University of Virginia Library

May 24th Thursday 1804—

Set out early. passed a verry bad part of the River Called
the Deavels race ground, this is where the Current Sets against
some projecting rocks for half a Mile on the Labd. Side, above

this place is the Mouth of a Small Creek called queevere,
passed Several Islands, two Small Creeks on the Stbd. Side,
and passed between a Isld. and the Lbd. Shore a narrow pass
above this Isld. is a verry bad part of the river, We attempted
to pass up under the Lbd. Bank which was falling in so fast
that the evident danger obliged us to cross between the
Starbd. Side and a Sand bar in the middle of the river, We
hove up near the head of the Sand bar, the Same moveing &
backing caused us to run on the sand. The Swiftness of the
Current Wheeled the boat, Broke our Toe rope, and was
nearly over Setting the boat, all hands jumped out on the
upper Side and bore on that Side untill the Sand washed from
under the boat and Wheeled on the next bank by the time
She wheeled a 3rd.. Time got a rope fast to her Stern and by
the means of swimmers was Carred to Shore and when her
stern was down whilst in the act of Swinging a third time into
Deep Water near the Shore, we returned, to the Island
where we Set out and assended under the Bank which I have
just mentioned, as falling in, here George Drewyer & Willard,
two of our men who left us at St. Charles to come on by land
joined us, we camped about 1 mile above where we were So
nearly being lost, on the Labd. Side at a Plantation. all in
Spirits. This place I call the retragrade bend as we were
obliged to fall back 2 miles

Course & Distance of the 24th.. May

       

S. 63°. W,	4	Ms. to a pt. on Stbd. Side
S. 68 W,	3	Ms. to a pt on Lbd. Side
S. 75° W,	3	Ms. to a pt. on Stbd. Side
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