April 7th, 1805
Now that the winter has ended, we can begin our journey. The Mandan’s have been more then great to us, but we have decided today will be the day we extend our discoveries to the west. We’ve had a loss in men over the past few months, and I fear going into this unknown will cause a greater loss. Everyone seems to be in high spirits though, with great hopes of venturing.
April 14th, 1805
We’ve come to an area with a great deal of both wildlife and footprints. Although we have encountered a great amount of resources here we’ve also been faced with a threatening problem. Wind storms seem to occur quite often, creating sand storms. These storms are life threatening, and we can’t afford to loose anymore men. Today the storm seemed to have settled, but looks can be deceiving , so we held off for the night. Lucky we did, or we wouldn’t have just lost a couple men, but all, for the storm intensified greatly.
May 11th, 1805
Today, I sent the men off to grab some food. As we were ready to pack up, Bratton came running at us, the most horrified look upon his face. He claimed to have been chased by a bear larger then any man kind had seen before. After telling us how he shot it, he convinced us that it kept charging at him. We walked back in the woods to find the largest bear I had ever set my eyes on. With two spots of blood on his chest, the bear began to charge. We had to shoot him a considerable amount before he went down. After much observation, I was greatly impressed with this bears size. Notes of description was sent to Jefferson, informing him of our findings.
May 31st, 1805
As we went farther along the Missouri, we encountered a different type of climate. The air was less windy, now very dry. Hills and mountains seemed to surround the coursing river. Animals, such as buffalo were in plain sight. There was also wolves and sheep that bore on the mountains. When seeing these tall mountains, I questioned Lewis about our travel on them. He said it was possible we would eventually have to cross them. From the river they looked enormous.
June 2nd, 1805
We have come in contact with an issue at the river. There seems to be a fork, one which heads north and the other south. The southern one seems to be muddy and tarnished, while the northern one is more majestic like. We have yet to encounter the waterfalls claimed by the Indians, and the northern seems to be more like one of a mountain, so I took a group of men with me to scout the river.
On the river we have encountered Indians. Although some of the crew members suggested shooting them in case of a hostile tribe, I’ve decided to let them be. I don’t want to cause any harm on our journey into someone elses land.
Later that night, during camp there was sounds surrounding our camp. For safety I order my men to hold there guns, but not to fire. We walk outside our camp, and I order the men to lower there guns. After having someone interpret the situation, we came to learn they were the Blackfeet tribe. They had come to see if we ment to harm them, which we assured we didn’t . I spent the rest of my night conversing with these people, who told us of the location of the water fall, which was on the southern fork. We decided to head out the next morning, and I thanked the tribe greatly.
June 13th, 1805
Today we were floating down the southern fork when a sound was heard off in the distance. The farther down the river the louder it got until suddenly you could see smoke. Clark recognized it to be the spray from a waterfall; the Great Falls. We finally had arrived.
June 20th, 1805
After going ahead in the mission, I had come to a sad conclusion to our way out. The only way around the falls is an 18 mile journey through rocks. Our first day out was rough, bruises covering our legs, cuts all over our bodies. Not far off I could see the Mountain tops, adventure gleeming off their caps.
June 23rd, 1805
Sacagawea has become gravely ill. The men insist on leaving her behind, but Clark and I both know that she’s our only way of continuing the expedition without fault. They want to leave her with Charbonneau, which would both be needed if encountered by Indians. It could be even more dangerous journeying through without anyone to translate, and could cause deaths and attacks. Clark and I decide to nurse her back to health. Clark starts bleeding her out, but it doesn’t seem to work. I decide to give her some opium and sulphur water.
June 24th, 1805
This morning I was woken by Sacagawea, who was as healthy as could be.
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