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.
May
7
1806
Powder Cache Rescued by Locals from Digging Dogs
The expedition set out after sunrise and stopped at a creek and lodge to retrieve two canisters of powder they had hidden roughly seven miles upstream on their…
May
8
1806
Four Deer Brought In; Native Stone Fishing Traps Observed
The party's hunters brought in four deer for breakfast and provisions. Clark observed local Native fishing traps made of stone dams and willow mats, and caught nine small…
May
8
1806
Hunters Supply Deer; Natives Survived Winter on Pine Moss
The expedition's hunters brought in four deer, supplementing their dwindling food supply, and Lewis described an unusual duck Shields had killed. The captains learned that local natives had…
May
8
1806
Snake Informant and First Meeting with Twisted Hair
Hunters brought in four deer, with Captain Lewis's dog Seaman running down a wounded one. The party met a Snake Indian who helped relay information about the country…
May
9
1806
Scattered Horses Delayed Departure; Hunters Return Empty
After delays gathering scattered horses, the party set out at 9 A.M. and traveled six miles through open, rich country to Twisted Hair's camp, which consisted of two…
May
9
1806
Twisted Hair's Camp Reached; Twenty-One Horses Recovered
The expedition sent out hunters and traveled six miles to the lodge of Twisted Hair, a Nez Perce chief, where they halted while a man accompanied Twisted Hair…
May
9
1806
Twisted Hair Sends for Horses; Ammunition Retrieved
The party camped at the Twisted Hair's village, where the chief sent for their horses and pack saddles. One man was dispatched to retrieve ammunition left at Canoe…
May
9
1806
Remarkable Horse Abundance Noted Near Timbered Country
The expedition traveled about six miles to reach the old chief's lodge, where his family was encamped gathering roots. The party had entered timbered country, mostly pitch pine.…
May
10
1806
Eight Inches of Snow; Arrival at Broken Arm's Village
After snow fell overnight leaving eight inches on the plain, the party ate a meager breakfast of roots and rode through slippery, muddy terrain to the village of…
May
10
1806
Expedition Flag Still Flying at Broken Arm's Village
After morning snow left eight inches on the plains, the party ate a meager root breakfast and traveled 16 miles southeast through slippery terrain to Commearp Creek and…
May
10
1806
Overnight Snow; Long Ride to Head Chief's Village
Six inches of snow fell overnight, leaving the morning cold and the party without food. They rounded up the horses and rode about 20 miles across a high…
May
10
1806
Five Inches of Snow; Hungry March to Nez Perce Village
Overnight rain turned to snow, leaving about five inches on the plains and the party with no food. Without breakfast, they set out south toward a Native village…
May
11
1806
Council Opens; One-Eyed Chief Receives Small Medal
Camped among the Chopunnish (Nez Perce), the captains met with the principal chiefs, including the newly arrived One-Eyed Chief Yoomparkkartim, who received a small medal. Speaking through a…
May
11
1806
Grand Council with Four Principal Chopunnish Chiefs
The expedition hosted a major council with the Chopunnish (Nez Perce) chiefs, including the newly arrived Yoom-park-kar-tim, who received a small medal. Lewis and Clark identified the nation's…
May
11
1806
Clark Treats the Sick; Grateful Indian Gifts a Horse
Several ailing Native people came to the captains seeking medical treatment, and Captain Clark applied medicine and did all he could to help them. In gratitude, one of…
May
11
1806
Nez Perce Present Mare and Colt for Medical Care
The expedition remained in camp among the Nez Perce, who continued to treat them well. The officers acted as physicians for the sick villagers and were rewarded with…
May
12
1806
Clark Treats Forty Nez Perce; Chiefs Pledge Peace
Camped among the Nez Perce (Chopunnish), the captains held a grand council on a fine morning. Clark spent hours treating roughly 40 people for sore eyes, plus others…
May
12
1806
Broken Arm's Nation Unanimously Pledges Friendship
Camped among the Nez Perce, Lewis and Clark met with a large gathering of Indians who, after an internal council led by Chief Broken Arm, unanimously agreed to…
May
12
1806
Three Painted Horses Presented as Gifts to Officers
The expedition spent the day with a friendly Native tribe, with the captains tending to sick tribal members. Three warriors painted three of their finest horses and presented…
May
12
1806
Nez Perce Give Four Horses; One Slaughtered for Food
The expedition remained in camp, where local Native people gave the party four horses, one of which was slaughtered for food. The captains also obtained bread made from…
