Pierre Cruzatte Archives - Lewis & Clark Research Database

Lewis: June 21, 1806

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:37:35 +0000

Saturday June 21st 1806. We collected our horses early set out on our
return to the flatts. we all felt some mortification in being thus
compelled to retrace our steps through this tedious and difficult part of
our rout, obstructed with brush and innumerable logs of fallen timber
which renders the traveling distressing and even dangerous to our horses.
one of Thompson’s horses is either choked this morning or has the
distemper very badly I fear he is to be of no further service to us. an
excellent horse of Cruzatte’s snagged himself so badly in the groin in
jumping over a parsel of fallen timber that he will evidently be of no
further service to us. at the pass of Collin’s Creek we met two indians
who were on their way over the mountain; they had brought with them the
three horses and the mule that had left us and returned to the quawmash
grounds. these indians returned with us about 1/2 a mile down the creek
where we halted to dine and graize our horses at the same place I had
halted and remained all night with the party on the ____ of Septembr last.
as well as we could understand the indians they informed us that they had
seen Drewyer and Shannon and that they would not return untill the
expiration of two days; the cause why Drewyer and Shannon had not returned
with these men we are at a loss to account for. we pressed these indians
to remain with us and to conduct us over the mountain on the return of
Drewyer and Shannon. they consented to remain two nights for us and
accordingly deposited their store of roots and bread in the bushes at no
great distance and after dinner returned with us, as far as the little
prarie about 2 miles distant from the creek, here they halted with their
horses and informed us they would remain untill we overtook them or at
least two nights. they had four supenumery horses with them. we sent on
four hunters a head to the quawmash flatts to take an evenings hunt; they
so far succeeded as to kill one deer. we left Reubin and J. Feilds at the
Creek where we dined together with Sergt Gass in order to hunt about that
place untill our return. at seven in the evening we found ourselves once
more at our old encampment where we shall anxiously await the return of
Drewyer and Shannon.

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Lewis: June 20, 1806

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:37:35 +0000

Friday June 20th 1806. Our hunters set out early this morning; most of
them returned before noon. R. Feilds killed a brown bear the tallons of
which were remarkably short broad at their base and sharply pointed this
was of the speceis which the Chopunnish call Yah-kar. it was in very low
order and the flesh of the bear in this situation is much inferior to lean
venison or the flesh of poor Elk. Labush and Cruzatte returned late in the
evening with one deer which the former had killed. we also caught seven
salmon trout in the course of the day. the hunters assured us that their
greatest exertions would not enable them to support us here more than one
or two days longer from the great scarcity of game and the difficult
access of the country, the under brush being very thick and great
quantities of fallen timber. as we shall necessarily be compelled to
remain more than two days for the return of Drewyer and Shannon we
determined to return in the morning as far as the quawmash flatts and
indeavour to lay in another stock of meat for the mountains, our former
stock being now nearly exhausted as well as what we have killed on our
return. by returning to the quawmash flatts we shall sooner be informed
whether or not we can procure a guide to conduct us through the mountains;
should we fail in procuring one, we have determined to wrisk a passage on
the following plan immediately, because should we wait much longer or
untill the snow desolves in such manner as to enable us to follow the road
we cannot hope to reach the United States this winter; this is that Capt.
C. or myself shall take four of our most expert woodsmen with three or
four of our best horses and proceed two days in advance taking a
plentiful) supply of provision. for this party to follow the road by the
marks which the baggage of the indians has made in many places on the
sides of the trees by rubing against them, and to blaize the trees with a
tomahawk as they proceeded. that after proceeding two days in advance of
hungary creek two of those men would be sent back to the main party who by
the time of their return to Hungary Creek would have reached that place.
the men so returning would be enabled to inform the main party of the
probable success of the preceeding party in finding the road and of their
probable progress, in order that should it be necessary, the main party by
the delay of a day or two at hungary creek, should give the advance time
to mark the road through before the main party could overtake them, and
thus prevent delay on the part of the rout where no food is to be obtained
for our horses. should it so happen that the advance could not find the
road by the marks on the trees after attempting it for two days, the whole
of then would return to the main party. in which case we wold bring back
our baggage and attempt a passage over these mountains through the country
of the Shoshones further to the South by way of the main S. Westerly fork
of Lewis’s river and Madison or Gallatin’s rivers, where from the
information of the Chopunnish there is a passage which at this season of
the year is not obstructed by snow, though the round is very distant and
would require at least a month in it’s performance. The Shoshones informed
us when we first met with them that there was a passage across the
mountains in that quarter but represented the difficulties arrising from
steep high and rugged mountains and also an extensive and barren plain
which was to be passed without game, as infinitely more difficult than the
rout by which we came. from the circumstance of the Chopunnish being at
war with that part of the Shoshones who inhabit the country on this side
of the Mountains through which the road passes I think it is highly
probable that they cannot be well informed with rispect to the road, and
further, had there been a better road in that quarter the Shoshones on the
East fork of Lewis’s river who knew them both would not have recommended
that by which we came to this country. the travelling in the mountains on
the snow at present is very good, the snow bears the horses perfictly; it
is a firm coase snow without a crust, and the horses have good foot hold
without sliping much; the only dificulty is finding the road, and I think
the plan we have devised will succeed even should we not be enabled to
obtain a guide. Although the snow may be stated on an average at 10 feet
deep yet arround the bodies of the trees it has desolved much more than in
other parts not being generally more than one or two feet deep immediately
at the roots of the trees, and; of course the marks left by the rubing of
the indian baggage against them is not concealed. the reason why the snow
is comparitively so shallow about the roots of the trees I presume
proceeds as well from the snow in falling being thrown off from their
bodies by their thick and spreading branches as from the reflection of the
sun against the trees and the warmth which they in some measure acquire
from the earth which is never frozen underneath these masses of snow.
Bratton’s horse was also discovered to be absent this evening. I presume
he has also returned to the flatts.

