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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Apr
7
1806
Meat Packed in Elk Skins; Shahala Trade Wappato
On a fair, pleasant day camped along the Columbia, Drouillard and the Field brothers set out hunting upriver while the rest of the party finished drying elk meat…
Apr
7
1806
Final Elk Meat Packed for Departure to Chopunnish
On a fair, pleasant day at camp, the party finished drying elk meat and packed it in elk skins for an early departure, hoping the supply would last…
Apr
7
1806
Drying Elk Meat; Native Traders Demand High Prices
The party spent the day jerking and drying elk meat at their camp along the river. Fields was sent ahead upriver to hunt until the rest of the…
Apr
7
1806
Meat Dried While Plains Indians Report Starvation
The hunters set out ahead while the rest of the party stayed in camp drying meat to provide provisions for crossing the Columbia plains, where game is reportedly…
Apr
8
1806
Violent Northeast Winds Split a Canoe at Camp
High winds from the northeast struck the camp at dawn, raising waves so violent that the canoes had to be unloaded and hauled onto the bank, with one…
Apr
8
1806
Storm Pins Camp; Hunters Return with Only a Duck
Violent winds forced the party to unload their swamped perogues and canoes and remain camped for the day. Hunters were sent out but returned with only a duck,…
Apr
8
1806
High Winds Force Unloading of Swamped Canoes
High winds and rough waves forced the party to abandon their planned departure and unload the canoes, which had filled with water. Several men were sent out hunting,…
Apr
8
1806
Northeast Winds Ground Canoes; Rheumatic Pains at Fort Clatsop
Strong northeast winds and high swells forced the party to unload canoes and pull some ashore to avoid damage. Several men complained of rheumatic pains, blamed on the…
Apr
9
1806
Colter Recovers Tomahawk Stolen at Wahclellah Village
Overnight, an elderly Native man caught stealing the previous day crawled toward the expedition's baggage but fled when a sentinel raised his gun. Setting out at 7 A.M.,…
Apr
9
1806
Wah-clel-lah Village Architecture Described; Tomahawk Recovered
The party reloaded canoes and traveled upriver, breakfasting at the Wah-clel-lah village on the Columbia's north side below Beacon Rock. John Colter recovered a tomahawk stolen from them…
Apr
9
1806
Buying Fat Dogs at Wahclellah Village
After bailing leaky canoes, the party loaded up and departed around 9 a.m., proceeding along the south shore of the Columbia. They caught up with the Field brothers,…
Apr
9
1806
Five Dogs Purchased at Al-e-is Village on North Shore
The party loaded canoes and traveled until 11 o'clock, stopping at a large Al-e-is village on the north side, where many huts stood empty and three canoe-loads of…
Apr
10
1806
Trading at Clah-lah-lar Village Above the Rapid
The expedition set out at 6 AM, hauling canoes up a quarter-mile rapid at the lower end of an island. Sergeant Pryor was left to wait for hunters…
Apr
10
1806
Knife and Elkskins Traded for Mountain Sheep Skin
The expedition set out early, hauling canoes up a rapid by cord at Brant Island, then crossed the 400-yard-wide river against a strong current to a Clahclahlah village…
Apr
10
1806
Hauling Canoes Through Rapids; Trading for Mountain Sheep Skin
On a cloudy, showery day, the expedition hauled their large and small canoes up rapids using towlines, then crossed to the north side of the river for breakfast…
Apr
10
1806
Wild Sheep Skin Seen at Village Above Rapids
The party worked to move upriver through difficult rapids. One damaged canoe was repaired while others were hauled around the point of an island using a line. They…
Apr
11
1806
Armed Recovery of Stolen Dog Seaman
On the return journey along the Columbia River, a group of Native Americans took Seaman, Lewis's Newfoundland dog, from the expedition's camp. Lewis reacted with intense anger, nearly…
Apr
11
1806
Hauling Canoes Through the Big Shoot Rapids
Despite rainy weather continuing into the morning, most of the party joined Captain Clark in hauling canoes upstream through the Big Shoot (a difficult rapid) using tow ropes.…
Apr
11
1806
Laborious Portage Through the Grand Shoot Rapids
The party worked to portage canoes through the Grand Shoot (a difficult rapid on the Columbia River). Around 1 o'clock they managed to get two canoes through, then…
Apr
12
1806
Canoe Lost in Current at the Cascades Portage
Rain fell through much of the day as the party worked to recover a canoe lost while attempting to maneuver past a rock; the strong current overpowered the…
