Clark and Lewis are likely working in St. Louis while the enlisted men continue their routine at Wood River, Illinois under the charge of Sgt. Ordway. The weather diary reports that the day is cold and clear, and perhaps Clark works on the list of questions about Native traditions and history.
Idols of the Mandan Indians
Karl Bodmer (1809–1893)
Rare Book Division, The New York Public Library.[1]“Götzenbilder der Mandan Indianer. Idoles des Indiens Mandans. Idols of the Mandan Indians.” New York Public Library Digital Collections. Accessed 10 October 2019. … Continue reading
Indian Traditions and History
The expedition’s “Questions for Indians” was an ongoing project with contributions from many sources. Clark’s notes while wintering at Wood River, Illinois summarize and finalize the list.
Inquiries relitive to the Indians of Louisiania.
. . . .
4th. Traditions or National History
. . . .
From what quarter of the earth did they emigrate as related to them by their ancisters.
What the cause of their removal and the circumstancies attending their peregrination.
With what savage nations have they formed strict alliance, or those of offensive and Defensive war.
Have they any Monuments to perpetuate national events of the memory of a distinguished Chief—and if so what are they?
—William Clark[2]Undated and unsigned list written in Clark’s hand. Donald Jackson, ed. Letters of the Lewis and Clark Expedition with Related Documents: 1783-1854, 2nd ed. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, … Continue reading
Weather Diary
Therm at rise
weather wind Therm at 4 Oclk weather wind River 16 above 0 fair N W 20 above 0 fair N W fall 1 ½ in. —Meriwether Lewis and William Clark[3]To assist the reader, the editor of this web page has omitted the date column, merged the “River” columns, and spelled out some abbreviations.
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 March 13, 1804:
- Winter Camp at Wood River (Camp Dubois)
- Along the Mississippi (Inspiration Trip)
- Around St. Louis (Inspiration Trip)
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.
Notes
| ↑1 | “Götzenbilder der Mandan Indianer. Idoles des Indiens Mandans. Idols of the Mandan Indians.” New York Public Library Digital Collections. Accessed 10 October 2019. http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47da-c44c-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99. |
|---|---|
| ↑2 | Undated and unsigned list written in Clark’s hand. Donald Jackson, ed. Letters of the Lewis and Clark Expedition with Related Documents: 1783-1854, 2nd ed. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1978), 159. |
| ↑3 | To assist the reader, the editor of this web page has omitted the date column, merged the “River” columns, and spelled out some abbreviations. |
