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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Jan
11
1805
Fragmentary Entry with No Recorded Events
The journal entry for this date contains only a single fragmentary word and no substantive content describing events, people, places, weather, or decisions. No meaningful account of the…
Jan
12
1805
Field Brothers Return Two Elk by Sled
On a very cold Saturday at Fort Mandan, three of the expedition's hunters returned, with Joseph and Reubin Field bringing in two elk on a sled. Clark sent…
Jan
12
1805
Interpreter Returns from Assiniboin Fur Trading
The weather remained clear and cold. A number of Native Americans accompanied some of the expedition's men down the river to hunt. That evening, one of the interpreters…
Jan
12
1805
Halt at the Mouth of the Little Missouri
Around 8 a.m., the party reached the mouth of the Little Missouri, a small river entering from the south side that closely resembles the Missouri in color, current,…
Jan
12
1805
Four Men Retrieve Three Elk from Previous Hunt
Three elk were brought into camp after four men were sent out to retrieve the meat from a previous hunt.
Jan
13
1805
Half the Mandan Nation Departs to Hunt Buffalo
On a cold, clear Sunday, about half the Mandan nation traveled down the river to hunt buffalo, a common practice though their habit of sharing meat widely often…
Jan
13
1805
Beaver Trapping and French Trappers on the River
Strong winds prevented the small canoes from carrying sail. Members of the party trapped beaver, and some French trappers traveling nearby caught seven. The group passed Onion Creek,…
Jan
13
1805
Scarce Game Draws Native Visitors; Charbonneau Returns Laden with Meat
Hunting parties were active as game grew scarce, prompting frequent visits from Native people seeking food. The expedition members welcomed them as best they could despite the intrusions.…
Jan
14
1805
Pryor and Five Men Join Mandan Buffalo Hunt
On a cold Monday, a group of Native American men, women, children, and dogs traveled down the ice past the camp to join others who had passed the…
Jan
14
1805
Six More Hunters Dispatched; Buffalo Killed
Light snow fell in the morning at the fort. Six additional hunters set out to join those already in the field, and a number of Native hunters went…
Jan
14
1805
Chalk-Topped Haystack Hill and a Stray Dog
On a fine morning, the party set out and was joined by a black dog believed to have belonged to a recently encamped band of Assiniboine. They passed…
Jan
14
1805
Whitehouse Frostbitten; Shannon Reports Rich Hunt
George Shannon returned to camp this evening with news that Joseph Whitehouse had frostbitten his feet and could not make it back without a horse. Shannon, hunting with…
Jan
15
1805
Total Lunar Eclipse Observed and Timed at Midnight
At Fort Mandan, a total lunar eclipse occurred between midnight and 3 a.m., and Clark recorded several timing observations: the start at 12:57:54, total darkness at 1:44:00, end…
Jan
15
1805
Warm Weather; Horses Sent to Fetch Whitehouse
The weather turned noticeably warmer and more pleasant than it had been recently. A man who had traveled to the fort the previous day returned with two horses…
Jan
15
1805
Gros Ventre Chiefs Visit on a Thawing Afternoon
On a thawing winter day at Fort Mandan, horses were sent down to the hunters. Around 2 o'clock in the afternoon, several Gros Ventre (Hidatsa) chiefs arrived to…
Jan
15
1805
New Year's Whiskey, Cannon Fire, and Dancing
The men celebrated the New Year by firing a swivel gun and a round of small arms. Captain Lewis distributed a glass of good old whiskey to each…
Jan
16
1805
Thirty Mandans Visit Despite Hidatsa Warnings of Danger
About thirty Mandans, including six chiefs, visited the fort, despite Hidatsa warnings that the white men would kill them; they were instead smoked with, entertained with dancing, and…
Jan
16
1805
Dancing and Socializing at the Second Village
Members who had stayed overnight at the village returned in the morning. Captain Lewis, Patrick Gass, and others traveled to the second village, where they spent much of…
Jan
16
1805
Corn Paid for Blacksmith Work; Snake Indian Visitors
Visitors arrived at the fort with their wives carrying loads of corn to pay the expedition's blacksmith for his work. Three men returned from a hunting trip with…
Jan
17
1805
Zero Degrees and Strong North Wind; Indians Visit
On Thursday, January 17, 1805, Clark recorded a very windy morning with strong winds blowing from the north. The thermometer read zero degrees. Several Indians visited the camp…
Jan
17
1805
Winter Hunters Take Elk, Deer, and White Hare
The weather was generally very cold, though hunters frequently went out and had varied success. They killed a white hare, a small buffalo, three elk, four deer, and…
Jan
17
1805
Entry Records Only a Northwest Wind
Ordway's brief entry for this day notes only that the wind was from the northwest. No other activities, events, or observations were recorded.
