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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Oct
26
1805
Canoe Repairs and Chiefs Visit from Nearby Villages
The expedition spent the day repairing canoes that had been damaged during the portage around the falls. Hunters went out and brought back six deer and some squirrels.…
Oct
26
1805
Canoe Bottoms Smoothed; Hunters Bring Five Deer
The expedition stayed in camp to make celestial observations and repair the canoes, which were unloaded and hauled from the water to have their bottoms smoothed. Hunters went…
Oct
27
1805
Chiefs Visit; Downriver Strangers Refused Goods
On a windy, cold Sunday near the Columbia River narrows, hunters brought in four deer, a grouse, and a squirrel. Two visiting chiefs and their party stayed with…
Oct
27
1805
Wind-Bound; Hunters Return with Four Deer
Strong winds up the river kept the party in camp all day. With good hunting ground available for the first time in a while, some men went out…
Oct
27
1805
Medal Presented to Indian Leader; Four Deer Returned
The party remained camped along the river, heading west. Six men were sent out hunting while some Native visitors stayed in camp. The captains presented a medal and…
Oct
28
1805
British Musket Spotted at Chilluckittequaw Village
On a cold, windy Monday, the expedition loaded canoes and set off at 9 a.m., traveling through a river canyon walled with dark cliffs. After four miles they…
Oct
28
1805
Dogs Purchased at Small Village; Headwinds Force Halt
After early rain, the morning turned clear and the party set out at 8 a.m. They traveled about four miles to a small Native village, where they spent…
Oct
28
1805
British Musket Spotted at Riverside Village
After overnight rain cleared, the party loaded the canoes and set out, traveling a few miles downriver before stopping at a small village on the starboard side. There…
Oct
29
1805
War Trophy Fingers at the Friendly Village
On a cloudy, breezy Tuesday, the expedition set out at daybreak and traveled down the Columbia River, stopping at several Native villages they found welcoming, dubbing one the…
Oct
29
1805
Pine-Covered Hills, Dog Purchase, and a Snow-Capped Peak
The expedition traveled along a river bordered by high pine-covered hills, with birch on the banks. They stopped at a small native village for breakfast and bought more…
Oct
29
1805
Twenty-Six Miles Past Numerous Indian Villages
The expedition traveled 26 miles down the river with a gentle current, stopping at Indian lodges to purchase dogs for food, including additional dogs bought at another village…
Oct
30
1805
Submerged Stumps and Cascades on a Rainy Descent
On a cold, rainy day, the expedition ate a small venison breakfast and set out down the river, observing rocks that had fallen from the mountains, four cascades,…
Oct
30
1805
A Single Deer the Only Provision of the Day
On this day, the expedition's hunters succeeded in killing a deer, providing fresh meat for the party. The brief entry records no other events, observations, or activities.
Oct
30
1805
Clear Skies in the Latter Part of Day
A brief journal note recording only that the latter part of the day was clear. No other events, locations, people, or activities are mentioned in this entry.
Oct
31
1805
Clark Scouts the Cascades of the Columbia
On a cloudy, rainy day, Clark scouted downriver below the Great Shute (Cascades of the Columbia) with Joseph Fields and Pierre Cruzatte to assess whether the canoes could…
Oct
31
1805
Two Canoes Hauled One Mile Past Twenty-Five-Foot Rapids
The expedition spent an exhausting day moving two canoes about a mile past a stretch of rapids where the water dropped roughly 25 feet. Some sections were navigated…
Oct
31
1805
Wapatoe Purchase and Sentinel Box Constructed
Native people visited the fort bringing wapatoe roots, and the expedition party purchased several bags from them. The men spent the day on construction and maintenance tasks, building…
Nov
1
1805
Grueling Portage Over Rocks at the Great Shute
On a cold, windy day at the Great Shute (Cascades of the Columbia), the Corps portaged their small canoe and baggage 940 yards over slippery, rocky ground, then…
Nov
1
1805
Baggage Portaged; Natives Arrive in Four Canoes
Before breakfast, the party carried their baggage down past a difficult stretch of the river, avoiding entering the cold water. During the forenoon, they brought down their remaining…
Nov
1
1805
Portaging the Major Rapid with Salmon Traders
