Joseph Whitehouse Archives - Lewis & Clark Research Database

The Corps in the War of 1812

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 15:14:16 +0000

The Corps of Discovery disbanded in 1806, but its members walked straight into the run-up to the War of 1812. Lorna Hainesworth gathers brief biographies of more than thirty expedition veterans and associates and traces what each did during the conflict. The sketches are organized into three groups: Corps military members (William Clark, John Colter, Patrick Gass, John Ordway, Nathaniel Pryor, George Shannon, William Bratton, Joseph Whitehouse, and others), Corps non-military figures (the Charbonneau family, Sacagawea, Jean Baptiste, and York), and associates ranging from Thomas Jefferson and Albert Gallatin to Pierre Chouteau, Manuel Lisa, Zebulon Pike, and William Henry Harrison.

Framing the sketches is a concise narrative of the war’s origins — from the embargo years through the treaties of 1815 — along with an appendix on the presidents involved. It is a useful group portrait of where the expedition’s people landed in the decade after the journey home.

This summary is provided for reference on the Lewis and Clark Research archive; the full compilation by Lorna Hainesworth is available at the source link.

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Four Deer Taken in Pine-Covered Mountain Country

Tue, 05 May 2026 15:15:19 +0000

a white frost, and clear pleasant morning. the hunters Set out
eairly. we loaded up and Set out soon after Sunrise, and pro-
ceeded on a Short distance. then took the mountains covred
with pitch pine. went up and down a nomber of bad hills and
mo! crossed Several runs & about 1 oClock P. M. we descended
a bad part of the mo! nearly Steep came down on the creek
again, and halted to dine. our hunters has killed this day 4
Deer and a fessent. we proceeded on crossed 2 more creeks,
and assended a high rough mountain rockey & a verry rough
trail to follow. we proce? on along the ridge which was covred
with pitch pine timber. night came on and we had to go
through the thickets of pine and over logs &c. untill about 10
oClock at in the evening before we could git any water. then
descended a Steep part of the mountain down on the Creek
which we left at noon, and Camped on the bank of the creek
where we had Scarsely room to Sleep. Came 17% miles this
day. Saw high Mountains to the South of us covred with
Snow, which appears to lay their all the year round. Scarsely
any feed for our horses.
1805] WHITEHOUSE’S JOURNAL

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Rugged Mountain Crossing with Sweet Serviceberries

Tue, 05 May 2026 15:15:18 +0000

a fine morning we Set out as usal and proceeded on over
verry high mountains which was verry bad for our horses to
climb up and down them. passed across Several large creeks
[ 146 ]
1805] WHITEHOUSE’S JOURNAL
the water of which is verry cold. considerable of pine & cotton
timber on each of those creeks. we find a great pleanty of
Servis berrys which are verry Sweet and good at this time. in
the afternoon we descended a Mountain nearly as Steep as the
roof of a house. went down in to the valley in which runs
through a large Creek. passed by a plain near the Creek a
Short distance. Camped after coming 23 miles this day &
Camped a little before night on account of its raining. Some
of the men giged Several Sammon in the creek. three men
went down to the M? of it to purchase Some Sammon from a
camp of Indians who Stay at the m? of the Creek to fish. they
bought about 25 pound with a fiew Small articles. the hunters
killed a Deer and wounded two bear at dark but could not get
them. the wild or choke cherrys abound in this bottom. we
gethered and boiled Some which eat verry well. a nomber of
Indian lodges along the creek. we had 2 at camp to Sleep in.
Several Small Showers of rain this day & a little Small hail.

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Frozen Moccasins and Snow on the Morning Climb

Tue, 05 May 2026 15:15:18 +0000

the morning clear but verry cold our mockersons froze
hard. the mountains covred with Snow. 2 mountain Sheep
[ 148 ]
1805] WHITEHOUSE’S JOURNAL
Seen by one of the men. we delayed untill about 8 oClock
A. M. then Set out and assended a mountain without any thing
to eat. the Snow lay on the mou! So that it kep on our
mockisons_ the air verry cold our fingers aked with the cold.
we [de]scended the mountain down a rough rockey way and
along through a large thicket of bolsom fer timber in which
we killed a dozen fessents then descended down in to a large
valley on a branch and halted to dine our hunter killed a
Deer. Saw fresh Indian Sign. we Eat our deer. our Indian
guide and the young Indian who accompanied him Eat the
paunch and all the Small guts of the Deer. we then proceeded
on down the valley towards evening we arived at a large
Encampment of the flat head nation which is a large band of
the nation of about 40 lodges. they have between 4 and 500
well looking horses now feeding in this valley or plain in our
view. they received us as friends and appeared to be glad to
See us. 2 of our men who were a hunting came to their
lodges first the natives Spread a white robe over them and
put their arms around their necks, as a great token of friend-
ship. then Smoaked with them. when Cap! Lewis and Cap!
Clark ari[ved] they Spread white robes over their Shoulders
and Smoaked with them. our officers told them that they
would Speak with them tomorrow and tell them our business
and where we are going &c. the natives are light Com-
plectioned decent looking people the most of them well
cloathed with M? Sheep and other Skins. they have buffalow
Robes leather lodges to live in, but have no meat at this time.
but gave us abundance of their dryed fruit Such as Servis
berrys cherries different kinds of roots all of which eat verry
well. they tell us that we can go in 6 days to where white
traders come and that they had Seen bearded men who came
[from] a river to the North of us 6 days march but we have
4 mountains to cross before we come on that River. our
hunters killed another Deer this evening. Came [blank space
in MS.] miles to day and pitched our Camp on the plain near
the Creek on the right of the Indians lodges. considerable of
large pitch pine in the valley.
[ 149 ]
LEWIS AND CLARK JOURNALS _[Sept. 5

