Great Falls Portage — Joseph Whitehouse: June 24, 1805
On a fair morning, the party hauled out and dried the last canoe, then set out early with a wagon loaded with baggage for the upper camp. After hauling the loads up to the high plains with some difficulty, they repaired a wagon tongue and pushed on, using a sail on the largest canoe to catch the steady southeast wind. They saw antelope and buffalo before a violent thunderstorm soaked them about three miles from camp. They arrived at dusk and reunited with Shannon, who had killed three buffalo, eight deer, and several antelope.
a fair morning. we halled out the last canoe, & turned hir
up to dry. all the party present Set out eairly with a waggon
& baggage &c. for the upper Camp. we had Some difficulty
in gitting the loading up on the high plains to where the
canoes were left last night, though after a little fatigue we got
all the loading which we intended carrying at this load in 2
Canoes & proceeded on to a creek called willow creek 7 miles
from the lower Camp & halted to refresh ourselves. made a
tongue to one of the truck waggons, & proceeded on the
wind blew Steady from the S. East. we hoisted a Sail in the
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1805] WHITEHOUSE’S JOURNAL
largest canoe which helped us much as 4 men halling at
the chord with a harness. passed through high Smoth delight-
ful plains. Sawa nomber of antelopes & buffalow. towards
evening when we were within about 3 miles of the upper
Camp, their came up of a Sudden a violent thunder Shower
& rained a mazeing hard, for about 15 or 20 minutes, in which
time the water Stood on the ground over our mockasons.
our water being all gone and all the men thursty drunk harty
out of the puddles. at dusk we arived at the upper camp, and
unloaded found Some of the baggage wet by the raining in
the canoes &c. we found Shannon here. he had been in-
camped up the medison River. he had killed 3 buffalow 8
Deer & several antelopes but no Elk.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
A fair morning. We hauled out the last canoe and turned it up to dry. All the party present set out early with a wagon and baggage, etc., for the upper camp. We had some difficulty in getting the loading up on the high plains to where the canoes were left last night, though after a little fatigue we got all the loading which we intended carrying at this load in 2 canoes, and proceeded on to a creek called Willow Creek, 7 miles from the lower camp, and halted to refresh ourselves. We made a tongue for one of the truck wagons, and proceeded on. The wind blew steady from the southeast.
We hoisted a sail in the largest canoe, which helped us much, as 4 men were hauling at the cord with a harness. We passed through high, smooth, delightful plains. Saw a number of antelope and buffalo. Toward evening, when we were within about 3 miles of the upper camp, there came up of a sudden a violent thunder shower, and it rained amazingly hard for about 15 or 20 minutes, during which time the water stood on the ground over our moccasins. Our water being all gone and all the men thirsty, we drank heartily out of the puddles. At dusk we arrived at the upper camp and unloaded. Found some of the baggage wet by the rain coming into the canoes, etc.
We found Shannon here. He had been camped up the Medicine River. He had killed 3 buffalo, 8 deer, and several antelope, but no elk.
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