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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Mar
22
1806
Hunting Parties Dispatched Before Departure
On this day, hunting parties were dispatched in two groups: some were sent ahead to wait at promising hunting grounds for the rest of the expedition to catch…
Mar
23
1806
Departure from Fort Clatsop After 106 Days
On March 23, 1806, the Corps of Discovery departed Fort Clatsop on the Oregon coast, ending a wet 106-day winter stay that had lasted since December 7, 1805.…
Mar
23
1806
Departure from Fort Clatsop After Winter Stay
After heavy overnight rain, the captains hesitated to depart due to rising winds, but the weather cleared by midday. John Colter returned from killing an elk near Point…
Mar
23
1806
Departure from Fort Clatsop in Five Canoes
The hunter who had stayed out overnight returned in the morning with an elk he had killed. The forenoon was spent dividing and packing the gear among five…
Mar
24
1806
Elk Meat Retrieved; Party Reaches Cathlamah Village
Early in the morning, fifteen men were sent to retrieve elk meat from kills made the previous day, returning by 8 a.m. The party set out at 9:30…
Mar
24
1806
Departure from Fort Clatsop; Cathlahmah Village Reached
The expedition sent 15 men out at dawn to retrieve meat, then breakfasted and departed at 9:30 A.M., traveling 15 miles. They noted the return of a small…
Mar
24
1806
Stopping at the Foul-Smelling Cathlamet Village
The party retrieved elk meat from the previous day's hunt and departed at 9:30 a.m., reaching the Cathlamet village around noon, where they stayed past 3 p.m. Ordway…
Mar
24
1806
Elk Meat Retrieved; Embarkation on Fair Morning
After overnight rain, men retrieved the meat of two elk shot earlier and brought it to camp. The morning turned fair, and following breakfast the party embarked, though…
Mar
25
1806
Wind and Tide Slow Ascent of the Columbia
Cold, windy weather and an outgoing tide slowed progress on this travel day. After breakfast, the party went four miles before stopping to dry off on the south…
Mar
25
1806
Clatsops Returning from Trade with Skillutes Encountered
On a cold morning, the expedition breakfasted before setting out at 7 A.M., traveling slowly up the south side of the river against wind and current. At midday…
Mar
25
1806
Headwinds Delay Departure; Cathlamah Fishing Camp Visited
The party delayed departure until 1 PM due to headwinds and adverse tide. Once underway, they encountered two Clatsop canoes carrying dried fish, wapatoes, and sturgeon purchased upriver.…
Mar
25
1806
Wind and Tide Oppose Progress; Otter Skin Purchased
The party traveled in the morning until noon, then halted because both wind and tide opposed them. Once the tide rose, they continued on, encountering Native people traveling…
Mar
26
1806
Medal Presented to Cathlamah Leader Wal-lal-le
Strong winds delayed the expedition until 8 AM. They presented a medal to Wal-lal-le, a Cathlamah leader, who gave them a large sturgeon in return. Continuing upriver, they…
Mar
26
1806
Medal for Wal-lal-le; Wackiacum Men Trail the Party
Strong morning winds delayed departure until 8 A.M. The expedition gave a small medal to Wal-lal-le, a Cathlahmah leader, who reciprocated with a sturgeon, and met head chief…
Mar
26
1806
Tidal Flood in Camp; Medal Exchanged for Sturgeon
An unusually high tide rose during the night, soaking Ordway's blankets and forcing him to relocate twice; several other party members' camps were similarly flooded. The captains presented…
Mar
26
1806
Spring Flowers and Nettles Along the Columbia
The expedition continued its voyage with the wind at their advantage. Along the way, Gass observed signs of advancing spring, noting many fully bloomed flowers of various colors,…
Mar
27
1806
Skillutes Welcome Party with Fish and Tuberous Roots
After a rainy night, the expedition set out very early and stopped at two Skillute Indian houses on the south side, where they reunited with their hunters. The…
Mar
27
1806
Skillutes Share Feast of Roots, Fish, and Wapato
The expedition set out early and was joined by Skillute traders selling roots and fish. They stopped for breakfast at two Skillute houses, where natives hospitably shared dried…
Mar
27
1806
Chilutes Share Wapato and Anchovies; Sturgeon Purchased
The expedition continued traveling by river throughout the day. They stopped at a Chilutes village, where the inhabitants greeted them in a friendly manner and shared wapato roots…
Mar
27
1806
Trading for Wapato at Chil-ook Village
