William Bratton 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 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: August 3, 1806

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:37:50 +0000

Tueday August 3rd,1806. last night the Musquetors was so troublesom that
no one of the party Slept half the night. for my part I did not Sleep one
hour. those tormenting insects found their way into My beare and tormented
me the whole night. they are not less noumerous or troublesom this
morn-ing. at 2 miles passed the enterance of Jo. Field’s Creek 35 yds wide
imediately above a high bluff which is falling into the river very fast.
on the Side of this bluff I saw Some of the Mountain Bighorn animals. I
assended the hill below the Bluff. the Musquetors were So noumerous that I
could not Shute with any Certainty and therefore Soon returned to the
Canoes. I had not proceeded far before I saw a large gangue of ewes &
yearlins & fawns or lambs of the bighorn, and at a distance alone I
saw a ram. landed and Sent Labeech to kill the ram, which he did kill and
brought him on board. this ram is not near as large as maney I have Seen.
however he is Sufficiently large for a Sample I directed Bratten to Skin
him with his head horns & feet to the Skin and Save all the bone. I
have now the Skin & bone of a Ram a Ewe & a yearlin ram of those
big Horn animals. at 8. A.M. I arived at the junction of the Rochejhone
with the Missouri, and formed my Camp imediately in the point between the
two river at which place the party had all encamped the 26th of
April-1805. at landing I observed Several Elk feeding on the young willows
in the point among which was a large Buck Elk which I shot & had his
flesh dryed in the Sun for a Store down the river. had the Canoes unloaded
and every article exposed to dry & Sun. Maney of our things were wet,
and nearly all the Store of meat which had been killed above Spoiled. I
ordered it to be thrown into the river. Several Skins are also Spoiled
which is a loss, as they are our principal dependance for Clothes to last
us to our homes &c.

The distance from the Rocky Mountains at which place I struck the River
Rochejhone to its enterance into the Missouri 837 Miles 636 Miles of this
distance I decended in 2 Small Canoes lashed together in which I had the
following Persons. John Shields, George Gibson, William Bratten, W.
Labeech, Toust. Shabono his wife & child & my man York. The
Rochejhone or Yellow Stone river is large and navagable with but fiew
obstructions quite into the rocky mountains. and probably near it’s
source. The Country through which it passes from those Mounts. to its
junction is Generaly fertile rich open plains the upper portion of which
is roleing and the high hills and hill Sides are partially covered with
pine and Stoney. The middle portion or from the enterance of Clarks Fork
as low as the Buffalow Shoals the high lands Contain Some Scattering pine
on the Lard. Side. on the Stard. or S. E. Side is Some hills thickly
Supplied with pine. The lower portion of the river but fiew pines are to
be Seen the Country opens into extencive plains river widens and Contains
more islands and bars; of corse gravel sand and Mud. The Current of this
river may be estimated at 4 Miles and 1/2 pr. hour from the Rocky Mts. as
low as Clarks Fork, at 31/2 Miles pr. hour from thence as low as the
Bighorn, at 3Miles pr. hour from thence as low as the Tongue river,
at 23/4 Miles pr. hour from thence as low as Wolf rapid and at 21/2 miles
pr. hour from thence to its enterance into the Missouri

