Nathaniel Pryor Archives - Lewis & Clark Research Database

Clark: August 28, 1806

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:37:56 +0000

Thursday 28th of August 1806 Capt Lewis had a bad nights rest and is not
very well this morning. we Set out early and proceded on very well, Saw a
number of Buffalow bulls on the banks in different places. passd the 3
rivers of the Seioux pass at 9 A.M. a Short distance below on the S W Side
Sent out Reubin & Joseph Feild to hunt for the Mule deer or the
antilope neither of which we have either the Skins or Scellitens of, we
detected those two men to proceed on down to the places we encamped the
16th & 17th of Septr. 1804 and which place the party had called
pleasant Camp from the great abundance of Game Such as Buffalow Elk,
antilopes, Blacktail or mule deer, fallow deer, common deer wolves barking
Squirels, Turkies and a variety of other animals, aded to which there was
a great abundance of the most delicious plumbs and grapes. this Situation
which is a Short distance above the enterance of Corvus Creek we are
deturmined to delay one day for the purpose of prcureing the sceletins of
the Mule deer & antilope, and Some barking Squirels. a fiew miles
below the place the 2 Fields were Set on Shore we Set Drewyer and Labeech
on Shore with the Same directions which had been given to the 2 field’s at
12 oClock we Landed on the S W. Side at the Same Spot which we had
encamped on the 16th and 17th of September 1804, and formed a Camp, Sent
out Serjt. Pryor, Shields, Go. Gibson, Willard and Collins to hunt in the
plains up Corvus Creek for the Antilope and Mule deer Sent out Bratten and
Frazier to kill the barking Squirel, and Gave directions to all of them to
kill the Magpye if they Should See any of them Several of the men and the
Squaws of the enterpreter Jessomme and the Mandan Chief went to Some plumb
bushes in the bottom and geathered more plumbs than the party Could eate
in 2 days, those blumbs are of 3 Speces, the most of them large and well
flavored. our Situation is pleasent a high bottom thinly timbered and
covered with low grass without misquitors. at 3 P. M Drewyer and Labeech
arived, the latter haveing killd. a Deer of the Common Speceis only. in
the evening late all the hunters returned without any Speces of animal we
were in want of, they killed 4 Common deer and two buffalow a part of the
best of the meat of those animals they brought in. we precured two of the
barking Squirels only. as we Could not precere any Mule deer or antelope
we concluded to Send the hunters on a head early in the morning and delay
untill 10 A. M to give them time to hunt. I derected Shannon & Collins
to go on the opposit Side, and Labeech and Willard to proceed down on this
Side at Some distance from the river and join the party at the round
Island &c. and R. Field to proceed on Slowly in the Small Canoe to
that place and take in any thing which the hunters might kill. Made 32
miles to day

The hunters informed me that they Saw great numbers of Buffalow in the
plains. I Saw Several herds of those animals on either Side to day at a
distance.

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Clark: August 31, 1806

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:37:56 +0000

Saturday 31st August 1806 all wet and disagreeable this morning. at half
past 11 last night the wind Shifted about to the N. W. and it began to
rain with hard Claps of thunder and lightning the Clouds passd over and
the wind Shifted about to the S W. & blew with great violence So much
So that all hands were obliged to hold the Canoes & Perogue to prevent
their being blown off from the Sand bar, however a Suden Squal of wind
broke the cables of the two Small Canoes and with Some dificuelty they
were got to Shore Soon after the 2 Canoes in which Sergt. Pryor and the
indians go in broke loose with wiser and Willard in them and were blown
quite across the river to the N E. Shore where fortunately they arived
Safe, I Sent Sergt. Jo Ordway with a Small perogue and 6 men to prosue the
2 Canoes and assist them in effecting a landing, those 2 Canoes being tied
together 2 men could not manage them, the wind Slackened a little and by 2
A.M. Sergt Ordway with willard wiser and the 2 Canoes returned all Safe,
the wind continud to blow and it rained untill day light all wet and
disagreeable. all the party examind their arms and put them in order and
we Set out and proceeded on down. Saw Several Indians on the hills untill
we passed the Island of Cedar 9 A. M the morning Cloudy and wind down the
the river at 4 P.M. passed the doome and lowest village of Barking
Squirels. this is also the highest up the river where I observed the fox
Squirel in the bottom above the doome on N. E Side I killed 2 fox
Squirels. we Saw no game of any kind to day as the banks as usial. the Sun
Shone with a number of flying Clouds. we encamped on the N. E. Side a
little below our Encampment of the 5th of Septr. on no preserve Island
haveing Come 70 Miles.

