Clark: September 3, 1806

Wednesday 3rd of September 1806 Wind Continued to blow very hard this
morning. it Shifted last night to the S. W. and blew the Sand over us in
Such a manner as to render the after part of the night very disagreeable.
the wind luled a little and we Set out and proceeded on with the wind a
head passed the enterance of redstone River on the N E. Side at 11 A M.
and at half past 4 P. M we Spied two boats & Several men, our party
peyed their Ores and we Soon landed on the Side of the Boats the men of
these boats Saluted us with their Small arms I landed & was met by a
Mr. James Airs from Mackanaw by way of Prarie Dechien and St. Louis. this
Gentleman is of the house of Dickson & Co. of Prarie de Chian who has
a Licence to trade for one year with the Sieoux he has 2 Batteaux loaded
with Merchendize for that purpose. This Gentleman receved both Capt. Lewis
and my Self with every mark of friendship he was himself at the time with
a chill of the agu on him which he has had for Several days. our first
enquirey was after the President of our country and then our friends and
the State of the politicks of our country &c. and the State Indian
affairs to all of which enquireys Mr. Aires gave us as Satisfactory
information as he had it in his power to have Collected in the Illinois
which was not a great deel. soon after we Landed a violent Storm of
Thunder Lightning and rain from the N W. which was violent with hard Claps
of thunder and Sharp Lightning which continued untill 10 P M after which
the wind blew hard. I set up late and partook of the tent of Mr. Aires
which was dry. Mr. Aires unfortunately had his boat Sunk on the 25 of July
last by a violent Storm of Wind and hail by which accident he lost the
most of his usefull articles as he informd. us. this Gentleman informed us
of maney Changes & misfortunes which had taken place in the Illinois
amongst others the loss of Mr. Cady Choteaus house and furniture by fire.
for this misfortune of our friend Choteaus I feel my Self very much
Concernd &c. he also informed us that Genl. Wilkinson was the governor
of the Louisiana and at St. Louis. 300 of the american Troops had been
Contuned on the Missouri a fiew miles above it’s mouth, Some disturbance
with the Spaniards in the Nackatosh Country is the Cause of their being
Called down to that Country, the Spaniards had taken one of the U, States
frigates in the Mediteranean, Two British Ships of the line had fired on
an American Ship in the port of New York, and killed the Capts. brother. 2
Indians had been hung in St. Louis for murder and several others in jale.
and that Mr. Burr & Genl. Hambleton fought a Duel, the latter was
killed &c. &c. I am happy to find that my worthy friend Capt L’s
is so well as to walk about with ease to himself &c., we made 60 Miles
to day the river much crowded with Sand bars, which are very differently
Situated from what they were when we went up.