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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Aug
8
1806
Halting Above White Earth River, No Sign of Clark
Believing Captain Clark was not far ahead, Lewis set out early on August 8, 1806, traveling by oar and current despite a northeast wind. By 10 A.M. they…
Aug
8
1806
Halt to Dry Baggage and Dress Skins
The party traveled well until about 10 A.M., when, having failed to catch up with Captain Clark's group, Captain Lewis decided to halt for the day. They camped…
Aug
8
1806
White Frost Morning; Pirogue Repairs and Skin Dressing
The morning began with a white frost as the party set out early, soon passing one of Captain Clark's former campsites. At nine o'clock they stopped to repair…
Aug
9
1806
Shields and Gibson Kill Five Deer at Beaver Bends
On a dewy morning, the party loaded canoes and traveled about six miles to meet hunters Shields and Gibson, who had killed five deer. After breakfast, Clark walked…
Aug
9
1806
Field Brothers Scout for Clark Near White Earth River
Fair weather allowed the men to spend the day dressing skins and making clothes. Lewis sent the Field brothers across the river to look for Captain Clark near…
Aug
9
1806
Camp Day Dressing Deer Skins at River
The party spent the day at camp dressing deer skins they had previously obtained. The two Field brothers crossed the river to hunt and returned in the evening,…
Aug
9
1806
Crafting Oars; Elk and Deer Taken Across the River
The party spent the day on routine work similar to the previous day, including crafting small oars for their canoes. Two members of the group crossed the river…
Aug
10
1806
Clark Copies Yellowstone Sketches in Strong East Winds
The party dried elk meat on poles and sent out hunters while strong east winds blew all day, with clouds and a few raindrops in the afternoon. Clark…
Aug
10
1806
Pirogue and Canoe Repairs Completed Before Afternoon Rain
On a cloudy Sunday morning that Lewis feared would bring rain, the weather cleared and he pushed crews to finish repairs on the pirogue and canoe, which were…
Aug
10
1806
Pirogue Repaired; Party Resumes Downriver Travel
The party spent the day repairing the white pirogue and continuing to dress and smoke their deer skins. Around three in the afternoon they returned the canoes to…
Aug
10
1806
Pirogue Repaired and Loaded; White-Earth River Camp
The party spent the day repairing the pirogue and dressing skins, finishing the work by 3 o'clock in the afternoon. After loading the craft, they set out at…
Aug
11
1806
Cruzatte Accidentally Shoots Lewis in the Buttock
During an elk hunt, Captain Lewis was accidentally shot in the left buttock by Pierre Cruzatte, the expedition's one-eyed boatman, who apparently mistook him for an elk because…
Aug
11
1806
Cruzatte Accidentally Shoots Lewis in Thicket
The party traveled well and killed a buffalo in the river. Around noon, Captain Lewis stopped on the south side to hunt elk with Pierre Cruzatte. While shooting…
Aug
11
1806
Captain Lewis Returns to Camp Wounded
The party set out early, passing Captain Clark's previous campsite and reaching the burnt bluffs, where they spotted elk. Hunters went ashore while the periogue continued. Captain Lewis…
Aug
12
1806
Lewis's Detachment Rejoins Clark's Party at Last
The party set out early but paused when Shannon realized he had lost his tomahawk; he retrieved it and rejoined the group with Gibson, having killed three elk.…
Aug
12
1806
Meeting Illinois Trappers Dickson and Hancock on the Missouri
Eager to catch up with Captain Clark, Lewis set out early and made fast progress down the river. Around 8 A.M. he encountered two Illinois hunters, Joseph Dickson…
Aug
12
1806
Meeting Trappers Dickson and Hancock from Illinois
Around 8 A.M. the party met two American trappers, Joseph Dickson and Forest Hancock from Illinois, who had been trapping for two years and planned to head upriver…
Aug
12
1806
Two Trappers Met; Clark Reported One Day Ahead
The party traveled about nine miles down the river before encountering two trappers, who received ammunition and information from Captain Lewis, who remained in good spirits despite his…
Aug
13
1806
Wind-Aided Run Past Little Missouri, Eighty-Six Miles
On a cold, windy morning the party set out at sunrise with a stiff northwest breeze at their backs, making excellent progress down the Missouri. They passed the…
Aug
13
1806
Long Day's Run with Northwest Tailwind
The party traveled well today, aided by a favorable northwest breeze. They covered a long distance and made camp on the north side of the river. No other…
