June 13 became the day that Lewis was the first white man to see the Great Falls of the Missouri River. He discovered that there are actually 5 Great Falls, instead of the 1 the Mandans' spoke of earlier in the journey. The Falls stretched for about 12 miles along the Missouri River. Going around the Falls was going to take much longer than Lewis had planned. Sometime around June 16, Lewis and Clark and the rest of the expedition crew met up again we all discovered that it would take about a month before we could get around the Falls and get back to easily-navigatable water. Beyond the Great Falls was where the Rocky Mountains are.
On June 15, I was scared out of my mind when a Prairie Rattlesnake slithered out of the bushes beside where I was walking. This was near the Great Falls, in Cascade County, Montana. The Swift Fox caught me off guard one night when I heard it rustling in the forest along the edge of the water at the Great Falls in Cascade County in Montana on July 6. The Mountain Lady's Slipper is a very unusual plant indeed; I noted it down in this journal on June 30, at Lolo Hot Springs, Montana. It looks just like a lady's shoe!! I find it VERY strange indeed...
This shall be the last entry I will be able to write. I have finally run out of pages in this journal, and there are none left on our boats. It's sad to leave like this, but Lewis and Clark have been documenting much more than I have, and they already have enough journals to finish the journey.
Keep Well from now on,
George Gibson
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/lewisandclark/record_species_232_9_9.html
The Mountain Lady's Slipper; I still find this flower to be quite intriguing...
June 10, 1805
On June 3, our expedtition team came to a fork in the river we were following. We either had to choose to go up the north fork, or the south fork. The Captains on the expedition believed the south fork would lead to the Missouri River, which in turn led to the Rockies; which the team hoped to cross before winter weather/snow came. Obviously, the rest of the team disagreed, saying the Northern fork was the correct way to go. Lewis and Clark knew that at this point, our team couldn't afford to make any mistakes, so they sent scouts up-river to see what was more up the way; this action brought no more information than they already had. So Lewis and three other men traveled up the Southern fork in search of the Great Falls, which the Mandan Indians said they would find when they found the Missouri River also. Lewis was only relying on the Indians' word and knowledge to get the rest of the expedition through to the next leg of the journey.
The very odd-looking Fragile Prickly-Pear flower is normally pink, but it's one of the lowest prickly flowers out there. Very strange to name a flower with "prickly" in its name, when it's not actually that "prickly"... Hmm... The team noted this flower on May 20, along the Musselshell River in Montana. On June 4, we noted the small McCown's Longspur near the Marias River in Chouteau County, Montana. I found the American (Pale) Goldfinch that I noted on June 8 also near the Marias River in Montana to be quite unique; its voice is something like 'per-chick-o-ree'. It rings out when the bird is flying or simply sitting/standing still.
I do hope Lewis has the correct fork of the river chosen to explore further; I would hate to lose those members of the expedition...
Keep Well,
George Gibson
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/lewisandclark/record_species_060_8.html
The Goldfinch with the interesting voice that was attention-grabbing.
The very odd-looking Fragile Prickly-Pear flower is normally pink, but it's one of the lowest prickly flowers out there. Very strange to name a flower with "prickly" in its name, when it's not actually that "prickly"... Hmm... The team noted this flower on May 20, along the Musselshell River in Montana. On June 4, we noted the small McCown's Longspur near the Marias River in Chouteau County, Montana. I found the American (Pale) Goldfinch that I noted on June 8 also near the Marias River in Montana to be quite unique; its voice is something like 'per-chick-o-ree'. It rings out when the bird is flying or simply sitting/standing still.
I do hope Lewis has the correct fork of the river chosen to explore further; I would hate to lose those members of the expedition...
Keep Well,
George Gibson
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/lewisandclark/record_species_060_8.html
The Goldfinch with the interesting voice that was attention-grabbing.
