Timeline
Documenting Lewis and Clark – 1806, The Return Home
 June
30-July 3: Traveler's Rest
June 30
Meriwether Lewis: a little before sunset we arrived at our old encampment on the south side of the creek a little above it's entrance into Clark's river. here we encamped with a view to remain two days in order to rest ourselves and horses & make our final arrangements for seperation. we came 19 ms. After dinner the road being much better than it has been since we entered the mountains we found no appearance of the Ootslashshoots having been here lately. the indians express much concern for them and apprehend that the Minnetares of fort de Prarie have distroyed them in the course of the last winter and spring, and mention the tracks of the bearfoot Indians which we saw yesterday as an evidence of their being much distressed.- our horses stood the journey supprisingly well, most of them are yet in fine order, and only want a few days rest to restore them perfectly.(Moulton, vol. 8, p. 66)
William Clark: Descended the mountain to Travellers rest leaveing those tremendious mountanes behind us-in passing of which we have experiensed Cold and hunger of which I shall ever remember.(Moulton, vol. 8, p. 68)
July 1
Meriwether Lewis: Capt. Clark & my self consurted the following plan viz. from this place I determined to with a small party by the most direct rout to the falls of the Missouri, there to leave Thompson McNeal and Goodrich to prepare carriages and geer for the purpose of transporting the canoes and baggage over the portage, and myself and six volunteers to ascend Maria's river with a view to explore the country and ascertain whether any branch of that river lies as far north as Latd. 50 and again return and join the party who are to decend the Missouri, at the entrance of Maria's river. I now called for volunteers to accompany me on this rout, many turned out, from whom I scelected Drewyer the two Feildses, Werner, Frazie and Sergt Gass accompanied me the other part of the men are to proceed with Capt Clark to the head of Jefferson's river where we deposited sundry articles and left our canoes. from hence Sergt Ordway with a party of 9 men are to decend the river with the canoes; Capt C. with the remaining ten including Charbono and York will proceed to the Yellowstone river at it's nearest approach to the three forks of the missouri, here he will build a canoe and decend the Yellowstone river with Charbono the indian woman, his servant York and five others to the Missouri where should he arrive first he will wait my arrival. Sergt Pryor with two other men are to proceed with the horses by land to the Mandans and thence to the British posts on the Assisnniboin with a letter to Mr. Heney whom we wish to engage to prevail on the Sioux Chefs to join us on the Missouri, and accompany them with us to the seat of the general government. these arrangements being made the party were informed of our design and prepared themselves accordingly.(Moulton, Vol. 8, p. 74)
William Clark: . . . those guides expressed a desire to return to their nation and not accompany us further, we informed them that if they was determined to return we would kill some meat for them, but whished that they would accompy Capt. Lewis on the rout to the falls of Missouri only 2 nights and show him the right road to cross the Mountains. this they agreed to do.(Moulton, Vol. 8, p. 77)
July 2
Patrick Gass: We continued here during this day, which was fine and pleasant, fixing our loading and making other arrangements for our separation. One of the hunters went out and killed two deer.-The musquitoes are very troublesome at this place.(Moulton, Vol. 10, p. 247)
July 3
John Ordway: we got up our horses and boath parties Set out about one time. Capts. Lewis & Clark parted here with their parties & proceed. on I with Capt. Clark up the flat head River.(Moulton, Vol. 9, p. 330)
Patrick Gass: We had again a fine morning; collected our horses and set out. Captain Lewis and his party went down Clarke's river, and Captain Clarke with the rest of the party went up it. All the natives accompanied Captain Lewis. We proceeded on down Clarke's river about 12 miles, when we came to the forks; . . .. . . .This north branch of the river is called by the natives Isquet-co-qual-la, which means the road to the buffaloe.(Moulton, Vol. 10, p. 249)
Meriwether Lewis: . . . we saddled our horses and set out I took leave of my worthy friend and companion Capt. Clark and the party that accompanyed him. I could not avoid feeling much concern on this occasion although I hoped this seperation was only momentary.(Moulton, Vol. 8, p. 83)
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