A fair morning Set out at 5 oClk.... we arrived at S^t Charles at 12 oClock a number Spectators french & Indians flocked to the bank to See the party. this Village is about one mile in length, Situated on the North Side of the Missourie at the foot of a hill from which it takes its name Peetiete Coete (petite côte) or the Little Hill.... I was invited to Dine with a M^r Ducett (Duquette), this gentleman was once a merchant from Canadia, from misfortunes aded to the loss of a Cargo, Sold to the late Judge Turner he has become Somewhat reduced, he has a Charming wife an elegent Situation on the hill Serounded by orchards & a excellent gardain.

...this place is an old french village Situated on the North Side of the Missourie and are dressy polite people and Roman Catholicks.

...passed the evening verry agreeable dancing with the french ladies, &c.

   The morning was fair, and the weather pleasent.... after bidding an affectionate adieuto my Hostis, that excellent woman the spouse of M^r Peter Chouteau, and some of my fair friends of S^t Louis, we set forth and fellow labourer Capt. William Clark, who had previously arrived at that place with the party destined for the discovery of the interior of the continent of North America....
   ...we arrived at half after six and joined Capt Clark, found the party in good health and sperits. Suped this evening with Mons^r Charles Tayong a Spanish Ensign & late Commandant of S^t Charles at an early hour I retired to rest on board the barge. S^t Charles is situated on the North bank of the Missouri 21 miles above it's junction with the Mississippi, and about the same distance N.W. from S^t Louis; it is bisected by one principal street about a mile length runing nearly parallel with the river, the plain on which it stands is narrow.... and in the rear it is terminated by a range of small hills, hence the appellation of petit Cote, a name by which this vilage is better known to the French inhabitants of the Illinois than that of S^t Charles....

   All the forepart of the Day arranging our party and procuteing the different articles necessary for them at this place. Dined with M^r Ducett and Set out at half passed three oClock under three Cheers from the gentlemen on the bank and proceeded on...

   We Set out early ran on a Log and detained one hour, proceeded the Course of Last night 2 miles to the mouth of a Creek (R) on the Stb^d Side called Osage Womans R.... Many people Came to See us, we passed a large Cave on the Lb ^d Side (Called by the french the Tavern - about 120 feet wide 40 feet Deep & 20 feet high    many different immages are Painted on the Rock at this place    the Ind & French pay omage. Many names are wrote on the rock, Stoped about one mile above for Cap^t Lewis near falling from the Pinecles of rocks 300 feet, he caught at 20 foot.

...we Set out 6 oClock A. m. and proceeded on verry well. passed Some Inhabitants called boons (Daniel Boone) Settlement. pass^d a noted place called cave tavern in a clift of rocks....

...The Swiftness of the Current Wheeled the boat, Broke our Toe rope, and was nearly over Setting the boat, all hands jumped out.... by the time She wheeled a 3^rd Time got a rope fast to her Stern and by the means of swimmers was Carred to Shore....

...The serg^ts ...are directed each to keep a seperate journal from day to day os all passing occurrences, and such other observations on the country &c as shall appear to them worthy of notice....
   The day after tomorrow lyed corn and grece will be issued to the party, the next day Poark and flour, and the day following indian meal and poark; and.... provisions will continue to be issued to the party untill further orders.... no poark is to be issued when we have fresh meat on hand....

a cajaux of Bear Skins and pelteries came down from the Grand Osarge, one french man, one Indian, Choteau Sent to that part of the Osarge nation settled on Arkansa River.... the Ind not believing that the Americans had possession of the Countrey....

...a Butifull a peas of Land as ever I saw.... Level land on both sides.... ouer hunters Kild 8 Deer Strong water    came 10 miles....

   a fair day.... passed a Small Creek at 1 m^l 15 y^d Wide which we named Nightingale Creek from a Bird of that discription which Sang for us all last night, and is the first of the Kind I ever heard.... Some delightfull Land, with a jentle assent about this Creek, well timbered, Oake, Ash, Walnut &c. &c.

