March 23, 1804
Kickapoo update
At winter camp across the Mississippi above St. Louis, the man sent up the river to check the status of a Kickapoo war party returns with a letter from François Saucier, the commander of Portage des Sioux.
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March 20, 1804
A chorus of frogs
Wood River Camp, IL Clark and Lewis travel by boat from St. Charles where they had intercepted a Kickapoo war party. Clark reports hearing frogs for the first time this season.
March 18, 1804
Questions about Indian amusements
Wood River Camp, IL The day reaches 50° for the first time this year—a signal that the expedition may soon be able to head up the Missouri River. During this period, Clark lists questions about Indian amusements.
March 17, 1804
Questions about Indian war tactics
Wood River Camp, IL Spring-like weather is recorded as the captains work in St. Louis and Cahokia. During this time, Clark records questions about war tactics to ask the Indians they will soon meet.
March 16, 1804
Questions about Indian fishing and hunting
Wood River Camp, IL The day warms to nearly 50 degrees but other than weather data, nothing is recorded in the journals on this day. During this period, Clark records questions about fishing and hunting to ask the Indians they will soon meet.
March 15, 1804
Snowy morning
Winter Camp, Wood River, Illinois
The day begins cold and snowy, but when the temperature rises to 48° F., the snow turns over to rain. Sometime during this period Clark records questions to ask the Louisiana Indians.
March 14, 1804
Native American agriculture
Wood River Camp, IL The captains continue in St. Louis and Cahokia leaving the soldiers at camp under the charge of Sgt. Ordway. Sometime during this period Clark records questions for the Louisiana Indians.
March 13, 1804
Clear and cold
Winter Camp at Wood River, IL The weather diary reports that today is cold and clear, but little else is recorded. Sgt. Ordway commands the soldiers at camp, and Clark and Lewis are working between Cahokia and St. Louis.
March 12, 1804
Informing the Indians
Winter Camp at Wood River, IL At the request of Capt. Stoddard and in the presence of Meriwether Lewis, Dehault Delassus delivers a speech to Indians informing them of the transfer of Upper Louisiana to the United States.
March 11, 1804
38 degrees Fahrenheit
Wood River Camp, IL The temperature rises well above the freezing point for the first time of the season. Nothing else is written about the day, but we can easily imagine that the sugar makers are busy and that Lewis and Clark are with the new American government leaders in Upper Louisiana.
March 10, 1804
Lowering the French, raising the American
Winter Camp at Wood River, IL U.S. Army Captain Amos Stoddard, acting as the representative of France, declares Upper Louisiana as belonging to the United States. The French flag, flying for only one day, is lowered and the American flag raised.
March 9, 1804
Lowering the Spanish, raising the French
Wood River Camp, IL Lewis serves as a witness to the delivery and receipt of the Upper Louisiana from Spain to France. With speeches and ceremony, the Spanish flag is lowered, and the French flag is raised.
March 8, 1804
Announcing Louisiana's transfer
Wood River Camp, IL Lewis is in Cahokia with Captain Amos Stoddard and his honor guard who are traveling to St. Louis to formally receive the Upper Louisiana Territory. Clark is likely already there.
March 7, 1804
Anticipating the Sioux
Wood River Camp, IL The captains work away from winter camp on Wood River preparing for the official transfer of Upper Louisiana. Likely, Lewis has received Thomas Jefferson’s letter dated 22 January 1804 asking Lewis to establish friendly terms with the Sioux Indians.
March 6, 1804
Direct terms of commerce
Wood River Camp, IL The captains work in St. Louis and Cahokia as the transfer of Upper Louisiana to the United States nears. By this date, they have received President Jefferson’s instructions to propose trade agreements with the Indians.
March 5, 1804
Ordway is First Sergeant
Winter Camp at Wood River, IL The captains continue working in Cahokia and St. Louis. On or near this date, the commander of the U.S. Army advises Spain to block the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
March 2, 1804
Opportunistic soldiers
Wood River Camp, IL As indicated in the Lewis’s detachment order of 3 March 1804, some soldiers use the cover of hunting trips and other errands to visit a local “whiskey shop” contrary to orders given before Clark and Lewis left for St. Louis.
March 1, 1804
Orders for Sgt. Floyd
Wood River Camp, IL The day begins with sub-zero temperatures, and trouble brews when some of the enlisted men disobey Sgt. Ordway’s orders. In Washington City, Henry Dearborn orders Major Bruff to replace Amos Stoddard as military commander of Upper Louisiana.
February 28, 1804
Request for Indian information
Wood River Camp, IL The day is snowy and the journalists record little else. The captains are likely both in St. Louis working on the Upper Louisiana transfer and Osage Indian delegation.
February 27, 1804
Orders for shooting practice
Wood River Camp, IL As the captains attend to business in St. Louis, the men follow a military routine at winter camp including daily shooting contests with an extra gill of whiskey as the prize.
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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).