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
4
1804
Boat's Mast Breaks Near Nightingale Creek
On a fair Monday, the expedition sent out three hunters and traveled upriver, passing several islands and creeks they named, including Nightingale Creek (after a bird whose song…
Jun
4
1804
Broken Mast at Mast Creek; Rich Bottomland Noted
The expedition set out on a clear morning. About two miles in, the steersman let the boat run under a tree limb, breaking off the mast. They passed…
Jun
4
1804
Trees Branded Before Afternoon Departure Upriver
The day began with fair weather. The party spent the morning branding several trees, likely to mark their passage. In the afternoon, they set out and traveled about…
Jun
4
1804
Mast Snapped; Nightingale Creek Named for Bird
While Ordway was steering the boat near shore, its mast caught in a sycamore limb and broke easily. The party passed a creek on the south side, about…
Jun
4
1804
Mast Broken Near Shore; Seven Deer Brought to Camp
The expedition continued upriver but broke their mast during the day after steering too close to the shore. In the evening they made camp on the south side…
Jun
5
1804
French Trappers Met Near the Painted Rock
The expedition jerked the previous day's venison, sent out a small hunting party, and set off at 6 a.m., passing several creeks they named Lead, Little Good Woman,…
Jun
5
1804
Meeting French Traders Laden with Winter Pelts
On a fair day, the expedition passed Lead Creek on the south side and Little Good Woman Creek on the north, traveling past the Creek of the Big…
Jun
5
1804
Quiet Progress Along the South Bank
On a fair morning, the expedition set out early and continued their journey upriver. They passed a creek on the south side of the river and made camp…
Jun
5
1804
Frenchmen Encountered with Furs from the Interior
The expedition traveled nine miles along the river, passing Big Rock Creek, about fifteen yards wide, and Little Good Woman Creek on the north side. Around 11 a.m.,…
Jun
5
1804
Two Frenchmen with Fur Canoes Past High Rock Cliff
The expedition passed Little Goodwoman Creek and Big Rock Creek on the river's north side, encountering two Frenchmen traveling in canoes loaded with furs. After passing a high…
Jun
6
1804
Salt Licks and Brackish Springs at Saline Creek
After repairing the mast, the party set out at 7 a.m. under a gentle southeasterly breeze. They passed Split Rock Island and Creek, noting a distinctive hole worn…
Jun
6
1804
Devil Figures on the Rock; Three Rattlesnakes Killed
The party departed at 5 o'clock and traveled past springs flowing from cliffs. Two miles on, they passed a creek on the north side called the River of…
Jun
6
1804
Past Lead Creek to Rich Northern Bottomlands
The expedition departed early and traveled past Lead Creek on the south side and Little Good Woman Creek on the north, noting rich soil and good timber before…
Jun
6
1804
Split Rock and Fine Spring on the Cliffs
The party set out at 7 a.m. with a gentle wind helping them push up the river. They passed a notable feature in a projecting rock known as…
Jun
6
1804
Missouri Narrows to Three Hundred Yards at Blackbird Creek
The expedition traveled through beautiful country with excellent land, noting that the Missouri River had narrowed to about 300 yards wide with a very strong current. They passed…
Jun
7
1804
Native Rock Paintings and Rattlesnake Den Examined
The expedition departed early and traveled past an island to the mouth of Big Manitou Creek, about 4.5 miles on, where they breakfasted. Nearby they examined Native American…
Jun
7
1804
Buffalo Lick and Salt Spring on the Manitou
Captain Lewis and the hunters traveled two miles to a buffalo lick up the Manitou River on the northeast side of the Missouri, where they observed a salt…
Jun
7
1804
Lewis Investigates Salt Lick at Big Devil Creek
The expedition traveled past high cliffs and a large spring flowing from the rocks, then reached Big Devil Creek, where they stopped for breakfast. Captain Lewis and several…
Jun
7
1804
Devil's Rock Decorated with Painted Figures
The party departed at 5 o'clock and traveled along the river, passing springs flowing from cliffs and a stream on the north side called the River of the…
Jun
8
1804
Scouting the Mine River and Rich Southern Lands
The expedition departed at daylight and traveled up the Missouri, passing willow islands, deer licks, and reaching the Mine River, about 70-90 yards wide and navigable for pirogues…
Jun
8
1804
