Lewis and five men leave Tongue Point in their Chinookan canoe to find a site to build winter quarters. Meanwhile, some try to hunt while others attempt to dry leather clothes over smoky fires.
Lewis Sets Out in an Indian Canoe
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
Columbia River from Tongue Point
Pebble Beach at Tongue Point
© 2015 Mark Gibson. Used by permission.
The Shore below the point at our Camp is formed of butifull pebble of various colours.
I observe but fiew birds of the Small kind, great numbers of wild fowls of Various kinds
—William Clark
Looking for a Winter Campsite
I determined therefore to proceed down the river on it’s E. side in surch of an eligible place for our winters residence and accordingly set out early this morning in the small canoe accompanyed by 5 men. drewyer R. Fields, Shannon, Colter & labiesh [Labiche]. proceeded along the coast.
—Meriwether Lewis
Smoky Fires
all the others engaged drying their leather before the fire, and prepareing it for use—they haveing but fiew other Species of Clothing to ware at this time
The winds are from Such points that we cannot form our Camp So as to provent the Smoke which is emencely disagreeable, and painfull to the eyes—
—William Clark
Poor Diet
our diat at this time and for Severall days past is the dried pounded fish we purchased at the falls boiled in a little Salt water—.
—William Clark
Weather Diary
Day of the month Wind State of the Weather 29th S W. rain rained all last night hard, and to day moderately I decend with 5 men in a canoe to examine the Country.
—Meriwether Lewis[2]Some abbreviations have been spelled out.
Tongue Point is a High Potential Historic Site along the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail managed by the U.S. National Park Service. The site can be viewed from the east at the Lewis and Clark National Wildlife Refuge and to the west along the Astoria Riverwalk.
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 | Some abbreviations have been spelled out. |
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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.
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- Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail
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- Idaho Governor's Lewis and Clark Trail Committee
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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).