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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Jul
14
1804
Violent Southern Storm Nearly Swamps the Boat
The party set out at daybreak but had traveled only about a mile when a violent storm blew in from the south, lasting roughly an hour and a…
Jul
14
1804
Storm Forces All Hands into the River
Heavy rain and a strong wind hit camp before the party could depart, churning the water so violently that all hands had to get into the river to…
Jul
14
1804
Sudden Northeast Storm Nearly Drives Boat onto Sandbar
A sudden violent storm from the northeast struck around 7 a.m., nearly driving the boat onto a sandbar; the men leapt out to hold her steady and dropped…
Jul
14
1804
Violent Squall Forces Crew into the Water
A violent storm struck the expedition around seven, forcing the entire crew to jump into the water to save the boat. The squall passed quickly, and the party…
Jul
15
1804
Clark Walks Overland to Mouth of Nemaha Creek
A heavy morning fog delayed departure until 7 a.m. Drouillard and Sergeant Floyd were sent ashore, and at 9 Clark took two men and walked overland through prairies…
Jul
15
1804
Chronometer Stopped for the Third Time
On this Sunday, Lewis discovered that his chronometer had stopped, despite having been wound the previous noon. This was the third such incident since he acquired the instrument,…
Jul
15
1804
Passing Plumb Run and Nemaha Creek Southward
The party departed at 6:00 a.m. and traveled along the river, passing two streams on the south side. The first was Plumb Run, where the current was noted…
Jul
15
1804
Clark and Ordway Scout High Prairies Beyond Faun Creek
The party traveled along the Missouri River with Drouillard and Sergeant Floyd scouting on shore in the morning. After breakfast, Ordway accompanied Captain Clark on the south side,…
Jul
15
1804
Ripe Grapes Gathered; Pumice Stone in Driftwood
The expedition continued upriver, passing high land and prairies on the south side where they gathered ripe grapes. Captain Clark and two men traveled overland rather than by…
Jul
15
1804
Morning Fog Delays Start; Passing Two Nemaha Rivers
Heavy morning fog delayed the expedition's departure until it lifted. Once underway, the party passed the Nishnabotna River and, at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, passed the Little…
Jul
16
1804
Landslide Drops Twenty Acres into the River
The expedition set out very early under a gentle southerly breeze, passing prairies, several willow and sand islands, and a large island the party named Fair Sun. The…
Jul
16
1804
Lewis Takes Meridian Altitude at Good Island
The expedition departed early on a cloudy Monday morning, making it difficult to find a good spot for celestial observation. Just before noon, the party stopped on the…
Jul
16
1804
Sawyer Strike but Twenty Miles Sailed Onward
The party set out very early and traveled along the edge of a prairie under a southerly wind that allowed them to sail. Their boat struck a sawyer…
Jul
16
1804
Boat Strikes Sawyer Near Fair Sun Island
The expedition traveled along a prairie where hills came close to the Missouri River, passing several small islands including a large one called Fair Sun. The boat briefly…
Jul
16
1804
Rocky Cliffs on the South Shore in Fair Wind
The expedition enjoyed a fine day with a fair wind as they traveled past a prairie and a long island, beyond which a section of riverbank had collapsed…
Jul
16
1804
Sailing Twenty Miles Past Elk Prairie to Mohaugh
The expedition enjoyed clear weather and strong winds, making good progress under sail. They passed several islands and a prairie on the east shore where elk were spotted,…
Jul
17
1804
Chronometer Reset at Bald Pated Prairie
The expedition stayed at Bald Pated Prairie to fix the latitude and longitude and reset the chronometer, which had run down two days earlier. Clark calculated the latitude…
Jul
17
1804
Rest Day; Drouillard Kills Three Deer in Prairie
The party rested for the day to hunt for fresh meat. Captain Lewis and George Drouillard went out, with Drouillard killing three deer. The surrounding country was prairie,…
Jul
17
1804
Hunters Bag Four Deer on Bald-Topped Prairie
The expedition remained at this location to hunt and take astronomical observations. Several men set out hunting early in the morning across the bald-topped prairie mentioned earlier. Captain…
Jul
17
1804
Hunters Kill Three Deer
On this day, the expedition's hunters had a successful outing, killing three deer. Patrick Gass's journal entry for July 17, 1804 is exceptionally brief, recording only this single…