May 27, 1805
Earlier this month, we almost lost two of our pirogues (boats) that were holding very important items, such as journals Lewis and Clark had previously finished, and crucial supplies that we need for the expedition. Sacagawea saved these items by sweeping up as many things as she could hold in one quick action. Both Lewis and Clark were growing impatient because they have this very bad urge to see the Rockies. It just so happens that we found sight of the Rockies yesterday. Lewis and Clark both took observations of them, Clark noting that he now realized the challenge that the mountains posed. Our progress over the Rockies was very slow and tedious since we were traveling up a very windy river that was almost completely dried up and had rocks that were jutting out in all different directions.
One of the animals we noted on this leg of the journey was the Hutchins's Goose. We noted it on May 5, above the mouth of the Poplar River in Montana. Another was the Columbian Black-Tailed Deer that we saw on May 19, to the north of Cape Disappointment, in Pacific County, Washington. I found the Shiras's Moose to be quite interesting, with its ability to swim at 6 miles per hour for up to two hours. I took note of this creature on May 10, at Milk River in Montana.
I hope I can eventually finish this journal; I've barely written in half of it yet!! Ha-ha!! Lewis and Clark have probably filled, front cover to back cover, at least 4 or 5 of these journals... Oh well; I'll catch up eventually.
Keep Well,
George Gibson
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/lewisandclark/record_species_043_7_3.html
The fascinating moose I noted on.
One of the animals we noted on this leg of the journey was the Hutchins's Goose. We noted it on May 5, above the mouth of the Poplar River in Montana. Another was the Columbian Black-Tailed Deer that we saw on May 19, to the north of Cape Disappointment, in Pacific County, Washington. I found the Shiras's Moose to be quite interesting, with its ability to swim at 6 miles per hour for up to two hours. I took note of this creature on May 10, at Milk River in Montana.
I hope I can eventually finish this journal; I've barely written in half of it yet!! Ha-ha!! Lewis and Clark have probably filled, front cover to back cover, at least 4 or 5 of these journals... Oh well; I'll catch up eventually.
Keep Well,
George Gibson
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/lewisandclark/record_species_043_7_3.html
The fascinating moose I noted on.
May 3, 1805
Great News!! This is the first time that the expedition is actually heading in our preferrred direction- due west!! While we were celebrating to the best of our ability, we came across a Grizzly Bear. Lewis continued to believe they were of no threat to us, but he was proved wrong on April 29 when a Grizzly came out of the woods and chased him and another member of the Corps about 80 yards before either one of them could reload their rifles to at least wound it so they could get away.
We obviously noted the Grizzly Bear on April 29, 1805 when it chased two of our men through the woods. Clark noted in his journal that it was one of the most carnivorous creatures he had ever seen, weighing about 500 pounds. Today, a couple of men noticed a North American Porcupine near the mouth of the Porcupine [now Poplar] River in Montana. A Northern Flicker also caught my attention one day, on April 11, near Fort Mandan, North Dakota. It made the most irritating noises as it pecked the tree it was perched in.
I'm being pushed along by the men in the expedition to keep moving, so I will continue my documenting process as we move farther along the trail.
Keep Well,
George Gibson
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/lewisandclark/record_species_194_6_1.html
The terrifying grizzly bear that chased Lewis and two other men through the forest.
We obviously noted the Grizzly Bear on April 29, 1805 when it chased two of our men through the woods. Clark noted in his journal that it was one of the most carnivorous creatures he had ever seen, weighing about 500 pounds. Today, a couple of men noticed a North American Porcupine near the mouth of the Porcupine [now Poplar] River in Montana. A Northern Flicker also caught my attention one day, on April 11, near Fort Mandan, North Dakota. It made the most irritating noises as it pecked the tree it was perched in.
I'm being pushed along by the men in the expedition to keep moving, so I will continue my documenting process as we move farther along the trail.
Keep Well,
George Gibson
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/lewisandclark/record_species_194_6_1.html
The terrifying grizzly bear that chased Lewis and two other men through the forest.
