Reubin Field Archives - Lewis & Clark Research Database

Oto Grand Chief and Warriors Arrive at Camp

Tue, 05 May 2026 15:14:49 +0000

Continued Hear for ouer men thay did not Return Last
night
Satturday augt 18%
ouer men Returnd and Brot with them the man and Brot
with them the Grand Chief of the ottoes and 2 Loer ones and
6 youers [others ?] of thare nattion*
[On last fly-leaf.]
the 224 June
Charles Floyd
Winer az
R. Field 2”
J. Field Gard for thompson 16™ July
Newman 4
Gass Gard for thompson
MCNeel
thompson
1 The following day, August 19, Floyd was ‘taken verry bad all at once with a
Biliose Chorlick’” —see Clark’s journal, vol. i, pp. 114, 115, amte—and on the
twentieth died.—Ep.
[ 26 ]
The Original Journal of Private Joseph
Whitehouse
May 14, 1804-November 6, 1805
The ORIGINAL JOURNAL OF
Private JOSEPH WHITEHOUSE’

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Sudden Northeast Storm Nearly Drives Boat onto Sandbar

Mon, 04 May 2026 16:44:39 +0000

panied with some wind which detained us untill about 7 oClock,
we then Set out and proceeded on about a mile their their came
up a violent Storm from the N. E. of wind & rain which passed
through an open prarie, it came so suddenly by a black cloud &
dismal looking we were in a situation near the upper point of a
Sand Island & on the opposite Shore falling in, the boat nearly
quartering & blowing down the current, the Boat was in danger of
being thrown up of[f] the Sand but the men were all out in an
instant holding hir out Stemming the wind the anchor was im-
mediately carried out. So by all exertion we could make we kept
the boat from filling or takeing injury, the 2 pearogues ware
about a quarter of a mile ahead the men on board were much put
to it to keep them Safe, this Storm Suddenly Seased, and in one
minute the River was as Smooth as it was before,3 the wind
Shifted to the S. E. and we Set Sail & proceded on passed small
Island on the north Side & dined. R. Field who had charge of
the horses on shore did not join us last night, passed an old fort on
ment to begin at sunset of the same day and to continue each succeeding even-
ing until completed. Thwaites, I, 76.
1 Still so called; it runs across Atchison and Holt counties, Mo.
2 There was some error in taking the observation, since the Kansas-Nebraska
boundary, already passed, is the fortieth parallel of latitude.
3 Clark corroborates this with a remarkable exhibition of orthography;
“the Storm Sudenly Seased. and the river became Instancetaniously as Smoth
as Glass.”
1804] SERGEANT ORDWAY’S JOURNAL 97
the north Side, where Roe Bennet of S* Louis wintered 2 years &
traded with the Otteaus & pawnies, proceeded on passed a
handsome sand beach on the South ‘ Side, where we Saw three
large Elk the first wild ones I ever Saw. Cap* Clark & drewyer
Shot at them, but the distance was too long, they Ron or trotted
in to the River and Shannon Swam across after them we pro-
ceeded on passed a large creek behind the lower point of an
Island on the North Side called Neash-na-Batto-na,1 this Creek is
as large as the Mine River & runs parrelel with the Missouris
for some considerable distance, the men who were with the horses
joined us this evening. Cap* Clarks notes & Remarks of 2 days
blew overboard this morning in the Storm, and he was much put
to it to Recolect the courses &.C. we camped on the South
Side opposite an Island.