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Lewis: June 19, 1806

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:37:34 +0000

Thursday June 19th 1806. Our hunters were out very early this morning,
they returned before noon with one deer only. the Fishermen had been more
unsuccessfull, they returned without a single fish and reported they could
find but few and those they had tryed to take in vain. they had broke both
their giggs which were of indian fabrication made of bone. I happened to
have a pointed peice of iron in my pouch which answered by cuting in two
peices to renew boath giggs. they took one fish this evening which proved
to be a salmon trout much to our mortification, for we had hoped that they
were the salmon of this spring arrival and of course fat and fine. these
trout are of the red kind they remain all winter in the upper parts of the
rivers and creeks and are generally poor at this season. At 2 P.M. J &
R Feilds arived with two deer; John Sheilds and LaPage came with them,
they had not succeeded in finding their horses. late in the evening
Frazier reported that my riding horse that of Capt Clark and his mule had
gone on towards the Quawmash flatts and that he had pursued their tracks
on the road about 21/2 miles. we determined to send out all the hunters in
the morning in order to make a fair experiment of the pactability of our
being able to subsist at this place and if not we shall move the day after
to the Quawmash flatts. the musquetoes have been excessively troublesome
to us since our arrival at this place particularly in the evening.
Cruzatte brought me several large morells which I roasted and eat without
salt pepper or grease in this way I had for the first time the true taist
of the morell which is truly an insippid taistless food. our stock of salt
is now exhausted except two quarts which I have reserved for my tour up
Maria’s River and that I left the other day on the mountain.-

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Lewis: June 13, 1806

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:37:32 +0000

Friday June 13th 1806. Reubin Feilds and Willard were ordered to proceed
on our road to a small prarie 8 miles distant on this side of Collins’s
Creek and there hunt until our arrival; they departed at 10 A.M. about
noon seven of our hunters returned with 8 deer; they had wounded several
others and a bear but did not get them. in the evening Labuish and
Cruzatte returned and reported that the buzzards had eaten up a deer which
they had killed butchered and hung up this morning. The indian who visited
us yesterday exchanged his horse for one of ours which had not perfectly
recovered from the operation of castration and received a small ax and a
knife to boot, he seemed much pleased with his exchange and set out
immediately to his village, as if fearfull that we would cansel the
bargain which is customary among themselves and deemed only fair. we
directed the meat to be cut thin and exposed to dry in the sun. we made a
digest of the Indian Nations West of the Rocky Mountains which we have
seen and of whom we have been repeated informed by those with whom we were
conversent. they amount by our estimate to 69,000

