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
17
1805
Charbonneau Moves Out, Then Reconsiders and Returns
At Fort Mandan, the men aired out trade goods and parched meal to keep them dry. Interpreter Toussaint Charbonneau began moving his baggage across the river, intending to…
Mar
18
1805
Supplies Divided Eight Ways; Sioux Massacre Reported
On a cold, cloudy day with north winds, Clark divided the expedition's trade goods and supplies into eight equal packs so that each canoe and pirogue would carry…
Mar
18
1805
Pirogues Loaded; Clark Packs Indian Artifacts for Departure
At Fort Mandan, the expedition continued preparations for departure. Some men worked on the pirogues, loading provisions for the upcoming journey. Two men traveled up to the Gros…
Mar
19
1805
Big White Visits; Sick Child Treated at Fort
On this cold, windy, cloudy day with a light snowfall the previous night, Clark received several visitors at the fort, including the Mandan chiefs Big White and Little…
Mar
19
1805
Sergeant Gass Reports Pirogues Completed
The weather was cold. Around 10 o'clock, Sergeant Gass arrived at the Fort with news that the pirogues had been completed. He requested additional men to help haul…
Mar
20
1805
Hauling Four Canoes Through the Bottomland
On Wednesday, March 20, 1805, Clark took as many men as could be spared from Fort Mandan to work on the canoes being prepared for the journey downriver…
Mar
20
1805
Clark Leads Party to Haul Pirogues to the Missouri
Clark and six men traveled upstream to help haul the pirogues over to the Missouri River, likely as part of preparations for the expedition's continued journey westward. The…
Mar
21
1805
Last Canoes Reach the River; Pumice Hills Crossed
On a cloudy, snowy Thursday, the men hauled the last two canoes down to the river, leaving three behind to finish the work, and returned to the fort…
Mar
21
1805
Pirogues Hauled to River; Light Snow Falls
Around 2 o'clock in the afternoon, Captain Clark returned to camp with four men after working on the expedition's pirogues. They had hauled all the boats down to…
Mar
22
1805
Medal and Speech for the Minetaree Second Chief
On a cloudy March 22, 1805, Clark received a visit from the second chief of the Grand Village of the Minetarees (Hidatsa, also called Bigbellies). The captains presented…
Mar
22
1805
Hidatsa Chiefs Receive Medals at Fort Mandan
Indigenous visitors from the southeast continued bringing corn to Fort Mandan. A group of Hidatsa (Gros Ventres) arrived to visit the captains, accompanied by traders Mr. McKenzie and…
Mar
23
1805
Missouri Ice Breaks Up; Departure Imminent
At Fort Mandan, signs of spring were emerging as the ice on the Missouri River began to break up, indicating that the expedition's departure was drawing near. Captains…
Mar
23
1805
Gros Ventres Depart; Light Rain Falls
The Gros Ventres (Hidatsa) visitors who had spent the previous night at the fort departed for home in the morning. Light rain fell during the latter part of…
Mar
24
1805
Farewell to La Rocque and Hidatsa Chiefs
On a fair Saturday morning, after breakfast, the captains saw off Mr. La Rocque, Mr. McKenzie, and the Hidatsa (Minetarra) chiefs and men who had been visiting Fort…
Mar
24
1805
Cages Built for Magpies and Prairie Hens
Men were sent to bring pirogues down to the Fort but returned around noon empty-handed, as the boats had not yet been caulked or otherwise prepared. Meanwhile, two…
Mar
25
1805
Swans and Geese Signal Approaching Departure
On a cloudy morning with a northeast wind that cleared by afternoon, the Corps continued preparations to depart from Fort Mandan and resume their journey upriver. Several Indians…
Mar
25
1805
Steering Oar Crafted; Corn Shelled for Departure
On this day at the expedition's winter quarters, the men were occupied with preparations for the upcoming journey. Some worked on crafting a steering oar for the large…
Mar
26
1805
Breaking Ice Threatens Canoes Near the Fort
A fine day with a southwest wind, though few Native visitors came to the fort because the ice on the river had broken up in several places. In…
Mar
26
1805
Pirogues Rescued from Moving River Ice
The party retrieved the pirogues, returning around 2 p.m. Just before landing, river ice began moving, forcing the men to quickly haul the boats out to prevent damage.…
Mar
27
1805
River Ice Breaks Away; Departure Preparations Continue
On Tuesday, March 27, 1805, the Missouri River across from the expedition's winter quarters was choked with ice, which broke away in the evening. The water rose only…
