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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Jun
7
1806
Hail and Snow; Roots Gathered from Nearby Villages
The day brought a mix of hail and snow with cold air. Several members of the party crossed the river to visit nearby villages. All but two of…
Jun
7
1806
Village Found Mostly Empty on Winter Hunt
Light rain and some snow fell during the day. Gass crossed the river with five members of the party to visit the native village, finding most of the…
Jun
8
1806
Cut Nose Arrives with Warriors from Unknown Tribes
On Sunday, June 8, 1806, Drewyer returned empty-handed from hunting after his horse wandered off overnight. The sick chief and child both continued to recover. Cut Nose and…
Jun
8
1806
Cutnose and Yeletpo Warriors Visit Recovering Patients
At their camp, the captains note Drewyer returned empty-handed from hunting after losing his horse overnight. The sick Nez Perce chief, a child, and Bratton are all recovering…
Jun
8
1806
Gift Horse, Sunken Canoe, and Fiddle Dancing
Several Native visitors came to the camp, presenting Frazer with a fine young horse and helping the party retrieve a canoe that had sunk. The men spent time…
Jun
8
1806
Natives Warn Mountain Crossing Still Impossible
Some men crossed over from the nearby village to the camp, and a hunter came back from the field empty-handed. Several Native people remained around the camp and…
Jun
9
1806
Chiefs Depart for Plains as Horse Trading Falters
The party gathered their horses and tried to trade sore-backed mounts to the Nez Perce for sound ones, succeeding in only one exchange, though a man later swapped…
Jun
9
1806
Cutnose Returns with Two Young Grey Eagles
The party tried to swap several horses with sore backs but only managed one trade. Chiefs Hohastillpilp and Broken Arm departed to join their nation gathering on Lewis's…
Jun
9
1806
Cut Nose Climbs Tree to Capture Young Eagles
The party prepared to break camp, rounding up and hobbling their horses in anticipation of moving the following day. A Nez Perce chief the men nicknamed Cut Nose…
Jun
9
1806
Weak Horses Traded Away Before Mountain Departure
The party gathered all their horses and hobbled them so they could be easily collected the next morning in preparation for the journey ahead. They also traded away…
Jun
10
1806
Party Departs for Quamash Flats to Await Snowmelt
The expedition rose early to gather horses, though one of Whitehouse's was missing; an Indian promised to bring it along. They packed and set out at 11 AM,…
Jun
10
1806
Crossing Difficult Collins Creek Through Fertile Timber
The expedition set out at 11 A.M. after recovering most of their horses, leaving the Indians to bring along one missing animal. Well-mounted with extra horses and light…
Jun
10
1806
Horses Rounded Up; Party Reaches Camas Ground
After locating most of their horses (two remained missing), the party set out around 10 A.M., crossed Collins Creek, and traveled through pine and balsam fir thickets, leaving…
Jun
10
1806
Arrival at Commas Flat, Fall's First Native Meeting Place
The party set out with several Native American companions and traveled about twelve miles to reach what they called the Commas Flat, the location where they had first…
Jun
11
1806
Labiche Takes Bear and Buck Near Chopunnish Camp
At their camp near the Chopunnish, hunters set out at daybreak with mixed success—Labiche brought in a black bear and a buck, and Gibson killed a fat buck,…
Jun
11
1806
Labuish Kills Bear and Buck on Kooskooske
At camp near the Kooskooske, hunters went out at daylight; Labuish killed a black bear and a buck, while Gibson killed another buck. Five Indian hunters returned empty-handed…
Jun
11
1806
Gibson and Labiche Lead Strong Hunt at Camas Flat
At daylight, all able hunters set out from camp on the camas flat. By noon most returned: Gibson brought in a large buck, while Labiche killed a black…
Jun
11
1806
Bear and Two Deer Taken at Strawberry-Carpeted Plain
A frosty day at camp on a roughly two-thousand-acre plain ringed by pine timber and carpeted with blossoming strawberry vines, with service-berry and gooseberry as the main underwood.…
Jun
12
1806
Shields Alone Succeeds, Bringing In Two Deer
At camp on the eastern edge of a large prairie, the party waited as most hunters returned around noon empty-handed, except Shields who brought in two deer; the…
Jun
12
1806
Shields Returns with Two Deer on Warm Prairie
On a warm Thursday at camp on the eastern edge of a wide prairie, most hunters returned around noon empty-handed except Shields, who brought in two deer; they…
