Day-by-Day / March 21, 1805

March 21, 1805

Collecting clinker

On the Missouri River shore about five miles north of Fort Mandan, Sgt. Gass and two enlisted men guard the new dugout canoes. Clark collects echinacea and clinker and conducts an experiment with the latter.

A Hill of Pumice Stone

by Yellowstone Public Radio[1]Originally aired weekdays by Yellowstone Public Radio during the Bicentennial observance of 2003-2006. Narrated by Hal Hansen. Scripts by Whit Hansen and Ed Jacobson. Produced by Leni Holliman. © … Continue reading

Collecting Clinker

on my return I passed on the points of the high hills S. S. where I saw an emence quantity of Pumice Stone, and evident marks of the hills being on fire I collected some Pumice Stone, burnt Stone & hard earth and put them into a furnace, the hard earth melted and glazed the other two a part of which i, e, the Hard Clay became a Pumice-Stone
—William Clark

Moving Two Dugouts

the men Carried the remaining the 2 remained Canoes to the River, all except 3 left to take care & complete the Canoes
William Clark

Collecting Echinacea

I also collected a Plant the root of which is a Cure for the Bite of a mad dog & Snake which I shall Send—
—William Clark

 

Weather Diary

State of Ther. at sun symbol rise Weather wind at sun symbol rise State of Thermt. at 4 OClock Weather at 4 Ock Wind at 4 OClock State of the River
16 [above 0] cloudy E 26 [above 0] snow and hail S  

some ducks seen to light in the river opposit the fort
Meriwether Lewis[2]To assist the reader, the editor of this web page has omitted the “Day of Month 1805” column 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 March 21, 1805:

Logo: Lewis and Clark.travel
 

Notes

Notes
1 Originally aired weekdays by Yellowstone Public Radio during the Bicentennial observance of 2003-2006. Narrated by Hal Hansen. Scripts by Whit Hansen and Ed Jacobson. Produced by Leni Holliman. © 2003 by Yellowstone Public Radio.
2 To assist the reader, the editor of this web page has omitted the “Day of Month 1805” column 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.