University of Virginia Library

Chapter III

FROM THE VERMILION TO TETON RIVER

III. August 25–September 24, 1804

Saturday 25th.

2 MEN of the party caught 9 nine cat fish last night, 5 of
them verry large. Capt. Lewis & Clark & 10 more of
the party went back to See the hill of little Devils. the
Boat waited till eleven oClock & then went on.

Sunday 26th.

the Boat detained this morning to Jurk an Elk which
Shannon killed, abt. 9 oClock the party returned to the Boat
much fatigued they informd us that their was nothing but
Birds to be Seen & that it is about nine miles from the
Missouri & a handsom round hill in a [im] mence large prarie.
they Saw a Great many Buffelow from the hill. they were all
most famished for water &c. we proceeded on passed a white
clay Bluff on S. S. we found a large plumb orched in a prarie
N. S. we Camped on a large Sand bar N. S. opposite a Creek
called pet arck [Petite Arc] or little Bow whare their was
formerly an Indian village.

Monday 27th.

G. Drewyer came to us this morning 2 men Sent out for
to hunt the horses. we Set out at Sun rise under a gentle
Breeze from the S. E. we proceeded on passed a chalk Bluff
on S.S. in this Bluff is Mineral Substance &c. we passed the
Mouth of a large Creek called River Jaque on the N. S.
here we Saw 3 Indians they informed us that their camp was
near & Sergt. pryor & 2 men went we then proceeded on
untill dark & camped on a large Sand beach on the N. Side.

Tuesday 28th.

we Set off eairly under a fine Breeze from S. E. we passed
high praries on N. S. handsome & ascending graddually from
the river at 2 oClock P M. the wind Blew hard from the
S.W. the pearogue got a hole Broke in to hir by dashing a
gainst a Snag, So that they had to begin to unload, but they
Stoped the Water from comming in by Stopping in one thing
& another. So we went across the river on the South Side and
camped to wait the arival of the Indians &c. in order to counsel
with with them &c. a flag pole raised this place is below
a large Island & Sand bar below a hill & Bluff on the S. S. in
a handsome Bottom & Groves of oak Timber, &c.

Wednesday 29th.

a hard Storm arose from the N. W. last night abt 8 oCof
wind & rain. cloudy morning, Some Thunder, colter
Sent on with Some provision for to hunt Shannon & the horses
&c. the pearogue repaired the men make a Towing line out
of our Elk Skins. we have pleanty of fine cat fish which the
party catch in the Missouri River, in the afternoon Serg
pryor & the 2 men returned brot with them 60 Indians of
the Souix nation they appear to be friendly. they camped on
the opposite Shore we carried them over Some provisions &
capt Lewis Sent them Tobacco &c. Sergt. pryor informed us
that their Town was abt. 9 miles from the Missouri, and consisted
of 40 lodges, and built with dressed Buffelow Skins &c.
painted different coulers &c. G. Drewyer killed one Deer
to day.

Thursday 30th..

the fog is so thick on the river this morning that we could
not See across the river, untill late in the morning. about
9 oClock the Indians was brought across the river in our
pearogue our Captains counseled with them read a Speech
to them, & made 5 of them chiefs & Gave them all Some
Marchandize &c &c. They received them verry thankfully
divided them out among themselves, & play on their juze

harps, Sung &c. they [their] Boys Shot with their Bows and
arrows for Beeds and appeared to be merry, and behaved well
among our parte[y]. Capt. Lewis Shot his air gun told them
that their was medician in hir & that She would doe Great
execution, they were all amazed at the curiosity, & as Soon
as he had Shot a fiew times they all ran hastily to See the Ball
holes in the tree they Shouted aloud at the Site of the execution
She would doe &c. The Captains Gave them provisions
&c. as Soon as it was dark a fire was made a drum was
repaired among them. the young men painted themselves
different ways. Some with their faces all white others with
their faces part white round their forehead, & breasts &c.
then they commenced dancing in curious manner to us. their
was a party that Sung and kept time with the drumm. they
all danced or all their young men especially. they Gave a
houp before they commenced dancing, they would dance
around the fire for Some time and then houp, & then rest a fiew
minutes. one of the warrirs would git up in the centre with
his arms & point towards the different nations, & make a
Speech, telling what he had done, how many he had killed &
how many horses he had Stole &c. all this make them
Great men & fine warrirs, the larger rogues [are] the best
men &c or the Bravest men & them that kills most gets the
greatest honoured among them

Friday 31st..

a pleasant morning.

