Clark: March 20, 1806
Heavy rain and wind at Fort Clatsop prevented the expedition from making any progress toward departure, and a plan to send Drouillard and the Field brothers ahead to hunt above Point William was postponed. The party still had several days' provisions and enough salt to reach their Missouri cache. Several men remained ill, with Bratton and Willard especially weak. Broken guns belonging to Sergeant Pryor and Drouillard were repaired using spare locks brought from Harpers Ferry, with John Shields's skill keeping all firearms in working order. Clark reflected on a reasonably comfortable winter.
Thursday March 20th 1806 It continued to rain and blow so violently to day
that nothing could be done towards fowarding our departure. we intended to
have dispatched Drewyer & the 2 Field’es to hunt above Point William
untill we joined them from hense but the rain renders our departure So
uncertain that we decline this measure for the present. nothing remarkable
happened dureing the day. we have yet Several days provisions on hand,
which we hope will be Sufficient to Serve us dureing the time we are
compell’d by the weather to remain at this place.-.
Altho we have not fared Sumptuously this winter & Spring at Fort
Clatsop, we have lived quit as comfortably as we had any reason to expect
we Should; and have accomplished every object which induced our remaining
at this place except that of meeting with the traders who visit the
enterance of this river. our Salt will be very sufficient to last us to
the Missouri where we have a Stock in Store.it would have been very
fortunate for us had Some of those traders arrived previous to our
departure from hence; as we Should then have had it in our power to obtain
an addition to our Stock of merchandize, which would have made our
homeward bound journey much more comfortable.
Maney of our men are Still Complaining of being unwell; Bratten and
Willard remain weak principally I believe for the want of proper food. I
expect when we get under way that we Shall be much more healthy. it has
always had that effect on us heretofore.
The Guns of Sergt. Pryor & Drewyer were both out of order. the first
had a Cock screw broken which was replaced by a duplicate which had been
prepared for the Locks at Harpers Ferry; the Second repared with a new
Lock, the old one becoming unfit for use. but for the precaution taken in
bringing on those extra locks, and parts of locks, in addition to the
ingenuity of John Shields, most of our guns would at this moment been
entirely unfit for use; but fortunate for us I have it in my power here to
record that they are in good order, and Complete in every respect-
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Thursday March 20th 1806. It continued to rain and blow so violently today that nothing could be done toward forwarding our departure. We intended to have dispatched Drewyer (Drouillard) and the two Fields brothers to hunt above Point William until we joined them from here, but the rain renders our departure so uncertain that we decline this measure for the present. Nothing remarkable happened during the day. We have yet several days' provisions on hand, which we hope will be sufficient to serve us during the time we are compelled by the weather to remain at this place.
Although we have not fared sumptuously this winter and spring at Fort Clatsop, we have lived quite as comfortably as we had any reason to expect we should; and have accomplished every object which induced our remaining at this place except that of meeting with the traders who visit the entrance of this river. Our salt will be very sufficient to last us to the Missouri, where we have a stock in store. It would have been very fortunate for us had some of those traders arrived previous to our departure from here, as we should then have had it in our power to obtain an addition to our stock of merchandise, which would have made our homeward bound journey much more comfortable.
Many of our men are still complaining of being unwell; Bratten (Bratton) and Willard remain weak, principally I believe for the want of proper food. I expect when we get under way that we shall be much more healthy. It has always had that effect on us heretofore.
The guns of Sergt. Pryor and Drewyer (Drouillard) were both out of order. The first had a cock screw broken, which was replaced by a duplicate that had been prepared for the locks at Harpers Ferry; the second was repaired with a new lock, the old one becoming unfit for use. But for the precaution taken in bringing on those extra locks, and parts of locks, in addition to the ingenuity of John Shields, most of our guns would at this moment have been entirely unfit for use; but fortunately for us I have it in my power here to record that they are in good order, and complete in every respect.
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