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Revisiting Pleasant Camp Near Corvus Creek

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:37:56 +0000

Thursday 28th of August 1806 Capt Lewis had a bad nights rest and is not
very well this morning. we Set out early and proceded on very well, Saw a
number of Buffalow bulls on the banks in different places. passd the 3
rivers of the Seioux pass at 9 A.M. a Short distance below on the S W Side
Sent out Reubin & Joseph Feild to hunt for the Mule deer or the
antilope neither of which we have either the Skins or Scellitens of, we
detected those two men to proceed on down to the places we encamped the
16th & 17th of Septr. 1804 and which place the party had called
pleasant Camp from the great abundance of Game Such as Buffalow Elk,
antilopes, Blacktail or mule deer, fallow deer, common deer wolves barking
Squirels, Turkies and a variety of other animals, aded to which there was
a great abundance of the most delicious plumbs and grapes. this Situation
which is a Short distance above the enterance of Corvus Creek we are
deturmined to delay one day for the purpose of prcureing the sceletins of
the Mule deer & antilope, and Some barking Squirels. a fiew miles
below the place the 2 Fields were Set on Shore we Set Drewyer and Labeech
on Shore with the Same directions which had been given to the 2 field’s at
12 oClock we Landed on the S W. Side at the Same Spot which we had
encamped on the 16th and 17th of September 1804, and formed a Camp, Sent
out Serjt. Pryor, Shields, Go. Gibson, Willard and Collins to hunt in the
plains up Corvus Creek for the Antilope and Mule deer Sent out Bratten and
Frazier to kill the barking Squirel, and Gave directions to all of them to
kill the Magpye if they Should See any of them Several of the men and the
Squaws of the enterpreter Jessomme and the Mandan Chief went to Some plumb
bushes in the bottom and geathered more plumbs than the party Could eate
in 2 days, those blumbs are of 3 Speces, the most of them large and well
flavored. our Situation is pleasent a high bottom thinly timbered and
covered with low grass without misquitors. at 3 P. M Drewyer and Labeech
arived, the latter haveing killd. a Deer of the Common Speceis only. in
the evening late all the hunters returned without any Speces of animal we
were in want of, they killed 4 Common deer and two buffalow a part of the
best of the meat of those animals they brought in. we precured two of the
barking Squirels only. as we Could not precere any Mule deer or antelope
we concluded to Send the hunters on a head early in the morning and delay
untill 10 A. M to give them time to hunt. I derected Shannon & Collins
to go on the opposit Side, and Labeech and Willard to proceed down on this
Side at Some distance from the river and join the party at the round
Island &c. and R. Field to proceed on Slowly in the Small Canoe to
that place and take in any thing which the hunters might kill. Made 32
miles to day

The hunters informed me that they Saw great numbers of Buffalow in the
plains. I Saw Several herds of those animals on either Side to day at a
distance.

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Lewis's Detachment Rejoins Clark's Party at Last

