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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May
22
1805
Lewis Kills Deer; Clark Surveys Rolling Inland Country
Strong winds delayed departure until about 10 a.m. on this cold morning. The party passed two small islands and a 20-yard-wide creek on the starboard side. Lewis killed…
May
22
1805
Sharp-Tailed Grouse Name a Creek Along Windy Island
Strong winds delayed departure until 10 A.M., after which the party advanced mostly by towlines through wider bottoms with fertile-looking but sparsely grassed hills. They passed Windy Island,…
May
22
1805
Winds Delay Departure; Wounded Buffalo in River
Strong winds from the previous night continued through a cloudy morning, delaying departure until about 11 a.m. The party caught two beaver overnight, then proceeded upriver, passing two…
May
22
1805
Brown Bear Killed After a Cold Delayed Start
A late start delayed the expedition until 9 o'clock due to harsh morning conditions. The forenoon brought cold and unpleasant weather, though conditions improved into a more agreeable…
May
23
1805
Hard Frost and Ice on Oars; Mountains Spotted Ahead
A hard frost gripped the camp overnight, with temperatures at freezing and ice forming on the oars and river edges. The party set out early under a southwest…
May
23
1805
Teapot Creek's Salty Waters Tested by Lewis
After a hard frost that left ice on the oars, the party set out early and traveled past several dry creeks, including one they named Teapot Creek, whose…
May
23
1805
Overnight Hunter Returns with Five Deer
A frosty morning greeted the party, with standing water frozen over. They set off at sunrise and were rejoined by a hunter who had stayed out overnight and…
May
23
1805
Ice as Thick as Window Glass at Dawn
On this cold morning, ice formed as thick as window glass. The party continued up the river, passing two creeks—one entering from each side—and two islands along the…
May
24
1805
Cold Morning Sail Past Islands and Creeks
A cold night left water frozen in small vessels and the thermometer at freezing. The party set out early and made good progress under a steady southeast breeze,…
May
24
1805
Frost Damages Cottonwoods; Southeast Breeze Aids Progress
Overnight frost left ice on the water vessels and along the river's edge, damaging cottonwood foliage. The expedition set out early, using sails after a southeast breeze rose…
May
24
1805
Clark Kills Fat Buffalo; Men Retrieve Meat Ashore
Clear and pleasant weather as the party set off and continued upriver, passing several creeks, small islands, pitch pine hills, and timbered bottoms. Around 3 P.M. they halted…
May
24
1805
Gravelly River Bottom and Several Southern Creeks
The party set off early and traveled 24¼ miles up the river, passing a large creek and a beautiful island on the southern shore, with another creek at…
May
25
1805
Clark Kills Female Bighorn on Shore
On a cool, pleasant Saturday with a southwest headwind, the party set out at 8 a.m. after two meat canoes rejoined them, passing a 20-yard creek on the…
May
25
1805
Towlines and Double Crews Past Stone Barriers
The party set out at 8 A.M. after two canoes returned with meat from the previous day. Headwinds slowed progress, forcing them to rely on the towline and…
May
25
1805
Eagle Nests Spotted Along High Bluffs and Islands
On a clear, pleasant morning, the party waited until about 7 a.m. for two canoes to catch up before setting off. They passed several creeks, small islands, and…
May
25
1805
Three Bighorn Sheep Killed by Afternoon Hunters
The party launched their canoes around 7 a.m. on a pleasant morning, passing two creeks on opposite sides of the river and a small bottom on the north…
May
26
1805
First Sighting of the Rocky Mountains
On this day, Meriwether Lewis caught his first sight of the Rocky Mountains, the long-anticipated barrier between the expedition and the Pacific Ocean. He recorded mixed feelings: pleasure…
May
26
1805
Mountain Sheep Shot Beneath High Sandstone Cliffs
On a clear, pleasant day, the party set off early and towed the canoes upriver beneath steep, barren bluffs and high sandstone cliffs, passing several creeks and small…
May
26
1805
Barren Desert Country; Mountain Sheep Shot
The expedition traveled through barren desert country with almost no timber except scattered pines on the hills. Wildlife was scarce, though one man shot a male mountain sheep…
May
27
1805
Rocky Riffles Through Narrowing Bluff Country
Strong southwest winds delayed departure until about 10 a.m. The party then traveled up a narrow, shoaly stretch of river crowded with rocks washed down from the surrounding…