March 29, 1805
Lewis and Clark learned a load of important things that were key to survival in the wilderness from the Mandan people. It was while we were staying in the area of the Mandan that Lewis and Clark hired an interpretor named Toussaint Charbonneau, who was a French-Canadian fur trapper who's married to Sacajawea and has a son named Jean Baptiste. Charbonneau was part of the Hidatsa Indian tribe. The spring rains finally reached us yesterday, which means the expedition can now continue on!! The entire team is joyous as we venture farther on our course. All during the winter season, the boss' kept writing in their journals, keeping a record of everything that had been happening. Toward the end of this leg of the journey, we sent about a dozen men from our team on a keelboat, along with the reports Lewis and Clark had been writing, 108 botanical substances, 68 mineral substances, and Clark's map of the United States that we had traveled on so far. The boat and men and all the extras were being sent to St. Louis, and then it would be shipped to Thomas Jefferson.
During these many months that made up this leg of the journey, we didn't see that many different types of animals or plants; instead, we met a few Indian tribes. One was the Hidatsa tribe that we stayed with from November 1804 to April 1805 during the winter season at Fort Mandan. Another tribe we met while on our expedition were the Arikara Indians whom we met on October 8, 1804. The Corps also came in contact with the Amahami Indians in the Fall of 1804. They were a small tribe to begin with, and then gained a few members when a couple of Hidatsa Indian tribes joined their tribe in 1787.
I'll continue with more details of our expedition as soon as we find a place to stay for a while; if that ever happens at the rate we're going.
Keep Well,
George Gibson
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/lewisandclark/record_tribes_010_5_3.html
The helpful Indians' known as the Mandan Tribe.
During these many months that made up this leg of the journey, we didn't see that many different types of animals or plants; instead, we met a few Indian tribes. One was the Hidatsa tribe that we stayed with from November 1804 to April 1805 during the winter season at Fort Mandan. Another tribe we met while on our expedition were the Arikara Indians whom we met on October 8, 1804. The Corps also came in contact with the Amahami Indians in the Fall of 1804. They were a small tribe to begin with, and then gained a few members when a couple of Hidatsa Indian tribes joined their tribe in 1787.
I'll continue with more details of our expedition as soon as we find a place to stay for a while; if that ever happens at the rate we're going.
Keep Well,
George Gibson
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/lewisandclark/record_tribes_010_5_3.html
The helpful Indians' known as the Mandan Tribe.
December 14, 1804
Ooh, it's chilly now; the temperature has dipped below 0 degrees farenheit over the span of time we have been living in the fort all of us in the Corps had to build earlier; just before the end of November. We built the fort for two reasons: one, to keep the bitter winter wind from blowing us, and two, to keep safe from Sioux attacks. We had a guard or two watching, obviously, incase of intruders, but we had to switch-off guards every half hour, because it was so cold. When the food supplies began to wind down, the Captains' had to venture out and find more meat for food.
We are staying on part of the land that belongs to the Mandan Indians, whom we met on October 24. They are extremely peaceful people, who choose to be at war with no one, unless they make war; the Mandan's like to be at peace with every nation and all its people. A Long-Tailed Weasel was documented on November 9, at Fort Mandan, in North Dakota. I found this very interesting; such a small, delicate looking creature, and it's a carnivore; I never would've guessed... On September 14, near the mouth of Ball Creek, in Lyman County, South Dakota, our expedition crew noticed a herd of Pronghorn Antelope drinking from the Creek. They startled a little when we approached to take a drink ourselves, but they simply trotted off, back to the woods.
I'm sorry, but that little weasel simply captivated my attention; I don't understand why though. I think I'll try to find it again once we set off on the trail once more.
Keep Well,
George Gibson
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/lewisandclark/record_species_121_4.html
That very captivating weasel I loved.
We are staying on part of the land that belongs to the Mandan Indians, whom we met on October 24. They are extremely peaceful people, who choose to be at war with no one, unless they make war; the Mandan's like to be at peace with every nation and all its people. A Long-Tailed Weasel was documented on November 9, at Fort Mandan, in North Dakota. I found this very interesting; such a small, delicate looking creature, and it's a carnivore; I never would've guessed... On September 14, near the mouth of Ball Creek, in Lyman County, South Dakota, our expedition crew noticed a herd of Pronghorn Antelope drinking from the Creek. They startled a little when we approached to take a drink ourselves, but they simply trotted off, back to the woods.