Mar
27
1805
All Pirogues Arrive; Ice Breaks Up on Missouri
The party brought all the pirogues down to Fort Mandan and spent the day preparing them and gathering supplies in readiness to set out on the next leg…
Mar
28
1805
Caulking and Pitching Canoes as Ice Runs Heavy
On a windy, blustery Friday with a southwest wind, the expedition spent the day caulking, pitching, and tarring the canoes and pirogues to seal cracks and the wind-shake…
Mar
28
1805
Oars and Poles Fitted as Ice Drifts Past
After a pleasant morning following the night, ice continued to drift on the river. The expedition party spent the day preparing their pirogues, fitting oars and poles so…
Mar
29
1805
Ice Halts Upstream; Crew Repairs Boats
On Saturday, March 29, 1805, the ice on the river stopped running, apparently blocked by an obstacle upstream. The crew spent the day repairing the boat and pirogues…
Mar
29
1805
Lewis Investigates Large Spring on Missouri Bank
Morning rain gave way to a fine forenoon. Captain Lewis set out with a hunter and traveled about seven miles down the river to view a very large…
Mar
29
1805
Twenty-Two Inches of Snow; Departure Preparations Continue
The party recorded 22 inches of snowfall over 22 hours. They continued their preparations to depart and begin traveling up the river.
Mar
30
1805
Indians Leap Between Ice Cakes to Salvage Buffalo
On this Sunday, large quantities of ice broke loose upstream and floated down the river, which rose 13 inches in 24 hours. Clark watched with amazement as Indians…
Mar
30
1805
Viewing the Falls and Beautiful Spring Below
Having been busy working on the boat, the writer had not yet seen the falls, so he set out with another man to visit them. He judged the…
Mar
30
1805
River Rises Ten Inches; Barge Caulked for Return
The river rose ten inches overnight, and thick ice was running in the Missouri throughout the day. The party set out the Indians' goods to air. Crew members…
Mar
31
1805
Geese Fly Upriver; Evenings of Dancing at Fort
On a cloudy Monday at Fort Mandan, the expedition observed several flocks of geese and ducks flying upriver, with only a small amount of ice still drifting downstream.…
Mar
31
1805
Experimental Iron Boat Finished and Coated
The party worked on completing an experimental boat while hunters went out for buffalo and antelope, hoping to use the hides to cover the craft. Weather was mostly…
Mar
31
1805
Ice Running Less Thickly on the Missouri
On this day at the expedition's winter quarters, John Ordway made only a brief weather and river observation. He noted that the ice floating down the river was…
Apr
1
1805
First Rainfall Since October; Boats Placed in Water
At Fort Mandan, the day brought thunder, lightning, hail, and rain—the first significant rainfall since October 15 of the previous year. Clark had the boat, pirogues, and canoes…
Apr
1
1805
Fort Mandan Craft Launched Before Departure
At Fort Mandan, the expedition's craft were launched into the water in preparation for departure, with one boat to return to St. Louis. A significant rainfall occurred on…
Apr
1
1805
Barge and Eight Pirogues Launched in Heavy Rain
The day was marked by heavy rain, beginning with a hard downpour that lasted about half an hour. After this initial storm passed, the party launched the Barge…
Apr
2
1805
Writing Dispatches Before Departure from Fort Mandan
On a cold, cloudy day with rain continuing from the previous night, Clark and the party spent the day writing and preparing dispatches in advance of their departure,…
Apr
2
1805
Northwest Winds Give Way to Pleasant Weather
Strong winds blew from the northwest through the latter part of the previous night, but the weather turned pleasant during the latter part of the day. This brief…
Apr
2
1805
Packing Skins and Horns for the President
The party prepared a shipment intended for the President, gathering animal skins, buffalo robes, and large horns from the Mountain ram. They also began loading the boat for…
Apr
3
1805
Packing Specimens and Skins for President Jefferson
On a frosty but fine April 3rd at Fort Mandan, the Corps of Discovery spent the day packing items to be shipped back to President Jefferson. Clark catalogued…
Apr
3
1805
Specimens and Artifacts Boxed for Keelboat Return
At Fort Mandan, the expedition party spent the day packing and boxing up specimens, artifacts, and other materials that were to be shipped back to the United States…
Apr
3
1805
Goods Redistributed Before Upriver Departure
