At Fort Clatsop, work on the cabins continues, and the captains move into their unfinished quarters. Clatsop traders sell their food, mats, bags, and a panther hide for fishhooks, an old file, and spoiled salmon.
In St. Louis, General Wilkinson, commander of the U.S. Army, writes to President Jefferson about Arikara chief Too Né who had visited Washington City in a delegation initiated by Lewis and Clark.
Rumour and Innuendo
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
Construction and Diplomacy at Fort Clatsop
25″ x 54″ oil on canvas
© 2009 by Charles Fritz. Used by permission.
Moving In
we are all employd about our huts have ours Covered and Dobed . . . . Capt Lewis and my Self move into our hut to day unfinished—
—William Clark
Clatsop Traders
I purcahsed 3 mats and bags all neetly made of flags and rushes, those bags are nearly Square of different size’s open on one Side, I also purchasd a panthor Skin 7½ feet long including the tail, all of which I gave 6 Small fish hooks, a Small worn out file & Some pounded fish which we Could not use as it was So long wet that it was Soft and molded
—William Clark
Gifts for Cuskala
I gave a 2d Chief a String of wampom, and Sent a little pounded fish to Cus-ca-lah who was Sick in the village & could not come to See us.
—William Clark
Winter Boredom
nothing extraordinary hapened more than common this day.—
—John Ordway
Weather Diary
Day of the Month Winds State of the Weather 23rd S W. rain hail & Lightning rained all last night and moderately to day with Several Showers of Hail accompanied with hard Claps of Thunder and Sharp Lightning.
—Meriwether Lewis[2]To assist the reader, the editor of this web page has spelled out some abbreviations.
Retuning Too Né
In St. Louis, the commander of the U.S. Army, James Wilkinson, advises President Thomas Jefferson to return Arikara chief Too Né (Eagle Feather).
St. Louis: Decr. 23rd. 1805—
Sir
He is certainly a learned Savage, because He not only speaks Eleven different Languages, but is Master of the Language of Arms, Hands & Fingers. The only practicable mode of Communication (he informs me), at the Annual Grand Councils of twelve or fifteen Nations of his Acquaintance—
. . . . .
He should in my Judgement be returned as early as possible, without regard to the other Deputies, & sent up to his Nation by a Military Escort loaded with presents—
Ja: Wilkinson
N.B. The speedy return of the Riccari to His Nation, may prove Interesting to Capt. Lewis, by whose persuasion He visits us, contrarry to the Will of his whole People.[3]Letters of the Lewis and Clark Expedition with Related Documents: 1783-1854, 2nd ed., ed. Donald Jackson (Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1978), 272–74.
Fort Clatsop is a High Potential Historic Site along the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail managed by the U.S. National Park Service. The site is managed by the Lewis and Clark National and State Historic Parks.
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 spelled out some abbreviations. |
| ↑3 | Letters of the Lewis and Clark Expedition with Related Documents: 1783-1854, 2nd ed., ed. Donald Jackson (Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1978), 272–74. |
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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.
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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).