough mountains on each Side.
passed the Mouth of a creek on the Star? Side, the warter of a
ridish coulour, considerable rapid and deep. ab! 7 paces wide.
2 hunters on a head. we passed where Cap‘ Lewis had left 3
or 4 Deer Skins the 10 ul! & proceeded on. the River Shal-
low were obledged to hale the large canoes the most part of
the time passed Several cree[ks] clifts of rocks Steep up from
the River about 2 or 3 100 feet in many places. Some of the
knobs are covred with grass & a fine Scattering pitch pines on
them. the River crooked & difficult Some places Shole &
Some deep holes in which we caught a nomber of Trout. Cap!
Clark was near being bit by a rattle snake which was between
his legs as he was Standing on Shore a fishing. he killed [it]
& Shot Several others this afternoon. Came [blank space in
MS.] miles and Camped on L. Side at a narrow plain on which
was Some old Indian Camps.