Created by the Center for Digital Research in the Humanities
in partnership with the University of Nebraska Press
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The following miscellaneous items do not fit into other sections of this chapter. These notes were apparently made after the party left Fort Clatsop in March 1806 or are related to the period after that time, perhaps being written as late as after the return to St. Louis in September 1806.
The navagation of the Missouri to the neighbourhood of the falls is only obstructed by a regularly Swift Current, Sand bars & trees unbeaded in the bottom no rapids or falls of any Consequence and [in?] The 2575 miles
| 1st Osage on S. Side navagable a long way |
| 2 Kanzas S. S. do in Canoes long way |
| 3 R. Plate not nav: one inch |
| Little & Big R. Scioux & R. Jacque nav: a Short dists. on N. S. |
| R. Quecurre not navagbe. one inch |
| 〈Teton River Nav for Ca〉 |
| White River Nav. for Canoes Som Distance S. Side |
| Teton R. do do do S. Sd. |
| Chyenne large & nav. for boats Some Way S. S. |
| Cannon Ball & 2 other on S. Side for Cans a Short dists. |
| Little Missouri abov Mandans Nav. a 〈Short〉 long Dis for Cans S. Side |
| White Earth River Small Nav. for Cans Sht Dist. N. Sd. |
|
Rochejhon (or Yellow rock R.) Navg a long ways Capt. Clark decended this river 818 miles in Cans. |
| Porcupine River high up on N. Side Nav. Short dists. |
|
Marias River near the falls navg for boats a Short distance & for Canoes to near the mountains on the N. Side of the Missouri |
| Medicine Ri. 35 abov the falls navigable a few Miles N. Side |
| The 3 forks Jefferson
Madisins & Galitin Rivers are all navgable for Small Canoes to their Source 〈plenty beaver〉 |
☞ The rout which I should propose to carry on this trade across the Continant is from St. Louis by the Missouri to the Falls of that river 2575 Miles 〈in Balluax of [blank] Weight roaling requiring 8 men〉 then by land on horses to the Forks of Kooskooske West of the Great rocky mountains 340 Miles thence Down Lewis River & the Columbia 640 Miles to the Pacific Ocian. The best Situation for a Tradeing Establishment on that River is 125 miles above it's 〈mouth〉 Enterance at the 〈Enterance〉 confluence of Multnomah River from the South here vestles of any Size may ride in Safty
The winter Establishments of Lewis & Clark in 1804 & 5 was at Mandans Nation 1600 miles up the Mandan Misouri in Latd. 47° 21' 47" North and within 150 miles of the British Tradeing Establishments on the waters of Lake Winnipic & Hudsons Bay— in the Spring of 1805 the party proceded on in large pereogus & Canoes to the falls of the Missouri 966 Miles in Latd. 47° 8 4 N. Current rapid & muddy here the party left the large perogue, and hauled the Canoes acrossed a portage of 18 miles, through an open plain. here the Missouri has a fall within 17 m of about 362 feet in which there are Several pitches are perpendiclr. and fall 〈to an imenc hight〉 one of 97 feet, 19 feet & 47 & 26 feet 5 Inches. 〈above those falls〉 from those falls we view the range of Rocky Mountains (so Called) to a great Distance to N W. & South— above those falls the cors Missouri is more South in assending we penetrate the 1st range of Rocky Mountains at about 30 Miles on a Direct line, then with the Derection of the Mountains to the East of S. 181 Miles to the 3 forks of Jefferson Madson's & Galitines River in Lat. 45° 22' 34" N— we Proceeded up Jeffersons River in a S Westely Direction 276 miles by water to its Source or head Spring in Lat. 44° 33' 22" North— from thence across to Lewis River a Branch of the Columbia is 10 mile west (here the Shoshone or Snake Indians reside) this river is not navagable & no road in this Direction across to the W. of those Emenc mountains. 〈our Cours〉 we hired a guide and proceded on over Emenc mountains on which there was Snow Augt. & Septr. to Clarks River a Branch of the Columbia, about 100 miles where we met with the Tushepaws or flat head Inds. then Down that river in a vally about 200 Miles Travelers rest Creek Latd. 46 48 26 at a road which passes from the plains East of the Mountains near the falls of Missouri across those Mountains to the plains of Columbia West of those mountains (and the rout proposed to Carry on the Trade) here Commences the rugid part of those Emenc Mountains, after resting a few Days on Clarks River at this Road where we found a fiew deer, we proceded on over those emenc rugid Mountains of Snow (in which the party were Compelled to live on horse flesh) to the Forks Kooskooske 183 miles 140 miles of which distance was over emenc Mountains 60 ms. of Snow here Canoes were built & decended the Kooskooske 〈73〉 to Lewis's river from the South down that river to the main Columbia from the N. in Latd. 46° 15' 13" and down the Columbia to its enterance in Lat. 46 19 11 N. and Longt. 124° 57' W. of Greenwich being 640 miles by Water and nearly a West Course. The party arived on the pacific Coast 17 Nov. & built a fort in which they Continued untill the 23 of March following & then Set out on their return by water as far as the Great falls of the Columbia 268 where Some hors were precured to Carry 〈bagga〉 Some Currents passed 〈3 involands〉 & then on foot through an open County for [blank] miles to the foot of the Mtn.
