Clark: August 12, 1806
Thursday 12th August 1806 I set out early this morning and had not
proceeded on far before Shannon discovered he had lost his Tomahk. I
derected him to land his Skin Canoe and go back to our Camp of last night
in Serch of it, and proceeded on my self with the two wood and one Skin
Canoe to a large hottom on the N. E Side above the head of Jins island and
landed to take brackfast as well as to delay untill Shannon & Gibson
Should arive. Sent out Shields & Labiech to hunt deer in the bottom,
at 2 P m. Shannon and gibson arived having found the tomahawk at our camp
they killed 3 Elk &c. one of the Canoes of Buffalow Skin by accident
got a hole peirced in her of about 6 inches diamuter. I derected two of
the men to patch the Canoe with a piece of Elk skin over the hole, which
they did and it proved all Sufficient, after which the Canoe did not leak
one drop. The two hunters returned without haveing killed any thing. at
meridian Capt Lewis hove in Sight with the party which went by way of the
Missouri as well as that which accompanied him from Travellers rest on
Clarks river; I was alarmed on the landing of the Canoes to be informed
that Capt. Lewis was wounded by an accident-. I found him lying in the
Perogue, he informed me that his wound was slight and would be well in 20
or 30 days this information relieved me very much. I examined the wound
and found it a very bad flesh wound the ball had passed through the
fleshey part of his left thy below the hip bone and cut the cheek of the
right buttock for 3 inches in length and the debth of the ball. Capt L.
informed me the accident happened the day before by one of the men Peter
Crusat misstakeig him in the thick bushes to be an Elk. Capt Lewis with
this Crusat and Several other men were out in the bottom Shooting of Elk,
and had Scattered in a thick part of the woods in pursute of the Elk.
Crusat Seeing Capt L. passing through the bushes and takeing him to be an
Elk from the Colour of his Cloathes which were of leather and very nearly
that of the Elk fired and unfortunately the ball passed through the thy as
aforesaid. Capt Lewis thinking it indians who had Shot him hobbled to the
canoes as fast as possible and was followered by Crusat, the mistake was
then discovered. This Crusat is near Sighted and has the use of but one
eye, he is an attentive industerous man and one whome we both have placed
the greatest Confidence in dureing the whole rout.After Capt. Lewis
and my Self parted at Travellers rest, he with the Indians proceeded down
the West Side of Clarks river Seven miles and crossed on rafts 2 miles
below the East fork 120 yards wide, after Crossing the river he proceeded
up the North Side of the east fork and encampd. here the Indians left him
and proceeded down Clarks river in Serch of the Tushepaws. an Indian man
Came up with Cap L. from the W. of the mountains and proceeded on with
those who had accompanied us. Capt. L. proceeded up the E. fork of Clarks
river 17 ms. to the enterance of Cokahlarishkit river or the river to
buffalow, he proceeded up on the North Side of this river which is 60
yards wide crossing Several Small Streams and the N. fork, and passing
over part of the dividing mountain onto the waters of Deabourns river in
the plains and in a Derection to the N. extremity of Easte range of rocky
mountains which pass the Missouri at the pine Island Rapid. from thence he
bore his Course to the N E untill he Struck Meadcin river near where that
river Enters the rocky Mts. and proceeded down Medicine river to the
Missouri at the white bear Islands at the upper part of the portage. this
rout is a very good one tho not the most derect rout, the most derect rout
would be to proceed up the Missouri above Dearborns river and take a right
hand road & fall on a South branch of the Cokatlarishkit R. and
proceed down that river to the main road but the best rout would be from
the falls of the Missouri by fort mountain and passing the N. extremity of
that range of the Rocky Mountains which pass the Missouri at the pine
Island rapid Course nearly S. W. and to the gap through which the great
road passeds the dividing mountain the distance from the falls to this gap
about 45 miles through a tolerable leavel plain on an old indian road. and
the distance from thence to Clarks river is 105 miles. The total distance
from the falls of the Missouri to Clarks river is only 150 miles of a
tolerable roadCapt L. arived at the white Bear Islands and encampd.
