Lewis: June 6, 1805
Convinced this northern branch of the Missouri was not the route to the Pacific, Lewis decided to turn back, hoping first to fix the location's latitude by a noon sun observation—but cloud cover prevented it. Sergeant Pryor and Windsor scouted ahead and reported the river bending northward. After building two rafts that proved too flimsy and nearly cost them a gun, Lewis abandoned them and returned overland, leaving behind elk skins he had wanted for his leather boat. Battling cold rain and northeast winds, the party killed two buffalo and camped near Lark Creek after roughly 25 miles, spending an uncomfortable, shelterless night.
Thursday June 6th 1805. I now became well convinced that this branch of
the Missouri had it’s direction too much to the North for our rout to the
Pacific, and therefore determined to return the next day after taking an
observation of the sun’s Meridian Altitude in order to fix the latitude of
the place. The forepart of the last evening was fair but in the latter
part of the night clouded up and contnued so with short intervals of
sunshine untill a little before noon when the whole horizon was overcast,
and I of course disappointed in making the observation which I much
wished. I had sent Sergt. Pryor and Windsor early this morning with orders
to procede up the river to some commanding eminence and take it’s bearing
as far as possible. in the mean time the four others and myself were
busily engaged in making two rafts on which we purposed descending the
river; we had just completed this work when Sergt. Pryor and Windsor
returned, it being about noon; they reported that they had proceded from
hence S 70 W. 6 m. to the summit of a commanding eminence from whence the
river on their left was about 21/2 miles distant; that a point of it’s
Lard. bluff, which was visible boar S 80 W. distant about 15 ms.; that the
river on their left bent gradually arround to this point, and from thence
seemed to run Northwardly. we now took dinner and embarcked with our
plunder and five Elk’s skins on the rafts but were soon convinced that
this mode of navigation was hazerdous particularly with those rafts they
being too small and slender. we wet a part of our baggage and were near
loosing one of our guns; I therefore determined to abandon the rafts and
return as we had come, by land. I regreted much being obliged to leave my
Elk’s skins, which I wanted to assist in forming my leather boat; those we
had prepared at Fort Mandan being injured in such manner that they would
not answer. we again swung our packs and took our way through the open
plains for about 12 mes. when we struck the river; the wind blew a storm
from N. E. accompanyed by frequent showers of rain; we were wet and very
could. continued our rout down the river only a few miles before the
Abruptness of the clifts and their near approach to the river compelled us
take the plains and once more face the storm; here we boar reather too
much to the North and it was late in the evening before we reached the
river, in our way we killed two buffaloe and took with us as much of the
flesh as served us that night, and a part of the next day. we encamped a
little below the entrance of the large dry Creek called Lark C. having
traveled abut 25 mes. since noon. it continues to rain and we have no
shelter, an uncomfortable nights rest is the natural consequence.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Thursday, June 6th, 1805. I now became well convinced that this branch of the Missouri had its direction too much to the north for our route to the Pacific, and therefore determined to return the next day after taking an observation of the sun's meridian altitude in order to fix the latitude of the place. The early part of the last evening was fair, but in the later part of the night it clouded up and continued so with short intervals of sunshine until a little before noon, when the whole horizon was overcast, and I was of course disappointed in making the observation, which I much wished. I had sent Sergt. Pryor (Sergeant Pryor) and Windsor early this morning with orders to proceed up the river to some commanding height and take its bearing as far as possible. In the meantime, the four others and myself were busily engaged in making two rafts on which we planned to descend the river. We had just completed this work when Sergt. Pryor and Windsor returned, it being about noon. They reported that they had proceeded from here S 70 W, 6 miles, to the summit of a commanding height, from which the river on their left was about 2½ miles distant; that a point of its larboard bluff, which was visible, bore S 80 W, distant about 15 miles; that the river on their left bent gradually around to this point, and from there seemed to run northward.
We now took dinner and embarked with our gear and five elk skins on the rafts, but were soon convinced that this mode of navigation was hazardous, particularly with those rafts, as they were too small and slender. We wet a part of our baggage and nearly lost one of our guns; I therefore determined to abandon the rafts and return as we had come, by land. I regretted very much being obliged to leave my elk skins, which I wanted to help in forming my leather boat; those we had prepared at Fort Mandan had been damaged in such a way that they would not serve. We again shouldered our packs and took our way through the open plains for about 12 miles, when we struck the river. The wind blew a storm from N.E., accompanied by frequent showers of rain; we were wet and very cold. We continued our route down the river only a few miles before the steepness of the cliffs and their nearness to the river forced us to take to the plains and once more face the storm. Here we bore rather too much to the north, and it was late in the evening before we reached the river. On our way we killed two buffalo and took with us as much of the meat as served us that night, and part of the next day. We camped a little below the entrance of the large dry creek called Lark Creek, having traveled about 25 miles since noon. It continues to rain and we have no shelter; an uncomfortable night's rest is the natural result.
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