Fort Mandan (winter) — Patrick Gass: January 23, 1805
High winds prevented travel on the river. While camped, some men investigated what looked like a distant river or lake but found it was only Missouri backwater flooding a bottom. One man caught young wolves and brought them in; others killed elk and deer. On the 25th the party resumed travel, advancing about 13 miles before encamping on the south side. The bottoms in this stretch had less timber than those along the Jaune River.
wind blew so hard down the river we could not pro-. on
‘ceed, “While we lay here some of the men went to:
eee some water at a distance which appeared like a.
ver or small lake. Inthe afternoonthey returned,
nd had found it only the water of the Missouri, which pcg
ran up a a bottom. One of the men caught :
ing wolves and brought them in, and ‘the othe:
a killed some elk and rdeer, ah RIOR Ld 4
ie sdatj 25th. We set out as usual aa had’ a fine
be thse ioe ae were shui to shalt i cee aes eae 5M
m
ey
|
Ree
‘ Cine be owing. to he want of Hasbeps re ais.
elgck in the. afternoon, we renewed our “One. : My
. 3 and having this day advanced about 13 mR
i encampet fon the South side. tae
_-. Friday 26th. A fine day. We set out early, an: :
ae having proceeded 10 miles came at 12 o’clock to the
_ mouth of the Jaune and halted : Papin ‘Lewis and —
_ his party had not arrived. – I went up the poin Peay
9 miles, where there are the most beautiful rich a
– plains, I ever beheld. I saw a large pond op lake —~ oy
Captain. Clarke while I was absent measured bath” ae
_-Yivers ; and found the breadth of the Missouri to be See eS
tba ards of water, and 190 of a sand beach ;. tot
= Macs. That of the Yellow Stone river 297 ya |
i af Ssers and. 561-of sand; total 858 yards.
‘. – month of this river is 1883 spile s from the mouth ae
EB the Missouri ; 278 from Fort Mandan and 186. froma ;
the mouth of Little ‘Missouri. eH ae oS
1 eahe: river Jaune is shallow, and Micon beet and Pwr
_ vapid. Inthe evening Captain Lewis with his party
joined us; sand had brought with, them a bul aloe Fi
cally which folitmed them ge esky &. miles;, Wel ela. a
| ber. of calves, and found they made very ;
J… There are a great many signs of beaver
2). att of oe nepal ae “We encamped © on the a Uo &:
ea night. |
: aes ee we were Biloy at d to h oe
“e en when we again went on; and having thi
made 8 pies lak Sean on the eas pe
not ‘so. ous pra ity ‘and t
as the, mul of, the tiyer. |
“JOURNAL:
Coen
. ¥
oa Ps
ee sik ei at 2
A miles. and nemranen on the North side i in a ie
some bottom. The bottoms here are not so large, —
and have less timber on abies than those ey the
Jaune.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
The wind blew so hard down the river that we could not proceed. While we lay here, some of the men went to see some water at a distance which appeared like a river or small lake. In the afternoon they returned, having found it was only the water of the Missouri, which ran up a bottom. One of the men caught some young wolves and brought them in, and the others killed some elk and deer.
Saturday 25th. We set out as usual and had a fine day, but the river was so shallow we were obliged to halt several times. This may be owing to the want of rain. At 4 o'clock in the afternoon, we renewed our voyage, and having this day advanced about 13 miles, camped on the south side.
Friday 26th. A fine day. We set out early, and having proceeded 10 miles, came at 12 o'clock to the mouth of the Jaune (Yellowstone) and halted. Captain Lewis (Capt. Lewis) and his party had not arrived. I went up the point about 9 miles, where there are the most beautiful rich plains I ever beheld. I saw a large pond or lake. Captain Clarke (Capt. Clark), while I was absent, measured both rivers, and found the breadth of the Missouri to be 520 yards of water and 190 of a sand beach; total 710. That of the Yellowstone river was 297 yards of water and 561 of sand; total 858 yards. The mouth of this river is 1883 miles from the mouth of the Missouri; 278 from Fort Mandan, and 186 from the mouth of the Little Missouri.
The river Jaune (Yellowstone) is shallow, and the current swift and rapid. In the evening Captain Lewis with his party joined us, and had brought with them a buffalo calf which followed them 6 or 7 miles. We killed a number of calves and found they made very good meat. There are a great many signs of beaver in this part of the country. We encamped on the point that night.
The next morning we were delayed until 11 o'clock, when we again went on; and having this day made 8 miles, camped on the east side. The bottoms here are not so large, and have less timber on them, than those on the Jaune (Yellowstone).
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