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).
No journal entries match your filters. Try adjusting your search criteria.
Apr
10
1805
Overtaking French Trappers Along the Missouri
The expedition departed very early on a cool, calm morning that turned warm by afternoon, with mosquitoes becoming bothersome. They passed an Indian camp on the larboard side…
Apr
10
1805
Eroding Bluff and Treeless Plains on the Missouri
The expedition departed early and passed a group of Minetare onlookers three miles in. Clark walked onshore, spotting antelope, geese, and swans, though mosquitoes proved bothersome. The party…
Apr
10
1805
Bear Tracks, Nesting Eagles, and Elk Observed Upriver
On a pleasant morning, the expedition pushed upriver past high plains and cottonwood bottoms with a swift current, stopping for breakfast above a sand bank and willow island.…
Apr
10
1805
Nineteen Miles Through Sandbar-Scattered Waters
The expedition continued upriver on a fine, pleasant day, navigating through waters scattered with numerous sandbars. After traveling about nineteen miles, the party made camp on the north…
Apr
11
1805
Fresh Bear Tracks and Abundant Waterfowl on Shore
The expedition set out very early, with Clark walking onshore and noting fresh bear tracks. The party killed a deer, two beaver, and two geese, and observed abundant…
Apr
11
1805
Drewyer's Deer Ends Meatless Days; Powder Soaked
The expedition set out early, with Clark and Drewyer hunting on shore while the main party traveled by water. Drewyer killed a deer, providing welcome fresh meat after…
Apr
11
1805
Warm South Breeze Carries Pirogues Twenty-One Miles
The party traveled 21 miles up the Missouri on a very warm day with a gentle south breeze that allowed the large pirogues to sail well. Hunters caught…
Apr
11
1805
Indians Spotted South Bank, No Contact Made
A pleasant day allowed for good progress as the party traveled roughly twenty-one miles along the river. Some Indians were spotted on the south side, but the group…
Apr
12
1805
Reaching the Mouth of the Little Missouri River
On a fine, mild morning, the expedition set out early and reached the mouth of the Little Missouri River, making camp on an elevated plain to take latitude…
Apr
12
1805
Red Pirogue Narrowly Escapes Collapsing Riverbank
The expedition set out early, navigating around an unstable riverbank where the red pirogue and its valuable cargo narrowly avoided disaster. After six miles, they camped at the…
Apr
12
1805
Mouth of the Little Missouri Reached at Ninety Miles
The expedition set off early, passing high hills on the south side of the river. A hunter shot a large beaver swimming in the river. After about five…
Apr
12
1805
Breakfast at the Mouth of Little Missouri
Around 8 a.m., the party reached the mouth of the Little Missouri River, a small tributary entering from the south side, where they stopped for breakfast. The river…
Apr
13
1805
Widening Missouri Above Little Missouri's Mouth
Setting out at 6 a.m., the party traveled up a Missouri River that had widened to nearly a mile above the Little Missouri's mouth. They caught three beaver,…
Apr
13
1805
Charbonneau's Panic Nearly Capsizes White Pirogue
The expedition departed early with favorable winds, hoisting sails on the white pirogue. A sudden squall nearly capsized the vessel when Charbonneau panicked at the helm; Lewis ordered…
Apr
13
1805
Pronghorn Antelope Scramble Up Steep Riverbanks
The party set out at sunrise after the men trapped two beaver and a fish overnight. They caught up with French trappers who had taken seven beaver. Aided…
Apr
13
1805
Beaver Trapping at Onion Creek
The expedition traveled 23 miles by river, though small canoes struggled to carry sail. Members of the party trapped beaver, and accompanying Frenchmen out trapping caught seven more.…
Apr
14
1805
Stray Dog Joins Party Near Assiniboine Camps
On a fine Sunday morning, a stray dog—likely left behind by Indians camped near a lake passed the day before—joined the party. Clark walked through wooded bottoms and…
Apr
14
1805
Burnt Hills, Pumice Stone, and Assiniboine Campsites
Traveling up the Missouri, the expedition continued to observe mineral deposits, burnt hills, and pumice stone. A stray dog joined the party, likely left by Assiniboine Indians whose…
Apr
14
1805
Fraser Kills Buffalo; Otter Escapes Broken Chain
The party traveled 16 miles up the Missouri under a gentle southerly wind. A trapped otter escaped overnight, breaking the chain. Hunters shot a muskrat, and Fraser killed…
Apr
14
1805
Assiniboin Dog Joins Party near Haystack Hill
