Lewis: June 24, 1805
Monday June 24th 1805. Supposing that Drewyer and R. Fields might possibly
be still higher up medicine river, I dispatched J. Fields up the river
with orders to proceede about four miles and then return whether he found
them or not and join Shannon at this camp. I set out early and walked down
the South West side of the river and sent Shannon down the opposite side
to bring the canoe over to me and put me across the Missouri; having
landed on the Lard. side of the Missouri I sent Shannon back with the
canoe to ascend the Medicine river as far as his camp to meet J. Fields
and bring the dryed meat at that place to the camp at the white bear
Islands which accomplished and arrived with Fields this evening. the party
also arrived this evening with two canoes from the lower camp. they were
wet and fatiegued, gave them a dram. R. Fields came with them and gave me
an account of his & Drewyer’s hunt, and informed me that Drewyer was
still at their camp with the meat they had dryed. the iron frame of my
boat is 36 feet long 41/2 F. in the beam and 26 Inches in the hole.
This morning early Capt. Clark had the remaining canoe drawn out of the
water; and divided the remainder of our baggage into three parcels, one of
which he sent today by the party with two canoes. The Indian woman is now
perfectly recovered. Capt. C. came a few miles this morning to see the
party under way and returned. on my arrival at the upper camp this
morning, I found that Sergt. Gass and Shields had made but slow progress
in collecting timber for the boat; they complained of great difficulty in
geting streight or even tolerably streight sticks of 4/2 feet long. we
were obliged to make use of the willow and box alder, the cottonwood being
too soft and brittle. I kept one of them collecting timber while the other
shaved and fitted them. I have found some pine logs among the drift wood
near this place, from which, I hope to obtain as much pitch as will answer
to pay the seams of the boat. I directed Fraizer to remain in order to sew
the hides together, and form the covering for the boat.
