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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Aug
27
1806
Three Buffalo Taken at the Great Bend
The party set out early and traveled to the upper end of the Great Bend, pausing to hunt without success. Continuing around the bend, they killed an elk…
Aug
28
1806
Revisiting Pleasant Camp Near Corvus Creek
The party traveled 32 miles down the Missouri, with Captain Lewis still unwell after a poor night's rest. They passed the Three Rivers of the Sioux Pass and…
Aug
28
1806
Revisiting Pleasant Camp Below Chamberlain
The expedition continued downriver and around 11 a.m. reached Pleasant Camp, the site of their September 16-17, 1804 encampment, located about three and a half miles below present-day…
Aug
29
1806
Reunion with Labiche After Passing the White River
On a cloudy Friday, hunters set out under previous orders while two men sent to a prairie dog village returned empty-handed, finding none above ground. With newly dressed…
Aug
29
1806
Buffalo and Deer Taken; Hunters Lead the Way
The party sent hunters ahead in small canoes early in the morning, then set out around 10 A.M., passing the hunters along the way—one had already killed a…
Aug
29
1806
Gathering Plums; Past White River on the Missouri
The party set out very early and spent until 10 o'clock gathering the abundant plums available at their stopping place. They continued on and passed White River on…
Aug
30
1806
Eighty Armed Indians Appear; Clark Parleys on a Sandbar
Captain Lewis continued recovering as the party traveled downriver. Hunters killed two elk near a plum orchard, and the men gathered ripe plums. Later, about 80-90 armed Indians…
Aug
30
1806
Two Hundred Teton Sioux Massed on North Shore
The party traveled downriver, hunting successfully and killing a buffalo, two deer, two elk, and three black-tailed deer, while also gathering plums. In the afternoon, around 200 Teton…
Aug
30
1806
Fifty Teton Sioux Avoided on the Riverbank
The party set out early with three hunters going ahead, killing buffalo and elk along the way. Around 2 o'clock they encountered a band of fifty or sixty…
Aug
31
1806
Violent Thunderstorm Snaps Cables, Scatters Two Canoes
A violent overnight thunderstorm brought heavy wind, rain, and lightning, forcing the party to physically hold the canoes and pirogue against being blown off a sandbar. Cables on…
Aug
31
1806
Canoe Breaks Loose in Night; Ordway Retrieves It
High winds during the night broke one of the expedition's canoes loose from camp. Ordway took another canoe and, with some difficulty, retrieved the drifting canoe and returned…
Aug
31
1806
Stormy Night Followed by Mosquito-Plagued Camp
After a stormy night of strong wind and heavy rain, the party set out early in the morning and traveled smoothly throughout the day without incident. They made…
Sep
1
1806
Armed Teton Indians Signal Party to Land
The party traveled 52 miles downriver despite fog, headwinds, and severe mosquitoes. After passing the Quicurre (Niobrara) River, nine armed Indians signaled them to land. Suspecting they were…
Sep
1
1806
Armed Indians Signaling Near Niobrara River Mouth
The expedition departed early, sending two hunters ahead in a small canoe. Around 9 a.m. they passed the mouth of the Niobrara River and spotted nine armed Indians…
Sep
1
1806
Corn Given to Yankton Sioux; Wind Impedes Travel
The party set out early and around ten o'clock encountered nine members of the Yankton band of the Sioux nation on the south side of the river. They…
Sep
2
1806
McClellan's Old Winter Post on the James River
On September 2, 1806, the expedition set out at the usual hour and passed the James River by 8 A.M., where Clark noted the remains of a structure…
Sep
2
1806
Headwinds Halt Travel; Pipe Clay Collected
The expedition continued downriver, passing the mouth of the James River and spotting herds of elk. They gathered some quality pipe clay before strong headwinds forced them to…
Sep
2
1806
Two Fat Buffalo Cows Killed at Midday
The party set out early and traveled until noon, when they stopped and some men went out hunting, killing two fat buffalo cows and bringing back the best…
Sep
3
1806
Meeting Trader James Aird Below Redstone River
Strong southwest winds blew sand over the camp overnight, making rest difficult. The party set out against a headwind, passed the Redstone River, and traveled 60 miles down…
Sep
3
1806
Encounter with Trader Herd Near Calumet Bluffs
The day was warm and sultry. Toward evening the party passed the Calumet Bluffs and shortly afterward encountered an American trader named Herd, traveling with two bateaux and…