May
27
1805
All Day Towing Through Rapid Rocky Channel
Strong morning winds delayed departure until 10 A.M., after which the party spent most of the day towing the boats by cord up an increasingly rapid, rocky river.…
May
27
1805
Tow Lines Against Swift Current Through Barren Cliffs
Pleasant weather with a high northwest wind. Around 10 a.m., the party set off using towing lines against a very swift current, passing numerous rapids, steep mountains, and…
May
27
1805
Gass Surveys 2,300 Miles of Missouri Country
After traveling roughly 2,300 miles up the Missouri, Gass pauses to summarize the country passed through: rich, timbered land from the Missouri's mouth to the Platte; decent second-rate,…
May
28
1805
Elkskin Tow Ropes Risk Capsizing Through Shoals
On a cloudy, smoky morning with a southwest wind, the expedition set out early and struggled through numerous shoals, relying on cords, poles, and fragile elkskin tow ropes…
May
28
1805
Broken Cords and Near Wrecks on Rocky Riffles
The expedition set out early under dark, smoky skies with light rain. The crew struggled to haul the boats with worn elk-skin ropes through dangerous, rocky riffles, narrowly…
May
28
1805
Clark Kills Mountain Sheep; Thunderstorm Overtakes Party
The expedition set off on a clear, pleasant morning, traveling past high bluffs and cliffs and crossing hard riffles. Around 10 a.m., Captain Clark killed a mountain sheep…
May
28
1805
Barren Desert Terrain Gives Way at Evening
The party traveled through barren, desert-like country for most of the day before reaching more agreeable terrain around 4 P.M. They covered twenty-one miles in total and made…
May
29
1805
Buffalo Bull Charges Camp; Seaman Raises Alarm
Before dawn on May 29, 1805, a large buffalo bull stampeded through the expedition's camp along the Missouri River, charging over a pirogue and passing within inches of…
May
29
1805
Overnight Buffalo Stampede Damages Arms, Terrifies Camp
Overnight, a buffalo swam the river, charged through camp, damaged a blunderbuss and rifle, and nearly trampled sleeping men. The party set off as usual under cloudy skies,…
May
29
1805
Afternoon Rain; Hunters Successful at Timber Grove
The expedition set out in the morning, passing two rivers, one on each side. Around noon clouds gathered and rain began, continuing lightly through the afternoon. The party…
May
30
1805
Heavy Rain Delays Departure; Tow Rope Snaps
Heavy overnight and continuing rain—the most since mid-September—delayed the party until about 11 a.m. They then advanced with great difficulty, relying on the tow rope along muddy, slippery…
May
30
1805
Most Rain Since September; Unusually Dry Air Noted
Heavy rain and high wind delayed the expedition's departure until 11 a.m., marking the most rainfall they'd seen since September. Lewis noted the unusually dry air, evidenced by…
May
30
1805
Cold Rain and Northwest Wind; Towing Eight Hard Miles
Cloudy weather with rain and a strong northwest wind delayed departure until about 10 a.m., and the cold, chilly conditions made for disagreeable work. The party passed white…
May
30
1805
Rain-Slowed March Past Black and Colored Hills
The party started late and made slow progress against rain that fell throughout the day, covering only eight miles before camping early on the north bank in a…
May
31
1805
Men Wade Icy Water; White Pirogue Hemp Rope Breaks
On a cloudy, rainy Friday, the expedition pushed up the Missouri with great difficulty, the men wading through cold water and struggling along slippery muddy banks and sharp…
May
31
1805
Wading Armpit-Deep in Frigid Water Hauling Canoes
The expedition pushed upriver under cold rain and cloudy skies, with the men forced to wade in frigid armpit-deep water and drag the canoes along slippery, rocky banks—grueling…
May
31
1805
Buffalo Killed Beneath Striking Two-Hundred-Foot Cliffs
The party traveled through mountainous country where game was more abundant, and they killed several buffalo along the way. Around 11 o'clock a slow rain began and lasted…
May
31
1805
Rain Prompts Spirits; Lewis Kills Fat Buffalo
The party set off under cloudy skies, retrieving meat from the previous night's hunt and killing another elk. Around 11 a.m. it began to rain, prompting the captains…
Jun
1
1805
Clark Spots Distant Mountains From Broadening Plains
On a cloudy Saturday, the expedition set out early, towing the boats upriver along terrain where the cliffs were lower and the surrounding plains broader and fertile, dotted…
Jun
1
1805
Bluffs Lower as Fertile Plains Open Ahead
On a cloudy morning with light rain, the party set out early and pulled the boats upriver with cords against an opposing wind. The bluffs lowered and the…
