On this wet spring day at theCascades of the Columbia, the men tow four dugout canoes through the “big Shoote.” Hostilities ensue when a few local Natives start stealing things. Even Lewis’s dog Seaman is stolen. In Washington City, President Jefferson writes a letter to the Arikaras explaining Chief Too Né‘s death there.
Rain, Rain, and More Rain
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
Cascades of the Columbia
© 2022 by Robert Heacock. Used by permission.
Heading down the Columbia River in 1805, the expedition camped on one of the islands above the “big Shoote,” the rapids that became to be known as the Cascades of the Columbia. Those rapids are now inundated by the Bonneville Dam reservoir, and the portage area is obscured by fog in the bend below the islands.
Wet Portage
As the tents and skins which covered both our men and baggage were wet with the rain which fell last evening, and as it continued still raining this morning we concluded to take our canoes first to the head of the rapids, hoping that by evening the rain would cease and afford us a fair afternoon to take our baggage over the portage. this portage is two thousand eight hundred yards along a narrow rough and slipery road.
—Meriwether Lewis
Lining the “big Shoote”
all of the party except a fiew to guard the baggage turned out with Capt. Clark to takeing up our canoes with the tow Rope up the big Shoote took one large one and one Small one at once the large one filled at the highest pitch where it is allmost perpinticular but with Some difficulty we got the 2 to the head of the portage about noon. then went back took dinner and took another large canoe and a Small one the other Smallest one was taken & carried by land. this large canoe filled twice with water at the worst pitch but with some difficulty & hard fatigue got them Safe up towards evening by the assistance of a number of Indians at the worst pitch &C. and halled the large canoe up by force allthough She was full of water. the most of the mens feet sore towing over the Sharp rocks.
—John Ordway
Shields Robbed
Sheilds [John Shields] who had delayed some time in purchasing a dog and was a considerable distance behind the party on their return with Capt. C. they attempted to take the dog from him and pushed him out of the road. he had nothing to defend himself with except a large knife which he drew with an intention of puting one or both of them to death before they could get themselves in readiness to use their arrows, but discovering his design they declined the combat and instantly fled through the woods.
—Meriwether Lewis
Seaman Stolen
three of this same tribe of villains the Wah-clel-lars [Watlalas], stole my dog [Seaman] this evening, and took him towards their village; I was shortly afterwards informed of this transaction by an indian who spoke the Clatsop language, and sent three men in pursuit of the theives with orders if they made the least resistence or difficulty in surrendering the dog to fire on them; they overtook these fellows or reather came within sight of them at the distance of about 2 miles; the indians discovering the party in pursuit of them left the dog and fled.
—Meriwether Lewis
Threatening Deadly Force
they also stole an ax from us, but scarcely had it in their possession before Thompson detected them and wrest it from them. we ordered the centinel to keep them out of camp, and informed them by signs that if they made any further attempts to steal our property or insulted our men we should put them to instant death.
—Meriwether Lewis
Restoring Peace
The Cheif appeared mortified at the conduct of his people, and seemed friendly disposed towards us. as he appeared to be a man of consideration and we had reason to beleive much rispected by the neighbouring tribes we thought it well to bestoe a medal of small size upon him. he appeared much gratifyed with this mark of distinction, and some little attention which we shewed him. he had in his possession a very good pipe tomahawk . . . . he was pleased with the tommahawk of Capt. C. in consequence of it’s having a brass bowl and Capt. C. gratified him by an exchange.
—Meriwether Lewis
Of Too Né’s Passing
[11 April 1806]
My friends & children of the Ricara nation.
It gave me great pleasure to see your beloved chief *Arketarnawhar chief of the town arrive here on a visit to his white brothers of the United States of America. I took him by the hand with affection, I considered him as bringing to me the assurances of your friendship and that you were willing to become of one family with us. wishing to see as much as he could of his new brethren he consented to go on towards the sea as far as Baltimore & Philadelphia. he found nothing but kindness & good will wherever he passed. on his return to this place he was taken sick; every thing we could do to help him was done; but it pleased the great Spirit to take him from among us. we buried him among our own deceased friends & relations, we shed many tears over his grave, and we now mingle our affections with yours on the loss of this beloved chief. but death must happen to all men; and his time was come.
*leave a blank for the name of the deceased chief, which is not known as yet.
[Thomas Jefferson][2]Founders Online, National Archives, founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/99-01-02-3554. [from The Papers of Thomas Jefferson]; also in Letters of the Lewis and Clark Expedition with Related … Continue reading
Jefferson to the Mandans
Apr. 11. 1806.
My friends and children
I should have recieved with great satisfaction at the seat of our govmt some of your chiefs, with those of the Osages, Ricaras [Arikaras], Missouris, Panis [Pawnees] & others who have lately visited us.
but the journey is long, liable to many accidents and therefore not to be insisted on between friends. at some future time perhaps I shall have the pleasure of seeing some of you here. I consider you as the first nation beyond the Missisipi which we became acquainted with through our beloved man Capt Lewis, who passed a winter with you. you recieved him as a friend, were kind to him, and I now thank you for all the services you rendered him and his people.
Th:J.[3]Founders Online, National Archives, founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/99-01-02-3547. [from The Papers of Thomas Jefferson.]; also in Letters of the Lewis and Clark Expedition with Related … Continue reading
Weather Diary
State of weather at rise
Wind at State of the weather at 4 P.M. Wind at 4 P.M. River rain after rain W cloudy after rain S. W. raised in. cold raining night the geese are yet in large flocks and do not yet appear to have mated. what I have heretofore termed the broad leafed ash is now in blume. the fringetree has cast the corolla and it’s leaves have nearly obtained their full size. the sac a commis [bearberry] is in blume.—.—
—Meriwether Lewis[4]To assist the reader of this web page, the date column is not presented, the “State of the Columbia River” columns have been merged, and some abbreviations have been spelled out.
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 | Founders Online, National Archives, founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/99-01-02-3554. [from The Papers of Thomas Jefferson]; also in Letters of the Lewis and Clark Expedition with Related Documents: 1783-1854, 2nd ed., ed. Donald Jackson (Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1978), 306. |
| ↑3 | Founders Online, National Archives, founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/99-01-02-3547. [from The Papers of Thomas Jefferson.]; also in Letters of the Lewis and Clark Expedition with Related Documents: 1783-1854, 2nd ed., ed. Donald Jackson (Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1978), 307. |
| ↑4 | To assist the reader of this web page, the date column is not presented, the “State of the Columbia River” columns have been merged, and some abbreviations have been spelled out. |
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.
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.
This page was funded in part by the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, U.S. National Park Service.
This site is provided as a public service by the
Lewis and Clark Trail Alliance
with cooperation and funding from the following organizations:
- Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail
- Montana Committee for the Humanities
- Idaho Governor's Lewis and Clark Trail Committee
- The Capital Gallery (Lewis and Clark Fort Mandan Foundation)
- Yellowstone Public Radio
Unless otherwise noted, journal excerpts are from The Journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, edited by Gary E. Moulton, 13 vols. (Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1983-2001).