Passing Two Fur-Laden Canoes; Big River Reached
The expedition set out early under clear skies with a westerly wind. After five miles, they passed two canoes lashed together, loaded with beaver and otter skins from…
Jun
8
1804
Fur Traders Encountered Near the Sioux River
The expedition set out at the usual hour against strong currents, with the white pirogue struggling to cross the river to retrieve meat from the hunters. Drouillard killed…
Jun
8
1804
Mine River Mouth; Three Frenchmen Met Descending
The party traveled past a run on the left side above a rocky point, noting deer licks in the area, before reaching the mouth of the Mine River…
Jun
8
1804
Four Fur-Laden Canoes; Fertile Mine River Country
The expedition encountered four canoes loaded with furs and pelts heading downstream. They passed the Mine River on the south side, which measured 150 yards wide. The surrounding…
Jun
9
1804
Snags and Grounding Near Prairie of the Arrows
The expedition set out early on a swift, rising river and quickly got stuck on a snag for about fifteen minutes. They passed the Prairie of the Arrows,…
Jun
9
1804
Prairie of Arrows and the Arrow Creek Country
After heavy overnight rain, the expedition set out under clear skies with an easterly wind. They traveled five miles past the Prairie of Arrows on the south side,…
Jun
9
1804
Wind Delay; Seven Fur Pirogues Met on River
Strong winds halted the expedition for a day, during which Drouillard killed two bears and a buck. Leaving the Charrette Prairie, the party sailed toward the Grand River…
Jun
9
1804
Rain, Log Obstruction, and Prairie Country
Heavy rain fell overnight, and a log obstruction delayed the party for half an hour during the day's travel. They passed Prairie and Arrow Creek on the south…
Jun
9
1804
Missouri Narrows to Three Hundred Yards
The expedition traveled through beautiful country with excellent land, noting the Missouri River had narrowed to only 300 yards wide with a very strong current. They passed a…
Jun
10
1804
Chariton Rivers Reached After Rain-Soaked Morning
After overnight rain, the party set out early and traveled up the Missouri, passing collapsing banks lined with cottonwoods and reaching the mouths of the two Chariton Rivers,…
Jun
10
1804
Passing the Two Chariton Rivers on the North
The party set out at the usual hour and traveled about 12 miles up the river. They passed Deer Lick Creek on the north side and the two…
Jun
10
1804
Ripe Mulberries and the Two Chariton Rivers
The expedition traveled past hilly land on the river's right and level, fertile ground on the left, where ripe mulberries grew among walnut, hickory, and ash trees draped…
Jun
10
1804
Passing the Twin Mouths of Two Charlottes
The expedition passed Deer-lick creek on the north side of the river, then three miles further reached the Two Charlottes, also on the north side. The mouths of…
Jun
10
1804
Measuring the Charrotte River's Wide Mouth
The party reached the Charrotte (Charette) River around 2 o'clock and waited there for the hunters to arrive, suffering from heavy mosquitoes on the northeast side. They observed…
Jun
11
1804
Fierce Northwest Winds Pin Expedition in Place
Strong, cold northwest winds blowing directly against the boats forced the expedition to remain in place all day. The crew used the delay productively, drying wet supplies, inspecting…
Jun
11
1804
Storm-Bound Camp; Hunters Return with Bears and Deer
The expedition remained in camp the entire day due to a strong northwest wind that prevented travel. Skies were clear for most of the day but turned cloudy…
Jun
11
1804
Drouillard Kills Two Bears in the Prairies
Strong winds blew from the northwest on this day. A hunting party led by George Drouillard went out into the prairies in search of game. Drouillard had a…
Jun
11
1804
Drouillard Kills Two Bears While Winds Detain Party
Strong winds in the morning prevented the expedition from traveling, so the commanding officer ordered the party to remain in camp for the day. During this halt, the…
Jun
12
1804
Downriver Fur Traders Sell Three Hundred Pounds of Grease
The expedition set out early and navigated through several difficult bends and past Plumb Creek on the larboard side. Around 1 p.m., they encountered two boats coming downriver…
Jun
12
1804
Five Sioux Canoes Loaded with Pelts Encountered
The expedition departed at the usual time under clear skies with a westerly wind, traveling four miles past Plumb Creek on the south side, where cottonwood timber filled…