[blank] miles to the foot of the mountain where the party were obliged to delay from the 9th of May untill the 24th of June for the Snows of the mountain to Subside Sufficient to Cross, and then pased over Snow for 60 ms generally from 3 to 6 or 8 feet deep quit 〈firm &〉 Consolidated, or Sufficiently So to bear a hors at the Enterance of Travelers rest on Clarks river Capt Lewis & Clark Seperated. Lewis passed imedeately to the falls of the Missouri on an old indian parth of good road left a party as that place to prepar 〈Geer & Wheels &c〉 and proceded with 3 men to Explore a large N. fork of the Missouri Called Marias River and met with a party of Indians & was Compelled to kill 2 of them. Clark with [blank] men passed up Clarks river and across the heads of Several branches of the Missouri to the place the Canoes had been left on his outward bound journey at the head of Jefferson river, 〈Sent down〉 decended Jeffersons river to the 3 forks, and Sent on the Canoes down the Missouri under the derection of a Sergt. and proceded himself up Galitines River and passed over to the River Rochejhon or Yellow rock river from the South in Latd. 45° 22 N. and 〈built〉 made Canoes of wood & Buffalow Canoes & decended that river 818 miles to its junction with the Missouri 1880 Miles from St. Louis.
The Streams of the Missouri near & within those mountains abound in beaver & otter.
The Muddiness of the Missouri is Caused by the Washing in of it's banks— within the rocky mountains the Water is Clear
The Pumies Stone which is found as low as the Illinois County is formd by the banks or Stratums of Coal taking fire and burning the earth imedeately above it into either pumies Stone or Lavia, this Coal Country is principly above the Mandans—
The Country from the Mississippi to the River Plate 630 Miles 〈will afford of a good〉 furnishes a Sufficient qty of Wood for Settlements— above that River the 〈wood〉 Country becoms more open, and wood principally Confined to river & Creek bottoms. the uplands furtile and open, with Some exceptions on the Rochejhone R. Capt Clark Saw Some Pine Country and the ranges of low Black mountains are Covered with wood. most of the large Rivers fall in on the South side of the Missouri.
| Note. The Lynn commence about the Calumet Bluffs and downwards.— 950 Ms. up the Missouri |
|
The Prairie Fowl common to the Illinois
are found as high up as the River Jacque above which the Sharpe tailed Grows commence 950 Ms. |
|
The Black Walnut is found as high up as 〈Floyds〉 White Stone river and from thence down on the high rich lands. 900 Ms. |
| Mulberry is found as high up as Grand River de Sieoux. 858 |
| Prickly pear is not Common below the Queequerre 1000 ms |
|
Hickory is to be found below the Mahars and black birch in the Same Country, also the horn beem (830 ms.) |
|
Racoons is found from the Calumet Bluffs downwards & on the Pacific
Coast also the honey locus and Coffee nut 650 |
|
Indian Hen & Small Species of Kildee which frequent drift is found as high up as the Entrance of the Little Sieux river 733 ms. |
| The large Black and Brindle Wolf is found as high up as the Mahars Vil- lage— the Small burrowing wolf of the prarie is found as low as the Mahars & some fiew near the Missippi 836 Ms. |
| The Black Bear is found in abundance as high as the little Sioux river, and the are found much higher but scerce. The Ass smart is also found in the Same neighbourhood. 733 ms. |
| Parotqueet is Seen as high as the Mahar Village 836 ms. |
| Opossum is found as high as the River platt. 600 ms. |
| Grey Squrils are found as high up as little Sieux R 733 |
|
Hack berry and Hasel bushes are found as high up as the Council bluff also red oake and Sycamore several species of oake Iron wood 650 mes. |
|
Papaws arrow wood and [letters crossed out, illegible] elder are found as high as the little Nemahaw, also Sugar tree 480 mil |