Aug
13
1806
Little Missouri Passed; Indians Flee Before Contact
The party set out early on a fine morning and made good progress throughout the day, passing the Little Missouri River around nine o'clock. By evening, members in…
Aug
14
1806
Blunderbusses Fired Announcing Return to Mandan Villages
The party traveled downriver and reached the Mandan and Hidatsa villages, firing the blunderbusses to announce their arrival. Clark met chiefs of the Mahaha, Little Menetarre, and Black…
Aug
14
1806
Salutes and Reunion at the Mandan Villages
Around 9 A.M. the expedition reached their old neighbors, the Gros Ventres (Hidatsa) and Mandan villages. They exchanged salutes, firing the swivel gun and blunderbusses, with the villagers…
Aug
14
1806
Warm Return to the Mandan and Hidatsa Villages
The party set out early and soon reached the villages of their old friends, the Hidatsa (Grossventres) and Mandan peoples. They chose a central spot for their camp…
Aug
15
1806
Chiefs Decline Washington Journey, Citing Sioux Danger
At the Mandan villages, Clark held councils urging chiefs to travel downriver to meet the U.S. president, promising government-paid travel and gifts. The Hidatsa (Menetara) chief and Black…
Aug
15
1806
Mandan Corn and Beans; Chief Negotiations Begin
The party spent the day dressing deer skins while local natives brought them corn, beans, and a breakfast of boiled simblins and beans. The second Mandan village gave…
Aug
15
1806
Chiefs in Council Deliberating the Downriver Journey
The party remained in camp throughout the day, waiting to learn whether any of the chiefs would agree to travel downriver with them. The chiefs needed time to…
Aug
16
1806
Swivel Gun Presented to One Eye of the Minitaris
On a cool Friday, the expedition received six canoe-loads of corn from the Mandan villages, more than they could carry. Chiefs gathered to smoke and talk, and Clark…
Aug
16
1806
Big White Agrees to Journey to Washington
Numerous Mandan visitors came to the camp and traded fine buffalo robes and moccasins. By evening, Big White, a principal chief of the first Mandan village, agreed to…
Aug
16
1806
Big White Agrees to Travel Downriver with the Expedition
The expedition remained in camp awaiting a response from the Mandan villages. Some Indians were generous, supplying corn, beans, and squashes, while others stole knives, spoons, powder horns,…
Aug
17
1806
Farewell to Sacagawea and Little Pomp
At the Mandan villages, the expedition parted ways with Charbonneau, Sacagawea, and their young son Jean Baptiste. Clark, fond of the 19-month-old child he called 'Little Pomp,' offered…
Aug
17
1806
Colter Released to Trap with Dixon and Hancock
The expedition granted John Colter permission to return upriver with trappers Dixon and Hancock, outfitting him with supplies for a two-year trapping venture. After lashing canoes together, the…
Aug
17
1806
Canoes Lashed in Pairs; Farewell at Mandan Village
On a cold morning for the season, two strange hunters and a recently discharged expedition member set off upriver. The party lashed their small canoes together in pairs…
Aug
18
1806
Mandan Chief's Brother Bids Farewell on the Beach
Heavy overnight rain and strong southeasterly winds delayed the party's departure until 8 a.m. and slowed travel all day, though they still made 40 miles. The Mandan chief…
Aug
18
1806
Hunters Bring Seven Deer Below Otter Creek
The party departed around 8 a.m. and continued downriver, with hunters killing two deer by about 1 p.m. Strong winds persisted through the day. Toward evening they spotted…
Aug
18
1806
High Winds and a Venison Stop; Five Deer at Camp
Travel continued under high winds. Around 10 o'clock the party killed two deer and stopped for about an hour to cook and eat venison. They resumed their journey…
Aug
19
1806
Windbound by Sand and Rain, Lewis's Wounds Healing
Rain fell overnight and high winds battered the sandbar camp until 4 PM, pelting the party with blowing sand. Clark sent hunters ahead to kill and butcher game,…
Aug
19
1806
High Winds Delay Travel; Fifteen Animals Killed
High winds delayed the party's travel for much of the day. Hunters went out and killed five elk and ten deer. Around 4 P.M., the wind eased somewhat…
Aug
19
1806
Rough Waves Delay Morning Departure; Wind Abates
Rough waves kept the party ashore in the morning while several men went hunting. With their small canoes lashed together for safety, the group was making 50-60 miles…
Aug
20
1806
Large Sioux Encampment Remains at Cannonball River Mouth