The party set out early and traveled about six miles to a small Chil-ook village, where they were welcomed and traded for wapato roots and fish. Despite heavy…
Mar
28
1806
Seven Deer Killed at Old Village on Deer Island
The expedition set out very early and reached an old Indian village on Deer Island by 9 A.M., where hunters had killed seven common fallow deer, though the…
Mar
28
1806
Vultures Devour Four Deer Before Hunters Return
The expedition set out early and reached an old Indian village on Deer Island by 9 A.M., where hunters had killed seven deer overnight, though vultures and eagles…
Mar
28
1806
Hunters at Deer Island Bag Seven Deer
The party set out early and reached Deer Island, joining their hunters around 11 a.m. The hunters had killed seven deer, and another hunter later took a small…
Mar
28
1806
Layover at Deer Island to Repair Leaking Canoes
The party reached Deer Island around 10 a.m., where men sent ahead in small canoes had camped and gone hunting. They decided to stay the day to repair…
Mar
29
1806
Clannarminamon Guides Lead Party Past Snowy Mountains
The expedition set out very early in cold, sharp wind off the snowy eastern mountains, breakfasting at the head of Deer Island. The rising river forced them to…
Mar
29
1806
Entering the Columbian Valley Past Wappetoe Island
The expedition traveled 19 miles up the Columbia, passing Deer Island and entering what they called the Columbian valley. They were joined by three Clannahminamun men, passed a…
Mar
29
1806
Cathlahpohtle Village; Clark Purchases a Dog Fur Robe
Traveling upriver, the party noticed blossoms and wild onions along the south bank before passing the mouth of Lewis River entering swiftly from the north. They reached the…
Mar
29
1806
Warm Welcome and Wapato at Large River Village
After a frosty start, the party set out early and traveled past some abandoned Indian lodges. In the afternoon they arrived at a large village, where the inhabitants…
Mar
30
1806
Wappato Island Tribes Crowd Canoes to Trade
The expedition set out early and traveled 22 miles upriver against strong current, wind, and rain. Throughout the day they encountered numerous canoes from various tribes living around…
Mar
30
1806
Lewis Purchases Sturgeon Among Wappetoe Island Canoes
The expedition departed early and traveled 23 miles up the Columbia along Wappetoe Island, encountering numerous canoes of friendly Clannahminnamun, Claxtar, Cathlahcump, Clannahquah, Multnomah, and Shoto natives who…
Mar
30
1806
Passing Wapato Island; River Rises Beyond Tidal Effect
The river continued rising, now high enough that the tide had no noticeable effect, with considerable driftwood floating down. The party passed Wapato Island, about 25 miles long…
Mar
30
1806
Gass Praises Native Canoemanship Along Wapto Island
The party set out early on a high, overflowing river, accompanied by several Native Americans in canoes. They passed villages along Wapto Island, roughly 20 miles long and…
Mar
31
1806
Seasonally Abandoned Shah-ha-la Village on the Columbia
The expedition traveled along the Columbia River, stopping near a Shah-ha-la village where 24 of 25 bark houses had been dismantled by inhabitants who seasonally migrate to the…
Mar
31
1806
Shah-ha-la Lodges Abandoned for Salmon Season
The expedition set out early and stopped for breakfast opposite a Shah-ha-la house, learning that nearby straw lodges had been abandoned as the inhabitants returned to the rapids…
Mar
31
1806
Once-Large Village Now Scattered into Fishing Parties
The party set out early and continued upriver, passing a village on the south shore that had been large the previous fall but now held only two cabins,…
Mar
31
1806
Deer Taken Easily; Deserted Village Passed
The party set out early and traveled along the river, where deer were abundant. One of the men went ashore and quickly killed a deer. They passed a…
Apr
1
1806
Quicksand River Scouted; Mount Hood Identified as Headwaters
At their Columbia River camp, the captains sent Sergeant Pryor up Quicksand River to scout it and dispatched hunting parties on both sides of the river. Native visitors…
Apr
1
1806
Quicksand River Explored; Mount Hood Identified as Headwaters
Camped near the Quicksand (Sandy) River, the captains sent Sergeant Pryor up that river to explore it and dispatched hunters across and along the Columbia. Local Indians reported…
Apr
1
1806
Pryor Explores Quicksand River; Hunters Report Rich Prairie
The party remained in camp while exploration and hunting parties fanned out. Sergeant Pryor went about four miles up Quicksand River, finding it rapid and only four feet…
Apr
1
1806
Nine Hunters Bag Four Elk and Two Deer
