Silas Goodrich in the Lewis and Clark journals | Lewis & Clark Research Database

Silas Goodrich: The Expedition’s Fisherman

Thu, 07 May 2026 17:48:13 +0000

Enlistment and Mess Assignment

Silas Goodrich first appears in the expedition record on May 26, 1804, when Captain Meriwether Lewis issued his Detachment Orders organizing the permanent party into messes. Goodrich was assigned to the squad commanded by Sergeant John Ordway, listed alongside William Bratton, John Colter, Moses Reed, Alexander Willard, William Warner, John Potts, and Hugh Hall. He would remain a private for the duration of the journey, but his particular skill — fishing — would earn him repeated mention in the captains’ journals.

The Fisherman of the Corps

Goodrich’s reputation as the expedition’s most reliable angler is established at the Great Falls of the Missouri in June 1805. On June 15, 1805, while recuperating along the river, Lewis recorded among the affectionate descriptions of Goodrich at his craft:

I amused myself in fishing, and sleeping away the fortiegues of yesterday. I caught a number of very fine trout which I made Goodrich dry; goodrich also caught about two douzen and several small cat of a yellow colour which would weigh about 4 lbs.

Throughout the expedition, when fish needed catching, Goodrich was the man assigned to the line. His name became so associated with the activity that an island encountered by Lewis on the descent of the Yellowstone-Missouri in 1806 was called “Goodriches Island” — Lewis noted on July 30, 1806, that the party “arrived this evening at an island about 2 ms. above Goodriches Island and encamped on it’s N. E. side.”

Service on the Outbound Journey

Goodrich’s name surfaces only intermittently in 1804 — chiefly in roster entries such as Clark’s October 13, 1804 record of the court-martial of John Newman, where the mess assignments are reiterated. During the difficult passages of 1805, Goodrich appears as part of the working detachments. On June 10, 11, and 12, 1805, he was among the small parties Lewis led ahead during the explorations near Maria’s River and the Great Falls, present when Lewis fell violently ill and was forced to brew his choke-cherry decoction. On August 20, 1805, near the Shoshone camps on the Lemhi, Lewis set three men — likely including Goodrich among the working details of those days — to constructing a cache for baggage that the party intended to leave behind before crossing the Continental Divide. Goodrich was also among those caching baggage and outfitting horses on August 24, 1805.

Illness at Fort Clatsop

Goodrich’s most personal appearance in the journals concerns his health. At Fort Clatsop he contracted syphilis from a Chinookan woman, an episode Lewis recorded with clinical frankness on January 27, 1806:

Goodrich has recovered from the Louis veneri which he contracted from an amorous contact with a Chinnook damsel. I cured him as I did Gibson last winter by the uce of murcury.

Lewis’s optimism proved premature. On February 27, 1806, Clark noted that “Goodrich & McNeal who have the Pox are recovering fast, the former nearly well.” By March 8, 1806, both captains independently recorded that Goodrich and McNeal had recovered sufficiently for Lewis to direct them “to desist from the uce of mercury.” Yet the disease’s persistence is suggested by Lewis’s later note on July 2, 1806, as the party prepared to split at Travelers’ Rest: “Goodrich and McNeal are both very unwell with the pox which they contracted last winter” — implying a relapse or chronic condition that mercury treatment had not fully cured.

The Return Journey: Trade and Errands

On the return up the Columbia, Goodrich was repeatedly entrusted with diplomatic and trading errands among the Plateau peoples. On April 16, 1806, Clark sent him with Drewyer to the Skilloot village to invite Indians to trade horses. In May 1806, while the expedition waited at Camp Chopunnish for the snows of the Bitterroots to melt, Goodrich made several trips to nearby Nez Perce villages. On May 21, 1806, Clark recorded that “Serjt. Ordway, Goodrich, & Willard” went to the Nez Perce villages, and on May 22 Lewis noted their return “with a good store of roots and bread.” On May 25, 1806, Goodrich went “to the 2d village to purchase roots a fiew of which he precured,” reporting that most of the men were away hunting or fishing on the Snake River.

On May 28, 1806, Lewis sent Goodrich to the village of the Broken Arm:

We sent Goodrich to the village of the broken arm this morning he returned in the evening with some roots bread and a parsel of goats-hair for making our saddle pads.