Jun
12
1806
Shields Brings Fine Bucks; Meat Dried for Crossing
Hunters set out early in the morning to find game. Around 10 a.m., some returned, including Shields, who brought in two fine bucks. The other hunters who came…
Jun
12
1806
Mosquitoes Drive Hunters Back; Two Deer Salvage the Day
The party hunted through a dewy morning until mosquitoes drove them back by 10 o'clock without success. The man sent to retrieve a horse returned, followed by four…
Jun
13
1806
Eight Deer Taken but Buzzards Spoil One Kill
At their camp before crossing the mountains, the captains sent Reuben Fields and Willard ahead at 10 A.M. to hunt at a small prairie about eight miles away.…
Jun
13
1806
Eight Deer Taken Near Collins Creek Before Departure
On June 13, 1806, Reubin Fields and Willard were sent ahead at 10 A.M. to hunt at a small prairie eight miles away near Collins's Creek. By noon,…
Jun
13
1806
Eight Hunters Return Laden from Weippe Prairie
The party hunted from camp on Weippe Prairie. Around noon, R. Fields and Willard set out about ten miles ahead to hunt at a small prairie until the…
Jun
13
1806
Indian Guide Swaps Horses Before Returning to Village
The party prepared for the difficult mountain crossing ahead. An Indian companion swapped horses with one of the men whose mount was too weak to manage the mountains,…
Jun
14
1806
Party Readies to Leave After Five Weeks Waiting
On this Saturday, the party prepared to depart the next morning after a five-week wait for mountain snows to melt. Hunters were sent out with limited success: Colter…
Jun
14
1806
Horses Hobbled as Party Prepares Mountain Departure
The party prepared to depart the next morning after a five-week delay caused by mountain snows. Hunters went out early, with Colter bringing in a deer and Drouillard…
Jun
14
1806
Colter Kills Deer and Finds Duck Eggs
The party set out early in the morning. Around 10 o'clock, Colter returned to camp, having killed a deer and found eight duck eggs. The weather was very…
Jun
14
1806
One Deer the Sole Reward of the Day's Hunt
The hunting parties returned to camp on this day. One hunter came in around 10 o'clock with a deer, while the remaining hunters returned in the evening empty-handed,…
Jun
15
1806
Rain and Slippery Roads Slow Departure from Quamash
After collecting their horses early, the party was delayed by heavy rain showers before finally departing the quamash fields. Travel was difficult on slippery roads, with loaded horses…
Jun
15
1806
Slick Roads and Fallen Timber Test Rainy Departure
On a rainy Sunday, the party had trouble rounding up their straggling horses and waited for the weather to ease before setting out at 10 A.M. They met…
Jun
15
1806
Slippery Mountain Roads; Horses Fall in Thunderstorm
The party rose to heavy rain, gathered their horses, ate breakfast, and set out around 8 a.m. on slippery, difficult mountain roads where several horses fell. Thunderstorms struck…
Jun
15
1806
Sixty-Six Horses Begin the Mountain Crossing
The expedition departed Commas (Quamash) Flats with sixty-six good horses to begin crossing the mountains. They climbed a high, slippery mountain with difficulty, reaching a small prairie where…
Jun
16
1806
Deep Snow and Fallen Timber Halt Mountain Passage
The expedition collected horses and set out at 7 AM, traveling up a creek through swampy bottoms before climbing a high mountain still buried under snow up to…
Jun
16
1806
Ascending Toward Hungry Creek Through Fallen Timber
On June 16, 1806, the expedition gathered their horses and departed at 6 A.M., traveling up a creek through meadows of camas before ascending a ridge toward a…
Jun
16
1806
Crossing Deep Snowbanks on Mountain Ridges
After an early breakfast on a fair morning, the party set out and overtook the hunters, who had killed nothing. They traveled up glades and mountain ridges through…
Jun
16
1806
Horses Tread Firm Snowbanks Four Feet Deep
The party traveled up a creek for about three miles before climbing into rough hills covered with thawing snowbanks, some four or five feet deep but packed firmly…
Jun
17
1806
Snow Fifteen Feet Deep Blocks the Mountain Trail
The party set out early and traveled down Hungary Creek for about seven miles, finding it dangerous to cross due to its depth and speed. Ascending the mountain…
Jun
17
1806
Forced Back by Deep Snow on the Bitterroot Divide
The party set out early and traveled down Hungry Creek, crossing it twice with difficulty due to its depth and speed. Ascending the mountain ridge dividing the Chopunnish…
