Walla Walla Archives - Lewis & Clark Research Database

Paralyzed Woman Brought to Clark for Treatment

Mon, 04 May 2026 16:46:05 +0000

went out for their horses an Indian brought a woman to Cap*
Clark which [was] diseased, had not the use of hir limbs, he
brought a fine horse and gave Cap* Clark for doctering hir he
gave meddicine and told them how to apply it &C. Cap* Clark
gave the Indian a white Shirt which pleased him verry much,
about 11 A. M. we got our horses up by the assistance of the
Indians and Set out proceeded on over Smooth barron Sandy
plains not a tree nor shrub to be seen except a weed or shrub
like wild hysop which is common, the natives use it when
i On the site of modern Wallula, Wash. Here old Fort Walla Walla, one
of the earliest fur-trade establishments in this portion of the country, was estab-
lished in 1818.
350 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS
dry for fires to cook with &C. the Indian name of it is cum-
cum. we came about 16 miles and Camped on the wal-a-wal
river,1 which has narrow bottoms partly covred with Small
timber 2 or 3 men went out hunting, one of them killed a large
beaver and an otter. Several of the horses chokd by eating some
kind of a weed in this bottom, but they got over it after a while.

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Up the Touchet River Through Beaver-Rich Bottoms

Mon, 04 May 2026 16:46:05 +0000

go on a hunting, we Set out as usal & proceeded on up this river,
over high plains and river bottom which is partly covred with
cotton & other timber, the beaver are pleanty. one of the
hunters killd one. no other game to be seen about noon we
halted to dine. Several of the Savages who accompy us leave
us here and take a cross road to the Columbia river, we proceed
on up the branch, over Smooth handsom plains and bottoms.
Saw a timbred country a long distance to the S. E. & Moun*
of Snow. Saw Several deer run out of the groves of timber
along the branch, about Sunset one of the hunters killed a deer.
So we Camped by the branch2 having made 26 miles this day
Soon after we Camped two young men of the wal-a-wal tribe
came up to our Camp & brought us our Steel trap which was
forgot at their village, this is an Instance which we had not
any right to expect from Savages, we gave them one a knife
the other a Sun glass, &.C. and a little vension. the wal-a-wal
tribe of Flat heads have proved themselves the honnestest Sav-
ages we have met with for they had great chance to Steel had
they been disposed, but instead of that they helped us as much
as lay in their power and believe that we will return and trade
with them, as we have told them, they disired us to bring them
guns and ammunition, copper kittles, knives beeds Scarlet but-
tens, and allmost any kind of marchandize as other Savages, &C.
1 On the Touchet, a tributary of the Walla Walla, instead of on the Latter
stream itself. The day’s journey was overland in a northeasterly direction
from the modern town of Wallula to the point where the Indian trail inter-
sected the Touchet River.
■ The “branch” was Touchet River, the valley of which the party had been
ascending all day. The camp was in eastern Walla Walla County between
Prescotl and Waitsburg, according to Coues; he further affirms that a person
familiar with the locality “could almost pitch a tent where Lewis and Clark
sleep tonight.”
CHAPTER XIV
From the Walla Walla to the Headwaters of
the Missouri, May 2 — July 9, 1806

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Shorter Overland Route Chosen; Captive Shoshone Woman Encountered