Jun
1
1805
Mountain Sheep Spotted in Level Cottonwood Country
The day began cloudy but stayed dry as the expedition moved through more attractive, level country with modest bottomlands on both sides of the river and several pretty…
Jun
1
1805
White Cliffs and Nesting Birds Along the River
The expedition set out early on a clear, pleasant morning and made good progress along the river. They passed steep white rock cliffs hosting colonies of small birds,…
Jun
2
1805
Hunters Take Six Elk, Bear, and Buffalo Ashore
After a windy night with light rain, the party set out early under a southwest wind with occasional rain and headwinds. The terrain resembled the previous day's. Captain…
Jun
2
1805
Increasing Timber Suggests Passage Beyond Black Hills
After a windy night with light rain, the party set out early and made good progress upriver despite headwinds, using the towline along banks that offered solid footing.…
Jun
2
1805
Slower Current Between High Bluffs and Timbered Islands
A clear pleasant morning gave way to a windy, cloudy afternoon with a brief sprinkle of rain. The party set off as usual, traveling between high bluffs, narrow…
Jun
2
1805
Lower Hills and Cottonwood Islands Along River
The expedition continued upriver through terrain where hills pressed close to the water, though they were lower and less rugged than those encountered downstream. During the morning, the…
Jun
3
1805
Captains Choose the True Missouri at a Fork
At the confluence of the Missouri River and an unknown northern fork, the expedition faced a pivotal decision about which stream was the true Missouri. Choosing wrong could…
Jun
3
1805
Scouts Dispatched to Determine the True Missouri Fork
The party moved camp to the point between two forks of the river and faced a critical decision about which branch was the true Missouri. Captains Lewis and…
Jun
3
1805
Scouting Parties Explore the Two-River Fork
The expedition reached a fork of two rivers and the captains were unsure which branch was the correct route to follow. They sent out two small scouting parties,…
Jun
4
1805
Two Scouting Parties Diverge at the River Fork
Captains Lewis and Clark each led small scouting parties up the two forks of the river to determine which was the Missouri. Lewis took Drouillard, Pryor, Shields, Cruzatte,…
Jun
4
1805
Lewis Takes Bearings on Surrounding Mountain Ranges
Lewis and Captain Clark separated at the river fork to scout opposite branches; Lewis headed up the north fork. From a high vantage point he took bearings on…
Jun
4
1805
Lewis and Clark Split to Scout the Missouri Forks
The expedition split into two scouting parties to determine which fork was the true Missouri River. Captain Lewis took six men up the right-hand fork, while Captain Clark…
Jun
4
1805
Scout Parties Probe North and South Forks
Two scouting parties set out to determine which branch was the true Missouri: one up the North Branch, and Captain Clark with the author and four others up…
Jun
5
1805
Three Grizzlies Killed as Buffalo Refuse the River
On a cold, lightly rainy morning with snow visible on the mountains to the southeast, Clark's party watched eight buffalo fail to cross the swift river. Three white…
Jun
5
1805
Buffalo-Filled Plains; Lewis Names Lark Creek
On a cold, cloudy morning following overnight rain and strong northwest winds, the party set out at sunrise and traveled up the river through level, beautiful plains teeming…
Jun
5
1805
Windbound Camp; Goodrich Fishes While Whitehouse Sews
A cold, cloudy, and windy day with strong northeast winds continuing from the previous night. The party trapped one beaver overnight. Whitehouse remained in camp, working on dressing…
Jun
5
1805
Men Dress Skins at the River Forks Camp
Cold, cloudy, windy weather persisted as the expedition remained camped at the river forks. Men dressed skins for moccasins and leggings, while Goodrich caught fish including catfish and…
Jun
5
1805
Three Bears Shot; Snow-Covered Mountains Observed
On a cloudy morning following a rainy night, the party spotted three bears approaching along the river and killed all of them before setting out across the plains.…
Jun
6
1805
Clark's Party Kills Seven Deer Along Small River
On a cloudy, cold day with hard northeast winds, Clark and his party set out early and traveled down a small river, killing seven deer for their skins.…
Jun
6
1805
Lewis Turns Back from North Fork; Clouds Block Observation
Convinced this northern branch of the Missouri was not the route to the Pacific, Lewis decided to turn back, hoping first to fix the location's latitude by a…
