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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Oct
6
1805
Saddles and Powder Buried Before River Departure
On a cold Sunday morning with strong easterly winds blowing down from the mountains, the expedition gathered their saddles and buried them in a hole on a riverbend…
Oct
6
1805
Fresh Fish and Roots Purchased from Riverside Village
The party departed as usual and continued downstream, soon passing a small Indian village on the south bank. Several Indians paddled out in a canoe to trade, and…
Oct
7
1805
Canoes Launched; Pipe Tomahawk Missing at Departure
Still ill but pushing forward, Clark oversaw the loading and launching of the canoes. As the party prepared to depart, the two chiefs who had promised to accompany…
Oct
7
1805
Afternoon Launch Through Shoals and Rocky Rapids
After preparing and loading the canoes, the expedition launched around 3 p.m. and began descending the river. They navigated several shoals and rapids, hauling the canoes across shallow…
Oct
7
1805
Mountain Crossing to Valley; Flour Runs Out
After a cloudy morning and a meager breakfast of parched corn, the party set out at 8 o'clock and crossed a large mountain to reach a creek and…
Oct
8
1805
Gass's Canoe Splits Running Fifteen Rapids
On a cloudy Tuesday morning, the party reloaded their canoes after burying two lead canisters of powder near a dead-topped pine across from camp and repairing leaks. Setting…
Oct
8
1805
Powder Cached; Dangerous Waves at Rocky Rapids
The expedition reorganized canoes and cached a canister of powder near a broken tree before setting out around 9 a.m. They navigated several dangerous rapids, taking on water…
Oct
8
1805
Gass's Canoe Sinks in Waist-Deep Rapid
The expedition continued down the river, passing three islands and several rapids before stopping at midday at one of the many Indian lodges lining the banks. After resuming…
Oct
9
1805
Damaged Canoe Repaired Stronger Than Before
The party spent a cool, cloudy day at camp drying roots and gear soaked in the previous day's canoe accident. Four men—Sergeants Pryor and Gass, Joseph Fields, and…
Oct
9
1805
Ordway's Party Retrieves Meat in Heavy Rain
Ordway and eight men set out to retrieve the rest of the meat despite heavy rain that lasted all day. They returned in the evening with the meat…
Oct
9
1805
Shoshone Guide Deserts Before the Rapids
On a pleasant day, the party repaired their canoe and dried all the baggage, finishing by evening. Their Shoshone guide deserted along with his son, likely fearing the…
Oct
10
1805
Scouts Ragged Rapid; Dogs Purchased from Natives
Setting out at 7 a.m. under fair weather, the party navigated several rapids and islands, stopping at Indian lodges to scout a particularly bad riffle they named Ragged…
Oct
10
1805
Sea Otters and Porpoises; Winds Force Halt
A rainy morning with somewhat calmer waves allowed the party to load the canoes and continue downriver, passing high rock cliffs and fine springs while observing porpoises, sea…
Oct
10
1805
Canoe Leaks at the Clearwater-Snake Confluence
The party navigated dangerous rapids, during which one canoe sprang a leak and soaked much of its cargo, forcing a halt to dry the goods. They stopped near…
Oct
11
1805
Nine Fishing Rapids Passed; Fifteen Dogs Acquired
On a cloudy morning with an easterly wind, the expedition set out early and traveled down the river, passing nine rapids that doubled as major fishing sites. They…
Oct
11
1805
Gibson Falls Ill; Huts Rising at Winter Camp
Rain fell for most of the day at the expedition's encampment, and George Gibson was reported sick. The following day, Thursday, December 12, 1805, a number of Clatsop…
Oct
11
1805
Trading Dogs and Fish at Native Lodges
The expedition traveled about 30 miles down the river, stopping briefly at Native lodges where they obtained fish and dogs, then halting again at Indian camps for the…
Oct
12
1805
Provisions Bought Before Running Several Bad Rapids
On a fair, cool Saturday with an easterly wind, the expedition bought all the dried fish and other provisions the local Indians could spare before setting out at…
Oct
12
1805
Abandoned Fishing Camps Along Snake River Plains
The expedition continued down the Snake River, passing numerous abandoned fishing camps along treeless, high plains shores. The party traveled 35 miles before making camp on the starboard…
Oct
12
1805
Flathead Chiefs Aboard; No Game Spotted
The expedition continued downriver with two Flathead chiefs aboard and two of their men piloting in a small canoe alongside a stranger. The party spotted ducks, geese, hawks,…