Jun
12
1804
Plum Creek Abundance; Frenchmen Passed on River
On a fair morning, the expedition passed Plum Creek on the south side of the river, an area noted for abundant plums and high, well-timbered land suited for…
Jun
12
1804
French Fur Traders Yield a Guide from Sioux Country
In the afternoon, the expedition encountered five pirogues laden with furs and peltry coming downriver from the Sioux nation. The party stayed overnight with the traders who owned…
Jun
12
1804
Trading Blankets for Buffalo Robes with Fur Pirogues
The expedition departed Charrette Prairie and sailed toward the Grand River. Along the way they encountered seven pirogues loaded with furs bound for Chouteau in St. Louis, and…
Jun
13
1804
Site of Sauk Massacre of Missouri Nation Noted
The expedition set out early and passed a sharp bend with two creeks named for it, along with a prairie that had once held a Missouri Indian village…
Jun
13
1804
Grand River Camp Beside a Beautiful Prairie
The party traveled past Creek of the Prairies, noting large prairies and excellent land above it. They passed Round Bend Creek on the north side of the river…
Jun
13
1804
Camp at Grand River Mouth Strikes Gass as Magnificent
The party traveled up the river, passing a small creek on the north side within a long bend. They made camp at the mouth of the Grand River,…
Jun
14
1804
Treacherous Sandbars Nearly Capsize Boat
Setting out at 6 a.m. after a thick fog, the party navigated treacherous shifting sandbars that nearly capsized the boat, saved only by the crew's strenuous efforts. Clark…
Jun
14
1804
Three Frenchmen Returning from Three Years among Poncas
The party set out at the usual hour under clear weather and traveled three miles against a strong current. They encountered two canoes carrying three Frenchmen and a…
Jun
14
1804
Frenchmen Return After Two Years in the Interior
On a foggy but fair day, the expedition passed a small prairie on the north side of the Missouri River and struggled against very strong currents. Around 11…
Jun
14
1804
Frenchmen from Pawnee Country Met on the River
The expedition continued upriver, finding the going difficult because the water had risen overnight. Around midday, they encountered some Frenchmen who had spent the previous winter among the…
Jun
14
1804
Swift Current and Sandbar Trouble Below Grand River
The party set out from the Grand River and rowed three miles before entering a bayou. At the bayou's end, they returned to the main river, where rising…
Jun
15
1804
Sawyer Strike and Shifting Sands Exhaust the Crew
The expedition set out early but quickly struck a sawyer that nearly damaged the boat. They battled a fast-rising, swift river, got briefly stuck on a sand bar,…
Jun
15
1804
Hunters Bring Four Bears Near Abandoned Missouri Village
After the previous day's exhausting work, the party set out at 5 a.m. and passed Indian Creek on the south side, a 15-yard-wide creek bordered by good level…
Jun
15
1804
Sailing to Little Sioux Prairie with Four Bears
The expedition set out from Willow Prairie with a fresh southeast wind, crowded on sail, and traveled 16 miles before camping at an Indian settlement called Little Sioux…
Jun
15
1804
Meridian Altitude Taken; Camp Opposite High Prairies
The party traveled past high land on the south side of the river and passed Indian Creek. They stopped at noon to eat and for Captain Lewis to…
Jun
15
1804
Mulberries Lining the Banks Through Rapid Water
The expedition pushed through very rapid water during the day. They passed a beautiful prairie on the south side of the river where the land rose high, and…
Jun
16
1804
Hunters' Bears and Deer Loaded at Grand Prairie
The party set out at 7 a.m. and after about a mile and a half reached the camp of hunters Drouillard and Willard, who had killed two bears…
Jun
16
1804
Men Wade and Tow Boat Against Strong Currents
The party traveled along the Missouri River past attractive prairies on the north side. The current ran very strong throughout the day, forcing the men to wade in…
Jun
16
1804
Searching River Banks for Timber to Make Oars
The party searched along the riverbanks for timber suitable for making oars but were unable to find any. After the searchers returned, the expedition resumed travel under cloudy…
Jun
17
1804
Rope Walk Camp: Oars and Towline Crafted
On a cloudy Sunday with southeast winds, the expedition traveled just one mile before stopping at what they called Rope Walk Camp to make oars and craft a…
