Fall Camp 2005

When I was looking up info in the L&C Journals for Greg on the Cracon du Nez I found that Clark did not call it the Rose River. He called it the Tansey River, after the plant found along its banks (see Journals for June 6, 1805 and Atlas maps 41. 42, 53, 61; MRC map 75). Clark is the one who went up on the Cracon du Nez and saw how close the Teton was and where it came into the Marias.

Here's a quote from Clark on the ridge between the Missouri and Teton from Clark on June 4th, 1805: "... those who accompanied me were Srjt. Gass Jos: & Ruben Fields G. Shannon & my black man York, and we Set out to examine the South fork, our first Course was S. 25 [degrees] W. 7 miles to the S. fork at a Spring, at which place the little river which falls into the N. fork is 100 yards distant only Seperated from the [right] South fork by a narrow ridge."

Moulton's Note on this says: The Teton River is separated from the Missouri by a ridge or high ground which was later called Cracon du Nez by French rivermen and may be loosely translated, "bridge of the nose." It is now called Vimy Ridge. Wheeler, 1:302; Coues (HLC), 1:346 n. 29; Altals maps 42, 53, 61; MRC map 75.

However, Lewis on June 11 says: "...at 8 A.M. I swung my pack, and set forward with my little party. proceeded to the point where Rose [NB: Tansey} River a branch Maria's River approaches the Missouri so nearly. Suddenly now the river is called Rose River? Since Lewis actually went up the Marias and Teton River drainages he calls it the Rose. Although Clark see it first on June 4th calling it the Tansey River and it remains on Clark's map as the Tansey River.

Clark on June 12 is the only reference I found to Grog spring on his Course & distance the 12th of June 1805 which are the navigation/map notes Clark makes each day for their travels: "...West 3 [miles] to the grog spring at the Stard. Side at which place the Little river which falls into the North fork is 100 yards distant." Grog Springs is not marked on any of Clark's maps, but the vicinity of the close approach of the Missouri and Teton rivers to each other I can clearly see on Clark's map in the Atlas. The map here says "Camped 12 June".

All of this information comes from Moulton, G.E. ed. 1987. The Definitive Journals of Lewis & Clark; From Fort Mandan to Three Forks.University of Nebraska Press. Lincoln. and from: Moulton, G.E. 1983. Atlas of the Lewis & Clark Expedition.

More information on the CraCon du Nez. Here the Teton River makes an elbow to the South at the apex of which is divided from the Missouri only by a narrow, sharp , high ridge. Along its crest runs an old indian trail, a short cut from the fort (Benton) to the mouth of the Marias. From Floating on the Missouri by James Schultz.

About eight miles above the conflunce, the south branch and the small river (Teton) wich falls into the North branch are no more than 200 yards apart, near this place and close to the South branch (Missouri) is a beautiful spring where we refreshed ourselfs with a good drink of grog. The Journals of Patric Gass edited by Carol Lynn MacGregor.

To clarify further Vimmey Ridge lies to the west of the Teton River. The rise of land starting at about the CraCon du Nez extending to the mouth of the Marias, east of the Teton and west of the Missouri is called Rowe Bench. This was named after an early day homesteader.