The Journal Says:
"The Whole Party Almost Involuntarily Raised A Shout Of Joy
At Seeing This Image Of Civilization And
Domestic life."
Men who have been wandering in pathless wildernesses,
remote from man, for more than two years, might well
Be
moved by the sights of a homelike farm and a settled life.
Soon after this the party reached the little French village
of La Charette which they saluted with four guns and three
hearty cheers. Then, according to the journal, they landed and
were warmly received by the people, who had long since abandoned
all hope of ever seeing these far-voyaging adventurers return.
Here are the last entries in the journal that has been our guide
so long across the continent and back again to the haunts of men: -
"Sunday, September 21st, we proceeded; and as several
settlements have been made during our absence, we were
refreshed with the sight of men and cattle along the banks.
We also passed twelve canoes of Kickapoo Indians, going on
a hunting-excursion. At length, after coming forty-eight miles,
we saluted, with heartfelt satisfaction, the village of
St. Charles, and on landing were treated with the greatest
hospitality and kindness by all the inhabitants of that place.
Their civility detained us till ten o'clock the next morning,
"September 22d, when the rain having ceased, we set out for Coldwater Creek,
about three miles from the mouth of the Missouri, where we found a cantonment
of troops of the United States, with whom we passed the day; and then,
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