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:37:52 +0000

Thursday 12th August 1806 I set out early this morning and had not
proceeded on far before Shannon discovered he had lost his Tomahk. I
derected him to land his Skin Canoe and go back to our Camp of last night
in Serch of it, and proceeded on my self with the two wood and one Skin
Canoe to a large hottom on the N. E Side above the head of Jins island and
landed to take brackfast as well as to delay untill Shannon & Gibson
Should arive. Sent out Shields & Labiech to hunt deer in the bottom,
at 2 P m. Shannon and gibson arived having found the tomahawk at our camp
they killed 3 Elk &c. one of the Canoes of Buffalow Skin by accident
got a hole peirced in her of about 6 inches diamuter. I derected two of
the men to patch the Canoe with a piece of Elk skin over the hole, which
they did and it proved all Sufficient, after which the Canoe did not leak
one drop. The two hunters returned without haveing killed any thing. at
meridian Capt Lewis hove in Sight with the party which went by way of the
Missouri as well as that which accompanied him from Travellers rest on
Clarks river; I was alarmed on the landing of the Canoes to be informed
that Capt. Lewis was wounded by an accident-. I found him lying in the
Perogue, he informed me that his wound was slight and would be well in 20
or 30 days this information relieved me very much. I examined the wound
and found it a very bad flesh wound the ball had passed through the
fleshey part of his left thy below the hip bone and cut the cheek of the
right buttock for 3 inches in length and the debth of the ball. Capt L.
informed me the accident happened the day before by one of the men Peter
Crusat misstakeig him in the thick bushes to be an Elk. Capt Lewis with
this Crusat and Several other men were out in the bottom Shooting of Elk,
and had Scattered in a thick part of the woods in pursute of the Elk.
Crusat Seeing Capt L. passing through the bushes and takeing him to be an
Elk from the Colour of his Cloathes which were of leather and very nearly
that of the Elk fired and unfortunately the ball passed through the thy as
aforesaid. Capt Lewis thinking it indians who had Shot him hobbled to the
canoes as fast as possible and was followered by Crusat, the mistake was
then discovered. This Crusat is near Sighted and has the use of but one
eye, he is an attentive industerous man and one whome we both have placed
the greatest Confidence in dureing the whole rout.After Capt. Lewis
and my Self parted at Travellers rest, he with the Indians proceeded down
the West Side of Clarks river Seven miles and crossed on rafts 2 miles
below the East fork 120 yards wide, after Crossing the river he proceeded
up the North Side of the east fork and encampd. here the Indians left him
and proceeded down Clarks river in Serch of the Tushepaws. an Indian man
Came up with Cap L. from the W. of the mountains and proceeded on with
those who had accompanied us. Capt. L. proceeded up the E. fork of Clarks
river 17 ms. to the enterance of Cokahlarishkit river or the river to
buffalow, he proceeded up on the North Side of this river which is 60
yards wide crossing Several Small Streams and the N. fork, and passing
over part of the dividing mountain onto the waters of Deabourns river in
the plains and in a Derection to the N. extremity of Easte range of rocky
mountains which pass the Missouri at the pine Island Rapid. from thence he
bore his Course to the N E untill he Struck Meadcin river near where that
river Enters the rocky Mts. and proceeded down Medicine river to the
Missouri at the white bear Islands at the upper part of the portage. this
rout is a very good one tho not the most derect rout, the most derect rout
would be to proceed up the Missouri above Dearborns river and take a right
hand road & fall on a South branch of the Cokatlarishkit R. and
proceed down that river to the main road but the best rout would be from
the falls of the Missouri by fort mountain and passing the N. extremity of
that range of the Rocky Mountains which pass the Missouri at the pine
Island rapid Course nearly S. W. and to the gap through which the great
road passeds the dividing mountain the distance from the falls to this gap
about 45 miles through a tolerable leavel plain on an old indian road. and
the distance from thence to Clarks river is 105 miles. The total distance
from the falls of the Missouri to Clarks river is only 150 miles of a
tolerable roadCapt L. arived at the white Bear Islands and encampd.
on the West Side of the Missouri and in the morning he discovered that the
Indians had taken of Seven of his best horses, drewyer prosued the indians
two day’s on the rout towards Clarks river. he Saw their camp on Dearborns
river near the road on which Capt. Lewis & party Come on a by place
where they had left only one or two day at this encampment he Saw great
appearanc of horseson the return of Drewyer Capt L. took Drewyer
& the 2 fieldses & proceeded on his intended rout up Marias river
leaving Sergt. Gass, Thompson, Frazier, Werner, McNeal & Goodrich at
the portage to prepare Geer and repar the wheels & Carrage against the
arival of the Canoes and he also left 4 horses for the purpose of hauling
the Canoes across. The Canoes arrived on the 16th, and on the 26th they
had all except one across, the Plains becom So muddy from the emence rains
which had fallen, that they Could not get her over the portage. on the
28th they joined Capt Lewis at the Grog Spring a fiew miles above the
enterance of Marias river From the Falls of Missouri Capt. L. proceeded on
with Drewyer & the 2 fieldses Courss

On the 26th of July Capt Lewis Set out on his return to the enterance of
Marias river to meet with the party with, the Canoes from the falls. his
course was through the plains

S. E. 5 Milespassing a Small Creek from the mts

S. 70° E. 9 Miles to a principal branch of Marias River 65 yards wide not
very deep at 7 mile. this last branch is Shallow and rapid about the Size
of the former from the S W. both of those Streams Contain a great
preportion of timberhere we find the 3 Specis of Cotton before
mentioned

