Day-by-Day / February 4, 1805

February 4, 1805

Clark goes hunting

Fort Mandan, ND The meat supply at Fort Mandan and the Knife River villages is nearly out, so Clark leaves with half the enlisted men on an eight-day hunting trip.

Clark Out Hunting[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

Clark Sets Out

This morning fair tho’ could the thermometer stood at 18° below Naught, wind from N. W. Capt Clark set out with a hunting party consisting of sixteen of our command and two frenchmen who together with two others, have established a small hut and resided this winter within the vicinity of Fort Mandane under our protection
Meriwether Lewis

The Hunting Party

The men transported their baggage on a couple of small wooden Slays drawn by themselves, and took with them 3 pack horses which we had agreed should be returned with a load of meat to fort mandane as soon as they could procure it.
—Meriwether Lewis

No Buffalo

our stock of meat which we had procured in the Months of November & December is now nearly exhausted . . . . no buffaloe have made their appearance in our neighbourhood for some weeks and I am informed that our Indian neighbours—suffer extreemly at this moment for the article of flesh.
—Meriwether Lewis

Clark’s Hunting Trip, Day 1

The 1st day [Elliott Coues?: Feb. 4] I left the fort   proceeded on the ice to new Mandan Island, 22 miles & Camped   Killed nothing, & nothing to eat,
William Clark (recorded 13 February 1805)

 

Weather Diary

State of the Ther. at sun symbol rise Weather Wind at sun symbol rise Thermt. at 4 oCk. P.M. Weather Wind at 4 oCk. P.M. River
18 [below 0] fair N W 9 [below 0] fair W.  

Capt. Clark set out on a hunting party with 18 men
—Meriwether Lewis[2]To assist the reader, the editor of this web page has omitted the date column, merged the “State of the River at sun symbol rise” columns, and spelled out some abbreviations.

Notes

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 To assist the reader, the editor of this web page has omitted the date column, merged the “State of the River at sun symbol rise” columns, and spelled out some abbreviations.

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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.