As the party set out in the morning, a black dog—likely left behind by a band of Assiniboins recently camped nearby—joined them. They passed a hill shaped like…
Apr
15
1805
Clark Surveys Fertile Plains Toward Mouse River
The expedition departed early on a windy day, with Captain Lewis going ashore and killing a goose. Clark later hiked up to the high country on the south…
Apr
15
1805
Lewis Walks Starboard Shore Through Timbered Bottoms
The expedition set out early, with Lewis walking the starboard shore while Clark stayed with the boats, following their rule that one captain always remain with the party.…
Apr
15
1805
Antelope, Buffalo Herds, and Two White Bears Sighted
The expedition set off early under a fine southeast breeze and sailed past streams, bottoms, plains, hills, and valleys. The party spotted flocks of antelope on the south…
Apr
15
1805
Buffalo and Bears at Goat-pen Creek
The expedition set out early and made good progress along the river. They passed a large creek on the north side, named Goat-pen Creek, and observed several buffalo…
Apr
16
1805
Antelope Shot; Geese Feeding on River Grasses
Strong southeasterly winds blew as the expedition continued upriver. Clark walked ashore and shot a lean antelope, observing abundant elk, some buffalo and deer, and large flocks of…
Apr
16
1805
Buffalo and Elk Amid Hornets' Nests Ashore
The expedition departed early on April 16, 1805. Captain Clark walked along the shore, killed an antelope, and reported seeing buffalo, elk, deer, and many old hornets' nests.…
Apr
16
1805
Clark Kills Antelope Beside Four-Foot Ice Banks
The party set off early with a gentle southeast wind, passing a sand beach on the north side piled with ice and snow four feet thick from the…
Apr
16
1805
Clark Shoots Antelope at Grand River Camp
The expedition began the day with a gentle, fair wind. Captain Clark went ashore and shot an antelope, the animal previously called a goat. The wind grew gusty,…
Apr
17
1805
Coal Seams and Abundant Wildlife on Open Plains
On a fine morning with southeasterly winds, the expedition traveled through high, rich plains showing increasing signs of coal, burnt hills, pumice stone, and lava. Clark walked along…
Apr
17
1805
Pumice Floating on River Near Assiniboine Campsites
On a pleasant April morning, the expedition set out early and traveled through country showing signs of burnt hills, lava, and pumice stone, some of which floated in…
Apr
17
1805
Lewis Hunts Among Great Buffalo and Elk Herds
The party set out early under a fair wind and made good progress sailing up the river, covering 26 miles. Hunters caught two beaver and several small fish…
Apr
17
1805
Favorable Winds Past Buffalo-Lined Banks
With a favorable wind and fine weather, the party made good progress along the river, passing a beautiful plain and two large creeks on the north side and…
Apr
18
1805
Native Nations Marvel at Seaman's Size
This entry reflects on the role of Seaman, Lewis's Newfoundland dog, during the expedition's encounters with Native American nations. Many groups, including the Shoshone, Nez Perce, and Plains…
Apr
18
1805
Disputed Beaver Trap; Eagle Nest Eggs Retrieved
The party set out early after trappers caught a single beaver shared awkwardly between two traps and two owners, sparking a dispute over ownership. Traveling between high hills,…
Apr
18
1805
Strong Headwinds Halt Progress for Three Hours
The day began with fine weather and good progress on the river after spotting a wild goose in the morning. Around 1 o'clock, strong winds blowing down the…
Apr
19
1805
Windbound; Cottonwoods Leafing and Plum Bushes Blooming
Strong northwest winds kept the expedition windbound all day on the south side of the river, sheltered in a good harbor since launching the canoes was deemed too…
Apr
19
1805
Dwarf Juniper Observed During Northwest Wind Layover
Strong northwest winds on April 19, 1805 kept the expedition from launching their canoes on the Missouri River, forcing them to remain in the safe harbor where they…
Apr
19
1805
Wind-Bound Camp Yields Beaver, Elk, and Geese
Strong winds from the north forced the expedition to remain at their previous night's camp throughout the day. Despite the delay, the party was productive: they trapped a…
Apr
19
1805
Petrified Log and Burnt Hill Examined
The party remained in camp rather than setting out, delayed by conditions. Gass explored the surrounding hills, finding them very high, badly eroded by rain, and barren of…
Apr
20
1805
Rough Waves Nearly Swamp Canoes in Headwind
