3415 Entries
Journal Entries
Original journal entries from all six expedition journalists: Lewis, Clark, Floyd, Ordway, Gass, and Whitehouse. Sourced from the Thwaites Edition (1904-1905).
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Mar
7
1806
Winds Detain Comowol; Bratton's Back Worsens
High winds kept the Clatsop chief Comowol at the fort until late evening. Drouillard and Labiche returned at sunset with only one elk, killed about five miles up…
Mar
7
1806
One Elk Returned; Bratton's Condition Deteriorates
High winds kept the visiting Chief Comowol at Fort Clatsop until late evening. Hunters Labiche and Drouillard returned at sunset with only one elk, reporting scattered male elk…
Mar
7
1806
Canoes Repaired; Hunters Kill One Elk
The day began with hail and rain at the expedition's camp. Sergeant Patrick Gass and one other man worked on repairing the canoes. Toward evening, two hunters who…
Mar
7
1806
Tobacco Gone; Men Resort to Crab-Tree Bark
Rain fell intermittently throughout the day at the expedition's camp. The party faced a new hardship: their tobacco supply had run out, a serious problem since 26 of…
Mar
8
1806
Collins Kills Three Elk at Point Adams
Bratten's back is improving. Collins returned after killing three elk five miles away in Point Adams, though one was lost in a pond; hunters were dispatched to retrieve…
Mar
8
1806
Hunting Parties Dispatched Toward Point Adams
At Fort Clatsop, Bratton's back pain improved. Collins returned reporting he had killed three elk about five miles away on Point Adams, though one was lost in a…
Mar
8
1806
Hunters Return; Canoe Lost in the Field
Cold, showery weather continued overnight and into the morning. Four more hunters returned to the fort, reporting that one had killed two elk while the others had taken…
Mar
8
1806
Stormy Day; Hunters Return with Two Elk, One Deer
The day was stormy and disagreeable at the camp. Around 9 o'clock, one of the hunters returned with news of having killed two elk. After some additional time,…
Mar
9
1806
Bratton's Rheumatism Treated with Liniment and Flannel
At Fort Clatsop, men set out at daybreak to retrieve an elk Collins had killed, returning by late morning. Bratten's back pain was treated with liniment and flannel,…
Mar
9
1806
Bratton's Back Pain Eases with Treatment
At Fort Clatsop, men set out at daylight to retrieve an elk Collins had killed, returning by 11 A.M. Bratton suffered back pain, likely rheumatism, treated with liniment…
Mar
9
1806
Elk Meat Retrieved; Clatsops Bring Eulachon to Trade
On a cold day at Fort Clatsop, Ordway and ten others from the party hiked out to retrieve the meat from two elk that had been killed earlier.…
Mar
9
1806
Natives Bring Eulachon; Snow Then Warm Sun
The day brought light snow showers in the morning, though the sun shone clear and warm for much of the forenoon. In the afternoon, local Native visitors arrived…
Mar
10
1806
Three Hunting Parties Sent Beyond Meriwether's Bay
The weather cleared around 1 P.M., and the captains dispatched three hunting parties—two on either side of the Netul River and another assigned to head out the next…
Mar
10
1806
Hunters Cross Bay Toward Kilhowanackkle Territory
After the weather cleared around 1 P.M., the captains sent out hunting parties on both sides of the Netul River and arranged another to cross the bay and…
Mar
10
1806
High Winds Keep Most of the Party at Fort
On this day at the expedition's winter camp, conditions were marked by high winds. Several men set out from camp to hunt, while the rest of the party…
Mar
11
1806
Pryor Returns with Fish; Dogs Chewed Canoe Loose
Sergeant Pryor returned early with a canoe full of fish traded cheaply from the Cathlamah people, having been delayed by wind; the Cathlamah dogs had chewed through his…
Mar
11
1806
Cathlahmah Dogs Set Pryor's Canoe Adrift
Sergeant Pryor returned early in the morning with a canoe full of fish traded from the Cathlahmahs, having been delayed by wind. Dogs at the village had chewed…
Mar
11
1806
Pryor Returns with Fish, Sturgeon, and Wapato
On this rainy March day at Fort Clatsop, three hunters set out in the morning to search for game. Sergeant Pryor returned to the fort bringing a sizable…
Mar
11
1806
Fishing Party Returns with Eulachon and Sturgeon
On this day at the expedition's coastal camp, three men paddled a canoe across the bay to hunt, while two other hunters returned empty-handed. Around midday, the fishing…
Mar
12
1806
Expedition Tallies 358 Pairs of Moccasins for Return
At Fort Clatsop, a search party again failed to recover a missing canoe, and a hunter sent out across the Netul did not return by evening. The expedition…