Oct
13
1805
Lewis Pilots Canoes Through Dangerous Squeezed Rapid
On a rainy, windy Sunday morning, the party waited until weather eased around 9 a.m. before Captain Lewis led the canoes through a dangerous rapid, with the rest…
Oct
13
1805
Non-Swimmers Portage While Canoes Lined Through Rapids
The party spent the morning carefully lining canoes one at a time down through rapids, with non-swimmers carrying baggage overland, finishing safely around noon. The weather cleared by…
Oct
13
1805
Two-Mile Rapid Ferried Two Canoes at a Time
The party delayed departure until 11 a.m., then carefully ferried the canoes two at a time through a two-mile stretch of rapids, completing the passage safely in about…
Oct
14
1805
Drouillard's Canoe Strikes Rock at Three-Mile Rapid
On a cold, windy day, the expedition set out at 8 a.m. and navigated several rapids along the river. Two and a half miles in, they passed a…
Oct
14
1805
Ordway's Canoe Swamped Striking Rock at Island
Traveling with a northwest wind on a swift current, the party navigated several rocky rapids. Around noon, two canoes briefly grounded without damage. After dining and continuing about…
Oct
14
1805
Canoe Strikes Rock; Geese Killed for Food
The expedition navigated several rapids in the morning, successfully passing a particularly bad one around 11 a.m. They spotted geese and ducks, killing some for food. Around 1…
Oct
15
1805
Racing Down the Columbia Through Basalt Canyons
The Corps of Discovery pressed on with their swift journey down the Columbia River, navigating treacherous rapids with assistance from their Nez Perce guides. The expedition traveled through…
Oct
15
1805
Crossing to Flathead River via Berry-Lined Trails
On a fine morning, the party traveled two miles to reach steep mountains, finding the route well-worn by Native people who cross to the Flathead River to gather…
Oct
15
1805
Ordway's Party Packs Seventeen Elk by Nightfall
Ordway and a party set out with three canoes to retrieve 17 elk that had been killed earlier. They paddled as far upstream as possible, then began packing…
Oct
16
1805
Snake and Columbia Rivers Confluence Reached
The Corps of Discovery reached the confluence of the Snake and Columbia Rivers, near present-day Pasco, Washington, marking their arrival on the great river that would lead them…
Oct
16
1805
Last Bad Rapid Portaged; Guides Lead to Camp
The expedition navigated rocky rapids, with one canoe getting stuck before being freed with help. They reached what Native guides indicated was the last bad rapid, portaged some…
Oct
16
1805
Canoe Strikes Rocks; Baggage Portaged Around Rapids
The expedition set out early and traveled about three miles before one canoe struck rocks in a rapid; they unloaded another canoe to help and got everyone safely…
Oct
17
1805
Trading at the Columbia Forks; Language Vocabularies Recorded
At the forks of the Columbia, Clark and Lewis traded with the local chief and villagers, buying dogs since the salmon were dying in great numbers and unfit…
Oct
17
1805
Lewis Returns from Sea; Hunters Bring Deer and Geese
Hunting parties went out and returned later in the day with two deer, several geese and brants, and other game. Captain Lewis and his exploring party also returned…
Oct
17
1805
Trading Dogs at the Columbia-Snake Confluence
At the confluence of the Columbia and Lewis's (Snake) rivers, the party paused for observations. They traded with local Native people for dogs, since the abundant salmon were…
Oct
18
1805
Council at Columbia Confluence; Rivers Measured
On a cool, fair morning at the confluence of the Columbia and Kimooenim rivers, the men killed six prairie cocks. The captains held a council with arriving Indians,…
Oct
18
1805
Clark Measures Columbia and Kimooenem River Widths
The expedition remained at the forks until afternoon while Captain Clark measured the rivers, finding the Columbia 860 yards wide and the Kimooenem 475 yards wide, and Captain…
Oct
18
1805
Captains Record Vocabulary of Three Native Groups
The party remained in camp until past noon while the captains collected vocabulary samples from the three native groups present, who wore little clothing beyond deer-skin robes and…
Oct
19
1805
Meeting Yelleppit; Thirty-Six Miles Down the Columbia
The expedition met with Chief Yelleppit and two other chiefs in the morning, smoking together and giving out a medal, handkerchief, and strings of wampum. Declining the chief's…
Oct
19
1805
Rocky Towers Rising from Ocean Along Coastal Hills
The party continued along the Pacific coast, traveling over high, rough hills, some prairie and bald, after setting out late from the previous night's camp. One hunter killed…
