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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May
23
1806
Visiting Indians Share Deer; Sick Child Treated
Sergeant Pryor wounded a deer near camp, and two visiting Indians helped drive it back across the river so it could be killed; half was given to them…
May
23
1806
Sweat Treatment Attempted on Bratton's Crippling Back Pain
At camp, a deer swam across the river and two Indians who had stayed overnight pursued it on horseback; Sergeant Pryor shot it and gave half to the…
May
24
1806
Bratton's Sweat-Bath Treatment; Sacagawea's Child Worsens
On a fine, warm Saturday, Clark tended to Sacagawea's child, whose jaw and neck swelling had worsened, treating it with cream of tartar and an onion poultice. He…
May
24
1806
Bratton's Sweat Lodge Treatment Attempted
At camp near the Nez Perce, the captains tended to several patients. Sacagawea's child remained feverish with a swollen jaw and neck, treated with cream of tartar and…
May
24
1806
Indians and Expedition Men Exchange River Visits
A quiet day of interaction with local Native peoples along the river. Several Indians traveled downriver by canoe, while members of the expedition crossed over to visit the…
May
24
1806
Sweat Lodge Treatment Aids Stricken Man's Back
Hunters set out from camp while the party tended to a sick man suffering from a severe back pain that left him helpless. The previous day they had…
May
25
1806
Ailing Nez Perce Chief Too Weak for Sweat
Rain fell overnight and into the morning. The sick Nez Perce chief worsened, and an attempted sweat failed because he could not sit up; Clark told the natives…
May
25
1806
Failed Sweat for Chief; Child's Condition Worsens
Rain fell through much of the night and into morning, but the grass tent kept the camp dry. Sacagawea's child grew sicker, receiving cream of tartar and later…
May
25
1806
Failed Sweat Treatment for Ailing Indian
On this Sunday, the party attempted to give a sick Indian a sweat treatment but abandoned the plan because he was too helpless to undergo it. Four hunters…
May
25
1806
Captains Administer Sweat Treatment to Paralyzed Indian
Rain showers fell during the day at the expedition's camp. Five additional hunters set out in the morning. The previous evening, two Native men had brought a paralyzed…
May
26
1806
Hunters Dispatched; Sick Child Slightly Improved
After overnight showers, the day cleared and warmed. Hunters Collins, Shannon, and Colter went out toward Collins Creek. The sick child improved slightly, still treated with onion poultice.…
May
26
1806
Hohastillpilp Arrives; New Village Found with Provisions
Rainy night gave way to a busy day in camp. Hunters Collins, Shannon, and Colter went up Collins's Creek, while Joseph and Reubin Field returned at 1 P.M.…
May
26
1806
New Canoe Launched on Rising River
The crew completed work on a canoe and launched it into the river, which was rising. A number of Native visitors came to camp during the day. Two…
May
26
1806
Canoe Launched; Provisions Exhausted, Men Dependent on Hunters
The party finished building a canoe and launched it into the water. In the afternoon, two hunters returned empty-handed, though they had obtained some roots at a Native…
May
27
1806
Horse Butchered for Meat; Ordway Seeks Salmon
On a cloudy Tuesday near the Chopunnish (Nez Perce) villages, Sergeant Pryor's party departed at 7 A.M. and Sergeant Ordway crossed the river with two men to fetch…
May
27
1806
Hohastillpilp Offers Horses Freely for the Journey
At their Nez Perce camp, the party butchered a horse given by the Indians for food, with Chief Hohastillpilp generously offering more horses whenever needed. Sergeant Pryor returned…
May
27
1806
Ordway's Party Rides Seventy Miles to Snake River
Sergeant Ordway and a small party set out for the Ki-mooenim (Snake) River to obtain fish, expecting a short trip though it would ultimately stretch to about seventy…
May
27
1806
Trading for Roots While Slaughtering Unruly Horse
Several men visited nearby villages to trade for roots, which the party found nourishing but less satisfying than meat. They slaughtered an unmanageable horse a Native had given…
May
28
1806
Goat Hair Gathered; Roots and Bread Replenish Stores
At camp among the Chopunnish, Goodrich was sent to the Broken Arm's village for hair to stuff saddle pads, while Joseph and Reubin Field set out to hunt…
May
28
1806
Goodrich Returns with Roots and Goat Hair
At their camp among the Chopunnish (Nez Perce), the party received supplies and food from various returning members: Goodrich brought roots, bread, and goat hair for saddle pads…