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Clark: August 16, 1806

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:37:53 +0000

Friday 16th August 1806 a cool morning. Sent up Sergt. Pryor to the mandan
village, for Some Corn which they offered to give us. he informed that
they had more Corn collected for us than our Canoes Could Carry Six load
of which he brought down. I thanked the Chief for his kindness and
informed him that our Canoes would not Carry any more Corn than we had
already brought down. at 10 A. M the Chiefs of the different villages came
to See us and Smoke a pipe &c. as our Swivel Could no longer be
Serveceable to us as it could not be fireed on board the largest Perogue,
we Concluded to make a present of it to the Great Chief of the Menetaras
(the One Eye) with a view to ingratiate him more Strongly in our favour I
had the Swivel Charged and Collected the Chiefs in a circle around it and
adressed them with great ceremoney. told them I had listened with much
attention to what the One Eye had Said yesterday and beleived that he was
Sincere & Spoke from his heart. I reproached them very Severely for
not attending to what had been Said to them by us in Council in the fall
of 1804 and at different times in the winter of 1804 & 5, and told
them our backs were Scercely turned befor a party followed and killed the
pore defenceless snake indians whom we had taken by the hand & told
them not to be afraid that you would never Strike them again &c. also
mentioned the ricers &c. The little Cherry old Chief of the Menetarras
Spoke as follows Viz: “Father we wish to go down with you to See our Great
Father, but we know the nations below and are afraid of the Scioux who
will be on the river and will kill us on our return home. The Scioux has
Stolen our horses and killed 8 of our men Since you left us, and the
Ricaras have also Struck us. we Staid at home and listened to what you had
told us. we at length went to war against the Scioux and met with Ricaras
and killed two of them, they were on their way to Strike us. We will
attend to your word and not hurt any people all Shall be Welcom and we
Shall do as you direct-.” The One Eye Said his ears would always be open
to the word of his great father and Shut against bad Council &c. I
then a good deel of Ceremony made a preasent of the Swivel to the One Eye
Chief and told him when he fired this gun to remember the words of his
great father which we had given him. this gun had anounced the words of
his great father to all the nations which we had Seen &c. &c.
after the council was over the gun was fired & delivered, they Chief
appeared to be much pleased and conveyed it immediately to his village
&c. we Settled with and discharged Colter. in the evening I walked to
the village to See the little Crow and know when he would be ready, took
with me a flag intending to give him to leave at his lodge but to my
astonishment he informed me he had declined going down the reason of which
I found was through a jellousy between himself and the principal Chief he
refused a flag & we Sent for Mr. Jessomme and told him to use his
influn to provail on one of the Chiefs to acompany us and we would employ
him. he informed us soon after that the big white Chief would go if we
would take his wife & Son & Jessoms wife & 2 children we wer
obliged to agree to do