May
13
1806
Departing Nez Perce Camp; Canoe Not Yet Arrived
On a fine morning, Clark treated the sick before the party gathered their horses and departed at 1 P.M., traveling three miles down the creek to the Flathead…
May
13
1806
Chopunnish Escort Party to Kooskooske River Canoe
Clark spent the morning treating Native patients while the party prepared to move. At 1 P.M., escorted by several Chopunnish on horseback, they traveled about 3.5 miles southeast…
May
13
1806
Indians Gambling on Spanish Bridles; Setting Out Downriver
The expedition gathered their 60 horses, all in good condition except four with sore backs. Local natives engaged in a gambling game, wagering valuables like beads, otter skin…
May
13
1806
Sixty Horses Counted; Camp Made on River's Bank
The party gathered their horses, counting 60 in good condition aside from four studs with sore backs. At noon they traveled down a bold, rapid 15-yard-wide branch lined…
May
14
1806
Crossing the Flathead River; Chiefs Arrive Ceremoniously
On a fine day, the expedition crossed the rapid Flathead River with all their horses and baggage, then established a defensible camp on a former Indian dwelling site,…
May
14
1806
Permanent Camp Established; Chiefs Tunnachemootoolt Visits
On a fair morning, the expedition ferried baggage and swam horses across the 150-yard-wide rapid river, then established a permanent camp half a mile downstream on the site…
May
14
1806
Horses Swum Across River; Camp Set Awaiting Snowmelt
The party crossed the river with their baggage, swimming the horses to the north side, then moved a short distance downstream and made camp in a smooth bottom…
May
14
1806
Horses and Baggage Ferried to Kooskooske's North Bank
On a frosty morning, three hunters crossed early to the north side of the river while the rest of the party gathered horses and ferried baggage across, finishing…
May
15
1806
Bear Hunt Yields Debate on Species Variation
At camp along the river, hunters spotted a large bear and pursued it without success, while a female bear and two differently colored cubs killed earlier convinced Clark…
May
15
1806
Multicolored Bears Declared One Species Distinct from Black Bear
At camp, hunters pursued bears with mixed success; Labiche's three previously killed bears were brought in, prompting Lewis to conclude the variously colored bears of the region are…
May
15
1806
White Bear Pursued on Horseback but Escapes
The party spotted a white bear and pursued it on horseback but failed to kill it. Several members set out on a camp hunt while others built a…
May
15
1806
Shelters Built on Meadow Plains; Month's Wait Anticipated
The party set up camp shelters to weather the stormy conditions, some using small sails and others building grass-covered frames. The surrounding plains resembled a meadow and provided…
May
16
1806
Drouillard's Strayed Horse Returned; Hohastillpilp Departs
On a cloudy, lightly rainy Friday, a man and boy returned Drouillard's strayed horse to camp around 11 A.M. Hohhastillpelt and the remaining Native visitors departed at midday…
May
16
1806
Lost Horse Recovered; Sacagawea Gathers Fennel Roots
Drewyer's lost horse was returned by an Indian who found it near the mountains. Hohastillpilp and the visiting natives departed around noon to find a canoe upriver, taking…
May
16
1806
Pleasant Afternoon at Camp Chopunnish; Hunters Return
The party continued at their long-term encampment on the west bank of the Kooskooskee River, later known as Camp Chopunnish, near present-day Kamiah, Idaho. Rain fell during the…
May
16
1806
Indian Demonstrates Calming Technique on Wild Horses
After a brief morning shower, the day cleared into fair weather. An Indian helped tame two more of the party's horses using a calming technique. By evening, two…
May
17
1806
Rain Soaks Lewis's Chronometer; Pryor and Collins Return
Steady rain fell overnight and through the day, swelling the small river at camp and dampening Captain Lewis's chronometer for the first time on the expedition, though Lewis…
May
17
1806
Rain Drenches Camp; Lewis Repairs Pocket Watch with Bear Grease
Heavy overnight rain soaked the camp through its flimsy shelter, drenching bedding and getting into Lewis's pocket watch, which he carefully drained, dried with feathers, oiled with bear…
May
17
1806
Pryor and Collins Bring In Black Bear and Grizzly
Rain that began overnight continued into the morning. Around 10 a.m., Sergeant Pryor and Collins returned from hunting, having killed one black bear and one grizzly, and brought…
May
17
1806
Stone War-Mallet Found Near Pittsburgh Described by Gass
