At Fortunate Camp at the end of the Beaverhead River, Lewis barters for three horses and a mule, and Charbonneau buys a horse for Sacagawea. With the help of several Shoshone women, they start towards Lemhi Pass.
On the Salmon River, Clark considers three possible plans for reaching the Pacific Ocean. He sends a letter with Pvt. Colter to update Lewis, and his group has an uncomfortable night.
Three Alternate Plans
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
A Horse for Sacagawea
32″ x 38″ oil on canvas
© 2009 by Charles Fritz. Used by permission.
Lewis: Leaving Fortunate Camp
Battle Axes for Horses
As the Indians who were on their way down the Missouri had a number of spare hoses with them I thought it probable that I could obtain some . . . . I now produced some battle axes which I had made at Fort Mandan with which they were much pleased. knives also seemed a great demand among them. I soon purchased three horses and a mule.
—Meriwether Lewis
A Horse for Sacagawea
I had given the Interpreter some articles with which to purchase a horse for the woman which he had obtained.
—Meriwether Lewis
Shoshone Caparison
The usual caparison of the Shoshone horse is a halter and sadle. the 1st consists either of a round plated or twisted cord of six or seven strands of buffaloe’s hair, or a throng of raw hide made pliant by pounding and rubing.
—Meriwether Lewis
Weiser Very Sick
rode back about 2 Miles where I found Wiser [Weiser] very ill with a fit of the cholic. I sent Sergt. Ordway who had remained with him for some water and gave him a doze of the essence of Peppermint and laudinum which in the course of half an hour so far recovered him that he was enabled to ride my horse and I proceeded on foot and rejoined the party.
—Meriwether Lewis
Clark: Salmon River Retreat
The Northern Nez Perce Trail
The plan I stated to Capt Lewis if he agrees with me we shall adopt is to procure as many horses (one for each man) if possible and to hire my present guide [Toby] who I sent on to him to interegate thro’ the Intprtr. and proceed on by land to Some navagable part of the Columbia River
—William Clark
The Salmon River
a second plan to divide the party one part to attempt this deficuet [Salmon] river with what provisions we had, and the remaindr to pass by Land on hose back Depending on our gun &c for Provisions &c. and come together occasionally on the river . . . . I saw Several trees which would make Small Canoes and by putting 2 together would make a Siseable one
—William Clark
The Road to the Buffalo
a third to [send?] one party to attempt to pass the mountain by horses, & the other to return to the Missouri Collect provisions & go up Medison rivr
—William Clark
A Letter for Captain Lewis
Captain Clarke therefore wrote a letter to Captain Lewis, and dispatched a man on horseback to meet him; and we all turned back up the river again, poor and uncomfortable enough, as we had nothing to eat, and there is no game.
—Patrick Gass
Weather Diary
State of the Thermometer at rise
Weather at Wind at State of the Thermometer at 4 P.M. Weather at 4 P.M. Wind at 4 P.M. 40 [above 0] fair S. E. 76 [above 0] fair after rain S E Set out with the Indians and pack horses for the Columbia river
—Meriwether Lewis[2]To assist the reader, the editor of this web page has omitted the date column and spelled out some abbreviations.
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 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.
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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- Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail
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- Yellowstone Public Radio
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).