Lewis begins a twelve-day treatise on natural history. Today, he describes the Columbian ground squirrel and Lewis’s woodpecker, both new to science. John Ordway and two others leave Long Camp for the Snake River to buy salmon. Nez Perce chief Red Grizzly Bear says the expedition can use any of his horses for food when needed, and young Jean Baptiste is much better.
Lewis’s Woodpecker
Melanerpes lewis
Courtesy of Harvard University Museum of Comparative Zoology.
Lewis’s Woodpecker
this bird is about the size of the lark woodpecker of the turtle dove, tho’ it’s wings are longer than either of those birds. the beak is black, one inch long, reather wide at the base, somewhat curved, and sharply pointed; the chaps are of equal length. arround the base of the beak including the eye and a small part of the throat is of a fine crimson red. the neck and as low as the croop in front is of an iron grey. the belly and breast is a curious mixture of white and blood reed which has much the appearance of having been artifically painted or stained of that colour. the red reather predominates.
—Meriwether Lewis
Columbian Ground Squirrel
There is a speceis of Burrowing squirrel common in these plains which in their habits somewhat resemble those of the missouri but are a distinct species.
—Meriwether Lewis
Ordway’s May 27 Camp
Nezperce, Idaho, view southwest
© 2003 Airphoto, Jim Wark. All rights reserved. Waypoints suggested by Steve L. Russell.
The settlement in the foreground, called Nezperce, is a farmer’s market on the high Camas Prairie. The prominent point on the southwest horizon is Cottonwood Butte. On May 27, 1806, Ordway, Frazer, and Weiser rode through this area toward the upper left of the photo and spent the night at an Indian village. When a thunderstorm struck, the Nez Perce evidently offered them shelter in their lodges. Ordway complained, “the Indians grass houses leak.”
Ordway’s Salmon Fishing Trip
we also sent Sergt. ordway and 2 men this morning over to Lewis’s river for salmon, which the indians inform us may be procured in abundance at that place, and that it is but half a days ride, nearly south.
—Meriwether LewisJ. Frazer [Robert Frazer] and wiser [Weiser] Set out to go over to the ki-mooenim river for fish . . . . left this creek ascended a high hill on a plain and proced. On
—John Ordway
Hohots Ilpplip’s Offer
Hohâstillpilp told us that most of the horses we saw runing at large in this neighbourhood belonged to himself and his people, and whenever we were in want of meat he requested that we would kill any of them we wished; this is a peice of liberallity which would do honour to such as bost of civilization . . . .
—Meriwether Lewis
Jean Baptiste Much Better
Charbono’s son [Jean Baptiste Charbonneau] is much better today, tho’ the swelling on the side of his neck I believe will terminate in an ugly imposthume a little below the ear.
—Meriwether Lewis
Weather Diary
State of the Weather at rise
Wind at State of the Weather at 4 P.M. Wind at 4 P.M. State of the Kooskooskee cloudy S E rain after fair, rain, thunder, lightning raised 6 ½ in. the dove is cooing which is the signal as the indians inform us of the approach of the salmon. The snow has disappeared on the high plains and seems to be diminishing fast on the spurs and lower region of the Rocky Mountains.
—Meriwether Lewis[1]To assist the reader of this web page, the date column is not presented, the river columns have been merged, and some abbreviations have been spelled out.
Notes
| ↑1 | To assist the reader of this web page, the date column is not presented, the river columns have been merged, and some abbreviations have been spelled out. |
|---|
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.
This page was funded in part by the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, U.S. National Park Service.
This site is provided as a public service by the
Lewis and Clark Trail Alliance
with cooperation and funding from the following organizations:
- Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail
- Montana Committee for the Humanities
- Idaho Governor's Lewis and Clark Trail Committee
- The Capital Gallery (Lewis and Clark Fort Mandan Foundation)
- 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).