North Fork Salmon River, impassable route — Joseph Whitehouse: September 2, 1805
On a wet, cloudy morning the party loaded their horses and set out around 7 a.m., heading northeast up a creek through thick brush, fallen logs, and rocky ground. They passed numerous beaver dams and dense stands of pine, balsam fir, and cottonwood, repeatedly fording the creek and cutting trail. Steep, rocky hills caused several weak, sore-footed horses to fall backward and roll downhill, forcing the men to carry loads up by hand. One horse gave out and its load was left behind. They traveled 13 miles and camped near the creek in a place they named Dismal Swamp, with their guide promising easier ground tomorrow. Several pheasants were killed, but no other game was seen.
a wet cloudy morning. we loaded our horses and Set out
about 7 oClock and proceed* on. the road bad Some places
thick bushes and logs to cross. other places rockey. went
about a N. E. course up the ab? men! Creek. Crossed Several
large Spring runs. Saw a nomber of large beaver dams, &
ponds the pine and bolsom fer timber verry pleanty and
thick up this Creek Some of the Pine is large enofe for boards
[One line in MS. illegible.]
we proceeded on through a bad thicket of tall Strait pitch
pine bolsom fer & cotton timber we were obledged to cut a
road for the horses to go and some places verry Steep and
rockey. we followed the creek up, crossed a nomber of fine
Spring branches and waided the creek a nomber of times.
the mountains on each Side of the Creek is verry Steep and
high. the bottoms on the Creek narrow and Swampy a nomber
of beaver dams. we Call this place dismal Swamp, and it is
a lonesom rough part of the Country. we were obledged to |
climb Several hills with our horses, where it was So Steep and
rockey that Some of the horses which was weak and their feet
[ 147 ]
Sore they fell back 3 or 4 fell over backwards and roled to
the foot of the hills. we were then obledged to carry the loads
up the hills and then load again. one of the horses gave out
So that his load was left a little before night. we Came 13
miles this day and Camped in a thicket of pine and bolsom
fir timber near the Creek. 2 of the men came up with their
horses and loads after dark. this horrid bad going where we
came up this creek which we Call dismal Swamp was six miles
and we are not out of it yet, but our guide tells us that we will
git on a plain tomorrow. Several fessons [Pheasants] killed
this day, but no other kind of game Seen by our hunters.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
A wet, cloudy morning. We loaded our horses and set out about 7 o'clock and proceeded on. The road was bad — some places had thick bushes and logs to cross, other places were rocky. We went about a northeast course up the above-mentioned creek. We crossed several large spring runs. We saw a number of large beaver dams and ponds. The pine and balsam fir timber was very plentiful and thick along this creek. Some of the pine is large enough for boards. [One line in MS. illegible.]
We proceeded on through a bad thicket of tall, straight pitch pine, balsam fir, and cottonwood timber. We were obliged to cut a road for the horses to go through, and some places were very steep and rocky. We followed the creek up, crossed a number of fine spring branches, and waded the creek a number of times. The mountains on each side of the creek are very steep and high. The bottoms along the creek are narrow and swampy, with a number of beaver dams. We call this place Dismal Swamp, and it is a lonesome, rough part of the country. We were obliged to climb several hills with our horses, where it was so steep and rocky that some of the horses, which were weak and had sore feet, fell back. Three or four fell over backwards and rolled to the foot of the hills. We were then obliged to carry the loads up the hills and then load again. One of the horses gave out, so his load was left a little before night. We came 13 miles this day and camped in a thicket of pine and balsam fir timber near the creek. Two of the men came up with their horses and loads after dark. This horrid bad going where we came up this creek, which we call Dismal Swamp, was six miles, and we are not out of it yet, but our guide tells us that we will get onto a plain tomorrow. Several pheasants were killed this day, but no other kind of game was seen by our hunters.
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