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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Jul
27
1804
Departure from White Catfish Camp Toward the Platte
After a brief morning shower at White Catfish Camp ten miles above the Platte, the party spent the morning loading the boat and pirogue and fitting the oars.…
Jul
27
1804
Horses Ferried Across as Expedition Leaves White Catfish Camp
After a brief rain shower at White Catfish Camp, the party loaded the boat and pirogue, finished making oars and poles, and ferried two horses across to travel…
Jul
27
1804
Horses Swum Across; Ten Miles Sailed Southward
The party swam their horses across to the south side of the river since the terrain there was better for travel. They set out at noon under a…
Jul
27
1804
Shannon Kills a Deer on Crooked Sandbars
On a cloudy morning, the party readied the boat and set out around 1 PM, traveling along high wooded land on the south side. George Shannon killed a…
Jul
27
1804
Horses Swim Across; Shannon Kills Deer
The expedition's horses swam across the river, and the party set out under sail around one o'clock, traveling about 15 miles past high wooded land on the south…
Jul
27
1804
Boats Readied; Twelve Miles Under Fair Wind
The party finished readying the boats and set out at noon under a fair wind and pleasant weather. They traveled twelve miles up the river before making camp…
Jul
28
1804
Distant Gunfire Reported Near Indian Knob Creek
The expedition set out early on a dark, smoky morning with rain and a northwest wind. They passed the first high bluff above the Nodaway River on the…
Jul
28
1804
Passing Round Knob Creek and Steep Bluffs
On a cloudy morning with strong northeasterly winds, the expedition set out early and traveled past a high bottom prairie on the north side, with timbered ridges and…
Jul
28
1804
Passing Round Knob Creek in Northeast Winds
The expedition continued upriver past prairies and high ridges marked by bare, round knobs on the north side, with low cottonwood timber on the south. They passed Round…
Jul
28
1804
Hunters Return with an Oto Nation Member
The expedition traveled past scenic hills and prairies, noting Round-Knob Creek on the north side of the river and high bluffs on the south. The party made camp…
Jul
28
1804
Near Platte River, Council Bluffs area — Charles Floyd: July 28, 1804
Editorial note: no detailed primary-source journal entry survives for July 28, 1804 that is distinct from the surrounding days. The...
Jul
29
1804
La Liberté Dispatched to Invite the Oto Nation
On a dark, rainy Sunday with northwest winds, the expedition sent a Frenchman named La Liberté along with an Indian to the Oto camp to invite the tribe…
Jul
29
1804
Horseless Indian Explains Plains Hunting Difficulties
The party set out after dispatching the encountered Indian along with one of their men to retrieve the rest of his group. The Indian explained he was traveling…
Jul
29
1804
Guide Sent to Summon Oto Nation for Treaty
A rainy morning saw the party send an Indian guide and Liberty to bring the rest of the nation in for a treaty. The hunter returned at noon…
Jul
29
1804
La Liberty Dispatched to Summon the Otoes
The expedition departed early, sending a French interpreter named J. Barter (elsewhere called La Liberty) along with an Indian to gather the Oto tribe for a council upriver.…
Jul
29
1804
French Member Departs to Gather Native People
On July 29, 1804, one of the expedition's French members departed with an Indian to gather more Native people and meet the party at a suitable landing spot.…
Jul
30
1804
Flagpole Raised at Camp Awaiting the Oto Indians
The expedition set out early and traveled a few miles west before camping in a timbered grove beneath a high bluff on the south side, where they raised…
Jul
30
1804
Joseph Fields Kills a Badger Unknown to Science
On July 30, 1804, expedition member Joseph Fields killed an unusual animal that the French engagés called a 'braro' (badger). Lewis noted the species was not found in…
Jul
30
1804
Waiting in Camp for Absent Men and Horses
The party departed very early in the morning and traveled three miles before stopping to wait for the man who had been sent off with an Indian the…
Jul
30
1804
Camp Established to Await Liberté and Oto Chiefs
The expedition set out early to find a campsite where they could wait for Liberté and the Oto Indians in order to hold a treaty council. Around eight…
Jul
30
1804
Searching High Bluffs for Council Campsite
