Missouri River near Platte River mouth — Joseph Whitehouse: July 20, 1804
The expedition set out early and stopped for breakfast at the mouth of Crying Water Creek, about 20 yards wide, on the west side beneath Bald Hill. Around one o'clock they reached an open prairie of high, rich land with scattered timber groves. A favorable breeze let them sail, and they passed an island before camping near Red Bluff after rowing 17 miles. Hunters killed two deer. A note describes the Platte River's mouth as about three-quarters of a mile wide, spreading up to three miles further upstream.
Got on our way at an Early hour Came up to the creek
call’ Crying water Breakfasted In the Mouth of it the
breanth there of is 20 Y* at the mouth On the W. S. Under
baldhill. at* one oCLock Came to a Large oPen preaarie
neare the River oPLate it [is] hie Land and Rich, and Some
groves of TimBer. a freash Bres of wind Come fare and we
SaLed we Came to [an] ILandcross under an[d] lest night
the hunt[ers] kiLed 2 deare Camp nere the Read Blufe
Road [rowed] 17 miLe.
Sartdaye 21
got on oer way at an [early hour] the wind Come fare we
Come 2 miLes and Eat oer Breakfast. the wind Seased BLo-
ing a reamark[{able] hiLL tow hundrered foot hie from the
warter Come to the River opLate at one oCLock this River
On the west Side of the Mesury a fine preare [two words
illegible] on the mouths of the PLate with Beries on a very
Strong Streame it Baks the Mussiry over hie warter & Land
on the West Side and [an] ILand.
* The wedth of the Great River Platt at its mouth across the
bars is about 34 of a mile, but further up we are told by a
Frenchman who lived 2 years up this River that it does not rise
4 feet, but Spreads 3 miles in some places. we passed a creek
called pappeo [papillion] R. praries are between the 2 Rivers.
we camped on the S.S. G. Drewye joined us with 4 Deer he
killed.
1 At this point begins handwriting No. 3, very difficult to decipher. It extends
only over two pages of MS., and comprises the entries for the rest of July 20, and part
of July zx. The transcription is partly conjectural. — Ep.
2 Here begins handwriting No. 1, which extends over three pages of MS., and
comprises the entries to July 28, inclusive. —Ep.
£43]
LEWIS AND CLARK JOURNALS | [July 22 _
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Got on our way at an early hour. Came up to the creek called Crying Water. Breakfasted in the mouth of it. The breadth there of is 20 yards at the mouth, on the west side, under Baldhill. At one o'clock, came to a large open prairie near the river, opposite. It is highland and rich, and has some groves of timber. A fresh breeze of wind came fair and we sailed. We came to an island across under, and last night the hunters killed 2 deer. Camped near the Red Bluff. Rowed 17 miles.
Saturday 21
Got on our way at an early hour. The wind came fair. We came 2 miles and ate our breakfast. The wind ceased blowing. A remarkable hill, two hundred feet high from the water, came to the river opposite at one o'clock. This river is on the west side of the Missouri, a fine prairie [two words illegible] on the mouths of the Platte, with berries, on a very strong stream. It backs the Missouri over high water and land on the west side, and an island.
* The width of the Great River Platte at its mouth across the bars is about 3/4 of a mile, but further up we are told by a Frenchman who lived 2 years up this river that it does not rise 4 feet, but spreads 3 miles in some places. We passed a creek called Pappeo (Papillion) River. Prairies are between the 2 rivers. We camped on the south side. G. Drewyer joined us with 4 deer he killed.
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