On a cold day with northwest winds, the expedition unloaded all their goods, stores, and baggage, then divided and reloaded them aboard their craft in preparation to resume…
Apr
4
1805
Keelboat Loaded with Specimens and Reports for Jefferson
At Fort Mandan, the Corps of Discovery wrapped up final preparations for their spring departure westward into uncharted territory. The permanent party readied themselves to push on, while…
Apr
4
1805
Goods Aired; Keelboat Loaded for St. Louis Return
The expedition crew spent the day airing out their goods and bags of corn at Fort Mandan. Items destined for St. Louis were loaded onto the keelboat barge…
Apr
5
1805
Pirogues and Canoes Loaded; Departure Imminent
On Thursday, April 5, 1805, the expedition finished loading two pirogues and six canoes with stores and supplies, mostly provisions, in preparation for departure. Strong winds blew from…
Apr
5
1805
Supplies Divided and Loaded onto Pirogues
The party spent the day sorting and dividing supplies into proportional shares for each pirogue, then loaded all the pirogues in preparation for departing on the next leg…
Apr
5
1805
Goods Redistributed; Gass Reflects on His Journal
Under cold northwesterly winds, the party unloaded all their goods, stores, and baggage and redistributed them among their boats in preparation to resume the voyage upriver. Gass uses…
Apr
6
1805
Entire Arikara Nation Arrives Across the River
On a pleasant day at Fort Mandan, the captains received numerous Mandan visitors and learned that the entire Arikara nation had arrived across the river near their old…
Apr
6
1805
Arikara Visitors Delay the Party All Day
Word reached camp in the morning that some Arikara had come up to the Mandan villages. The interpreter and several men were sent across to verify the report,…
Apr
6
1805
Arikara Nation Reportedly Moving Toward Mandan Villages
The expedition loaded baggage onto the pirogues and prepared to depart from Fort Mandan. However, some Mandan Indians reported that the entire Arikara nation was traveling upriver toward…
Apr
7
1805
Departing Fort Mandan into Unmapped Territory
On April 7, 1805, the Corps of Discovery departed Fort Mandan to push west into largely unmapped territory. Lewis compared their small fleet to the famous expeditions of…
Apr
7
1805
Arikara Chiefs Arrive; Sioux Peace Delegation Announced
The interpreter returned with four Arikara, including two chiefs, reporting that ten of their nation had come to the Mandan villages to smoke a peace pipe. A letter…
Apr
7
1805
Corps Departs Fort Mandan Upriver
After a conversation with local Indians, the commanding officers arranged for some of them to travel down to St. Louis aboard the keelboat. Around 5 o'clock in the…
Apr
8
1805
Mandan Villages Farewell; Chief Gifts Clark Moccasins
The expedition departed very early against a strong northwesterly headwind, passing the Mandan villages where large crowds gathered to watch them leave. Clark said farewell to the Mandan…
Apr
8
1805
Lewis Pipes with Black Cat Before Marching On
The expedition set out early but moved slowly against a strong northwest wind. Lewis walked ashore to bid farewell to the Mandan chief Black Cat, sharing a customary…
Apr
8
1805
Passing Mandan Villages into Hidatsa Country
The expedition continued upriver, passing the second and third Mandan villages and stopping at the second for breakfast. Strong westerly winds blew, snow lingered on north-facing hillsides, and…
Apr
8
1805
Canoe Nearly Sinks; Wet Gunpowder Salvaged
Strong northwest winds buffeted the party, and around noon a canoe in the rear signaled it was sinking. Captain Clark went back to assist; the canoe rejoined the…
Apr
9
1805
Indian Guide Turns Back; First Mosquito Noted
The expedition departed early under a gentle southeasterly breeze. At breakfast, the accompanying Indian decided to return to his people. Clark noted the first mosquito of the season,…
Apr
9
1805
Snake Indian Guide Abandons Party; White Brant Observed
The expedition departed at dawn and traveled roughly 23 miles up the Missouri before camping on the north side. The Indian man who had agreed to guide them…
Apr
9
1805
Gros Ventre Hunting Party Encountered on South Shore
The expedition departed at daylight with a south wind and sailed upriver, retrieving a large beaver from a trap set the night before. After breakfast, they passed a…
Apr
9
1805
Passing Gros Ventre Hunters on the River
On April 9, 1805, the expedition continued upriver and around 1 o'clock passed a party of Gros Ventres out hunting. The group covered approximately twenty-two miles that day…
