DIARY ENTRIES Lewis & Clark Expedition

DIARY ENTRIES Lewis & Clark Expedition

1. March 03, 1804
Meriwether Lewis

The Commanding officer feels himself mortifyed and disappointed at the disorderly conduct of Reubin Fields, in refusing to mount guard when in the due roteen of duty he was regularly warned; nor is he less surprised at the want of discretion in those who urged his oposition to the faithfull discharge of his duty, particularly Shields, whose sense of propryety he had every reason to believe would have induced him reather to have promoted good order, than to have excited disorder and faction among the party...

... The abuse of some of the party with respect [to the] prevelege heretofore granted them of going into the country, is not less displeasing; to such as have made hunting or other business a pretext to cover their design of visiting a neighboring whiskey shop, he cannot for the present extend this previlege.....

2. May 14, 1804
Patrick Gass

The corps consisted of forty-three men ... part of the regular troops of the United States, and part engaged for this particular enterprize.

The best authenticated accounts informed us, that we were to pass through a country possessed by numerous, powerful and warlike nations of savages, of gigantic stature, fierce, treacherous and cruel; and particularly hostile to white men. And fame had united with tradition in opposing mountains to our course, which human enterprize and exertion would attempt in vain to pass.

3. May 17, 1804
William Clark

A fair day compelled to punish for misconduct...

Orderly Book, Orders, St. Charles, Thursday the 17th of May 1804

A Sergeant and four men of the Party destined for the Missouri Expidition will convene at 11 oClock to day on the quarter Deck of the Boat, and form themselves into a Court Martial to hear and determine (in behalf of the Capt.) the evidences aduced against William Warner & Hugh Hall for being absent last night without leave; contrary to orders; -- & John Collins 1st for being absent without leave -- 2nd for behaveing in an unbecomeing manner at the Ball last night -- 3dly for Speaking in a language last night after his return tending to bring into disrespect the orders of the Commanding officer

Signd. W. Clark Comdg.

4. May 20, 1804
Meriwether Lewis

(He joins the party at St. Charles)

... The Vilage contains a Chappel, one hundred dwelling houses, and about 450 inhabitants; their houses are generally small and but illy constructed; a great majority of the inhabitants are miserably pour illiterate and when at home excessively lazy, tho' they are polite hospitable and by no means deficient in point of natural genious, they live in a perfect state of harmony among each other, and place as implicit confidence in the doctrines of their speritual pastor, the Roman Catholic priest, as they yeald passive obedience to the will of their temporal master the commandant...

...These people are principally the decendants of the Canadian French, and it is not an inconsiderable proportion of them that can boast a small dash of the pure blood of the aborigines of America...

5. June 26, 1804
William Clark

... We Killed a large rattle Snake, Sunning himself in the bank, passed a bad Sand bar, where our tow rope broke twice, & with great exertions, we rowed round it and came to & camped, in the Point above the Kansas River I observed a great number of Parrot queets this evening, our Party killed Several [7] Deer to day

6. June 26, 1804
Joseph Whitehouse

the morning was Clear the water was Strong at the head of the Island we Campd on ... towed our boat by Cutting the timber of[f] the Banks the day Got mighty hot ... G Druery killd 8 deer that day took them on board 2 miles before we Reachd the River de[Caugh [Kansas] at Sun Set Roed 10 Miles.

7. June 29, 1804
William Clark

(Orderly Book) Camp Mouth of the Kansies June 29th 1804

Ordered --- A Court Martiall will Set this day at 11 oClock... for the trial of John Collins and Hugh Hall....

John Collins Charged "with getting drunk on his post this Morning out of whiskey put under his charge as a Sentinal, and for suffering Hugh Hall to draw whiskey out of the Said Barrel intended for the party."

...The Commanding Officers approve of the Sentence of the Court and orders that the Punishment take place at half past three this evening, at which time the party will Parrade for inspection.

8. July 04, 1804
William Clark

ussered in the day by a discharge of one shot from our Bow piece, proceeded on... Jos. Fields got bit by a Snake, which was quickly doctered with Bark by Cap Lewis... Passed a Creek 12 yds wide... as this Creek has no name, and this being the 4th of July the day of the independance of the U.S. call it 4th of July 1804 Creek... we closed the [day] by a Descharge from our bow piece, an extra Gill of whiskey.

9. July 12, 1804
William Clark

The Commanding officers, Capts. M. Lewis & W. Clark constituted themselves a Court Martial for the trial of such prisoners as are Guilty of Capatal Crimes, and under the rules and articles of War punishable by DEATH.

Alexander Willard was brought forward Charged with "Lying down and Sleeping on his post" whilst a Sentinal...

