Day-by-Day / July 30, 1805

July 30, 1805

Up the Jefferson

The expedition leaves the headwaters of the Missouri, and on the Jefferson River, they pass the place of Sacagawea‘s childhood capture. Lewis scouts by land and camps about two miles ahead of Clark and the boats. In St. Louis, fellow Army explorer Zebulon M. Pike is given his instructions to explore the upper Mississippi River.

Sacagawea’s Capture

we dined at a Camp where the snake [Lemhi Shoshone] Indians had been camped 4 years ago, and was actacted by the Gross vauntaus [Hidatsas]. 2 or three of the Snake nation was killed, and Several Squaws taken prisoners our Intrepters wife [Sacagawea] was one of them. She tells us that She was taken in the middle of the River as She was crossing at a Shole place to make hir ascape.
John Ordway

Lewis’s Swampy Hike

I passed the river and continued my walk on the Stard. side . . . . I would willingly have joined the canoes but the brush were so thick, the river crooked and bottoms intercepted in such manner by the beaver dams, that I found it uceless to attempt to find them, and therefore proceeded on up the river in order to intersept it where it came near the plain and woult be more collected into one channel.
Meriwether Lewis

Lewis’s Solitary Camp

I found a parsel of drift wood at the head of the little Island on which I was and immediately set it on fire and collected some willow brush to lye on. I cooked my duck which I found very good and after eating it layed down and should have had a comfortable nights lodge but for the musquetoes which infested me all night.
—Meriwether Lewis

Main Party Encampment

we Camped on the Std. Side the evening Cool. Capt Lewis who walkd on Shore did not join me this evening
William Clark

 

Weather Diary

State of the thermometer at sun symbol rise Weather at sun symbol rise Wind at sun symbol rise State of the Thermometer at 4 P.M. Weather at 4 P.M. Wind at 4 P.M. State of the river
50 [above 0] fair S. E. 80 [above 0] fair S. E.  

Set out from 3 forks
—Meriwether Lewis and William Clark[1]To assist the reader, the editor of this web page has omitted the date column, merged the “State of the river” columns, and spelled out some abbreviations.

Pike’s Instructions

HEAD QUARTERS ST. LOUIS July 30th 05

Sir

Having compleated your equipments, you are to proceed up the Mississippi with all possible diligence, taking the following Instructions for your general government, which are to yeild to your discretion in all cases of exigency.

You will be pleased to take the course of the River and calculate distances by time, noting rivers, creeks, Highlands, Praires, Islands, rapids, shoals, mines, Quarries, Timber, water Soil, Indian Villages and Settlements, in a Diary to comprehend reflections on the wind and weather.

. . . . .

James Wilkinson[2]James Wilkinson to Zebulon M. Pike, Donald Jackson, The Journals of Zebulon Montgomery Pike (Norman, Oklahoma: University of Oklahoma Press, 1966), 3.

 

Notes

Notes
1 To assist the reader, the editor of this web page has omitted the date column, merged the “State of the river” columns, and spelled out some abbreviations.
2 James Wilkinson to Zebulon M. Pike, Donald Jackson, The Journals of Zebulon Montgomery Pike (Norman, Oklahoma: University of Oklahoma Press, 1966), 3.

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.

Logo: Lewis and Clark.travel

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.