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By December 7, 1818, Schoolcraft and Pettibone finally made their way to Pontiac, Missouri, before continuing a few miles south to Oakland, Arkansas. Both weary travelers stood up on present-day Buzzard Bluff, and they shouted for joy. They made their way down to the banks of the pristine White River where they spent the night with James McGaryβan area now submerged beneath Bull Shoals Lake.
On December 8, they traveled 16 miles up the White River, navigating through prairie landscapes, cedar glades, and woodlands filled with thickets of hickory and oak.
By December 9, they reached Sugarloaf Prairie, where they stayed at the cabin of Mr. Coker. This location is significant in the historical accounts of Lem Coker and later referenced by S.C. Turnbo in his White River Chronicles.
On December 10, they traveled another eight miles, passing through Dubuque, Arkansas, near the present-day towns of Diamond City and Protem in Taney County, Missouri.
By December 12, after covering six more miles, they arrived at the homesteads of William Holt and James Fisher.
From December 13 through December 27, they stayed along Beaver Creek, where they spent time hewing planks for a roof and constructing cabins. This layover in Taney County cost them more in labor and time than they wanted.
Their journey took them across Swan Creek, Finley River, and eventually to Ozark, Missouri.
On January 1, they visited Smallin (Civil War) Cave near Ozark, where they gathered lead samples from the deposits in the area trekking up by the James River and Pearson Creek, southwest of Springfield, Missouri. The Springfield Rotary Club later commemorated this site in 1921.
Turning south, they followed Bull Creek, Swan Creek, and Beaver Creek reaching Taney County.
On January 9, they met up with Solomon Yoakam and embarked on a canoe trip down the White River. By January 10, they passed by the Coker homestead again.
On January 11, they visited James McGary again at the mouth of the Little North Fork of the White River.
On January 12, they stopped at Bull Shoals Rapids and spent time at the cabin of Augustine Friend. On the next day, Jacob Yoakam led them to mineral deposits in the area.
On January 14, Schoolcraft loaned Yoakam a canoe to transport meat down to the Great North Fork toward Liberty. Traveling overland, Schoolcraft and Pettibone journeyed towards Matney Knob.Β
On January 15, they examined deposits of red granite, known today as Arkansas Red Fossil, the same stone later used for President Abraham Lincoln's tombstone.
Once Schoolcraft and Pettibone reached Libertyβmodern-day Norfork, Arkansasβthey found lodging for the night. However, their stay on Saturday, January 16, 1819, was anything but restful. Schoolcraft recorded the nightβs drunken chaos:
"Whisky soon began to circulate freely, and by the time they had unloaded their canoes, we began plainly to discover that a scene of riot and drinking was to follow. Of all this, we were destined to be unwilling witnesses; for as there was but one house, and that a very small one, necessity compelled us to pass the night together; but sleep was not to be obtained. Every mouth, hand, and foot were in motion. Some drank, some sang, some dancedβa considerable proportion attempted all three together, and a scene of undistinguishable bawling and riot ensued.
An occasional quarrel gave variety to the scene, and now and then, one drunker than the rest fell sprawling upon the floor, and for a while remained quiet. We alone remained listeners to this grand exhibition of human noises, beastly intoxication, and mental and physical nastiness. We did not lie down to sleep, for that was dangerous. Thus the night rolled heavily on, and as soon as light could be discerned in the morning, we joyfully embarked in our canoe, happy in having escaped bodily disfiguration, and leaving such as could yet stand vociferating with all their mightβlike some delirious man upon his dying bed, who makes one desperate effort to arise, and then falls back in death."
After this chaotic night, Schoolcraft and Pettibone continued their journey down the White River. They passed through Calico Rock before reaching Batesville, Arkansas. At this point, Pettibone departed alone and ahead of Schoolcraft, heading back toward St. Louis. Schoolcraft soon made his trek back to St. Louis, concluding his wintertime, 90-day, 900-mile exploration into the heart of the Ozarks.
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