While moving up the Missouri, they come across Pvt. Shannon who has been missing for 22 days. Wearing a red shirt, Sgt. Ordway has a close encounter with a bison bull, and the rain wets his powder. They camp near present Rush Creek, South Dakota.
Ordway’s Red Shirt
© Michael Haynes, https://www.mhaynesart.com. Used with permission.
Shannon Found
George Shannon who had been absent with the horses 16 days joined the boat about one oclock. his bullets he Shot all away & he was with out any thing to eat for about 12 days except a fiew Grapes . . . . He Shot a rabit with Sticks which he cut & put in his gun after his Balls were gone.
—John Ordway
Ordway’s Red Shirt
I went around the gang of Buffaloe, crept near them as they were feeding, with their heads towards me as I was a watching them to get one side ways one of them discovered me I kept Still had on a red Shirt he looked at me, & walked up near to me. I was obledged to Shoot, at his head . . . . rained So hard my gun got wet loading,
—John Ordway
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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
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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).