Day-by-Day / September 21, 1804

September 21, 1804

Camp washes away

At the Big Bend of the Missouri, the men barely escape as the sandbar they are camping on washes into the river. They continue up the Missouri camping near present Joe Creek Bay, South Dakota. Lewis adds six plants to his collection.

Wash Away Camp

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

Wash Away Camp

at half past one oClock this morning the Sand bar on which we Camped began to under mind and give way which allarmed the Sergeant on Guard . . . . by the time we made the opsd. Shore our Camp fell in,
William Clark

Big Bend

we Sent a man to measure step off the Distance across the gouge, he made it 2000 yds. The distance arround is 30 mes. The hills extend thro: the gouge and is about 200 foot above the water—
—William Clark

Plenty of Game

below the bend is a butifull inclined Plain in which there is great numbers of Buffalow [Bison], Elk & Goats [pronghorns] in view feeding & Scipping on those Plains Grouse, Larks & the Prarie bird
—William Clark

 

Six Plant Specimens

Aromatic Aster Specimen

Big bend of the Missouri Septbr. 21, 1804
—Meriwether Lewis[2]Aster oblongifolius, Moulton, ed. Herbarium, specimen 22.

 

Four Wing Saltbush Specimen

Big bend of the Missouri Septbr. 21, 1804
Meriwether Lewis[3]Atriplex canescens, Moulton, ed. Herbarium, specimen 26.

 

Rubber Rabbitbrush Specimen

Big bend of the Missouri Septb: 21 1804
—Meriwether Lewis[4]Ericameria nauseosa, Moulton, ed. Herbarium, specimen 39b.

Broom Snakeweed Specimen

32 Specimens of the aromatic plants on which the Antelope feeds were obtained 21 Sep. 1804 at the upper part of the Big bend of the Missouri—
—John Vaughn[5]Gutierrezia sarothrae, 1805 Donation Book, in “Fort Mandan Miscellany”, vol 3:464. See also Herbarium, specimen 77.

 

Slender Flowered Scurfpea Specimen

Big bend of the Missouri Septbr: 21, 1804
—Meriwether Lewis[6]Psoralidium tenuiflorum, Moulton, ed. Herbarium, specimen 144a.

Lance-leaved Sage Specimen

Big bend of Missouri Septbr. 21, 1804.
—Meriwether Lewis[7]Salvia reflexa, Moulton, ed. Herbarium, specimen 156a.

 

Weather Diary

Thermot. at sun symbol rise Weather Wind at sun symbol rise thermotr. at 4 P.M. Weather Wind at 4 oC. P.M
58 above fair S. W 88 above fair S. W.

Antilopes ruting, as are the Elk, the Buffaloe is nearly ceased— the latter commence the latter end of July or first of August.
—Meriwether Lewis[8]To assist the reader, the editor of this web page has omitted the “day of the month” column and spelled out some abbreviations.

 

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 Aster oblongifolius, Moulton, ed. Herbarium, specimen 22.
3 Atriplex canescens, Moulton, ed. Herbarium, specimen 26.
4 Ericameria nauseosa, Moulton, ed. Herbarium, specimen 39b.
5 Gutierrezia sarothrae, 1805 Donation Book, in “Fort Mandan Miscellany”, vol 3:464. See also Herbarium, specimen 77.
6 Psoralidium tenuiflorum, Moulton, ed. Herbarium, specimen 144a.
7 Salvia reflexa, Moulton, ed. Herbarium, specimen 156a.
8 To assist the reader, the editor of this web page has omitted the “day of the month” column and spelled out some abbreviations.

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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.