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Confluence of the Marias with the Missouri River by Brent Phelps 

Decision Point on the Missouri River ~ Which river was the Missouri ?

June 3, 1805

"Capt. C. and myself concluded to set out early the next morning with a small party each, and ascend these rivers untill we could perfectly satisfy ourselves of the one, which it would be most expedient for us to take on our journey to the Pacific".

June 8, 1805

"The whole of my party to a man except myself were fully pesuaided that this river was the Missouri, but being fully of opinion that it was neither the main stream, nor that which it would be advisable for us to take , I determined to give it a name and in honour of Miss Maria Wd. called it Maria's River".

June 9, 1805

"I indevoured to impress on the minds of the party all of whom except Capt. C. being still firm in the belief that the N. Fork was the Missouri and that which we ought to take; they said very cheerfully that they were ready to follow us any where we thought proper to direct ... it was agreeed between Capt. C. and myself that one of us should set out with a small party by land up the South fork and continue our rout up it until we found the falls".

June 13, 1805

" I retired to the shade of a tree where I determined to fix my camp for the present and dispatch a man in the morning to inform Capt. C. and the party of my success in finding the falls and settle in their minds all further doubts as to the Missouri".