The mountain-goat hair Goodrich procured would be used to stuff the pack saddles for the impending Bitterroot crossing. On May 31, 1806, Clark recorded that “Goodrich and Willard visited the indian Village this morning,” with Willard returning carrying a bear skin Clark had purchased — leading to a remarkable conversation with the Nez Perce about the species and color phases of bears in the region. On June 7, 1806, Goodrich was again among those crossing the river to trade with the Nez Perce, this time accompanying two young chiefs, Sergeant Gass, McNeal, Whitehouse, and Charbonneau. He and Whitehouse stayed overnight in the village while the others returned at 2 p.m.

The Great Falls Detachment

When the captains divided the party at Travelers’ Rest on July 1, 1806, Goodrich was assigned to Lewis’s contingent. Clark’s journal lists the men accompanying Lewis: “G. Drewyer, Sergt. Gass, Jo. & R. Fields, Frazier & Werner, and Thompson Goodrich & McNear as far as the Falls of Missouri.” Lewis explained the plan in his own entry that day:

I determined to go with a small party by the most direct rout to the falls of the Missouri, there to leave Thompson McNeal and goodrich to prepare carriages and geer for the purpose of transporting the canoes and baggage over the portage.

While Lewis took six volunteers up the Marias to test its northern reach, Goodrich, Hugh McNeal, and John Thompson remained at the Great Falls portage, preparing the gear that would carry the canoes and baggage around the cataracts when Sergeant Ordway’s detachment arrived from the Jefferson River. Goodrich rejoined the larger party at the mouth of the Yellowstone, and on August 12, 1806, Clark recorded the long-awaited reunion of the three detachments.

A Quiet Record

Silas Goodrich’s name appears in roughly thirty journal entries, but his voice is never heard. The captains record him almost exclusively in the third person, doing the work assigned: catching trout, drying meat, trading at villages, taking mercury, building portage carriages. The journal record offers no information about his life before or after the expedition. What it does preserve is a portrait of a steady, reliable private — the man Lewis turned to when the party needed fish, when goat hair had to be procured for saddle pads, or when a small detachment had to be left at a critical portage to await the rest of the Corps.

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Great Falls of the Missouri — John Ordway: June 20, 1805