Sep
3
1806
Trader Aird Encountered; Severe Evening Storm
The party traveled well throughout the day. Around 5 o'clock in the afternoon, they encountered a trader named Mr. Aird who was heading up the Missouri River, and…
Sep
4
1806
Tobacco and Flour Exchanged with Trader Airs
Mosquitoes plagued the wet, soaked party at dawn. Clark arranged with a trader, Mr. Airs, to supply tobacco for the men in exchange for payment in St. Louis,…
Sep
4
1806
Mr. Heard's Generous Gift of Flour and Tobacco
Thunderstorms persisted through the night and mosquitoes were a constant nuisance. Mr. Heard generously provided a barrel of flour and some tobacco despite having recently lost a boat…
Sep
4
1806
Corn Traded with Aird for Needed Tobacco
The party traded some corn with Mr. Aird in exchange for tobacco, which the men badly needed; Aird's group, having lost a boatload of provisions on their journey…
Sep
5
1806
Seventy-Three Miles Through Snag-Filled Channel
Tormented by mosquitoes, the party boarded their boats and set out at daylight, traveling 73 miles down a narrower, more crooked, and snag-filled stretch of river. They did…
Sep
5
1806
Seventy-Five Miles Fled from Relentless Mosquitoes
Plagued by mosquitoes, the party pushed on without delays and covered 75 miles on the river. They made camp on a sand beach, choosing the open location specifically…
Sep
5
1806
Sandbar Camp Plagued by Mosquitoes
The party continued their journey without incident through the day, making good progress until evening. They made camp for the night on a sandbar, where they were plagued…
Sep
6
1806
Chouteau Trading Boat Encountered Near Pelican Island
The party set out early from the Great Cut Off, plagued by mosquitoes, and unsuccessfully chased a herd of elk. Near Pelican Island they encountered a trading boat…
Sep
6
1806
Chouteau's Bateau Bound for Yankton Trade
Around midday the party continued downriver, spotting a large flock of pelicans and shooting three. They soon encountered a bateau crewed by twelve Frenchmen, accompanied by a canoe,…
Sep
6
1806
Chouteau's Barge Met; Spirits Obtained on Missouri
The party observed pelicans and a herd of elk in the morning, sending hunters out unsuccessfully. Around 11 o'clock they encountered a barge owned by a Mr. Chouteau…
Sep
7
1806
Field Brothers Rescued After Falling Behind
Worried that the two Field brothers had fallen behind, Clark ordered Sergeant Ordway and four men to wait for them until noon. After traveling about eight miles by…
Sep
7
1806
High Winds Halt Progress; Blunderbuss Signals Hunters
The party waited with the canoe until about 10 a.m. for the hunters, setting out only after hearing a blunderbuss signal indicating the hunters were ahead. High winds…
Sep
7
1806
Hunters Return Empty-Handed; Three Deer Killed
With some hunters still out, the party left a canoe behind with orders to wait until noon for them, then continued downriver. Around 9 o'clock they met up…
Sep
8
1806
Council Bluffs Reconsidered as Military Post Site
The party set out very early and made excellent progress downriver, covering 78 miles. They passed an old trading house above the Council Bluffs, where Lewis and Clark…
Sep
8
1806
Gibson Shoots Deer from Canoe; Fifty-Eight Miles
The expedition made strong progress downriver, covering 58 miles along the Missouri. Gibson shot a deer from his canoe during the day's travel. The party noted that logs…
Sep
8
1806
Passing Council Bluffs, Site of First Otoe Council
The party set out early and traveled well throughout the day. Around 10 a.m. they passed Council Bluffs, the site where they had held their first council with…
Sep
9
1806
Passing the Platte Again on Return Voyage
The expedition departed at 8 A.M. and passed the mouth of the Platte River, noting its low, nearly clear water and turbulent current. Below the Platte, the Missouri…
Sep
9
1806
Passing the Platte; Seventy-Four Miles Downriver
The party traveled rapidly down the Missouri River, soon passing the mouth of the Platte River and continuing on without delay throughout the day. They covered 74 miles,…
Sep
9
1806
Past the Platte; McClelland Met Below Bald Prairie
The expedition passed the mouth of the Platte River and traveled smoothly throughout the day, camping that night on a sand beach across from the Bald-pated prairie. The…
Sep
10
1806
La Fass Brings News of General Wilkinson
The party set off early with a moderate headwind and made good progress downriver. In the afternoon they encountered Alexander La Fass and three Frenchmen from St. Louis…
