Lost and starving in Bitterroot Mountains — Patrick Gass: September 17, 1805
The expedition crossed two large mountains and Stony Creek, struggling through cold, rainy terrain where service-berries had not yet ripened. Unable to find grazing for the horses, they camped at the junction of Stony Creek with a larger creek. Hunters returned with only a few pheasants, far too little for the 30-plus men, so Captain Lewis distributed portable soup. Some men opted instead to kill and roast a colt. They traveled 17 miles. The next day, after breakfasting on colt, they pressed deeper into the mountains, dining on soup and parched corn and camping waterless on a high point, using snow instead.
142 GASS’S JOURNAL OF THE
passed over a large mountain, crossed Stony creek, about 30
yards wide, and then went over another large mountain, on
which I saw service-berry bushes hanging full of fruit; but
not yet ripe, owing to the coldness of the climate on these
mountains; I also saw a number of other shrubs, which bear
fruit, but for which I know no names, There are black elder
and bore-tree, pitch and spruce pine all growing together on
these mountains. Being here unable to find a place to halt at,
where our horses could feed, we went on to the junction of
Stony creek, with another large creek, which a short distance
down becomes a considerable river, and encamped for the
night, as it rained and was disagreeable travelling. The two
hunters, that had gone back here joined us with Capt. Lewis’s
horse, but none of the hunters killed any thing except 2 or 3
pheasants; on which without a miracle it was impossible to
feed 30 hungry men and upwards, besides some Indians. So
Capt. Lewis gave out some portable soup, which he had
along, to be used in case of necessity. Some of the men did
not relish this soup, and agreed to kill a colt; which they im-
mediately did, and set about roasting it; and which appeared
to me to be good eating. This day we travelled 17 miles.
LEWIS AND CLARK EXPEDITION _ 143
CHAP. XIII.
UNDAY 15th. Having breakfasted on colt, we moved on
down the river 3 miles, and again took the mountains.
In going up, one of the horses fell, and required 8 or 10 men
to assist him in getting up again. We continued our march
to 2 o’clock when we halted at a spring and dined on portable
soup and a handful of parched corn. We then proceeded on
our journey over the mountains to a high point, where, it
being dark, we were obliged to encamp. There was here no
water; but a bank of snow answered as a substitute; and we
supped upon soup.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Passed over a large mountain, crossed Stony Creek, about 30 yards wide, and then went over another large mountain, on which I saw serviceberry bushes hanging full of fruit, but not yet ripe, due to the coldness of the climate on these mountains. I also saw a number of other shrubs that bear fruit, but for which I know no names. There are black elder and boretree, pitch and spruce pine all growing together on these mountains. Being unable to find a place to halt where our horses could feed, we went on to the junction of Stony Creek with another large creek, which a short distance downstream becomes a considerable river, and we camped for the night, as it was raining and travelling was unpleasant. The two hunters who had gone back rejoined us here with Capt. Lewis's (Capt. Lewis) horse, but none of the hunters had killed anything except 2 or 3 pheasants. Without a miracle, it was impossible to feed more than 30 hungry men, plus some Indians, on these. So Capt. Lewis handed out some portable soup, which he had brought along to be used in case of necessity. Some of the men did not enjoy this soup and agreed to kill a colt, which they immediately did and set about roasting; it appeared to me to be good eating. This day we travelled 17 miles.
CHAP. XIII.
Sunday 15th. Having breakfasted on colt, we moved on down the river 3 miles and again took to the mountains. While going up, one of the horses fell, and it required 8 or 10 men to help him get up again. We continued our march until 2 o'clock, when we halted at a spring and dined on portable soup and a handful of parched corn. We then proceeded on our journey over the mountains to a high point, where, it being dark, we were obliged to camp. There was no water here, but a bank of snow served as a substitute, and we had soup for supper.
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