On the Beaverhead River, Lewis and three others set out by land to find Shoshones and their horses.
Clark commandeers the boats at the men struggle to move the dugouts up an increasingly shallow and winding river. Pvt. Shannon finally returns from his extended hunting trip up the Big Hole River.
Elsewhere, U.S. Army explorer Zebulon Pike leaves St. Louis to begin his exploration of the Upper Mississippi River.
Shannon, Lost and Found
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
Beaverhead River and Beaverhead Rock
To see labels, point to the image.
© 2000 Airphoto, Jim Wark. All rights reserved.
Lewis Journals
I walked on shore across the land to a point which I presumed they would reach by 8 A. M. our usual tme of halting. by this means I acquired leasure to accomplish some wrightings which I conceived from the nature of my instructions necessary lest any accedent should befall me on the long and reather hazardous rout I was now about to take.
—Meriwether Lewis
Shannon Returns
Shannon arrived, and informed us that having missed the party the day on which he set out he had returned the next morning to the place from whence he had set out or furst left them and not finding that he had supposed that they wer above him; that he then set out and marched one day up wisdom river, by which time he was convinced that they were not above him as the river could not be navigated; he then returned to the forks and had pursued us up this river. he brought the skins of three deer which he had killed which he said were in good order. he had lived very plentifully this trip but looked a good deel worried with his march. he informed us that Wisdom river still kept it’s course obliquely down the Jefferson’s river as far as he was up it.
—Meriwether Lewis
Scouting for the Shoshone
immediately after breakfast I slung my pack and set out accompanyed by Drewyer Shields and McNeal
—Meriwether LewisCapt Lewis and 3 men Set out after brackft. to examine the river above, find a portage if possible, also the Snake [Lemhi Shoshone] Indians. I should have taken this trip had I have been able to march, from the rageing fury of a tumer on my anckle musle
—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. 58 [above 0] fair N. E. 78 [above 0] cloudy S. W. Encamped below the Forks Jeffersons River Set out on a party of discovery
—Meriwether Lewis[2]To assist the reader, the editor of this web page has omitted the date column and spelled out some abbreviations.
Pike Starts Out
Sailed from my encampment near Saint Louis at 4 Oclock P.M. on Friday the 9th Augt. 1805, with one Sergt. two corporals and 17 privates in a Keel Boat 70 feet long; provisiond for four months: with orders to explore the source of the Mississippi making a general survey of the river and its bounderies, and its productions, both in the Animal, vegitable and mineral creation: also to include observations on the savage inhabitants of its Banks . . . .
—Zebulon M. Pike[3]Donald Jackson, The Journals of Zebulon Montgomery Pike (Norman, Oklahoma: University of Oklahoma Press, 1966), 6.
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 and spelled out some abbreviations. |
| ↑3 | Donald Jackson, The Journals of Zebulon Montgomery Pike (Norman, Oklahoma: University of Oklahoma Press, 1966), 6. |
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
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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).