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

Indian guides who are going over the mountains with us inform
us that their is a nearer way across the plains to the forks of
Lewises river at the entrence of Kooskooski which is a smooth
way and only 3 days march to that place which is allmost as near
again as to follow the river round.3 So our officers conclude to
cross the river at this place & take the near way. So we pur-
chased 6 dogs from the natives to take with us. our Intrepters
1 In the vicinity of Plymouth, Benton County, Wash. Just above camp the
Umatilla River enters the Columbia from the south.
2 “Nearly or exactly opposite the mouth of Walla Walla River.” Coues.
3 This marks the first divergence from the route pursued on the outward
journey. Instead of following up the Columbia from the mouth of Walla Walla
to the mouth of Snake River, and thence up the latter stream to the mouth of
the Kooskooskee, at Lewiston, Idaho, the party pursued a more direct route
across the plains from the mouth of the Walla Walla to a point on Snake River
several miles below the mouth of the Kooskooskee.
348 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS [April 28
wife found a woman of hir own nation who was a prisoner among
these Indians, and as they could speak together our officers Spoke
to the head chief & told him our business and that the white
people would Supply them with marchandize at the head of the
Missourie &C. asked for canoes to cross the river they said
they wished us to Stay with them to day as we lived a great way
off, and they wished to see us dance this evening & begged on us
to Stay this day. So our officers concluded to Stay this day.
the head chief brought up a good horse & said he wished to give
it to us but as he was poor he wished us to give him some kind of
a kittle, but as we could not spare a kittle Cap1 Clark gave his
Sword a flag and half pound of powder & ball for the horse, we
took our horses across the river, our officers made another chief
gave him a meddle &C. in the afternoon a number of Indians
came to our officers who were diseased the lame and many with
Sore eyes and lame legs1 & arms &C. our officers dressd their
wounds, washed their eyes & gave them meddicine and told them
how to apply it &C. the chief called all his people and told them
of the meddicine &C. which was a great wonder among them &
they were much pleased &C. the Indians Sent their women to
gether wood or Sticks to See us dance this evening, about 300
of the natives assembled to our Camp we played the fiddle and
danced a while the head chief told our officers that they Should
be lonesom when we left them and they wished to hear once of
our meddicine Songs and try to learn it and wished us to learn
one of theirs and it would make them glad. So our men Sang 2
Songs which appeared to take great affect on them, they tryed
to learn Singing with us with a low voice, the head chief then
made a speech & it was repeated by a warrier that all might hear,
then all the Savages men women and children of any size danced
forming a circle round a fire & jumping up nearly as other In-
dians, & keep time verry well they wished our men to dance
with them So we danced among them and they were much
pleased, and Said that they would dance day and night untill we
return, everry fiew minutes one of their warries made a Speech
pointing towards the enimy and towards the moon

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Departure Preparations; Clatsops Trade Dog and Hats

Mon, 04 May 2026 16:45:59 +0000

with a Small canoe to go on a head to hunt untill we come up.
carried their baggage with them. 6 men Sent out a hunting, a
1 Lewis says that these savages esteem a canoe of equal value, for trading
purposes, with their wives, and that one is generally given to the father in
exchange for his daughter. “I think the U. States,” he adds, “are indebted to
me another Uniform for that of which I have disposed on this occasion was
but little woarn.”
2 The best excuse for this course of action was the urgent necessity of
the explorers. Unfortunately, as the present editor views the case, it occur-
red to one of the interpreters to propose that a canoe be taken from the Clat-
sops “in lieu of 6 Elk which they stole from us this winter,” and the captains
adopted the suggestion. Yet the savages in taking the elk had acted no differ-
ently than the white men themselves on several occasions, in appropriating
the property of the Indians; and the former had sought to make payment
for the elk by sending an agent to the fort with some dogs for the explorers.
Had the latter based their purloining of the canoe on the ground of overpowering
necessity their action would have been more defensible.
8 Gass reports the name as “ulken,” while Lewis refers to them as anchovies.
The fish was the eulachon, for which see ante, 327, note 2.
330 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS
number of the Clatsop Indians visited us Sold us a dog1 & Some
Small dry fish and Some fancy Hats &C in the evening the hunt-
ers returned except one. had killed nothing.
1 Which “we purchased for our sick men.” Clark.
CHAPTER XIII
From Fort Clatsop to Walla Walla River,
March 23— May 1, 1806

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Chief Regains Use of Hands; Recovery Continues

