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The Journals
of Lewis and Clark: Dates September 17, 1805 - September
19, 1805
The following
excerpts are taken from entries of the Journals of Lewis
and Clark. Dates: September 17, 1805 - September 19,
1805
September
17, 1805
Tuesday 17. Our horses became so much scattered during
the night, that we were detained till one o'clock before
they were all collected. We then continued our route
over high rough knobs, and several drains and springs,
and along a ridge of country separating the waters of
two small rivers. The road was still difficult, and
several of the horses fell and injured themselves very
much, so that we were unable to advance more than ten
miles to a small stream, on which we encamped.
We had killed a few pheasants, but these being insufficient
for our subsistence, we killed another of the colts.
This want of provisions, and the extreme fatigue to
which we were subjected, and the dreary prospects before
us, began to dispirit the men. It was therefore agreed
that captain Clarke should go on ahead with six hunters,
and endeavor to kill something for the support of the
party. He therefore set out,
September
18, 1805
Wednesday
18, early in the morning in hopes of finding a level
country from which he might send back some game. His
route lay S. 85° W., along the same high dividing ridge,
and the road was still very bad; but he moved on rapidly,
and at the distance of twenty miles was rejoiced on
discovering far off an extensive plain towards the west
and southwest, bounded by a high mountain. He halted
an hour to let the horses eat a little grass on the
hill sides, and then went on twelve and a half miles
till he reached a bold creek, running to the left, on
which he encamped. To this stream he gave the very appropriate
name of Hungry creek; for having procured no game, they
had nothing to eat.
In the meantime we were detained till after eight o'clock
by the loss of one of our horses which had strayed away
and could not be found. We then proceeded, but having
soon finished the remainder of the colt killed yesterday,
felt the want of provisions, which was more sensible
from our meeting with no water, till towards nightfall
we found some in a ravine among the hills. By pushing
on our horses almost to their utmost strength, we made
eighteen miles.
We then melted some snow, and supped on a little portable
soup, a few canisters of which, with about twenty weight
of bears oil, are our only remaining means of subsistence.
Our guns are scarcely of any service, for there is no
living creature in these mountains, except a few small
pheasants, a small species of gray squirrel, and a blue
bird of the vulture kind about the size of a turtle
dove or jay, and even these are difficult to shoot.
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