Marias River decision camp — Joseph Whitehouse: June 12, 1805

Joseph Whitehouse · Marias River decision camp · Thwaites Vol. Thwaites Vol 7

That night's camp, per the NPS campsite reconstruction (Bergantino): left shore Missouri River, 4½ NE of Fort Benton, MT

a clear pleasant morning. we burryed 3 traps which was for-
got yesterday, and Set out about 7 oClock from Camp or
point Deposit 250814 m® from mouth, and proceeded on up
the South fork which we Still call the Missourie R. passed a
great nomber of Islands (5 or 6 at least by noon) before we
had got out of cite of the point, which was covered with cotton
timber. one of the party caught a beaver on one of them in a
trap which he Set last night. passed high black & yallow bluffs
on each Side & handsom Smooth plains on each Side. Saw
Elk antelopes & Geese &c. found Some penerial [pennyroyal]
the first we Saw on the River. the current verry Rapid. three
of the (G. D.)! canoes like to have overset & one in great dan-
ger. Several Rattle Snakes has been Seen by the party to day.
one man took hold of one with his hand, which was in a bunch
of bushes, but luckily he escaped being bit. Our Intrepters
wife verry Sick. Cap! Clark killed this evening one Elk & a
Deer. Some other of the hunters killed 1 or 2 more. we
passed in the course of the day a number of gravvelly Islands
& bars. the Shore on each Side is covered with Stone of dif-
ferent Sizes. we Came 78 miles to day & Camped at a handsom
bottom of cotton wood on the N. Side, where the Elk & Deer
was killed.
1 These letters, G. D., are inserted in the MS. above the line. Possibly they are
the initials of George Drouillard, the hunter. — Ep.