The Colour of the Water differs from that of the Missouri it being of a
yellowish brown, whilst that of the Missouri is of a deep drab Colour
containing a greater portion of mud than the Rochejhone. This delighfull
river from indian information has it’s extreem sources with the North
river in the Rocky mountains on the confines of New Mexico. it also most
probably has it’s westerly sources connected with the Multnomah and those
the main Southerly branch of Lewis’s river while it’s Easterly branches
head with those of Clark’s R. the bighorn and River Platte and may be said
to water the middle portion of the Rocky Mountains from N W to S. E. for
several hundred miles. the indians inform us, that a good road passes up
this river to it’s extreem source from whence it is buta short distance to
the Spanish settlements. there is also a considerable fall on this river
within the mountains but at what distance from it’s source we never could
learn like all other branches of the Missouri which penetrate the Rocky
Mountains all that portion of it lying within those mountains abound in
fine beaver and Otter, it’s streams also which issuing from the rocky
mountain and discharging themselves above Clark’s fork inclusive also
furnish an abundance of beaver and Otter and possess considerable portions
of small timber in their values. to an establishment on this river at
clarks Fork the Shoshones both within and West of the Rocky Mountains
would willingly resort for the purposes of trade as they would in a great
measure be relived from the fear of being attacked by their enimies the
blackfoot Indians and Minnetares of fort de Prarie, which would most
probably happen were they to visit any establishment which could be
conveniently formed on the Missouri. I have no doubt but the same regard
to personal safety would also induce many numerous nations inhabiting the
Columbia and Lewis’s river West of the mountains to visit this
establishment in preference to that at the entrance of Maria’s river,
particularly during the first years of those Western establishments. the
Crow Indians, Paunch Indians Castahanah’s and others East of the mountains
and south of this place would also visit this establishment; it may
therefore be looked to as one of the most important establishments of the
western fur trade. at the entrance of Clark’s fork there is a sufficiency
of timber to support an establishment, an advantage that no position
possesses from thence to the Rocky Mountains. The banks of the yellowstone
river a bold not very high yet are not subject to be overflown, except for
a few miles immediately below where the river issues from the mountain.
the bed of this river is almost entirely composed of loose pebble, nor is
it’s bed interrupted by chains of rock except in one place and that even
furnishes no considerable obstruction to it’s navigation. as you decend
with the river from the mountain the pebble becomes smaller and the
quantity of mud increased untill you reah Tongue river where the pebble
ceases and the sand then increases and predominates near it’s mouth. This
river can be navigated to greater advantage in perogues than any other
craft yet it possesses suficient debth of water for battauxs even to the
mountains; nor is there any of those moving sand bars so formidable to the
navigation of many parts of the Missouri. The Bighorn R and Clark’s fork
may be navigated a considerable distance in perogues and canoes. Tongue
river is also navigable for canoes a considerable distance.

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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 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 13, 1806

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:37:43 +0000

Sunday 13th July 1806 Set out early this morning and proceded on very well
to the enterance of Madicines river at our old Encampment of the 27th July
last at 12 where I found Sergt. Pryor and party with the horses, they had
arived at this place one hour before us. his party had killed 6 deer &
a white bear I had all the horses driven across Madicine & gallitines
rivers and halted to dine and let the horses feed imediately below the
enterance of Gallitine. had all the baggage of the land party taken out of
the Canoes and after dinner the 6 Canoes and the party of 10 men under the
direction of Sergt. Ordway Set out. previous to their departur I gave
instructions how they were to proceed &c. I also wrote to Capt Lewis
by Sergt. Ordway-. my party now Consists of the following persons Viz:
Serjeant N. Pryor, Jo. Shields, G. Shannon William Bratton, Labiech,
Windsor, H. Hall, Gibson, Interpreter Shabono his wife & Child and my
man york; with 49 horses and a colt. the horses feet are very sore and
Several of them can Scercely proceed on. at 5. P. M I Set out from the
head of Missouri at the 3 forks, and proceeded on nearly East 4 miles and
Encamped on the bank of Gallitines River which is a butifull navigable
Stream. Saw a large Gange of Elk in the plains and Deer in the river
bottoms. I also observe beaver and Several otter in galletines river as I
passed along. Gibson killed an otter the fur of which was much longer and
whiter than any which I had Seen. Willard killed 2 deer this morning. all
the meat I had put into the Canoes except a Sufficiency for Supper. The
Country in the forks between Gallitins & Madisens rivers is a butifull
leavel plain Covered with low grass.on the lower or N E. Side of
Gallitins river the Country rises gradually to the foot of a mountain
which runs nearly parrelal. those plains are indefferant or the Soil of
which is not very rich they are Stoney & Contain Several Stratas of
white rock. the Current of the river is rapid and near the mouth contains
Several islands, it is navigable for Canoes. I saw Several Antelope Common
Deer, wolves, beaver, Otter, Eagles, hawks, Crows, wild gees both old and
young, does &c. &c. I observe Several leading roads which appear
to pass to a gap of the mountain in a E. N E. direction about 18 or 20
miles distant. The indian woman who has been of great Service to me as a
pilot through this Country recommends a gap in the mountain more South
which I shall cross.-.

