Three Forks of the Missouri — Joseph Whitehouse: July 27, 1805
On a clear morning the party set off at sunrise against a rapid current, passing rocky cliffs nesting small birds. Around 9 o'clock they reached the Three Forks of the Missouri, set in a valley below high, snow-spotted mountains where mountain sheep and antelope grazed. They camped on the point above the north fork, where Sacagawea had been captured by the Gros Ventres years earlier. Captain Clark's scouting party rejoined them, having found no Indians but fresh horse sign. Hunters brought in deer, otter, antelope, and a young bear. Afternoon showers fell, Clark fell ill, and they decided to rest several days.
a clear morning. we Set off at Sun rise and proceeded on.
the current as rapid as yesterday. passed clifts of rocks where
was villages of little birds under the Shelving rocks &c. the
hills not So high as below. the currents of different kinds
abound along the Shores. about g oClock we Came or arived
at the 3 forks of the Missourie which is in a valley in open
view of the high Mountains which has white Spots on it which
has the appearence of Snow. Saw large flocks of mountain
Sheep or Ibex, and goats or antelopes. the plain on N. Side
of the forks has lately been burned over by the natives. we
went on passed the South fork, and west fork. went a Short
distance up the North fork and Camped on the point which is
a Smoth plain. a large Camp of Indians has been encamped
here Sometime ago. our Intrepters wife was taken prisoner
at this place 3 or 4 years ago by the Gross vauntous Indians.
their came up Showers of rain which lasted untill evening.
Cap! Clark & men returned & Joined us. had found no In-
dians, but had Seen fresh Sign of horses. Saw one elegant
horse in the plains which appeared wild. they had been about
[ 121 ]
LEWIS AND CLARK JOURNALS _ [huly 27
40 miles up the middle or west fork then Struck across the
plains to the North fork, and was near the mountains, and in-
forms us that their is considerable of Snow on them. our hunters
killed in these bottoms in the forks of the Rivers, 6 Deer 3
otter & a musk rat. Cap! Clark & party had killed Several
Deer goats or antelopes and a young bear. this is a verry
pleasant handsome place, fine bottoms of timber &c. we ex-
pected to have found the Snake nation of Indians about this
place, but as they are gone we expect they are gone over the
mountains to the River called the Columbian River, to fish
– &c. but perhaps we may find Some this Side of the moun-
tains yet. we Came only 7 miles to day. at this Camp we
unloaded all the canoes & conclude to rest & refresh ourselves
a day or too &c. Cap! Clark taken Sick.
[ 122]
1805] WHITEHOUSE’S JOURNAL
CHarpTerR XI
c
FROM THE THREE FORKS OF THE MISSOURI
TO THE BEAVER’S HEAD
July 28-August 10, 1805
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
A clear morning. We set off at sunrise and proceeded on. The current was as rapid as yesterday. We passed cliffs of rocks where there were villages of little birds under the shelving rocks, etc. The hills were not so high as below. Currents of different kinds abound along the shores. About 9 o'clock we came or arrived at the Three Forks of the Missouri, which is in a valley in open view of the high mountains, which have white spots on them that have the appearance of snow. We saw large flocks of mountain sheep or ibex, and goats or antelopes. The plain on the north side of the forks has lately been burned over by the natives. We went on, passed the south fork and west fork, went a short distance up the north fork, and camped on the point, which is a smooth plain. A large camp of Indians had been camped here sometime ago. Our interpreter's wife was taken prisoner at this place 3 or 4 years ago by the Gros Ventres Indians. Showers of rain came up which lasted until evening.
Capt. Clark and his men returned and joined us. They had found no Indians, but had seen fresh sign of horses. They saw one elegant horse in the plains which appeared wild. They had been about 40 miles up the middle or west fork, then struck across the plains to the north fork, and were near the mountains, and they inform us that there is considerable snow on them. Our hunters killed in these bottoms in the forks of the rivers 6 deer, 3 otter, and a muskrat. Capt. Clark and his party had killed several deer, goats or antelopes, and a young bear. This is a very pleasant, handsome place, with fine bottoms of timber, etc. We expected to have found the Snake nation of Indians about this place, but as they are gone, we expect they have gone over the mountains to the river called the Columbia River, to fish, etc., but perhaps we may find some on this side of the mountains yet. We came only 7 miles today. At this camp we unloaded all the canoes and concluded to rest and refresh ourselves a day or two, etc. Capt. Clark taken sick.
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