on the West Side of the Missouri and in the morning he discovered that the
Indians had taken of Seven of his best horses, drewyer prosued the indians
two day’s on the rout towards Clarks river. he Saw their camp on Dearborns
river near the road on which Capt. Lewis & party Come on a by place
where they had left only one or two day at this encampment he Saw great
appearanc of horseson the return of Drewyer Capt L. took Drewyer
& the 2 fieldses & proceeded on his intended rout up Marias river
leaving Sergt. Gass, Thompson, Frazier, Werner, McNeal & Goodrich at
the portage to prepare Geer and repar the wheels & Carrage against the
arival of the Canoes and he also left 4 horses for the purpose of hauling
the Canoes across. The Canoes arrived on the 16th, and on the 26th they
had all except one across, the Plains becom So muddy from the emence rains
which had fallen, that they Could not get her over the portage. on the
28th they joined Capt Lewis at the Grog Spring a fiew miles above the
enterance of Marias river From the Falls of Missouri Capt. L. proceeded on
with Drewyer & the 2 fieldses Courss
On the 26th of July Capt Lewis Set out on his return to the enterance of
Marias river to meet with the party with, the Canoes from the falls. his
course was through the plains
S. E. 5 Milespassing a Small Creek from the mts
S. 70° E. 9 Miles to a principal branch of Marias River 65 yards wide not
very deep at 7 mile. this last branch is Shallow and rapid about the Size
of the former from the S W. both of those Streams Contain a great
preportion of timberhere we find the 3 Specis of Cotton before
mentioned
N 80° E. 4 miles down Marias river and met with 8 Indians of the Blackfoot
nation with about 30 horses, those Indians professed friendship and Set
out with him and encamped together the night of the 26th of July, thy
informed him that there was two large bands of their nation in that
quarter one of which would be at the enterance of Marias river in a fiew
days. they also informed that a french Trader was with one of those bands,
that they traded with the white people on the Suskashwen River at 6 easy
days march or about 150 miles distant from whome they precured Guns Powder
Lead blankets &c. in exchange for wolf and beaver Skins. Capt Lewis
gave them a Flag Meadel & Handkerchief Capt. L. informed those Indians
where he was from & where he had been and his objects & friendly
views &c. of which they appeared to be well Satisfied.
“on the morning of the 27th at day light the indians got up and crouded
around the fire, Jo. Field who was on post had carelessly laid his gun
down behind him near where his brother was Sleeping. one of the Indians
Slipd. behind him and took his gun and that of his brother unperceived by
him, at the Same instant two others advanced and Seized the guns of
Drewyer and Capt Lewis who were yet asleep. Jo. Fields Seeing this turned
about to take his gun and Saw the fellow running off with his and his
brothers, he called to his brother who instantly jumped up and prosued the
indian with him whome they overtook at the distance of 50 or 60 paces
Siezed their guns and rested them from him and R. Field as he Seized his
gun Stabed the indian to the heart with his knif who fell dead; (this Cap
L. did not know untill Some time after.) drewyer who awoke at the first
alarm jumped up and Seized & rested his gun from the indian &c.
Capt L. awoke and asked what was the matter Seeing Drewyer in a Scuffle
for his gun he turned to get his gun and found her gorn, he drew a pistol
from his holsters and prosued the Indian whom he Saw in possession of his
gun making off he presented the pistol and the indian lay down the gun.
the two Fields Came up and drew up to Shoot the Indian which Capt L.
forbid the indians then attempted to drive off all the horses. Capt L.
derected the men to fire on them if they attempted to drive off the
horses, and prosued two fellows who Continued to drive of his horses he
Shot the indian who had taken his gun and then in possession of his horse
through the belly, he fell and raised on his elbow and fired at Capt L.
the other made his escape into a nitch out of Sight with his bow and
arrows and as Capt L. guns was empty and he without his Shot pouch he
returnd. to the Camp where the 2 fields and Drewyer joind him having
prosued the indians across the river the were now in possession of the
most of their own as well as the indian horses and a gun Several bows
& arrows and all the indians baggage the gun & Some feathers and
flag they took and burnt all the other articles. and Saddled up a many of
the best horses as they wished with Some Spear horses, and Set out for to
intersept the party at Marias river and proceded on a little to the S. of
East 112 Miles to the Missouri at the Grog Spring. here they met with
Canoes and party decending joined them leaving their horses on the river
bank, and proceeded on to the enterance of Marias river opened the
deposits, found Several articles damaged. 3 Beaver traps could not be
found, the red perogue unfit for Service, from thenc they proceeded
without delay to the River Rochejhone See cources of Capt Lewis rout in
next book.”
at 2 P.M. Shannon & Gibson arived in the Skin Canoe with the Skins and
the greater part of the flesh of 3 Elk which they had killed a fiew miles
above. the two men Dixon & Handcock the two men we had met above came
down intending to proceed on down with us to the Manclans. at 3 P M we
proceded on all together having left the 2 leather Canoes on the bank. a
little below the enterance of (Jos) Shabonos Creek we Came too on a large
Sand point from the S. E. Side and Encamped. the wind blew very hard from
the S W. and Some rain. I washed Capt L. wound which has become Sore and
Somewhat painfull to him.
