On this day in Lewis & Clark history...
Lewis draws the Great Falls and sets out towards the Marias River. Clark continues by horse down the Yellowstone River in search of trees to make canoes. Ordway paddles down the Missouri towards Gass who is at the Great Falls portage.
From the journals...
Thursday July 17th 1806.
the grass is naturally but short and at present has been rendered much more so by the graizing of the buffaloe, the whole face of the country as far as the eye can reach looks like a well shaved bowlinggreen, in which immence and numerous herds of buffaloe were seen feeding attended by their scarcely less numerous sheepherds the wolves.
Buck Bridge Ridge
Thursday July 17th 1806.
I arrose early this morning and made a drawing of the falls. after which we took breakfast and departed.
Great Falls of the Missouri River
Thursday July 17th 1806.
the land is not fertile, at least far less so, than the plains of the Columbia or those lower down this river, it is a light coloured soil intermixed with a considerable proportion of coarse gravel without sand, when dry it cracks and appears thursty and is very hard, in it's wet state, it is as soft and slipry as so much soft soap.
Near the Teton River
Thursday July 17th 1806.
the party coloured plover with the brick red head and neck; this bird remains about the little ponds which are distributed over the face of these plains and here raise their young.
Avocet, Recurvirostra americana
Thursday July 17th 1806.
the bush which bears the red berry is here in great plenty in the river bottoms
Buffaloberry, Shepherdia argentea
Near the Falls of Missouri Jul. 17th 1806.
Evening gumbo primrose, Oenothera cespitosa
Thursday 17th July 1806
The high lands approach the river on either side much nearer than it does above and their Sides are partially covered with low pine & Cedar, none of which are Sufficently large for Canoes
Limber pine, Pinus flexilis
Thursday 17th July 1806
I Saw in one of those Small bottoms which I passed this evening an Indian fort which appears to have been built last Summer. this fort was built of logs and bark.
the Squaw informs me that when the war parties find themselves pursued they make those forts to defend themselves in from the pursuers whose Superior numbers might other wise over power them and cut them off without receiveing much injurey on hors back &c.
Yellowstone River at Work Creek
Thursday 17th July 1806
we Incamped opposit a Small Island.
Yellowstone River near Work Creek
Thursday 17th.
We had a pleasant day, and high wind; which drives away the musquitoes and relieves us from those tormenting insects
White Bear Islands on the Missouri River
Thursday 17th July 1806.
a clear morning. we took an eairly breakfast and proceeded on
Camped about 5 miles below Sd. rapids at a bottom in groves of cotten timber.—
Ordway passing Tower Rock
