Kristopher Townsend
From the Pacific Northwest Living Historians at Lewis and Clark National Historic Park, Fort Clatsop.
Since 2016, Kristopher K. Townsend has been the webmaster and editor of this site, Discovering Lewis & Clark®. He has been actively photo-documenting the Lewis and Clark Trail since 1995. He attempts as closely as possible to re-create scenes as described in the journals including the same time of year, natural state, location, and weather. He has contributed numerous photos throughout the Discovering Lewis & Clark website.
Kris taught several years as a tenured instructor at Spokane Falls Community College. His courses included Internet programming and other information technology and computer science courses. During that time, he was also the series editor and an author of a popular college textbook series on Office Technology.
Shortly after the advent of the World Wide Web, he managed a web server featuring digital photos, digital video, and articles created by his Glenwood Heights Primary students. Topics included historical sites of Clark County (Washington State), wildflowers and birds of Clark County, and how-to videos for school’s physical education program.
Contributions to this Site
April 22, 1804
Our Missouria Indian
by Kristopher K. Townsend
In St. Louis, the captains work with Pierre Chouteau‘s recently arrived delegation of Osage Indians. An undated note says that the captains have decided not to bring aboard a Missouria man who has been staying at Camp River Dubois.
April 21, 1804
Chouteau's Osage delegation
by Kristopher K. Townsend
At Camp River Dubois, a cannon is heard from up the Missouri River. Soon after, a salute is fired to greet Pierre Chouteau and 22 Osage People. The captains place Sgt. Ordway in charge and travel with the delegation to St. Louis.
April 20, 1804
Fixing Clark's sword
by Kristopher K. Townsend
On a dark and sultry day at Camp River Dubois across from St. Louis, Clark has his sword and dirk fixed. In Washington City, President Thomas Jefferson receives disappointing news about the fossils that Lewis collected at Big Bone Lick on his way down the Ohio.
April 19, 1804
Shooting at the mark
by Kristopher K. Townsend
At Camp River Dubois across from St. Louis, the soldiers practice shooting at a mark. Clark settles the expedition’s account with Major Nathan Rumsey, Army Commissary.
April 18, 1804
Sending for Capt. Lewis
by Kristopher K. Townsend
Sgt. Charles Floyd and Pvt. George Shannon leave Camp River Dubois with two horses to meet Lewis who is crossing over from St. Louis. Hunters add the double-crested cormorant and muskrat to their tally of kills.
April 17, 1804
Kegs and bushels
by Kristopher K. Townsend
At Camp River Dubois across the Mississippi from St. Louis, four men search for a lost horse. Fifty kegs of salted pork is secured and some corn meal is packed away. In the Weather Diary, Clark reports on the spring growth in the American Bottom.
April 16, 1804
Packing away
by Kristopher K. Townsend
At Camp River Dubois, Clark reports that they “Packed away” coffee, sugar, beans, candles, soap, 44 kegs of salted pork, and several other items. Several of the enlisted men are confined to their quarters for drunkenness.
April 15, 1804
Paying Mrs. Cane
by Kristopher K. Townsend
At winter camp on the River Dubois, Clark pays Mrs. Cane for her services as washerwoman and seamstress. A boat heading up the Mississippi River passes by, and several men hunt or practice shooting.
April 14, 1804
Packing corn, pork, and salt
by Kristopher K. Townsend
As Clark oversees the packing of corn, flour, and salt at Camp River Dubois, President Jefferson samples a new shipment of wine from Portugal. Pvt. Moses Reed is sent to St. Louis on errands and at Monticello, Jefferson writes instructions for Thomas Freeman’s expedition to explore the Red and Arkansas rivers.
April 13, 1804
Provisions arrive
by Kristopher K. Townsend
Clark leaves St. Louis for Camp River Dubois. He crosses the Mississippi in Major Nathan Rumsey’s boat loaded with “Sundery articles” for the upcoming voyage. An extra ration of whiskey is given to the enlisted men.
April 12, 1804
Discipline problems
by Kristopher K. Townsend
On this or the next day, Clark and Army Commissary Major Nathan Rumsey leave St. Louis with provisions for the men at Camp River Dubois. Also near this date, Clark summarizes the discipline problems encountered thus far—mostly fights among the enlisted men.
April 11, 1804
St. Louis tasks
by Kristopher K. Townsend
The captains are in St. Louis attending to “Sunderery Stores”. Across the Mississippi at Camp River Dubois, work continues under Sgt. Ordway‘s command. A ‘memorandum of articles which may be wanting’ lists pork, flour, corn, and whiskey.
April 10, 1804
Budding plum trees
by Kristopher K. Townsend
In St. Louis, the captains are attending to “Sunderey Stores”. Their Weather Diary notes that the Chickasaw plums are leaving and budding. Across the Mississippi at Camp River Dubois, work continues under Sgt. Ordway’s charge.
