Lewis: July 19, 1806
Drewyer and J. Fields scouted downriver early, returning by 12:30 PM to report reaching a previously visited point six miles away, passing Buffalo Creek at two miles. They killed eight deer, mostly fat mule bucks, and two antelopes. After taking a solar meridian observation, the party crossed the river, climbed the hills, and traveled twenty miles up the north side through open plains before camping. They passed a large creek flowing from the ragged Broken Mountains, including the conic Tower Mountain. R. Fields killed a mule doe at camp. Wildlife was abundant, though curlews had vanished.
Saturday July 19th 1806. Drewyer and J. Fields set out early this morning
in conformity to my instructions last evening. they returned at 1/2 after
12 OCk. and informed me that they had proceeded down the river to the
place from which I had returned on the ____ of June last and that it was 6
miles distant. they passed the entrance of buffaloe Creek at 2 ms. the
course of the river from hence downwards as far as they were is N. 80 E.
they killed 8 deer and two Antelopes on their way; most of the deer were
large fat mule bucks. having completed my observation of the sun’s
meridian Altitude we set out, ascended the river hills having passed the
river and proceeded through the open plains up the N. side of the river 20
miles and encamped. at 15 miles we passed a large creek on N. side a
little above it’s entrance; there is but little running water in this
creek at present, it’s bed is about 30 yds. wide and appears to come from
the broken Mountains so called from their raggid and irregular shape there
are three of them extending from east to West almost unconnected, the
center mountain terminates in a conic spire and is that which I have
called the tower mountain they are destitute of timber. from the entrance
of this creek they bore N. 10° W. the river bottoms are usually about 1/2
a mile wide and possess a considerable quantity of timber entirely
cottonwood; the underbrush is honeysuckle rose bushes the narrow leafed
willow and the bush which bears the acid red berry called by the french
engages grease de buff. just as we halted to encamp R. Fields killed a
mule doe. the plains are beautifull and level but the soil is but thin. in
many parts of the plains there are great quantities of prickly pears. saw
some herds of buffaloe today but not in such quantities as yesterday, also
antelopes, wolves, gees, pigeons, doves, hawks, ravens crows larks
sparrows &c. the Curlooe has disappeared.
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Saturday July 19th 1806. Drewyer and J. Fields set out early this morning in keeping with my instructions from last evening. They returned at half after 12 o'clock and informed me that they had proceeded down the river to the place from which I had returned on the ____ of June last, and that it was 6 miles distant. They passed the entrance of Buffaloe Creek at 2 miles. The course of the river from there downwards, as far as they went, is N. 80° E. They killed 8 deer and two antelopes on their way; most of the deer were large, fat mule bucks.
Having completed my observation of the sun's meridian altitude, we set out, ascended the river hills after crossing the river, and proceeded through the open plains up the north side of the river 20 miles and camped. At 15 miles we passed a large creek on the north side, a little above its entrance; there is but little running water in this creek at present. Its bed is about 30 yards wide and it appears to come from the Broken Mountains, so called from their ragged and irregular shape. There are three of them extending from east to west, almost unconnected. The center mountain terminates in a conic spire and is the one which I have called the Tower Mountain. They are destitute of timber. From the entrance of this creek they bore N. 10° W.
The river bottoms are usually about half a mile wide and possess a considerable quantity of timber, entirely cottonwood; the underbrush is honeysuckle, rose bushes, the narrow-leafed willow, and the bush which bears the acid red berry called by the French engagés grease de buff. Just as we halted to camp, R. Fields killed a mule doe. The plains are beautiful and level, but the soil is thin. In many parts of the plains there are great quantities of prickly pears.
Saw some herds of buffalo today, but not in such quantities as yesterday, also antelopes, wolves, geese, pigeons, doves, hawks, ravens, crows, larks, sparrows, etc. The curlew has disappeared.
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