Created by the Center for Digital Research in the Humanities
in partnership with the University of Nebraska Press
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a Cloudy Mornin, raind Some last night We set out early and proceeded on up the [EC: Fish ] Creek, Crossed a large fork from the right and one from the left; and at 8 [EC: 7½] miles left the roade on which we were pursuing and which leads over to the Missouri; and proceeded up a West fork [EC: of Fish Creek ] without a roade proceded on thro' thickets in which we were obliged to Cut a road, over rockey hill Sides where our horss were in pitial [1] danger of Slipping to Ther certain distruction & up & Down Steep hills, where Several horses fell, Some turned over, and others Sliped down Steep hill Sides, one horse Crippeled & 2 gave out. with the greatest dificuelty risque &c. we made five [EC: 7½] miles & Encamped on The left Side of the Creek in a Small Stoney bottom [2] after night Some time before the rear Came up, one Load left, about 2 miles back, the horse on which it was Carried Crippled. Some rain at night
| August 31st 1805 | ||
| N. 35° E | 2 | miles up Tower Creek to a hill |
| N. 10° E | 2 | do do do passed remarkable rock resem- bling Pirimids on the Left Side |
| 4 | ||
| Septr. 1st Sunday | ||
| N. 80° W | 1 ½ | miles to the top of a high hill |
| N. 65° W. | 1 ½ | to the [top?] of a hill passing the heads of dreans passing to our left |
| N. 55° W. | 3 ½ | miles to the top of a high hill passd. two forks of a Crek, the first large & bold the 2d. Small |
| S. 80° W. | 1 ½ | mile down to a raveen to a run |
| N. 70° W. | 3 ½ | to the top of a high hill passing a branch at ¼ & over a hill at 1 mile |
| N. 35° W. | 2 ½ | to the top of a high hill |
| N. 25° W. | 1 ½ | to ditto passed a branch at ½ mile which passes to the left |
| N. 80° W. | 2 ½ | decending a Steep winding hill to a large Creek which we Call Fish Creek & runs into the [EC: Salmon ] river at Some lodge 6 miles below South |
| N. 12° W. | 2 | miles up the Creek to a bluff Point. |
| 20 〈½〉 | ||
| Septr. 2nd Monday | ||
| North | 1 ½ | to a large fork which falls in on the left in a pine bottom |
| N 45° E | 2 ½ | miles to a large fork which falls in on the right Hills Covd. with Pine |
| North | 3 ½ | miles to the [EC: main] forks of the Creek passed a leavel pine bottom & pine hills maney beaver Dams across the Creek |
| N. 60° W | 2 ½ | miles up the west fork [EC: of Fish Cr.
] leaving the road on our right which passes to the Missouri [EC: Dalong Cr.] by the East fork [X: of Fish Cr. ] |
| N. 35° W | 3 | miles up the west fork Crossed it Several times & passing thro' thickets brush & over rocks. |
| N. 50° W | 2 | miles over hills rocks & Steep points & hill Sides on the left of the [X: West fork of Fish ] Creek crossing a run at 1 mile |
| miles | 15 | |
| Septr. 3rd Tuesday 1805 | ||
| N. 25° W. | 2 ½ | Miles to a Small fork on the left Hilley and thick as- sending |
| N. 15° W. | 2 | mile to a fork on the right assending |
| N. 22° W. | 2 ½ | miles to a fork on the left passing one on the left Several Spring runs on the right Stoney hills & falling timber |
| N. 18° E. | 2 | miles passing over Steep points & winding ridges to a high Point passed a run on the right |
| N. 32° W. | 2 | miles to the top of a high hill passed 2 runs from the left, passing on the Side of a Steep ridge. no road |
| N. 40° W | 3 | miles leaveing the waters of the Creek to the right & passing over a high pine Mountn. to the head or a Drean running to the left |
| 14 | ||
| September 4th Wednesday 1805 | ||
| N. 10° W. | 6 | miles on a Direct Course over a high Snow mountain & down a Drean of Flat head River [EC: Ross Forks & Clark's rivr Divide of B. R. Mts. ] to a fork on the right. (our rout on a Dividing ridge to the right 9 ms. about[)] bad road |
| N. 18° W. | 3 | down the run [EC: Camp Creek ] to a run on the left |
| N. 35° W | 3 | miles down the run to the river which Coms from the East, a wide Vallie. 33 tents of Flat heads |
| 12 | ||
| ms. | 53 ½ |
Monday 2nd Sept. 1805. a cloudy wet morning. we loaded our horses and Set out about 7 oClock, and proceeded on. the way we had to go was verry bad Some places thick bushes and logs to pass over. other places rockey. our course about N. E. crossed Several creeks or large Spring runs the water of which was verry cold. Saw a nomber of large beaver dams and beaver ponds on this creek. the pine and balsom fir timber tall and Strait, and pleanty. Some of the pine is large enofe for canoes or boards &C. considerable of common alder along the creeks and runs. we proceeded on up the creek passed through verry bad thickets where we were oblidged to cut a road for our horses to pass through. handsom tall strait pine and balsom fir and a little cotton intermixed. crossed Several branches. Some places muddy. we call this place dismal Swamp. [3] Several beaver dams in it &C. Some places Steep along the edge of the mountains and verry rough and rockey. the mountains make close on each Side of the creek and high covred with pine. this is a verry lonesome place. Some of our weak horses fell backward climeing the Steep rockey hills, and mountains. we had considerable of trouble this day carring Several of the horses loads up the steep rockey mont. one of the horses gave out So that he could not carry his load. we went 13 miles this day and Camped [4] in a thicket near the creek. it was about six miles through the thicket which we call the dismal Swamp. nothing killed this day by the hunters only a fiew fessents. [5] no game of any kind to be Seen in these mountains.
