Missouri River, first view of Rocky Mountains — Joseph Whitehouse: May 28, 1805
The expedition set off on a clear, pleasant morning, traveling past high bluffs and cliffs and crossing hard riffles. Around 10 a.m., Captain Clark killed a mountain sheep and a deer. The party halted near old Indian camps for dinner, weathering about two hours of thunder and light rain before continuing through a pleasant afternoon. The hills lowered, revealing large cottonwood bottoms, several wooded islands, and many creeks washing gravel into the river. After 21 miles, they camped on the north side, spotting elk, beaver signs, and a floating Indian football and dog poles.
a clear pleasant morning. we Set off and proceeded on.
passed over hard riffles. the Bluffs & clifts are high [word
illegible] as yesterday. abt 10 oC. Cap! Clark killed a moun-
tain Sheep & [figure illegible] Deer. about noon we halted
to dine near Some old Indian Camps. Some thunder & Small
Showers of rain which lasted about 2 hours. we then pro-
ceeded on a pleasant afternoon. towards evening the hills
began to git lower passed large bottoms, partly covered with
c. wood timber. passed Several Islands 7 or 8 in the course
of the day, Some of them handsom groves of timber on
them. we passed a nomber of large Creeks on each Side of
the river, which force the Gravvel Stone from the hills in to
the river. we Came 21% miles & Camped in a bottom of the
river on the N.S. a large Creek came in on the opposite
Shore. we Saw a gang of Elk in this bottom, & beaver Signs
[along] the Shores. a large bottom on the S. Side. we found
an Indians (?) foot ball floating down the river & dog poles
also.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
A clear, pleasant morning. We set off and proceeded on. We passed over hard riffles. The bluffs and cliffs are high [word illegible] as yesterday. About 10 o'clock Capt. Clark killed a mountain sheep and [figure illegible] deer. About noon we halted to dine near some old Indian camps. There was some thunder and small showers of rain which lasted about 2 hours. We then proceeded on through a pleasant afternoon. Towards evening the hills began to get lower. We passed large bottoms, partly covered with cottonwood timber. We passed several islands, 7 or 8 in the course of the day, some of them with handsome groves of timber on them. We passed a number of large creeks on each side of the river, which force the gravel stones from the hills into the river.
We came 21½ miles and camped in a bottom of the river on the north side. A large creek came in on the opposite shore. We saw a gang of elk in this bottom, and beaver signs along the shores. A large bottom on the south side. We found an Indian's (?) football floating down the river, and dog poles also.
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