Jan
18
1805
Larocque and McKenzie Arrive with Hidatsa Companions
On a mild, warm Friday morning at Fort Mandan, the expedition received visitors. North West Company traders François-Antoine Larocque and Charles McKenzie traveled down to the fort, accompanied…
Jan
18
1805
Hunters Return with Deer, Wolves, and a Badger
The day brought clear, cold weather at the fort. Two of the expedition's hunters returned with a substantial haul, having killed four deer, four wolves, and one badger-like…
Jan
18
1805
North West Company Traders Arrive; Wolf Carries Off Steel Trap
Traders from the North West Company arrived at the garrison from the Gros Ventres villages in the evening. Two hunters returned with four wolf skins taken in steel…
Jan
18
1805
Frostbitten Interpreter Returns from Assiniboin Territory
Patrick Gass and other men went down the river to hunt. That evening, one of the expedition's interpreters returned along with another Frenchman who had accompanied him on…
Jan
19
1805
Traders Depart; Jusseaume's Wife Leaves Him
On a fine Saturday, traders Larocque and McKenzie departed for home after their visit. Clark sent three horses down to the hunting camp to retrieve the meat the…
Jan
19
1805
Three Horses Sent to Retrieve Meat Thirty Miles Downriver
Two men were dispatched from the fort with three horses, traveling along the frozen river ice to retrieve meat from the hunting camps located about 30 miles downriver.
Jan
19
1805
Party Retrieves Cached Meat Thirty Miles Downriver
A brief entry noting that a party traveled down the river to bring home meat cached about 30 miles from Fort Mandan. The bulk of the page consists…
Jan
19
1805
Man's Frozen Feet Prevent Return from Hunt
Hunters set out to join others already with the natives. That evening, one of the original hunters returned to the fort with news that the party had killed…
Jan
20
1805
Interpreter Dispute; Charbonneau's Ill Wife Given Tea
On a cold but clear day at the fort, several Indians visited. A misunderstanding arose between the two interpreters concerning their wives. One of Charbonneau's wives had fallen…
Jan
20
1805
Mandan Villagers Offer Food to Sacred Buffalo Head
Some of the men visited the nearby Mandan or Hidatsa villages and reported being treated very well, with the inhabitants providing plenty of food. After eating, the hosts…
Jan
20
1805
Fragmentary Entry Mentioning Only Corn
The journal entry for this date is extremely brief, noting only that a considerable amount of corn was involved. No further details about events, people, weather, or decisions…
Jan
20
1805
Fort Mandan (winter) — Patrick Gass: January 20, 1805
Editorial note: no detailed primary-source journal entry survives for January 20, 1805 that is distinct from the surrounding days. The...