N 80° E. 4 miles down Marias river and met with 8 Indians of the Blackfoot
nation with about 30 horses, those Indians professed friendship and Set
out with him and encamped together the night of the 26th of July, thy
informed him that there was two large bands of their nation in that
quarter one of which would be at the enterance of Marias river in a fiew
days. they also informed that a french Trader was with one of those bands,
that they traded with the white people on the Suskashwen River at 6 easy
days march or about 150 miles distant from whome they precured Guns Powder
Lead blankets &c. in exchange for wolf and beaver Skins. Capt Lewis
gave them a Flag Meadel & Handkerchief Capt. L. informed those Indians
where he was from & where he had been and his objects & friendly
views &c. of which they appeared to be well Satisfied.

“on the morning of the 27th at day light the indians got up and crouded
around the fire, Jo. Field who was on post had carelessly laid his gun
down behind him near where his brother was Sleeping. one of the Indians
Slipd. behind him and took his gun and that of his brother unperceived by
him, at the Same instant two others advanced and Seized the guns of
Drewyer and Capt Lewis who were yet asleep. Jo. Fields Seeing this turned
about to take his gun and Saw the fellow running off with his and his
brothers, he called to his brother who instantly jumped up and prosued the
indian with him whome they overtook at the distance of 50 or 60 paces
Siezed their guns and rested them from him and R. Field as he Seized his
gun Stabed the indian to the heart with his knif who fell dead; (this Cap
L. did not know untill Some time after.) drewyer who awoke at the first
alarm jumped up and Seized & rested his gun from the indian &c.
Capt L. awoke and asked what was the matter Seeing Drewyer in a Scuffle
for his gun he turned to get his gun and found her gorn, he drew a pistol
from his holsters and prosued the Indian whom he Saw in possession of his
gun making off he presented the pistol and the indian lay down the gun.
the two Fields Came up and drew up to Shoot the Indian which Capt L.
forbid the indians then attempted to drive off all the horses. Capt L.
derected the men to fire on them if they attempted to drive off the
horses, and prosued two fellows who Continued to drive of his horses he
Shot the indian who had taken his gun and then in possession of his horse
through the belly, he fell and raised on his elbow and fired at Capt L.
the other made his escape into a nitch out of Sight with his bow and
arrows and as Capt L. guns was empty and he without his Shot pouch he
returnd. to the Camp where the 2 fields and Drewyer joind him having
prosued the indians across the river the were now in possession of the
most of their own as well as the indian horses and a gun Several bows
& arrows and all the indians baggage the gun & Some feathers and
flag they took and burnt all the other articles. and Saddled up a many of
the best horses as they wished with Some Spear horses, and Set out for to
intersept the party at Marias river and proceded on a little to the S. of
East 112 Miles to the Missouri at the Grog Spring. here they met with
Canoes and party decending joined them leaving their horses on the river
bank, and proceeded on to the enterance of Marias river opened the
deposits, found Several articles damaged. 3 Beaver traps could not be
found, the red perogue unfit for Service, from thenc they proceeded
without delay to the River Rochejhone See cources of Capt Lewis rout in
next book.”

at 2 P.M. Shannon & Gibson arived in the Skin Canoe with the Skins and
the greater part of the flesh of 3 Elk which they had killed a fiew miles
above. the two men Dixon & Handcock the two men we had met above came
down intending to proceed on down with us to the Manclans. at 3 P M we
proceded on all together having left the 2 leather Canoes on the bank. a
little below the enterance of (Jos) Shabonos Creek we Came too on a large
Sand point from the S. E. Side and Encamped. the wind blew very hard from
the S W. and Some rain. I washed Capt L. wound which has become Sore and
Somewhat painfull to him.