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Lewis: May 27, 1806

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:37:25 +0000

Tuesday May 27th 1806. Early this morning we sent Reubin Fields in surch
of the horse which the indians had given us to kill. at 10 in the morning
he returned with the horse and we killed and butchered him; he was large
and in good order. Hohastillpilp told us that most of the horses we saw
runing at large in this neighbourhood belonged to himself and his people,
and whenever we were in want of meat he requested that we would kill any
of them we wished; this is a peice of liberallity which would do honour to
such as host of civilization; indeed I doubt whether there are not a great
number of our countrymen who would see us fast many days before their
compassion would excite them to a similar act of liberallity. Sergt. Pryor
and the party ordered to the indian Village set out early this morning. in
the evening he returned with Gibson and Sheilds. the others remained at
the village all night; they brought a good store of roots and bread. we
also sent Sergt. ordway and 2 men this morning over to Lewis’s river for
salmon, which the indians inform us may be procured in abundance at that
place, and that it is but half a days ride, nearly south.Drewyer,
Cruzatte, and Labuish returned at 4 P.M. with five deer which they had
killed at some distance up Collins’s Creek on this side; that stream still
continues so high that they could not pass it.Charbono’s son is
much better today, tho the swelling on the side of his neck I beleive will
terminate in an ugly imposthume a little below the ear. the indians were
so anxious that the sick Cheif should be sweated under our inspection that
they requested we would make a second attept today; accordingly the hole
was somewhat enlarged and his father a very good looking old man, went
into the hole with him and sustained him in a proper position during the
operation; we could not make him sweat as copiously as we wished. after
the operation he complained of considerable pain, we gave him 30 drops of
laudanum which soon composed him and he rested very well.this is at
least a strong mark of parental affection. they all appear extreemly
attentive to this sick man nor do they appear to relax in their asceduity
towards him notwithstand he has been sick and helpless upwards of three
years. the Chopunnish appear to be very attentive and kind to their aged
people and treat their women with more rispect than the nations of the
Missouri.There is a speceis of Burrowing squirrel common in these
plains which in their habits somewhat resemble those of the missouri but
are a distinct speceis. this little animal measures one fot five and 1/2
inches from the nose to the extremity of the tail, of which the tail
occupys 21/4 inches only; in the girth it is 11 In. the body is
proportionably long, the neck and legs short; the ears are short, obtusely
pointed, and lie close to the head; the aperture of the ear is larger
proportionably than most animals which burrow. the eyes are of moderate
size, the puple black and iris of a dark sooty brown. the teeth are like
those of the squirrel as is it’s whole contour. the whiskers are full,
long and black; it also has some long black hairs above the eyes. it has
five toes on each foot; the two inner toes of the fore feet are remarkably
short, and have short blont nails. the remaining toes on those feet are
long, black, slightly curved, and sharply pointed. the outer and inner
toes of the hind feet are not short yet they are by no means as long as
the three toes in the center of the foot which are remarkably long but the
nails are not as long as those of the fore feet tho of the same form and
colour. the hair of the tail tho of the same form and colour. the hair of
the tail tho thickly inserted on every part rispects the two sides only.
this gives it a flat appearance and a long ovol form. the tips of the hair
which form the outer edges of the tail are white. the base of the hairs
are either black or a fox red. the under disk of the tail is an iron grey,
the upper a redish brown. the lower part of the jaws, under part of the
neck, legs and feet from the body down and belley are of a light brick
red. the nose as high as the eyes is of a darker brick red. the upper part
of the head neck and body are of a curious brownish grey colour with a
cast of the brick red. the longer hair of these parts being of a redish
white colour at their extremities, fall together in such manner as to give
it the appearance of being speckled at a little distance. these animals
form large ascociations as those of the Missouri, occupying with their
burroughs one or sometimes 200 acres of land. the burrows are seperate and
are each occupyed perhaps by ten or 12 of those animals. there is a little
mound in front of the hole formed of the earth thrown out of the burrow
and frequently there are three or four distinct holes forming what I term
one burrow with their mouths arround the base of this little mound which
seems to be occupyed as a watch-tower in common by the inhabitants of
those several holes. these mounds are sometimes as much as 2 feet high and
4 feet in diameter, and are irregularly distributed over the tract they
occupy at the distance of from ten to thirty or 40 yds. when you approach
a burrow the squirrels, one or more, usually set erect on these mounds and
make a kind of shrill whistleing nois, something like tweet, tweet, tweet,
&c. they do not live on grass as those of the missouri but on roots.
one which I examined had in his mouth two small bulbs of a speceis of
grass, which resemble very much what is sometimes called the grassnut. the
intestins of those little animals are remarkably large for it’s size. fur
short and very fine.the grass in their villages is not cut down as
in those of the plains of the missouri. I preserved the skins of several
of these animals with the heads feet and legs entire. The Black woodpecker
which I have frequently mentioned and which is found in most parts of the
roky Mountains as well as the Western and S. W. mountains. I had never an
opportunity of examining untill a few days since when we killed and
preserved several of them. this bird is about the size of the lark
woodpecker of the turtle dove, tho it’s wings are longer than either of
those birds. the beak is black, one inch long, reather wide at the base,
somewhat curved, and sharply pointed; the chaps are of equal length.
arround the base of the beak including the eye and a small part of the
throat is of a fine crimson red. the neck and as low as the croop in front
is of an iron grey. the belly and breast is a curious mixture of white and
blood reed which has much the appearance of having been artifically
painted or stained of that colour. the red reather predominates. the top
of the head back, sides, upper surface of the wings and tail are black,
with a gossey tint of green in a certain exposure to the light. the under
side of the wings and tail are of a sooty black. it has ten feathers in
the tail, sharply pointed, and those in the center reather longest, being
21/2 inches in length. the tongue is barbed, pointed, and of an elastic
cartelaginous substance. the eye is moderately large, puple black and iris
of a dark yellowish brown. this bird in it’s actions when flying resembles
the small redheaded woodpecke common to the Atlantic states; it’s note
also somewhat resembles that bird. the pointed tail seems to assist it in
seting with more eas or retaining it its resting position against the
perpendicular side of a tree. the legs and feet are black and covered with
wide imbricated scales. it has four toes on each foot of which two are in
rear and two in front; the nails are much curved long and remarkably keen
or sharply pointed. it feeds on bugs worms and a variety of insects.