Mon, 04 May 2026 16:45:24 +0000

the wind continues high from the west off the mountains. 4 men
Sent across the river to hunt, a light Sprinkling of rain about
noon, we are now waiting the arival of Cap* Clark, late in the
afternoon 2 of the hunters came in and informed us that they had
got 11 buffalow killed & the most of them fat. the other 2 Stayed
1 Modern Sun River. It rises in the Rocky Mountains near the continental
divide and flows in an easterly direction to its junction with the Missouri just
above the city of Great Falls. Sun River was discovered by Lewis on June
14, in the course of his advance excursion up the Missouri. Previous informa-
tion concerning it had been received from the Indians at Fort Mandan, how-
ever, and Medicine River was the name by which they knew it.
234 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS [June 20
to butcher, all hands in Camp turned out for the meat, &
brought about the half of what was fat 3 men Stayed all night to
dress the remainder, verry large gangs all around the place within
Shot of the butchers &. C. a light Sprinkling of rain, late in the
evening Cap* Clark and party returned to Camp they informed
us that they traversed & measured the River and falls, as they
went up. measured all the Small or little falls which were common
& of different hites. the highest catteract or falls is 87 feet per-
pinticular. the next highest 47 feet 8 Inch the next or 3rd about
30 or upwards, a nomber of Small ones & a continued rapid the
whole way for 17 miles to where we can take water again, those
large falls all have a mist which rises about 200 yards from the
Shoot, about a mile above the falls of 47 feet 8 Inches, the largest
fountan or Spring falls in that we ever Saw before and it is the
oppinion of Cap1 Clark that it is the largest Spring in america
known, this water boils up from under the rocks near the River
& falls immediately in to the river 8 feet & keeps its colour for
| a mile, which is verry clear and of a blueish cast &. C.1 two
of Cap* Clarks party was attacted by a large White bear on an
Island near where they had camped one night, one of them A.
Willard like to have been caught, the other [was] chased in the
water after Willard made his ascape towards camp. Cap4 Clark
and 3 others went to their assistance, the bear ratreated. night
came on the bushes thick. So they did not kill him, they Saw
but little timber, the country up the medicine River above the
falls is level with low banks, they Saw a chain of Mountains to
the West Some of which perticular those to the N. W. and S. W.
are covered with Snow, and appear to be verry high, they turned
back in order to look out the levelest way for the portage. Cap4
Clark lost a part of his notes which could not be found. Cap*
Clark Saw a rattle Snake out in the plains a long distance from
timber or water, they Saw verry large innumerable quantyties of
buffalow while they were gone, they killed 7 buffalow & Saved as
much of the meat as possable. killed a beaver also, they Saw
buffalow attempt to Swim the River above the falls. Some of
which was sucked over and seen no more, great numbers of those
animels are lost in these falls which is the cause of our Seeing So
many below for a long distance washed up on Shore. Some make
the Shore above the falls half dronded.
1 For further information about this fountain see post, Ordway’s entry for
June 27 and 238, note 1.
1805] SERGEANT ORDWAY’S JOURNAL 235
June 21st Friday 1805. a fine cool morning, the wind from the
S. W. off the mountains and hard. Cap* Lewis with the men
excep* a fiew took a part of the baggage & a canoe up a hill on to
the plain above a mile in advance. Several men employed in
Shaveing & graneing Elk hides for the Iron boat as it is called,
the remainder of the meat which was dressed last night was
brought in this morning & the men returned Some of them had
killed 2 or 3 deer & a buffalow calf and a Small Elk. we Saw
thousands of buffalow on the high lands the calfs verry numerous
among them they come in gangs to the river to drink &. C.
June 22nd Saturday 1805. a clear pleasant morning, the wind as
usal the party all raised eairly the 2 Captains with all but 3
of the party1 set out with more baggage to take the canoe and
loading we took on the plains yesterday up to the upper end of
the portage to where we can take water again with the canoes.
Cap* Lewis and 3 more of the party who went took their baggage
all in order to Stay at the upper Camp to prepare whatever may
be necessary for the Iron boat, &. C. large gangs of buffalow
all around the lower camp to day. one gang swam the river near
the camp Cap* Clarks Servant York killed one of them, a light
Sprinkling of rain, the country in general is verry high land, no
timber back a little Scatering along the Shore on the points &.
C. high bluffs & clifts along the Shores. Some pine in the drift
wood along the Shores, we are a little South of the Mandans
but have had cold weather as yet. it must of course be a healthy
country, we all enjoy good health as yet. our Interpreter wounded
a cabberee or antilope this evening.
June 23rd Sunday 1805. a cloudy morning, the wind from
East, a light Sprinkling of rain, in the afternoon one of the
hunters came to the lower camp from the medicine River, he
informed us that George Shannon left them the Same day they
Stearted from this, & they could not account where he went. The
other 2 hunters had killed 16 buffalow and 5 deer but no Elk.
1 From Lewis we learn that Ordway, Goodrich, Charbonneau, York, and
Sacajawea were left behind in the camp. The last two Ordway’s statement
ignores. His journal for today deals with events in the camp, of which he had
charge. Until the reunion of the party after the portage shall have been accom-
plished full knowledge of its doings can be gained only by a comparison of the
several journals that have come down to us. In general it may be said that
Lewis devoted himself mainly to work on the iron boat, while Clark attended
chiefly to the transportation of the outfit across the portage.
236 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS [June 24
they had dryed considerable of the buffalow meat at their Camp.1
in the evening Cap1 Clark & party returned to the lower Camp,
they informed us that they had Some difficulty, the truck
wheels, or some part of them broke several times &.C. the tongue
broke near the upper Camp & they were obledged to leave it and
formed the Camp about 3 miles above the Medicine River. Cap*
Clark Straightened the road considerable from that he went on
yesterday, they took 2 canoes up the hill from the creek this
evening, the men mended their mockisons with double Soles to
Save their feet from the prickley pear (which abound in the
plains) and the hard ground [which] in many places is so hard as to
hurt our feet verry much, the emence numbers of buffalow after
the last rain has trod the flat places in Such a manner as to
leave them uneaven, and dryed as hard as frozen Ground, the
men all much fatigued this evening &.2 the distance Staked out
for the portage is 18| miles from the lower Camp or lower rapid.
June 24th Monday 1805. a cloudy morning, all hands rose
eairly. had hailed the remaining canoe out of the water to dry.
we divided the baggage in to 3 percels, one of which the party
took on their backs and one waggon with truck wheels, to the
canoes 3 miles in advance [and] loaded and proceeded on with 2
canoes being in 2 parties, put the baggage in to the canoes &
went on verry well to the creek called willow creek.3 one of the
waggon tongues broke which detained us a Short time, then pro-
ceeded on towards evening when we got within about three miles
of the upper Camp, a volent Shower arose from the N. W. hard
thunder caught us in a verry hard rain So that in a fiew minutes
1 Shannon, Drewyer, and Reuben Fields had been sent on June 19 to Medi-
cine River to hunt. From then until June 23, the captains did not hear “a
sentence” from them. On the latter date Lewis, having gained the camp at
the upper end of the portage, set out in search of the hunters. Five miles up
Medicine River he found Shannon alone; the latter had parted from his com-
panions at the Great Falls at noon of June 19, and had not seen them since,
having busied himself in hunting on Medicine River “as he had been directed.”
The anxiety of Fields and Drewyer, whose report to Clark, Ordway notes, was
probably due in large part to Shannon’s habit of gelling lost.
•From Lewis We get this picture of their hardships: “at every halt these poor
fellows tumble down and are so much fatiegued that many of them are asleep in
an instant; in short their fatiegues are incredible; some are limping from the
soreness of their feet, others faint and unable to stand for a few minutes, with
heat and faticgue, yet no one complains, all go with cheerfullncss.”
i Modern Box Elder Creek, which the party met with about midway of
the portage. It enters the Missouri about four miles above the mouth of Belt
Creek.
1805] SERGEANT ORDWAY’S JOURNAL 237
the ground was covered with water. So that we got a hearly a
hearty drink of water in the holes & puddles &.C. the rain con-
tinued about half an hour, at dusk we arived at the upper Camp
all wet and much fatigued. Cap1 Lewis revived us with a dram,
we found Shannon their who had been up the medicine River
hunting, he had killed 3 buffalow 8 Deer several antelopes but
no Elk. the wind was considerable assistance to us in the course
of the day, as we were drawing the canoes the wind being Suffi-
cently hard at times to move the canoe on the Trucks, this is
Saleing on dry land in everry Sence of the word.1