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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 8, 1806

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:37:30 +0000

Sunday June 8th 1806. Drewyer returned this morning from the chase without
having killed anything. his hose left him last night, he pursued him but
did not overtake him untill he had nearly reached our camp. The sick Cheif
is fast on the recovery, he can bear his weight on his legs, and has
acquired a considerable portion of strength. the child is nearly well;
Bratton has so far recovered that we cannot well consider him an invalid
any longer, he has had a tedious illness which he boar with much fortitude
and firmness.The Cutnose visited us today with ten or twelve
warriors; two of the latter were Y-e-let-pos a band of the Chopunnish
nation residing on the South side of Lewis’s river whom we have not
previously seen. the band with which we have been most conversent call
themselves pel-late-pal-ler. one of the yeletpos exchanged his horse for
an indifferent one of ours and received a tomahawk to boot; this tomahawk
was one for which Capt. C. had given another in exchange with the
Clahclel-lah Chief at the rapids of the Columbia. we also exchanged two
other of our indifferent horses with unsound backs for much better horses
in fine order without any consideration but the horse itself. several foot
rarces were run this evening between the indians and our men. the indians
are very active; one of them proved as fleet as Drewer and R. Fields, our
swiftest runners. when the racing was over the men divided themselves into
two parties and played prison base, by way of exercise which we wish the
men to take previously to entering the mountain; in short those who are
not hunters have had so little to do that they are geting reather lazy and
slouthfull.after dark we had the violin played and danced for the
amusement of ourselves and the indians.one of the indians informed
us that we could not pass the mountains untill the full of the next moon
or about the first of July, that if we attempted it sooner our horses
would be at least three days travel without food on the top of the
mountain; this information is disagreable inasmuch as it causes some doubt
as to the time at which it will be most proper for us to set out. however
as we have no time to loose we will wrisk the chanches and set out as
early as the indians generally think it practicable or the middle of this
month.

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Clark: June 5, 1806

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:37:29 +0000

Thursday June 5th 1806 Colter and Bratten were permitted to visit the
Indian Village to day for the purpose of tradeing for roots and bread,
they were fortunate and made a good return. we gave the Indian Cheif
another Sweat to-day, continuing it as long as he could bear it. in the
evening he was very languid but Still to improve in the use of his limbs.
the Child is revovereing fast. I applied a plaster of Sarve made of the
Rozen of the long leafed pine, Beas wax and Beare oil mixed, which has
Subsided the inflomation entirely, the part is Considerably Swelled and
hard-. in the evening Reuben Fields, G. Shannon, Labiech, & Collins
returned from the chaise and brought with them five deer and a brown Bear.

