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July 12th Thursday Som hunters out on the S. S. those on the L. S. did not return last night, our object in delaying here is to tak Some Observations and rest the men who are much fatigued made Sundery observations, after an early Brackfast I took five men and went up the River Ne Ma har about three miles, to an open leavel part of an emence prarie, at the Mouth of a Small Creek on the Lower Side, [1] I went on Shore, & passed thro the plain passed Several noles to the top of a high artificial Noal from the top of this noal I had an emence, extensive & pleaseing prospect, of the Countrey around, I could see the meandering of the Little River [Nemaha] for [hole] at least 10 miles winding thro a meadow of 15 or 20000 acres of high [holes] bottom land covered with Grass about 4½ feet high, the high lands which rose irregularly, & were toped with Mounds or antent Graves which is to me a Strong evidence of this Countrey haveing been thickly Settled—. [2] This River is about 80 yards wide with a gentle Current and heads up near the Parnee [Pawnee] Village on River Blue a branch of Kansas, [3] a little timbered land near the mouth for 1 mile above, only a fiew Trees, and thickets of Plumbs Cheres &c are Seen on its banks the Creeks & little reveens makeing into the river have also Some timber— I got grapes on the banks nearly ripe, observed great quantities, of Grapes, plums Crab apls and a wild Cherry, Growing like a Comn. Wild Cherry only larger & grows on a Small bush, [4] on the side of a clift Sand Stone [5] ½ me. up & on Lower Side I marked my name & day of the month near an Indian Mark or Image of animals & a boat Tried Willard for Sleeping on his post, our hunters killed some Deer, [6] Saw Elk & Buffalow.
Concluded to Delay here to day with a view of takeing equal altitudes & makeing observations as well as refreshing our men who are much fatigued— after an early Brackfast I with five men in a Perogue assended the River Ne-Ma-haw about 2 〈three〉 miles to the mouth of a Small Creek on the Lower Side, here I got out of the Perogue, after going to Several Small Mounds in a leavel plain, I assended a hill on the Lower Side, on this hill Several Artificial Mounds were raised, from the top of the highest of those Mounds I had an extensive view of the Serounding Plains, which afforded 〈a〉 one of the most pleasing prospects I ever beheld, under me a Butifull River of Clear water of about 80 yards wide Meandering thro: a leavel and extensive Meadow, as far as I could See, the 〈view of the〉 prospect Much enlivened by the fine Trees & Srubs which 〈was〉 is bordering the bank of the river, and the Creeks & runs falling into it,—. The bottom land is covered with Grass of about 4½ feet high, and appears as leavel as a Smoth Surfice, the 〈2 bottom〉 [NB: the upper land] is also covered with Grass and rich weeds [7] and flours, interspersed with Copses of the Osage Plumb. on the riseing lands, Small groves of trees are Seen, with a numbers of Grapes and a Wild Cherry resembling the Common Wild Cherry, only larger and grows on a Small bush on the tops of those hills in every derection. I observed artifical mounds (or as I may most Justly term Graves) which to me is a Strong indication [8] of this Country being once Thickly Settled. (The Indians of the Missouris Still Keep up the Custom of Burrying their dead on high ground) after a ramble of about two miles about I returned to the perogue and decended down the River, gathd. Som grapes nearly ripe, on a Sandstone Bluff about ¼ of a mile from its mouth on the Lower Side I observed Some Indian marks, went to the rock which jucted over the water and marked my name & the day of the month & year— This river heads near one [NB: See note] [9] of the Villages of the Pania [NB: Pawnee] on the [NB: Blue] River Blue, a branch of the Kansas River.— above this river about half a mile the Prarie Comes to the Missouri after my return to Camp on the Island Completed Som observations, Tred [tried] a man [WC: Wld.] [10] for sleeping on his Post & inspected the arms amunition &c. of the party found all complete, 〈No〉 Took Some Luner Obsevations. three Deer killed to day. Latd. 39° 55' 56" N. [11]
A Court matial consisting of the two commanding officers will convene this day at 1 OCk. P.M. for the trial of such prisoners as may be brought before them; one of the course will act as Judge Advocate.—
The Commanding officers. Capt. M. Lewis & W. Clark constituted 〈formed〉 themselves 〈into〉 a Court martial for the trial of Such prisoners as are Guilty of Capatol Crimes, and under the rules and articles of War punishable by Death. [13]
Alexander Willard was brought forward Charged with "Lying down and Sleeping on his post whilst a Sentinal, on the night of the 11th. Instant" (by John Ordway Sergeant of the Guard)—
To this Charge the prisoner pleads. Guilty of Lying Down, and not Guilty, of Going to Sleep. The Course after Duly Considering the evidence aduced, are of oppinion that the Prisoner Alexdn. Willard is guilty of every part of the Charge exhibited against him. it being a breach of the rules and articles of War (as well as tending to the probable distruction 〈the Sulution〉 of the party) do Sentence him to receive One hundred lashes on his bear back, at four different times in equal propation.— and order that the punishment Commence this evening at Sunset, and Continue to be inflicted, (by the Guard) every evening untill Completed
Observed Equal Altitudes of the ☉ with Sextant
| A.M. | 7 | 58 | 59 | P.M. | 4 | 12 | 29 |
| 8 | — | 19 | " | 13 | 48 | ||
| " | 1 | 45 | " | 15 | 14 |
Altitude by Sextant at the time of this obst. 70° 42' 45"
Observed meridian Altd. of ☉'s L. L. with Octant by the back observatn. 40° 53' —"
Latitude deduced from this observatn. 39° 55' 56
Observed time and distance of ☉'s and ☽'s nearest limbs the ☉ West, with Sextant.