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Marias River decision camp — John Ordway: June 5, 1805

Mon, 04 May 2026 16:45:23 +0000

all last night a Cloudy Cold windy morning, one beaver caught
last night, the men engaged Dressing Skins for to make them-
selves moccasons leggins &.C. one man by the name of Goodrich
has caught a considerable quantity of fish. Some of which are
Shell fish, but the most part are Small cat fish, we have caught
none as large this Season as we did last as yet, as we have a great
pleanty of meat we do not trouble ourselves for to^catch fish.
June 6th Thursday 1805. a Cloudy cold morning. The wind
high from the north. Some of the men went a Short distance
from Camp and killed 2 buffalow 1 mule deer 1 common deer 2
antilopes & a fat Elk. about 2 oClock P. M. Cap* Clark and his
1 The serious nature of the problem which had arisen can hardly be stated
better than in Lewis’ own words: “An interesting question was now to
be. determined; which of these rivers was the Missouri, or that river
which the Minnetares call Amahte Arz-zha or Missouri, and which they
had discribed to us as approaching very near to the Columbia river, to
mistake the stream at this period of the season, two months of the.
traveling season having now elapsed, and to ascend such stream to the
rocky Mountain or perhaps much further before we could inform ourselves
whether it did approach the Columbia or not, and then be obliged to return
and take the other stream would not only loose us the whole of this season but
would probably so dishearten the party that it might defeat the expedition
altogether, convinced we were that the utmost circumspection and caution
was necessary in deciding on the stream to be taken.”
1805] SERGEANT ORD WAY’S JOURNAL 227
party returned to Camp had been about 40 miles up the South
fork & Cap* Clark thinks it will be the best course for us to go.
they Saw a beautiful Spring about eight miles up the South fork
from this place where they refreshed themselves with a drink of
grog as they had a canteen of old Spirits with them, the middle
river is only about 200 yards across from the South fork, at the
Spring, they Saw but little game on the South fork, but returned
back on the middle fork, where they found abundance of Elk Deer
buffalow antilopes & wolves, they Saw Several brown or yallow
bear also one of the men by the [name] of Jo8 Fields was attracted
[attacked] by an old hea bear & his gun missed fire and he was in
danger of being killed by that venimous animel had the rest of
the party not been in hearing, who fired at him and he turned his
course and left the man.1 they killed three bear & eat a part of
one of them, they killed on the little R. a nomber of fat Elk
Deer &.C. &.C. the bottoms on the little river is like those below
the forks, a considerable of a kind of cotton wood which has a leaf
like the leaf of a cherry, we [they] Saw wild tanzey in these bot-
toms, nothing groes in the high plains but Short grass and prickley
pears, they Saw a large Mountain to the South of them covred
with Snow, which was but a Short distance from where they
turned back, a light Sprinkling of rain this afternoon. Cap*
Lewis and his party has not returned this evening. Cap* Clark
revived the party with a Dram.
June 7th Friday 1805. rained all last night, a rainy cold morn-
ing the wind N. W. Some men went out a hunting, & killed two
Deer, rained moderately all day. Cap* Lewis and his party did
not return this evening we expect the reason is owing to the
badness of the weather as it is muddy & Slippery walking.2
1 The adventure of Fields with the grizzly, which occurred June 4, is de-
scribed more fully by Clark. The predicament of Fields was a tight one in
several respects. His gun could not be fired because the powder was wet;
although his companions were in full view an intervening cliff prevented them
from coming to the rescue; and the grizzly was “so near that it struck his foot.”
2 This surmise was correct only in part. Lewis had made a longer excur-
sion than had been contemplated; while his progress had been delayed, also,
for the reason suggested by Ordway. The “Slippery walking” was, in fact,
responsible for one of the most thrilling incidents of the entire expedition.
In passing along the face of a bluff (June 7) Lewis slipped at a narrow pass
about thirty yards in length, and only the use of his espontoon saved him from
being precipitated over the cliff into the river ninety feet below. He had
scarcely reached a spot where he could stand without the aid of his espontoon,
when Windsor, who was behind him, cried out, “Great God I Captain, what
228 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS [June 8

