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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Jun
23
1806
Wiser and Frazier Sent to Detain Nez Perce Guides
Worried that Drouillard and Shannon's delay in finding a guide might cause two Indians to leave without waiting, the captains sent Wiser and Frazier ahead, with orders for…
Jun
23
1806
Racing to Prevent Nez Perce Guides from Departing
Worried that Drouillard's delayed return meant he had failed to secure a guide and that two Nez Perce men who had agreed to wait would leave, the captains…
Jun
23
1806
Young Chief and Two Indians Agree to Guide Party
Hunters went out and killed two deer during the day, with another two brought in later in the afternoon. Drewyer, Shannon, and Whitehouse returned to camp accompanied by…
Jun
23
1806
Guides Push Ahead as Party Scrambles to Follow
Hunters went out in the morning but returned at 10 a.m. empty-handed, while the two Indian guides traveled ahead. At noon, two men arrived at camp with orders…
Jun
24
1806
Three Nez Perce Guides Lead Party Back Eastward
The party gathered their horses and set out early with three Nez Perce guides. Colter rejoined them after killing a bear, but it was too lean and far…
Jun
24
1806
Colter Rejoins; Native Guides Secured at Collins Creek
The party gathered their horses and departed with three Native guides. Colter rejoined them after killing a bear too lean and distant to retrieve. At Collins's Creek they…
Jun
24
1806
Homeward Journey Resumes with Three Native Guides
The party resumed their homeward journey, traveling with three Native guides toward Collins Creek. Two other Indians who had been with them had gone ahead, followed by four…
Jun
24
1806
Mosquitoes and Black Flies Drive Men to Smoke Fires
The party gave the Indians a pair of moccasins, and they agreed to wait another day. A hunter went out but came back empty-handed. The weather stayed cloudy,…
Jun
25
1806
Guides Ignite Fir Trees to Bring Fair Weather
The previous evening, Native guides entertained the party by setting fir trees ablaze, a fireworks-like display intended to bring fair weather for the journey. The group collected horses…
Jun
25
1806
Blazing Fir Trees and a Sick Guide on the Mountain Road
The previous evening, Nez Perce guides entertained the party by setting fir trees ablaze, claiming it would bring fair weather for the journey. The expedition gathered horses and…
Jun
25
1806
Snow Reduced Since Last Passage; On to Hungry Creek
The party rose early, ate breakfast, and set out on the trail. Around noon they reached a small prairie where they rejoined the two Fields brothers, noting that…
Jun
25
1806
Searching for Lost Horses on the Return March
The party set out early in the morning, with two men and an Indian sent ahead to search for horses that had been left behind during a previous…
Jun
26
1806
Nez Perce Guides Lead Corps Through Bitterroots
On this date during their return journey, the Lewis and Clark expedition was crossing the Bitterroot Mountains with the help of Nez Perce guides hired after an earlier…
Jun
26
1806
Snow-Settled Cache Recovered on Mountain Summit
The party climbed to the mountaintop where they had cached their baggage on June 17 during their first failed attempt to cross. They found the snow had settled…
Jun
26
1806
Cache Reached; Snow Still Ten Feet Deep
The party set out early and found the snowbanks significantly reduced as they traveled. At noon they reached the cache where they had previously stored their baggage and…
Jun
27
1806
Twenty-Eight Miles Along Snow-Covered Bitterroot Ridge
The party traveled 28 miles along snow-covered ridges of the Bitterroot Mountains, retracing their westward route from September. Guided by Nez Perce pilots whose skill Clark praised as…
Jun
27
1806
Stone Cairn Ceremony and Fishing Talk on the Divide
The party traveled 28 miles along a snow-covered dividing ridge in the Bitterroot Mountains, retracing parts of their previous September route. At an elevated point marked by a…
Jun
27
1806
Surpassing Westward Pace Across Deep Snowbanks
The party rose early, ate breakfast, and pushed forward at a fast pace, traveling much of the day across high snowbanks and through difficult mountain terrain. They covered…
Jun
27
1806
Horses Plunge Belly-Deep Crossing Snow-Covered Mountains
The party resumed their march across extremely steep mountains, so deeply covered in snow that they had to descend straight down rather than wind along the slopes. The…
Jun
28
1806
Thirteen Miles to a Bare Slope Above the Fishery