With a cold northeast wind blowing, the expedition portaged all their baggage past a major rapid on the river. Several Indians traveling downriver to trade loads of pounded…
Nov
2
1805
Non-Swimmers Sent Overland Below the Great Shute
The expedition portaged baggage about 1.5 miles around a dangerous rapid below the Great Shute, sending non-swimmers overland while running the canoes through with only minor damage. Seven…
Nov
2
1805
Portage Past Springs Falling Two Hundred Feet
The party completed a two-and-a-half mile portage, with men carrying baggage while others took the canoes downriver through a narrow eight-mile rapid. Towering rock hills on both sides…
Nov
3
1805
Fog Delays; Hunters Bring Buck and Geese
Heavy fog delayed departure until 10 a.m., after which the party continued down the Columbia accompanied by Indian companions from a village near the great falls. Hunters Collins…
Nov
3
1805
Mount Hood Sighted on the Columbia
A foggy morning cleared into a beautiful day as the party traveled down the Columbia. They reached the mouth of a wide, shallow, sandy river on the south…
Nov
3
1805
Heavy Fog Clears at Wide Shallow River
The party began the day camped near marshland where hunters shot waterfowl and a large deer, while several Native visitors stayed overnight with two canoes. Setting out around…
Nov
4
1805
Wapato Shared at Skilloot Village of Flat-Heads
On a cool, cloudy Monday with a west wind, the expedition set out at 8:30 a.m. and stopped at a Skilloot village of 25 houses and roughly 200…
Nov
4
1805
Large Village of Thirty-Five Cabins on South Bank
The expedition continued down the tidal Columbia River in good weather, setting out around 7 a.m. after a hunter killed a deer on their island camp. They passed…
Nov
4
1805
Villagers Report Two Ships with White People Ahead
The expedition traveled 28 miles down a scenic stretch of the river, passing several large islands and Indian lodges. They stopped at a sizable Indian village where natives…
Nov
5
1805
Sleepless Night Amid Deafening Waterfowl Chorus
On a cloudy, rainy day along the Columbia River, the expedition set out at sunrise after a sleepless night caused by the deafening noise of swans, geese, brant,…
Nov
5
1805
Spruce Hills and Cottonwood Bottomlands Downriver
After rain around 2 a.m., the party set out under cloudy skies and traveled down the river, passing several attractive islands close to shore. The terrain rose higher…
Nov
6
1805
Wapato and Salmon Traded from Passing Indians
On a cold, wet, rainy day, the expedition set out early and continued downriver, passing two lodges of traveling Indians, several islands, creeks, and a notable 80-foot knob…
Nov
6
1805
Canoe-Dependent Natives Along the Lower Columbia
Following a disagreeable night of rain, the expedition continued downriver, observing numerous Native people traveling up and down the river in canoes and passing several of their lodges.…
Nov
7
1805
Joyful Cry at Sight of Columbia Estuary
On November 7, 1805, Captain Clark recorded a moment of triumph as the Corps of Discovery believed they had finally reached the Pacific Ocean, hearing waves crashing on…
Nov
7
1805
Native Women's Bark Skirts Observed at Fish Camp
The party traveled about six miles to an Indian camp where they obtained fresh fish and dogs. Gass observed that the women here dressed differently from those upriver,…
Nov
7
1805
Fish and Roots Purchased; Swan and Geese Killed
The party set out around 10 a.m. and stopped at an Indian village, where they purchased fresh fish and roots. Continuing downriver, they passed several low, marshy islands…
Nov
8
1805
Four Salmon Purchased for Hooks and Red Cloth
On a cloudy, rainy Friday, the party changed clothes and set out at 9 a.m., traveling close to the starboard shore beneath steep hills. Three Indians overtook them…
Nov
8
1805
High Waves Force Coasting Around a Wide Bay
Under cloudy skies and a strong east wind, the party traveled about five miles before reaching a bay 12 to 14 miles wide. High waves forced them to…
Nov
8
1805
First Glimpse of the Columbia's Mouth
The expedition battled rough, high waves as they rounded a point into what they named Shallow Bay, where the river widened to 5 or 6 miles. They believed…
Nov
9
1805
Giant Drifting Trees Threaten Canoes Near Pacific
Camped at a stormy point near the Pacific, the expedition endured a miserable day as high tides, heavy swells, and strong southerly winds swamped their canoes and forced…
Nov
9
1805
Stranded at Cape Swell, Catching Rainwater to Drink
Stormy weather forced the party to remain stranded at Cape Swell throughout the day. They unloaded their canoes to keep them from sinking, though some still sank when…