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Clark: August 8, 1806

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:37:51 +0000

Sunday 8th August 1806 A cool windey morning I derected Shields and Gibson
to turn out and hunt this morning. at 8 A.M. Sergt. N. Pryor Shannon, hall
& Windsor Came down the river in two Canoes made of Buffalow Skins.
Sergt. Pryor informed me that the Second night after he parted with me on
the river Rochejhone he arived about 4 P M on the banks of a large Creek
which contained no running water. he halted to let the horses graze
dureing which time a heavy Shower of rain raised the Creek so high that
Several horses which had Stragled across the Chanel of this Creek was
obliged to Swim back. here he deturmined to Continue all night it being in
good food for the horses. In the morning he could See no horses. in lookg
about their Camp they discovered Several tracks within 100 paces of their
Camp, which they pursued found where they had Caught and drove off all the
horses. they prosued on five miles the Indians there divided into two
parties. they Continued in pursute of the largest party five miles further
finding that there was not the Smallest Chance of overtakeing them, they
returned to their Camp and packed up their baggage on their backs and
Steared a N. E. course to the River Rochejhone which they Struck at pompys
Tower, there they killed a Buffalow Bull and made a Canoe in the form and
shape of the mandans & Ricares (the form of a bason) and made in the
following manner. Viz: 2 Sticks of 11/4 inch diameter is tied together So
as to form a round hoop of the Size you wish the canoe, or as large as the
Skin will allow to cover, two of those hoops are made one for the top or
brim and the for the bottom the deabth you wish the Canoe, then Sticks of
the Same Size are Crossed at right angles and fastened with a throng to
each hoop and also where each Stick Crosses each other. then the Skin when
green is drawn tight over this fraim and fastened with throngs to the brim
or outer hoop So as to form a perfect bason. one of those Canoes will
carry 6 or 8 Men and their loads. Those two Canoes are nearly the Same
Size 7 feet 3 inches diamieter & 16 inchs deep 15 ribs or Cross Sticks
in each. Sergt. Pryor informs me that the Cause of his building two Canoes
was for fear of ones meating with Some accedent in passing down the
rochejhone a river entirely unknown to either of them by which means they
might loose their guns and amunition and be left entirely destitute of the
means of precureing food. he informed me that they passed through the
worst parts of the rapids & Shoals in the river without takeing a drop
of water, and waves raised from the hardest winds dose not effect them. on
the night of the 26th ulto. the night after the horses had been stolen a
Wolf bit Sergt. Pryor through his hand when asleep, and this animal was So
vicious as to make an attempt to Seize Windsor, when Shannon fortunately
Shot him. Sergt. Pryers hand has nearly recovered. The Country through
which St. Pryor Passed after he parted with me is a broken open Country.
he passed one Small river which I have Called Pryors river which rises in
a Mtn. to the South of Pompys tower. The note I left on a pole at the
Mouth of the River Rochejhone Sergt. Pryor concluding that Capt. Lewis had
passed took the note and brought it with him. Capt. Lewis I expect will be
certain of my passing by the Sign which I have made and the encampment
imediately in the point. Sergt. Pryor bing anxious to overtake me Set out
Some time before day this morning and forgot his Saddlebags which contains
his papers &c. I Sent Bratten back with him in Serch of them. I also
Sent Shannon over to hunt the bottom on the opposit Side. Shields and
Gibson returned at 10 A.M. with the Skins and part of the flesh of three
deer which they had killed in this bottom. I derected them to take one of
the Skin Canoes and proceed down to the next bottom and untill my arival
which will be this evening if Sergt. Pryor returns in time. My object is
to precure as many Skins as possible for the purpose of purchaseing Corn
and Beans of the Mandans. as we have now no article of Merchindize nor
horses to purchase with, our only resort is S kins which those people were
very fond the winter we were Stationed near them. after dark Sergt. Pryor
returned with his Saddlebeggs &c. they were much further up than he
expected.

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Clark: July 23, 1806

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:37:47 +0000

Wednesday 23rd July 1806. last night the wolves or dogs came into our Camp
and eat the most of our dryed meat which was on a scaffold Labeech went
out early agreeable to my directions of last evening. Sergt. Pryor and
Windser also went out. Sgt. pryor found an Indian Mockerson and a Small
piece of a roab, the mockerson worn out on the bottom & yet wet, and
have every appearance of haveing been worn but a fiew hours before. those
Indian Signs is Conclusive with me that they have taken the 24 horses
which we lost on the night of the 10th instant, and that those who were
about last night were in Serch of the ballance of our horses which they
could not find as they had fortunately got into a Small Prarie Serounded
with thick timber in the bottom. Labeech returned haveing taken a great
Circle and informed me that he Saw the tracks of the horses makeing off
into the open plains and were by the tracks going very fast. The Indians
who took the horses bent their course reather down the river. the men
finished both Canoes by 12 oClock to day, and I sent them to make Oars
& get poles after which I sent Shields and Labeech to kill a fat
Buffalow out of a gangue which has been in a fiew miles of us all day. I
gave Sergt Pryor his instructions and a letter to Mr. Haney and directed
that he G. Shannon & Windser take the remaining horses to the Mandans,
where he is to enquire for Mr. H. Heney if at the establishments on the
Assinniboin river to take 12 or 14 horses and proceed on to that place and
deliver Mr. Heney the letter which is with a view to engage Mr. Heney to
provale on some of the best informed and most influential Chiefs of the
different bands of Sieoux to accompany us to the Seat of our Government
with a view to let them See our population and resourses &c. which I
believe is the Surest garentee of Savage fidelity to any nation that of a
Governmt. possessing the power of punishing promptly every aggression.
Sergt. Pryor is directed to leave the ballance of the horses with the
grand Chief of the Mandans untill our arival at his village also to keep a
journal of the of his rout courses distances water courss Soil production,
& animals to be particularly noted. Shields and Labeech killed three
buffalow two of them very fat I had as much of the meat Saved as we could
Conveniently Carry. in the evening had the two Canoes put into the water
and lashed together ores and everything fixed ready to Set out early in
the morning, at which time I have derected Sergt. Pryor to Set out with
the horses and proceed on to the enterance of the big horn river at which
place the Canoes will meat him and Set him across the Rochejhone below the
enterance of that river.