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:37:26 +0000

Thursday May 29th 1806. No movement of the party today worthy of notice.
we have once more a good stock of meat and roots. Bratton is recovering
his strength very fast; the Child and the Indian Cheif are also on the
recovery. the cheif has much more uce of his hands and arms. he washed his
face himself today which he has been unable to do previously for more than
twelvemonths. we would have repeated the sweat today had not been cloudy
and frequently raining. a speceis of Lizzard called by the French engages
prarie buffaloe are native of these plains as well as of those of the
Missouri. I have called them the horned Lizzard. they are about the size
and a good deel the figure of the common black lizzard. but their bellies
are broader, the tail shorter and their action much slower; they crawl
much like the toad. they are of brown colour with yellowish and
yellowishbrown spots. it is covered with minute scales intermixed with
little horny prosesses like blont prickles on the upper surface of the
body. the belley and throat is more like the frog and are of a light
yelowish brown colour. arround the edge of the belley is regularly set
with little horney projections which give to those edges a serrate figure
the eye is small and of a dark colour. above and behind the eyes there are
several projections of the bone which being armed at their extremities
with a firm black substance has the appearance of horns sprouting out from
the head. this part has induced me to distinguish it by the apppellation
of the horned Lizzard. I cannot conceive how the engages ever assimilated
this animal with the buffaloe for there is not greater analogy than
between the horse and the frog. this animal is found in greatest numbers
in the sandy open parts of the plains, and appear in great abundance after
a shower of rain; they are sometimes found basking in the sunshine but
conceal themselves in little holes in the earth much the greater
preportion of their time. they are numerous about the falls of the
Missouri and in the plains through which we past lately above the
Wallahwallahs.The Choke Cherry has been in blume since the 20th
inst. it is a simple branching ascending stem. the cortex smooth and of a
dark brown with a redish cast. the leaf is scattered petiolate oval accute
at its apex finely serrate smooth and of an ordinary green. from 11/2 to 3
inches in length and 13/4 to 2 in width. the peduncles are common,
cilindric, and from 4 to 5 inches in length and are inserted promiscuously
on the twigs of the preceeding years growth. on the lower portion of the
common peduncle are frequently from 3 to 4 small leaves being the same in
form as those last discribed. other peduncles 1/4 of an inch in length are
thickly scattered and inserted on all sides of the common peduncle at
wright angles with it each elivating a single flower, which has five
obtuse short patent white petals with short claws inserted on the upper
edge of the calyx. the calyx is a perianth including both stamens and
germ, one leafed fine cleft entire simiglobular, infrior, deciduous. the
stamens are upwards of twenty and are seated on the margin of the flower
cup or what I have called the perianth. the filaments are unequal in
length subulate inflected and superior membranous. the anthers are equal
in number with the filaments, they are very short oblong & flat, naked
and situated at the extremity of the filaments, is of a yelow colour as is
also the pollen. one pistillum. the germen is ovate, smooth, superior,
sessile, very small; the Style is very short, simple, erect, on the top of
the germen, deciduous. the stigma is simple, flat very short.-

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Trading Horses with Chopunnish Family; Menstrual Seclusion Noted

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:37:14 +0000

Wednesday April 30th 1806. This morning we had Some dificuelty in
Collecting our horses notwithstanding we had hobbled & Picqueted those
we obtained of those people. we purchased two other horses this morning
and 4 dogs. we exchanged one of our most indeferent horses for a very good
one with the Choponnish man who has his family with him. this man has a
doughter now arived at the age of puberty who being in a certain
Situation-is not permited to acoiate with the family but Sleeps at a
distance from her father’s Camp, and when traveling follows at Some
distance be-hind. in this State I am informed that the female is not
permited to eat, nor to touch any article of a culinary nature or manly
occupation. at 10 A.M. we had Collected all our horses except the White
horse which Yelleppit the Great Chief had given me. the whole of the men
haveing returned without being able to find this hors. I informed the
chief and he mounted Capt Lewis’s horse and went in Serch of the horse
himself. about half an hour after the Chopunnish man brought my horse. we
deturmined to proceed on with the party leaving one man to bring up Capt
L.-s horse when Yelleppit Should return. We took leave of those honest
friendly people the Wallah wallahs and departed at 11 A.M. accompanied by
our guide and the Chopunnish man and family. we Continued our rout N. 30°
E. 14 ms. through an open leavel Sandy Plain to a bold Creek 10 yards
wide. this stream is a branch of the Wallahwallah river, and takes it’s
rise in the same range of mountains to the East of the main branch. deep
and has a bold Current. there are maney large banks of pure Sand which
appear to have been drifted up by the wind to the hight of 20 or 30 feet,
lying in maney parts of the plains through which we passed to day. This
plain as usial is covered with arromatic Shrubs, hurbatious plants and
tufts of Short grass. Maney of those plants produce those esculent roots
which forms a principal part of the Subsistance of the Nativs. among
others there is one which produce a root Somewhat like the Sweet potato.
We encamped at the place we intersepted the Creek where we had the
pleasure once more to find a Sufficency of wood for the purpose of makeing
ourselves comfortable fires, which has not been the Case Since we left
Rock fort Camp below the falls. Drewyer killed a beaver and an otter. the
narrow bottoms of this Creek is fertile. tho the plains are pore &
Sandy. the hills of the Creek are generaly abrupt and rocky. there is Some
timber on this Creek. it consists of Cotton wood, birch, the Crimson haw,
red willow, Sweet willow, Choke Cherry, yellow Current, goose berry, white
berried honey suckle, rose bushes, Seven bark, Shoemate &c. &c.
rushes in Some parts of the bottoms.