Nov
10
1805
Northwest Swells Drive Party Back Two Miles
Heavy rain continued from the night before as the party loaded their canoes and pushed on along the Columbia, passing several small bays on the starboard side and…
Nov
10
1805
High Swells Force Retreat from Sandy Cliffs
With swells lower than the previous day, the expedition departed Cape Swell and traveled eight miles along high sandy cliffs before reaching a point where rising winds and…
Nov
11
1805
Fourth Day Stranded; Canoes Battered by High Seas
Heavy rain fell overnight and continued through the day, with high southwest winds whipping up tremendous waves. The party remained stranded for a fourth day, their canoes battered,…
Nov
11
1805
Sheltering Under Mats and Blankets in Relentless Rain
Strong winds and rain kept the party from traveling, so they built large fires and tried to make camp as comfortable as possible. Lacking tents, they relied on…
Nov
12
1805
Hailstorm Forces Relocation to Creek Mouth
A violent thunderstorm with hail struck around 3 a.m., followed by heavy rain and dangerously high waves crashing against the rocky camp. At low tide, the party relocated…
Nov
12
1805
Thunder and Hail Force Camp Relocation
The day began with hard thunder, lightning, and hail, and rain continued steadily throughout. Across the river, the party observed a snow-covered mountain on the opposite shore. Seeking…
Nov
12
1805
Hail, Thunder, and Lightning Drive Camp Relocation
Severe weather brought rain, hail, thunder, and lightning, prompting the party to relocate camp about an eighth of a mile away. They secured their canoes by weighting them…
Nov
13
1805
Clark Climbs Steep Spur Through Massive Spruce Forest
Stuck in a cove with continuous rain and wind, Clark climbed about three miles up a steep mountain spur, struggling through dense thickets of small pine, thorny brush,…
Nov
13
1805
Scouts Dispatched Toward the River's Mouth
A rainy day kept the expedition in camp as high winds prevented further travel down the river. In the afternoon, three men departed in a small canoe, heading…
Nov
13
1805
Indian Canoe Borrowed to Scout the Ocean Shore
The party remained pinned at camp by rough conditions and could not move on. Around 9 a.m. the weather calmed somewhat, and three men set out in a…
Nov
14
1805
Wahkiakum Men Caught Stealing Gig and Basket
Heavy rain continued overnight and through the day, with strong winds and high waves that damaged one of the canoes against the rocks. Five Wahkiakum Indians arrived by…
Nov
14
1805
No Ships Sighted; Lewis Scouts for Winter Camp
The expedition remained stuck in an unpleasant harbor with only pounded salmon for food. One of the men who had scouted downriver returned and reported reaching an Indian…
Nov
14
1805
Two Men Continue on Foot Through Impassable Swells
Heavy rain and rough water kept the party from moving on, forcing them to remain in camp. Around noon, one of three men sent ahead by canoe returned…
Nov
15
1805
Eleven Days of Rain End; Bedding Finally Dried
After eleven days of nearly constant rain, the morning turned calm and fair, allowing the party to dry sodden bedding, inspect baggage, find some pounded fish spoiled, and…
Nov
15
1805
Camp Established at the Columbia's Mouth
Rough river conditions kept the party at their unpleasant camp until about 1 p.m., when calmer weather allowed them to load up and travel roughly three miles to…
Nov
16
1805
Wet Gear Dried; Suspected Thieves Turned Away
On a clear, cool morning at camp near the Pacific coast, Clark had the expedition's wet gear spread out to dry. Five Chinook Indians who had been suspected…
Nov
16
1805
Four Deer Brought In After Drying Baggage
The party spent the day drying out their baggage while hunters went out in search of game. By evening, all but one of the hunters had returned to…
Nov
16
1805
Pacific Ocean Reached, Primary Mission Accomplished
The expedition has reached the Pacific Ocean, completing the primary mission of finding a water route via the Missouri and Columbia rivers despite many hardships. From their position,…
Nov
17
1805
Lewis Returns from Cape Disappointment Exploration
On a fair, cool, windy Sunday with strong tides crashing on the shore, Clark sent six hunters out for deer and fowl. At 1:30 PM, Captain Lewis returned…
Nov
17
1805
Lewis Finds Evidence of Departed White Traders
Hunters brought in several deer and brants near the Pacific coast camp. Captain Lewis and his party returned from scouting around the bay, where they found signs that…