To this Charge the prisoner pleads Guilty of Lying Down, and Not Guilty, of Going to Sleep

The Court after Duly Considering the evidence aduced, are of oppinion that the Prisoner Alexdr. Willard is guilty of every part of the Charge exhibited against him. it being a breach of the rules and articles of War do Sentience him to receive One hundred lashes, on his bear back, at four different times in equal proportion. and Order that the punishment Commence this evening at Sunset, and Continue to be inflicted every evening untill Completed

Wm Clark

M. Lewis

10. January 01, 1805
John Ordway

cloudy but moderate. we fired a Swivel & drank a Glass. about 9 o.C. 15 of the party went up to the 1st village of Mandans to dance as it had been their request. carried with us a fiddle & a Tambereen & a Sounden horn. as we arived at the entrence of the vil we fired one found then the music played. loaded again. then marched to the center of the village [and] fired again. then commenced dancing. a frenchman danced on his head and all danced round him for a Short time then went in to a lodge & danced a while, which pleased them verry much they then brought vectules from different lodges & of different kinds of diet, they brought us also a quantity of corn & Some buffalow Robes which they made us a present off. So we danced in different lodges untill late in the afternoon. then a part of the men returned to the fort the remainder Stayed all night in the village -- rained a little in the evening

11. January 01, 1805
Joseph Whitehouse

2 Guns was discharged from the Swivel to celebrate the new year, a round of Small arms immediately after by each man of the party, a Glass of old ardent Spirits was given. a short time after Capt. Clark gave another. about 10 oClock one of the Intrepters & one half of the party went up to the 1st village of Mandans by their request to dance. Some time after Capt. Clark and 3 more men Came up also. the day was warm and pleasant. in the afternoon Capt. Lewis Gave another glass, in the evening Capt. Clark & Some of the party came home & Some Stayed all night.

12. February 10, 1805
John Ordway

one of our men returning from the Mandans village 2 or 3 young Indians followed him the Gate being Shut in Stead of calling to the Guard he went round back of the Fort and Scaled over. one of the Indians followed him over. Capt Lewis ordered the Indian away after Giving him a Scolding at the Same time telling him that he was not so much to blame as the white man Setting the example, & Gave him a piece of tobacco & Started him & confined the man for Setting Such a pernicious example to the Savages. to day at 12 oClock he was tried by a court martial. ... the prisoner was Sentenced 50 lashes & laid to the mercy of the commanding officer who was pleased to forgive him the punishment awarded by the court.

13. February 11, 1805
Meriwether Lewis

about five Oclock this evening one of the wives of Charbono was delivered of a fine boy. it is worthy of remark that this was the first child which this woman had boarn, and as is common in such cases her labour was tedious and the pain violent; Mr. Jessome informed me that he had freequently admininstered a small portion of the rattle of the rattle-snake, which he assured me had never failed to produce the desired effect, that of hastening the birth of the child; having the rattle of a snake by me I gave it to him and he administered two rings of it to the woman broken in small pieces with the fingers and added to a small quantity of water. Whether this medicine was truly the cause or not I shall not undertake to determine, but I was informed that she had not taken it more than ten minutes before she brought forth perhaps this remedy may be worthy of future experiments, but I must confess that I want faith as to it's efficacy.

14. February 15, 1805
John Ordway

about 2 OClock last night the 4 men who [were] dispatched yesterday returned and informed us that they were Stoped about 25 mls down the River by about 105 of the Souix Savages, they emediately Seized the horses cut of[f] the collars (hooping and yelling) jurked the halters from one to another through Several hands. then they jumped on two of them and rode of[f] uppon the run, ... one of the horses which they took was a fine large Gilding which belong[s] to one of the N. W. Compy tradors by the name of Mackinzie. ... as soon as we was informed of this Capt Lewis and 20 odd of the party vollunterily [volunteered] to go and fight. Sent word up to the 1st village to See if they would turn out the head chief & a nomber of warries came emediately to the Fort. we Got ready to Start directly but did not set out untill after Sunrise I then Set out with Capt Lewis and 20 odd more of the party. Several warries of the Mandans Set out with us but their was only 3 or 4 remained with us the whole day. we walked about 18 mls and halted. ... we then arived at 2 old Indian lodges which we Some expected to find them their we sent in a Spy but found none so we went to the lodges and Slept all night Some of the mens feet were sore walking 30 odd mls on the Ice to day.

15. November 04, 1805
William Clark

... Shannon set our early to walk on the Island to kill something, he joined us at the lower point with a Buck.

they had scarlet & blue blankets Salor Jackets, overalls, Shirts and hats independant of their usial dress; the most of them had either [war axes Spears or Bows Spring with quivers of arrows,] Muskets or pistols and tin flasks to hold their powder, Those fellows we found assumeing and disagreeable,

dureing the time we were at dinner those fellows Stold my pipe Tomahawk which they were Smoking with, ... while Serching for the Tomahawk one of those Scoundals Stole a cappoe [Capotte (gr: coat)] of one of our interperters, which was found Stufed under the root of a tree, near the place they Sat, we became much displeased with those fellows, which they discovered and moved off on their return home to their village, ... the large canoe was ornimented with Images carved in wood the figures of a Bear in front & a man in Stern, Painted & fixed verry netely on the canoe, rising to near the hight of a man

... passed the lower point of the Island which is nine miles in length ...

