In a letter to Clark, Lewis describes the new recruits from Tennessee who are with him in Cahokia. He also recommends Clark assign two men to saw boards. At Wood River, Clark practices taking celestial observations.
Two Sawyers
Photo provided by Lewis & Clark State Historic Site, Hartford, Illinois. Used by permission. (Altered: background changed to early winter)
New Blacksmith and Carpenter
Cahokia December 17th 1803.
Dear Captain,
Among the party from Tennissee is a blacksmith and House-joiner—these may be of service in our present situation.
M. LEWIS[1]Lewis to Clark. Donald Jackson, ed. Letters of the Lewis and Clark Expedition with Related Documents: 1783-1854, 2nd ed. (Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1978), 144.
Sawyers Needed
If two men could be spared from building the hutts, would it not be better to set them at sawing of boards. Hennebury informed me . . . that he knew a person in the neighborhood who had a whip-saw . . . . You can obtain corn for the horses by application to Hennebury or any person who has the care of Morrison’s farm.
M. LEWIS[2]Ibid.
Parts of an Octant
Celestial Observations
a Cold fine morning Towok [Took] equal altitudes . . . . Missed the altidude at 12 oClock with the quadrent
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.
Old Cahokia Courthouse is a High Potential Historic Site along the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail managed by the U.S. National Park Service. The site is managed by the State of Illinois and is open to the public.
Notes
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.
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
- The Capital Gallery (Lewis and Clark Fort Mandan Foundation)
- Yellowstone Public Radio
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).