Sep
10
1806
French Canoe Men Share Spirits Heading Upriver
The party continued downriver, making good progress. One hunter killed a raccoon, and they spotted numerous turkeys along the way. Around 3 P.M. they encountered four Frenchmen heading…
Sep
11
1806
Spoiled Meat Forces Hunt at Nodaway River
A morning thunderstorm and northwest wind delayed departure until after sunrise. The party traveled down the Missouri, passing the low Nemaha and nearly dry Wolf River. In the…
Sep
11
1806
Pawpaws and Grapes Found in Cottonwood Bottomlands
The party traveled smoothly down the river until about 11 a.m., when they paused for a short hunt. In the bottomland, they found pawpaws and grapes amid cottonwood,…
Sep
11
1806
Two Deer and a Turkey Taken at Midday
The day brought light rain showers through the forenoon. At two in the afternoon, the party paused to hunt and quickly took two deer and a turkey. Afterward…
Sep
12
1806
Mr. McClellan Encountered with Trade Goods Upriver
Setting out at sunrise after a foggy, dewy morning, the party traveled about seven miles before encountering two pirogues from St. Louis—one carrying Mr. Chouteau's goods bound for…
Sep
12
1806
Meeting Robert McClellan's Heavily Laden Party
Around 9 A.M., the party met two canoes carrying eleven Frenchmen, one transporting goods for Mr. Chouteau and others heading upriver to trap. Hunters killed a bear, and…
Sep
12
1806
Meeting McClelland and His Trading Party
The party set out early and within half an hour encountered two pirogues heading upriver to trade, pausing briefly before continuing on. About an hour later they met…
Sep
13
1806
Headwinds, Snags, and Clark's Chocolate Remedy
The party set out early after Mr. McClellen gave each man a dram, but strong southeast headwinds and a dense field of snags below forced them to halt…
Sep
13
1806
Parting Gifts of Whiskey and Three Bottles of Wine
After being hosted generously the previous evening, the party received as much whiskey as they wished to drink and gave the officers three bottles of wine before parting…
Sep
13
1806
Four Deer Taken During Midmorning Hunt
After yesterday's rain, the party set out early despite an unfavorable wind. Around 10 a.m. they stopped for about three hours to hunt, killing four deer, before resuming…
Sep
14
1806
Three Trading Boats Met Near Kanzas Village
The expedition set out early and traveled down a stretch of the Missouri where the Kanzas nation was known to rob passing pirogues; the men resolved to fire…
Sep
14
1806
Three Keelboats Met Near the Old Kansa Village
The party traveled downriver, passing the old Kansa village. Hunters shot several deer from their canoes. Around 3 p.m., they encountered three keelboats sailing upstream and went ashore…
Sep
14
1806
Three Laden Batteaux Met; Whiskey and Provisions Shared
Travel down the river went smoothly until 8 o'clock, when the party encountered three large batteaux loaded with merchandise heading upriver to trade with various Indian nations. The…
Sep
15
1806
Kansas River Confluence Judged Ideal Fort Site
The expedition set out early against a stiff headwind, spotting deer swimming the river. At 11 a.m. they passed the mouth of the low Kansas River, where Lewis…
Sep
15
1806
Two Buck Elk Shot from Canoe; Twenty Deer Spotted
The party traveled with a headwind as usual. Hunters shot a fat buck elk from their canoe at the lower point of an island, took the meat aboard,…
Sep
15
1806
Large Elk Killed; Past the Kansas River Mouth
The party set out early in the day and soon killed a large elk for food. By 11 o'clock they had passed the mouth of the Kansas River,…
Sep
16
1806
Meeting Bobidoux Bound for Pawnee Country
The expedition set out early on a hot, uncomfortable day that limited the men's rowing. At 10 a.m. they encountered a large trading pirogue headed for the Pawnees,…
Sep
16
1806
Multiple French Trading Parties Encountered Heading Upriver
The expedition encountered several groups of French traders heading upriver. First, eight Frenchmen passed in a pirogue loaded with merchandise bound for the Pawnee Nation on the Platte…
Sep
16
1806
Pirogue Bound for Pawnee Country; Bateau Passed
The expedition set out early and at 9 a.m. encountered a large pirogue carrying eight men headed up the Platte River to trade with the Pawnee (Poni) nation,…
Sep
17
1806
Captain McClellan Encountered at Little Osage Village
On a warm day, the party set out early and navigated past the Little Osage Village island, considered the worst stretch of the Missouri due to a narrow,…