R. Fields over took us with Capt Lewis’s horse our Stock of horses have
now increased to 23 and most of them excellent young horses, but much the
greatest part of them have Sore backs. those Indians are cruel horse
masters; they ride hard and their Saddles illey constructed. &c. &c.

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Delayed by Missing Horse; Dining on Jerked Meat

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:37:13 +0000

Sunday April 27th 1806. This morning we were detained untill 9 A.M. in
consequence of the absence of one of Charbono’s horses. the horse at
length being recovered we set out and at the distance of fifteen miles
passed through a country similar to that of yesterday; the hills at the
extremity of this distance again approach the river and are rocky abrupt
and 300 feet high. we ascended the hill and marched through a high plain
for 9 miles when we again returned to the river, I now thought it best to
halt as the horses and men were much fatiegued altho had not reached the
Wallah wollah village as we had been led to beleive by our guide who
informed us that the village was at the place we should next return to the
river, and the consideration of our having but little provision had been
our inducement to make the march we had made this morning. we collected
some of the dry stalks of weeds and the stems of a shrub which resembles
the southern wood; made a small fire and boiled a small quantity of our
jerked meat on which we dined; while here the principal Cheif of the
Wallahwallahs joined us with six men of his nation. this Cheif by name
Yel-lept had visited us on the morning of the 19 of October at our
encampment a little below this place; we gave him at that time a small
medal, and promised him a larger one on our return. he appeared much
gratifyed at seeng us return, invited us to remain at his village three or
four days and assured us that we should be furnished with a plenty of such
food as they had themselves; and some horses to assist us on our journey.
after our scanty repast we continued our march accompanyed by Yellept and
his party to the village which we found at the distance of six miles
situated on the N. side of the river at the lower side of the low country
about 12 ms. below the entrance of Lewis’s river. This Cheif is a man of
much influence not only in his own nation but also among the neighbouring
tribes and nations.This Village consists of 15 large mat lodges. at
present they seem to subsist principally on a speceis of mullet which
weigh from one to three lbs. and roots of various discriptions which these
plains furnish them in great abundance. they also take a few salmon trout
of the white kind.Yellept haranged his village in our favour
intreated them to furnish us with fuel and provision and set the example
himself by bringing us an armfull of wood and a platter of 3 roasted
mullets. the others soon followed his example with rispect to fuel and we
soon found ourselves in possession of an ample stock. they birn the stems
of the shrubs in the plains there being no timber in their neighbourhood
of any discription. we purchased four dogs of these people on which the
party suped heartily having been on short allowance for near two days. the
indians retired when we requested them this evening and behaved themselves
in every rispect extreemly well. the indians informed us that there was a
good road which passed from the columbia opposite to this village to the
entrance of the Kooskooske on the S. side of Lewis’s river; they also
informed us, that there were a plenty of deer and Antelopes on the road,
with good water and grass. we knew that a road in that direction if the
country would permit would shorten our rout at least 80 miles. the indians
also informed us that the country was level and the road good, under these
circumstances we did not hesitate in pursuing the rout recommended by our
guide whos information was corroberated by Yellept & others. we
concluded to pass our horses over early in the morning.

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Ferrying Baggage Across Columbia at Yellept's Village