—

Speech for Yellowstone Indians Children. The Great Spirit has given a fair
and bright day for us to meet together in his View that he may inspect us
in this all we say and do.

Children I take you all by the hand as the children of your Great father
the President of the U. States of America who is the great chief of all
the white people towards the riseing sun.

Children This Great Chief who is Benevolent, just, wise & bountifull
has sent me and one other of his chiefs (who is at this time in the
country of the Blackfoot Indians) to all his read children on the
Missourei and its waters quite to the great lake of the West where the
land ends and the sun sets on the face of the great water, to know their
wants and inform him of them on our return.

Children We have been to the great lake of the west and are now on our
return to my country. I have seen all my read children quite to that great
lake and talked with them, and taken them by the hand in the name of their
great father the Great Chief of all the white people.

Children We did not see the ____ or the nations to the North. I have come
across over high mountains and bad road to this river to see the ____
Natn. I have come down the river from the foot of the great snowey
mountain to see you, and have looked in every detection for you, without
seeing you untill now

Children I heard from some of your people ____ nights past by my horses
who complained to me of your people haveing taken 24 of their cummerads.

Children The object of my comeing to see you is not to do you injurey but
to do you good the Great Chief of all the white people who has more goods
at his command than could be piled up in the circle of your camp, wishing
that all his read children should be happy has sent me here to know your
wants that he may supply them.

Children Your great father the Chief of the white people intends to build
a house and fill it with such things as you may want and exchange with you
for your skins & furs at a very low price. & has derected me to
enquire of you, at what place would be most convenient for to build this
house. and what articles you are in want of that he might send them
imediately on my return

Children The people in my country is like the grass in your plains
noumerous they are also rich and bountifull. and love their read brethren
who inhabit the waters of the Missoure

Children I have been out from my country two winters, I am pore necked and
nothing to keep of the rain. when I set out from my country I had a plenty
but have given it all to my read children whome I have seen on my way to
the Great Lake of the West. and have now nothing.

Children Your Great father will be very sorry to here of the ____ stealing
the horses of his Chiefs warrors whome he sent out to do good to his red
children on the waters of Missoure.

_____ their ears to his good counsels he will shut them and not let any
goods & guns be brought to the red people. but to those who open their
Ears to his counsels he will send every thing they want into their
country. and build a house where they may come to and be supplyed whenever
they wish.

Children Your Great father the Chief of all the white people has derected
me to inform his red children to be at peace with each other, and the
white people who may come into your country under the protection of the
Flag of your great father which you. those people who may visit you under
the protection of that flag are good people and will do you no harm

Children Your great father has detected me to tell you not to suffer your
young and thoughtless men to take the horses or property of your
neighbours or the white people, but to trade with them fairly and
honestly, as those of his red children below.

Children The red children of your great father who live near him and have
opened their ears to his counsels are rich and hapy have plenty of horses
cows & Hogs fowls bread &c.&c. live in good houses, and sleep
sound. and all those of his red children who inhabit the waters of the
Missouri who open their ears to what I say and follow the counsels of
their great father the President of the United States, will in a fiew
years be as hapy as those mentioned &c.

Children It is the wish of your Great father the Chief of all the white
people that some 2 of the principal Chiefs of this ____ Nation should
Visit him at his great city and receive from his own mouth. his good
counsels, and from his own hands his abundant gifts, Those of his red
children who visit him do not return with empty hands, he send them to
their nation loaded with presents

Children If any one two or 3 of your great chiefs wishes to visit your
great father and will go with me, he will send you back next Summer loaded
with presents and some goods for the nation. You will then see with your
own eyes and here with your own years what the white people can do for
you. they do not speak with two tongues nor promis what they can’t perform

Children Consult together and give me an answer as soon as possible your
great father is anxious to here from (& see his red children who wish
to visit him) I cannot stay but must proceed on & inform him &c.

