University of Virginia Library

Friday 29th. August 1806

A cloudy morning the hunters proceeded on agreeable to
their orders of last night. I sent out two men to the village
of barking Squirels with directions to kill some of them. they
after 2 hours returned and informed me that not one of those
Squirels were to be seen out of their holes. the skins of the
party which they had been dressing since yesterday being now
completely dressed I derected all loose baggage to be put on
board the Canoes and at 10 A. M. set out and proceeded on
passed the White river at 12 oClock and halted below the enterance
of Shannons Creek where we were joined by Labeech
Shannon and Willard, they had killed 2 common de[e]r but
no Mule deer or antilopes. Willard informed me that he saw
2 antilopes but could not get near to them. Willard and
Labeech waded White river a fiew miles above its enterance
and inform me that they found it 2 feet water and 200 yards
wide. the water of this river at this time [is] nearly as white
as milk. put Drewyer out to hunt on the S.W. side and proceeded
on below the round Island and landed on the N. E.
side I with Several of the men went out in pursute of Buffalow.
the men killed 2 Bulls near me they were very pore. I
assended to the high Country and from an eminance I had a
view of the plains for a great distance. from this eminance I
had a view of a greater number of buffalow than I had ever
seen before at one time. I must have seen near 20,000 of
those animals feeding on this plain. I have observed that in
the country between the nations which are at war with each
other the greatest numbers of wild animals are to be found.
on my return to the river I killed 2 young deer. after Dinner
I proceeded down the river about 3 mile to the Camp of Jo.
& Rubin fields and Collins, and encamped on the S. W. Side

a little below our encampment of 13 Septr. 1804, haveing made
20 Miles only. neither of the hunters killed either a Black
tail deer or an antilope. Jo. Fields & Shields each killed a
porcupin and two others of the hunters killed Deer, Drewyer
did not join us untill 10 P. M. he informed that he Saw
some antilopes and Mule deer but could kill none of them.
Jo. Field informed that he wounded [a] female of the Mule
deer a little below our camp late in the evening and could not
prosue her I directed him to set out with 3 others and follow
the Deer and get her if possible early in the morning.