Day-by-Day / January 1, 1806

January 1, 1806

A new year at Fort Clatsop

To bring in the new year at Fort Clatsop, the enlisted men fire a volley to awaken the captains. Lewis resumes writing his journal and imagines New Year’s Day in 1807 when everyone will be home. Clark inventories ship captains that visit the area, and Sgt. Gass is surprised by the number of active insects this time of year.

A New Year Celebration

by Yellowstone Public Radio[1]Originally aired weekdays by Yellowstone Public Radio during the Bicentennial observance of 2003-2006. Narrated by Hal Hansen. Scripts by Whit Hansen and Ed Jacobson. Produced by Leni Holliman. © … Continue reading

The New Year

The party Saluted our officers at day break this morning by firing at their quarters as a remembrence of the new year
John Ordway

at present we were content with eating our boiled Elk and wappetoe, and solacing our thirst with our only beverage pure water.
Meriwether Lewis

New Orders

the centinel shall be posted, both day and night, on the parade in front of the commanding offercers quarters; tho’ should he at any time think proper to remove himself to any other part of the fort . . . .
the water-gate may be used freely by the Garrison for the purpose of passing and repassing at all times, tho’ from sunset, untill sunrise, it shall be the duty of the centinel, to open the gate for, and shut it after all persons passing and repassing . . . .
—Meriwether Lewis

 

Insects

the ticks, flies and other insects are in abundance, which appears to us very extraordinary at this season of the year, in a latitude so far north.
Patrick Gass

Changing Weather

sometimes tho’ seldom the sun is visible for a few moments the next it hails & rains
—Weather Diary

Anticipation

our repast of this day tho’ better than that of Christmass, consisted principally in the anticipation of the 1st day of January 1807, when in the bosom of our friends we hope to participate in the mirth and hilarity of the day, and when the zest given by the recollection of the present, we shall completely, both mentally and corporally, enjoy the repast which the hand of civilization has prepared for us.
—Meriwether Lewis

Anticipated Ship Captains

A List of the names of Sundery persons, who visit this part of the Coast for the purpose of trade &c. &c. in large Vestles; all of which Speake the English language &c.—as the Indians inform us

. . . .

Mr. Haley Visits them in a Ship & they expect him back to trade with them in 3 moons to trade— he is the favourite of the Indians (from the number of Presents he givs) and has the trade principaly with all the tribes.—
William Clark

 

Weather Diary

aspect of the weather at sun symbol rise Wind at sun symbol rise Weather at 4 OC. P.M. Wind at 4 OC. P.M.
cloudy after rain S. W. rain after clouds S.

sun visible for a few minutes about 11 A M. the changes of the weather are exceedingly suddon. sometimes tho’ seldom the sun is visible for a few moments the next it hails & rains, then ceases, and remains cloudy the wind blows and it again rains; the wind blows by squalls most generally and is almost invariably from S. W. these visicitudes of the weather happen two three or more times half a day. snake seen 25th Decembr
—Meriwether Lewis[2]To assist the reader, the editor of this web page has omitted the “Day of the month” column and spelled out some abbreviations.

 

Notes

Notes
1 Originally aired weekdays by Yellowstone Public Radio during the Bicentennial observance of 2003-2006. Narrated by Hal Hansen. Scripts by Whit Hansen and Ed Jacobson. Produced by Leni Holliman. © 2003 by Yellowstone Public Radio.
2 To assist the reader, the editor of this web page has omitted the “Day of the month” column and spelled out some abbreviations.

Discover More

  • The Lewis and Clark Expedition: Day by Day by Gary E. Moulton (University of Nebraska Press, 2018). The story in prose, 14 May 1804–23 September 1806.
  • The Lewis and Clark Journals: An American Epic of Discovery (abridged) by Gary E. Moulton (University of Nebraska Press, 2003). Selected journal excerpts, 14 May 1804–23 September 1806.
  • The Lewis and Clark Journals. by Gary E. Moulton (University of Nebraska Press, 1983–2001). The complete story in 13 volumes.