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Marias River decision camp — John Ordway: June 11, 1805

Mon, 04 May 2026 16:45:23 +0000

oClock Cap1 Lewis, George Drewyer G. Gibson Jo8 Fields & Silas
Goodrich Set out for the Snowey So[u]th Mountains, we burryed
on the high land 1 keg of powder 1 bar led. 1 keg flour. 1 keg
pork 2 kegs parchd meal the bellows & tolls, augur plains, Saws
axes tin cups dutch ovens, bear Skins packs of beaver Skins buf-
falow Robes, & a nomber of other articles, all of weight such as
1 This was done because of the uncertainty as to which of the two forks was
the continuation of the Missouri River proper, and the desire to determine the
point as soon as possible. With the exception of Lewis and Clark, the party
to a man believed the Marias to be the main river, and the one, therefore, which
should be ascended. The Indians at Fort Mandan had told of the falls on
the upper Missouri, and Lewis intended to hasten on in advance until he came
either to them or to the “Snowy mountains.” The discovery of the former
would determine they were on the right stream; of the latter, that they were
ascending the wrong one.
230 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS [June 12
Rams horns &.C. The blacksmiths compleated repaering the
arms &.C. we Compleated hurrying the articles &.C. [and] got in
readiness to assend the South fork, the wind from the S. West
hard the evening fair & fine wind from the N. W. after night
became cold, high wind we have caught a considerable quan-
tity of Small fish Since we lay at the forks, one kind of flat Scalled
fish that we never Saw the kind before.

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John Ordway: September 7, 1804

Mon, 04 May 2026 16:44:46 +0000

caught by Goodrich last night, we Set off verry eairly. the wind
from N. W. we proceeded on. took breakfast at one of Colters
Camps where he had a coppall of jurk &. C.2 passed a Bottom
prarie Back of which is a round naked high round knobs the
Captains went out to look at it. they returned in a short time &
informed us that it was a curious place as if it had been made
with hands of man.3 Shields killed a prarie dog, which was cooked
for the Capts dinner, the Captains went out with Some men of
the party to See the Ground where those little dogs make their
village & they found more than an acre of Ground covered with
their holes, they attempted to drown Several of them out of
their holes, but they caught but one which they brought in alive,
they are a curious annimal about the Size of a little dog, & of a
grayish coulour resembles them nearly except the tail which is
like a Ground Squirrel, they will Stand on their hind feet & look
&. C. we Camped on the South Side near the Steeple of the
round knob.

