April 25, 1804
Crossing the Mississippi
Clark leaves St. Louis and crosses the Mississippi in a pirogue. He arrives at their winter camp in present Illinois after dark.
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April 20, 1804
Fixing Clark's sword
On a dark and sultry day at Camp River Dubois, Clark has his sword and dirk fixed. In Washington City, President Thomas Jefferson receives disappointing news of the fossils Lewis collected at Big Bone Lick.
April 19, 1804
Shooting at the mark
At Camp River Dubois across from St. Louis, the soldiers practice shooting at a mark. Clark settles the expedition’s account with Major Nathan Rumsey, Army Commissary.
April 17, 1804
Kegs and bushels
At Camp River Dubois across the Mississippi from St. Louis, four men search for a lost horse. Fifty kegs of salted pork is secured and some corn meal is packed away. Clark reports on spring growth.
April 16, 1804
Packing away
At winter camp across the Mississippi from St. Louis, Clark says they “Packed away” coffee, sugar, beans, candles, soap, and several other items. Some of the enlisted men are punished for drunkenness.
April 12, 1804
Discipline problems
On this or the next day, Clark and the Army Commissary leave St. Louis with provisions for the men at winter camp. Also near this date, Clark summarizes the discipline problems encountered thus far.
April 11, 1804
St. Louis tasks
The captains are in St. Louis attending to “Sunderery Stores.” At the Wood River across from the mouth of the Missouri, work continues under Sgt. Ordway’s charge.
April 10, 1804
Budding plum trees
In St. Louis, the captains are attending to “Sunderey Stores”. Their Weather Diary notes that the Chickasaw plums are leaving and budding. At Camp River Dubois, work continues under Sgt. Ordway’s charge.
April 9, 1804
Attending to sundry stores
While in St. Louis, the captains attend to “Sundery Stores &c.” An undated letter between the two—written about this time—indicates the types of things that may need their attention.
April 8, 1804
Stoddard's expenses mount
Clark and Lewis attend a ball in St. Louis that continues all night. The host hopes the U.S. Government will pay back the $622 the party cost him. At camp, Sgt. Ordway writes a letter to his parents.
April 6, 1804
Tomahawks and knives
A birch bark canoe bound for the Mackinac post sets out from the expedition’s winter camp at the Wood River. Clark distributes knives and tomahawks, and in the evening, it snows for a short time.
April 5, 1804
A speech for the Iowas
At Camp River Dubois, Clark and Lewis write speeches for the Iowa and Yanktonai People. They send the speeches—along with Jefferson’s questions, vocabulary, and invitation to visit Washington City.
April 4, 1804
Packing provisions
At camp across from the mouth of the Missouri, Clark has corn, salted pork, flour, and other provisions packed. He also writes a speech for the Iowa Nation to be delivered by trader Lewis Crawford.
April 1, 1804
Squads and messes
At the Wood River across from the mouth of the Missouri, a boat with provisions arrives and mayapple blossoms appear. The captains divide the men into squads and messes and gives Sgt. Ordway the duty roster.
March 31, 1804
Horse rescue
At winter camp on the Wood River across from the mouth of the Missouri, Major Nathan Rumsey, U.S. Army commissary, arrives to help provision the expedition. Clark sends two men to rescue a horse in distress.
March 30, 1804
Casa Calvo's obstructions
At winter camp on the Wood River, the orders of yesterday’s military court are read. In New Orleans, Spanish Commissioner Casa Calvo asks that the Lewis and Clark Expedition be stopped by military arrest.
March 29, 1804
Courts martial
With both captains now at winter camp at the Wood River across from the mouth of the Missouri, Privates Shields, Colter, and Frazer are tried in the expedition’s first military court.
March 27, 1804
Making corn meal
At winter camp across from the mouth of the Missouri, the men make corn meal from parched corn. Clark reports he is sick and notes the appearance of buds on the spice bushes.
March 26, 1804
Finding Simon Girty
Lewis sends Thomas Jefferson Osage orange cuttings from Pierre Chouteau’s garden and in one of the Indian camps near the mouth of the Missouri, Clark meets Simon Girty, an infamous American traitor.
March 24, 1804
Reflections on Louisiana
At winter camp on the Wood River, Clark sends out letters. Sometime this month, the Commanding General of the U.S. Army secretly advises Spanish officials to stop the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
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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).