April 9, 1804
Attending to sundry stores
by Kristopher K. Townsend
While in St. Louis, the captains attend to “Sundery Stores &c.” An undated letter between the two—written about this time—indicates the types of things that may need their attention: red paint, nails, ribbon, and repairing two trumpets (sounding horns). The enlisted men continue across the Mississippi at Camp River Dubois.
April 8, 1804
Expenses mount
by Kristopher K. Townsend
Clark and Lewis attend a ball in St. Louis that continues all night. Host Amos Stoddard hopes the U.S. Government will pay back the $622 the party cost him. Across the Mississippi at Camp River Dubois, Sgt. Ordway writes a letter to his parents.
April 7, 1804
Capt. Stoddard's ball
by Kristopher K. Townsend
Clark, Lewis, and York leave Camp River Dubious to attend a formal dinner and ball hosted by Captain Amos Stoddard, the new Commandant of Upper Louisiana. In their absence, Sgt. Ordway “will be held accountable for the Poliece; and good order of the Camp”.
April 6, 1804
Tomahawks and knives
by Kristopher K. Townsend
A birch bark canoe belonging to trader Lewis Crawford and bound for the post at Mackinac sets out from Camp River Dubois. Clark distributes knives and tomahawks to the enlisted men, and in the evening, it snows for a short time.
April 5, 1804
A speech for the Iowas
by Kristopher K. Townsend
At Camp River Dubois, Clark and Lewis write speeches to inform Iowa and Yanktonai People of the Louisiana transfer of ownership. They send the speeches with Des Moines River trader Lewis Crawford along with Jefferson’s questions for Indians and vocabulary forms. They also send an invitation to visit Washington City.
April 4, 1804
Packing provisions
by Kristopher K. Townsend
At Camp River Dubois, Clark has the enlisted men pack corn, salted pork, flour, and other provisions needed for the upcoming trip. He also writes a speech to be delivered by trader Lewis Crawford to the Iowa People and other Sioux Nations.
April 3, 1804
A Letter for Prairie du Chien
by Kristopher K. Townsend
At sunrise, Nicholas Jarrot‘s boat leaves Camp River Dubois with a letter from Clark to John Campbell of Prairie Du Chien, an important fur trade center in present Wisconsin. Clark has the enlisted men pack corn meal, flour, and salted pork. Lewis works in St. Louis.
April 2, 1804
Northward-bound traders
by Kristopher K. Townsend
The day is fair at Camp River Dubois opposite the mouth of the Missouri, and Clark reports that the men are “a cleaning to Day.” A boat loaded with provisions to sell at Prairie du Chien stops for the night, and Lewis remains in St. Louis.
April 1, 1804
Squads and messes
by Kristopher K. Townsend
At Camp River Dubois opposite the mouth of the Missouri, mayapple blossoms appear and a boat with provisions arrives. The captains divide the enlisted men into three squads with a sergeant in charge of each. They are given rules for cooking and sleeping, and Sgt. Ordway is given the duty roster.
March 31, 1804
Horse rescue
by Kristopher K. Townsend
At winter camp on the Wood River across from the mouth of the Missouri, Major Nathan Rumsey, U.S. Army commissary, arrives to help provision the expedition. Clark sends two men to rescue a horse in distress.
March 30, 1804
Casa Calvo's obstructions
by Kristopher K. Townsend
At winter camp on the Wood River, the orders of yesterday’s military court are read. In New Orleans, Spanish Commissioner Casa Calvo asks that the Lewis and Clark Expedition be stopped by military arrest.
March 29, 1804
Courts martial
by Kristopher K. Townsend
With both captains now at winter camp at the Wood River across from the mouth of the Missouri, Privates Shields, Colter, and Frazer are tried in the expedition’s first military court.
March 28, 1804
Lewis comes to camp
by Kristopher K. Townsend
Lewis travels from St. Louis to the camp at Wood River across from the mouth of the Missouri where soldiers are busy making ready for their voyage up that river.
March 27, 1804
Making corn meal
by Kristopher K. Townsend
At winter camp across from the mouth of the Missouri, the men make corn meal from parched corn. Clark reports he is sick and notes the appearance of buds on the spice bushes.
March 26, 1804
Finding Simon Girty
by Kristopher K. Townsend
Lewis sends Thomas Jefferson Osage orange cuttings from Pierre Chouteau’s garden and in one of the Indian camps near the mouth of the Missouri, Clark meets Simon Girty, an infamous American traitor.
March 25, 1804
Bad mosquitoes
by Kristopher K. Townsend
Men collect honey and complete various errands around winter camp at the River Dubois—present Wood River. Clark orders food for two dozen Sauk Indians and reports that the mosquitoes are bad.
March 24, 1804
Reflections on Louisiana
by Kristopher K. Townsend
At winter camp on the Wood River, Clark sends out letters. Sometime this month, the Commanding General of the U.S. Army secretly advises Spanish officials to stop the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
March 23, 1804
Kickapoo update
by Kristopher K. Townsend
At winter camp across the Mississippi above St. Louis, the man sent up the river to check the status of a Kickapoo war party returns with a letter from François Saucier, the commander of Portage des Sioux.