I'm sorry, but that little weasel simply captivated my attention; I don't understand why though. I think I'll try to find it again once we set off on the trail once more.
Keep Well,
George Gibson
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/lewisandclark/record_species_121_4.html
That very captivating weasel I loved.
September 29, 1804
Our team "met" the Teton Sioux Indians by giving them one of our boats, a medal, a military coat, and a cocked hat. The current President, Thomas Jefferson, had hoped we would be peaceful with the Indians, and that they would, in return, be peaceful with us; that plan pretty-much back-fired. When the Indians got quite nasty, it became force versus force; Clark had a sword which he used with skill, and Lewis aimed the boat's gun at the Indians; both sides, our Corps and the Teton Sioux, surrendered before any shots were fired.
Along with that wonderful encounter, we noticed a small, purple flower called the Aromatic Aster, which we found on September 21, near Big Bend, somewhere up the Missouri River. We also wrote down information on the Desert Cottontail, which we came across near the mouth of the White River, in South Dakota, on September 15. As we were walking along the other day, a large bird swooped down over us, and it had the most handsome looking feathers I had ever seen on a bird such as it. They were black and white, with the white on the underside of the bird. It's called a Black-Billed Magpie, and we took note of it on September 16, near a place in South Dakota. [Present Day Chamberlain, South Dakota].
Entries will continue when time allows; the boss' like that people in the Corps are keeping a record of the expedition.
Keep Well,
George Gibson
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/lewisandclark/record_species_158_3.html
The Black-billed Magpie; an interesting bird I spotted.
Along with that wonderful encounter, we noticed a small, purple flower called the Aromatic Aster, which we found on September 21, near Big Bend, somewhere up the Missouri River. We also wrote down information on the Desert Cottontail, which we came across near the mouth of the White River, in South Dakota, on September 15. As we were walking along the other day, a large bird swooped down over us, and it had the most handsome looking feathers I had ever seen on a bird such as it. They were black and white, with the white on the underside of the bird. It's called a Black-Billed Magpie, and we took note of it on September 16, near a place in South Dakota. [Present Day Chamberlain, South Dakota].
Entries will continue when time allows; the boss' like that people in the Corps are keeping a record of the expedition.
Keep Well,
George Gibson
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/lewisandclark/record_species_158_3.html
The Black-billed Magpie; an interesting bird I spotted.
August 27, 1804
This month of August has been quite busy and interesting. We first came in contact with the Yankton Sioux; a more peaceable group of natives than their neighbors' the Teton Sioux, who inhabit farther up the Missouri River. Before I forget to mention this, one of our men, Sergeant Charles Floyd became the first U.S. soldier to die west of the Mississippi River because of appendicitis on August 20. It was a very sad event to have to witness... Earlier this week, Lewis and Clark and the rest of the Corps reached the eastern edge of the Great Plains, which is brimming with an abundance of elk, deer, buffalo, and beaver. We should be eating good for the next few weeks.
We discovered some more species of plants and animals on this leg of our journey. One that I found as my personal favorite, though I'm not too sure why exactly, is the Large-Flowered Clammyweed. We noted it on August 25, near Vermillion, South Dakota. We also noted a very odd looking flower called a Curlycup Gumweed, which we found and recorded on August 17, in Dakota County, Nebraska. On August 5, along the Missouri River, with Nebraska bordering on the west of us, and Iowa bordering on the east, we found a flock of Least Tern, which is a type of duck who's voice makes a sort of 'killick' or 'kip-kip-kip-kiddeeck' depending on its terrritory. I find this animal to be particularly amusing.
I'll continue on later during our expedition,
Keep Well,
George Gibson
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/lewisandclark/record_species_302_2_3.html
A photo of my favorite flower; the Large-Flowered Clammyweed.
