August 16, 1805 - Discover Lewis & Clark

Contents

The men haul the expedition’s heavy dugouts up a shallow and swift Beaverhead River. Clark, Charbonneau, and Sacagawea walk the shore gathering a “great quantity” of serviceberries. By night, they are within a day’s travel to Fortunate Camp.

Waiting at what they would later call Fortunate Camp, Lewis worries about the fate of the expedition. With him, the Lemhi Shoshones worry that they have been led into a trap. Lewis and Cameahwait switch appearances and Lewis gives the chief his gun.

Everyone Hungry

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

Fortunate Camp Site

A fire-damaged interpretive sign at Clark Reservoir, photographed 2013 by Kristopher K. Townsend.

Lewis Worries

Devouring Fresh Meat

when they arrived where the deer was which was in view of me they dismounted and ran in tumbling over each other like a parcel of famished dogs each seizing and tearing away a part of the intestens which had been previously thrown out by Drewyer who killed it . . . . I viewed these poor starved divils with pity and compassion
—Meriwether Lewis

Switching Appearances

the Chief with much cerimony put tippets about our necks such as they temselves woar I redily perceived that this was to disguise us and owed it’s origine to the same cause already mentioned. to give them further confidence I put my cocked hat with feather on the chief and my over shirt being of the Indian form my hair deshivled and skin well browned with the sun I wanted no further addition to make me a complete Indian in appearance the men followed my example and we were son completely metamorphosed.
—Meriwether Lewis

Handing Over Their Guns

I now determined to restore their confidence cost what it might and therefore gave the Chief my gun and told him that if his enimies were in those bushes before him that he could defend himself with that gun, that for my own part I was not affraid to die and if I deceived him he might make what uce of the gun he thought proper or in other words that he might shoot me. the men also gave their guns to other indians which seemed to inspire them with more confidence;
—Meriwether Lewis

Sacagawea and York

I had mentioned to the chief several times that we had with us a woman [Sacagawea] of his nation who had been taken prisoner by the Minnetares [Hidatsas], and that by means of her I hoped to explain myself more fully than I could do by signs. some of the party had also told the Indians that we had a man [York] with us who was black and had short curling hair, this had excited their curiossity very much. and they seemed quite as anxious to see this monster as they wer the merchandize which we had to barter for their horses.
—Meriwether Lewis

Lewis Worries all Night

I slept but little as might be well expected, my mind dwelling on the state of the expedition which I have ever held in equal estimation with my own existence, and the fait of which appeared at this moment to depend in a great measure upon the caprice of a few savages who are ever as fickle as the wind.
—Meriwether Lewis

Clark Nears River’s End

Hauling Canoes Upriver

the water So cold that we delayed until after we took breakfast. one hunter out this morning. 2 hunters Stayed out last night. we proceeded on as usal . . . . we find the current Swift the river Shallow we are oblidged to hall the large canoes the most of the time.
—John Ordway

Gathering Serviceberries

Capt. Clark our Intrepter [Toussaint Charbonneau] & wife [Sacagawea] walked on Shore and found a great quantity of Servis berrys the largest & best I ever Saw. they gethered a pale full &C. Gave them out to the party at noon . . . . the bottoms on the River narrow we name this place Servis berry valley.
—John Ordway

Forks of the Beaverhead

at the narrows I assended a mountain from the top of which I could See that the river forked near me the left hand appeared the largest & bore S. E. the right passed from the West thro’ an extensive Vallie, I could See but three Small trees in any Direction from the top of this mountain.
—William Clark

Weather Diary

State of the Thermometer at rise Weather at rise Wind at rise State of the Thermometer at 4 P.M. Weather at 4 P.M. Wind at 4 P.M.

48 [above 0] fair S W. 70 [above 0] fair S W.

Capt Lewis Join with the Snake Indians at the forks
—Meriwether Lewis and William Clark^[2]To assist the reader, the editor of this web page has omitted the date column and spelled out some abbreviations.

State of the Thermometer at rise	Weather at rise	Wind at rise	State of the Thermometer at 4 P.M.	Weather at 4 P.M.	Wind at 4 P.M.
48 [above 0]	fair	S W.	70 [above 0]	fair	S W.

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 date column and spelled out some abbreviations.

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