...we had a fine wind, but could not make use of it, our Mast being broke.... our Scout discov ^d the fresh sign of about 10 Inds. I expect that those Indians are on their way to war, against Osages nation probably they are the Saukees (Sauk)....

...braekfast at the Mouth of a large Creek on the S.S. of 30 yd^s wide called big Monetou.... a Short distance above the mouth of this Creek, is Several Courious paintings and carving on the projecting rock of Limestone inlade with white red & blue flint, of a verry good quallity, the Indians have taken of this flint great quantities....

...one mile past a rock on the N. Side whare the pictures of the Devil and other things    We kild 3 Rattle Snakes.... the Land is Good well timberd &c.

...This day we met 3 men on a Cajaux from the River of the Soux above the Mahar (Omaha) Nation those men had been hunting 123 Mo: & made about 900$ in pelt^s & furs they were out of Provisions and out of Powder. rained this night.

   Concluded to take old Durioun (Pierre Dorion).... back as fur as the Soux nation with a view to get some of their Chiefs to visit the Presd^t of the United S. (This man being verry confidential friend of those people, he haveing resided with the Nation 20 odd years)....

   Set out early and had not proceeded far e'er we wheeled on a Sawyer which was near injuring us verry much.... we were compelled to pass under a bank which was falling in, and use the Toe rope occasionally....

...we Set out early and.... came too to make oars, & repair our cable & toe rope &c.... The party is much aflicted with Boils, and Several have the Deassentary, which I contribute to the water (which is muddy.)
...The Ticks & Musquiters are verry troublesome.

...in Crossing from an Island, I got mired, and was obliged to Crawl out, a disegreeable Situation (for) & a Deverting one of any one who Could have Seen me after I got out, all Covered with mud I went to my Camp & (s)craped off the Mud and washed my Clothes....

ORDERLY BOOK    Ordered - A Court Martiall will Set this day at 11 oClock, to consist of five members, for the trial of John Collins and Hugh Hall, Confined on Charges exhibited against them by Sergeant Floyd....
   The Court Convened agreeable to order and proceeded to the trial of the Prisoners Viz
   John Collins Charged "with gettiing drunk on his post this Morning out of whiskey put under his charge as a Sentinal, and for Suffering Hugh Hall to draw whiskey out of the Said Barrel intended for the party."
   To this Charge the prisoner plead not Guilty.
   The Court after mature deliveration on the evidence adduced & are of the oppinion that the prisoner is Guilty of the Charge exibited against him, and therefore sentence him to receive one hundred Lashes on his bear Back.
   Hugh Hall was brought before the Court Charged with takeing whiskey out of a Keg this morning which was stored on the Bank (and under Charge of the Guard) Contrary to all order, rule, or regulation."
   To this Charge the prisoner "Pleaded Guilty."
   The Court find the prisoner Guilty and Sentence him to receive fifty Lashes on his bear Back....

...came to at 12 oClock & rested three hours, the (day) being hot the men becom verry feeble, Farn^t Thermometer at 3 oClock stood 96° above 0....
Broke our Mast

   ussered in the day by a discharge of one shot from our Bow piece, proceeded on.... Passed a Creek 12 yd^s wide on L. S. comeing out of an extensive Prarie reching within 200 yards of the river, as this Creek has no name, and this being the 4^th of July the day of independance of the U S. call it the 4^th of July 1804 Creek.... Cap^t Lewis walked on Shore above this Creek and discovered a high Mound from the top of which he had an extensive View.... Saw great numbers of Goslings to day which Were nearly grown, the before mentioned Lake is Clear and contain great quantities of fish and Gees & Goslings, The great quantity of those fowl in this Lake induced me to Call it Gosling Lake, a Small Creek & several Springs run in to the Lake on the East Side from the hills    the land on that Side verry good.
...We came to and camped in the lower edge of a good Plain where the 2^nd old Kanzas village formerly Stood, above the mouth of a Creek 30 yd ^s wide    this Creek we call Creek independence as we approached this place the Prarie had a most butifull appearance
   Hills & Valies intersps^d with Coops (Copses) of Timber gave a pleasing deversity to the Senery.... at this place the Kanzas Indians formerly lived.... we closed the day by a Descharge from our bow piece, an extra Gill of whiskey.