Among the Grasses of this Country I observe a large Species which grows in
moist Situations; it rises to the hight of Eight or ten feet, the Culm is
jointed, hollow, Smooth, as large as a goose quill, and more firm than
ordinary grass; the leaf is linner broad and rough; it has much the
appearance of the Meadin Cain as it is Called in the Southern parts of the
U States, and retains it’s virdue untill late in the fall. this grass
propegates principally by the Root which is horozontal and perennial.-. a
Second Species grows in tussucks and rises to the hight of Six or Eight
feet; it Seams to delight in the Soil of the river bottoms which possess
agreater mixture of Sand than the hills in this neighbourhood. this is
also a harsh Course grass; it appears to be the Same which is Called the
Corn grass in the Southern States, and the Foxtail in Virginia. a third
Species resembles the cheet, tho the horses feed on it very freely. a
fouth and most prevalent Species is a grass which appears to be the Same
Called the blue Grass common to maney parts of the United States; it is
common to the bottoms as well as the uplands, is now Seeding and is from 9
inches to 2 feet high; it affords an excellent paterage for horses and
appears to bear the frost and Snow better than any grass in our Country; I
therefore regrete very much that the Seed will not be ripe before our
probable departure. this is a fine Soft grass and would no doubt make
excellent hay if cultivated. I do not find the Green Sword here which we
met with on the lower part of the Columbia. There are also Several Species
of the wild Rye to be met with in the praries. among the plants and Shrubs
common to our Country I observe here the Seven bark, Wild rose, vineing
honey suckle, Sweet willow, red willow, long leafed pine, Cattail or
Coopers Flag. Lambs quarter, Strawberries, Raspberries, Goose berries,
tongue grass, Mustard, tanzy, Sinquefield, horse mint, water penerial,
elder, Coalts foot, Green Plantin, canser weed, Shoemate, and Several of
the pea blume flowering plants.-. Frazier who had permission to visit the
Twisted Hairs Lodge at the distance of ten or twelve miles did not return
this evening-. The river falls in course of the day and rises Some at
night as will be Seen by the remarks in the Diary of the weather. this
most probably is the melding of the Snows dureing the day &c.

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Lewis: June 5, 1806

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:37:29 +0000

Thursday June 5th 1806. Colter and Bratton were permitted to visit the
indian villages today for the purpose of trading for roots and bread, they
were fortunate and made a good return. we gave the indian cheif another
sweat today, continuing it as long as he could possibly bear it; in the
evening he was very languid but appeared still to improve in the use of
his limbs. the child is recovering fast the inflamation has subsided
intirely, we discontinued the poltice, and applyed a plaster of basilicon;
the part is still considerably swolen and hard. in the evening R. Feilds
Shannon and Labuish return from the chaise and brought with them five deer
and a brown bear. among the grasses of this country I observe a large
speceis which grows in moist situations; it rises to the hight of eight or
ten feet, the culm is jointed, hollow, smooth, as large as a goos quill
and more firm than ordinary grasses; the leaf is linnear broad and rough;
it has much the appearance of the maden cain as it is called in the state
of Gergia, and retains it’s virdure untill late in the fall. this grass
propegates principally by the root which is horizontal and perennial. a
second speceis grows in tussucks and rises to the hight of six or eight
feet; it seems to delight in the soil of the river bottoms which possess a
greater mixture of sand than the hills in this neighbourhood. this is also
a harsh course grass; it appears to be the same which is called the Corn
grass in the Southern states, and the foxtail in Virginia. a third speceis
resembles the cheet, tho the horses feed on it very freely. a fourth and
most prevalent speceis is a grass which appears to be the same called the
blue grass common to many parts of the United States; it is common to the
bottom as well as the uplands, is now seeding and is from 9 inches to 2
feet high; it affords an excellent pasture for horses and appears to bear
the frosts and snow better than any grass in our country; I therefore
regret very much that the seed will not be ripe before our probable
departure. this is a fine soft grass and would no doubt make excellent hay
if cultivated. I do not find the greenswoard here which we met with on the
lower part of the Columbia. there are also several speceis of the wild rye
to be met with in the praries. among the plants and shrubs common to our
contry I observe here the seven bark, wild rose, vining honeysickle, sweet
willow, red willow, longleafed pine, Cattail or cooper’s flag,
lamsquarter, strawberry, raspberry, tonge grass, musterd, tanzy,
sinquefield, horsemint, coltsfoot, green plantin, cansar weed, elder,
shoemate and several of the pea blume flowering plants.-

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