Day-by-Day / June 23, 1805

June 23, 1805

Portage route adjustments

At the White Bear Islands, Lewis establishes an area to assemble the iron-framed boat, and the dugout canoe abandoned on the portage route the previous night is brought in. On the way back to the lower camp, Clark adjusts the route. Prickly pear troubles make walking difficult and the men suffer from fatigue.

Prickly Pear Troubles

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

Early Morning Tasks

This morning early I scelected a place for the purpose of constructing my boat [iron-framed boat] near the water under some shady willows. Capt Clark had the Canoe and baggage brought up, after which we breakfasted
Meriwether Lewis

 

The Portage Proceeds On

we proceeded on, & measured the Way which I Streightened considerably from that I went on yesterday, and arrived at our lower camp in Suffcent time to take up 2 Canoes on the top of the hill from the Creek
William Clark

Prickly Pear Troubles

men mended their mockersons with double Soles to Save their feet from the prickley pear, (which abounds in the Praries,) and the hard ground which in Some & maney places So hard as to hurt the feet verry much
—William Clark

The Fatigues

the men has to haul with all their Strength wate & art, maney times every man all catching the grass & knobes & Stones with their hands to give them more force in drawing on the Canoes & Loads, and notwithstanding the Coolness of the air in high presperation and every halt, those not employed in reparing the Couse; are asleep in a moment, maney limping from the Soreness of their feet Some become fant for a fiew moments, but no man Complains all go Chearfully on—
—William Clark

Sun River Hunters

at length after ascending the river about five miles we found Shannon who had passed the Medecine river & fixed his camp on the Lard. side, where he had killed seven deer and several buffaloe and dryed about 600 lbs. of buffaloe meat
—Meriwether Lewis

 

Weather Diary

State of the thermometer at sun symbol rise Weather Wind at sun symbol rise State of the thermometer at 4 OC. P.M. Weather Wind at 4 OC. P. M. State of river
48 [above 0] fair S. E. 65 [above 0] cloudy S. E fallen ¼ in.

—Meriwether Lewis[2]To assist the reader, the editor of this web page has omitted the date column, merged the “State of the river” columns, 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 To assist the reader, the editor of this web page has omitted the date column, merged the “State of the river” columns, 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.