Lewis and Clark reunite at Missouri-Yellowstone confluence — Patrick Gass: August 12, 1806
The party traveled about nine miles down the river before encountering two trappers, who received ammunition and information from Captain Lewis, who remained in good spirits despite his stiff, sore wound. The trappers reported Captain Clarke had passed the previous day. By 10 o'clock, the group reunited with Clarke's healthy party, along with two men returning from a small canoe trip. Clarke recounted his overland journey via Gallatin's River to the Yellowstone, where Indians stole his horses, forcing his men to descend in skin canoes. The reunited corps camped on a sandy beach to avoid mosquitoes.
ceeded on. Captain Lewis is in good spirits; but his wound
stiff and sore. Having gone about nine miles we met with
two men on the river trapping and hunting. Captain Lewis
gave them some ammunition, and directions with respect to
the river above. They informed us that Captain Clarke and
party had passed them yesterday at noon. We proceeded on
18
274. GASS’S JOURNAL OF THE
and at 10 o’clock overtook Captain Clarke and his party, all
in good health. The two men with the small canoe, who had
been sometime absent, came down and joined us at the place
where we met with the two strangers: and now, (thanks to
God) we are all together again in good health, except Capt.
Lewis, and his wound is not dangerous.
After the Corps were separated among the mountains, as
before mentioned, Captain Clarke’s party proceeded on to
the Canoe deposit, near the head of the main branch of the
Missouri (called Jefferson’s river) and having descended with
the canoes to the mouth of the branch, which they called
Gallatin, Captain Clarke with ten men left those, who were
to take down the canoes to the falls; travelled three days up
Gallatin’s river towards the south, when they crossed a ridge
and came upon the waters of the Jaune or Yellow-stone river.
Having gone about 100 miles down this river by land they
made two canoes, and Captain Clarke having sent off a ser-
jeant and three men with the horses to the Mandan villages,
went down himself with six other men by water. On the
second day after the serjeant and his party had started for
the Mandan villages, the Indians stole the whole of the horses,
and the party were obliged to descend the river in skin canoes.
Captain Clarke’s party in their route had found game plenty
of different kinds, buffaloe, elk, deer, beaver, otter and some
other animals. They also found the Yellow-Stone river a
pleasant and navigable stream, with a rich soil along it; but
timber scarce.
We here took the men on board, and left the buffaloe
LEWIS AND CLARK EXPEDITION 275
canoes. At night we encamped on a sand beach, as the
musquitoes are not so bad there as in the woods.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
proceeded on. Captain Lewis is in good spirits, but his wound is stiff and sore. After going about nine miles, we met two men on the river who were trapping and hunting. Captain Lewis gave them some ammunition and directions about the river above. They told us that Captain Clarke and his party had passed them yesterday at noon. We continued on, and at 10 o'clock we overtook Captain Clarke and his party, all in good health. The two men with the small canoe, who had been absent for some time, came down and joined us at the place where we met the two strangers. Now, thanks to God, we are all together again in good health, except Captain Lewis, and his wound is not dangerous.
After the Corps separated in the mountains, as mentioned before, Captain Clarke's party proceeded on to the canoe deposit, near the head of the main branch of the Missouri (called Jefferson's river). After descending with the canoes to the mouth of the branch they called Gallatin, Captain Clarke with ten men left those who were to take the canoes down to the falls. They traveled three days up Gallatin's river toward the south, then crossed a ridge and came upon the waters of the Jaune or Yellowstone river. After going about 100 miles down this river by land, they made two canoes. Captain Clarke then sent off a sergeant and three men with the horses to the Mandan villages, and went down himself with six other men by water. On the second day after the sergeant and his party had started for the Mandan villages, the Indians stole all of the horses, and the party were forced to descend the river in skin canoes. Captain Clarke's party found game plentiful along their route, including different kinds such as buffalo, elk, deer, beaver, otter, and some other animals. They also found the Yellowstone river to be a pleasant and navigable stream, with rich soil along its banks, though timber was scarce.
Here we took the men on board and left the buffalo canoes. At night we camped on a sand beach, since the mosquitoes are not as bad there as in the woods.
This modernization is AI-generated for accessibility. The original above is the authoritative version.
Entities mentioned in this entry
Auto-extracted from the entry text. Hover any entity for context.
