Clark: July 9, 1804

July the 9th Monday 1804 Sent one man back to the mouth of the River to
mark a tree, to let the party on Shore See that the Boat had passed the
river, Set out early passed (1) the head of the Island Situated in the
middle of the river a Sand bar at the head, (2) passed the mouth of a
Creek or Bayou on the S. S. leading from a large Pond of about three miles
in length, at 8 oClock it commenced raining, the wind changed from N E. to
S. W. (3) at 6 miles passed the mouth of a Small Creek on the L. S. called
Monters Creek, the river at this place is wide with a Sand bar in the
Middle, passed a place on the L. S. about 2 miles above the Creek, where
Several french men camped two years to hunt(4) passed a Island on
the S S. of the river in a bend, opsd. a high Land on the L. S. wind
Shifted to the N. W. in the evining, opsd. this Island, and on the L. S.
Loup or Wolf River Coms in, this river is about 60 yards Wide, but little
water running at the mouth, this river heads with the waters of the
Kanzas, and has a perogue navigation Some distance, it abounds with
Beaver, Camped opposit the head of the Island on the L. S. Saw a fire on
the S. S. Supposedly the four flankers, to be theire, Sent a perogue for
them, the Patroon & Bowman of the Perogue French, they returned &
informed, that when they approached the fire, it was put out, which caused
them to return, this report causd. us to look out Supposeing a pty. of
Soux going to war, firierd the bow piec to allarm & put on their guard
the men on Shore everey thing in readiness for Defence.

—

July 9th Monday 1804 one man Sent back to the river we passed last night
to Blase a tree with a view to notify the party on Shore of our passing
Set out and passed the head of the (1) Island which was Situated opposit
to our Camp last night a Sand bar at the head (2) opsd. this Island a
Creek or Bayaue Corns in from a large Pond on the Starboard Side, as our
flanking party Saw great numbers of Pike in this Pond, I have laid it down
with that name anex’d,v at 8 oClock the wind Shifted from the N, E to S W
and it commenced raining. (3) at Six miles passed the mouth of Creek on
the L. S. Called Monter’s Creek, about two mile above is some Cabins where
our Bowman & Several frenchmen Campd. two years (4) passed an Island
on the S. S. in a Bend of the river opposit Some Clifts on the L. S. the
wind Shifted to the N W opposit this Island and on the L. Side (Loup) or
Wolf River Coms in, this river is about 60 yards wide and heads with the
waters of the Kansis, and is navagable for Perogues “Some destance up”
Camped at a point on the L. S. opposit the head of the Island, our party
was incamped on the Opposit Side, their not answering our Signals Caused
us to Suspect the persons Camped opposit to us was a war party of Soux, we
fired the Bow piece to alarm the party on Shore, ailed prepared to oppose
if attacted