Oct
19
1805
Medal Presented; Rapids Passed Through Level Plains
After a frosty morning, several Native people visited camp, and the captains gave one a medal and small gifts. The party set out at 8 o'clock, navigating past…
Oct
20
1805
Two Hundred Indians Visit; Forty-Two Miles Downriver
On a cold, windy Sunday, the Corps hosted about 100 to 200 visiting Indians, sharing a smoke and a breakfast of dog meat before departing. Traveling 42 miles…
Oct
20
1805
Rain Persists Through Solstice; Huts Nearly Finished
The weather cleared briefly but rain returned by evening. The following day, Saturday December 21st, 1805, rain continued steadily. Despite the wet conditions, the party pressed on with…
Oct
20
1805
Pelicans and Dead Salmon at a Large Island Camp
The expedition set out early and traveled along a scenic stretch of river, observing pelicans, gulls, crows, and ravens drawn to the many dead salmon lining the shores,…
Oct
21
1805
Bitter Cold Start; Acorns Purchased at Native Lodges
On a very cold morning with a southwest wind, the expedition set out early without breakfast, having lacked enough dry willow fuel the previous night. After about five…
Oct
21
1805
White Root Bread and Grey Squirrel Robes at Native Lodges
On a fine morning, the expedition reached Native lodges around 10 a.m. and stopped for about two hours, obtaining bread made from a small white root grown locally.…
Oct
21
1805
Trading Small Goods for Salmon at Fearful Village
The expedition set out early and stopped at an Indian village to buy firewood and cook breakfast, trading small goods for pounded salmon and white root cakes. The…
Oct
22
1805
Nineteen Miles Past Salmon-Drying Villages
On a calm, fair morning, the expedition set out at 9 a.m. and traveled 19 miles down the Columbia, passing several rapids, rocky islands, and numerous Indian lodges…
Oct
22
1805
Snake River Confluence Reached from the South
The expedition set out early, spotting abundant waterfowl. By 10 a.m. they reached a large island where the river cuts through a high hill, and opposite it the…
Oct
22
1805
Surging Tide Nearly Splits Canoe Against Shore Logs
Heavy rain continued through the night with strong winds from the southwest. The waves grew dangerously high and the tide rose well above its usual level, slamming one…
Oct
23
1805
Canoe Portage at the Falls; Flea-Infested Camp
On a fine morning at the falls, the party portaged their canoes 457 yards along the south side and lowered them by elk-skin ropes through a narrow channel…
Oct
23
1805
All Canoes Past the Thirty-Seven-Foot Falls
The expedition portaged and lowered their canoes down a major falls totaling 37 feet 8 inches in height over 1200 yards, with most of the crew dragging the…
Oct
23
1805
Hauling Canoes Past Celilo's Twenty-Two-Foot Drop
At the Great Falls of the Columbia (Celilo Falls), Captain Clark led most of the party in hauling the canoes about a quarter mile over the rocks, bypassing…
Oct
24
1805
Clark Persuades Nez Perce Chiefs to Remain
On a fine morning, the expedition's two elderly Nez Perce chiefs wanted to turn back, fearing hostility from tribes downstream, but Clark persuaded them to stay two more…
Oct
24
1805
Rapid Narrows and a Large Indian Village
The expedition set out early and navigated very rapid water below the falls. After traveling four miles past one set of narrows, they encountered another, more confined stretch…
Oct
24
1805
Shooting the Short Narrows Through Whirlpools
On a clear, pleasant morning, the party loaded the canoes and set out around 9 a.m. on a rapid current. They navigated a narrow channel about 20 to…
Oct
25
1805
Canoes Navigate Whirlpool Channel with Tense Watching Crowd
On a cold morning, the Corps successfully ran their canoes through a dangerous channel with a whirlpool, portaging valuable goods while Indians watched from the rocks above. One…
Oct
25
1805
Canoe Swamped in Portage; River Calms at Creek Camp
The party portaged some baggage about three-quarters of a mile around rapids and then took the canoes through one by one. One canoe filled with water, causing a…
Oct
25
1805
Portage Past Narrows; War Party Encountered Downstream
The party portaged baggage about a mile past the worst of the narrows, then ran the canoes through one at a time, with one filling with water and…
Oct
26
1805
Drying Damaged Stores; Salmon Speared at Camp
On a fine Saturday at their camp, the Corps spent the day drying water-damaged supplies and repairing leaky canoes, with six men sent out to hunt and collect…
