June 13, 1804
[Clark] [1]
13th June Wednesday 〈Papers for the Secretary at War〉 [2] we Set out early passed a verry round bend to L. S. [3] passed two Creeks 1 me. apt. Called Creeks of the round Bend, [4] between those Creeks Stbd S. is a butifull Prarie, in which the antient Missourie Indians had a Village, [5] at this place 300 of them were killed by the Saukees, a fair Day. Passed the antient Missouries villages on right Course N 40° W 2½ pt. L S., S 29° W 3 ms. pt. S. S., this nation once the Most Noumerous is now almost extinct, about 30 of them, liveing with Otteaus on the R. Platt, the remainder all distroyed, took altd. of S. U L with qdt. which gave N 28 W. 1½ ms to a pt. S. S. Passed some Charming land, I have not Seen any high hils above Charliton [Chariton River] and the hils below for Several days Cannot to turmed hills but high Land, not exceeding 100 abov the high water mark N 30° W, to a pt. L. S. 2 ms. passed a verry bad Sand bar, where the boat was nearly turning & fastening in the quick Sand and came too in the mouth of Grand R. S. S. [6] this River is about 120 yards wide and navagable for Purogues a great distance, it heads with the River Dumoine [Des Moines] [7] 〈St. Peters〉, passing the river 〈Dumn.〉 Carlton. [Chariton] a Butifull open Prarie Coms to the river below its mouth, we landed and walked to the hills which is abt. ½ a mile. the Lower prarie over flows. the hunters Killd. a Bare & Dere, this is a butifull place the Prarie rich & extinsive, Took Some Looner Observations which Kept Cap L. & my Self up untill half past 11 oClock.
[Clark]
We Set out early passed a round bend to the S. S. and two Creeks Called the round bend Creeks between those two Creeks and behind a Small willow Island in the bend is a Prarie in which the Missouries Indians once lived and the Spot where 300 [NB: 200] of them fell a Sacrifise to the fury of the Saukees This nation (Missouries) once the most noumerous nation in this part of the Continent now reduced to about 80 fes. [8] and that fiew under the protection of the Otteaus [NB: Ottoes ] on R Platt who themselves are declineing passed Som willow Isds. and bad Sand bars, Twook Medn. altitude with Octent back observation it gave for altd. on its Low L 36° 58' 0" the E [error] Enstrement 2° 00' 00" +. the Hills or high land for Several days past or above the 2 Charletons does not exceed 100 foot passed a Batteau [9] or Sand roleing where the Boat was nearly turning over by her Strikeing & turning on the Sand. We came too in the Mouth of Grand River on S. S. and Camped for the night, this River is 〈about〉 from 80 to 100 yards wide at its Mouth and navagable for Perogues a great distance This river heads with the R. Dumoine below its mouth is a butifull Plain of bottom land the hills rise at ½ a mile back The lands about this place is either Plain or over flown bottom Capt Lewis and my Self walked to the hill from the top of which we had a butifull prospect of Serounding Countrey in the open Prarie we Caught a racoon, our hunters brought in a Bear & Deer we took Some Luner observation this evening.
ca. June 13, 1804, Field Notes, reverse of document 18
| N. 40° W | 2 ½ | Ms. to a pt. L. S. |
| S. 39° W. | 3 | ms. to a pt. S. S. psd. 2 Creeks |
| N. 28 W | 1 ½ | Ms. to a pt. Stbd. S. |
| N. 30 W | 2 | ms. to a pt. L. S. opsd. Gd. R |
| 9 ms. |
[Lewis]
June 13th [10]
On the S. side of an Island near it's upper point two miles below the mouth of the Grand river.—
Observed meridian Altd. of ☉'s L. L. with Octant by the back observatn. 35° 58' 00"
(Point of observation No. 8.)
Wednesday June 13th
At the mouth of the Grand River.