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Arikara villages near present-day Mobridge — John Ordway: October 8, 1804

Mon, 04 May 2026 16:44:42 +0000

proceeded on passd high land on S. S. passd a run on s. s. named
Slate run. Some hunters out on Shore N. S. hunting in a bottom
covered with Timber on N. S. passd an Island we halted at
12 oC. took dinner at the Mouth of a River which came in on
s. s. a large Timberd Bottom at the Mouth of this River we
named this River Marappa.6 the hunters came on board, they
ern maps. Assuming the maps to be correct, rather than the journals, it is
modern Swan Creek, in Walworth County.
1 The last word is not perfectly clear in the manuscript; nor am I able to
explain what is meant by the statement.
2 This stream is unnoticed by Clark; it is noted by Gass, but left unnamed;
and both noticed and named Goodrich by Whitehouse. I am unable to find it
on any of the modern maps at my disposal.
3 Variously given in the other journals as Cerwercerna, Sir war, and Sir-
warharna or Park. Clark explains that it is an Arikara name. It is modern
Owl or Moreau Creek, a considerable stream, draining several counties of west-
ern South Dakota.
4 “Called Grous Island.” Clark. Probably Blue Blanket Island of the
M. R. C. map.
6 So Gass and Whitehouse; but Clark says “on S. S.” Whichever side the
camp may have been it was near the 1,310 mile point of the Missouri.
■ Now called Grand River, a considerable stream draining the three west-
ernmost of the northern row of South Dakota counties. Ordway has con-
fused the name of the stream with that of the creek two miles above, which
he mentions further on. Clark calls Grand River by its Arikara name, Wetar-
hoo, and gives the name Maropa (also Hear par or Beaver Dam) to the stream
1804] SERGEANT ORDWAY’S JOURNAL 149
Saw a large flock of goats, wounded an Elk, but killed nothing,
the wind from the North. Cap* Lewis took the Medrian altd
& made the La’ [blank in Ms.] we proceeded on passd a Tim-
bered Bottom land on S. S. Barron hills on N. S. passd way on
one mile another creek on s. s. proceeded on passed an Island
on s. s. where we found a large RickorRee village on s. s. a nom-
ber of the Indians assembled on the Sand bar opposite the village
to See us. A frenchman with them, we took the frenchman1 on
board he Informed us that they were all friendly & Glad to See
us. we Camped about one mile ab° the first RickaRee village.2
Cap1 Lewis went to the village, carried Some tobacco & Smoaked
with the chiefs of thee nation, thier is 2 more villages of the
Rickarees a Short Distance ab° this place &. C.

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Marias River decision camp — Joseph Whitehouse: June 11, 1805

Mon, 04 May 2026 16:41:03 +0000

a Clear pleasant morning. about 8 oClock Cap‘ Lewis,
George Drewyer, G. Gibson, Jo. Fields & Silas Goodrich Set
out for the South Snowey mountain. we put in the carsh or
[98 ]
1805] WHITEHOUSE’S JOURNAL
hole 1 keg of powder 1 bar led, 1 keg flour 1 keg pork 2 kegs
parched meal the bellowses & tools augur plains Saw &c. some
tin cups a dutch oven, a corn hand mill, packs of beaver, bear
Skins horns Buffalow Robes &c. &c. the Blacksmiths com-
pleated repairing the fire arms. the carsh or hole on the high
land dug deeper and compleated burrying the heavey articles
&c. we got in readiness to ascend the South fork. we have
caught more Small fish Since we lay here than we made use of,
and one kind of Small flat Scale fish that we never Saw the
kind before. ,

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Marias River decision camp — Joseph Whitehouse: June 5, 1805

Mon, 04 May 2026 16:41:02 +0000

the wind blew high from the N.E. all last night. a cloudy
cold windy morning. one beaver caught in a trap last night.
I Stayed in Camp dressing Skins for to make myself moccasons
&c. one of the men by the name of goodrich has caught a
considerable quantity of Small fish. Some of them Skale fish
the most part are a sort of Smallish sized cat fish. we have
caught no large ones this Season as we did last as yet &c.

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Missouri River near Cheyenne River — Joseph Whitehouse: October 7, 1804

Mon, 04 May 2026 16:40:54 +0000

we Set off eairly. aclear day. passed a creek on the N. S.
Goodrich and a Small River on the S. S. called Sir war [Sir-
warkahna] about go yards wide. at the mouth of this River is
a wintering camp of the Rickarees having about 60 lodges. we
Saw 2 of the Souix indians on the N.S. Cap! Clark killed a
Deer and a brarow. we Camped on the N. S. opposite the
head of an Island.