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Descending the Snowy Ridge to the Kooskooske River

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:37:37 +0000

Sunday June 29th 1806 We colected our horses and Set out haveing
previously dispatched Drewyer & R. Field to the Warm Springs to hunt.
we prosued the hights of the ridge on which we have been passing for
several days; it termonated at the distance of 5 M. from our encampment,
and we decended to & passed the main branch of Kooskooke 11/2 Ms.
above the enterance of Glade Creek which falls in on the N. E. Side. we
bid adew to the Snow. near the River we found a Deer which the hunters had
killed and left us. this was a fortunate Supply as all our bears oil was
now exhosted, and we were reduced to our roots alone without Salt. the
river is 30 yds wide and runs with great velossity. the bead as all the
Mountain streams is composed of Smooth Stone. beyond this river we
assended a Steep Mountain about 2 Miles to it’s Sumit where we found the
old road which we had passed on as we went out. comeing in on our right,
the road was now much plainer and much beaten. at noon we arived at the
quawmash flatts on Vally Creek and halted to graize our horses and dined
haveing traveled 12 Miles here is a pretty little plain of about 50 acres
plentifully Stocked with quawmash and from appearance this forms one of
the principal Stages of the indians who pass the mountains on this road.
we found that one of our pack horss with his load and one of Capt. L.s.
horses were missing we dispatched Jo. Field & Colter in serch of the
lost horse’s. after dinner we continued our march 7 ms further to the worm
Springs where we arrived early in the evening, and Sent out Several
hunters, who as well as R. Field & Drewyer returned unsuksessfull;
late in the evening Jo. Field & Colter joined us with the lost horses
and brought with them a Deer which J. F. had killed, this furnished us
with a Supper.

Those Worm or Hot Springs are Situated at the base of a a hill of no
considerable hight, on the N. Side and near the bank of travellers rest
Creek which is at that place about 10 yds wide. these Springs issue from
the bottom and through the interstices of a grey freestone rock, the rock
rises in irregular masy clifts in a circular range, arround the Springs on
their lower Side. imediately above the Springs on the Creek there is a
handsom little quawmash plain of about 10 acres. the principal Spring is
about the temperature of the Warmest baths used at the Hot Springs in
Virginia. in this bath which had been prepared by the Indians by stopping
the river with Stone and mud, I bathed and remained in 10 minits it was
with dificuelty I could remain this long and it causd a profuse swet. two
other bold Springs adjacent to this are much warmer, their heat being so
great as to make the hand of a person Smart extreemly when immerced. we
think the temperature of those Springs about the Same as that of the
hotest of the hot Springs of Virginia. both the Men and the indians amused
themselves with the use of the bath this evening. I observe after the
indians remaining in the hot bath as long as they could bear it run and
plunge themselves into the Creek the water of which is now as Cold as ice
Can make it; after remaining here a fiew minits they return again to the
worm bath repeeting this transision Several times but always ending with
the worm bath. Saw the tracks of 2 bearfooted indians-.

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Wiser and Frazier Sent to Detain Nez Perce Guides

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:37:36 +0000

Monday June 23rd 1806 Apprehensive from Drewyer & Shannons delay that
they had met with Some dif icuelty in precureing a guide, and also that
the two indians who had promised to wait two nights for us would Set out
today, we thought it most adviseable to dispatch Wizer & Frazier to
them this morning with a view if possible to detain them a day or two
longer; and directed that in the event of their not being able to detain
the indians, that Sergt. Gass, Jo. & R. Field & Wiser Should
accompany the Indians by whatever rout they might take to travellers rest
and blaize the trees well as they proceeded, and wait at that place untill
our arival with the party. the hunters as usial were dispatched early this
morning. The does now haveing their young the hunters can blait them up,
and in that manner kill them with more facillity and ease. the indians
pursue the game So much on horse back in this neighbourhood that it is
very Shye. our hunters killed ____ deer today. at 4 P.M. Shannon Drewyer
& Whitehouse returned. Shannon & Drewyer brought with them three
indians who had consented to accompany us to the falls of the Missouri for
the Compensation of 2 guns. one of those men is the brother of the Cutnose
and the other two are the Same who presented Capt L. and myself with a
horse on a former occasion at the Lodge of the broken arm, and the two who
promised to pursue us in nine nights after we left the river, or on the
19th inst. Those are all young men of good Charrector and much respected
by their nation. those men infor us that thir nation as well as the
Wallar-wallars have made peace with the Shoshones agreeable to our late
advice to them. they also inform us that they have heard by means of the
Skeetsomis Nation & Clarks river that the Big bellies of Fort de
Prarie Killed great numbers of the Shoshons and Otte lee Shoots which we
met with last fall on the East fork of Lewis’s river and high up the West
fork of Clarks river &c.

