Day-by-Day / February 29, 1804

February 29, 1804

Skeptical federalists

The captains are in St. Louis and the enlisted men at Wood River, Illinois under the charge of Sgt. Ordway. By now, Lewis likely has received President Jefferson‘s letter mentioning the popularity of the expedition and the skepticism of the Federalists.

Jefferson to Lewis

Washington Jan. 13. 1804.

Dear Sir

. . . .

The acquisition of the country through which you are to pass has inspired the public generally with a great deal of interest in your enterprize. The enquiries are perpetual as to your progress. The Feds. alone still treat it as philosophism, and would rejoice in its failure.

. . . .

TH: JEFFERSON[1]Jefferson to Lewis. Donald Jackson, Letters of the Lewis and Clark Expedition with Related Documents: 1783-1854, 2nd ed. (Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1978), 163.

 

Weather Diary

Therm at sun symbol rise weather wind Therm at 4 Oclk weather wind River
8 above 0 hail & snow N W 12 above 0 cloudy after snow N W fall 2 ½ in.

Snow all night & until 11 oClock a. m. & Cleared away the weather had been Clear since lef Camp until this.
William Clark and Meriwether Lewis[2]To assist the reader, the editor of this web page has omitted the “day of month 1804” column, merged the “River” columns, and spelled out some abbreviations.

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Notes

Notes
1 Jefferson to Lewis. Donald Jackson, Letters of the Lewis and Clark Expedition with Related Documents: 1783-1854, 2nd ed. (Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1978), 163.
2 To assist the reader, the editor of this web page has omitted the “day of month 1804” column, merged the “River” columns, and spelled out some abbreviations.

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.