Map PDF 922 KB

Map PDF 882 KB

June 8, 1804

"Set out this morning at Daylight  ... passed two willow Islands & a small Creek above a rock point at six miles on which these is a number of Deer Licks ... I took Sjt Floyd and went out 4 Ms. below this river, I found the land verry good for a mile or 1  1/2 ms.  back and sufficiently watered with small streams which lost themselves in the Missouries bottom,  the Land rose graduelly from the river to the Summit of the high Countrey which is not more than 120 foot above High Water mark, we joined the Boat & dined in the point above the mouth of this river (Mine*).  Capt Lewis went out above the river & proceeded on one mile finding the Countrey rich, the weded & vines so thick & high he came to the boat -  we met 3 men on a Cajaux form the River of the Soux above the Mahar Nation.  those men had been hunting 12 mo. & made about 900$ in pelts & furs  they were out of provesions and out of powder.  rained this night"      Clark

Mine*- The Lamine River reaches the Missouri River in Cooper County.  The name is thought to derive from the report in 1714 by Sieur de Bourgmont that the Indians mined lead on its banks. 

" a  fair morning, the River rise a little  we got fast on a snag soon after we set out which detained us a short time  passed the upper Point of the Island  Several Small channels running out of the River below a Bluff*( Cliffs of rocks called the arrow rock**)  & Prarie (Called the Prariee of Arrows) where the river is confined within the width of 300 yds.  Passed a Creek of 8 yds.  wide called Creek of Arrows, this creek and heads in the Praries on the LS . "  Clark

Bluff* - The name of the bluff, called Pierre a' Fleche as early as 1723, supposedly derives from an Indian tradition.  The present town of Arrow Rock and Arrow Rock State Park, both in Saline County, commemorate the name.  After Fort Osage (see June 23, 1804) was abandoned in 1813, the post was moved to Arrow Rock.

arrow rock** - Arrow Rock State Park in Saline County, Missouri

"A hard rain last night, we set out this morning verry early  passed some bad places in the river  saw a number of Goslings morning  pass near a Bank which was falling in at the time we passed, passed the two river of Charletons  which mouth together, above Some high land which has a great quantity of Stone Calculated for whetstons*.  Found the prairie composed of good land and plenty of water roleing & interspursed with points of timber land. Great number of Deer in the Prairies, our party in high spirits."   Clark

whetstons* - Natural whetstones are produced from very fine-grained sandstones that are extremely uniform in texture, firmly cemented and medium bedded (beds of one to six inches thick).  Beds of this kind are known from lower Pennsylvanian rocks, which crop out along the bluffs in this area. 

"As wind was imediately a head, we could not proceed,  we took advantage of this delay and Dried our wet articles examin'd provisions.  the river beginning to fall the hunters killed two deer.  G; Drewyer Killed two Bear in the Prarie, they were not fat.  we had the meat jurked and also the Vension, which is a constant practice to have all the fresh meat not used, dreid in this way."  Clark

Featured Book Titles