With his Lemhi Shoshone guide Toby, Clark and his small group move down the Lemhi Valley. He visits a large fish weir and reaches the Salmon River which he names for Meriwether Lewis. They camp near the mouth of present Tower Creek.
Away from Fortunate Camp at end of the Beaverhead River, a Shoshone man takes Drouillard‘s rifle and a chase ensues. At camp, Lewis has the cache and pack saddles completed and all is ready to take the expedition’s cargo over Lemhi Pass.
Lemhi River Valley
To see labels, point to the image.
© 2001 Airphoto, Jim Wark. All rights reserved.
Clark: Down the Salmon
Toby’s Village
About 7 o’clock in the morning we continued our journey down the valley, and came to a few lodges of Indians where our guide [Toby] lives. We remained here about two hours, during which time a number of Indians passed us, going to fish.
—William Clark
Naming the Lewis’s River
The men who passed by the forks informed me that the S W. fork was double the Size of the one I came down, and I observed that it was a handsom river at my camp I shall in justice to Capt Lewis who was the first white man ever on this fork of the Columbia Call this Louis’s river.
—William Clark
Shoshone Fish Weirs
he visited their fish wear which was abut 200 yds. distant. he found the wear extended across four channels of the river which was here divided by three small islands.
—William Clark
The Valley’s End
We travelled 20 miles this day, and encamped at a place where the mountains come close to the river . . . . The man who had remained behind at the first village and the other who had gone with the Indians to their fishing place, both joined us here. The Indians gave them five salmon to bring to us: and he that had stayed for a horse, brought one with him.
—William Clark
Lewis: Drouillard Gives Chase
Frozen Morning
This morning was very cold. the ice ¼ of an inch thick on the water which stood in the vessels exposed to the air. some wet deerskins that had been spread the grass last evening are stiffly frozen. the ink feizes in my pen. the bottoms are perfectly covered with frost insomuch that they appear to be covered with snow
—Meriwether Lewis
Ready for the Portage
by evening I had all the baggage, saddles, and harness completely ready for a march. after dark, I made the men take the baggage to the cash and deposit it. I beleve we have been unperceived by the Indians in this movement.
—Meriwether Lewis
Drouillard Gives Chase
finding himself deprived of his gun he immediately mounted his horse and pursued; after runing them about 10 miles the horses of two of the women nearly gave out and the young fellow with the gun from their frequent crys slackened his pace . . . . watching his opportunity when the fellow was off his guard he suddonly rode along side of him seized his gun and wrest her out of his hands.
—Meriwether Lewis, recorded on 22 August 1805
Grizzly Bear Claw Necklace, c. 1900
Courtesy Nez Perce National Historical Park, U.S. National Park Service, NEPE 1990.
Grizzly Claw Necklaces
the warriors or such as esteem themselves brave men wear collars made of the claws of the brown bear which are also esteemed of great value and are preserved with great care.
—Meriwether Lewis
Weather Diary
State of the Thermometer at rise
Weather at Wind at State of the Thermometer at 4 P.M. Weather at 4 P.M. Wind at 4 P.M. 19 [above 0] fair E. 78 [above 0] fair E ice ½ an inch thick on standing water. Most astonishing difference between the hight of the Murcury at
—Meriwether Lewis[1]To assist the reader, the editor of this web page has omitted the date column and spelled out some abbreviations.
Notes
| ↑1 | To assist the reader, the editor of this web page has omitted the date column and spelled out some abbreviations. |
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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.
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Lewis and Clark Trail Alliance
with cooperation and funding from the following organizations:
- Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail
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- Idaho Governor's Lewis and Clark Trail Committee
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- 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).