Lewis: September 21, 1805
The party was delayed until 11 AM while rounding up horses, then traveled about 15 miles southwest along a heavily timbered ridge, struggling through fallen timber that made the route nearly impassable. They crossed several creeks before camping in a small open bottom with adequate forage for the horses. Lewis ordered the horses hobbled to allow an early start, planning a forced march the next day to reach open country. Supper consisted of pheasants, a coyote Lewis shot, leftover horse meat, and crawfish. Lewis noted the men were weakening from hunger and that the arborvitae trees were growing larger.
Saturday September 21st 1805. We were detained this morning untill 11 OCk.
in consequence of not being able to collect our horses. we then set out
and proceeded along the ridge on which we had encamped, leaving which at
11/2 we passed a large creek runing to the left just above it’s junction
with another which run parrallel with and on the left of our road before
we struck the creek; through the level wide and heavy timbered bottom of
this creek we proceeded about 21/2 miles when bearing to the right we
passed a broken country heavily timbered great quantities of which had
fallen and so obstructed our road that it was almost impracticable to
proceed in many places. though these hills we proceeded about 5 Ms. when
we passed a small creek on which Capt Clark encamped on the 19th passing
this creek we continued our rout 5 Ms thro a similar country when we
struck a large creek at the forks, passed the Northen branch and continued
down it on the West side 1 mile and encamped in a small open bottom where
there was tolerable food for our horses. I directed the horses to be
hubbled to prevent delay in the morning being determined to make a forced
march tomorrow in order to reach if possible the open country. we killed a
few Pheasants, and I killd a prarie woolf which together with the ballance
of our horse beef and some crawfish which we obtained in the creek enabled
us to make one more hearty meal, not knowing where the next was to be
found. the Arborvita increases in quantity and size. I saw several sticks
today large enough to form eligant perogues of at least 45 feet in length.I
find myself growing weak for the want of food and most of the men complain
of a similar deficiency and have fallen off very much. the general course
of this day S 30 W 15M.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Saturday, September 21st, 1805. We were delayed this morning until 11 o'clock because we couldn't gather our horses. We then set out and proceeded along the ridge on which we had camped. Leaving it at 1½ miles, we passed a large creek running to the left, just above its junction with another that ran parallel to and on the left of our road before we struck the creek. Through the level, wide, and heavily timbered bottom of this creek we proceeded about 2½ miles. Then, bearing to the right, we passed through a broken country, heavily timbered, great quantities of which had fallen and so obstructed our road that it was almost impracticable to proceed in many places. Through these hills we proceeded about 5 miles, when we passed a small creek on which Capt Clark (Capt. Clark) had camped on the 19th. After passing this creek, we continued our route 5 miles through a similar country, when we struck a large creek at the forks. We passed the northern branch and continued down it on the west side 1 mile, and camped in a small open bottom where there was tolerable food for our horses. I ordered the horses to be hobbled to prevent delay in the morning, being determined to make a forced march tomorrow in order to reach the open country if possible.
We killed a few pheasants, and I killed a prairie wolf, which, together with the rest of our horse beef and some crawfish that we obtained in the creek, enabled us to make one more hearty meal, not knowing where the next was to be found. The arborvitae increases in quantity and size. I saw several sticks today large enough to form elegant pirogues of at least 45 feet in length. I find myself growing weak for want of food, and most of the men complain of a similar deficiency and have lost a great deal of weight. The general course of this day was S 30 W, 15 miles.
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