The party decided to remain in camp for a day of hunting. Nine hunters set out early in the morning, with three heading up the Quicksand River, where…
Apr
2
1806
Planning Trade of Canoes for Horses to Cross Mountains
The Corps decided to remain near their camp to dry meat for the journey to the Chopunnish, planning to trade their large canoes for smaller ones and then…
Apr
2
1806
Drying Meat and Planning Route to Chopunnish Country
The expedition decided to stay near their camp to dry meat for the journey ahead, planning to trade pirogues for canoes and then canoes for horses with native…
Apr
2
1806
Camped at Washougal; Waiting for Elk to Jerk
The party remained camped near the mouth of the Washougal River while waiting for hunters to kill enough elk to jerk meat for the journey ahead. Officers decided…
Apr
2
1806
Three Hunting Parties Dispatched to Dry Meat for Departure
The expedition decided to remain at their current camp for additional time to hunt and dry meat for the journey ahead. Three hunting parties were dispatched to procure…
Apr
3
1806
Clark Explores the Vast Multnomah River
Clark explored the Multnomah (Willamette) River, making a second failed attempt to measure its depth before turning back, satisfied of its size. Returning downstream, he had tense encounters…
Apr
3
1806
Starving Indians Scavenge Camp Near Sandy River
Lewis received word that hunters had killed four elk, so Sergeant Pryor and two men were sent across the river to help dry the meat while the hunting…
Apr
3
1806
Hunters Jerk Elk as Multinational Native Visitors Arrive
Word arrived that hunters had killed four elk, two of them about three miles from the river, so Sergeant Pryor and three men were sent to help jerk…
Apr
3
1806
Bear Cubs Found in Den; Elk Meat Hauled
Heavy rain prevented the party from drying elk meat as planned, so they instead hauled in the carcass of a bear they had killed. Along the way, they…
Apr
4
1806
Gass Returns with Bear and Venison from Hunt
At the mouth of the Sandy (Quick Sand) River, the captains sent Sergeant Ordway to find Sergeant Gass's hunting party, and both groups returned by midday. Gass brought…
Apr
4
1806
Lean Elk Meat Abandoned; Collins Departs to Hunt
On a fair Friday near the Columbia and Quicksand rivers, Sergeant Ordway was sent to find Sergeant Gass's hunting party, which returned with bear and venison but reported…
Apr
4
1806
Hunters Return with Elk, Deer, Bear, and Geese
At camp on the Columbia River, hunters returned with an elk, six deer, a black bear, and two geese from their morning hunt. They were promptly sent out…
Apr
4
1806
Clark Investigates Large River Entering Columbia from South
Hunters brought in a deer, geese, and four elk, with men working to dry the meat. While Gass was hunting, Captain Clark learned of a large river entering…
Apr
5
1806
Poorly Dried Elk Meat Recovered and Redried
Cloudy weather prevented lunar observations. Joseph Field and Drouillard departed on assignment, while Sergeant Ordway and five men helped Sergeant Pryor retrieve four elk Pryor had dried in…
Apr
5
1806
Cloudy Skies Block Lunar Observations; Meat Redried
Cloudy weather prevented Lewis from taking lunar observations. Joseph Fields and Drewyer set out on assignment, while Sergeant Ordway's party helped retrieve elk meat dried by Sergeant Pryor;…
Apr
5
1806
Retrieving Jerked Meat as Native Families Flee Downriver
While camped along the Columbia River, Ordway and five men crossed to the south side and climbed a high river hill with rich soil, retrieving jerked meat from…
Apr
5
1806
Cedar Bark Stripped by Indians Near Sandy River
The party observed a beautiful prairie and several ponds below the mouth of the Sandy River. About two miles from the Columbia, they found rich soil and white…
Apr
6
1806
Gibson's Hunters Bag Five Elk Upriver
The expedition broke camp after an early breakfast and traveled nine miles upriver to join Gibson's hunting party, who had killed three elk and wounded two others. Shannon…
Apr
6
1806
Passing Beacon Rock; Hunters Kill Three Elk
The expedition packed dried meat and departed at 9 A.M., traveling up the north side of the Columbia past Beacon Rock, which Lewis describes in detail. After ten…
Apr
6
1806
Fields Shoots Striking Blue-Breasted Bird on Columbia
The party set out and traveled about eight miles before halting at their hunters' camp on the south side, where three elk had been killed. Eight men went…
Apr
6
1806
Fog Clears to Reveal Prairie; Five Elk Retrieved
The party set out at 10 o'clock and passed a beautiful prairie on the north side that had been hidden by fog on the way downriver. After about…
