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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Sep
17
1805
Wet, Slippery Trail Through Melting Mountain Snow
The party spent the morning rounding up scattered horses, not finishing until about noon when they set out. Snow melted off the timber, making the rough trail wet…
Sep
17
1805
Cold Rain and Unripened Berries at Stony Creek
The expedition crossed two large mountains and Stony Creek, struggling through cold, rainy terrain where service-berries had not yet ripened. Unable to find grazing for the horses, they…
Sep
18
1805
Clark Pushes Ahead Through Rugged Terrain for Game
On a cold but fair morning, Clark pushed ahead of the main party with six hunters, hoping to find deer or other game to ease the expedition's hunger.…
Sep
18
1805
Party Splits; Clark Races Ahead for Provisions
Facing scarce game in the mountains, the party split: Captain Clark went ahead with six hunters to reach level country and secure provisions, while Lewis stayed behind to…
Sep
18
1805
Clark Leads Hunters Ahead Through Tangled Mountain Terrain
At sunrise, Clark and six hunters went ahead hoping to kill game, while one expedition horse went missing. The main party set out across rough, rocky, and steep…
Sep
18
1805
Snow All Morning; Another Colt Killed for Supper
The expedition pushed on through brutal mountain terrain in miserable weather, with snow falling steadily from morning until about 3 P.M. After pausing for soup, they continued until…
Sep
19
1805
Stray Horse Killed and Hung for the Starving Rear Party
On September 19, 1805, Clark and his advance party set out early, traveling up a creek through difficult mountainous terrain in present-day Idaho. About six miles in, they…
Sep
19
1805
Prairie Vista Reveals the Columbia River Valley
Setting out shortly after sunrise, the party traveled southwest along a ridge for six miles before sighting a vast prairie to the southwest, which their Indian guide identified…
Sep
19
1805
Summit View Reveals Distant Plains Near Columbia
The party finished the last of their provisions except for some portable soup and pressed on over the mountain. From the summit they spotted a large plain far…
Sep
19
1805
Sun Melts Snow on High Desert Mountain Crossing
The party did not gather until noon before resuming their march on a fine, warm day. Sunshine rapidly melted snow on the south-facing hillsides, making travel tiring and…
Sep
20
1805
Starving Party Reaches Nez Perce on Weippe Prairie
On September 20, 1805, after a grueling crossing of the Bitterroot Mountains, Clark's advance party emerged starving onto the Weippe Prairie in present-day Idaho. There they encountered the…
Sep
20
1805
Starving Party Finds Clark's Cache of Horse Meat
Starving and weak after finishing their last scraps of Indian peas and bear's oil, the party pressed on with sore-footed horses. They came upon a note from Captain…
Sep
20
1805
Crossing High Rough Mountains Through Patchy Snow
The party gathered all but one of their horses early, sent six hunters ahead and another man to search for the missing horse, then continued across very high…
Sep
21
1805
Nez Perce Chief Charts the Columbia and Its Falls
On a warm, fine day, Clark sent hunters out in all directions while he stayed behind with the Nez Perce chief to gather information without raising suspicion. The…
Sep
21
1805
Fallen Timber Makes the Timbered Ridge Nearly Impassable
The party was delayed until 11 AM while rounding up horses, then traveled about 15 miles southwest along a heavily timbered ridge, struggling through fallen timber that made…
Sep
21
1805
Fire-Killed Timber Blocks Way Through Mountain Ridges
The party spent the morning rounding up their horses, finally setting out around 10 a.m. They traveled west over a rough trail, crossing a creek early on and…
Sep
21
1805
Disagreeable Cold Morning Over the Mountains
On a disagreeably cold morning, the party set out around 8 a.m. and continued their journey over the mountains.