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Clark: July 24, 1806

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:37:47 +0000

Thursday 24th July 1806. had all our baggage put on board of the two Small
Canoes which when lashed together is very Study and I am Convinced will
the party I intend takeing down with me. at 8 A M. we Set out and
proceeded on very well to a riffle about 1 mile above the enterance of
Clarks fork or big horn river at this riffle the Small Canoes took in a
good deel of water which obliged us to land a little above the enterance
of this river which the ____ has called Clarks fork to dry our articles
and bail the Canoes. I also had Buffalow Skin tacked on So as to prevent
the waters flacking in between the Two canoes. This last River is 150
yards wide at it’s Mouth and 100 a Short destance up the water of a light
Muddy Colour and much Colder than that of the Rochejhone a Small Island is
Situated imediately in its mouth, the direction of this river is South and
East of that part of the rocky mountains which Can be seen from its
enterance and which Seem to termonate in that direction.I thought
it probable that this might be the big horn river, and as the Rochejhone
appeared to make a great bend to the N. I deturmined to Set the horses
across on S. Side. one Chanel of the river passes under a high black bluff
from one mile below the place we built the Canoes to within 3 miles of the
enterance of Clarks fork when the bottoms widen on each side those on the
Stard Side from 1/2 to a mile in width. river much divided by Islands. at
6 ms. below the fork I halted on a large Island Seperated from the Stard.
Shore by a narrow Channel, on this This being a good place to Cross the
river I deturmined to wait for Sergt. pryor and put him across the river
at this place. on this Island I observd a large lodge the Same which
Shannon informed me of a fiew days past. this Lodge a council lodge, it is
of a Conocil form 60 feet diamuter at its base built of 20 poles each pole
21/2 feet in Secumpheranc and 45 feet Long built in the form of a lodge
& covered with bushes. in this Lodge I observed a Cedar bush Sticking
up on the opposit side of the lodge fronting the dore, on one side was a
Buffalow head, and on the other Several Sticks bent and Stuck in the
ground. a Stuffed Buffalow skin was Suspended from the Center with the
back down. the top of those poles were deckerated with feathers of the
Eagle & Calumet Eagle also Several Curious pieces of wood bent in
Circleler form with sticks across them in form of a Griddle hung on tops
of the lodge poles others in form of a large Sturrip. This Lodge was
errected last Summer. It is Situated in the Center of a butifull Island
thinly Covered with Cotton wood under which the earth which is rich is
Covered with wild rye and a Species of grass resembling the bluegrass, and
a mixture of Sweet grass which the Indian plat and ware around their necks
for its cent which is of a Strong sent like that of the Vinella after
Dinner I proceeded on passed the enterance of a Small Creek and Some wood
on the Stard. Side where I met with Sergt. Pryor, Shannon & Windser
with the horses they had but just arived at that place. Sergt. Pryor
informed me that it would be impossible for the two men with him to drive
on the horses after him without tireing all the good ones in pursute of
the more indifferent to keep them on the Course. that in passing every
gangue of buffalow Several of which he had met with, the loos horses as
Soon as they Saw the Buffalow would imediately pursue them and run around
them. All those that Speed suffient would head the buffalow and those of
less Speed would pursue on as fast as they Could. he at length found that
the only practiacable method would be for one of them to proceed on and
when ever they Saw a gang of Buffalow to Scear them off before the horses
got up. This disposition in the horses is no doubt owing to their being
frequently exercised in chasing different animals by their former owners
the Indians as it is their Custom to chase every Speces of wild animal
with horses, for which purpose they train all their horses. I had the
horses drove across the river and Set Sergt. Pryor and his party across.
H. Hall who cannot Swim expressed a Wiliness to proceed on with Sergt.
Pryor by land, and as another man was necessary to assist in driveing on
the horses, but observed he was necked, I gave him one of my two remaining
Shirts a par of Leather Legins and 3 pr. of mockersons which equipt him
Completely and Sent him on with the party by land to the Mandans. I
proceeded on the river much better than above the enterance of the Clarks
fork deep and the Current regularly rapid from 2 to 300 yards in width
where it is all together, much divided by islands maney of which are large
and well Supplyed with Cotton wood trees, Some of them large, Saw emenc
number of Deer Elk and buffalow on the banks. Some beaver. I landed on the
Lard Side walked out into the bottom and Killd the fatest Buck I every
Saw, Shields killed a deer and my man York killed a Buffalow Bull, as he
informed me for his tongue and marrow bones. for me to mention or give an
estimate of the differant Spcies of wild animals on this river
particularly Buffalow, Elk Antelopes & Wolves would be increditable. I
shall therefore be silent on the Subject further. So it is we have a great
abundance of the best of meat. we made 70 ms. to day Current rapid and
much divided by islands. Campd a little below Pryers river of 35 yds. on S
E.