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Large Canoe Nearly Capsizes on Rapid Current

Tue, 05 May 2026 15:15:15 +0000

a clear morning 3 hunters out on Shore a hunting. we
proceeded on the current verry rapid. passed low Swampy
bottoms. about 2 oClock P. M. a hard Thunder Shower
arose rained a Short time. we then proceeded on the current
more rapid one of the large canoes was near turning over.
towards evening the hunters all came in had killed 3 deer and
[ 132]
1805] WHITEHOUSE’S JOURNAL
seen Deer & a goat or antelope. Some timber along the
Shore. We came [blank space in MS.] miles and Camped at
a Smooth prarie & grove of timber.

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White Bear Spotted; Snow-Capped Mountains Ahead

Tue, 05 May 2026 15:15:12 +0000

a clear pleasant morning. we Set out as usal and proceeded
on. Saw a large white bear on an Island. Saw a nomber of
otter. Saw a flock of goats or antelopes one of the hunters
killed one of them. we Saw a Camp where Cap! Clark had
Stayed one night. discovered mountains a head which appear
to have Snow on them, if not Snow it must be verry white Clay
or rocks. we eat abundance of red & yallow currents. the
timber and Island[s] not So pleanty as yesterday. large plains
on each Side of the River & looks pleasant and extensive. in
the afternoon we entered in to Some rough rockey hills which
we expect from the Indian account is the commencement of the
Second chain of the rockey mountains, but they do not appear
So high as the first nor So Solid a rock. at the entrence we
found Several bad rockey rapids which we had to pass through
and So Shallow the rocks Show themselves across the River
and appear Shallow all the way across. we double manned
and got up Safe. I cut my foot with the Stone a towing along
the Shore. Saw excelent Springs which ran from under the clifts.
we came 16 miles this day and Camped on the N.S. our hun-
ter killed one goose, which was all that was killed this day.
[ 120 ]
1805] WHITEHOUSE’S JOURNAL

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White Cliffs and Nesting Birds Along the River

Tue, 05 May 2026 15:15:09 +0000

a clear pleasant morning we Set off eairly & proceeded on.
passed Steep clifts of white rocks which had villages of little
birds, built along the projecting rocks. one of the party killed
a Mountain ram or Ibex which had fine horns. we passed
handsom bottoms of c. wood & box elder timber on each Side.
Saw old Indian Camps at a bottom on N.S. passed a Creek
on N. S. & Straight bluffs. passed Several Small Islands.
about one oC. P. M. we passed a beautiful large Island cov-
ered with large & Small timber Saw Some Elk on it. the hills
& bluffs are not So high on the river as they have been for
Some time. about 2 oC. we halted to dine and air our goods
1805] WHITEHOUSE’S JOURNAL
&c. the wind rose from the S. E. the river bears to the
South, handsom baron plains back from the river. we Saw
Mountains a Short distance from the river on the N.S. and
on the S. S. at a considerable distance up the river. about
3 oC. we proceeded on passed a Creek on the N.S. passed
Several Islands covered with timber. passed a Straight clift
of rocks Steep from the Surface of the water about 100 feet
perpinticular. pass‘ handsom high plains on each Side. Came
24 miles & Camped on the 7% Isl¢ a Smal! Island covered with
timber. had pass? 2 [a] little below.

