September 21, 1805
Meriwether Lewis
We were detained this morning untill 11 OCk. in consequence of not being able to
collect our horses. we then set out and proceeded along the ridge on which we had
encamped, leaving which at 1 1/2 we passed a large creek running to the left just above
it's junction with another which run parrallel with and on the left of our road before we
struck the creek; [The first is Eldorado Creek, the second Dollar Creek.]
through the level wide and heavy timbered bottom of this creek we proceeded about 2 1/2
miles when bearing to the right we passed a broken country heavily timbered great
quantities of which had fallen and so obstructed our road that it was almost impracticable
to proceed in many places. though these hills we proceeded about 5 Ms. when we passed a
small creek [Cedar Creek] on which Capt. Clark encamped on the 19th
passing this creek we continued our rout 5 Ms thro' a similar country when we struck a
large creek at the forks, [Present Lolo (Collins) Creek.] passed the
Northen branch and continued down it on the West side 1 mile and encamped in a small open
bottom [On Lolo Creek; the creek is at this point the boundary between Idaho and
Clearwater counties.] where there was tolerable food for our horses. I directed
the horses to be hubbled to prevent delay in the morning being determined to make a forced
march tomorrow in order to reach if possible the open country. we killed a few Pheasants,
and I killed a prarie woolf [Coyote, Canis latrans] which
together with the ballance of our horse beef and some crawfish which we obtained in the
creek enabled us to make one more hearty meal, not knowing where the next was to be found.
the Arborvita increases in quantity and size. I saw several sticks today large enough to
form eligant perogues of at least 45 feet in length.-- I find myself growing weak for the
want of food and most of the men complain of a similar deficiency, and have fallen off
very much. the general course of this day S 30 W 15 M.--
September 21, 1805
William Clark
a fine morning Sent out all the hunters early in different directions to Kill something
and delayed with the Indians to prevent Suspicion & to acquire as much information as
possible. one of them Drew me a Chart of the river & nations below informed of one
falls below which the white men lived from whome they got white beeds cloth &c.
&c. The day proved warm, 2 Chifs of Bands visited me to day-- the hunters all returned
without any thing, I collected a horse load of roots & 3 Sammon & sent R Fields
with one Indian to meet Capt Lewis at 4 oClock Set out with the other men to
the river, passed thro a fine Pine Country decended a Steep ruged hill verry long to a
Small river which comes from our left and I suppose it to be [blank]
River passed down the river 2 miles on a Steep hill side at 11
oClock P. M. arrived at a camp of 5 Squars a boy & 2 Children those people
were glad to See us & gave us drid Sammon one had formerly been taken by
the Minitarries of the north & Seen white men, our guide called the Chief who was
fishing on the other Side of the river, whome I found a Cherfull man of about 65
I gave him a Medal.
September 21, 1805
William Clark
A fine morning Sent out all the hunters in different directions to hunt
deer, I myself delayd with the Chief to prevent Suspission and to Collect by Signs as much
information as possible about the river and Countrey in advance. The Cheif drew me a
kind of chart of the river, and informed me that a greater Cheif than himself was fishing
at the river half a days march from his village called the twisted hare, and that the
river forked a little below his Camp [The junction of the North Fork Clearwater
with the main stream west of present Orofino.] and at a long distance below &
below 2 large forks one from the left & the other from the right [The first is
probably the Snake River, the second the Columbia.] the river passed thro'gh the
mountains at which place was a great fall of the water passing through the rocks, [Celilo
Falls] at those falls white people lived from whome they preceured the white
Beeds & Brass &c. which the womin wore; a Chief of another band visit me to day
and Smoked a pipe, I gave my handkerchief & a Silver Cord with a little Tobacco to
those Chiefs, The hunters all return without any thing, I purchased as much Provisions as
I could with what fiew things I chaned to have in my Pockets, Such a Salmon Bread roots
& berries, & Sent one man R. Fields with an Indian to meet Capt. Lewis, and at 4
oClock P M. Set out to the river, met a man at dark on his way from the river to the
village, whome I hired and gave the neck handkerchief of one of the men, to polit me to
the Camp of the twisted hare, [Apparently his name was Walamottinin, meaning
"hair or forelock bunched and tied."] we did not arrive at the Camp of
the Twisted hare but oppost, untill half past 11 oClock P M. [This camp was on the
Clearwater River on the "Fishing Island" about a mile above present Orofino.]