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Clark: July 20, 1806

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:37:46 +0000

Sunday 20th July 1806 I directed Sergt. Pryor and Shields each of them
good judges of timber to proceed on down the river Six or 8 miles and
examine the bottoms if any larger trees than those near which we are
encamped can be found and return before twelve oClock. they Set out at
daylight. I also Sent Labech Shabono & hall to Skin & some of the
flesh of the Elk Labeech had killed last evening they returned with one
Skin the wolves haveing eaten the most of the other four Elk. I also Sent
two men in Serch of wood Soutable for ax handles. they found some choke
cherry which is the best wood which Can be precured in this Country. Saw a
Bear on an Island opposit and Several Elk. Sergt. Pryor and Shields
returned at half past 11 A M. and informed me that they had proceeded down
the timbered bottoms of the river for about 12 miles without finding a
tree better than those near my Camp. I deturmined to have two Canoes made
out of the largest of those trees and lash them together which will Cause
them to be Study and fully Sufficient to take my Small party & Self
with what little baggage we have down this river. had handles put in the 3
Axes and after Sharpening them with a file fell the two trees which I
intended for the two Canoes. those trees appeared tolerably Sound and will
make Canoes of 28 feet in length and about 16 or 18 inches deep and from
16 to 24 inches wide. the men with the three axes Set in and worked untill
dark. Sergt. Pryor dressed Some Skins to make him Clothes. Gibsons wound
looks very well. I dressed it. The horses being fatigued and their feet
very Sore, I Shall let them rest a fiew days. dureing which time the party
intended for to take them by land to the Mandans will dress their Skins
and make themselves Clothes to bare, as they are nearly naked. Shields
killed a Deer & Buffalow & Shannon a faun and a Buffalow &
York an Elk one of the buffalow was good meat. I had the best of him
brought in and cut thin and Spread out to dry.

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Clark: July 21, 1806

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:37:46 +0000

Monday 21st July 1806 This morning I was informed that Half of our horses
were absent. Sent out Shannon Bratten, and Shabono to hunt them. Shabono
went up the river Shanon down and Bratten in the bottom near Camp, Shabono
and Bratten returned at 10 A M and informed me that they Saw no Signs of
the horses. Shannon proceeded on down the river about 14 miles and did not
return untill late in the evening, he was equally unsuckcessfull. Shannon
informed me that he Saw a remarkable large Lodge about 12 miles below,
covered with bushes and the top Deckorated with Skins &c and had the
appearance of haveing been built about 2 years. I Sent out two men on hors
back to kill a fat Cow which they did and returned in 3 hours the men work
very diligiently on the Canoes one of them nearly finished ready to put in
the water. Gibsons wound is beginning to heal. I am in great hope that it
will get well in time for him to accompany Sgt.

Pryor with the horses to the Mandans. This evening late a very black Cloud
from the S. E. accompanied with Thunder and lightning with hard winds
which Shifted about and was worm and disagreeable. I am apprehensive that
the indians have Stolen our horses, and probably those who had made the
Smoke a fiew days passed towards the S. W. I deturmined to have the
ballance of the horses guarded and for that purpose sent out 3 men, on
their approach near the horses were So alarmed that they ran away and
entered the woods and the men returned- a Great number of Geese which
raise their young on this river passed down frequently Since my arival at
this place. we appear to be in the beginning of the buffalow Country. the
plains are butifull and leavel but the Soil is but thin Stoney and in
maney parts of the plains & bottoms there are great quantity of
prickly pears. Saw Several herds of buffalow Since I arived at this Camp
also antilops, wolves, pigions, Dovs, Hawks, ravins, Crows, larks,
Sparrows, Eagles & bank martins &c. &c. The wolves which are
the constant attendants of the Buffalow are in great numbers on the Scerts
of those large gangues which are to be Seen in every direction in those
praries