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Clark: August 12, 1806

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:37:52 +0000

Thursday 12th August 1806 I set out early this morning and had not
proceeded on far before Shannon discovered he had lost his Tomahk. I
derected him to land his Skin Canoe and go back to our Camp of last night
in Serch of it, and proceeded on my self with the two wood and one Skin
Canoe to a large hottom on the N. E Side above the head of Jins island and
landed to take brackfast as well as to delay untill Shannon & Gibson
Should arive. Sent out Shields & Labiech to hunt deer in the bottom,
at 2 P m. Shannon and gibson arived having found the tomahawk at our camp
they killed 3 Elk &c. one of the Canoes of Buffalow Skin by accident
got a hole peirced in her of about 6 inches diamuter. I derected two of
the men to patch the Canoe with a piece of Elk skin over the hole, which
they did and it proved all Sufficient, after which the Canoe did not leak
one drop. The two hunters returned without haveing killed any thing. at
meridian Capt Lewis hove in Sight with the party which went by way of the
Missouri as well as that which accompanied him from Travellers rest on
Clarks river; I was alarmed on the landing of the Canoes to be informed
that Capt. Lewis was wounded by an accident-. I found him lying in the
Perogue, he informed me that his wound was slight and would be well in 20
or 30 days this information relieved me very much. I examined the wound
and found it a very bad flesh wound the ball had passed through the
fleshey part of his left thy below the hip bone and cut the cheek of the
right buttock for 3 inches in length and the debth of the ball. Capt L.
informed me the accident happened the day before by one of the men Peter
Crusat misstakeig him in the thick bushes to be an Elk. Capt Lewis with
this Crusat and Several other men were out in the bottom Shooting of Elk,
and had Scattered in a thick part of the woods in pursute of the Elk.
Crusat Seeing Capt L. passing through the bushes and takeing him to be an
Elk from the Colour of his Cloathes which were of leather and very nearly
that of the Elk fired and unfortunately the ball passed through the thy as
aforesaid. Capt Lewis thinking it indians who had Shot him hobbled to the
canoes as fast as possible and was followered by Crusat, the mistake was
then discovered. This Crusat is near Sighted and has the use of but one
eye, he is an attentive industerous man and one whome we both have placed
the greatest Confidence in dureing the whole rout.After Capt. Lewis
and my Self parted at Travellers rest, he with the Indians proceeded down
the West Side of Clarks river Seven miles and crossed on rafts 2 miles
below the East fork 120 yards wide, after Crossing the river he proceeded
up the North Side of the east fork and encampd. here the Indians left him
and proceeded down Clarks river in Serch of the Tushepaws. an Indian man
Came up with Cap L. from the W. of the mountains and proceeded on with
those who had accompanied us. Capt. L. proceeded up the E. fork of Clarks
river 17 ms. to the enterance of Cokahlarishkit river or the river to
buffalow, he proceeded up on the North Side of this river which is 60
yards wide crossing Several Small Streams and the N. fork, and passing
over part of the dividing mountain onto the waters of Deabourns river in
the plains and in a Derection to the N. extremity of Easte range of rocky
mountains which pass the Missouri at the pine Island Rapid. from thence he
bore his Course to the N E untill he Struck Meadcin river near where that
river Enters the rocky Mts. and proceeded down Medicine river to the
Missouri at the white bear Islands at the upper part of the portage. this
rout is a very good one tho not the most derect rout, the most derect rout
would be to proceed up the Missouri above Dearborns river and take a right
hand road & fall on a South branch of the Cokatlarishkit R. and
proceed down that river to the main road but the best rout would be from
the falls of the Missouri by fort mountain and passing the N. extremity of
that range of the Rocky Mountains which pass the Missouri at the pine
Island rapid Course nearly S. W. and to the gap through which the great
road passeds the dividing mountain the distance from the falls to this gap
about 45 miles through a tolerable leavel plain on an old indian road. and
the distance from thence to Clarks river is 105 miles. The total distance
from the falls of the Missouri to Clarks river is only 150 miles of a
tolerable roadCapt L. arived at the white Bear Islands and encampd.
on the West Side of the Missouri and in the morning he discovered that the
Indians had taken of Seven of his best horses, drewyer prosued the indians
two day’s on the rout towards Clarks river. he Saw their camp on Dearborns
river near the road on which Capt. Lewis & party Come on a by place
where they had left only one or two day at this encampment he Saw great
appearanc of horseson the return of Drewyer Capt L. took Drewyer
& the 2 fieldses & proceeded on his intended rout up Marias river
leaving Sergt. Gass, Thompson, Frazier, Werner, McNeal & Goodrich at
the portage to prepare Geer and repar the wheels & Carrage against the
arival of the Canoes and he also left 4 horses for the purpose of hauling
the Canoes across. The Canoes arrived on the 16th, and on the 26th they
had all except one across, the Plains becom So muddy from the emence rains
which had fallen, that they Could not get her over the portage. on the
28th they joined Capt Lewis at the Grog Spring a fiew miles above the
enterance of Marias river From the Falls of Missouri Capt. L. proceeded on
with Drewyer & the 2 fieldses Courss

