Sunday 7th September 1806.
as we were doubtfull that the two fieldses were behind I
derected Sergt. Ordway with 4 men to continue untill meridian
and if those men did not arive by that hour to proceed on. if
we met with them at any Short distance a gun Should be fired
which would be a Signal for him to proceed on. we had proceeded
on about 8 miles by water and the distance through not
more than I mile when we saw the fire of those 2 men, I
derected a gun fired as a Signal for Sergt. ordway to proceed
on, and took the boys on board. they had killed nothing &
informed me they had been Some what alm
d. at our delay, that
the distance across from the little Sicoux river was about 1 ½
miles only, the bottoms thick and Grass very high. we proceeded
on with a Stiff Breeze ahead (
note the
evaperation on
this portion of the Missouri has been noticed as we assended
this river, and it now appears to be greater than it was at that
time. I am obliged to replenish my ink Stand every day with
fresh ink at least 9/10 of which must evaperate. we proceded
on to a bottom on the S W side a little above the Soldiers
river and came too and Sent out all the hunters. they killed
3 Elk which was at no great distance we Sent out the men
and had the flesh brought in cooked and Dined. Sergt. Ordway
came up & after takeing a Sumptious Dinner we all Set
out at 4 P. M. wind a head as usial. at Dusk we came too
on the lower part of a Sand bar on the S W side found the
Musquetors excessively tormenting notwithstanding a Stiff
breeze from the S. E. a little after dark the wind increased
the Musquetors dispersed our Camp of this night is about 2
miles below our Encampment of the 4
th of august 1804 assending
we came
44 miles to day only.