We directed the horses to be brought near Camp and secured in Such a
manner that they may be readily obtained in the morning being deturmined
to make an early Start if possible-.Colter one of our hunters did
not return this evening

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Three Nez Perce Guides Lead Party Back Eastward

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:37:36 +0000

Tuesday June 24th 1806 We collected our horses early this morning and Set
out accompanied by our 3 guides. Colter joined us this morning haveing
killed a Bear, which from his discription of it’s poverty and distance we
did not think proper to send after. We nooned it as usial at Collins’s
Creek where we found Frazier, solus; the other four men haveing Born in
pursute of the two indians who had Set out from Collin’s Creek two hours
before Fraziers arrival Wiser arrived there. after dinner we Continued our
rout to fish Creek a branch of Collin’s creek where we had lain the 15th
18th 19th & 20th inst. here we found Sargt. Gass, Wiser and the two
indian men whome they had prevaild on to remain at that place untill our
arival; Jos. & R. Field had killed one Small deer only while they lay
at Collins creek, and of this they had been liberal to the indians
insomuch that they had no provisions; they had gone on to the branch of
hungary Creek at which we shall noon it tomorrow in order to hunt. we had
fine grass for our horses this evening.

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Lean Brown Bear and Salmon Trout from Scarce Country

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:37:34 +0000

Friday June 20th 1806 The hunters turned out early in different
directions, our guiggers also turned out with 2 guigs a Bayonet fixed on a
pole, a Scooping nett and a Snar made of horse. near the ford of the Creek
in a deep hole we killed Six Salmon trout & 2 others were killed in
the Creek above in the evening. Reubin Field killed a redish brown bear
which was very meagure. the tallons of this bear was remarkably Short
broad at their base and Sharply pointed, this was of the Species the
Chopunnish call Yahkar. as it was in very low order the flesh was
indifferent. Labiesh & Crusat returned late in the evening with one
deer which the former had killed. the hunters assured us that, their
greatest exertions would not enable them to support us here more than one
or two days longer, from the great scercity of game and the dificuelt
access of the Country, the under brush being very thick and great
quantities of fallen timber. as we shall necessarily be compelled to
remain more than two days for the return of Drewyer & Shannon we
determine to return in the morning as far as the quawmash flatts, and
endeaver to lay in another Stock of meat for the mountains, our former
Stock now being nearly exhosted as well as what we have killed on our
rout. by returning to the quawmash flatts we Shall Sooner be informed
wheather or not we can precure a guide to conduct us through the
Mountains; Should we fail in precureing one, we are deturmined to wrisk a
passage on the following plan immediately, because Should we wait much
longer, or untill the Snow disolves in Such manner as to enable us to
follow the road we cannot expect to reach the U States this Winter; this
is that Capt. L. or myself shall take four of our most expert woods men
with 3 or four of our best horses and proceed two days in advance takeing
a plentiful Supply of provisions. for this party to follow the road by the
mark the indins have made in many places with their baggage on the Sides
of the trees by rubbing against them, and to blaize the trees with a
tomahawk as they proceed. that after proceeding two days in advance of
Hungary Creek, two of those men would be sent back to the party who by the
time of their return to hungary Creek would have reached that place. the
men So returning would be enabled to inform the main party of the probable
Suckcess of the proceeding party in finding the road and of their probable
progress, in order that Should it be necessary, the main party by a delay
of a day or two a hungary Creek, should give the advance time to make the
road through before the main party could overtake them, and thus prevent
delay on that part of the rout where no food is to be obtained for our
horses. Should it So happen that the advance Should not find the road by
the marks of the trees after attempting it for two days, the whole of them
would return to the main party. in which Case we would bring back our
baggage and attempt a passage over the Mountains through the Country of
the Shoshones further to the South, by way of the main S Westerly fork of
Lewis’s river and Madisons or Gallitins river’s, where from the
information of the Chopunnish, there is a passage where at this season of
the year is not obstructed by snow, though the round is very distant and
would require at least a month in it’s preformance. The Shoshones informed
us when we first met with them that there was a passage across the
Mountains in that quarter but represented the difficuelties arriseing from
Steep ruggid high mountains, and also an extensive and barren plain which
was to be passed without game, as infinitely more difficuelt than the rout
by which we Came. from the Circumstance of the Chopunnish being at war
with that part of the Shoshones who inhabit the Country on this side of
the Mountains through which the road passes, I think it is highly probable
they cannot be well informed with respect to the road, and further, had
there been a better road in that quarter the Shoshones on the East fork of
Lewis’s river who knew them boath would not have recommend’d that by which
we came to this country. The travelling in the Mountains on the Snow, at
present is very good, the Snow bears the horses perfectly; it is a firm
coase Snow without a crust, and the horses have good foot hold without
slipping much; the only dificuelty is finding the road, and I think the
plan we have devised will Suckceed even Should we not be enabled to obtain
a guide. altho the Snow may be Stated on an average at 10 feet deep, yet
arround the body of the trees it has disolved much more than in other
parts, not being generally more than one or two feet deep imediately at
the roots of the trees, and of course the marks made by the rubbing of the
Indian baggage against them is not Concealed. The reason why the Snow is
comparitively So Shallow about the roots of the trees, 1 prosume proceeds
as well from the Snow in falling being thrown off from their bodies by the
thick and Spreading branches, as from the reflection of the Sun against
the trees and the warmth which they in Some measure acquire from the earth
which is never frozen underneath those masses of Snow. 4 of our horses are
absent.