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Clark: July 22, 1806

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:37:46 +0000

Tuesday 22nd of July 1806. The wind continued to blow very hard from the
N. E. and a little before day light was moderately Cool. I Sent Sergt.
Pryor and Shabono in Serch of the horses with directions to proceed up the
river as far as the 1st narrows and examine particularly for their tracks,
they returned at 3 P M and informed me that they had proceeded up the
distance I derected them to go and could See neither horses nor tracks;
the Plains imediately out from Camp is So dry and hard that the track of a
horse Cannot be Seen without close examination. I therefore derected
Sergt. Pryor Shannon Shabono & Bratten to incircle the Camp at Some
distance around and find the tracks of the horses and prosue them, they
Serched for tracks all the evening without finding which Course the horses
had taken, the plains being so remarkably hard and dry as to render it
impossible to See a track of a horse passing through the hard parts of
them. begin to Suspect that they are taken by the Indians and taken over
the hard plains to prevent our following them. my Suspicions is grounded
on the improbibility of the horses leaveing the grass and rushes of the
river bottoms of which they are very fond, and takeing imediately out into
the open dry plains where the grass is but Short and dry. if they had
Continued in the bottoms either up or down, their tracks Could be followed
very well. I directed Labeech who understands traking very well to Set out
early in the morning and find what rout the horses had taken if possible

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Clark: July 19, 1806

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:37:45 +0000

Saturday 19th July 1806. I rose early and dressed Gibsons wound. he Slept
but very little last night and complains of great pain in his Knee and hip
as well as his thy. there being no timber on this part of the Rochjhone
sufficintly large for a Canoe and time is pracious as it is our wish to
get to the U States this Season, conclude to take Gibson in a litter if he
is not able to ride on down the river untill I can find a tree Sufficently
large for my purpose. I had the Strongest and jentlesst Horse Saddled and
placed Skins & blankets in Such a manner that when he was put on the
horse he felt himself in as easy a position as when lying. this was a
fortunate circunstance as he Could go much more at his ease than in a
litter. passed Rose bud river on Sd Side I proceeded on about 9 miles, and
halted to let the horses graze and let Gibson rest. his leg become So
numed from remaining in one position, as to render extreemly painfull to
him. I derected Shields to keep through the thick timber and examine for a
tree sufficently large & Sound to make a Canoe, and also hunt for Some
Wild Ginger for a Poltice for Gibsons wound. he joined me at dinner with 2
fat Bucks but found neither tree or Ginger. he informed me that 2 white
bear Chased him on horsback, each of which he Shot from his horse &c.
Currents are ripe and abundant, i, e, the Yellow, black & purple
spcies. we passed over two high points of Land from which I had a View of
the rocky Mounts. to the W. & S. S. E. all Covered with Snow. I also
Saw a low mountain in an Easterly direction. the high lands is partially
Covered with pine and form purpendcular Clifts on either side. afer dinner
I proceeded on the high lands become lower on either Side and those of the
Stard Side form Bluffs of a darkish yellow earth; the bottom widens to
Several Ms. on the Stard Side. the timber which cotton wood principally
Scattered on the borders of the river is larger than above. I have Seen
Some trees which would make very Small Canoes. Gibsons thy became So
painfull that he could not Set on the horse after rideing about 2 hours
and a half I directed Sergt Pryor and one man to continue with him under
the Shade of a tree for an hour and then proceed on to the place I Should
encamp which would be in the first good timber for canoes for the below.
It may be proper to observe that the emence Sworms of Grass hoppers have
distroyed every Sprig of Grass for maney miles on this Side of the river,
and appear to be progressing upwards. about 4 Miles below the place I left
Sergt. Pryor with Gibson found some large timber near which the grass was
tolerably good I Encamped under a thick grove of those trees which was not
Sufficiently large for my purpose, tho two of them would mak small Canoes.
I took Shields and proceeded on through a large timbered bottom imediately
below in Serch of better trees for Canoes, found Several about the Same
Size with those at my Camp. at dark I returned to Camp

Sergt. Pryor had arived with gibson. after my arival at this place the
hunters killed Seven Elk, four Deer, and I wounded a Buffalow very badly
near the Camp imediately after I arived. in the forepart of the day the
hunters killed two deer an Antelope & Shot two Bear. Shabono informed
me that he Saw an Indian on the high lands on the opposit Side of the
river, in the time I was absent in the woods. I saw a Smoke in the Same
direction with that which I had Seen on the 7th inst. it appeared to be in
the Mountains.

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