After an early breakfast, the party gathered their horses and traveled along the dividing ridge, passing their previous September 14th campsite near a fork in the road. At…
Jun
28
1806
Gaunt Horses Rest on Snow-Free September Campsite
The party gathered their straggling, gaunt horses and set out after breakfast, traveling along a dividing ridge through deep snow. After six miles they passed their September 16th…
Jun
28
1806
Guides Lead Ridge Route Above Deep Snow
The party continued through deep snow, with their Native guides leading them along a ridge route different from the one taken the previous fall, but considered a better…
Jun
28
1806
High Ridges and Good Grass Beyond September Snowfields
The party set out early and passed their September 15th campsite where they had been caught in snow. About a mile beyond, they took a left-hand path and…
Jun
29
1806
Descending the Snowy Ridge to the Kooskooske River
The party gathered their horses and departed, sending Drouillard and Reuben Field ahead to hunt at the Warm Springs. They descended from the snowy ridge, crossed the main…
Jun
29
1806
Hunters' Deer Welcomed as Last Oil Runs Out
The party broke camp early, sending Drouillard and R. Fields ahead to hunt at the warm springs. They descended from the snowy ridge, crossed the Kooskooske River, and…
Jun
29
1806
Hail and Thunder Crossing the High Mountain
Two hunters set out early through thick fog as the party traveled along a ridge and descended to a fork of Collins Creek, picking up deer meat the…
Jun
29
1806
Thunder and Hail Precede Descent from the Snow
The party set out early and traveled over rough hills before rejoining the old trail. A heavy shower of rain and hail, accompanied by thunder and lightning, struck…
Jun
30
1806
Descending Bitterroots Toward Travelers' Rest
The party descended from the Bitterroot Mountains toward Travelers' Rest, with Drouillard and Joseph Field sent ahead to hunt. A deer killed at the springs provided dinner before…
Jun
30
1806
Lewis Slips Down Steep Hillside, Escapes Unhurt
The party traveled about 32 miles down a creek toward Clark's River, sending Drouillard and J. Fields ahead to hunt. Hunters killed six deer through the day. Lewis's…
Jun
30
1806
Six Deer Taken Near Lolo Hot Springs
The party traveled along Lolo Creek over muddy roads and rough hills, stopping at noon at a familiar dining spot from the previous September. Hunters had a productive…
Jun
30
1806
Deer at the Hot Spring Lick; Westward Camp Revisited
On a fine morning, the party set out after a hunter shot a deer that approached a lick at the hot spring. Two hunters went ahead, and another…
Jul
1
1806
Twelve Deer Killed; Expedition Split Planned
Camped on Clark's River, the captains prepare to split the Corps of Discovery into separate exploring parties. Hunters brought in twelve deer, providing welcome fresh meat. Lewis will…
Jul
1
1806
Final Plans Drawn for Dividing the Corps
At Travelers' Rest, Lewis and Clark finalized plans to split the expedition. Lewis would take a small party north to explore the Marias River up to latitude 50,…
Jul
1
1806
Twelve Fat Deer; Council with Nez Perce Guides
The hunting parties set out early and returned by noon with twelve deer, including several large, fat bucks. In the afternoon, the captains held a council with the…
Jul
1
1806
Rest Camp After Mountain Crossing; Twelve Deer Brought In
The expedition rested at their camp to recover from the strenuous mountain crossing, with hunters bringing in twelve deer and accompanying Indians remaining nearby. The party planned to…
Jul
2
1806
Mosquito Swarms Plague Camp at Travelers' Rest
Camped in Travellers Rest valley, the party endured swarms of mosquitoes that made writing difficult except under bear skins. Two hunters brought in two deer, and most of…
Jul
2
1806
Guns Repaired; Indians Hired as Guides
Hunters brought in only two deer, while Shields finished repairing the guns, completing preparations for departure the next morning. Through sign language, the party convinced the local Indians…
Jul
2
1806
Lewis Calls Volunteers for Marias River Exploration
Hunters went out in the morning, with Collins returning around 10 A.M. having killed a deer. Captain Lewis called for six volunteers to accompany him on an exploring…
Jul
2
1806
Corps Prepares to Separate; Mosquitoes Prove Troublesome
On this fine, pleasant day the expedition party prepared their gear and finalized arrangements for the planned separation of the corps into smaller detachments. One of the hunters…
Jul
3
1806
Clark's Detachment Departs South with Fifty Horses
After collecting horses and breakfasting, Clark parted from Captain Lewis and the Nez Perce Indians at 8 A.M., setting out south through Clark's River valley with his detachment,…