Apr
12
1806
Last Pirogue Lost in Violent Rapid; Baggage Portaged
Heavy rain continued as the party worked to haul their last pirogue up a violent rapid. The boat turned sideways in the current and was lost downstream, raising…
Apr
12
1806
Large Canoe Breaks Free and Rides the Rapids
The party worked to portage their canoes and baggage past a 1.5-mile rapid. While moving a large canoe with Captain Lewis, it broke loose and rode the rough…
Apr
12
1806
Current Tears Away Rope; Canoe Lost Downriver
While attempting to bring a second canoe across, the strong current ripped the tow rope from the men's hands and the canoe was lost downriver. The party then…
Apr
13
1806
Lewis Buys Canoe at Ye-pe-huh After Losing Pirogue
After losing a large canoe the previous day, the party redistributed the cargo and crew among the remaining four canoes and set out at 8 a.m., passing a…
Apr
13
1806
Replacement Canoe Purchased After Pirogue Lost in Rapids
After losing a pirogue the previous day, the Corps redistributed crew and cargo among two pirogues and two canoes, setting out at 8 A.M. and passing a largely…
Apr
13
1806
Seeking a Canoe to Buy Above the Shoote Villages
The party ate a light breakfast of dog meat and set out, passing a nearly abandoned village. Captain Lewis took small canoes to the south side to try…
Apr
13
1806
Lewis Seeks Canoes; First Horses Glimpsed Since October
After redistributing the load from a lost canoe among the four remaining, the party resumed travel. Captain Lewis took two small canoes across to a large inhabited village…
Apr
14
1806
Reunited with Pryor; Rocky Mountain Shores Traveled
The party set out at 9 A.M. after Sergeant Pryor and three hunters rejoined them with four deer killed by Drouillard. Despite strong winds, they traveled along the…
Apr
14
1806
Drouillard's Four Deer; Romantic Mountain Scenery Observed
The expedition reunited with Sergeant Pryor and three hunters, who brought four deer killed by Drouillard. They breakfasted, then traveled up the Columbia along the north shore despite…
Apr
14
1806
Winds Halt Progress Near Village with Thirty Horses
The party set out after Drouillard and the Field brothers reported killing four deer, making good progress until strong northwest winds forced them ashore near a village on…
Apr
14
1806
First Horses Since October at North-Side Village
Around 9 a.m., the three hunters who had gone ahead up Crusatte's river returned with four deer. The party resumed their voyage at 10 a.m. and stopped at…
Apr
15
1806
Burial Sepulchers Examined at Sepulchar Rock
The expedition delayed departure trying to trade for horses with local Indians, who refused the offered goods, before setting out at 8 AM. They briefly examined Sepulchar Rock,…
Apr
15
1806
Thirteen Sepulchers Examined; Horse Trade Fails
The expedition delayed departure to attempt trading for horses with local Indians, but the natives refused the offered goods. Setting out at 8 A.M., the party stopped at…
Apr
15
1806
Viewing a Burial Ground of Nearly a Hundred Bodies
The expedition delayed departure hoping to trade for horses, but local natives would only accept beads, which the party lacked. Captains Lewis and Clark visited a small island…
Apr
15
1806
Failed Horse Trade; Obtaining Shap-e-leel Root Bread
The expedition's officers tried to buy horses from local Indians but couldn't agree on a price, so the party moved on about four miles to another village at…
Apr
16
1806
Clark Crosses River to Bargain for Horses
Clark crossed the river with two interpreters and nine men to trade for horses, sending Drewyer and Goodrich to the Skillute village and Shabono and Frazer to the…
Apr
16
1806
Sacagawea Joins Horse Trading Party Across River
Captain Clark crossed the river with two interpreters, Sacagawea, nine men, and trade goods to bargain with the natives for horses, while Lewis stayed in camp directing hunters…
Apr
16
1806
Clark Crosses River with Merchandise to Trade for Horses
Several Indians camped with the party overnight. Six men left early to hunt, while Captain Clark and eight others crossed the river with merchandise to trade for horses,…
Apr
16
1806
Clark Crosses River to Negotiate for Horses
With the Columbia River becoming difficult to navigate further, Captain Clark crossed the river with several men and trade goods to try to obtain horses from local Native…
Apr
17
1806
Chief Twice Cancels Bargains; Few Horses Obtained
Camped near a Columbia River village, Clark spent the day attempting to trade goods for horses, displaying merchandise on a rock and dividing it into parcels. Negotiations were…