Observed time and distance of ☽ from Spica ♍ ★ East.
| Time | Distance | |||||
| h | m | s | ||||
| P. M. | 9 | 17 | 49.5 | 39° | 36' | —" |
| " | 22 | 38 | " | 28 | — | |
| " | 32 | 40 | " | 24 | — | |
| " | 41 | 39 | " | 20 | 45 | |
| " | 47 | 8 | " | 17 | 32 | |
| " | 59 | 48.5 | " | 11 | 45 | |
| h | m | s | ||||
| P. M. | 10 | 14 | 19 | 39° | 1' | 30" |
| " | 18 | 47 | " | — | 30 | |
| " | 21 | 51 | 38 | 58 | 15 | |
| " | 27 | 12 | " | 56 | 30 | |
| " | 39 | 34 | " | 53 | 00 | |
| " | 45 | 41 | " | 48 | — | |
| h | m | s | ||||
| P. M. | 10 | 54 | 38 | 38° | 41' | 45" |
| " | 59 | 49 | " | 39 | — | |
| 11 | 3 | 8 | " | 37 | 30 | |
| " | 6 | 44 | " | 36 | 45 | |
| " | 10 | 40 | " | 34 | 00 | |
| " | 16 | — | " | 31 | 45 |
[Ordway]
Wednesday June 13th 1804. fair morning we set out eairly. passed the Creek of the praries, [11] large praries above the Creek. verry excellent land we passed a Creek Called Round bend Creek on N. Side passd. prarie on the South Side of the River. we arrived at Grand River in good Season to encamp. Beautiful prarie across 〈from〉 in the point Between the Missouri & Grand River high Land Back from the River, it being on the N. Side of River
[Floyd]
wensday June 13th 1804 Set out at 6 oclock and Came 1 ½ miles past a Creek on the N. Side Calleded River missorea [12] Just above the Creek a Large Praria of Good Land on the N Side at this Praria antient Missourie Indianes had a village at this place 300 of them were Killed by the Saukees [13] in former times [14] a fair day past the Grand River on the N. Side 〈the〉 Land is level on Both Sides a handsom Prarie on the Loer Side of it water Strong past Several Isd. Came 10 miles the Grand River is about 300 and 50 yads wide and Boates Can Go for Som hundreds of miles up it ouer hunters Killed yesterday and to day 1 Bar, 2 Deer encampted at the mouth of the Grand River on the N. Side of the River
[Gass]
Wednesday 13th. We proceeded early on our voyage; passed a small creek on the north side in a long bend of the river; and encamped at the mouth of Grand river on the North side. This is as handsome a place as I ever saw in an uncultivated state.
[Whitehouse]
Wendy 13th Got On Our way at the three point Island Or the falling 〈Do〉 Banks whare all hands Breakfasted belonging to the three Crafts— On the Oppisite Shore S. W. Side neer two or about 2 Oclock the Barge Struck a Sandbar She Keeld On her labord the Sand being Quick Vanquishd Suddently from 〈her〉 Under her the Currant Being Rappid Neerly Swept the men of their legs while Bearing her up from Sinquing. Got to the Grand River at three Oclock our hunters met us there with a bear and Some Venison Incampd. there Roed 14 Miles this venison is [nice?] [15]
Wednesday June 13th This Morning we set out early from the three point Island, we proceeded on till about 2 oClock P. M. on the South west side of the River, our Boat struck on a sand barr; she grounded on her larbourd side, the place being a quicksand and the current running strong. The sand vanquish'd quick from under her, & so suddenly; that the Men on the deck were nearly swept off their legs, whilst they were bearing the boat up from sinking, At 3 o'Clock P. M. we arrived at the Mouth of the grand River, where we was met by the hunters we had sent out; who brought with them a Bear and some Venison which they had killed. The Mesouri River running from the North [16] West. We encamp'd at this place, having rowed 14 Miles this day.—
Grand River lays in Latitude 38° 47' 54 North—