Jun
17
1806
Fifteen-Foot Snow Forces Retreat from the Mountains
The party traveled about six miles down a creek before climbing a high mountain, where snow grew progressively deeper until reaching 12 to 15 feet at the summit,…
Jun
17
1806
Snow Fifteen Feet Deep Forces Retreat from Mountains
In rainy weather, the expedition headed down Hungry Creek about six miles before climbing a large mountain. Snow grew deeper as they ascended, reaching twelve to fifteen feet…
Jun
18
1806
Rifle Offered to Secure a Nez Perce Mountain Guide
After difficulty rounding up horses that had wandered into the mountains seeking food, the party set out at 9 a.m., leaving Shields and LePage behind to find two…
Jun
18
1806
Drouillard Sent Ahead to Hire Chopunnish Guides
After difficulty rounding up horses that had wandered for forage, the party set out around 9 a.m., leaving Shields and LaPage behind to find two missing horses. Drewyer…
Jun
18
1806
Seeking Nez Perce Guides; Potts Cuts His Leg
The party sent men ahead to the Pel-oll-pellow (Choppunish) villages to find a guide for crossing the mountains, taking a short rifle to trade. Two missing horses delayed…
Jun
19
1806
Hunters and Fishermen Return Nearly Empty-Handed
The party spent the day camped near a creek while hunters fanned out for game and fish. Collins, Labiche, Cruzatte, Gibson, and Colter hunted and tried Indian-style fish…
Jun
19
1806
Bone Fish Gigs Broken; Iron Repairs Save the Day
Hunters returned by noon with just one deer, and fishermen came back empty-handed, having broken both their bone gigs; Lewis supplied iron from his pouch to repair them.…
Jun
19
1806
Hunting and Fishing Near the Creek
The party spent the day hunting and fishing near a creek. Some men attempted to spear fish using Indian gigs but had little success, as fish were scarce.…
Jun
19
1806
Resting at Camp While Hunters Seek Missing Horses
The party decided to remain in camp all day to let their horses rest and feed. Around 10 a.m., the hunters returned with a deer, while two men…
Jun
20
1806
Lean Brown Bear and Salmon Trout from Scarce Country
Hunters fanned out and the gigging party caught six salmon trout near the creek ford and two more upstream. Reubin Field shot a lean reddish-brown bear of the…
Jun
20
1806
Scarce Game Forces Decision to Retreat from Mountains
Hunters returned with meager results: R. Fields killed a lean brown bear (the Nez Perce 'Yah-kar' species), Labiche brought in a deer, and the party caught seven salmon…
Jun
20
1806
Brown Bear Shot; Bayonet Gigs for Salmon
The party had an active day of hunting and fishing while camped in the area. Hunters set out early in the morning, and around 11 a.m. Reuben Fields…
Jun
20
1806
Brown Bear Taken; Mosquitoes Plague Camp All Day
On a fine day at camp, hunters set out for game while the party fished for salmon-trout. One hunter returned by 9 o'clock with a brown bear, and…
Jun
21
1806
Reluctant Retreat Through Brush and Fallen Timber
The party gathered their horses early and reluctantly turned back through brushy, log-strewn terrain toward the quamash flats, frustrated at retracing such difficult ground. One of Thompson's horses…
Jun
21
1806
Turning Back to Quamash Flats; Two Indians Met
The party retraced their steps back to the Quamash Flats, frustrated at being forced to turn back through brush and fallen timber that endangered their horses. One of…
Jun
21
1806
Indians Return Lost Horses at Collins Creek
The party turned back toward the Camas flat, hoping to kill more meat before another attempt to cross the mountains. On Collins Creek they met two Indians heading…
Jun
22
1806
Unexpected Haul of Eight Deer and Three Bears
On a pleasant Sunday with a cool evening and northwest breeze, every available hunter was sent out at daybreak, returning with an unexpectedly large take of eight deer…
Jun
22
1806
Hunters Return with Eight Deer and Three Bears
On a pleasant Sunday with a cool northwest breeze, the expedition sent every available hunter into the field, returning with an unexpectedly successful haul of eight deer and…
Jun
22
1806
Waiting at Camas Flat for Mountain Snows to Clear
The party rose early to hunt around the camas flat where they were waiting for snow to clear from the mountains. One man set out for the Kooskooskee…
Jun
22
1806
Hunters Return with Only a Single Small Pheasant
Patrick Gass spent the day in camp accompanied by Indigenous companions while the hunters went out in search of game. The hunters returned at noon having killed only…