Jul
18
1804
Current Measured Near Bald Pate Island
On a fair, breezy morning with the river falling, the expedition set out at sunrise and traveled past several islands, including one the French called Bald Pate (Chauve).…
Jul
18
1804
Current Speed Measured Below Two-Hundred-Foot Bluffs
Under a gentle southeasterly breeze and fair skies, the party continued upriver, passing several islands and prairies with sparse timber except on low, wet points covered with cottonwood,…
Jul
18
1804
Open Prairie Country; Hunters Proceed Overland
The expedition traveled with a fair wind and pleasant weather through remarkably open country that appeared as one continuous prairie. Two hunters proceeded overland with the horses, as…
Jul
19
1804
Approaching the Platte Through Dangerous Sandbars
The expedition set out early and passed between two small islands the French called Four le Tourtre, or Baker's Oven Islands, then navigated past yellow-earth clifts and numerous…
Jul
19
1804
Cherry Run Named for Abundant Riverside Bushes
The expedition departed early and traveled about nine miles upriver, passing several islands and contending with a strong current. They passed an unnamed stream on the south side,…
Jul
19
1804
Cherries Added to Whiskey Barrel Near Baker's Island
The expedition passed Baker's Oven and Baker's Island, then the mouth of a small creek and high yellow-earth bluffs topped with prairie along the south side, where signs…
Jul
19
1804
Midday Stop Yields Abundance of Chokecherries
On July 19, 1804, the party traveled past numerous sandbars and high ground along the south side of the river. They stopped for their midday meal at a…
Jul
19
1804
French Boatman Kills Two Entwined Catfish
The expedition set out under clear skies, passing four islands on the starboard side. Along the shore, the men encountered two large catfish locked together, unable to separate,…
Jul
20
1804
Bratton Swims Back to Retrieve Forgotten Gun
On a cool, foggy morning, the expedition continued upriver despite George Drouillard's illness. Bratton swam back across the river to retrieve a gun and clothes left behind. They…
Jul
20
1804
Cry's Creek Cliffs, Spring, and Prairie Observed
The expedition departed at 6 a.m. and traveled past Cry's Creek (about 35 yards wide) on the south side, noting clifts, a fine spring, and open prairie atop…
Jul
20
1804
Breakfast at Crying Water Creek; Sailing Under Breeze
The expedition set out early and stopped for breakfast at the mouth of Crying Water Creek, about 20 yards wide, on the west side beneath Bald Hill. Around…
Jul
20
1804
Weeping Water Creek Passed; Clark Finds Abundance of Game
The party departed at sunrise with Sergeant Pryor and J. Fields driving the horses overland, while George Drouillard was sick. They passed a fine limestone and iron-ore spring,…
Jul
20
1804
Passing the Weeping Stream and Willow Island
The expedition passed banks along the south side of the river and noted a creek called the Water-which-cries, or Weeping Stream, which flowed in opposite a willow island.…
Jul
21
1804
Platte River: Gateway to the Great Plains
On July 21, 1804, the expedition reached the mouth of the Platte River, a major landmark marking the transition from the lower to the upper Missouri and the…
Jul
21
1804
Searching Ten Miles for Timber Along the River
The expedition departed very early in the morning, hoping to locate woodland near the mouth of a river they had passed earlier. Initially unable to find any timber,…
Jul
21
1804
Camp Established at Mosquito Creek for Observations
The party set out early in search of a suitable spot for astronomical observations and a longer encampment. Along the way, they passed a stream on the north…
Jul
21
1804
Reaching the Platte River Mouth at Midday
Setting out at sunrise with a gentle southerly breeze, the party made good progress past several islands and timbered highlands containing cemented rock, limestone, and springs. Around 1…
Jul
21
1804
Arrival at the Broad Mouth of the Platte
Aided by a strong morning breeze, the party traveled past numerous willow islands and sandbars before the wind died at nine. By one o'clock they reached the mouth…
Jul
22
1804
Searching Upriver for Timber and Observation Site
The expedition set out very early on this cold, windy Sunday, traveling about 10 miles north-northwest from the Platte River to find a well-timbered spot suitable for taking…
Jul
22
1804
Lewis Describes Sextant, Octant, and Artificial Horizons