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Trading Awls and Pins for Six Bushels of Cous Root

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:37:21 +0000

Monday 19th May 1806 Rained this morning untill 8 oClock when it Cleared
off and became fair-. we Sent Shabono, Thomson, Potts, Hall & Wizer
over to the Villages above to purchase Some roots to eate with our pore
bear meat, for which purchase we gave them a fiew Awls, Knitting pins,
& arm bans and directed them to proceed up on this Side of the river
opposit to the Village and Cross in the Cano which we are informed is at
that place. Sent Jo. & Reuben Field up the river a Short distance
after the horse which Capt. Lewis rode over the mountains last fall, which
horse was Seen yesterday with a gangue of Indian horses, and is Very
wild-. about 11 oClock 4 men and 8 Women Came to our Camp with Thompson
who went to the Village very early this morning. those Men applyed for Eye
water and the Women had a Variety of Complaints tho the most general
Complaint was the Rhumitism, pains in the back and the Sore eyes, they
also brought fowd. a very young Child whome they Said had been very Sick-.
I administered eye water to all, two of the women I gave a carthartic, one
whose Spirets were very low and much hipedz I gave 30 drops of Lodomem,
and to the others I had their backs hips legs thighs & arms well rubed
with Volitile leniment all of those pore people thought themselves much
benifited by what had been done for them, and at 3 P.M. they all returned
to their Villages well satisfied. at 5 P.M. Potts, Shabono &c.
returned from the Village with about 6 bushels of the root the nativs Call
Cowse and Some bread of the Same root. Rubin & Jos. Fields returned
with the horse Capt. Lewis rode across the rocky mountains we had this
horse imedeately Cut with 2 others which we had not before thought proper
to Castrate. we amused ourselves about an hour this after noon looking at
the men run their horses, Several of them would be thought Swift horses in
the atlantic States. a little after dark John Shields and Gibson returned
haveing killed nothing. they Saw Some deer but Saw no bear.