Mar
12
1806
Calumet Eagle Described; Missing Pirogue Not Recovered
At Fort Clatsop, a search party again failed to recover the missing pirogue, and a hunter sent out across the Netul River did not return by evening. Lewis…
Mar
12
1806
Missing Canoe Not Found; Remaining Canoes Caulked
One member of the party went out hunting while Ordway searched for a canoe that had gone missing, but he was unable to locate it. The remaining canoes…
Mar
12
1806
Fair Weather but Hunters Return Empty-Handed
The rain stopped and the day began with fair weather. Several Native visitors came to the camp during the day. The hunting party returned in the evening empty-handed,…
Mar
13
1806
Four Elk and Deer Returned; Lost Canoe Still Missing
Hunters Drewyer, Joseph Fields, and Frazer returned with two elk and two deer, and Collins killed two more elk while Sergeant Pryor's party unsuccessfully searched again for a…
Mar
13
1806
Drouillard Sent to Clatsop Village to Buy Canoe
At Fort Clatsop, hunters Drewyer, Joseph Fields, and Frazier returned with two elk and two deer, while Collins killed two more elk nearby; Sergeant Ordway's party retrieved one…
Mar
13
1806
Drouillard Sent to Purchase a Canoe from Clatsops
Three hunters returned to the fort with two elk and two deer. Drewyer was dispatched to the Clatsop village to purchase a canoe. Ordway and six others went…
Mar
13
1806
Inventory Reveals 338 Pairs of Moccasins
On March 13, 1806, hunters set out early from the expedition's winter quarters. By around 10 a.m., the party that had crossed the bay returned with two elk…
Mar
14
1806
Volley of Shots Signals Hunters Found the Herd
A party retrieved two elk killed by Collins the previous evening, while Joseph Field, Collins, Shannon, and Labiche pursued the rest of the herd; over twenty shots were…
Mar
14
1806
Collins's Elk Retrieved; Drouillard Acquires Two Canoes
At Fort Clatsop, a party retrieved two elk Collins had killed the previous evening, while Collins, Joseph Field, and Shannon went after the rest of the herd; numerous…
Mar
14
1806
Clatsops Arrive with a Canoe to Trade
Seven members of the party set out to retrieve elk meat and soon returned carrying the meat of two doe elk. Later in the afternoon, Drouillard came back…
Mar
14
1806
Exhausted Hunters Return with Only a Goose and Raven
The party set out early, with a group dispatched to retrieve the meat of two elk killed the previous evening. Two hunters who had been out since the…
Mar
15
1806
Labiche's Broken Sight Spoils Hunt; Chinook Chief Arrives
The hunters returned at 11 a.m. with only four elk, since Labiche—the only one to encounter the herd—had lost his gun's foresight and missed many shots. Retrieval parties…
Mar
15
1806
Delashelwilt's Women Refused; Labiche's Faulty Gun Blamed
Hunters returned at 11 a.m. with only four elk, as Labiche's broken gun sight caused him to miss many shots; retrieval parties brought back the meat, though one…
Mar
15
1806
Drouillard Dispatched to Cathlamet for a Canoe
Visitors who stayed overnight at the fort were unwilling to sell their canoe. Drouillard and five men were dispatched to the Cathlamet village to try to purchase one.…
Mar
15
1806
Hunters Bring Four Elk to Fort at Midday
Around midday, the expedition's hunters returned to the fort with four elk they had killed, providing a substantial supply of meat. The day was also marked by a…
Mar
16
1806
Visiting Indians Refuse to Sell Canoes at Fair Price
A quiet Sunday at camp with no notable events. Drouillard and his party failed to return from the Cathlamah village, likely delayed by strong winds. Visiting Indians stayed…
Mar
16
1806
Lewis Inventories Expedition Stores for Homeward Journey
A quiet Sunday at Fort Clatsop with no notable events. Drouillard's party did not return from the Cathlahmah village as expected, likely delayed by strong winds. Visiting Indians…
Mar
16
1806
Letters Sealed for Trader Haily; Entrusted to Natives
The party remained at the fort throughout the day as rain fell for most of it, with little else of note occurring. The officers sealed up some papers…
Mar
16
1806
Enormous Columbia Vultures Described by Hunter
Steady rain fell throughout the day, and a group of Indians remained around the fort. Gass notes that the previous day, while he was away bringing in meat,…
Mar
17
1806
Delashelwilt's Women Linger; Canoes Readied for Departure
Catel and his family departed, while Delashelwilt and his women lingered near the fort, attempting unsuccessfully to tempt the men from their pledge of celibacy. The canoes were…
Mar
17
1806