Septr.. 1

the morning was Rainy got under way at the Calmit bluff
at that place Captn. Lewis & Clark Held a treaty with the tribe
of the Debough-bruley [Bois Brulé] or the Burning wood.[1]

Sunday 2nd.. Sept. 1804.

a hard Storm of wind and rain last night which lasted about
2 hours, cloudy this morning we Set off eairly three men
out hunting. the hunters killed three Elk. we halted at 8

oC on the S. S. where their was an ancient fortification in the
form of a half moon it appeared that one Side had washed in
to the river. Capt. Clark took the dimentions of it. the wind
high from the North So that we were obledged to lay too at a
high prarie where we found plumbs & Grapes a pleanty.

Monday 3rd. Sept.

cool and pleasant this morning we Set off at Sun rise
passed yallow Bluff & many beaver Signs we passed a Chalk
Bluff we passed plumb Creek on the N. S. Camped on
the S. S.

Tuesday 4th.. Sep

Set off eairly. proceeded on found Some plumbs. passd.
white paint Creek on the S. S. we Sailed fast, we passed the
Mouth of Big Rapid River on S. S. Saw an Indian raft at a
Cdeeder [Cedar] Bottom abv. the Mo. of Rapid River. G.
Drewyer killed a Turky we looked for tracks of Shannon
but could not See whether he had passd. or not.

Wednesday 5th.. Sept.

we took a ceeder mast on board Some hunters out we
Sailed on passed Goat creek on N. S. where the Beaver had
made a damm across the mouth of it. we passed handsome
Minneral Springs on the N. S. the hunters killed 2 Elk & a
Deer.

Thursday 6th.. Sept.

a cloudy morning Several hunters out hunting. colter
joined us had not found Shannon. the hunters killed 1 Buffalow
one Elk 3 Deer one woolf 1 Deer & four Turkies.
camped on N. S.

Friday 7th.. Sept. 1805.

a clear morning we set off eairly. one of the hunters killed
a prarie dogg & Sd. he Saw a village of them we halted the
Capts. went out with 10 men and drounded out one & took it
alive & kept it. it is a curious annimal much like a little dog,
& live in holes all in a compact place like a village.

Saturday 8th.. Sept.

a pleasant morning. we Set off eairly. G. Drewyer joined
with the horses had killed 2 Elk a faun Deer and caught 2
large beaver. we passed an old Trading house on N. S.
Capt. Clark walkd on Shore & killed a faun Deer 3 Turkies
& a Squerrell.

Sunday 9th.. Sept

we Set off eairly. Saw Several Gangs of Buffalow on the
Side hills on S. S. Capt. Clark walked on Shore passed Several
creeks. G. Drewyer killed a Deer. R. Fields killed a
Buffalow. Capt. Clark killed a Buffalow.

Monday 10th.. Sept. 1804.

a foggy morning. we Set off eairly proceeded on. we Saw
a ruck of Bones on the Bank S. S. which appeared to be the
Bones of a monstrous large fish the Back Bone is 45 feet long.
the hunters killed three Buffalow & a Deer.

Tuesday 11th.. Sept. 1804.

Set out an eairly hour Clear morning & fare wind. proceeded
on passed an IsId.. covd. with timber. high hills and
prarie Saw a man coming down to the bank horseback near
we came to Shore and found it was Shannon that had been
with the horses. he had been absent 16 days and 12 of them
he had eat nothing but Grapes. the reason was his balls ran
Short. the hills commenced close on both Sides of the river.
Capt. Clark, Sergt. Ordway & Sergt. Pryor went out to hunt
this morning [came] to us heree. had killed 2 Elk 4 Deer
and one porkapine. one of the horses which Shannon had
with him Gave out & he left him 7 days ago. we proceeded
on Rained verry hard passed black bluffs on the S. S.
R. Fields went with the horse as we have only the one now
the rain continued untill 7 oClock in the evening. Camped
on the South Side.

