Canoe Camp on Clearwater River — Patrick Gass: October 5, 1805
The party finished building canoes and prepared to leave their horses with local Indians, branding the animals after the old chief promised to care for them. Two canoes were launched this evening, with work continuing on the others the next day, when saddles and some ammunition were buried for safekeeping. On the pleasant morning of the seventh, the final canoes—four large and one small scout canoe—were loaded and launched. The expedition set off downriver around 3 p.m., navigating dangerous rapids, and halted after twenty miles to repair a leaking canoe. Hills lined the river, with prairie beyond.
canoe making, we collected all our horses and branded them,
in order to leave them with the Indians, the old chief having
promised that they should be well taken care of. In the
evening we got two of our canoes into the water.
During the sixth most of the hands were engaged at the
other canoes; and we buried our saddles and some ammuni-
tion. The morning of the seventh was pleasant, and we put
the last of our canoes into the water; loaded them, and found
that they carried all our baggage with convenience. We had
four large ones; and one small one, to look ahead. About 3
o’clock in the afternoon we began our voyage down the river,
and found the rapids in some places very dangerous. One of
our canoes sprung a leak. We therefore halted and mended
her, after going twenty miles. The hills come close on the
river on both sides; where there are a few pine trees. Back
LEWIS AND CLARK EXPEDITION © 153
from the river the tops of the hills, to a great distance are
prairie land; and the country level.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
While canoe making, we gathered all our horses and branded them, in order to leave them with the Indians, the old chief having promised that they would be well taken care of. In the evening we got two of our canoes into the water.
During the sixth, most of the hands were busy working on the other canoes, and we buried our saddles and some ammunition. The morning of the seventh was pleasant, and we put the last of our canoes into the water, loaded them, and found that they carried all our baggage easily. We had four large ones and one small one to scout ahead. About 3 o'clock in the afternoon we began our voyage down the river, and found the rapids in some places very dangerous. One of our canoes sprang a leak. We therefore halted and mended her, after going twenty miles. The hills come close to the river on both sides, where there are a few pine trees. Back from the river, the tops of the hills, for a great distance, are prairie land, and the country is level.
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.