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Lewis: May 25, 1806

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:37:24 +0000

Sunday May 25th 1806. It rained the greater part of last night and
continued untill 6 A.M. our grass tent is impervious to the rain. the
Child is more unwell than yesterday. we gave it a doze of creem of tartar
which did not operate, we therefore gave it a clyster in the evening. we
caused a sweat to be prepared for the indian Cheif in the same manner in
which Bratton had been sweated, this we attempted but were unable to
succeed, as he was unable to set up or be supported in the place. we
informed the indians that we knew of no releif for him except sweating him
in their sweat houses and giving him a plenty of the tea of the horsemint
which we shewed them. and that this would probably nos succeed as he had
been so long in his present situation. I am confident that this would be
an excellent subject for electricity and much regret that I have it not in
my power to supply it.Drewyer Labuish and Cruzatte set out this
morning to hunt towards the quawmash grounds if they can possibly pass
Collins’s Creek. Joseph and Reuben Feilds passed the river in order to
hunt on the opposite side some miles above where the natives inform us
that there is an abundance of bear and some deer. Goodrich visited a
village about 8 ms. above on the opposite side of the river and returned
in the evening; he procured but few roots, he informed us that there were
but 8 persons at home; the others were either hunting, diging roots or
fishing on Lewis’s river. he saw several salmon in their lodges which they
informed him came from that river these fish were remarkably fat and fine.
Gibson and shields returned this evening having killed a Sandhill Crain
only. they had wounded a female bear and a deer but got neither of them.
Gibson informed me that the bear had two cubbs one of which was white and
other as black as jett. four indians remained with us this evening.-

