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Show lZ JOURNAL. The corps consisted of forty-three .. men (including Captain Lewis and Captain Clarke, who were to command the expedition) part of the regular troops of the United States, and part engaged for this particular enterprize. The expedition was ewbarked on board a batteau and two periogues. The day was showery and in the evening we encamped on the north bank six miles up the river. Here we had leisure to reflect on our situation, and the nature of our engagen1ents: and, as we had all entered this service as volunteers, to consider how far we stood pledged for the success of an expedition, which the government had projected; and which had been undertaken for the benefit and at the expence of the 1 Union: of course of much interest and high expectation. The hest authenticated accounts infonned us, that we were to pass through a country possessed by nutnerous, powerful and warlike nations of savages, of gigantic stature, fierce, treacherous and cruel ; and pat·ticularly hostile to white men. And fame had united with tt·adition in opposing mountains to our course, which human enterprize and exertion would attempt in vain to pass. The determined and resolute character, howevet·, of the corps, and the confidence which pervaded all ranks dispelled evet-y emotion of fear, and anxiety for the present ; while a sense <>f duty, and of the honour, which '"'-'auld attend the completion of the object of the expedition ; a wish to gratify the expectations of the government, and of our fellow citizens, with the feelings which novelty and discovery invariably inspire, seemed to insure to us ample support in our future toils, suffering and dangers. On the 15th we continued our voyage. It rained in the morning ; but in the afternoon we had cl~ar weather, and encamped at night on the north s1de of the river. JOURNAL. 13 #Yednesday l6tlt. \Ve had a fine pleasant morning; embarked early, and at 2 o'clock in the afternoon arri ,·ccl nt St. Charles, and fired a gun. A number of the inhabitants came to see us. This is an old } rench ,·iilage; in the country around which, a number of A mc:ricans have settled. 'Ve remained at St. Charles until the 21st, ~hct•t Captain Lewis arrived from St. L ouis and joined ns. At 4 o'clock in the afternoon •Ne left this phce under a salute of thr~e cheers from the inhabitants, which we returned with three more und a discharg·e of three guns. This evening was showery. ant! we again en· camped on the north side of the rivet·. Tuesday 22nd. We continued our voyage; passed Bonum creek tln the south side, and h aving made . (1fteen miles, encamped at the Cliffs on the nortlt side of the rh·er. I-Iere \Ye were visited by som~ Indians. TVedne.~day 23rd. At 6 o"clock in the n1orning '"e proceeded on om· voyage with pleasant weather. Passed the Il).outh of tbe Osage* river on the soutlt side, about a mile and an half below the Tavern Cove, a nokd place among the French traders. One mile above this is the T ;.wern Creek. ' .V e encamped this evening on the south side of the river, and had our arms and ammunition inspected. Thursday 24th. \Ve continued our voyao-e, and. encamped at night on the south side. This day Gut' boat turned in a ripple, and nearly upset. Jl,riday 25th. \ Ve proceeded three miles and passed a creek on the sol' Lh side, called \Vood river; the l>a~ks of the t'iver are here high and the land rich : arnved at St. ! olms, a small French vill::~ge situate& on the.not·th :ul~, and encan1ped a quarter of a mile above It: Tins Is the last settlement of white people on the r~vcr. ~ Pcl·hap~ Little Osage. n |