Meriwether Lewis: July 15, 1805

Monday July 15th 1805. I arrose very early this morning, assigned the canoes their loads and had it put on board. we now found our vessels eight in number all heavily laden, notwithstanding our several deposits. At 10 A.M. we once more saw ourselves fairly under way much to my joy and I beleive that of every individual who compose the party. I walked on shore and killed 2 Elk near one of which the party halted and dined. we passed the river near where we dined and just above the entrance of a beautifull river 80 yards wide which falls in on the Lar. side in honour of Mr. Robert Smith the Secretary of the Navy we called [it] Smith’s River.

Source: Thwaites, Original Journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition (1904–05). Public domain.