A violent rainstorm at dawn soaked most of the party before they embarked just after sunrise against a moderate headwind. They passed the mouth of the Cannonball River,…
Aug
20
1806
Evening Camp on Sand Beach; Mosquitoes Troublesome
The latter part of the day turned pleasant after earlier conditions, and in the evening the party made camp on a sand beach. Mosquitoes were very troublesome at…
Aug
21
1806
Three French Trappers Report Seven Hundred Sioux Gathering
The expedition set out at 5 a.m. after sending Sergeant Ordway to gather ash for oars, then encountered three Frenchmen coming from the Arikaras, including two who had…
Aug
21
1806
French Trappers Met; Upper Arikara Village Reached
Traveling downriver, the party met three French trappers, including Rivet, who had worked as high as the Yellowstone River and were heading to the Mandans to retrieve traps…
Aug
21
1806
Council with Arikara at First Village
The party reached the first Arikara village around 10 a.m., meeting three Frenchmen along the way; one young former North West Company trader was permitted to join the…
Aug
22
1806
Arikaras Refuse Downriver Journey Until Their Chief Returns
After a rainy night that soaked the party's bedding, Clark visited the Arikara chiefs, who confirmed they would not travel downriver until their chief who left the previous…
Aug
22
1806
Arikara Chiefs Too Fearful to Join Expedition
Ordway spent the night in a Native village, where the chiefs explained that they were all too afraid to travel downriver with the expedition. Around 10 a.m. the…
Aug
23
1806
Strong Winds Force Midday Halt After Sarwarkarnahar River
The party set out very early but strong winds forced them ashore at 11:30 a.m. after passing the Sarwarkarnahar River. They resumed travel at 3 p.m. following a…
Aug
23
1806
Thunder, High Winds, and Elk Hunted on Shore
On a stormy day with thunder and intermittent light rain, the party spotted a large herd of elk on the south side of the river around 11 A.M.…
Aug
23
1806
Strong Winds Force Afternoon Halt; Elk Taken
The party traveled well in the morning despite high winds, but around noon the wind grew so strong they had to stop for about four hours. Three hunters…
Aug
24
1806
Clark Examines White Stone Stratum in Riverside Bluff
Fair weather on this Sunday let the party set out at sunrise, but strong northwest winds forced them ashore from 2 to 5 P.M. on the southwest bank.…
Aug
24
1806
Southwest Winds Halt Progress at Midday
The party set out early and made good progress through the morning. Around noon, strong winds from the southwest forced them to halt for about three hours. Once…
Aug
24
1806
Persistent Winds Halt Progress Twice
The party traveled well through the morning, but around noon strong winds forced them to halt for three hours. After resuming their journey, the wind picked up again…
Aug
25
1806
Meridian Observation at the Mouth of Cheyenne River
On a cool, clear morning with a stiff headwind, the party set out at the usual hour. Clark sent Shields, Collins, Shannon, and the two Field brothers ahead…
Aug
25
1806
Noon Observation Taken at Cheyenne River Mouth
The expedition sent hunters ahead to an island and set out around 9 A.M. They halted at the mouth of the Cheyenne River on the north side, where…
Aug
25
1806
Noon Observation at Cheyenne River Mouth
The party set out early, sending two small canoes ahead with five hunters. After traveling twelve miles, they reached the mouth of the Chien (Cheyenne) River, where they…
Aug
26
1806
Passing Teton River and the 1804 Sioux Confrontation Site
Clark's party traveled about 60 miles down the Missouri despite a southeast headwind. Hunters Shannon and the Field brothers rejoined at sunrise with only two small deer. The…
Aug
26
1806
Passing Loisel's Fort on Cedar Island
The expedition continued downriver, making good progress. Around 9 A.M. they passed the mouth of the Teton River. They pushed on through the day without stopping to cook…
Aug
26
1806
Past Teton River; Loiselle's Fort Found Empty
The expedition continued downriver, passing Teton River without seeing any sign of the Teton band of the Sioux nation. Later in the evening they passed Loiselle's fort, but…
Aug
27
1806
Hunters Find Bottoms Trampled, First Wild Turkeys Spotted
The party set out before sunrise against a stiff easterly headwind and stopped at the mouth of Tyler's River to hunt, as their meat supply was gone. Hunters…
Aug
27
1806
Grand Bend of the Missouri Rounded
The party traveled a short distance before spotting numerous buffalo and pausing for about an hour to hunt, though they killed nothing. Continuing on, they passed the mouth…
