March 29, 1805

" The ice is passing in great quantities, river ran a little, The Plains are on fire on both Side of the River.  it is common for the Indians to set those plains on fire near their village for the advantage of early Grass for the hors & as an inducement to the Buffalo to visit them-"

March 30, 1805

"the obstickle broke away above & the ice came dow in great quanties the river rose 13 inches the last 24 hours  I observed extrodanary dexterity of the Indians in jumping from one cake of ice to another, for the purpose of Catching the buffalow as they float down  maney of the Cakes of ice which they pass over are not two feet square.  The plains are on fire in view of the fort on both sides of the river, it is Said to be common for the Indians to burn the Plains near their villages every Spring for the benifit of ther horse, and to induce the Buffalow to come near them."

March 31, 1805

" all the party in high spirits they pass but fiew nights without amusing themselves danceing possessing perfect harmony and good understanding towards each other..."

April 1, 1805

"we have had Thunder lightning hail and rain to day  the first rain of note sinc the 15 of October last,  I had the Boat Perogus & Canos put in the water, and expect to Set off the boat with despatches in her will go 6 Americans 3 Frenchmen, and perhaps Several ricarra Chief imediately after we shall assend in 2 perogus & 6 canoes, accompanied by 5 french who intends to asssend a short distance to trap the beavr which is in great abundance highr up  our party will consist of one Interpter & Hunter*, one French man as an interpreter with his two wives** ( this man Speaks Minetray to his wives who are L hiatars*** or Snake Indians of the nations through which we shall pass, and to act as interpretress thro him  - 26 americans & french my servant and an Mandan Indains and provisions for 4 months -"

Hunter* - George Drouillard served as both hunter and interpreter

two wives** - Apparently the captains intended to take both of Charbonneau's wives along, but something unrecorded happening in the last few days at Fort Mandan resulted in Sacagawea being the only one actually to make the trip.

L hiatars***  - Word is difficult to read, but it is clearly a reference to the Shoshones, the people of Sacagawea and Charbonneau's other wife.

April 2, 1805

"we are writeing and preparing dispatches all day - I conclude to send my journal to the President of the United States in its original State for this own perusial, untill  I call for it or some friend if I should not return, an this journal is from the 13th of May 1804 untill 3rd of April 1805 wrote untill verry late at night but little time to devote to my friends* , the river is falling fast."

friends*  - Clark presumably means that he had little time to write letters to family and friends to be sent with the downriver party.

April 3, 1805

"we shall pack up to day and set out tomorrow*"

tomorrow*- This is the last daily entry in the Field Notes.  Since they intended to leave on April 4.  Clark undoubtedly sealed up the Field Notes sheets to be sent back with the return party.  Delays not mentioned in the journals kept them at Fort Mandan until April 7.  During that time Clark did not add to the Field Notes but did add entries in Codex C through the seventh.

April 4, 1805

" a blustering windey Day  the Clerks of the N.W. Co. leave us  we are arrangeing all things to set out."

April 5, 1805

"we have our 2 perogues & six canoes loaded with our stores & provisions, principally provisions.  the wind verry high form the NW.  a number of Mandans visit us to day."