Day-by-Day / August 17, 1804

August 17, 1804

Otoe chiefs and a deserter

Pvt. Labiche returns to Fish Camp near present Homer, Nebraska ahead of Drouillard‘s party. He informs the captains that three Otoe chiefs and the deserter Pvt. Reed will soon arrive. A prairie fire is set as a signal to any nearby Indians, and Lewis collects a specimen of curly-cup gumweed.

Deserter Moses Reed Caught

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

Three Otoe Chiefs

the object of those Chiefs comeing forward is to make a peace with the Mahars [Omahas] thro: us—. as the Mahars are not at home this great object cannot be accomplished at this time Set the Praries on fire to bring the Mahars & Soues if any were near, this being the usial Signal.
—William Clark

News of Moses Reed

at 6 oClock this evening Labieche [Labiche] one of the Party Sent to the Ottoes [Otoes] joined, and informed that the Party was behind with one of the Deserters M B. Reed and the 3 principal Chiefs of the Nations— La Liberty [La Liberté] they cought but he decived them and got away—
William Clark

 

Curly-cup Gumweed

No. 40. — Taken at our camp at the Maha vilage August 17th 1804. it is a handsome plant about 3 feet high much branched bears a yellow circular flower . . . . annual plant is covered with a gumlike substance which adheres to the fingers and yealds a pleasent smell.—
Meriwether Lewis[2]This description comes from the list that Lewis provided with specimens sent from Fort Mandan and recorded in John Vaughn’s 1805 Donation Book. Three sheets in the Lewis and Clark Herbarium … Continue reading

 

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 This description comes from the list that Lewis provided with specimens sent from Fort Mandan and recorded in John Vaughn’s 1805 Donation Book. Three sheets in the Lewis and Clark Herbarium exist. Gary E. Moulton, ed. Journals, “Fort Mandan Miscellany”, vol 3:459, 468. See also, Herbarium, specimen 76.

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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.