Lewis: March 20, 1806
Heavy rain and wind on March 20, 1806 prevented the expedition from leaving Fort Clatsop, and a planned hunting trip by Drouillard and the Field brothers was postponed. Lewis reflected on the winter, noting they had lived comfortably and accomplished their goals except meeting coastal traders, who could have resupplied them. Several men, including Willard and Bratton, remained ill, likely from poor diet. Broken guns belonging to Drouillard and Sergeant Pryor were repaired using spare locks brought from Harpers Ferry and the skills of John Shields, leaving all firearms in working order.
Thursday March 20th 1806. It continued to rain and blow so violently today
that nothing could be done towards forwarding our departure. we intended
to have Dispatched Drewyer and the two Fieldses to hunt near the bay on
this side of the Cathlahmahs untill we jounded them from hence, but the
rain rendered our departure so uncertain that we declined this measure for
the present. nothing remarkable happened during the day. we have yet
several days provision on hand, which we hope will be sufficient to
subsist us during the time we are compelled by the weather to remain at
this place.
Altho 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 hence, as we should then have had it our power to obtain an
addition to our stock of merchandize which would have made our homeward
bound journey much more comfortable. many of our men are still complaining
of being unwell; Willard and Bratton remain weak, principally I beleive
for the want of proper food. I expect when we get under way we shall be
much more healthy. it has always had that effect on us heretofore. The
guns of Drewyer and Sergt. Pryor were both out of order. the first was
repared with a new lock, the old one having become unfit for uce; the
second had the cock screw broken which was replaced by a duplicate which
had been prepared for the lock at Harpers ferry where she was
manufactured. 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 untirely unfit for use; but
fortunately for us I have it in my power here to record that they are all
in good order.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Thursday, March 20th, 1806. It continued to rain and blow so violently today that nothing could be done toward preparing our departure. We intended to have dispatched Drewyer and the two Fields brothers to hunt near the bay on this side of the Cathlahmahs until we joined them from here, but the rain made our departure so uncertain that we abandoned this plan for the present. Nothing remarkable happened during the day. We still have several days' provisions on hand, which we hope will be sufficient to sustain 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; and we have accomplished every objective that led us to remain at this place, except that of meeting with the traders who visit the entrance of this river. Our salt will be quite sufficient to last us to the Missouri, where we have a stock in store. It would have been very fortunate for us if some of those traders had arrived before our departure from here, as we would then have had the opportunity 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; Willard and Bratton remain weak, mainly, I believe, for want of proper food. I expect that when we get under way we shall be much more healthy. It has always had that effect on us before.
The guns of Drewyer and Sergt. Pryor were both out of order. The first was repaired with a new lock, the old one having become unfit for use; the second had the cock screw broken, which was replaced by a duplicate that had been prepared for the lock at Harpers Ferry, where it was manufactured. If not for the precaution taken in bringing along 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 am able to record here that they are all in good order.
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