Lewis: August 7, 1805

Wednesday August 7th 1805. The morning being fair we spread our stores to
dry at an early hour. Dispatched Reubin Fields in surch of Shannon. our
stores were now so much exhausted that we found we could proceed with one
canoe less. we therefore drew out one of them into a thicket of brush and
secured her in such manner that the water could not take her off should
the river rise to the hight where she is. The creek which falls in above
us we called turf creek from the cercustance of it’s bottoms being
composed of excellent turf. my air gun was out of order and her sights had
been removed by some accedent I put her in order and regulated her. she
shot again as well as she ever did. The clouds last night prevented my
taking any lunar observations this day I took Equal Altitudes of the 0
with Sextant.

At one oclock all our baggage was dry we therefore packed it up reloaded
the canoes and the party proceeded with Capt. Clark up Jefferson’s river.
I remained with Sergt. Gass to complete the observation of equal altitudes
and joined them in the evening at their camp on the Lard. side just above
the entrance of turf creek. we had a shower of rain wich continued about
40 minutes attended with thunder and lightning. this shower wet me
perfectly before I reached the camp. the clouds continued during the night
in such manner that I was unable to obtain any lunar observations. This
evening Drewyer brought in a deer which he had killed. we have not heard
any thing from Shannon yet, we expect that he has pursued Wisdom river
upwards for som distance probably killed some heavy animal and is waiting
our arrival. the large biteing fly or hare fly as they sometimes called
are very troublesome to us. I observe two kinds of them a large black
species and a small brown species with a green head. the musquetoes are
not as troublesome as they were below, but are still in considerable
quantities. the eye knats have disappeared. the green or blowing flies are
still in swarms.

r the courses from the entrance of Wisdom river to the forks of
Jefferson’s river are taken directly to the objects mentioned and the
distance set down is that by land on a direct line between the points; the
estimated distances by water is also added in the body of the remarks on
each course.