Sep
22
1805
Thrown Three Times; Clark Rejoins Lewis's Starving Party
On a warm Sunday, Clark left the hunters on an island and traveled with a Nez Perce chief and his son to rejoin Lewis. A young horse threw…
Sep
22
1805
Reuben Fields Brings Dried Fish and Roots from Ahead
The party's departure was delayed until 11:30 a.m. because a man failed to hobble the horses as ordered. Heading west, they met hunter Reuben Fields, sent by Captain…
Sep
22
1805
Fields Meets Party with Salmon and Root Bread
After a frosty morning delayed by horse-hunting, the party set out around nine, crossing a mountain into a small prairie. Reuben Fields, sent back by Captain Clark, met…
Sep
22
1805
Horse Falls from Precipice Descending into Cove
The party paused at noon by a spring for a meal of portable soup, noting that snow had mostly melted except on north-facing peaks. Resuming at 2 P.M.,…
Sep
23
1805
Council and Medals with the Nez Perce Chiefs
On a hot Sunday, the captains held council with the Nez Perce, presenting medals, a flag, tobacco, knives, and handkerchiefs to three chiefs, and leaving gifts for the…
Sep
23
1805
Trading for Salmon and Camas at Native Villages
The expedition traded with Native villages, acquiring salmon and camas roots. Ordway noted the natives were stockpiling food for winter and planned to hunt buffalo on the Medicine…
Sep
23
1805
Clark Pushes Ahead Through Barren Mountains
After a fine morning, the party resumed their march at 9 o'clock and soon found a horse the hunters had killed and hung up for them. Captain Clark…
Sep
24
1805
Ill Men Reach Twisted Hair's Island Camp
The expedition set out early on a hot day, retracing the route to the river and reaching an island at sunset where Clark had previously met the Twisted…
Sep
24
1805
Exhausted Horse Falls in Swamp on Timbered Ridge
The party spent the morning rounding up horses and set out around 10 a.m., traveling along a ridge through difficult terrain choked with dead and fallen timber. The…
Sep
24
1805
Native Women Dig Camas While Sick Men Load Horses
The party gathered their horses, which had become scattered and mixed with the numerous horses of the local Indians. They observed Native women digging camas roots in the…
Sep
25
1805
Clark Scouts River for Canoe-Building Timber
On a very hot September 25, 1805, Clark set out early with a Nez Perce chief and two young men to scout trees suitable for building canoes, having…
Sep
25
1805
Hunter Brings Roots and Fish from Flathead Band
The party traveled west over a ridge with a small prairie on top, where a hunter met them with roots, berries, and fish obtained from a Flathead band…
Sep
25
1805
Clark Scouts Kooskooskee River for Canoe Timber
Captain Clark traveled down the river with an old chief to scout timber suitable for building canoes, going about four or five miles to a fork entering from…
Sep
26
1805
Arrival at Forks; Axes Distributed for Canoe Work
The expedition set out early and traveled down the river, making camp on the south side opposite the forks. Two men arrived on a raft from the north…
Sep
26
1805
Trading for Camas Root Bread at Native Village
The party paused at a Native village to trade small items for provisions, obtaining roots, fish, and bread made from camas roots—sweet, onion-shaped bulbs prepared by steaming, pounding,…
Sep
26
1805
Fording the Kooskooskee to the Clearwater Forks
The party set out, crossed a creek (modern Oro Fino Creek) and forded the Kooskooskee River where the water reached the horses' bellies, then continued down the south…
Sep
27
1805
Canoe Building Begins Amid Widespread Sickness
On a very hot day at the Nez Perce camp, all able men began building five canoes for the journey downriver, though many fell sick while working, including…
Sep
27
1805
Illness Spreads as Party Descends Pine-Spruce Valley
The party set out toward the river, leaving behind one man searching for the horses and another at the first village. Many were ill from the change in…
Sep
27
1805
Five Pitch Pine Trees Felled for Canoe Building
The party split into five groups and began felling five pitch pine trees near camp to construct canoes for the next leg of the journey. In the afternoon,…
Sep
28
1805
Fish and Roots Sicken Nearly All the Men
The expedition continued building canoes despite widespread illness, with nearly all the men suffering from upset stomachs, diarrhea, and weakness, which they attributed to their unfamiliar diet of…
Sep
28
1805
Clark Scouts Canoe Timber While Lewis Lies Sick
Hunters set out early while Captain Clark rode out to search for trees large enough to build canoes. Most of the men were recovering, but Captain Lewis was…
Sep
28
1805
Canoe Construction Continues; Natives Bring Fresh Salmon
