Three Forks of the Missouri — Joseph Whitehouse: July 30, 1805
On a clear, pleasant, warm morning, the party loaded canoes and set out around 9 a.m., with Captain Lewis and several men walking ashore. They passed large cottonwood bottoms along a crooked, rapid, island-filled river abundant with beaver and beaver dams. They dined near an open prairie where Sacagawea, the interpreter's wife, had been captured by a Hidatsa (Gros Ventre) war party four years earlier while trying to escape across a shoal. A hunter killed a deer. They traveled 13.5 miles and camped on the starboard side; Captain Lewis did not rejoin them that evening.
a clear pleasant morning. we loaded the canoes eairly and
Set out about g oClock and proceeded on. Cap! Lewis and
Several men walked on Shore. we passed large bottoms of
cotton timber. the River crooked rapid and full of Islands.
the underbushes thick. the currents abound, © the beaver
pleanty. a nomber of beaver dams behind the Islands &c.
we dined at the upper end of the bottoms close by a clear open
prarie or plain. at this place our Intrepters wife was taken
prisoner 4 years ago by a war party of the grossvauntous.
they took hir as She was attempting to make hir ascape by
crossing a Shole place on the River, but was taken in the
middle of it. 2 or 3 Indians killed at the Same time on Shore.
the rest of the Snakes made their ascape. the day warm, and
verry pleasant. one of the hunters killed a deer. we pro-
ceeded on. the current verry Swift & rapids common. passed
beautiful large plains on L. S. and high land on the S. Side.
we came 13% miles this day and Camped on the Star‘ Side.
Cap! Lewis did not join us this evening. these bottoms are
low & many beaver dams which causes pond[s] &c.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
A clear, pleasant morning. We loaded the canoes early and set out about 8 o'clock and proceeded on. Capt Lewis (Capt. Lewis) and several men walked on shore. We passed large bottoms of cottonwood timber. The river crooked, rapid, and full of islands. The underbrush thick. The currents abound, and the beaver plenty. A number of beaver dams behind the islands, etc.
We dined at the upper end of the bottoms close by a clear, open prairie or plain. At this place our interpreter's wife was taken prisoner 4 years ago by a war party of the Grossvauntous (Gros Ventres). They took her as she was attempting to make her escape by crossing a shoal place on the river, but was taken in the middle of it. 2 or 3 Indians killed at the same time on shore. The rest of the Snakes made their escape.
The day warm and very pleasant. One of the hunters killed a deer. We proceeded on. The current very swift and rapids common. Passed beautiful large plains on L. S. (larboard side) and high land on the S. side. We came 13½ miles this day and camped on the Starboard side. Capt Lewis did not join us this evening. These bottoms are low and have many beaver dams, which cause ponds, etc.
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