   ...a Snake Bit Jo. Fieldes on the Side of the foot which Sweled much apply Barks to Coor (cure)... we camped at one of the Butifules Praries I ever Saw open and butifulley Divided with Hills and vallies all presenting themselves

   we set out eairly this morning.... the weather is verry warm, several days     the Seet pores off the men in Streams.... a whiper will perched on the Boat for a short time.

   ...passed Some Swift Water, which obliged us to draw up by roapes, a Sand bar at the point; opposit a butifull Prarie on the S. Side call^d,/FONT> S^t Michul, those Praries on the river has verry much the appearence of farms from the river    Divided by narrow Strips of woodland, which wood land is Situa^d on the runs leading to the river.... Saw a large rat on the bank. Killed a Wolf.... one man verry sick, Struck with the Sun, Cap ^t Lewis bled him & gave Niter which has revived him much....

   Concluded to Delay here to day with a view of takeing equal altitudes & making observations as well as refreshing our men who are fatigued. after early Brackfast I with five men in a Perogue assended the River Ne-Ma-haw about three Miles to the Mouth of a small creek... I observed artifical Mounds (or as I may more justly term graves) which to me is a strong evidence of this country being once thickly Settled....

   The Commanding officers.... constituted themselves a Court Martial for the trial of such prisoners as are Guilty of Capital Crimes, and under the rules of War punishable by DEATH.
   Alexander Willard was brought forward Charged with "Lying down and Sleeping on his post" whilst a Sentinal, on the Night of the 11^th Instant" (by John Ordway Sergeant of the Guard)
   To this Charge the prisoner pleads Guilty of Lying Down, and Not Guilty, of Going to Sleep.    The Court after Duly Considering the Evidence aduced, are of oppinion that the Prisoner Alex^dr Willard is guilty of every part of the Charge.... do Sentience him to receive One hundred lashes, on his bear back, at four different times....

   ...as we came along the Shore there was two large Cat fish had hold of Each other.... one of the french men Shot the two the first Shot.... the men pull ^d a Great Quantity of wild Cherrys put them in the Barrel of whisky. Roe 12 miles....

   Set out early under a gentle breeze from the S. E. proceeded on verry well.... This Great (Platte) river being much more rapid that the Missourie forces its Current against the opposite Shore. The Current of this river comes with great velosity roleing its Sands in the Missouri.... we found great dificuelty in passing around the Sand at the Mouth of the River....

   A fair morning    Set a party to look for timber for Ores, two parties to hunt, at 11 oClock Sent off George Drewyer & Peter Crousett with some tobacco to invite the Otteaus if at their town and Panies (Pawnees) if they saw them, to come and talk with us at our Camp    raised a flag Staff    Sund and Dryed our provisions &c. I commence Coppying a Map of the river below to Send to the P. (President) U.S.     five Deer Killed to day    one man with a tumer on his breast,     Prepared our Camp the men put their arms in order....

   the wind Blustering and hard from the South all day.... I opened the Tumer of a man on the left breast, which discharged half a point....

   Set out early this morning    proceeded on to a clear open Prarie on the L. S. on a rise of about 70 feet higher than the bottom which is also a Prarie (both forming Bluffs to the river) of High Grass & Plumb bush Grapes &c. and situated above high water, in a small Grove of timber at the foot of the Riseing Ground between those two preraries, and below the Bluffs of the high Prarie we Came too and formed a Camp....

   we Lay By for to See the Indianes who we expect Hear to See the Captains. I am verry Sick and Has ben for Somtime but have Recovered my helth again the Indianes have not Come yet    this place is Called Council Bluff....

   the Morning was Clear    G. Druier Catched a young beavour kept him for a pet....

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