Winds prevent the boats from making more than 3½ miles up the Missouri, but they finally arrive at the future site of Fort Osage. While hunting several miles ahead, Clark mires in mud and is forced to spend the night away from the boats.
Wind Stops the Party
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
View from Fort Osage
© 2024 by Michael Pazeian. Used by permission.
Mighty Hard Work
the wind Arose and blew a head of us renderd our days Work mighty hard for the hands of Each Craft Saild. Only 3 miles
—Joseph Whitehouse
Fort Osage
When preparing the 1814 Nicholas Biddle edition of the expedition journals, Clark must have realized his entries of 22 and 23 June 1804 had failed to mention their discovery of a good location for a fort. Biddle recorded:
. . . on the southern shore of the river is a high commanding position 95 feet high, 72 above high water mark which overlooks the river which is here very narrow. The situation is highly favorable for a military position—and a post for trading with the Indians.[2]“The Nicholas Biddle Notes” in Letters of the Lewis and Clark Expedition with Related Documents: 1783–1854, ed. Donald Jackson (Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1978), 2:509.
Biddle wrote the above note circa April 1810, and by then “Fort Clarke or Fort Osage” had been established as a military outpost to promote trade with the Osage, Iowa, and Kansa nations.
Clark’s Embarrassment
altho I had nothing but my hunting Dress, & the Musquitors Ticks & Knats [eye gnats] verry troublesom, I concld to hunt on a Willow Isd. Situated close under the Shore, in Crossing from an Island, I got mired, and was obliged to Craul out, a disegreeable Situation & a Diverting one of any one who Could have Seen me after I got out, all Covered with mud
—William Clark, written 24 June 1804.
Clark’s Night Out
made a fire expecting the boat would Come up in the evening. the wind continueing to blow prevented their moveing, as the distance by land was too great for me to return by night I concluded to Camp, Peeled Some bark to lay on, and geathered wood to make fires to Keep off the musquitor & Knats. Heard the party on Shore fire, at Dark Drewyer came to me with the horses
—William Clark
Experience the Lewis and Clark Trail
The Lewis and Clark Trail Experience—our sister site at lewisandclark.travel—connects the world to people and places on the Lewis and Clark Trail.
Plan a trip related to June 23, 1804:
Fort Osage is a High Potential Historic Site along the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail managed by the U.S. National Park Service. The site is managed by the Fort Osage National Historic Landmark and is open to the public.
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 | “The Nicholas Biddle Notes” in Letters of the Lewis and Clark Expedition with Related Documents: 1783–1854, ed. Donald Jackson (Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1978), 2:509. |
