Winter Camp at Wood River, IL In St. Louis, Clark is negotiating with trader Manuel Lisa to hire some of his French engagés. At winter camp at Wood River, Lewis records weather data.
Manuel Lisa (1772–1820)
Artist unknown (1818). Oil on canvas, 28 x 21 inches.
Missouri Historical Society, St. Louis, Acc. No. 1979.97.1
Manuel Lisa’s Engagés
Camp at River Dubois.
Feby. 18th 1804.My Dear Friend,
If Mr. Manuel will let us have the men you mention, pray engage them immediately, if you think from their appearance and characters they will answer the purpose.
. . . .
M. LEWIS. Capt. &c.[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), 168.
Weather Diary
Therm at rise
weather wind Therm at 4 Oclk weather wind River 15 above 0 cloudy after rain S.W. 32 above 0 fair W. rise 2 in. —Meriwether Lewis[2]To assist the reader, the editor of this web page has omitted the “day of month 1804” column, merged the “River” columns, and spelled out some abbreviations.
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 | 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), 168. |
|---|---|
| ↑2 | To assist the reader, the editor of this web page has omitted the “day of month 1804” 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.
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.
In St. Louis, Clark is negotiating with trader Manuel Lisa to hire some of his French workers. At winter camp at Wood River, Lewis records weather data.
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).