A footnote from the publisher describes a stone war-mallet head recently found at Hatfield, a farm near Pittsburgh on the Allegheny River. The roughly spherical, seven-ounce stone has…
May
18
1806
Twelve Hunters Depart; Sacagawea Dries Fennel for Mountains
On a cloudy Sunday, twelve hunters set out in various directions. Potts and Whitehouse helped Collins retrieve a small, light-colored bear he had killed two days earlier. Sacagawea…
May
18
1806
Hunters Return Empty-Handed; Salmon Fragment Signals Hope
Twelve hunters were sent out in different directions, but most returned unsuccessful, with J. Fields ill and Drewyer's party having killed only a hawk and recovered part of…
May
18
1806
Hunters Establish High Country Camp; Four Return Empty
On May 18, 1806, members of the expedition set out on horseback into the high country some distance back from camp to establish a hunting camp. Two men…
May
18
1806
Five Strangers Treated for Sore Eyes at Camp
Ten members of the party went out hunting. No Native visitors came yesterday or earlier in the day, but around 2 p.m. five unfamiliar men arrived, stayed about…
May
19
1806
Trading Awls and Pins for Six Bushels of Cous Root
Rain cleared by 8 a.m. on this Monday at the Nez Perce camp. Clark sent Charbonneau, Thompson, Potts, Hall, and Weiser to a nearby village to trade awls,…
May
19
1806
Five Men Trade Across River; Ailing Nez Perce Visit Camp
Rain cleared by 8 AM. A trading party of five men was sent across the river to a nearby village to buy roots, using awls, knitting pins, and…
May
19
1806
Trading at the Village for Roots and Shappalell
The party traveled about four miles upriver to a village on the south side to trade for roots and shappalell. Around noon the weather cleared and turned pleasant…
May
19
1806
Men Trade at Indian Lodges for Plentiful Root Supply
An Indian man and his wife who had stayed overnight received more medicine before leaving. A group of men traveled about four miles up the river to Indian…
May
20
1806
Heavy Rain; Snow Costs Shannon and Colter Their Quarry
Rain fell through most of the night and intermittently through the day, soaking Lewis and Clark in their poorly covered bed. Drouillard and the Field brothers departed toward…
May
20
1806
Captains Soaked in Poor Shelter; Hunters Lose Wounded Bear
Heavy rain fell through the night and much of the day, soaking the captains in their poor shelter, while snow fell on the higher plains. Drewyer and the…
May
20
1806
Grizzly Wounded but Lost; Labiche Returns with Deer
Cold, wet weather dominated the day, with rain falling for most of it and snow visible on the surrounding hills. Hunters Colter and Shannon returned empty-handed, reporting that…
May
20
1806
Hunters Report Snow in Hills; One Deer Brought In
Rain fell through the morning before clearing to sunshine around noon, while hunters reported snow in the hills where they were hunting. Most hunters returned empty-handed, though one…
May
21
1806
Canoe Construction Begun; Trade Goods Divided Among Men
On a rainy day in camp near the Rocky Mountains, the captains sent out hunters and set five men to building a canoe for fishing and river crossings,…
May
21
1806
Canoe Building Underway; Willow Lodge Proves Comfortable
After morning rain, hunters Shields and Gibson headed toward the mountains while Collins reported no kills. Five men began building a canoe for fishing and river crossings, promised…
May
21
1806
Women's Mourning Cries Echo Through Root-Trading Village
Some of the expedition members traveled about five miles to a Native village on the south side, situated on a hillside near a spring run. There they traded…
May
22
1806
Fair Day; Baggage Aired and Roots Dried in Sun
On a fine clear day at camp, the party aired and dried their baggage and roots in the sun. Windsor and McNeal were permitted to visit the Indian…
May
22
1806
Pryor Scouts Downriver; Cliffs Block Route
On a fine day at camp, the captains aired baggage and food stores while parties returned with roots, bread, and five deer. Sergeant Pryor scouted downriver eight miles…
May
22
1806
Sweat Lodge Treatments; Canoe Built for Camp Fishing
At camp, Native women left early on horseback to dig roots while the men gathered at a sweat lodge, heating stones and bathing in a small pit for…
May
22
1806
Natives Chase Deer Across River; Expedition Claims It
The day began with white frost. By three o'clock, five hunters returned with five deer, and the party had also killed a colt. In the afternoon, the men…
May
23
1806
Indians Help Chase Wounded Deer Across River
On a fair morning at camp along the Clearwater, Sergeant Pryor wounded a deer that the dog and two visiting Indians on horseback chased through the river before…
