Day-by-Day / January 11, 1804

January 11, 1804

Missing hunters

At Wood River, two hunters—Pvt. McNeal and Sgt. Ordway—are lost during the night and fail to return. Ice runs in the Missouri River, Clark is indisposed, and Lewis works in Cahokia and St. Louis.

Empty Bunks

Camp River Dubois Reconstruction

Empty bunks in a log cabin

© 2024 by Michael Pezeian. Used by permission.

Clark’s Ills

I was unwell last night Slept but little, a fine morning, the river Still riseing, the Missouries run with fine Ice, the Boat is afloat . . . . I am a good deel indisposed.
—William Clark

Related: The Barge

Lost Soldiers

one man McNeal out last night, he Sepperated from the hunting party about 7 miles from this place, he returnd this evening Sgt. Ordday [Ordway] was also lost all night
—William Clark

Related: Hunters Lost and Found

 

Weather Diary

Therm. at sun symbol rise weather wind Therm. at 4 oClock weather wind River
[no data on this date]

W C very sick
—Meriwether Lewis

Related: Thermometers and Temperatures | Weather Observations

 

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 January 11, 1804:

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logo: Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail logo: National Park Service

Winter Camp at Wood River (Camp Dubois) is a High Potential Historic Site along the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail managed by the U.S. National Park Service. The site, near Hartford, Illinois, is managed as Lewis and Clark State Historic Site and is open to the public.

 

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
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Lewis and Clark Trail Alliance
with cooperation and funding from the following organizations:

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).