Lewis: February 4, 1805
On a clear but bitterly cold Monday with temperatures at 18 below zero and northwest winds, Captain Clark departed Fort Mandan on a hunting expedition with sixteen men and two French trappers living nearby under the expedition's protection. With meat supplies from November and December nearly gone, Clark planned to travel as far as the Bullet River if necessary to find game, taking three pack horses to send back loaded with meat. Buffalo had been absent for weeks, and local Indians were also suffering from the shortage. Many natives visited, and Shields killed two lean deer that evening.
4th February, Monday 1805. This morning fair tho could the thermometer
stood at 18° below Naught, wind from N. W. Capt Clark set out with a
hunting party consisting of sixteen of our command and two frenchmen who
together with two others, have established a small hut and resided this
winter within the vicinity of Fort Mandane under our protection. visited
by many of the natives today. our stock of meat which we had procured in
the Months of November & December is now nearly exhausted; a supply of
this articles is at this moment peculiarly interesting as well for our
immediate consumption, as that we may have time before the approach of the
warm season to prepare the meat for our voyage in the spring of the year.
Capt. Clark therefore deturmined to continue his rout down the river even
as far as the River bullet unless he should find a plenty of game nearerThe
men transported their baggage on a couple of small wooden Slays drawn by
themselves, and took with them 3 pack horses which we had agreed should be
returned with a load of meat to fort mandane as soon as they could procure
it. no buffaloe have made their appearance in our neighbourhood for some
weeks; and I am informed that our Indian neighbours-suffer extreemly at
this moment for the article of flesh. Shields killed two deer this
evening, both very leanone a large buck, he had shed his horns.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
4th February, Monday 1805. This morning was fair though cold; the thermometer stood at 18° below zero, wind from N.W. Capt Clark (Capt. Clark) set out with a hunting party consisting of sixteen of our command and two Frenchmen who, together with two others, have established a small hut and resided this winter in the vicinity of Fort Mandane under our protection. We were visited by many of the natives today. Our stock of meat, which we had procured in the months of November and December, is now nearly exhausted; a supply of this article is at this moment particularly important, both for our immediate consumption and so that we may have time before the approach of the warm season to prepare the meat for our voyage in the spring of the year. Capt. Clark therefore determined to continue his route down the river even as far as the River Bullet, unless he should find plenty of game nearer.
The men transported their baggage on a couple of small wooden sleds drawn by themselves, and took with them 3 pack horses which we had agreed should be returned with a load of meat to Fort Mandane as soon as they could procure it. No buffalo have made their appearance in our neighborhood for some weeks; and I am informed that our Indian neighbors suffer extremely at this moment for the article of meat. Shields killed two deer this evening, both very lean—one a large buck, which had shed his horns.
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