Jan
21
1805
Fine Day; Man Suffering Badly from the Pox
At Fort Mandan on Monday, January 21, 1805, the day was fine and unremarkable. A number of Indians visited the fort. Clark noted that one man was suffering…
Jan
21
1805
Sailing Past High Bluffs in Clear Morning Air
A clear but cold morning with an east wind allowed the party to set off at sunrise and travel under sail past high bluffs, round knobs, and timbered…
Jan
21
1805
Hunters Return with Elk, Deer, and Fox; Corn for Blacksmith
Hunters returned with three horse-loads of meat, having killed three elk, four deer, a fox, two porcupines, and a hare. Local Native people brought in a considerable amount…
Jan
21
1805
Horse-Loads of Venison; Boats Cut Free from Ice
Hunters returned to the fort with three horse-loads of venison and elk meat. Over the following two days, January 22nd and 23rd, the weather turned warm, prompting the…
Jan
22
1805
Attempt to Free Boats Foiled by Double Ice Layer
On this fine, warm Tuesday, the party attempted to cut the boat and pirogues free from the ice along the river. They discovered water about eight inches beneath…
Jan
22
1805
Red Cloth Offerings Found at Abandoned Indian Camp
Snow and wind at daybreak delayed departure. Hunters went out and killed buffalo and deer, while another man had taken two beaver overnight. At an abandoned Indian camp,…
Jan
22
1805
Crooked River and Game-Rich Northern Bottomlands
The party traveled by river past a beautiful bottomland on the north side that was filled with various game. Wind was unfavorable and the river ran very crooked,…
Jan
22
1805
Ice-Cutting Attempt to Free Boats Abandoned
The men worked at cutting away ice from around the barge and pirogues. As they cut through the ice in places, water gushed up over the cut areas,…
Jan
23
1805
Four Inches of Snow Fall at Winter Quarters
On this cold Wednesday, four inches of snow fell at the expedition's winter quarters. Clark noted that the day's occurrences were typical and unremarkable, offering no further details…
Jan
23
1805
Frozen Poles and West Wind on a Cold River Day
The party set out around 7 a.m. on a clear but very cold day, with frost, snow on the ground, and standing water frozen to their poles. A…
Jan
23
1805
High Winds, Young Wolves, and Missouri Backwater
High winds prevented travel on the river. While camped, some men investigated what looked like a distant river or lake but found it was only Missouri backwater flooding…
Jan
23
1805
Men Craft Hand Sleds for Corn and Beans
The men of the expedition spent the day crafting hand sleds for the local Native Americans, who paid for the work with corn and beans through trade.
Jan
24
1805
Interpreters Improving; Hunters Return Empty-Handed
On a fine Thursday in late January 1805 at Fort Mandan, Clark noted that the expedition's interpreters were beginning to understand one another better than they had in…
Jan
24
1805
Five Men Sent to Cut Wood for Charcoal
On this day, five men were sent out in the afternoon to cut wood for making charcoal, as the party's existing supply of coal had just run out.…
Jan
24
1805
Hunters Dispatched; Nothing Killed
The journal entry for this date is extremely brief, noting only that hunters went out but killed nothing. No other details about weather, location, people, or activities are…
Jan
25
1805
Assiniboine Grand Chief Arrives at Villages to Trade
Word reached the party that a band of Assiniboine had arrived at the nearby villages to trade, accompanied by their grand chief, known as Fee de petite veau.…
Jan
25
1805
Splitting Wood and Setting Up the Charcoal Pit
The men spent the day preparing materials and infrastructure for making charcoal. Their tasks included cutting and splitting wood suitable for coaling, as well as setting up the…
Jan
25
1805
Tedious Work Cutting Through River Ice
On this day, Patrick Gass briefly noted that the party was occupied with cutting or working through ice, describing the task as tedious. The fragmentary entry suggests the…
Jan
26
1805
Indian Dinner Guests; Man Bled for Pleurisy
On a notably warm and pleasant Saturday, the expedition hosted several Indians for dinner, who appeared well pleased with the meal. The day was marked by a medical…
Jan
26
1805
Lewis Calculates Latitude from Sun's Meridian Altitude
On this Saturday, Lewis recorded a celestial observation taken at the expedition's winter quarters. Using a sextant and an artificial horizon made of water, he measured the meridian…
Jan
26
1805
Charcoal Work Continues; Natives Bring Corn to Camp
The expedition members continued the same work as the previous day. Local Native Americans visited the camp and brought a substantial amount of corn to trade or share…
Jan
26
1805
Blacksmith Forges Axes; Traded to Natives for Corn
The party spent the day cutting wood to make charcoal for their blacksmith, who used a small set of tools brought along on the expedition. The blacksmith forged…
Jan
27
1805
Lewis Amputates Frostbitten Toes; Ice Cutting Continues
On a fine Sunday at Fort Mandan, the men attempted to cut the boat and canoes free from the ice, a difficult task complicated by water seeping between…
Jan
27
1805
Hay Gathered to Cover Coal Kiln
A brief note records that the party gathered hay from the prairie near the fort to cover a coal kiln, likely part of ongoing efforts to produce charcoal…
Jan
28
1805
Ice Cutting Fails; Charbonneau Quits the Expedition
On this warm Monday, the party tried unsuccessfully to cut through the ice to free their boat and canoe. Several Indians visited camp hoping to have war hatchets…
Jan
28
1805
Crew Attempts to Cut Barge Free from Ice
The crew worked at cutting ice from around the barge in an effort to free it. They obtained large pries and tried to shake the vessel loose, but…