May
28
1806
Bighorn Sheep and Thunderstorm in Timbered Hills
The party, joined by another Native guide, rode across a plain for about two hours before turning south into rough timbered country. Throughout the day they spotted bighorn…
May
28
1806
Eight Deer Brought in by Afternoon Hunters
Hunters set out in the morning, and by the afternoon three of them returned to camp with eight deer. Around the same time, three other men of the…
May
29
1806
Chief Washes His Own Face After a Year
A quiet day in camp with no notable party movement. Provisions of meat and roots are restocked, and Bratton, the child, and the Indian chief continue recovering—the chief…
May
29
1806
Chief Regains Use of Hands; Recovery Continues
The party remained in camp with no notable movements, well-supplied with meat and roots. Bratton, the child, and the Indian chief all continued to recover, with the chief…
May
29
1806
Razor Traded for Spanish Silver Dollars
On a rainy morning, the party took a light breakfast, and Frazer traded an old razor to a Native woman for two Spanish silver dollars, likely obtained from…
May
29
1806
Rising River Raises Hopes for Mountain Crossing
The river was rising very rapidly, which encouraged the party to hope that snow was finally melting off the mountains and clearing the way for their planned crossing.…
May
30
1806
Canoe Swept Away; Blankets and Goods Lost
At their camp on the Clearwater, Lapage and Charbonneau left to trade for roots at the Indian village, while Sergeant Gass tried unsuccessfully to cross the river for…
May
30
1806
Sunken Canoe Loses Blankets and Trade Goods
At camp, Lapage and Charbono went to Indian villages to trade for roots, while Sergeant Gass unsuccessfully sought goat hair for saddle padding. Shannon, Collins, and Potts attempted…
May
30
1806
Salmon Lost; Purchasing Provisions for Return
The party remained in camp for the day, having lost most of the previously caught salmon and hoping to acquire more. The local natives roasted another salmon and…
May
30
1806
Canoe Sunk Crossing River, Blankets and Goods Lost
While trying to swim horses across the swollen river, some of the men struck their canoe against a tree and sank it. Everyone reached shore safely, but they…
May
31
1806
Indians Distinguish Between White and Grizzly Bears
At their camp near the Nez Perce, Goodrich and Willard returned from the Indian village, with Willard bringing a reddish-brown bear skin purchased for Clark. This prompted a…
May
31
1806
Native Bear Classifications Revealed; Reddish Skin Purchased
At their camp among the Nez Perce, Goodrich and Willard returned from visiting Indian villages, with Willard bringing a dressed bear skin purchased for Captain Clark. This prompted…
May
31
1806
Return Journey Begins After Fish Stolen Overnight
The party rose early and began their return journey after some of their fish were stolen overnight. Their old chief and his companion remained behind, still hoping to…
May
31
1806
Deer Shot Swimming the River Mid-Crossing
On a dewy day at camp, hunters set out with two horses to retrieve venison while two men crossed the river to visit nearby villages. Around midday, the…
Jun
1
1806
Pack Horse Falls; Trade Raft Capsizes with Cargo
Charbonneau and Lapage returned from a failed trading trip after their pack horse fell into the river from a cliff, losing an elk skin and ruining their paint.…
Jun
1
1806
Failed Trading; Drouillard Sent to Recover Tomahawks
Charbonneau and LaPage returned from a failed trading trip after their pack horse fell into the river, ruining paint and losing items; Indians attempting to trade with them…
Jun
1
1806
Shorter Road Leads to Clearwater Village
Guided along what was promised to be a shorter, better road, the party traveled through timbered country to the head of a creek, followed it across high plains,…
Jun
1
1806
River Rises Eighteen Inches; Bear Skins Obtained from Indians
Light rain fell overnight, and the river rose eighteen inches since the previous evening. Two hunters set out in the morning, while some Native people came to visit…
Jun
2
1806
Coat Buttons Bartered for Three Bushels of Roots
With trade goods exhausted, the captains sent McNeal and York across the river to barter buttons cut from their coats, homemade salve, and eye water for food, ahead…
Jun
2
1806
Buttons and Medicines Traded for Roots and Bread
With trade goods exhausted, the captains sent McNeal and York across the river to barter cut-off coat buttons, homemade medicines, and small containers, which they exchanged for about…