We discovered some more species of plants and animals on this leg of our journey. One that I found as my personal favorite, though I'm not too sure why exactly, is the Large-Flowered Clammyweed. We noted it on August 25, near Vermillion, South Dakota. We also noted a very odd looking flower called a Curlycup Gumweed, which we found and recorded on August 17, in Dakota County, Nebraska. On August 5, along the Missouri River, with Nebraska bordering on the west of us, and Iowa bordering on the east, we found a flock of Least Tern, which is a type of duck who's voice makes a sort of 'killick' or 'kip-kip-kip-kiddeeck' depending on its terrritory. I find this animal to be particularly amusing.
I'll continue on later during our expedition,
Keep Well,
George Gibson
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/lewisandclark/record_species_302_2_3.html
A photo of my favorite flower; the Large-Flowered Clammyweed.
A Little Bit About Me; Private George Gibson
I was born in the state of Pennsylvania, but no record of my birth was ever found or documented, so I'm not quite sure of what exact day and what year I was born in. I was enlisted to be a part of the Lewis and Clark Expedition on October 26, 1803 in Clarksville, Indiana by Captain William Clark; I was listed among the "Nine Young Men from Kentucky". I thought that was a small bit humorous. I'm a skilled hunter and woodsman, which shows that I can bring quality skills to this expedition. I'm one of two fiddle players who are enlisted in the Corps, the other is Private Pierre Cruzatte, I speak a small amount of Sign Language, and I can translate a few things in the Indians' native languages. I chose to participate in this expedition because I was great help when it came to translating the Indians' languages for the Expedition Team. I was enlisted into the expedition on October 19, 1803, at the Falls of the Ohio. I left the expedition during 1807 when I was wounded by the Arikara Indians when I was trying to return to the Mandan lands to speak with the chief, Sheheke.
(FORESHADOWING)
I died of completely un-known causes in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1809, just three years after the Expedition ended. This was during a move to St. Louis in January of 1809 with my wife, who was from Louisville, Kentucky.
http://www.blogger.com/profile/18053838792684543915
A picture of me playing the fiddle; my favorite instrument.
(FORESHADOWING)
I died of completely un-known causes in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1809, just three years after the Expedition ended. This was during a move to St. Louis in January of 1809 with my wife, who was from Louisville, Kentucky.
http://www.blogger.com/profile/18053838792684543915
A picture of me playing the fiddle; my favorite instrument.
July 27, 1804
Today, nothing too exciting happened on the expedition, but just some excess information that may be of some type of interest to someone one day is that my boss, William Clark, spent most of his time on the boat we're traveling on making and writing on maps. The other boss, Merriweather Lewis, spent most of his time on land exploring the surrounding forests paying close attention to soil, plants, animals, and different rock formations. The group of us was always on the lookout for Indians; we always hoped that they would be peaceful if we came across some at any time. We usually tended to be armed at all times, just in case of a surprise attack.
Some of the fauna and flora we came across so far are the Osage Orange Tree, which we noted on March 26, 1804 in St. Louis, Missouri. We also found a Lemon Scurfpea, which was noted sometime during this month I believe, on the upper part of the Missouri River. On July 3, we came across a Missouri Beaver near Platte County, in Missouri. A bit before that, on June 13, a Northern Raccoon was noted in our journals, near the Chariton River in Missouri.
I will continue documenting our journey, leg by leg every once in a while; we are VERY busy afterall.
Keep well,
George Gibson
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/lewisandclark/record_species_165_1_3.html
A picture of a Northern Raccoon.
Some of the fauna and flora we came across so far are the Osage Orange Tree, which we noted on March 26, 1804 in St. Louis, Missouri. We also found a Lemon Scurfpea, which was noted sometime during this month I believe, on the upper part of the Missouri River. On July 3, we came across a Missouri Beaver near Platte County, in Missouri. A bit before that, on June 13, a Northern Raccoon was noted in our journals, near the Chariton River in Missouri.
I will continue documenting our journey, leg by leg every once in a while; we are VERY busy afterall.
Keep well,
George Gibson
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/lewisandclark/record_species_165_1_3.html
A picture of a Northern Raccoon.
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