The party traveled upriver searching for a suitable camping spot to await the arrival of the Otoe Indians, eventually stopping around 7 o'clock at high bluffs on the…
Jul
30
1804
Camp Made at High Bluff to Await Indians
The party set out early and was met by hunters with a deer. By 9 a.m. they reached timbered land at the foot of a high bluff and…
Jul
31
1804
Drouillard Returns with a Notably Fat Buck
On a fair Tuesday at the expedition's camp, three hunters went out, with George Drouillard bringing back a notably fat buck and the Field brothers returning by 10…
Jul
31
1804
Council Bluff Camp; Horses Lost, Floyd Recovered
The expedition remained camped at a location they named Council Bluff, waiting for a delegation of Indians expected to meet with Captains Lewis and Clark. Floyd notes he…
Jul
31
1804
Waiting at Council Bluffs for Liberté and Oto
The expedition rowed about four and a half miles before halting around eight o'clock to make camp on the west side of the river, in a wooded area…
Jul
31
1804
Drouillard Kills Buck; Beaver Caught Alive
At the camp in southeastern Washington County, Nebraska (near the future site of Fort Calhoun), Fields returned without the missing horses and set out again with two men…
Jul
31
1804
Live Beaver Trapped; Hunters' Horses Gone Missing
The party's hunters had mixed success today. One returned with a young beaver caught alive in a trap, then went back out and shot a large buck. Two…
Aug
1
1804
Grapes Gathered and Beaver Caught at Oto Camp
On a fair, cool morning at camp, Clark sent two men to retrieve horses that had strayed and another to check whether any Indians had visited the messenger…
Aug
1
1804
Otoe Delegation Arrives with Cannon Salute Exchange
The men sent to retrieve the horses returned successfully, having killed an elk, while other hunters brought in three deer. The anticipated Native delegation arrived, firing many guns…
Aug
1
1804
Drouillard Tames Beaver; Horses Lost and Sought
Clear weather marked the day at the Council Bluffs camp. George Drouillard caught a young beaver and kept it as a pet. The Field brothers had lost the…
Aug
1
1804
Horses Recovered; Collins Shoots 134-Pound Buck
The party had a successful day of hunting near their camp. One animal trapped overnight escaped by gnawing off its leg. George Drouillard recovered the horses and brought…
Aug
1
1804
Awaited Indians Arrive at Dark Without Interpreter
Two hunters returned with horses and an elk, while others brought in two large bucks and a fawn. The Indians the expedition had been awaiting arrived at dark,…
Aug
2
1804
Hunters Return from Twelve-Mile Elk Hunt Southward
On a pleasant Thursday with a strong southeast breeze, hunters Drewyer and Colter returned to camp with horses loaded with elk, having found the animals about 12 miles…
Aug
2
1804
Lewis Examines and Describes the White Heron
On this day, one of the expedition's hunters brought Lewis a white heron, which he examined and described in detail. Lewis noted the bird's habitat in ponds and…
Aug
2
1804
First Formal Council with Oto and Missouri Chiefs
A foggy morning found Oto and Missouri Indians camped peacefully near the expedition. After 9 a.m., Captain Lewis convened a council with six Oto and six Missouri chiefs.…
Aug
2
1804
Council Bluff Located and Fixed by Observation
Hunters returned to camp with horses, an elk, two large bucks, and a fawn. The anticipated Indians arrived at dark, but the French interpreter accompanying them was missing…
Aug
3
1804
First Council with Otoe and Missouri Nations
At a site Lewis named Council Bluff, near present-day Fort Calhoun, Nebraska, the captains held their first formal diplomatic council with Native peoples, meeting with representatives of the…
Aug
3
1804
Council with Oto Chiefs; Medals and Gifts Presented
The two captains held a council with the Oto (Zottous) Indians, appointing six chiefs under American authority and presenting them with medals and gifts. The chiefs received the…
Aug
3
1804
Council with Oto and Missouri; Six Chiefs Named
The captains held a council with Oto and Missouri Indians, who responded favorably to news of the change in government and the gestures made on their behalf. Six…
Aug
3
1804
Council with Oto and Missouri Nations on the Platte
The captains held a council with the Oto and Missouri tribes, distributing gifts and reaching agreement; the Missouris are a small nation while the Otos are larger, and…
Aug
4
1804
