Created by the Center for Digital Research in the Humanities
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20th August Monday after gieving faufon Some goods the Indians a Canister of whiskey, we Set out under a jentle Breeze from the S. E Shields went with the horses— I am Dull & heavy been up the greater Part of last night with Serjt. Floyd, who is a[s] bad as he can be to live the [motion?] of his bowels having changed &c. &c. is the Cause of his violent attack &c. &c.
| Course | ||
| N. 56° W. | 3 | mes. to a pt. of Willows on the Island S. S |
| North | ¾ | of a mile on the left of the Said Island— |
| N 72° E | 2 ½ | mes. to the upper pt. of the Island |
| N 18° E. | 2 ½ | miles to the lower point of an Island on the S. S. passed Some Sand bars in the river |
| North | 3 ½ | miles to a Bluf on the S. S. and the first above the old Ayauwa Village on the S. S. |
we Came to [to] make a warm bath for Sergt. Floyd hopeing it would brace him a little, before we could get him in to this bath he expired, with a great deel of composure, haveing Said to me before his death that he was going away and wished me to write a letter— [1] we 〈took〉 Buried him to the top of a high round hill over looking the river & Countrey for a great distance Situated just below a Small river without a name to which we name & call Floyds river, the Bluffs Sergts. Floyds Bluff— [2] we buried him with all the honors of War, and fixed a Ceeder post at his head with his name title & Day of the month and year Capt Lewis read the funeral Service over him after paying everry respect to the Body of this desceased man (who had at All times given us proofs of his impatiality Sincurity to ourselves and good will to Serve his Countrey) we returned to the Boat & proceeded to the Mouth of the little river 30 yd. wide & Camped [3] a butifull evening
Sergeant Floyd much weaker and no better. Made Mr. Fauforn the interpter a fiew presents, and the Indians a Canister of whisky we Set out under a gentle breeze from the S. E. and proceeded on verry well— Serjeant Floyd as bad as he can be no pulse & nothing will Stay a moment on his Stomach or bowels—
Passed two Islands on the S. S. and at first Bluff on the S S. Serj.' Floyd Died with a great deel of Composure, before his death he Said to me, "I am going away" ["]I want you to write me a letter"— We buried him on the top of the bluff ½ Miles below a Small river to which we Gave his name, he was buried with the Honors of War much lamented; a Seeder post with the (1) Name Sergt. C. Floyd died here 20th of August 1804 was fixed at the head of his grave— This Man at all times gave us proofs of his firmness and Determined resolution to doe Service to his Countrey and honor to himself after paying all the honor to our Decesed brother we Camped in the mouth of floyds river about 30 yards wide, a butifull evening.—
| N. 56° W. | 3 | ms. to pt. of a willow Isd. S. S. |
| North | ¾ | Me. on the left of the Island |
| N. 72 E. | 2 ¼ | Me. to the upr. pt. of the Isd. |
| N. 18 E | 2 ½ | ms. to the lower pt. of an Isd. on the S. S. passed Sand bars |
| North | 3 ½ | ms. to Sjt. Floyds Bluff on S. S. the 1st above Aiaways
Village a fiew miles above Platt R. |
| 1 % | To the mo: of Floyds River on S. S. & camped | |
| 13 |
Augt. Monday 20th pleasant, we Set of under a gentle Breeze from S. E. the Indians chiefs Set out to return to their village. Sgt. Floyd worse than he was yesterday we Sailed on verry well till noon when we came too on S. S. Sergt. Charles Floyd Expired directly after we halted a little past the middle of the day. he was laid out in the Best Manner possable. we proceeded on to the first hills N. S. there we dug the Grave on a handsome Sightly Round knob close to the Bank. [4] we buried him with the honours of war. the usal Serrymony performed (by Capt. Lewis[)] as custommary in a Settlement, we put a red ceeder post, hughn & branded his name date &.C— we named those Bluffs Sergeant Charles Floyds Bluff. Distant from the Mouth of the Missouri 949½ miles by water, we then proceeded on a Short distance to a creek which we Call Floyds Creek. [5] (came 15 or 18 mil. to day.[)] where we Camped N. S.
Monday 20th. Sergeant Floyd continued very ill. We embarked early, and proceeded, having a fair wind and fine weather, till 2 o'clock, when we landed for dinner. Here Sergeant Floyd died, notwithstanding every possible effort was made by the commanding officers, and other persons, to save his life. We went on about a mile to high prairie hills on the north side of the river, and there interred his remains in the most decent manner our circumstances would admit; we then proceeded a mile further to a small river on the same side and encamped. Our commanding officers gave it the name of Floyd's river; to perpetuate the memory of the first man who had fallen in this important expedition.
Monday 20th we Set out eairly this morning under a gentle breeze from the S. E. the Indians all Set out for to return to their village, we Sailed on verry well till noon when we landed for to take Dinner. Sergeant Charles Floyd expired directly after we landed. he was layed out in the most decent manner possable. we proceded on to the first hills on N. S. where we halted and dug a Grave on the top of a round knob & buried the desed with the honours of war. the funeral Serrymony performed &c— we named this hill Sgt. Floyd's Bluff we then proceeded on to a Creek on the Same Side which we named Sgt. Floyds Creek.
Monday August 20th We embarked early this morning with a gentle breeze from the South East, the Indians who had encamped a small distance from us, also set out to return to their Villages. We continued sailing on very well 'till noon, when we landed to take dinner.— shortly after one of our Serjeants Charles Floyd expired; we laid him out in the most decent manner possible. We then proceeded on to the first hills, which lay on the North side of the River, where we halted and dug a Grave on the Top of a high round Nob; and Interred him, with all the honors of Warr.— and had a funeral Sermon preach'd over him. we named this Hill Serjeant Floyds bluff. The disease which occasion'd his death, was a Bilious cholic, [6] which baffled all medical aid, that Captain Lewis could administer, We proceeded on to a Creek, lying on the same side of the River, which we named Serjeant Floyds Creek, and encamped
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.