Lewis and Clark Journey in 1805
Kentucky Gazette
Lexington, 18 Jun 1805THE party of diſcovery, under the command of Captains Lewis and Clark, left the mouth of the Miſſouri on the 19th day of May, 1804. An expreſs with diſpatches from their winter quarters, which left them the 14th April, has returned to St. Louis. By the expreſs, letters were received from Capt. Clark to his correſpondents in Kentucky. A Gentleman from Jefferſon county, has obligingly favoured the Editor of the Kentucky Gazette with the following account, which he obtained from one of the men who returned with the expreſs, and from letters from ſome of the party. They fortified themſelves in November laſt, on the bank of the Miſſouri, 1609 miles from the mouth, by actual meaſurement, in lattitude (sic) 47, 21, North; called then Fort Mandane, after a nation of Indians who reſide in the neighborhood, and who have been very friendly to them — On their paſſage up, they were delighted with the beautiful appearance of the country for about 200 leagues, or to the north of the river La Plate, which comes in from the South; after which, to their winter quarters, it is deſcribed not to be ſo fertile. The perſon who brought the diſpatches, ſpeaks of the opening made by the river, being about one mile wide with high cliffs on each ſide. — The bed of the river occupies about a fourth part of it, the remainder of the bottom entirely compoſed of coarſe ſand, covered with cotton wood. This bottom is continually giving way either on one ſide of the other, and gaining on the oppoſite ſide. The cliffs in ſome places are covered with red cedar, which, with the cotton wood, and a few ſmall black aſh trees, is the only timber deſcribed to be in that country. From the height, there is not a tree or twig to be ſeen, as far as the ſight can extend, or as they have explored. Out from the river the land goes off perfectly level, with but few exceptions — and their plains are covered with graſs. They paſſed the mouths of a number of ſtreams, the moſt of which had names given by the French — One they have named Floyd's river, to perpetuate the name of a young man, of their party, named Charles Floyd, who died much regretted on the 20th Auguſt. They repreſent the Indians to have been friendly, with but a few exceptions. The Soux (sic) are the moſt numerous, are organized in bands bearing different names, move about from place to place, from the banks of the river out to the plains, in purſuit of game and plunder, having no fixed place of reſidence, and in a continual ſtate of warfare. Theſe were the moſt troubleſome Indians to the party of diſcovery, as they expreſſed a jealouſy; leaſt they would ſupply their enemies higher up with arms &c. The higher up they went, the more friendly they found the ſavages, and the better armed. They have a more regular trade with the North-Weſt, and the Hudſon Bay company; which ſupplies come to them by the way of Lake Winnepeck. The Mandanes cultivate corn, which is of a ſmall kind, from whom the party was ſupplied during the winter, and their hunters kept them in abundance of meat. Buffaloes are ſaid to be in great numbers, and of large ſize — Two deſcription of deer are deſcribed; thoſe reſembling the common kind of this country being larger; and the tails 18 inches long, and the hair much longer on their bodies; the other kind having a black tail. Elks and goats are numerous. The grouſe, or praire hen are in plenty; and before the cloſing of the river in the fall, water fowls in abundance. Fiſh ſcarce and thoſe principally of the cat kind. Some of the white bear-ſkins, had been brought to the fort by viſiting Indians from higher up; but the party had ſeen none of thoſe animals. The Indians keep horſes, which are uſed enterely (sic) for the chaſe, and in war. From ſuch information as they have received of the country above there, it is about 600 miles to the great falls, which are made by a ledge of mountains, called Rocky Mountain, in which it is preſumed the Miſſouri terminates. At their winter quarters the river is nearly a quarter of a mile wide; is equally as muddy as at its mouth, and has continued its rapidity with very little alteration, as high as they have gone, though it has become conſiderably more ſhallow, ſo that they will not be able to take their larger barge any higher. From what information they have obtained of the courſe of the upper part of the river, they moſt are at the Northwardly part — From where they wintered to the falls, is nearly a South courſe. The deſcription given by M'Kenzie of the head waters of the river, is accurate. They have ſent on the the Preſident of the United States, an accurate journal, with a map of the country through which they paſſed. Six of the party were ſent back — the party now conſiſts of 28 men, excluſive of the two officers. They have enjoyed perfect health — not one having been ſick, except the unfortunate young man before mentioned, and he was taken off in a few hours with a cramp in his ſtomach. The greateſt friendſhip has exiſted with the party; and the men who have returned, ſpeak in the higheſt terms of the humanity, and uncommon pains and attention of both Captains, Lewis and Clark, towards the whole of them; and that they left them in good ſpirits, fully convinced that they would winter on the Pacific Ocean. They were told of ſix nations of Indians they would have to paſs, before they would arrive at the falls, from only one of which, they apprehended any difficulty — they are called the Snake tribe, and reſide high up. Curioſities of different kinds — live beaſts, birds, ſeveral boxes of minerals, a pair of uncommon ram's horns, from the Rocky Mountain, ſcions of a new diſcovered berry, called the buffaloe (sic) berry, &c. have been brought on by the returned party, and depoſitted (sic) with the commanding officer at St. Louis, to be ſent by him to the Preſident. We expect in a few days further particulars relative to this intereſting voyage.