Lewis: September 16, 1804
The expedition set out early and stopped by midmorning on the larboard shore above a creek they named Corvus, after a beautiful bird killed there. They decided to camp through the next day to dry rain-soaked baggage and shift cargo into the red pirogue for the journey to winter quarters. Lewis and Clark each shot a buck, and hunters added eight deer and two buffalo. Lewis described abundant white oak, acorns, and game. Sergeant Gass and Reuben Fields returned from exploring the White River, reporting vast burnt plains teeming with buffalo, elk, deer, and antelope.
Sunday September 16th 1804. This morning set out at an early hour, and
come too at 1/2 after 7 A.M. on the Lard. Shore 11/4 miles above the mouth
of a small creek which we named Corvus, in consequence of having kiled a
beatiful bird of that genus near it we concluded to ly by at this place
the ballance of this day and the next, in order to dry our baggage which
was wet by the heavy showers of rain which had fallen within the last
three days, and also to lighten the boat by transfering a part of her
lading to the red perogue, which we now determined to take on with us to
our winter residence wherever that might be; while some of the men were
imployed in this necessary labour others were dressing of skins washing
and mending their cloaths &c. Capt. Clark and myself kiled each a buck
immediately on landing near our encampment; the deer were very gentle and
in great numbers on this bottom which had more timber on it than any part
of the river we had seen for many days past, consisting of Cottonwood Elm,
some indifferent ash and a considerable quanty of a small species of white
oak which is loaded with acorns of an excellent flavor very little of the
bitter roughness of the nuts of most species of oak, the leaf of this oak
is small pale green and deeply indented, it seldom rises higher than
thirty feet is much branched, the bark is rough and thick and of a light
colour; the cup which contains the acorn is fringed on it’s edges and
imbraces the nut about one half; the acorns were now falling, and we
concluded that the number of deer which we saw here had been induced
thither by the acorns of which they are remarkably fond. almost every
species of wild game is fond of the acorn, the Buffaloe Elk, deer, bear,
turkies, ducks, pigegians and even the wolves feed on them; we sent three
hunters out who soon added eight deer and two Buffaloe to our strock of
provisions; the Buffaloe were so pour that we took only the tongues skins
and marrow bones; the skins were particularly acceptable as we were in
want of a covering for the large perogue to secure the baggage; the clouds
during this day and night prevented my making any observations. Sergt.
Gass and Reubin Fields whom we had sent out yesterday to explore the White
river returnd at four oclock this day and reported that they had foil
meanders of that stream about 12 miles r’s general course West, the
present or principal channel iro yards wide; the coulour of the water and
rapidity and manner of runing resembled the Missouri presisely; the
country broken on the border of the river about a mile, when the level
planes commence and extend as far as the eye can reach on either side; as
usual no timber appeared except such as from the steep declivities of
hills, or their moist situations, were sheltered from the effects of the
fire. these extensive planes had been lately birnt and the grass had
sprung up and was about three inches high. vast herds of Buffaloe deer Elk
and Antilopes were seen feeding in every direction as far as the eye of
the observer could reach.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Sunday, September 16th, 1804. This morning we set out at an early hour and came to at half past 7 A.M. on the Larboard Shore, 1¼ miles above the mouth of a small creek which we named Corvus, because we had killed a beautiful bird of that genus near it. We concluded to lie by at this place the rest of this day and the next, in order to dry our baggage, which was wet by the heavy showers of rain that had fallen within the last three days, and also to lighten the boat by transferring a part of her lading to the red pirogue, which we now determined to take on with us to our winter residence, wherever that might be. While some of the men were employed in this necessary labor, others were dressing skins, washing and mending their clothes, etc. Capt. Clark (Capt. Clark) and I each killed a buck immediately upon landing near our encampment. The deer were very gentle and in great numbers on this bottom, which had more timber on it than any part of the river we had seen for many days past, consisting of cottonwood, elm, some inferior ash, and a considerable quantity of a small species of white oak which is loaded with acorns of excellent flavor, having very little of the bitter roughness of the nuts of most species of oak. The leaf of this oak is small, pale green, and deeply indented; it seldom rises higher than thirty feet and is much branched; the bark is rough and thick and of a light color; the cup that contains the acorn is fringed on its edges and embraces the nut about one half. The acorns were now falling, and we concluded that the number of deer which we saw here had been drawn there by the acorns, of which they are remarkably fond. Almost every species of wild game is fond of the acorn: the buffalo, elk, deer, bear, turkeys, ducks, pigeons, and even the wolves feed on them. We sent three hunters out, who soon added eight deer and two buffalo to our stock of provisions. The buffalo were so poor that we took only the tongues, skins, and marrow bones; the skins were particularly welcome, as we were in want of a covering for the large pirogue to secure the baggage. The clouds during this day and night prevented my making any observations.
Sergt. Gass (Sergeant Gass) and Reubin Fields, whom we had sent out yesterday to explore the White River, returned at four o'clock this day and reported that they had followed the meanders of that stream about 12 miles. Its general course is west; the present or principal channel is 150 yards wide; the color of the water, and its rapidity and manner of running, resembled the Missouri precisely. The country is broken along the border of the river for about a mile, after which the level plains commence and extend as far as the eye can reach on either side. As usual, no timber appeared except such as, on the steep declivities of hills or in moist situations, was sheltered from the effects of fire. These extensive plains had been lately burnt, and the grass had sprung up and was about three inches high. Vast herds of buffalo, deer, elk, and antelopes were seen feeding in every direction as far as the eye of the observer could reach.
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