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:37:13 +0000

Tuesday April 29th 1806 This Morning Yelleppit furnished us with 2 Canoes,
and We began to transport our baggage over the river; we also Sent a party
of the men over to collect our horses. we purchased Some deer and
chappellell this morning. we had now a Store of 12 dogs for our voyage
through the plains. by 11 A.M. we had passed the river with our party and
baggage but were detained Several hours in consequence of not being able
to Collect our horses. our guide now informed us that it was too late in
the evening to reach an eligible place to encamp; that we Could not reach
any water before night. we therefore thought it best to remain on the
Wallah wallah river about a mile from the Columbia untill the morning,
accordingly encampd on the river near a fish Wear. this weare Consists of
two Curtains of Small willows wattled together with four lines of withes
of the Same Materials extending quite across the river, parralal with each
other and about 6 feet asunder. those are Supported by Several parrelals
of poles placed in this manner those Curtains of willows is either roled
at one end for a fiew feet to permit the fish to pass or are let down at
pleasure. they take their fish which at present are a Mullet only of from
one to 5 pounds Wt. with Small Seines of 15 or 18 feet long drawn by two
persons; these they drag down to the Wear and rase the bottom of the seine
against the willow Curtain. they have also a Small Seine managed by one
person, it bags in the manner of the Scooping Nets; the one Side of the
Net is Confined to a Simicircular bow of half the Size of a mans arm and
about 5 feet long, the other Side is confined to a Strong String which
being attatched to the extremities of the bow forms the Cord line to the
Simicurcle. The Wallah wallah River discharges it’s Self into the Columbia
on it’s South Side 15 miles below the enterance of Lewis’s River, or the
S. E. branch. a range of hills pass the Columbia just below the enterance
of this river. this is a handsom Stream about 41/2 feet deep and 50 yards
wide; it’s bead is composed of gravel principally with Some Sand and Mud;
the banks are abrupt but not high, tho it does not appear to overflow; the
water is Clear. the Indians inform us that it has it’s Source in the range
of Mountains in view of us to the E. and S. E. these Mountains commence a
little to the South of Mt. Hood and extend themselves in a S Eastwardly
direction terminateing near the Southern banks of Lewis’s river Short of
the rockey Mountains. Ta wan nahiooks river, river Lapage and ____ River
all take their rise on those Mountains. the two principal branches of the
first of those take their rise in the Mountain’s, Jefferson and Hood.
those Mountains are Covered at present with Snow. those S W. Mountains are
Covered with Snow at present tho do not appear high. they Seperate the
Waters of the Multnomah from those of the Columbia river. they appear to
be 65 or 70 miles distant from hence. The Snake indian prisoner informed
us that at Some distance in the large plains to the South of those
Mountains there was a large river running to the N. W. which was as wide
as the Columbia at this place, which is nearly 1 mile. this account is no
doubt Somewhat exagurated but it Serves to evince the Certainty of the
Multnomah being a very large River and that it’s waters are Seperated from
the Columbia by those Mountains, and that with the aid of a Southwardly
branch of Lewis’s river which pass around the Eastern extremity of those
mountains, it must water that vast tract of Country extending from those
Mountains to the Waters of the Gulf of Callifornia. and no doubt it heads
with the Rochejhone and Del Nord.

We gave Small Medals to two inferior Chiefs of this nation, and they each
furnished us with a fine horse, in return we gave them Sundery articles
among which was one of Capt Lewis’s Pistols & Several hundred rounds
of Amunition. there are 12 other Lodges of the Wallahwallah Nation on this
river a Short distance below our Camp. those as well as those beyond the
Columbia appear to depend on their fishing weres for their Subsistance.
those people as well as the Chym na poms are very well disposed, much more
So particular their women than they were when we decended the river last
fall. Most of them have long Shirts and leggins, good robes and
Mockersons. their women were the truss when they Cannot precure the Shirt,
but very fiew are Seen with the former at the present. I prosume the
Suckcess of their Winters hunt has produced this change in their attere.
they all Cut their hair in the fore head, and most of the men ware the two
Cews over each Sholder in front of the body; Some have the addition of a
fiew Small plats formed of the eare locks, and others tigh a Small bundle
of the docked foretop in front of the fore head. their orniments are Such
as discribed of the nativs below, and are worn in a Similar manner. they
insisted on our danceing this evening but it rained a little the wind blew
hard and the weather was Cold, we therefore did not indulge them.Several
applyed to me to day for medical aides, one a broken arm another inward
fever and Several with pains across their loins, and Sore eyes. I
administered as well as I could to all. in the evining a man brought his
wife and a horse both up to me. the horse he gave me as a present. and his
wife who was verry unwell the effects of violent Coalds was placed before
me. I did not think her Case a bad one and gave Such medesine as would
keep her body open and raped her in flannel. left Some Simple Medesene to
be taken. we also gave Some Eye water 1 G. of Ela v V. & 2 grs. of
Sacchm Stry. to an ounce of water and in that perpotion. Great No. of the
nativs about us all night.

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Walla Walla

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 17:42:27 +0000

The Walla Walla people of the Columbia Plateau, led by Chief Yelleppit, provided one of the warmest receptions the expedition received. Their territory along the Walla Walla River in present-day Washington was a crossroads of plateau trade routes.

On the return journey in April 1806, the expedition stayed three days with the Walla Walla. Yelleppit organized a gathering of over 500 people, with dancing, trading, and cultural exchange. The chief gifted Clark a white horse, and the expedition provided in return a peace medal, a handkerchief, and other trade goods.

The Walla Walla later became part of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, established by the Treaty of 1855. Their positive relationship with the expedition stands as an example of what cross-cultural encounters could look like when both sides approached with goodwill.

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