Day-by-Day / April 1, 1805

April 1, 1805

Testing the boats

Because they will soon be leaving Fort Mandan at the Knife River Villages, the men put the two pirogues, six dugout canoes, and the barge into the Missouri River. Boxes for holding animal and plant specimens are built.

Boats in the Water

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

Testing the Boats

I had the Boat Perogus & Canos put in the water, and expect to Set off the boat with despatches   in her will go 6 Americans 3 frenchmen, and perhaps Several ricarra [Arikara]
—William Clark

the party then turned out and put the Big Barge and the 8 perogues in to the River.
John Ordway

Rain, Hail, and Thunder

The fore part of to day haile rain with Thunder & lightning, the rain continued by intimitions all day, it is worthey of remark that this is the 1st rain which has fallen Since we have been here or Since the 15 of October last, except a fiew drops at two or three defferent times—
William Clark

Cargo Boxes

Some boxes were made, in which it was intended to have packed skins of different animals, which had been procured in the country, to be sent down in the batteaux.
Patrick Gass

 

Weather Diary

State of Thermometer at sun symbol rise Weather Wind at sun symbol rise State of Thermometer at 4 P.M. Weather Wind at 4 P.M. State of the River
33 [above 0] cloudy N.W. 43 [above 0] cloudy after thunder lightening rain & hail W fallen 11 in.

ice ceases to run A fine refreshing shower of rain fell about 2 P. M. this was the first shower of rain that we had witnessed since the fifteenth of September 1804 tho’ it several times has fallen in very small quantities, and was noticed in this diary of the weather. the cloud came from the west, and was attended by hard [thun]der and Lightning. I have observed that all thunderclouds in the Western part of the continent, proceed from the westerly quarter, as they do in the Atlantic States. the air is remarkably dry and pure in this open country, very little rain or snow ether winter or summer. the atmosphere is more transparent than I ever observed it in any country through which I have passed.
—William Clark and Meriwether Lewis[2]To assist the reader, the editor of this web page has omitted the date column, clarified the “State of the River” information, 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 date column, clarified the “State of the River” information, and spelled out some abbreviations.

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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.