Pirogues Prepared; Departure Imminent Before April Floods
At Fort Clatsop, Catel's family departed while old Delashelwilt and his women lingered nearby, attempting unsuccessfully to tempt the men. The captains prepared the pirogues for departure, hoping…
Mar
17
1806
Delashelwilt and Women Arrive at Fort Clatsop
Snowy and showery weather kept the party in camp, where they repaired canoes and prepared to depart, awaiting George Drouillard's return from the Cathlamet village. A Chinook chief…
Mar
18
1806
Drouillard Bled for Side Pain on Eve of Departure
At Fort Clatsop on the eve of departure, Drewyer fell ill with severe side pain and was bled, while several other men also reported being unwell. Sergeant Pryor…
Mar
18
1806
Rain Delays Caulking as Drouillard and Crew Fall Ill
At Fort Clatsop, Drouillard suffered severe side pain overnight and was bled by Captain Clark, while several other men also fell ill on the eve of departure. Sergeant…
Mar
18
1806
Thunder; Clatsop Canoe Taken for the Journey
Thunder rolled through the day as the party worked on repairing their small canoes. Needing an additional canoe, four men crossed over to the prairie near the coast…
Mar
18
1806
Hail and Repairs Delay Return from Fort Clatsop
Stormy weather with hail fell throughout the day, continuing into the following morning of the 19th, which remained cloudy with more hard hail showers. Members of the party…
Mar
19
1806
Coboway Receives Certificate of Friendly Conduct
Heavy rain and hail on March 19, 1806 halted work on the canoes at Fort Clatsop, though a party retrieved the elk killed the previous evening. The captains…
Mar
19
1806
Comowool Honored with Certificate Amid Persistent Rain
Persistent rain and hail at Fort Clatsop halted work on the canoes and prevented Sergeant Pryor from pitching them. A party retrieved the elk killed the previous day.…
Mar
19
1806
Harsh Hail and Snow; Party Subsists on Elk
On this day, the party subsisted on elk meat. The weather was harsh, with heavy showers of rain mixed with snow and hail falling throughout the day. The…
Mar
20
1806
Storms Delay Departure from Fort Clatsop
Heavy rain and wind at Fort Clatsop prevented the expedition from making any progress toward departure, and a plan to send Drouillard and the Field brothers ahead to…
Mar
20
1806
Lewis Reflects on Winter at Fort Clatsop
Heavy rain and wind on March 20, 1806 prevented the expedition from leaving Fort Clatsop, and a planned hunting trip by Drouillard and the Field brothers was postponed.…
Mar
20
1806
Winter Tally: 150 Elk and 20 Deer Killed
Rainy weather continues, keeping the party at camp and waiting for conditions to improve before departing. Ordway tallies the winter's hunting results: roughly 150 elk and 20 deer…
Mar
20
1806
Gass Tallies 131 Elk Killed Over Winter
The party had planned to begin their return journey on this day, but bad weather forced them to delay departure from Fort Clatsop. Patrick Gass took the opportunity…
Mar
21
1806
Hunters Return Empty-Handed; Provisions Nearly Exhausted
Unable to depart, the party sent Shields and Collins out hunting on the near side of the Netul River, but they returned in the evening empty-handed. With only…
Mar
21
1806
Last Day's Provisions; Drouillard Ordered to Hunt
Bad weather kept the expedition from departing. Hunters Shields and Collins were sent out along the Netul River but returned in the evening empty-handed, leaving the party with…
Mar
21
1806
Natives Trade Dried Fish Called Oil-Can
Rainy weather continued through the morning at the expedition's camp. A group of Native visitors came to trade dried small fish, which they called "Oil-can" in their language.…
Mar
21
1806
Observations on Coastal Nations Near Fort Clatsop
Hunters set out in the morning, and around 10 o'clock the party was visited by some Clatsop Indians. Gass uses the day to record observations about the coastal…
Mar
22
1806
Clatsops Visit with Dried Anchovies and a Dog
At Fort Clatsop, Drouillard and the two Field brothers set out as ordered the previous evening, and six additional hunters were dispatched in various directions along both sides…
Mar
22
1806
Clatsops Sell Anchovies as Departure Remains Delayed
Drouillard and the Field brothers set out as ordered the previous evening, and seven hunters were dispatched in various directions north of the Netul River. Four Clatsops and…
Mar
22
1806
Departure Preparations; Clatsops Trade Dog and Hats
The party prepared to depart Fort Clatsop, sending a small canoe ahead with hunters carrying baggage, while six additional men were dispatched to hunt. A group of Clatsop…
