Lake Jessie, North Dakota

View of lake with tents on hill on other shore. Trees are along part of lake shore.
Lithographs; Color images
23 x 30 cm.
"U.S.P.R.R. Exp & Surveys, 47th & 49th parallels. General Report, Plate XI" - Printed above image. "July 20 [1853] ... We arrived at Lake Jessie about 3 o'clock p.m., the bluff shore on which we encamped being some sixty-four feet above the level of the lake. Paul Boilleau and Rummel were both thrown by their horses stumbling in one of the numerous holes in which the prairie abounds. They were considerably, though not seriously, hurt. the water of Lake Jessie is considerably saline in its character, but about three-fourths of a miles from camp an excellent spring of good fresh water was found by Henry Boilleau and myself while out on a reconnoitering trip. This discovery afforded a pleasant relief from the brackish water of Lake Jessie and the surrounding lakes. This is the last point on the trail in which our work will connect with Nicollet's survey, and tonight our camp is pitched upon the same spot where he encamped some sixteen years ago. Between 1 and 2 o'clock at night a herd of buffalo approached our camp, and it required all the exertion of the guard, assisted by many of the men, to prevent an entire stampede of all our animals. As it was, some got loose, though none were lost. The buffalo were followed a considerable distance, and some ten or a dozen were fired before 'the animals without' were entirely driven off. July 21. -- Fearing that the water in advance of the party would prove to be of the same character as that which we had left behind, I ordered two casks to be filled with spring water. Lake Jessie being the last point of Nicollet, I instructed Mr. Tinkham's party to run a line of levels, and Mr. Morfett to make corresponding barometrical observations to verify the work, thus securing a good profile of the country we go over. ... " -Text in volume (p. 47) that accompanies image.
Title from caption with image.