Four-and-a-Half Months’ Stay in New Harmony
Description of the region – Natural history – Messrs. Say, Lesueur, and Owen – Hunting excursions in Indiana and Illinois – Wabash, Fox River – Illinois prairies – Albion – Black River – Mr. Bodmer’s trip to New Orleans
March 3, 1833
Bright, clear, cold. Sunshine early in the day. At seven thirty, 9 1/2°R [10.6°F, 11.9°C]. At ten o’clock I went out to the creek, now completely frozen. There was very bright, warm sunshine; the wind sweeping over the snow-covered fields was somewhat raw, though not cold, because it now blew from the south or southwest. I did not see a single duck, just a large number of young fellows from Harmony, who are running about out of boredom because it is Sunday. Thirteen wild geese were flying south. Blackbirds perched near some open places along the creek and flew away from me to the surrounding cottonwoods, where I shot several of them. A small covey of partridges in the blackberry bushes in front of me flew up. At twelve o’clock, 1/2°R [33.1°F, 0.6°C]. At five o’clock, 2 3/4°R [38.2°F, 3.4°C]. Mr. Bodmer and Dreidoppel went out at about four o’ clock but found men with hunting guns everywhere. Dreidoppel shot a big duck and a colorful iridescent blackbird (Quiscalus versicolor); [he] also saw many red-winged troupials in Mr. Owen’s orchard. There was a substantial thaw, and thus the fields and paths were very muddy.
In the evening, a visit at the home of Mr. Lesueur. We talked about the lead pits near Ste. Genevieve not far from St. Louis, which are described by Schoolcraft. One next to another, they are 5 or 6 to 7 feet long. The ore occurs in various forms. These pits are located somewhat farther inland a few miles. We talked very much about the Indians, and Mr. Lesueur related that during his stay in North America he had [in the past] seen Indian villages or settlements in Pennsylvania, but the intolerance of the Europeans exterminated all these poor Indians.