Day-by-Day / May 7, 1804

May 7, 1804

Loading the barge

Privates John Colter and Moses Reed deliver a letter to William Clark that informs him that his commission is for second lieutenant—not the captaincy originally promised. The enlisted men are loading the barge barge to make ready their imminent departure up the Missouri.

Loading the Barge

I Load the boat all day, a fair Day   Mr. Rumsey ride a public horse to St Louis
—William Clark

Comings and Goings

Sent Sjt. Ordway with a perogue to St Louis after Colter arrived express, & [Moses Reed] with a Hors & Tallow.
—William Clark

 

Weather Diary

Thermometer at sun symbol rise Weather Wind at sun symbol Rise Thermometer at 4 oCk. P.M. Weather Wind at 4 oCk. P.M River
46 above fair S E 60 above fair S S W fall 4 ½ in.

Meriwether Lewis[1]To assist the reader, the editor of this web page has omitted the date column, merged the “River” columns, and spelled out some abbreviations.

 

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.

Plan a trip related to May 7, 1804:

Logo: Lewis and Clark.travel
 

Notes

Notes
1 To assist the reader, the editor of this web page has omitted the date column, merged the “River” columns, and spelled out some abbreviations.

This page was funded in part by the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, U.S. National Park Service.

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.