Jul
3
1806
Lewis's Party Rafts Across Clark's River
After finalizing plans, Lewis parted from Clark and set out down Clark's River with nine men and five Indian guides. Reaching a crossing point, the group spent hours…
Jul
3
1806
Expedition Divides; Clark Heads Up the Flathead
The expedition split into two parties at this point, with Captains Lewis and Clark parting ways to explore separate routes. Ordway traveled with Clark's group up the Flathead…
Jul
3
1806
Corps Divides; Lewis Builds Rafts at River Forks
The expedition split into two parties: Captain Lewis headed down Clark's river accompanied by all the native guides, while Captain Clark and his group traveled upstream. Lewis's party…
Jul
4
1806
Independence Day Crossing of Rapid Creek Channels
On Independence Day 1806, Clark's party traveled about 30 miles south up the west side of Clark's River, crossing several deep, rapid creeks where horses were swept and…
Jul
4
1806
Farewell to Nez Perce Guides at Travelers' Rest
At Traveller's Rest, Lewis prepared to part ways with the Nez Perce guides who had led the expedition through the Rocky Mountains. A lone Pallote pellow Indian caught…
Jul
4
1806
Bighorn Sheep Encountered on the Open Plains
The party set out early after breakfast, traveling through a large plain and pitch pine groves where hunters had killed two deer. They crossed several creeks, one deep…
Jul
4
1806
Nez Perce Guides Provisioned for Mountain Return
On July 4, 1806, Captain Lewis's party paused for a morning hunt to provision their Nez Perce guides for the return trip over the mountains. Though the hunters…
Jul
5
1806
Wet Crossing of West Fork Soaks Clark's Trunk
Clark's party located a passable ford across the West Fork of Clark's River and crossed five channels, though Colter's horse had to swim and Clark's trunk, portmanteau containing…
Jul
5
1806
Passing Werner's Creek Through Pine and Larch Hills
On July 5, 1806, the party set out at 6 A.M. and traveled roughly 31 miles through high prairies, valleys, and timbered hills of pine, larch, and fir.…
Jul
5
1806
Crossing Twin Forks of the Nez Perce River
The party crossed the right fork of the Nez Perce river, finding it nearly deep enough to swim, then continued upstream and crossed the other fork. Hunters killed…
Jul
5
1806
Rough Timbered Country; Deer Killed at Grassy Valley
The party set out early and continued through rough country crossed by many small streams flowing from timbered fir-covered hills. They killed a deer in the morning and…
Jul
6
1806
Crossing the Divide onto Lewis's River Watershed
After a frosty, sleepless night, the party gathered scattered horses and set out at 9 A.M., leaving the previous fall's road and crossing a dividing ridge between the…
Jul
6
1806
Traversing the Prairie of the Knobs Eastward
Setting out shortly after sunrise, the party traveled east through a plain Lewis named the Prairie of the Knobs, crossing the north fork of the Cokahlarishkit River with…
Jul
6
1806
Sacagawea Identifies Branch Toward the Headwaters
After rounding up the horses, the party continued up the branch to the mountain and crossed left onto an Indian trail. About five or six miles on, they…
Jul
6
1806
Fording the Rapid Co-qual-la-isquet Branch at Mid-Ribs
After a frosty morning, the party set out early across plains dotted with serviceberries and flax. About seven miles in, they forded a 40-yard-wide northern branch of the…
Jul
7
1806
Nine Horses Missing; Shoshone Theft Suspected
The party awoke to find their horses scattered, with nine of the most valuable animals missing. After search parties circled six to eight miles without success, Clark suspected…
Jul
7
1806
Crossing the Columbia-Missouri Divide at Last
The party set out at 7 A.M. and traveled roughly 26 miles northeast through timbered bottoms and plains, crossing several creeks and ridges. They followed a creek with…
Jul
7
1806
Nine Horses Missing; Party Divides to Search
Upon rounding up the horses, the party found nine missing. Captain Clark directed Ordway to remain behind with four men to search while Clark and the rest of…
Jul
7
1806
Clover Valley Crossed; Two Scenic Ponds Observed
The party traveled early through a beautiful clover-filled valley, crossing the main branch of a river coming from the north after about five miles. They followed the road…
Jul
8
1806
Reaching Camp Fortunate and the Sunken Canoes
Delayed until 8 A.M. by scattered horses, the party traveled about 27 miles down Willard's Creek and on to the west branch of the Jefferson River, reaching their…
