The Confluence

Something we have been looking forward to for some time is the confluence of the Yellowstone River and the Missouri. The Corps shared this anticipation.

Here are two maps, one historic and one modern which depict that confluence;

Lewis and four other men walked from the Missouri cross country to intercept the Yellowstone, then walked down the Yellowstone to meet Clark at the confluence.

April 24, 1805  LEWIS  "When we had proceeded on about 4 miles, I ascended the hills from whence I had a most pleasing view of the country, particularly of the wide and fertile valleys formed by the Yellowstone and Missouri Rivers, which occasionally unmasked by the wood on their borders disclose their meanderings for many miles in their passage through these delightful tracts of country. I determined to camp on the bank of the Yellowstone River which made its appearance about 2 miles south of me. The whole face of the country was covered with herds of buffalo, elk, and antelopes; deer are also abundant, but keep themselves more concealed in the woodland. The buffalo, elk and antelope are so gentle that we pass near while feeding without appearing to excite any alarm among them; and when we attract their attention, they frequently approach us more nearly to discover what we are, and in some cases pursue us a considerable distance apparently with that view." Later while he was making observations of Latitude and Longitude of the confluence, he heard several shots "which announced to me the arrival of the party with Captain Clark...after I completed my observations in the evening I walked down and joined the party at their encampment on the point of land formed by the junction of the rivers...."

 The Coast and Geodetic Survey have used Lewis's calculations and placed a marker at exactly that spot, and placed a marker at the spot.

This is that marker;

There are very few places along the Lewis and Clark trail where you can be absolutely sure you are standing exactly where they stood. Many things have changed, even the rivers have changed their course or been impeded by dams thereby flooding their actual path.

Doc was thrilled to be in one of those places.

  Here is a view of the confluence itself, with the Yellowstone, in the center of the picture, entering toward the viewer and joining the Missouri which is flowing from right to left.

            Photographer at work

There were, of course to Gail's delight, wild flowers at Fort Buford which was built later near the confluence.








Shortly after the Corps completed their journey, John Jacob Astor approached President Jefferson, asking his help in sending a group of his people to trace their route and make arrangements for a global fur trading enterprise centered around a United States presence on the west coast. Jefferson was enthusiastic , but informed Astor he had about worn out his welcome in the congress where money for westward expansion was concerned, but he would lend all the support the government could for this venture. Astor did follow through, and part of the organization he built was a trading for near the confluence called Fort Union. Astor hired James Fenimore Cooper to write the story of his employees journey. The book is titled "The Astorians."

 Fort Union











We are now staying overnight  in a small motel in Malta, Montana, and plan to drive to Fort Benton tomorrow.