Lewis devotes this entry not to travel events but to a detailed technical description of the scientific instruments he is using to record celestial observations and map the…
Jul
22
1804
Ascending Mosquito Creek Behind Willow Island
The expedition traveled along timbered land and prairies on the south side, passing hills that began about ten miles above the Grand River Platte. They went up Mosquito…
Jul
22
1804
Camp Established Nine Miles Above the Platte
The expedition set out early under fair weather, traveling along a stretch where high prairie bordered the south side of the river and timber dotted the northern hills.…
Jul
22
1804
American Flag Raised; Drouillard Sent to Oto Village
Under clear skies, the expedition remained at their camp on the riverbank and raised the American flag. George Drouillard and Pierre Cruzatte were sent out on a 45-mile…
Jul
23
1804
Drouillard Sent with Tobacco to Invite Oto Chiefs
On a fair morning at Camp White Catfish, ten miles above the Platte River, the captains sent one party to find timber for oars and two others to…
Jul
23
1804
Drouillard Dispatched to Seek Neighboring Indian Nations
The expedition remained in camp this day, resting and taking astronomical observations at their location. The captains decided to send out men to make contact with local Indian…
Jul
23
1804
Flag Raised; Scouts Sent to Oto and Pawnee Villages
On a clear morning, the expedition remained at their camp on the riverbank, where they hoisted the American flag. George Drouillard and Pierre Cruzatte were sent out on…
Jul
23
1804
Flag Raised; Cruzatte Sent to Otoe Village
The expedition remained at their encampment, where they raised the American flag on the bank and unloaded the boat to air out the cargo. Cruzatte was sent on…
Jul
23
1804
Envoys Sent to Platte River Nation with Flag
While camped along the Missouri, the party dispatched two men up the Platte River to a nearby Indian nation, carrying a flag and word of the change in…
Jul
24
1804
Clark Drafts Maps; Lewis Prepares Downriver Dispatches
At White Catfish Camp, ten miles above the Platte River, the day was fair with strong, refreshing southerly winds. Clark spent the day drafting a map while Captain…
Jul
24
1804
Flagstaff Raised and Felled Awaiting Indian Visitors
The party remained at their camp, raising a large flagstaff in the morning to greet Indians they expected to meet, but rain and wind forced them to take…
Jul
24
1804
Oars Crafted for the Keelboat at Camp
The day began with some rain. Four members of the party were assigned to crafting oars for the bateau (the expedition's keelboat). The brief entry records no other…
Jul
24
1804
Oars Made; Ripe Grapes Found at Camp
On this day, four members of the expedition party were occupied with making oars for the boat. The group also discovered a large quantity of ripe grapes growing…
Jul
25
1804
Oto Village Found Deserted; Messengers Return
At White Catfish Camp on a fair Wednesday, several hunters were sent out. Around 2 p.m., Drouillard and Peter returned from a scouting trip to the Oto village,…
Jul
25
1804
Scouts Return: Tribes Away Hunting Buffalo
The day began pleasant, with several men sent out hunting. Scouts George Drouillard and Peter Cruzatte returned to camp, reporting they had found no Indians; the local tribes…
Jul
25
1804
Drouillard Reports Oto Village Abandoned
On July 25, 1804, hunters George Drouillard and Pierre Cruzatte returned to the expedition after scouting the Oto village, reporting they found no Indians there. Based on signs…
Jul
25
1804
Stray Horse Found; Strong Current Impedes Progress
The party set out early under a gentle southern breeze and found a stray horse on the south side that had been lost for some time. The current…
Jul
26
1804
Sand Clouds and a Lanced Tumor at White Catfish Camp
At White Catfish Camp, strong southerly winds blew clouds of sand all day, making it impossible for Clark to work in his tent or on the boat, forcing…
Jul
26
1804
Oars Completed Amid a Violent Southeast Wind
The crew finished making oars on this day. A strong, violent wind blew from the southeast, but otherwise nothing of note occurred. Charles Floyd recorded only these brief…
Jul
26
1804
Drouillard Returns with Two Deer and Turkey
The day began pleasantly, with several men sent out hunting from the party's camp. George Drouillard returned successfully, having killed two deer and a turkey. Later in the…
Jul
26
1804
Drouillard Brings Two Deer and Turkey
The expedition spent the day at camp focused on hunting and processing game. George Drouillard brought in two deer and a turkey, while most of the party was…
