At their camp above the Great Falls of the Missouri, rain and hail wet the shell of the iron-framed boat delaying progress. In New Orleans, the Louisiana governor receives Lewis’s specimens—including a live prairie dog—shipped from Fort Mandan in early April.
Hail Storm
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
Map of White Bear Islands
From an interpretive sign at Upper Portage Camp Overlook. Photo 2013 by Kristopher K. Townsend.
Hail Storm
about day a heavy storm came on from the S W attended with hail rain and a continued roar of thunder and some lightning. the hail was as large as musket balls and covered the ground perfectly. we hand some of it collected which kept very well through the day and served to cool our water.
—Meriwether Lewis
Weather Delays
These showers and gusts keep my boat wet in dispite of my exertions. she is not yet ready for the grease and coal.
—Meriwether Lewis
Hunting and Fishing
dispatched 4 men in 2 Canoes to the falls, to kill Buffalow, for their Skins & Meat others employd about the boat, I cought Some Small fish this evening.
—William Clark
Weather Diary
State of the thermometer at rise
Weather at Wind at State of the Thermometer at 4 P.M. Weather at 4 P.M. Wind at 4 P.M. State of the river 47 [above 0] cloudy after hail, rain, thunder & lightning S. W. 74 [above 0] fair after cloudy S. W fallen ¼ in. wind high all day. A heavy wind from the S. W. attended with rain about the middle of the last night. about day had a violent thunderstorm attended with Hail and rain. The Hail Covered the ground and was about the Size of Musquet balls. I have Seen only one black bird killed with the hail, and am astonished that more have not Suffered in a similar manner as they are abundant, and I Should Suppose the hail Sufficiently heavy to kill them.
—Meriwether Lewis[2]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.
Lewis’s Specimen Shipment
Black-tailed Prairie Dog
Cynomys ludovicianus
© 2017 by Kristopher K. Townsend. Permission to use granted under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.
New Orleans July 6th. 1805
Dear Sir [Thomas Jefferson]
I have this day received from on Board a Barge, Several Trunks & Boxes directed to you; one Cage with some Birds, and a Small living Animal, somewhat resembling our common gray Squirrel. They were Sent by Captain Lewis to Mr. Chauteau [Pierre Chouteau] of St Louis, and by him transmitted to me. Finding that Some of the Trunks and Boxes contained Peltry of various kinds, I had them opened. The Skins had been wet, and were a little injured, but by being carefully dryed in the Sun, cleansed and put up in Barrells, I am advised, that they may be preserved.
I received no particular Memorandum of the contents of the Boxes, but I find that many of the skins are numbered, and of course I conclude, that Mr. Lewis’s communication relating thereto, has been forwarded to you from St. Lewis. The little Animal seems to be Sick, and I fear will not live; The Birds are well and have excellent appetites;—I shall be very careful of them, and propose forwarding the whole to Baltimore by the Ship Comet, that will probably Sail from this Port in fifteen days!
I am D Sir with great respect Your faithful friend
William C. C. Claiborne[3]Founders Online, National Archives, founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/99-01-02-2032 accessed 16 December 2022; also in Letters of the Lewis and Clark Expedition with Related Documents: … Continue reading
The Great Falls Portage is a High Potential Historic Site along the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail managed by the U.S. National Park Service. It includes Sulpher Spring (open to the public) and Lower Portage Camp site (private land), and the Upper Portage Camp Overlook.
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” columns, and spelled out some abbreviations. |
| ↑3 | Founders Online, National Archives, founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/99-01-02-2032 accessed 16 December 2022; also in Letters of the Lewis and Clark Expedition with Related Documents: 1783–1854, 2nd ed., ed. Donald Jackson (Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1978), 250. |
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).