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Clark: May 25, 1806

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:37:24 +0000

Sunday 25th May 1806 rained moderately the greater part of last night and
this morning untill 6 A.M. The child is not So well to day as yesterday. I
repeeted the Creem of tarter and the onion poltice. I caused a Swet to be
prepared for the Indn. in the Same hole which bratten had been Sweeten in
two days past Drewyer Labiech and Peter crusatt Set out hunting towards
the quarmash grounds if they can cross the Creek which is between this and
that place, which has been the bearrer as yet to our hunters. Jos. & R
Fields crossed the river to hunt on the opposit side. Goodrich went to the
2d village to purchase roots a fiew of which he precured. he informed us
that only 8 persons remained in the Village. the men were either hunting
on Lewis’s river fishing, & the women out digging roots. he saw
Several fresh Salmon which the nativs informed him Came from Lewis’s river
and were fat and fine. one of our men purchased a Bear Skin of the nativs
which was nearly of a Cream Coloured white. this Skin which was the Skin
of an animal of the middle Size of bears together with the defferent Sizes
colours &c. of those which have been killed by our hunters give me a
Stronger evidence of the various Coloured bear of this country being one
Species only, than any I have heretofore had. the poil of these bear were
infinately longer finer & thicker than the black bear their tallons
also longer & more blunt as worn by digging roots. the white redish
brown and bey Coloured bear I saw together on the Missouri; the bey &
Grizly have been Seen and killed together here. for these were the Colours
of those which Collins killed on the 14th inst. in short it is not common
to find two bear here of this Species presisely of the same colour, and if
we were to attempt to distinguish them by their colours and to denomonate
each colour a distinct Species we Should Soon find at least twenty. the
most Strikeing difference between this Species of bear and the Common
black bear are that the former are large and have longer tallens, hair,
and tushes, prey more on other animals, do not lie so long or so closely
in winter quarters, and will not Climb a tree, tho ever so hardly pursued.
the varigated bear I believe to be the Same here with those of the
Missouri but these are not so ferocious as those on the Missouri perhaps
from the Circumstance of their being compeled from the scercity of game in
this quarter to live more on roots and of course not so much in the habit
of Seizing and debowering liveing animals. the bear here is far from being
as passive as the common black bear, they have atacked and fought our
hunters already but not so feircely as those of the Missouri. There are
also some of the Common black bear in this neghbourhood tho no So Common
as the other Species.

we attempted to swet the sick indian but could not Suckceed. he was not
able either to Set up or be Supported in the place prepared for him. I
therefore deturmined to inform the Nativs that nothing but Sefere Swetts
would restore this disabled man, and even that doubtfull in his present
Situation. in the evening Shields & gibson returned haveing killed a
Sandhill Crane only. they Saw a female bear, & 2 Cubs & Several
deer. they Shot the bear and a deer both of which made their escape.
Gibson told me that the Cubs were of different Colours one jut black and
the other of a whiteish Colour-. 4 indians Continue with us, one return to
their village to daey

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Lewis: May 23, 1806

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:37:24 +0000

Friday May 23rd 1806. Sergt. Pryor wounded a deer early this morning in a
lick near camp; my dog pursud it into the river; the two young Indian men
who had remained with us all night mounted their horses swam the river and
drove the deer into the water again; Sergt. Pryor killed it as it reached
the shore on this side, the indians returned as they had passed over. we
directed half this deer to be given to the indians, they immediately made
a fire and cooked their meat, 4 others joined them from the village with
the assistance of whom they consumed their portion of the spoil in less
than 2 hours and took their leave of our camp. The Creem of tartar and
sulpher operated several times on the child in the course of the last
night, he is considerably better this morning, tho the swelling of the
neck has abated but little; we still apply polices of onions which we
renew frequently in the course of the day and night. at noon we were
visited by 4 indians who informed us they cad come from their village on
Lewis’s river at the distance of two days ride in order to see us and
obtain a little eyewater, Capt. C. washed their eyes and they set out on
their return to their village. our skill as phisicans and the virture of
our medecines have been spread it seems to a great distance. I sincerely
wish it was in our power to give releif to these poor afficted wretches.
at 1 P.M. Shannon, Colter, Labuish, Cruzatte, Collins, and LaPage returned
from hunting without having killed anything except a few pheasants of the
dark brown kind, which they brought with them.These hunters informed us
that they had hunted the country deligently between the river and Creek
for some distance above and below our camp and that there was no game to
be found. all the horses which have been castrated except my poor
unfortunate horse appear as if they would do very well. I am convinced
that those cut by the indians will get well much soonest and they do not
swell nor appear to suffer as much as those cut in the common way.