Jun
2
1806
High River Forces Horse Swim at Camp
The party traveled down the river, passed two villages, and reached camp around noon to find the river running very high. They swam the horses across and used…
Jun
2
1806
Salmon and Roots Purchased at Lewis's River Villages
Hunters went out, and around noon three men returned from a two-and-a-half-day trip to Lewis's River, where they had gone to obtain fish. They brought back good salmon…
Jun
3
1806
Broken Arm Visits; Hunters Return with Five Deer
The expedition's sick and injured—Bratton, an Indian chief, and a child—are all recovering, with onion poultices still being applied. The chief Broken Arm and three warriors arrived to…
Jun
3
1806
Broken Arm Stays the Night; All Patients Improving
The party's sick are improving: Bratton walks more easily, the Indian chief is regaining use of his limbs, and the child's neck swelling is subsiding under continued onion…
Jun
3
1806
Failing Horse Revived by Recognizing Indian
Several Native visitors came to camp, and three hunters returned with five deer and a black bear. Ordway's horse, which he had ridden to the Kinooenim River, was…
Jun
3
1806
River Rises by Night, Falls by Day
Light rain showers fell intermittently through the morning. The party observed that the river rises at night and falls during the day, a pattern they attributed to snow…
Jun
4
1806
Three Nez Perce Chiefs Decline Missouri Journey
Around noon, three Nez Perce chiefs left camp to return to their villages after Lewis and Clark renewed earlier promises and invited them to travel to the Missouri.…
Jun
4
1806
Chiefs Depart After Declining Missouri Invitation
Around noon, three Nez Perce chiefs departed for their villages after meeting with the captains. The expedition repeated earlier promises and urged the chiefs to travel to the…
Jun
4
1806
Shields Returns with Two Deer After Rain
The day began with a wet morning following a rainy night. Hunter John Shields returned to camp, having killed two deer, and brought the meat back with him.…
Jun
4
1806
Hunter Returns with Two Deer; Clear Afternoon
The morning brought rain or clouds for a time. The river, which had fallen considerably the previous day, rose only an inch and a half overnight. Around noon,…
Jun
5
1806
Sweat Treatment Revives Ailing Nez Perce Chief
Colter and Bratten traded successfully for roots and bread at the Indian village. The captains gave the Indian chief another sweat treatment, leaving him languid but with improving…
Jun
5
1806
Chief Gains Strength After Prolonged Sweat Treatment
Colter and Bratton traded successfully for roots and bread at the nearby Indian villages. The captains gave the ailing Nez Perce chief another prolonged sweat treatment, leaving him…
Jun
5
1806
Trading for Roots; Mountains Prove Impassable
The party crossed the river to nearby villages to trade for uppah and couse roots. Their hunters returned in the evening with a black bear and five deer.…
Jun
5
1806
Hunters Bag Five Deer and a Bear
The day began with heavy dew. In the afternoon, four hunters returned to camp with the meat of five deer and a bear. An Indian accompanied them, having…
Jun
6
1806
Broken Arm Delays Guide Selection Until Late Summer
Clark visited the Nez Perce chief Broken Arm, accompanied by Drouillard and three men, to follow up on earlier councils. Broken Arm explained the nation would not cross…
Jun
6
1806
Twisted Hair Returns as Broken Arm Reports Delays
Frazier returned with the Twisted Hair chief, but Lewis could not communicate without interpreter Drewyer, who was accompanying Captain Clark on a friendly visit to the Broken Arm.…
Jun
6
1806
Shoshone Delegates Arrive to Negotiate Peace
The party crossed the river to visit nearby villages. A man who had stayed at the Commeap village the previous night returned with news that five Shoshone, also…
Jun
6
1806
Five Men Cross River to Trade for Roots
Five members of the party crossed the river to trade for roots at nearby Native villages. By evening, they returned to camp with a good supply of roots,…
Jun
7
1806
Trading Scrap Iron and Files for Root Bags
After breakfast, two young Nez Perce chiefs and their companions crossed the river back to their village. Charbonneau, Sergeant Gass, McNeal, Whitehouse, and Goodrich went with them to…
Jun
7
1806
Sparse Trade for Pack Ropes at Commeap Creek
Two young Nez Perce chiefs returned to their village on Commeap Creek, accompanied by Sergeant Gass, McNeal, Whitehouse, and Goodrich, who went to trade old sailcloth, fish gigs,…
