LIII. LIII
CLARK TO CROGHAN
LIII. [From original MS. in library of Wisconsin Historical Society—Draper MSS., 12J4.]
Fort Mandan in Lat. 47° 21′ 47″ N. Long. 101° 25′ W
April the 2nd 1805.
Dear Major: By the return of a party of Soldiars and french men
who accompanied us to this place for the purpose of assisting in transporting
provisions &c. I have the pleasure of Sending you this hasty
scrawl which will do little more than inform you where I am. My
time being entirely taken up in preparing information for our government
and attending to those duties which is absolutely necessary for the
promotion of our enterprise and attending to Indians deprives me the
Satisfaction of giveing you a Satisfactory detail of this Countrey. I
must therefore take the liberty of refuring you to my brother to whome
I have inclosed a Map and Some sketches relative to the Indians. Our
party has enjoyed a great Share of health and are in high Spirits. We
shall leave this place in two days on our journey Country and River
above this is but little Known our information is altogether from
Indians collected at different times and entitled to some credit. My
return will not be So Soon as I expected, I fear not sooner than about
June or July 1806 every exertion will be made to accomplish this
enterprise in a Shorter period, please to present me most respectfully to
my Sister Lucy & the family and accept the assurance of my sincere
affections &c Wm. Clark
I send my sister Croghan Some Seed of Several Kinds of Grapes.