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Lewis: May 20, 1806

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:37:22 +0000

Tuesday May 20th 1806. It rained the greater part of last night and
continued this morning untill noon when it cleared away about an hour and
then rained at intervals untill 4 in the evening. our covering is so
indifferent that Capt C. and myself lay in the water the greater part of
the last night. Drewyer, and the two Feildses set out on a hunting
excurtion towards the mountains. Shannon and Colter came in unsuccessfull,
they had wounded a bear and a deer last evening but the night coming on
they were unable to pursue them, and the snow which fell in the course of
the night and this morning had covered the blood and rendered all further
pursuit impracticable. at 2 P.M. Labuish arrived with a large buck of the
Mule deer speceis which he had killed on Collins’s Creek yesterday. he had
left Cruzatte and Collins on the Creek where they were to wait his return.
he informed us that it was snowing on the plain while it was raining at
our camp in the river bottom. late in the evening Labuish and LaPage set
out to join Collins and Cruzatte in order to resume their hunt early
tomorrow morning. this evening a party of indians assembled on the
opposite bank of the river and viewed our camp with much attention for
some time and retired.at 5 P.M. Frazier who had been permitted to
go to the village this morning returned with a pasel of Roots and bread
which he had purchased. brass buttons is an article of which these people
are tolerably fond, the men have taken advantage of their prepossession in
favour of buttons and have devested themselves of all they had in
possesson which they have given in exchange for roots and bread.

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Lewis: May 16, 1806

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

Friday May 16th 1806. Drewyer’s horse left his camp last night and was
brought to us this morning by an indian who informed us he had found him a
considerable distance towards the mountains. Hohastillpilp and all the
natives left us about noon and informed us that they were going up the
river some distance to a place at which they expected to fine a canoe, we
gave them the head and neck of a bear, a part of which they eat and took
the ballance with them. these people sometimes kill the variagated bear
when they can get them in the open plain where they can pursue them on
horseback and shoot them with their arrows. the black bear they more
frequently kill as they are less ferocious. our sick men are much better
today. Sahcargarmeah geathered a quantity of the roots of a speceis of
fennel which we found very agreeable food, the flavor of this root is not
unlike annis seed, and they dispell the wind which the roots called Cows
and quawmash are apt to create particularly the latter. we also boil a
small onion which we find in great abundance, with other roots and find
them also an antidote to the effects of the others. the mush of roots we
find adds much to the comfort of our diet.we sent out several
hunters this morning but they returned about 11 A.M. without success; they
killed a few pheasants only. at 5 P.M. Drewyer and Cruzatte returned
having killed one deer only. Drewyer had wounded three bear which he said
were as white as sheep but had obtained neither of them. they informed us
that the hunting was but bad in the quarter they had been, the Country was
broken and thickly covered in most parts with underbrush. a little after
dark Shannon and Labuish returned with one deer; they informed us that
game was wild and scarce, that a large creek (Collins Creek) ran parallel
with the river at the distance of about 5 or 6 miles which they found
impracticable to pass with their horses in consequence of the debth and
rapidity of it’s current. beyond this creek the Indians inform us that
there is great abundance of game. Sergt. Pryor and Collins who set out
this morning on a hunting excurtion did not return this evening.I
killed a snake near our camp, it is 3 feet 11 Inches in length, is much
the colour of the rattlesnake common to the middle atlantic states, it has
no poisonous teeth. it has 218 scutae on the abdomen and fifty nine
squamae or half formed scutae on the tail. the eye is of moderate size,
the iris of a dark yellowish brown and puple black. there is nothing
remarkable in the form of the head which is not so wide across the jaws as
those of the poisonous class of snakes usually are.I preserved the
skin of this snake.

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