|
Buckeye & 〈Sugartree〉 is found as high up as the old Kanzas village above Independance Creek 285 ms |
| Green Bryar found as high up as [blank] |
| Pacans are found as high up 〈as Osarge River〉 [4] 400 |
| The Grapes of the Small kind first appear on the River Rochejhone near it's enterance into the Rocky mountains 2700 mils but are not abun- dant on that river, the grape are abundant below cannon ball rivers 1500 ms up and from thence down to the enterance of the river into the Mississippi. no grapes of the large kind |
|
Wild plumbs first appear at the cut off or Mandan Isld. below the man- dans tho' they are Scerce and Small they becom abundant and fine in the neighbourhood of the enterance of White River. 1580 ms |
|
white oake first appear 60 miles below the Ricaras Vilg. and are found in considerable quantity in the river bottoms just above the enterance of Corvus Creek. 1370 mes up |
|
white ash at ash rapid on the Missouri up and on the River rochejhone 60 miles above it's enterance. 2443 ms. up |
| Elm is found Something higher up the rivers than the ash 2500 |
|
Prickly ash first appears a fiew miles above Bull Island in the river bot- toms. Shoemate commences— 2500 |
|
Turkeys first appear at the enterance of Tylors Rivr above the big bend
1200 miles up this 〈river〉 Missouri 1206 |
|
The pointed tail Prarie fowl are found above the Big bend upwards. 1200 ms. up box elder as high as the Mandans 1600 |
|
The party coloured Corvus or Magpy Commence at or about Corvus Creek
and from thence upwards. 1130 |
|
The Fox Squirel first appear a fiew miles above the Dome where we first met with the burrowing or Barking Squirels 1030 Mils. up the [Missouri] Missouri whipperwill is the common attendant of those squirels. |
|
The Big horn animal is found as low as the Beaver bend a fiew miles below the enterance of the rochejhone. 1800 ms. up |
|
The Antilope or Cabra are found in great abundance as low as the Chyenne River, and are seen scattering as low down as the neighbourhood of the Mahar village. or 800 ms up |
|
Mule or Black tail Deer is met with 〈at〉 on the Snowey mts. up and are found as low down the Missouri as the antient fortification & on Boon homm Island or good mans Islands 1000 m |
| Brarow are found as low as Council Bluff 650 ms. up |
| Yellow Oker above the upper old Kanzas Village in a ben on the S side |
|
Chock Cherry found between the 2 Nemahars Rivers 500 miles up the Mis- souri also another species of Cherry |
| Sycamore is found at Ball pated prarie |
Memorandum of articles fowarded to Louisville by Capt. Clark in care of Mr. Wolpards [6] 1s.
| 4 | large Horns of the Bighorn animal |
| 2 | Sceletens do do do |
| 2 | Skins horns & bons of do |
| 4 | Mandan Robes of Buffalow |
| 1 | Indian Blanket of the Sheep |
| 1 | Sheep Skin of the rocky mountains |
| 1 | Brarow Skin |
| 3 | Bear Skins of the White Speces |
| 3 | barking Squirls |
| 2 | Skins of the big horn |
| 1 | Mule or black tail Deer Skin |
| 1 | Hat made by the Clatsops Indians |
| 2 | Indian Baskets |
| 4 | buffalow horns |
| 1 | Tigor Cat Skin Coat |
| 1 | long box of sundery articles |
| 1 | Tin box containing Medicine &c &c. &c. |
| Books and Sundery Small articles |
| a Hat Box containing the 4 vols. of the Deckinsery of arts an ciences [7] two Indian wallets a tale of the black taile Deer of the Ocean & a Vulters quill with a buffalow Coat. |
| Capt. Lewis forward to Washington by Lieut. Peters [8] in |
| 6 | Skins and Sceletens complete of the mountain ram, three male and 3 female |
| 1 | Blacktail Deer Skin |
| 1 | Sheep Skin |
| 4 | Barking Squirels |
| 3 | Bear Skins |
| 1 | White Wolf |
| 3 | beaver tales |
| No. 2 | |
| 2 | Boxes Containing Various articles |
| 1 | Tin Case do do |
| 1 | air gun |
| 4 | Robins |
| 1 | Clat sop hat |
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.