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Gibson's Hunters Bag Five Elk Upriver

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:37:04 +0000

Sunday April 6th 1806. Two Indians Came last night very late to our Camp
and continued all night. early we had all the meat packed up and our
Canoes loaded ready for to Set out and after an early brackfast at which
time all things were ready and we Set out and proceeded to the Camp of
Gibson & party about 9 miles, they had killed 3 Elk at no great
distance and Wounded two others so badly that we expect to precure them.
Sent a party of Six men with Shannon who had killed the Elk to bring in
the Elk, and formed a Camp, near which we had a Scaffold made ready to dry
the meat as Soon as it Should arive. Reubin Field killed a bird of the
Quail kind or Class which was whistleing near our Camp it is larger than
the quail or partridge as they are Called Kentucky and Virginia. it’s form
is presisely that of our partridge tho its plumage differs in every part.
the upper part of the head, Sides and back of the neck, including the
Croop and about of the under part of the body is of a bright dove coloured
blue, under neath the under beak, as high as the lower edge of the eye,
and back as far as the hinder part of the eyes and thence comeing down to
a point in the front of the neck about 2/3rd of it’s length downwards, is
of a fine dark brick red. between this brick red and the dove colour there
runs a narrow Stripe of pure white. the ears are covered with some coarse
dark brown feathers. just at the base of the under chap there is a narrow
transvirce Stripe of white. from the crown of the head two long round
feathers extend backwards nearly in the direction of the beak and are of a
black Colour. the length of these feathers is 21/2 inches. one overlais
and Conseals the other which is Somewhat Shorter and Seems to be raped in
the plumage of that in front which folding backwards colapses behing and
has a round appearance. the tail is composed of 12 dark brown feathers of
nearly equal length. the large feathers of the wings are of a dark brown
& are reather Short in purpotion to the body of the bird. in this
respect very Similar to the partridge. the covert of the wings and back
are of a dove Colour with a Slight admixture of redish brown. a wide
Stripe which extends from Side to Side of the body and occupies the lower
region of the breast is beautifully varigated with the brick red white
& black which perdominates in the order they are mentioned and the
Colours mark the feathers transversely. the legs are covered with feathers
as low as the Knee; these feathers are of dark brown tiped with a dark
brick red as are also those between and about the joining of the legs with
the body. the foot is presisely that of the Common partridge except that
they are as also the legs white. the upper beak is Short, wide at it’s
base, black, convex, curved downwards and reather obtusely pointed. it
exceeds the under chap considerably which is of a white colour, also
convex under neath and obtusely pointed. the nostrils are remarkably
Small, placed far back and low down on the Sides of the beak. they are
covered by a thin proterant elastic, black leather like Substance. the
eyes are of a uniform pierceing black colour. this is a most butifull bird
I preserved the Skin of this bird retaining the wings feet & head
which I hope will give a just Idea of the bird. it’s loud note is Single
and Consists of a loud Squall, intirely different from the whistling of
our partridge or quailes. it has a chiping note when allarmed like our
partridge.to day there was a Second of those birds killed which
presisely resembles that just discribed. I believe those to be the mail
bird the female, if so, I have not yet Seen.-.

at 6 P.M. Shannon and party returned with the flesh of five Elk. the two
he had wounded in the morning he found dead near the place he had Shot
them. we had the meat cut into thin pices and Scaffored with a fire under
it to dry out, which we expect in the course of the night Can be effected.
four Indians from the great rapids visited us to day and Continued all
day. they give the Same account of the Scercity of provisions above the
falls as has already been given by others. This Supply of Elk I think by
useing economey and in addition of roots and dogs which we may probably
precure from he Nativs on Lewis’s river will be Sufficient to last us to
the Chopunnish where we Shall Meet with our horses-. and near which place
there is Some deer to be precured.

Frazer killed a pheasent of the Common kind. Jos. Field killed a vulture
of that Speces already discribed. in the evening late the Indians left us
and returned to their village. we detected that fires be kept under the
meat all night. and tha Drewyer and the two Fields proceed on to the next
bottom and hunt untill we Should arive. 9 miles

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