On the 26th of July Capt Lewis Set out on his return to the enterance of
Marias river to meet with the party with, the Canoes from the falls. his
course was through the plains

S. E. 5 Milespassing a Small Creek from the mts

S. 70° E. 9 Miles to a principal branch of Marias River 65 yards wide not
very deep at 7 mile. this last branch is Shallow and rapid about the Size
of the former from the S W. both of those Streams Contain a great
preportion of timberhere we find the 3 Specis of Cotton before
mentioned

N 80° E. 4 miles down Marias river and met with 8 Indians of the Blackfoot
nation with about 30 horses, those Indians professed friendship and Set
out with him and encamped together the night of the 26th of July, thy
informed him that there was two large bands of their nation in that
quarter one of which would be at the enterance of Marias river in a fiew
days. they also informed that a french Trader was with one of those bands,
that they traded with the white people on the Suskashwen River at 6 easy
days march or about 150 miles distant from whome they precured Guns Powder
Lead blankets &c. in exchange for wolf and beaver Skins. Capt Lewis
gave them a Flag Meadel & Handkerchief Capt. L. informed those Indians
where he was from & where he had been and his objects & friendly
views &c. of which they appeared to be well Satisfied.

“on the morning of the 27th at day light the indians got up and crouded
around the fire, Jo. Field who was on post had carelessly laid his gun
down behind him near where his brother was Sleeping. one of the Indians
Slipd. behind him and took his gun and that of his brother unperceived by
him, at the Same instant two others advanced and Seized the guns of
Drewyer and Capt Lewis who were yet asleep. Jo. Fields Seeing this turned
about to take his gun and Saw the fellow running off with his and his
brothers, he called to his brother who instantly jumped up and prosued the
indian with him whome they overtook at the distance of 50 or 60 paces
Siezed their guns and rested them from him and R. Field as he Seized his
gun Stabed the indian to the heart with his knif who fell dead; (this Cap
L. did not know untill Some time after.) drewyer who awoke at the first
alarm jumped up and Seized & rested his gun from the indian &c.
Capt L. awoke and asked what was the matter Seeing Drewyer in a Scuffle
for his gun he turned to get his gun and found her gorn, he drew a pistol
from his holsters and prosued the Indian whom he Saw in possession of his
gun making off he presented the pistol and the indian lay down the gun.
the two Fields Came up and drew up to Shoot the Indian which Capt L.
forbid the indians then attempted to drive off all the horses. Capt L.
derected the men to fire on them if they attempted to drive off the
horses, and prosued two fellows who Continued to drive of his horses he
Shot the indian who had taken his gun and then in possession of his horse
through the belly, he fell and raised on his elbow and fired at Capt L.
the other made his escape into a nitch out of Sight with his bow and
arrows and as Capt L. guns was empty and he without his Shot pouch he
returnd. to the Camp where the 2 fields and Drewyer joind him having
prosued the indians across the river the were now in possession of the
most of their own as well as the indian horses and a gun Several bows
& arrows and all the indians baggage the gun & Some feathers and
flag they took and burnt all the other articles. and Saddled up a many of
the best horses as they wished with Some Spear horses, and Set out for to
intersept the party at Marias river and proceded on a little to the S. of
East 112 Miles to the Missouri at the Grog Spring. here they met with
Canoes and party decending joined them leaving their horses on the river
bank, and proceeded on to the enterance of Marias river opened the
deposits, found Several articles damaged. 3 Beaver traps could not be
found, the red perogue unfit for Service, from thenc they proceeded
without delay to the River Rochejhone See cources of Capt Lewis rout in
next book.”

at 2 P.M. Shannon & Gibson arived in the Skin Canoe with the Skins and
the greater part of the flesh of 3 Elk which they had killed a fiew miles
above. the two men Dixon & Handcock the two men we had met above came
down intending to proceed on down with us to the Manclans. at 3 P M we
proceded on all together having left the 2 leather Canoes on the bank. a
little below the enterance of (Jos) Shabonos Creek we Came too on a large
Sand point from the S. E. Side and Encamped. the wind blew very hard from
the S W. and Some rain. I washed Capt L. wound which has become Sore and
Somewhat painfull to him.

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