Wednesday 12 Sept. 1804.

Clouday. R. Fields continued on with the horse. passed a
long range of black bluffs on the S. S. and an Island covered
with timber. that is all the wood that is to be Seen at this
place. all the country is hills and praries. at 12 oclock Capt.
Clark Newman and Sergt. Gass went a hunting. those in the
barge had a Great deal of trouble to Git along the Sand bars,
their was So many and the current So rapid that we did not
come more than 4 miles. Camped after dark on the S.
Side.

Thursday 13th.. Sept. 1804.

cloudy and hard rain. G. Drewyer caught 4 beaver last
night high wind, passed a creek on S. S. and range of black
bluffs. three of the party went out to hunt and has not
returned yet. Camped on the N. S.

Friday 14th.. Sept. 1804.

a foggy morning, a cloudy day and Some rain the water is
So Shallow that we had to waid & hall the barge over the
Sand bars. at 8 oClock we halted for to take breakfast. the
3 men who went a hunting yesterday joined us here. the hills
and praries are pleasant but barron. G. Drewyer caught 3
beaver last night the Musquitoes are troublesom. passd. black
bluffs on the S. Side and an Island which had Som timber on
it. passed a creek on South Side. the hunters killed a goat
and a hare. the Goat was killed by Capt. Clark & the first
that was Seen by the party on the Missourie.

Saturday the 15th.. Sept.

we Set off eairly a cloudy morning. Collins went with the
horse. we passed a creek on the S. Side named Shannons
creek and black bluffs on N. S. passed white River on the
S. Side Sergt. Gass & R. Fields went up white River Some
distance. they found it to be a handsom river and a handsom
country. 12 miles up this R. it is 150 yds.. wide the current
and coulour is like the Missourie R.

Sunday 16th.. Sept. 1804.

we Set off eairly and proceeded on passed the mouth of
White River on the S. Side Came 4 miles and Camped at
a beautiful bottom wood with thin timber named pleasant
Camp. I went out a hunting and Several more of the party,
their was a nomber of buffaloe Elk Deer Goats & one magpy
killed this day. Sergt. Gass & R. Fields returned. had killed
3 Deer.

Monday 17th.. Sept. 1804.

Capt. Lewis and Several more of the party went out a hunting.
they came in had killed 13 common Deer 2 black taild
Deer 1 Goat & 3 Buffaloe the Goats in this [country] is different
from the Goats in the States they have much longer ears
and courser hair. Drewyer caught 1 beaver. killed a prarie
wolf, these wolves are larger than a fox.

Tuesday 18th.. Sept.

we Set off from camp pleasant a clear day. passed timbered
land on the S. S. hills and prarie on the N. S. passd. an
Isd. and a Great nomber of Sand bars. Capt. Lewis in his yesterdays
hunt killed a bird not common in the States a bird of
pray resembling the Europian magpy. Capt. Clark Drewyer
& jo Fields killed 11 deer and one wolf we Camped before
night in order to jerk our meat on the S. Side Fields did not
join us this night.

Wednesday 19th.. Sept.

we Set off eairly. a clear day. we passed handsom large
bottoms on Each Side covered with timber jo. Fields killed
a black tailed Deer & hung it up on the bank of the river.
Capt. Clark & 2 men went out to hunt on N. S. at noon we
Saw Some buffaloe Swimming the river. we Stoped and
Killed 2 of them. proceeded on. Capt. Lewis and Drewyer
went to hunt on an Island opposit to this Isld. comes in
River called the Souix pass over of the three Rivers. at the
upper end of the Same Isd. comes in a creek called Elm Creek
up the bluffs abt. 2 miles comes in another Creek called wash

creek. Capt. Lewis and Drewyer Came to the Boat again.
about 2 miles we passd. another creek called night Creek, at
which place we Camped on the South Side. Here Drewyer
came to us had killed 2 deer of the black tald kind.