| Time | Distance | |||||
| h | m | s | ||||
| P.M. | 4 | 51 | 11 | 70° | 31' | 30" |
| 5 | 5 | 48 | " | 35 | 30 | |
| " | 11 | 52 | " | 37 | 30 | |
| " | 12 | 47 | " | 38 | —" | |
| " | 16 | 30 | " | 39 | —" | |
| " | 18 | 8 | " | 39 | 15 | |
| " | 19 | 51 | " | 39 | 30 | |
| " | 21 | 9 | " | 39 | 30 | |
| " | 24 | 50 | " | 41 | 30 | |
| " | 26 | 14 | " | 42 | 30 | |
| h | m | s | ||||
| P.M. | 5 | 32 | 40 | 70° | 42' | —" |
| " | 33 | 53 | " | 44 | 45 | |
| " | 38 | 55 | " | 45 | 45 | |
| " | 42 | 11 | " | 46 | 30 | |
| " | 43 | 42 | " | 47 | 30 | |
| " | 45 | 25 | " | 47 | 30 |
| ☉'s magnetic azimuth of Circumftr. | N. 86° W. |
| h | m | s | |
| Time by Chronometer P.M. | 5 | 59 | 20 |
| Altd. of ☉'s L. L. by Sextant | 31° | 26' | 30" |
| ☉'s Magnetic azimuth by Circumft. | N. 85° W. |
| h | m | s | |
| Time by Chronometer P.M. | 6 | 5 | 10 |
| Altd. of ☉'s L. L. by Sextant | 29° | 19' | 30" |
Observed time and distance of ☽, and Spica ♍ ★, East, with Sextant.—
| Time | Distance | |||||
| h | m | s | ||||
| P.M. | 8 | 26 | 58 | 19° | 18' | 15" |
Note—this is a mean of four observations which were not so perfect as I could have wished them, in consequence of the moon being obscured in some measure by the clouds, which soon became so general as to put an end to my observations during this evening.—
Thursday July 12th 1804. we lay by for to Rest and wash our Cloaths, &.C—, the Capts take observations. Several hunters went out this morning the hunters which went out yesterday on the South Side went up the Ne Mahas River this River is about 80 yds. wide and navigable for pearogues Some distance up. this prarie comes to its mouth and continues both Sides. A long distance in the Country, one Sentinel a Sleep on his post last night, and tried by court martial this day. [15] Drewyer killed 2 Deer to day.
Thursday July 12th Som Hunters out on the No. Side those on the South Side not Return Last night ouer object in Delaying hear is to take Some observations and rest the men who are much fategeued, armes and amunition enspected all in Good order—
Thursday 12th. We remained here this day, that the men, who were much fatigued, might take some rest. The hunters, who had remained on the south side of the river all night, came in, but had killed nothing. Two more went to hunt on the north side and killed two deer.
Thursday. 12th Rested at the above mentiond place found a pybold horse on the E. S. the hunters Came in brought 4 deer with them— Captn Lewis took the altude as follows Latd 39D 55MN.
Thursday July 12th We remained here this day, on the No. East side of the River, we found a horse of pybald colour, our hunters came to us, having brought with them 4 deer which they had kill'd. Captain Lewis took an observation; (having a clear Horizon,) & found this place to lie in Latitude 39° 55' 56 North.—
Created by the Center for Digital Research in the Humanities
in partnership with the University of Nebraska Press
and funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities.