Journey from New Harmony on the Wabash to St. Louis on the Mississippi and Stay There
Mount Vernon – Shawneetown – Cave-in-Rock – Mouth of the Wabash – Cumberland and Tennessee River – Mouth of Ohio – Mississippi – Commerce – Cape Girardeau – Grand Tower – Devil’s Bake Oven – Kaskaskia River and Indians – Ste. Genevieve – Selma – Herculaneum – Merrimac River – Jefferson Barracks – Vide Poche – St. Louis – The Sauk (Sac) and Meskwaki Indians1 – Black Hawk – Meeting with the prisoners – Preparations for continuing journey
March 30, 1833
At seven thirty, 2°R [38.2°F, 3.4°C]. Captain Stewart (the Rocky Mountain traveler) came at nine o’clock to tell us that Mr. McKenzie was ready to talk with us.
I went with Mr. Bodmer to the fur office. Mr. Chouteau, Jr., was also there. Our course was determined: we will travel with Mr. McKenzie up the Missouri to their fort on the Yellowstone River and winter there at the foot of the Rocky Mountains. We discussed the things we needed to take along and the long preparation for such a journey. Major Dougherty visited me and told me he would also make the first part of the journey with us. Later we walked about in the city with Captain Stewart and ordered tomahawks and large knives. At twelve noon, 11 1/2°R [57.9°F, 14.4°C]; there was disagreeable dust in the dry streets of St. Louis. Visit in the evening at the home of Captain Stewart.