Apr
17
1806
Lewis Notes Drier Plains; Awaits Clark's Horse Trade
Camped on the edge of the Columbia plains, Lewis sent out hunters and set men to making packsaddles. He noted the drier climate, lush grass, and absence of…
Apr
17
1806
Clark Pursues Horses While Lewis Plans Upriver Move
At camp, hunters set out while small birds sang around the expedition. Captain Clark, still away, sent word to Captain Lewis that he had not yet acquired horses…
Apr
17
1806
Men Construct Twelve Pack-Saddles While Clark Trades
The party stayed at camp throughout the day while Captain Clark remained on the opposite side of the river. Hunters who had gone out earlier returned in the…
Apr
18
1806
Chopunnish Man Returns Lost Powder; Horses Scarce
At a trading camp near the Columbia River falls, Clark spent the day attempting to buy horses from local tribes for the upcoming overland portage. A Chopunnish man…
Apr
18
1806
Portaging First Rapid; Hauling Canoes Upstream
The expedition departed after an early breakfast, having hosted the principal chief of the Chilluckkittaquaws and his men overnight. They ferried the Indians across the river and traveled…
Apr
18
1806
Larger Canoes Cut Up for Firewood at the Basin
The party set out early and crossed the Columbia River to the north side. They soon encountered a rapid, made a short portage, and towed the canoes up…
Apr
18
1806
Canoe Splits at Long Narrows; Four Horses Arrive
The party struggled and faced danger hauling canoes to the foot of the Long Narrows, where they expected river travel to end. One small canoe split, forcing them…
Apr
19
1806
Long Narrows Portage Completed; Four Horses Purchased
The expedition completed the portage around the Long Narrows of the Columbia River, transporting baggage and five small canoes by 5 P.M. with help from four pack horses;…
Apr
19
1806
Skillute Salmon Ritual Witnessed During Portage
The expedition spent the morning portaging canoes and baggage with four pack horses, completing the work by 3 P.M. and camping near the relocated Skillute village. The natives…
Apr
19
1806
Portaging Past the Narrows; Firewood Carried as Scarce Commodity
After snow fell on the hills overnight, the men spent the day portaging baggage and canoes about two miles past the narrows of the Columbia, camping at the…
Apr
19
1806
Two-Mile Portage Completed; Largest Canoes Broken Up
The expedition spent the day hauling baggage and canoes across a two-mile portage, acquiring five more horses along the way. Light afternoon showers fell, but by about 4…
Apr
20
1806
Clark Offers Coat and Sword; No Horses Traded
On a bitterly cold morning with snow-covered hills, Clark camped at an Enesher village near the Columbia falls and tried throughout the day to trade for horses. Despite…
Apr
20
1806
Lewis Describes Eneshur and Skillute; Six Tomahawks Stolen
On a frosty Sunday near the Columbia River falls, Lewis described the dress, dwellings, villages, and trade of the Eneshur and Skillute peoples, judging them poor, proud, and…
Apr
20
1806
Indians Loose Hobbles and Gamble Away an Expedition Horse
The expedition spent the day trading for horses with local Indians. Several horses went missing, and the men suspected the Indians had loosed their hobbles to collect rewards…
Apr
20
1806
Unruly Stud Horses Break Ropes Throughout Night
A white frost set in as the party remained in camp throughout the day. They acquired two more horses but lost one, and struggled considerably to manage the…
Apr
21
1806
Lewis Arrives with Nine Packhorses; Falls Portaged
On a fair, cold day at the Eneeshur village near the Columbia falls, Clark gave up trying to trade for horses with the unfriendly locals. Around noon, Lewis…
Apr
21
1806
Lewis Beats Iron Socket Thief; Warns Future Thieves
After a tense morning at a hostile village, Lewis dealt with theft and a strayed horse. One horse had broken loose overnight; Windsor recovered it by 9 A.M.…
Apr
21
1806
Departing Despite Persistent Thefts of Tomahawks and Spoons
The party recovered a horse that had broken away overnight and prepared to leave, frustrated by persistent thefts of tomahawks and iron spoons by local Indians. With nine…
Apr
21
1806
Lewis Strikes a Thief at the First Narrows
After a frosty morning, the party recovered a runaway horse and prepared to leave the first narrows on the Columbia River. When an Indian stole iron tools, Captain…
Apr
22
1806
Charbonneau's Horse Bolts; Clark Sights Mount Hood
The party set out at 7 a.m. after retrieving two horses that had strayed overnight. Climbing a hill, Charbonneau's horse threw its load and bolted to the village;…
