On this day in Lewis & Clark history...
On the Marias River, Lewis waits one last day for the weather to clear. Near the Yellowstone, Pryor is herding the horses towards Fort Mandan. Clark stops at Pompey's Pillar. Gass and Ordway continue hauling canoes to Lower Portage Camp.
From the journals...
Friday 25th July 1806.
on the Northerly Side of the river high romantic Clifts approach & jut over the water for Some distance both above and below.
Looking north from Pompey's Pillar
Friday 25th July 1806.
at 4 P M arived at a remarkable rock Situated in an extensive bottom on the Stard. Side of the river & 250 paces from it.
this rock I ascended and from it's top had a most extensive view in every direction. This rock which I shall Call Pompy's Tower is 200 feet high and 400 paces in secumphrance and only axcessable on one Side which is from the N. E the other parts of it being a perpendicular Clift of lightish Coloured gritty rock
Pompey's Pillar
Friday 25th July 1806.
on the top there is a tolerable Soil of about 5 or 6 feet thick Covered with Short grass. The Indians have made 2 piles of Stone on the top of this Tower.
Looking southeast from the top of Pompey's Pillar
Friday 25th July 1806.
The nativs have ingraved on the face of this rock the figures of animals &c. near which I marked my name and the day of the month & year.
Historical engravings on Pompey's Pillar
Friday 25th July 1806.
a range of high land Covered with pine appears to run in a N. & S. direction approaching the river below.
Looking north from Pompey's Pillar
Friday 25th July 1806.
I employed my Self in getting pieces of the rib of a fish which was Semented within the face of the rock this rib is inchs in Secumpherance about the middle it is 3 feet in length tho a part of the end appears to have been broken off I have Several peces of this rib
Hell Creek formation
Friday July 25th 1806.
as if the fates were against me my chronometer from some unknown cause stoped today, when I set her to going she went as usual.
Chronometer
Friday 25th.
At night we arrived at Portage river, and then had four canoes there safe.
Lower Portage Camp