found at this Camp five Squars & 3 Children. my guide called to the Chief who was
Encamped with 2 others on a Small Island in the river, he Soon joined me, I found him a
Chearfull man with apparant Siencerity, I gave him a medal &c. and Smoked untill 1
oClock a. m. and went to Sleep. The Countrey from the mountains to the river hills is a
leavel rich butifull Pine Countrey badly watered, thinly timbered & covered with
grass-- [The dominant grasses of the area are Idaho Fescue, Festuca idahoensis
and Bluebunch Wheatgrass, Agropyron spicatum, the latter plant being new to
science.] The weather verry worm after descending into the low
Countrey,-- the river hills are verry high & Steep, Small bottoms to this
little river which is Flat head [Their first name for the combination of Whitesand
(Killed Colt) Creek, Lochsa River, and the Clearwater River; they changed the name later
to Kooskooskee River.] & is 160 yards wide and Sholey This river
is the one we killed the first Coalt on near a fishing were
I am verry Sick to day and puke which relive me.
September 21, 1805
John Ordway
a clear pleasant morning. we could not find all our horses untill about 10 oClock
at which time we Set out, and proceed. on Soon crossed a creek [Eldorado
Creek or Dollar Creek.] and proceed. on nearly a west course, over a rough trail.
Some of the ridges the timber has been killed Some time past by fires, and is fell across
the trail So that we have Some difficulty to pass. towards evening we descended down a
Mount. and came on a large creek [Lolo Creek.] running S. W. we
came down it a Short distance and Camped [On Lolo Creek; the creek at this point
forms the boundary between Idaho and Clearwater counties.] had come 11 miles this
day. Capt. Lewis killed a wolf Some of the party killed three pheasants and a duck.
we eat them and caught a fiw craw fish in the creek and eat them.--
September 21, 1805
Patrick Gass
The morning was pleasant; but it was late before we got our horses collected. About 10
o'clock we were ready to start; and passed along the ridge with a great deal of difficulty
and fatigue, our march being much impeded by the fallen timber. A great portion of the
timber through which we passed along this ridge is dead, and a considerable part fallen;
and our horses are weak and much jaded. One of them got into a small swamp, and wet a bale
of merchandize. About 4 o'clock in the afternoon we got down the mountain to a creek, [Lolo
Creek] which runs nearly southwest. This course we suppose is a very good one for
us. We went down this creek about a mile, and encamped [On Lolo Creek] on
it for the night in a small rich bottom. Here we killed a duck and two or three pheasants;
and supped upon them and the last of our horse meat. We also killed a wolf and eat it. The
hunters did not join us this evening, nor the two men who went to look for the horse.
September 21, 1805
Joseph Whitehouse
a clear pleasant morning. we went out eairly to hunt up our horses, but they were much
Scatered. we did not find them all untill about 10 oClock at which time we Set out and
proceeded on crossed a creek [Either Eldorado Creek or Dollar Creek.]
& went on a west course over a hilley rough trail. on Some of the ridges the timber
has been killed by fire and fell across the trail So that we had Some difficulty to git a
long the trail. in the after part of the day we descended down a hill & came to the
forks of a creek [Lolo Creek; which the captains called Collins Creek after John
Collins of the party.] where it is large we went down it a Short
distance and Camped [On Lolo Creek; the creek at this point serves as the
Clearwater-Idaho county line.] at a good place for feed near the creek. had come
11 miles this day. Capt Lewis killed a wolf. Some of the men killed a duck and three
Phesants. we caught Some craw fish in the creek, and eat them.
September 21, 1805
Joseph Whitehouse
A Clear pleasant morning, some of our party were sent out to collect our horses. they
found them after much difficulty, which detained us 'till about 10 o'Clock A. M. at which
time we set out, & continued on our Journey. We crossed a Creek, and went on a West
course over a hilly rough trail, on a ridge of mountains The timber on this trail, had
been killed by fire, and fell across the path so that we had great difficulty to get along
it. In the afternoon we descended down a hill, & came to the forks of a creek, where
the Creek got to be large.-- We went down the Creek a short distance, & encamped at a
flatt piece of land which lay along the same Creek, where we found plenty of fine Grass
for our horses. Captain Lewis went out to hunt from this place, and took some of our party
with him. They killed a Wolf, a duck & 3 Pheasants, & some of the party catched
some craw fish in the Creek.-- We came about 11 Miles this day.--
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