The expedition continued working on dugout canoes and oars, with all able-bodied members contributing to the effort while others went hunting. Local Native Americans visited the camp and…
Sep
29
1805
Canoe Work Continues; Drouillard Kills Two Deer
On a cool Saturday morning with a southwest wind, the expedition continued building canoes despite widespread illness among the men. Every man able to work did so, while…
Sep
29
1805
Flathead Fishermen Encamp at the River Forks
The party broke camp and traveled about five miles down the river to the forks, setting up camp in a small bottom opposite the point. Local Flathead natives…
Sep
29
1805
Canoe Building Proceeds; Salmon Purchased from Local Indians
The party continued their work building canoes, with all hands engaged in the task as on previous days. Some men were sent out hunting. Local Indians caught salmon…
Sep
30
1805
Rest and Recovery at the Forks
On a fine, fair morning at the Forks, the Corps of Discovery rested and recovered, with most men slowly regaining strength while continuing to work on tasks at…
Sep
30
1805
War Party Returns; One Horse Recovered
The men continued building canoes near the river. Around mid-morning, the member sent to find the horses returned, having recovered one and killed a deer. Gass reported feeling…
Sep
30
1805
Weakened Crew Labors Slowly on the Canoes
On a fair morning, the expedition continued working with the canoes, but the party was so weakened that progress was slow. Toward evening, the hunters returned, with one…
Oct
1
1805
Drying Gear and Sorting Beads for Trade
On a cool Tuesday morning with an easterly wind, the party spent the day drying out their clothes and gear and sorting through trade goods—especially beads, which the…
Oct
1
1805
Burning Out Canoes; Provisions Bought from Indian Village
With all men back on their feet but most still weak, the expedition adopted the Indian technique of burning out canoes to spare the crew heavy labor. Because…
Oct
1
1805
Burning Out Canoe Interiors; Hunters Return Empty
The party continued working on building canoes, using fire to burn out the interiors of some of them, a method that proved effective. The hunters went out but…
Oct
2
1805
Frazier and Goodrich Sent to Buy Provisions
At a camp along the river, Clark sent two men, Frazier and Goodrich, with an Indian guide and six horses back to nearby villages to buy dried fish…
Oct
2
1805
Last Rapid Cleared; Armed Indians Visit Camp
The party finished portaging baggage and lowering canoes one at a time through the last major rapid, completing the descent safely by 10 a.m. Two Indians from a…
Oct
2
1805
Camped in a Steep Canyon, Little Game Found
The party camped in a steep, narrow canyon where the river ran only 20 yards wide between mountains rising over 1,000 feet. Hunters found little game, killing just…
Oct
3
1805
Canoes Advance; Downriver Indians Depart Camp
At Canoe Camp, the day began fair and cool with an east wind. The men of the expedition were recovering from their illnesses and continued working on building…
Oct
3
1805
Hunters Return with Meat; Natives Arrive by Canoe
Hunters who had been out previously returned to camp bringing in meat, while two others remained in the field to continue hunting. During the day, a group of…
Oct
3
1805
Indians Share Dried Salmon Along the Way
The expedition passed an Indian camp where the local people shared a small amount of dried salmon with the party. The entry is only a brief fragment, offering…
Oct
4
1805
Tobacco Dispute; Frazer Returns with Fish and Roots
On a cool morning with an east wind, Clark refused an Indian a piece of tobacco that the man had taken from their sack, causing offense. Three Indians…
Oct
4
1805
Four Mountains Crossed; Fish Supper with Native Guide
The party crossed four mountains by around 4 o'clock and made camp in a valley. Two men set out to hunt while the others went fishing. They quickly…
Oct
4
1805
Canoes Finished; Dog Purchased for Food
On this day, some of the expedition's canoes were ready to be dressed out and finished. Several members of the party purchased a fat dog for food. The…
Oct
5
1805
Thirty-Eight Horses Branded and Entrusted to Nez Perce
On a cool, east-windy day at their Nez Perce camp, the captains gathered and branded all 38 horses, trimmed their forelocks, and entrusted them to two brothers and…
Oct
5
1805
Large Village Offers Elk Skins for Muskets
The expedition traveled about 31 miles down the river, passing a very large Native village at the foot of an island on the starboard side, where local people…
Oct
5
1805
Canoes Launched; Horses Branded and Left with Indians
The party finished building canoes and prepared to leave their horses with local Indians, branding the animals after the old chief promised to care for them. Two canoes…
