Map  PDF  902 KB (Atchinson, KS)                   Map  PDF  918 KB (St. Joseph, Mo)

Bow piece* -  Probably the swivel cannon.  See May 29, 1804.

Bark**  - Possibly the bark of the slippery elm, but more likely Peruvian bark, or cinchona.  On later occasions Lewis used Peruvian bark in a poultice, as he presumably did here in case the snake was a new poisonous species. 

Independance Creek *** - Probably either later Whiskey or Clay Creek, in Atchison County, Kansas.  They passes both a Fourth of July Creek and an Independence Creek on this day.  This creek was called Fourth of July Creek where Clark apparently reversed the names. 

July 5, 1804

"Proceeded on our voyage at five in the morning;  swam the horse across the river, proceeded on for two miles under the bank where the old Kansas town formerly stood ( Say in 1724)  the cause of those people moveing from this place I cannot learn, but naterally conclude that War has reduced their nation & compelled them to retire further into the Plains with a view of defending themselves & opposeing their enemy.  went through a large bend full of sand bars where we had some difficulty."  Clark

July 6, 1804
"a verry warm day (worthy of remark that the water of this river or some other cause, I think that the most probable throws out a greater preposn. of Swet than I could Suppose Could pass thro the humane body  Those men that do not work at all will wet a Shirt in a Few minits & those who work, the swet will runn off in Streams)  Had a fine day and made a good day’s voyage."   Clark

July 7, 1804
"set out early  passed some swift water, which obliged us to draw up by roapes, a Sand bare at the point opposit a butifull Prairie on the S. Side Called St. Michul*,  those Praires on the river has verry much the appearence of (old) farms form the river  Divided by narrow Strips of woodland, which wood land is situatd. on the runs leading to the river.  Passed a Bluff of yellow Clay above the Prairie**.  Saw a large rat on the bank.  Killed a Wolf.  One man very sick, struck with the Sun, Capt. Lewis bled him & gave Niter which has revived him much***."  Clark

St. Michul* - At the present site of St. Joseph, Missouri

Bluff of yellow Clay above the Prairie**- Thick accumulations of loess-a pale, yellowish brown loam of sandy, claylike silt- were deposited by wind during the so-called Wisconsin glaciation in the Pleistocene Epoch and stand in steep bluffs, sixty or more feet above the floodplain in some places, near this area.

Niter which has revived him much*** - Bleeding was the standard remedy of the times from nearly everything.  The "niter" was potassium nitrate (saltpeter), used to increase the flow of perspiration and urine and to reduce fevers.

July 8, 1804
"We were under way this morning before day light.  the sick man (Frazer) much better, Serjt. Oddeway was waiting at a Creek on the SS below an Island.  five men sick to day with violent head ake and several boils, we appoint a Cook to each mess to take Charge of the provisions.  our flank party did not join us this evening."   Clark

Detatchment Orders - Superintendents of Provisions  

July 9, 1804
"Sent one man* back to the mouth of the River to mark a tree, to let the party on Shore See that the Boat had passed the river, Set out early  ... at 8 oClock it commenced raining, the wind changed from NE to SW... rained hard till 12 o’clock.  Camped opposit the head of the Island on the LS**  saw a fire on the SS  Supposedly the four flankers, to be theire, Sent a perogue ffor them, the Patroon & Bowman of the Perogue French**, they returned & informed that when they approached the fire, it was put out  Supposeing a pty. of Soux going to war, firierd the bow piec to allarm & put on their guard the men on  shore everey thing in readiness for Defence."   Clark

one man*  - According to Ordway the man was Bratton

Island on the LS** - Precise location not possible because of shifts of the Missouri over the years; using the course of the river today, the camp would be near the town of Iowa Point, Doniphan County.

 Perogue French** - If the arrangements were still the same as those of May 26, 1804, this would be the red pirogue, with Patroon Baptiste Deschamps in charge.

July 10, 1804
"Set out this morning with a view to Land near the fire seen last night & recornetre,  but soon discovered that our men were at the fire, they were sleep early last evening, and from the Course of the Wind which blew hard, their yells were not heard by party in the perogue, a mistake altogether. our men all getting well but much fatigued, encamped for the night at a point on the SS opposit a yellow Clay Clift*." Clark  

opposit a yellow Clay Clift* - If the rivers' course remains the same, a camp on the starboard side would be in Holt County, Missouri.  The site would be near the Nebraska- Kansas boundary on the opposite shore.