Day-by-Day / February 21, 1804

February 21, 1804

Sgt. Ordway in charge

In St. Louis, the captains work on the upcoming transfer of Upper Louisiana to the United States and organize an Osage delegation to visit Washington City. Across the Mississippi at Wood River, Sgt. Ordway is in charge.

Sgt. Ordway Left in Charge

Detachment Orders
Camp River Dubois, Febr. 20th 1804

The Commanding officer directs that during the absence of himself and Capt. Clark from Camp, that the party shall consider themselves under the immediate command of Sergt. Ordway, who will be held accountable for the good poliece and order of the camp during that period, and will also see the susequent parts of this order carried into effect—

. . . .

Meriwether Lewis Capt.
1st U. S. Regt. Infty.

 

Weather Diary

Therm at sun symbol rise weather wind Therm at 4 Oclk weather wind River
20 above 0 fair N W 34 above 0 N W fair fall ½ in.

in the evening the river began to rise ½ Inch
William Clark and Meriwether Lewis[1]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.

Plan a trip related to February 21, 1804:

Logo: Lewis and Clark.travel
 

Notes

Notes
1 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.

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.