Day-by-Day / April 2, 1804

April 2, 1804

Northward-bound traders

At winter camp across from the mouth of the Missouri, Clark reports that the men are “a cleaning to Day.” A boat bound for Prairie du Chien and owned by Mississippi River trader Nicholas Jarrot stops for the night.

Cleaning Day

a cleaning to Day three men Sick all mess arranged, & men makeing Parched meal . . . . I send down Willard to St. Louis
—William Clark

Jarrot Heads North

Mr. Hays & Amdol arrive from Koho: by Land   in the evening Majr Garroes [Nicholas Jarrot’s] Boat come up on his way to Prarie de chaine [Prairie du Chien] loaded with Provisions &, for Sale at that place . . . . those Gentlemen Stay w[it]h me all night
William Clark

 

Weather Diary

Thermometr. at sun symbol rise Weather Wind at Sunrise Thermometr. at 4 oClock Weather Wind at 4 oClock River
16 above 0 fair fair N E rise 3 ½ in.

Capt Lewis went to St Louis. Mr Hay[s] arrive
—William Clark[2]To assist the reader, the editor of this web page has omitted the date column, merged the “River” columns, and spelled out some abbreviations.

Notes

Notes
1 “Bivouac der Reisenden am Missouri. Halte des voyageurs sur le Missouri. Encampment of the travellers on the Missouri.” New York Public Library Digital Collections. Accessed October 13, 2019. http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47da-c409-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99.
2 To assist the reader, the editor of this web page has omitted the date column, merged the “River” columns, 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.