THE MISSOURI RIVER JOURNALS 5 19 



were sent yesterday to announce our approach to Fort 

 Pierre, 



Sunday, May 2S. This morning was beautiful, though 

 cool. Our visiting Indians left us at twelve last night, and 

 I was glad enough to be rid of these beggars by trade. 

 Both shores were dotted by groups of Buffaloes as far as 

 the eye could reach, and although many were near the 

 banks they kept on feeding quietly till we nearly ap- 

 proached them ; those at the distance of half a mile never 

 ceased their avocations. A Gray Wolf was seen swimming 

 across our bows, and some dozens of shots were sent at 

 the beast, which made it open its mouth and raise its head, 

 but it never stopped swimming away from us, as fast as 

 possible ; after a while it reached a sand-bar, and immedi- 

 ately afterwards first trotted, and then galloped off. Three 

 Buffaloes also crossed ahead of us, but at some distance ; 

 they all reached the shore, and scrambled up the bank. 

 We have run better this morning than for three or four 

 days, and if fortunate enough may reach Fort Pierre some- 

 time to-morrow. The prairies appear better now, the 

 grass looks green, and probably the poor Buffaloes will 

 soon regain their flesh. We have seen more than 2,000 

 this morning up to this moment — twelve o'clock. 



We reached Fort George^ at about three this afternoon. 

 This is what is called the " Station of the Opposition 

 line; " some Indians and a few lodges are on the edge of 

 the prairie. Sundry bales of Buffalo robes were brought 

 on board, and Major Hamilton, who is now acting Indian 

 agent here until the return of Major Crisp, came on board 

 also. I knew his father thirty-five years ago. He pointed 

 out to us the cabin on the opposite shore, ^ where a part- 



1 Situated on the right bank of the Missouri, in Presho Co., South Dakota. 

 See " Lewis and Clark," ed. of 1893, p. 127. — E. C. 



2 This " cabin on the opposite shore " was somewhere in the vicinity of 

 Rousseau, at or near the mouth of present Little Medicine Creek (formerly 

 East Medicine Knoll River, originally named Reuben's Creek by Lewis and 

 Clark, after Reuben Fields, one of their men). — E. C. 