On a cold, blustery Saturday with a strong northwest headwind, the party set out at 7 a.m. but struggled against rough waves that nearly swamped several canoes and…
Apr
20
1805
Indian Burial Scaffold Examined on North Shore
With winds calmer than the previous day, the expedition set out before seven. Lewis walked the north shore through fertile cottonwood bottoms, killing two deer and noting abundant…
Apr
20
1805
Strong Wind Forces Early Stop; Three Elk Killed
The party set out in the morning facing rapid water and a strong wind. Several canoes took on a significant amount of water, forcing the group to halt…
Apr
20
1805
Blinding Sand Storms Slow Progress on Missouri
The expedition set out around 7 a.m. into cold, chilly air. Men caught beavers in traps, and a buffalo swam past but was spared because it was lean.…
Apr
21
1805
Buffalo Crossing River in Large Numbers Observed
The expedition set out early under a gentle northwest wind, navigating the very crooked river. Clark walked overland across a point, observing landscape similar to previous days and…
Apr
21
1805
Buffalo Calves Taken; Meat Compared Favorably to Veal
The expedition set out early on a windy morning, traveling through country similar to recent days. Captain Clark walked onshore and killed a buffalo and four deer, while…
Apr
21
1805
Buffalo and Elk Crowd Hills; Goose Nest Found
A clear but chilly morning began with water frozen in buckets by the fire. The party traveled along the Missouri, observing hills and valleys covered with buffalo and…
Apr
21
1805
Hunters Bring Elk as Game Crowds Both Banks
The day began clear but cold with a sharp frost. The party observed large numbers of elk, buffalo, and deer along both banks of the river. Around noon,…
Apr
22
1805
Unnamed River Sixty Yards Wide Discovered Overland
On a frosty, very cold morning, the party set out early but soon faced strong headwinds that made progress difficult, requiring tow ropes. Clark and Lewis walked overland…
Apr
22
1805
Salt Deposits Examined at White Earth River
The expedition set out early but strong headwinds slowed progress, forcing them to rely on tow lines and eventually halt. Lewis and Clark walked to the nearby White…
Apr
22
1805
Thousand Animals Sighted; Buffalo Calf Rescued
The party traveled only about 10 miles, slowed by high winds and a two-hour delay. They passed bluffs and bottoms teeming with wildlife, sighting nearly a thousand buffalo,…
Apr
22
1805
Winding River Miles Against Unfavorable Winds
The expedition traveled roughly 14 miles along a winding stretch of river, facing unfavorable winds throughout the day. They passed a beautiful bottomland on the north side that…
Apr
23
1805
Three Mule Deer and Buffalo Calf Killed Ashore
On a cold morning, the strong northwesterly winds that had become a daily obstacle picked up around 9 a.m. and blew hard until late evening. Clark walked along…
Apr
23
1805
Winds Force Halt; Soaked Cargo Unpacked to Dry
The expedition departed early, but by 9 A.M. strong winds forced them to halt. With no timber for shelter on either bank, Lewis struggled to bring the canoes…
Apr
23
1805
Crooked River Stretch with Beaver and Sailing Wind
The expedition set off as usual along a very crooked stretch of river, passing high bluffs on the south side. Men caught two beavers overnight, shot another in…
Apr
23
1805
Clark Kills Three Deer and a Buffalo
Headwinds forced the party to halt for about three hours during the day's travel. Despite the delay, they managed to cover fifteen miles before making camp on the…
Apr
24
1805
Violent Winds Ground Expedition; Hunters Bag Four Deer
Strong north and northwest winds that began the previous night blew violently until 7 p.m., halting the expedition's progress for the day. Several items in the pirogues got…
Apr
24
1805
High Winds and Sore Eyes Plague the Party
High winds kept the expedition from traveling all day, with waves splashing into the small canoes and soaking some of their cargo despite the shelter of tall timber.…
Apr
24
1805
Windbound Camp; Cargo Dried and Buffalo Taken
Strong winds from the northwest forced the party to remain in camp throughout the day. They took advantage of the delay to dry and air out portions of…
Apr
24
1805
Scouts Find Only Missouri Backwater, Not a Lake
Strong winds blowing down the river forced the party to halt for the day. While stopped, some men hiked off to investigate what looked like a distant river…
Apr
25
1805
Ice on the Oars; Canoes Take On Water
The party set out early on a cold morning with moderate headwinds and some clouds, finding ice collected on the oars. By around 1 p.m. the north wind…