Snag-Filled Bends Past a Ruined Trading Post
The expedition set out early after a violent northwest windstorm with light rain struck the previous evening around 7 o'clock. They navigated a narrow, snag-filled stretch of river…
Aug
4
1804
One Man Fails to Return; Another Brings a Deer
On a clear day, the expedition traveled along the river and passed a creek on the south side that flowed out of nearby ponds. One member of the…
Aug
5
1804
Large Bull Snake Killed Near an Eroding Riverbank
The expedition set out early under threatening winds and rain, though Clark noted thunder and lightning are less common here than in the Atlantic states. The crew killed…
Aug
5
1804
Lewis Records Detailed Observations on the Bull Snake
On August 5, 1804, Lewis recorded detailed natural history observations rather than travel events. He examined a non-venomous snake killed along the riverbank near a large prairie, locally…
Aug
5
1804
Severe Northeast Storm Halts Morning's Early Progress
The party set out early in the morning and traveled about two miles before a severe windstorm with rain struck from the northeast. The storm lasted roughly two…
Aug
5
1804
Reed Deserts the Expedition
The party traveled 16 miles and made camp on the south side of the river. The day was otherwise uneventful, with nothing notable to report. However, a member…
Aug
5
1804
Extremely Crooked River Stretches a Half-Day Journey
Wind forced the party to halt for two hours before clearing skies allowed them to resume traveling. They passed prairies on both banks of the river and made…
Aug
6
1804
Midnight Storm Tears Colors from the Large Pirogue
A violent windstorm from the northwest struck around midnight, bringing rain and tearing the colors from the large pirogue. The party set out early and passed a large…
Aug
6
1804
Violent Midnight Windstorm Disrupts Camp
The party set out early in the morning and continued upriver, passing Soldiers Creek on the north side, which entered behind an island. Around midnight the previous night,…
Aug
6
1804
Hunters Deliver Three Deer at Dinner Stop
Fair weather greeted the party at sunrise as they got underway, passing an island on the larboard side. They traveled 12 miles before stopping for dinner, during which…
Aug
6
1804
Stormy Night; Party Passes Soldiers Creek
Following a stormy night of wind and rain, the party continued upriver, passing a waterway on the north side located behind an island and known as Soldiers Creek.…
Aug
7
1804
Drouillard's Party Sent to Apprehend Deserter Reed
A nighttime storm from the northwest lasted about 45 minutes, and mosquitoes were unusually fierce. The party set out late with a north wind. At 1 o'clock, Clark…
Aug
7
1804
Moses Reed's Desertion Recounted by Floyd
The expedition departed at 6 a.m. under clear skies and a northwest wind. Floyd recounted how Moses B. Reed had deserted on August 4th, using the excuse of…
Aug
7
1804
Four Men Dispatched to Pursue Deserter Moses Reed
The morning was clear. A four-man party consisting of George Drouillard, Reuben Fields, Bratton, and William Labiche was sent to pursue Moses Reed, who had deserted, with their…
Aug
7
1804
Four Men Sent to Retrieve Deserter Dead or Alive
Around midday, four men were sent to the Otto nation to retrieve a deserter who had not returned on the 4th, with orders to bring him back dead…
Aug
8
1804
Little Sioux River Passed; Sioux Nation Geography Recorded
On Wednesday, August 8, 1804, the expedition departed at the usual time and navigated a snag-choked bend with some difficulty before passing the mouth of the Little Sioux…
Aug
8
1804
Lewis Shoots a Pelican on Pelican Island
After passing the Sioux (Stone) River, the expedition noticed feathers drifting on the Missouri for about three miles before discovering an enormous flock of pelicans resting on a…
Aug
8
1804
Lewis Kills a Large Pelican at Little Sioux River
The expedition passed a river on the north side called the Little Sioux. Captain Clark and one of the men went hunting and killed an elk, while another…
Aug
9
1804
Clark Crosses a Three-Quarter-Mile Isthmus on Foot
Thick morning fog delayed departure until 7:30 a.m., when the party set out under a gentle southeast breeze. Clark walked along the shore, observed land similar to the…
Aug
9
1804
Clark and Floyd Travel Overland Through Fog
The expedition departed at 7 a.m. after waiting for the thick morning fog to lift, a common condition in the region. Captain Clark and Charles Floyd traveled overland…
