Joseph Whitehouse: June 3, 1805
The party moved camp to the point between two forks of the river and faced a critical decision about which branch was the true Missouri. Captains Lewis and Clark dispatched two small canoes, each with a sergeant and two men including Whitehouse, to scout up each river, while other hunters ranged out. Clark measured the forks at 186 and 372 yards wide. After scouting roughly 15 miles up each, the men returned undecided. The captains resolved to lead small overland parties up each fork. Hunters brought in buffalo, elk, beaver, and deer; each man received a dram of spirits.
a fair morning. we delayed untill 8 oClock then moved our
Camp over to the point between the two rivers. two Small
canoes were unloaded and a Sergeant and 2 men I was one of
them Sent in each up the 2 rivers to See what discoveries they
could make. Some men went out a hunting also. their is 3
Islands in the M® [of the] left hand river, which is the largest
& Swiftest river. Some men went out towards a mountain
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covred with Snow to the South of this place. the Captains
walked out on the high hills in the point they observed a
level country to the foot of the mountain which lay South of
this also a River which falls in to the right hand fork about
1% miles up from the mouth on the Lar? Side. This little
River discharges a great deal of water & contains as much
cotton timber as either of the others. they Saw buffalow &
antilopes, wild cherries red & yallow berrys goose berrys
&c. abound in the river bottoms, prickley pairs on the high
plains the Captains had a Meridian altitude & the Latitude
produced was 47°, 24’, 12” North, the after part of the day
proved cloudy. Capt Clark measured the [width of] each
River & found the one to the right hand to be 186 yards wide
of water and the left hand fork 372 yards wide & rapid, the
right hand fork falling [into] the other at a Stand & clear.
the right hand fork & the river which fall[s] into it is couloured,
and a little muddy. Several of the party complain of their feet
being Sore by their walking in the Sand & cut by the Stones.
we to be Sure have a hard time of it oblidged to walk on Shore
& haul the towing line and °/;. of the time barefooted. in the
evening the men all returned had been about 15 miles up each
river but could not determine which was the Missourie, nor
which would be our best course. our officers & all the men
differ in their opinions which river to take. we expect the
right hand fork would take us too far to the North, the left
hand fork we expect heads in the mountains. however the
officers conclude to leave the party here, and go by land with
a Small party up each river, in order to find out which will be
the best for us to take. the hunters killed 4 buffaloe 3 Elk
3 beaver & Deer &c. the Cap* Gave each man a dram of
ardent Spirits. I killed 2 Elk myself to day, as I was up the
left fork as a Spye.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
A fair morning. We delayed until 8 o'clock, then moved our camp over to the point between the two rivers. Two small canoes were unloaded, and a sergeant and 2 men (I was one of them) were sent in each up the 2 rivers to see what discoveries they could make. Some men went out hunting also. There are 3 islands in the mouth of the left hand river, which is the largest and swiftest river. Some men went out toward a mountain covered with snow to the south of this place.
The Captains walked out on the high hills in the point. They observed a level country to the foot of the mountain which lay south of this, also a river which falls into the right hand fork about 1½ miles up from the mouth on the larboard side. This little river discharges a great deal of water and contains as much cottonwood timber as either of the others. They saw buffalo and antelopes; wild cherries, red and yellow berries, gooseberries, etc., abound in the river bottoms; prickly pears on the high plains. The Captains had a meridian altitude, and the latitude produced was 47° 24' 12" North. The after part of the day proved cloudy.
Capt Clark (Capt. Clark) measured the width of each river and found the one to the right hand to be 186 yards wide of water, and the left hand fork 372 yards wide and rapid. The right hand fork falls into the other at a stand and clear. The right hand fork, and the river which falls into it, is colored and a little muddy. Several of the party complain of their feet being sore from walking in the sand and cut by the stones. We, to be sure, have a hard time of it, obliged to walk on shore and haul the towing line, and ⅔ of the time barefooted.
In the evening the men all returned, having been about 15 miles up each river, but could not determine which was the Missouri, nor which would be our best course. Our officers and all the men differ in their opinions about which river to take. We expect the right hand fork would take us too far to the north; the left hand fork we expect heads in the mountains. However, the officers concluded to leave the party here and go by land with a small party up each river, in order to find out which will be the best for us to take.
The hunters killed 4 buffalo, 3 elk, 3 beaver, and deer, etc. The Capt. gave each man a dram of ardent spirits. I killed 2 elk myself today, as I was up the left fork as a spy.
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