Thursday 20th.. Sept.

Set off eairly a clear day & fair wind. passed handsom
riseing prarie on N. Side and a bottom covered with timber
on the S. Side. Capt Clark walked on Shore. Drewyer and
Shields went across a point withe the horse about 2 miles
which was 30 miles round by water, which is called the Grand
bend of the missourie. at one oClock we halted to dine.
Capt. Lewis and R. Fields went a hunting. at 2 oC we proceeded
on passed a long range of bluffs on N. S. of a dark
coulour. out of those and others of the same kind is where
the Missourie Gets its muddy colour for this Earth melts like
Sugar, and every rain that comes they wash down and the
rapidness of the current keeps continualy mixing through the
water all the way to the mouth of the Mississippi. at 7 oC
we camped on a large Sand beach on N. S. here boath the
Captains and R. Fields joined us. had killed 2 Goats and 2
deer at 1 oClock at night the bank began to fall in So fast
we had to raise all hands and go on one mile further before
we could camp. then crossed the river & camped again.

Friday 21st.. Sept.

Set off eairly a clear day proceeded on 4 miles passed the
bluffs on the South Side and came to the End of the bend
where it is not more than 2 miles across to our Camp of the
19th.. Inst. after a journey of 35 miles. we proceeded on passed
black bluffs on S. S. and handsom plains on N. S. passd. a
ceeder bottom on S. S. and bluffs on the N. Side passed a
creek on the S. S. called Tylors creek. Camped on the N.
Side.

Saturday 22nd.. Sept.

Set off eairly a foggy morning. passed Some timber on
S.S. high plains on N. S. about 3 oC we passed a ceeder

Isld. one of the 3 Sister [s] where Mr. Louisell had built a fort
of ceeder. it is pickeded in 65 or 70 feet Square a Sentery
box at the 2 angles corners the pickets are 13 ½ feet above
Ground. in this Square he built a house 45 ½ by 32 ½ feet
divided into 4 equal parts, one for a common hall one to trade
in and one for a famaly house. opposite this Drewyer &
Shields came to us with the horse. they had killed Several
deer and one white wolf. passed a creek & Isd. of the 3 Sisters
proceeded on passed an old Indian Camp where we found
Some of their dog poles, they answer us for Setting poles.
the reason that they are called dog poles is that they tye them
to their dogs & they hall their baggage &c. from one Camp
to another. we Camped on the N. S.

Sunday 23rd.. Sept.

we Set out eairly a clear morning passed Some timber on
the N. S. high land on the S. S. passed a creek on the N. S.
called Smoak creek. R. Fields went out to hunt we passed
Elk Island at the lower end of the long reach. a handsom
bottom on the N. S. and barron hills on the S. Side. At
6 oC in the evening we Seen 4 Indians on the S. S. we
Camped on the N. S. and three of them Swam over to us
they belonged to the Souix nation. they Informed us that
their was more of their nation not far off we Set them back
over the river again R. Fields joined us here had killed one
Goat.

Monday 24th.. Sept.

Set off eairly passed a Small creek on the S. Side about
3 oClock Coulter came up the bank and told us that he had
went on an Island this morning, and while he was their the
Indians Stole the horse, he had killed 2 Elk one perogue
Stopd. to dress & take them on board. we saw 5 Indians on
the bank but we could not understand them nor them us. we
ankred the boat out in the river to wait for the perogues. one
came up we then proceeded on to the mouth of the Teton
River on the S. Side where we ankered out 100 yards from

Shore and all the men remained on board except the Guard &
the cooks. we had one frenchman on board who could Speak
a little of their language. they told us that their chiefs would
come to See us tomorrow. they sayd that if their young men
had taken the horse they would Git him again. these are a
band of the Souix nation called the Tetons. those 5 we Saw
on Shore Stayed all night.