March 22, 1804
Preparing the barge
by Kristopher K. Townsend
At Wood River, Illinois, Clark has the enlisted men prepare the barge for its journey up the Missouri. He also dispatches a man to check that a Kickapoo war party has returned to their home.
March 21, 1804
Return to Wood River
by Kristopher K. Townsend
Lewis, Clark, Auguste or Pierre Chouteau, and Charles Gratiot return to Wood River, Illinois after intercepting a Kickapoo war party near St. Charles. Clark’s field notes resume—the first since 9 February.
March 20, 1804
A chorus of frogs
by Kristopher K. Townsend
The captains return from St. Charles where they had intercepted a Kickapoo war party. Clark records hearing frogs for the first time this season and perhaps finalizes questions about Native American dress.
March 19, 1804
Intercepting a war party
by Kristopher K. Townsend
Clark and Lewis travel to St. Charles to prevent a large Kickapoo war party from attacking the Osage. The enlisted men continue at Wood River, Illinois under Sgt. Ordway’s charge.
March 18, 1804
Native amusements
by Kristopher K. Townsend
At Wood River, Illinois, the day reaches 50°—a signal that the expedition may soon be able to head up the Missouri River. Perhaps Clark finalizes the questions about Native American amusements.
March 17, 1804
War tactics
by Kristopher K. Townsend
The enlisted men at Wood River, Illinois enjoy spring-like weather while the captains are away. During this time, Clark finalizes questions about the war tactics of the Native Nations they will soon meet.
March 16, 1804
Native fishing and hunting
by Kristopher K. Townsend
At Wood River, Illinois, the day warms to nearly 50 degrees. Sometime during this stage of the expedition, Clark finalizes the questions about Native American hunting and fishing.
March 15, 1804
Snowy morning
by Kristopher K. Townsend
At Wood River, Illinois, the day begins cold and snowy, but warms to 48°. Sometime during this period, Clark finalizes the questions about Native American “Agriculture and Domestic economy”.
March 14, 1804
Native agriculture
by Kristopher K. Townsend
Clark and Lewis are likely working in St. Louis while the enlisted men are at Wood River, Illinois under the charge of Sgt. Ordway. Perhaps Clark finalizes the questions about Native American agriculture.
March 13, 1804
Native traditions
by Kristopher K. Townsend
Clark and Lewis are likely working in St. Louis while the enlisted men continue at Wood River, Illinois under the charge of Sgt. Ordway. Perhaps Clark works on the questions about Indian traditions and history.
March 12, 1804
St. Louis speech
by Kristopher K. Townsend
In St. Louis, Dehault Delassus delivers a speech to several Indians informing them of the transfer of Upper Louisiana from Spain to the United States. Meriwether Lewis witnesses the event.
March 11, 1804
Temperatures rise
by Kristopher K. Townsend
As the day warms, the captains are in St. Louis celebrating yesterday’s transfer of Upper Louisiana to the United States as some of the enlisted men guard the stores at winter camp in Illinois.
March 10, 1804
Raising the American flag
by Kristopher K. Townsend
In St. Louis, Amos Stoddard declares Upper Louisiana as belonging to the United States, and the American flag is raised. Captains Lewis and Clark are there to witness the event.
March 9, 1804
Raising the French flag
by Kristopher K. Townsend
In St. Louis, Lewis serves as a witness to the delivery and receipt of the Upper Louisiana from Spain to France. With speeches and ceremony, the Spanish flag is lowered, and the French flag raised.
March 8, 1804
Transfer preparations
by Kristopher K. Townsend
In St. Louis, Delassus Carlos announces the transfer of Upper Louisiana tomorrow. Lewis and Captain Amos Stoddard’s honor guard assemble in Cahokia in advance of tomorrow’s parade.
March 7, 1804
Impressing the Sioux
by Kristopher K. Townsend
In Cahokia near this date, Lewis receives Jefferson’s request to establish friendly terms with the Sioux. Also enclosed is a letter announcing Lewis’s membership in the American Philosophical Society.
March 6, 1804
Terms of commerce
by Kristopher K. Townsend
The captains work in St. Louis and Cahokia as the transfer of Upper Louisiana nears. By this date, they have received President Jefferson’s January letter regarding commerce with the Louisiana Tribes.
March 5, 1804
Wilkinson's sedition
by Kristopher K. Townsend
On or near this date, the commander of the U.S. Army James Wilkinson advises Spain to block the Lewis and Clark Expedition—an act of sedition. The captains continue in St. Louis, the others at Wood River.
March 4, 1804
Lewis's appeal
by Kristopher K. Townsend
Lewis appeals to the enlisted men at Wood River to follow Sgt. Ordway’s orders while the captains are in St. Louis and that doing so is critical to the “ultimate success of the enterprise”.
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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.
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