Monday 2nd. The morning was cloudy. We set out early; proceeded up the creek, and passed some part closely timbered with spruce and pine. We went on with difficulty on account of the bushes, the narrowness of the way and stones that injured our horses feet, they being without shoes. In the forenoon we killed some pheasants [6] and ducks, and a small squirrel. In the afternoon we had a good deal of rain, and the worst road (if road it can be called) that was ever travelled. The creek is become small and the hills come close in upon the banks of it, covered thick with standing timber and fallen trees; so that in some places we were obliged to go up the sides of the hills, which are very steep, and then down again in order to get along at all. In going up these ascents the horses would sometimes fall backwards, which injured them very much; and one was so badly hurt that the driver was obliged to leave his load on the side of one of the hills. In the low ground there are most beautiful tall straight pine trees of different kinds, except of white pine. [7] Game is scarce; and a small quantity of dried salmon, which we got from the natives is almost our whole stock of provisions. A son of our guide joined us to day and is going on. We went 13 miles and encamped; [8] but some of the men did not come up till late at night.
Monday 2nd Sept. 1805. a wet cloudy morning. we loaded our horses and Set out about 7 oClock and proced on. the road bad Some places thick bushes and [logs?] to cross. other places rockey. went about a N. E. course up the abo. ment. [9] Creek. Crossed Several large Spring runs. Saw a nomber of large beaver dams & ponds the pine and bolsom fer timber verry pleanty and thick up this Creek Some of the Pine is large enofe for boards [several words illegible] we proceeded on through a bad thicket of tall Strait pitch pine bolsom fer & cotton timber we were obledged to cut a road for the horses to go and some places verry Steep and rockey. we followed the creek up, crossed a nomber of fine Spring branches and waided the creek a nomber of times. the mountains on each Side of the Creek is verry Steep and high. the bottoms on the Creek narrow and Swampy a nomber of beaver dams. we Call this place dismal Swamp, and it is a lonesom rough part of the Country. we were obledged to climb Several hills with our horses, where it was So Steep and rockey that Some of the horses which was weak and their feet Sore, that they fell back 3 or 4 fell over backwards and roled to the foot of the hills. we were then obledged to carry the loads up the hills and then load again. one of the horses gave out So that his load was left a little before night. we Came 13 miles this day and Camped in a thicket of pine and bolsom fir timber near the Creek. 2 of the men came up with their horses and loads after dark. this horrid bad going where we came up this creek which we Call dismal Swamp was six miles and we are not out of it yet, but our guide tells us that we will git on a plain tomorrow. Several fessons killed this day, but no other kind of game Seen by our hunters.—
Monday September 2nd A cloudy wet morning, We set out with our horses & proceeded on our Journey, and about 7 o'Clock A. M. we passed some very bad Roads, some being plains with very thick bushes, and low slashes to cross, other places, very rockey, we went a North east course up the Creek above mention'd. We recrossed the same Creek near a large spring run,— where we saw a number of high beaver dams. We saw also Pitch pine & Balsam fir Trees in great abundance, on the Tops of the Mountains, We passed through a bad thicket of tall strait Pitch pine, balsam fir, & Cotton wood Timber 〈so〉 which grew so close to each other that we were obliged to cut a road for our horses to pass through.—
Some of those places were very steep & Rockey.— We continued our course up the side of the Creek already mentioned this day, and crossed a number of fine Spring branches, and waided in the Creek a number of times. The Mountains that lies on both sides of this Creek are very steep & high; the bottoms on this Creek narrow & swampey, And had a vast number of beaver dams, on them We named this place Dismal swamp, & it was certainly a lonesome rough looking part of the Country.— We were obliged to Climb several hills with our horses, where the hills was so steep & rockey, 〈which〉 some of the horses that was weak & had sore feet fell backward with their loads; and rolled down to the foot of those hills, we were obliged to carry the loads of our horses, on our backs up many of the hills, & then load them again. One of our horses gave out, so that we were obliged to leave his load.— We came about 13 Miles this day, & encamped in a thicket of pine trees, and balsam fir timber; near the Creek.— Two of our Men came up with their horses & loads after it was dark.— We came about 6 Miles through this bad road, all of which way was very bad travelling, and we are informed by our guide, that we have still further to go, before we get to the plains, which he says will be tomorrow, Our Hunters killed several Pheasants this day, but saw no other kind of Game.—
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.