Day-by-Day / March 15, 1806

March 15, 1806

Harvesting the hunt

At Fort Clatsop near the Pacific Ocean, the captains continue to barter for canoes without success. Several enlisted men are busy hunting and gathering meat, and the “old baud” sets up her business outside the fort. Lewis describes the white-fronted goose—new to science.

Twenty Shots, Four Elk

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

Harvesting the Hunt

as the Elk were scattered we Sent two parties for them, they returned in the evening with four Skins, and the flesh of three Elk, that of one of them haveing become putred from the liver and pluck [internal organs] haveing been carelessly left in the Animal all night.
Meriwether Lewis

The “Old Baud” Returns

a Chinnook Chief his wife and six women of his nation which the old baud his wife had brought for market. this was the same party that had communicated the venerial to so many of our party in November last, and of which they have finally recovered. I therefore gave the men a particular charge with rispect to them which they promised me to observe.
—Meriwether Lewis

Canoe Shopping

the Savages [Clatsops] Stayed in the fort last night, but do not incline to Sell us their canoe. Drewyer and five men Sent up to the Cathlemahs [Kathlamets] village to purchase a canoe if possible
John Ordway

Observations

Observed Equal Altitudes of the sun symbol with Sextant . . . . chronometer too slow on mean Time
—Meriwether Lewis

 

White-fronted Goose

There is a third speceis of brant in the neighbourhood of this place which is about the size and much the form of the pided brant.
—Meriwether Lewis

 

Weather Diary

Aspect of the weather at sun symbol Rise Wind at sun symbol rise Aspect of weather at 4 O’Ck P. M. Wind at 4 OCk. P. M.
cloudy after clouds N E. fair N. E.

the temperature of the air is perfectly pleasent without fire.—became fair at 8 A. M.— the sorrel with an oval, obtuse and ternate leaf has now put forth it’s leaves. [Oregon oxalis] some of them have nearly obtained their growth already. the birds were singing very agreably this morning particularly the common robin.—
—Meriwether Lewis[2]To assist the reader, the editor of this web page has omitted the “Day of the Month” column 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 15, 1806:

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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 “Day of the Month” column and spelled out some abbreviations.

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.