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Red Cloth Offerings at Abandoned Indian Camp

Tue, 05 May 2026 15:15:06 +0000

at day light it began to Snow & blow So that we did not Set
off this morning. Some men went out to hunt. Killed Some
buffaloe & Some Deer. one of the party kill* two beaver last
night. the men who was out a hunting found Several peaces
of red cloath at an Indian camp, where we expect they left last
winter for a Sacrifice to their maker as that is their form of wor-
ship, as they have Some knowledge of the Supreme being, and
anything above their comprihention they call big medicine.
about 3 oC the wind abated & quit Snowing. we Set off. pro-
1805] WHITEHOUSE’S JOURNAL
ceeded on. the [wind] had shifted and blew from the west.
the Snow lay on the Edge of the Sand beaches where the wind
blew it against the bank about 12 Inches Deep but their was
not more than about one Inch ona level. Cap! Clark & one
of the party Shot 3 beaver on the South Shore. the air verry
cold. we Camped on the N.S. at a handsom bottom partly
covered with timber. came 5 miles to day.

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Fort Huts Completed; Sioux Attack Mandan Hunters

Tue, 05 May 2026 15:15:05 +0000

Began the works of the fort the weather continued pleasant
for 14 days during which time all the men at Camp Ocepied
thair time dilligenently in Building their huts and got them
Made comfertable in that time to live in.
Saterday 3%.
a party of hunters was Sent down the river with a peirogue
to Bring the meat whome [home] the[y] Remained 15 days,
and on the 18″ Ins‘ the[y] had good Success the[y] kill? 34
deers, 10 Elks and 5 Buffelows, in all the[y] had Upwards of
20 hundred W! Nothing Else happ™? Extraordinary Untill
the 30% Inst a messenger from the mandans came to the fort to
Inform Our Officers that a hunting party of theirs was Robed
by the Sues & Rees Indians, on the 27% last, of Eight horses
and their meat that the[y] had kill?, & Kill? One of their men
and wounded two Others.
1 At this point begins handwriting No. 2, and continues over five pages of the MS.,
comprising the entries from November 1 to December 2 inclusive.— Ep.
[ 69 ]
LEWIS AND CLARK JOURNALS _ [Dec.1
the[y] Apply! for Some Assistance from the fort which Cap™
Lewis & Clark Readly granted them. Twenty Men turnd
Out Volentary Under the Command of Cap™ Clark out of the
fort to goe to fight the Sues the Guard Seat us Across the
Missourie at Eleven Oclock at the fort the Cap™ form? his
men On the S. W. Side of the river Missourie and told them
off in Sections, from the right, and Sent out a Noncommis-
sione? Officer and a file of men on Each flank to Reconitere
the woods at the distance of neerly One hundred Y® from the
head of Company. After a march of 6 miles we Ariv® at the
first Village of mandans, with our two Interprators One of
the mandans & one of the Grosvauinties, thinking to be Reign?
fors! [reinforced] by a party of Each Nation With a Detach-
ment from the Watesoons Nation like-ways, as they and [the]
Groce Vaunties are Nigh Neighbours to the Mandans Nation
but after we Ariv? At the Village the Cheifs of Both Nations
Concluded not to goe to fight as the weather was Cold and the
Snow Upwards of 18 Inches Deep on the Ground, before
Spring Nixt.
The Cap & the party halted two hours at the Village
he told the Cheifs and Warieres of the Mandans that he and
his men was on the Ground Ready to Assist them And the[y]
Should See that Him and his Men Could fight. After Some
little Conversation with the Savages, we took our leave of them
and Started for the fort | we Cross‘ the river between the first
& Second Village On the Ise And came whome to the fort
Ariv! at dark the Evening was col’ Each Drank Some Good
Spirits After which Reviv’ Us Very Much And Retir# to Our
Rooms Each. .
December 1%
Nothing hapened Extraordinary Continued Picquiting in
the huts.
the Big white a Cheif of the mandans Came to Our fort in
the Morning to Inform Us that the Buffelow was Close to us
a Comeing in Capt®-Lewis and 15 Men turn? Out to Shoot
[ 70]
1804] WHITEHOUSE’S JOURNAL
them the[y] kill? 10, and the Indians Kill? 50 the two Cap-
tains Lewis & Clark took it in turn day about with a party
Each day to goe a hunting And had Great Success until the
15 inst that the Buffelow got neerly twenty miles off Cap™
Clark and his party Returned on the Morning of the 16% Ins‘
but Could find no game But two deer, the[y] Slept in the
woods all night Some Snow fell that made the Air warmir On
the Night of the 15% Inst.

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French Boatman Kills Two Entwined Catfish

Tue, 05 May 2026 15:14:57 +0000

Got on under way the Morning was Clear pass‘ 4 Islands
to our Stabourd as we came along Shore there was two large
Cat fish had hold of Each other could not get off one of the
[ 42]
1804] WHITEHOUSE’S JOURNAL
french men Shot the two the first Shot. On the W. Shore at
Butter run, the men pull? a Great Quantity of wild Cherrys
put them in the Barrel of whisky. Roe’ 12 Miles Camp‘ on
an Island neer the River Call‘ the Crying Water.

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