Lewis, Drouillard, and the two Field brothers ride most of the night fleeing from a fatal fight at the Two Medicine River. In the morning, they arrive at the Missouri River where Sgt. Ordway is commandeering the boats.
Joining forces, Lewis and Ordway’s group paddle to the mouth of the Marias. In the early afternoon, Sgt. Gass and Pvt. Willard arrive with the horse herd. They dig up the caches there, abandon their horses and the red pirogue, and paddle another 15 miles down the Missouri.
On the lower Yellowstone, Clark‘s group glides down a “Smooth Stream” seeing layers of lignite coal, large herds of elk, and many beaver.
In the vicinity of Pompeys Pillar, Sgt. Pryor and his three men build two bull boats on or near this date so they can continue their mission.[1]For more on the captains’ strategy and various groups after leaving Travelers’ Rest, see Dividing Forces at Travelers’ Rest.
On the Run
by Yellowstone Public Radio[2]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
Joining Forces (Lewis)
Missouri River above Fort Benton
© 30 June 2015 by Kristopher K. Townsend. Permission to use granted under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.
Lewis and Ordway likely saw each other along this bend of the river just above present Fort Benton. Modern items such as an old railroad bed, fence, and farmer’s field have been digitally obscured.
The Morning After
The morning proved fair, I slept sound but fortunately awoke as day appeared, I awaked the men and directed the horses to be saddled, I was so soar from my ride yesterday that I could scarcely stand, and the men complained of being in a similar situation however I encourged them by telling them that our own lives as well as those of our friends and fellow travellers depended on our exertions at this moment
—Meriwether Lewis
Joining Forces
about 9 A. M. we discovred on a high bank a head Capt. Lewis & the three men who went with him on horse back comming towards us on N. Side we came too Shore and fired the Swivell [swivel gun] to Salute him & party we Saluted them also with Small arms and were rejoiced to See them &c. Capt. Lewis took us all by the hand
—John Ordway
Opening the Caches
we decended the river opposite to our principal cash which we proceeded to open after reconnoitering the adjacent country. we found that the cash had caved in and most of the articles burried therin were injured . . . .
. . . . having no time to air these things which they much wanted we droped down to the point to take in the several articles which had been buried at that place in several small cashes; these we found in good order, and recovered every article except 3 traps belonging to Drewyer which could not be found.
—Meriwether Lewis
Another Reunion
here as good fortune would have it Sergt. Gass and Willard who brought the horses from the falls joined us at 1 P. M.
—Meriwether LewisSergt Gass & Willard had killed Several buffaloe and 7 antelopes [pronghorns] as they came down from the falls by land.
—John Ordway
Proceeding by Boat
we passed over immediately to the island in the entrance of Maria’s river to launch the red perogue, but found her so much decayed that it was imposible with the means we had to repare her and therefore mearly took the nails and other ironwork’s about her which might be of service to us and left her. we now reimbarked on board the white peroge and five small canoes and decended the river about 15 ms. and encamped
—Meriwether Lewis
Gliding down the Yellowstone (Clark)
Yellowstone River at Rosebud Creek
© 27 July 2011 by Kristopher K. Townsend. Permission to use granted under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.
Gliding on a Smooth Stream
Set out this morning at day light and proceeded on glideing down this Smooth Sream passing maney Isld. and Several Creeks and brooks
—William Clark
Strata of Coal
the Coal Contained in the Lard Bluffs is in Several vaines of different hights and thickness. this Coal or Carbonated wood [Lignite] is like that of the Missouri of an inferior quallity.
—William Clark
Bull Boats on the Yellowstone
Display at Pompeys Pillar, Bureau of Land Management, photographed 2011 by Kristopher K. Townsend.
Bull Boats (Pryor)
they had to return to the Roshjone [Yellowstone] and killd. buffaloe and made leather canoes of them
—John Ordway (recorded 8 August 1806)[3]None of the journalists summarizing Pryor’s journey provided dates for when the bull boats were built. We can only surmise they did so near 28 August.
Weather Diaries
State of the weather at rise
Wind at State of the weather at 4 P. M. Wind at 4 P. M. fair after rain thunder & lightning N E cloudy after fair hail rain thunder & lightning N E a thundershower last night from N. W. but little rain where we were. heavy hail storm at 3 P. M. the prickly pear has now cast it’s blume
—Meriwether Lewis
State of the weather at Sun rise Wind at Sun rise State of the weather at 4 P. M Wind at 4 P M. cloudy after fair and rain N E fair N. W. a fiew drops of rain this morning a little before day light. river Still falling a little Bratten [Bratton] Coet [caught] a beaver Labeech Shot 2 last evenig. I saw a wild Cat lying on a log over the water.
—William Clark[4]To assist the reader of this web page, the date column is omitted and some abbreviations have been spelled out.
Pompeys Pillar is a High Potential Historic Site along the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail managed by the U.S. National Park Service. The site and interpretive center is managed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management.
Notes
| ↑1 | For more on the captains’ strategy and various groups after leaving Travelers’ Rest, see Dividing Forces at Travelers’ Rest. |
|---|---|
| ↑2 | 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. |
| ↑3 | None of the journalists summarizing Pryor’s journey provided dates for when the bull boats were built. We can only surmise they did so near 28 August. |
| ↑4 | To assist the reader of this web page, the date column is omitted 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).