(As it lies across the entrance to the Multnomah, that river was not seen by Lewis and Clark in passing it; but, hearing of it on the return trip, Clark ascended it for a short distance)

... we had a full view of Mt. Helien which is perhaps the highest pinical in America ...

their dress differ but little, except they have more of the articles precured from the white traders, they all have flatened heads both men and women, live principally on fish and Wap pa too roots, ... They are thievishly inclined as we have experienced.

16. November 04, 1805
Patrick Gass

We went about 7 miles and came to a large Indian village, where they informed us that in two days we would come to two ships with white people in them. The Indians here have a great deal of new cloth among them, and other articles which they got from these ships. We got some dogs and roots from the natives. The roots are of a superior quality to any I had before seen: they are called whapto; resemble a potatoe when cooked, and are about as big as a hen egg. ... At this camp of the natives they have 52 canoes, well calculated for riding waves.

17. November 04, 1805
John Ordway

two canoe loads of Savages followed us and Stole Capt Clarks pipe tommahawk which he had been Smoaking with them. ... we passed Several large villages on each side the natives verry numerous .. towards evening we met several Indians in a handsom canoe which had an Immage on the bow. one of the Indians could talk & Speak Some words [of] English Such as curseing and blackguard they had a Sturgeon on board and have five muskets on board. ... the geese and brants verry thick.

18. December 25, 1805
William Clark

at day light this morning we we[re] awoke by the discharge of the fire arm[s] of all our party & a Selute, Shouts and a Song which the whole party joined in under our windows, after which they retired to their rooms were chearfull all the morning. after brackfast we divided our Tobacco which amounted to 12 carrots one half of which we gave to the men of the party who used tobacco, and to those who doe not use it we make a present of a handkerchief. ...all the party Snugly fixed in their huts. I recved a pres[e]nt of Capt. L. of a fleece hosrie [hosiery] Shirt Draws and Socks, a pr. Mockersons of Whitehouse a Small Indian basket of Gutherich, two Dozen white weazils tails of the Indian woman, & some black root of the Indians before their departure. The day proved Showerey wet and disagreeable.

we would have Spent this day the nativity of Christ in feasting, had we any thing either to raise our Sperits or even gratify our appetites, our Diner concisted of pore Elk, so much Spoiled that we eate it thro' mear necessity, Some Spoiled pounded fish and a fiew roots.

19. December 25, 1805
Patrick Gass

Was another cloudy wet day. This morning we left our camp and moved into our huts. At daybreak all the men paraded and fired a round of small arms, wishing the Commanding Officers a merry Christmas. In the course of the day Capt. Lewis and Capt. Clarke collected what tobacco remained and divided it among those who used tobacco as a Christmas-gift; to the others they gave handkerchiefs in lieu of it. We had no spirituous liquors to elevate our spirits this Christmas; but of this we had but little need, as we were all in very good health. Our living is not very good; meat is plenty, but of an ordinary quality, as the elk are poor in this part of the country. We have no kind of provisions but meat, and we are without salt to season that.

20. March 18, 1806
Meriwether Lewis

Drewyer was taken last night with a violent pain in his side. Capt. Clark blead him. several of the men are complaining of being unwell. it is truly unfortunate that they should be sick at the moment of our departure.

this morning we gave Delashelwilt a certificate of his good deportment &c. and also a list of our names, after which we dispatched him to his village with his female band. These lists of our names we have given to several of the natives and also paisted up a copy in our room. ... "The object of this list is, that through the medium of some civilized person who may see the same, it may be made known to the informed world, that the party consisting of the persons whose names are hereunto annexed, and who were sent out by the government of the U'States in May 1804. to explore the interior of the Continent of North America, did penetrate the same by way of the Missouri and Columbia Rivers, to the discharge of the latter into the Pacific Ocean, where they arrived on the 14th of November 1805, and from whence they departed the [blank space in MS.] day of March 1806 on their return to the United States by the same rout they had come out." on the back of some of these lists we added a sketch of the connection of the upper branches of the Missouri with those of the Columbia, particularly of it's main S.E. branch, on which we also delineated the track we had come and that we meant to pursue on our return where the same happened to vary. ... our party are also too small to think of leaving any of them to return to the U'States by sea, particularly as we shall be necessarily divided into three or four parties on our return in order to accomplish the objects we have in view; and at any rate we shall reach the United States in all human probability much earlier than a man could who must in the event of his being left here depend for his passage to the United States on the traders of the coast who may not return immediately to the U'States or if they should, might probably spend the next summer in trading with the natives before they would set out on their return.