January 5, 1804
Stolen hog meat
Winter Camp, Wood River, Illinois
Two hunters bring in part of a local settler’s hog that they found hanging in the woods. The tell Clark that it is bear meat. Rising water threatens the barge’s moorings.
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January 4, 1804
Icy river, unruly soldiers
Winter Camp, Wood River, Illinois
During the night, the enlisted men make merry. In the morning, Clark learns that a fight between Werner and Potts was allowed by one of the corporals. Lewis is away in Cahokia or St. Louis.
January 3, 1804
A cold, blustery day
Winter Camp at Wood River, IL The day at winter camp is cold and very windy. Clark measures the altitude of the sun, and Lewis continues to work at Cahokia and St. Louis.
December 31, 1803
Discipline problems
At Wood River, Clark addresses problems with excessive drinking. Lewis travels between Cahokia and St. Louis gathering intelligence on upper Louisiana and preparing for departure in the spring.
December 29, 1803
Writing letters
At Wood River, Clark writes letters to George Hancock in Fincastle, Virginia and Richard Clough Anderson in Louisville, Kentucky. Lewis continues working in St. Louis and Cahokia.
December 28, 1803
Mackay and Evans journals
At Wood River, Clark reports “nothing remarkable to day”. Elsewhere, Lewis tells President Jefferson that he has a census of Louisiana and journals and maps from explorers John Evans and James Mackay.
December 27, 1803
Blankets and other goods
At Wood River, Clark has blankets set out to air and dry before placing them in a storeroom. The French prefect at New Orleans has his opinion of the boundaries of Louisiana reported to James Madison.
December 26, 1803
Estimate of the Eastern Indians
At Wood River, Clark writes that “nothing material” happens. Near this date, Lewis creates the Estimate of Eastern Indians—a form to collate information about the Native Nations living in Louisiana.
December 25, 1803
Wood River Christmas
At Wood River, the men celebrate Christmas by drinking, hunting, and frolicking. Visiting Indians share a rumor regarding Louisiana trade, and interpreter and hunter George Drouillard agrees to join.
December 24, 1803
American emigrants
Working in Cahokia and St. Louis, Lewis finds that many American emigrants have arrived in anticipation of the Louisiana transfer. At Wood River, roofs are completed and passing boatmen visit with Clark.
December 23, 1803
Mr. Morrison's corn
At Wood River, work continues building huts, Mr. Morrison’s corn arrives, and a Lenape Delaware man known to Clark visits. Near this date, Lewis observes the current system of slavery in Louisiana.
December 22, 1803
Prying the barge
At Wood River, Clark receives eight new recruits from Tennessee. The river runs with ice, so the barge is unloaded and supported with pry bars. Elsewhere, Lewis uses “stealth” to gather intelligence.
December 21, 1803
Seven fat turkeys
The enlisted men continue to raise cabins at Wood River, and two hunters bring in several turkeys. In a letter dated 28 December, Lewis describes the nature of his work in Spanish controlled St. Louis.
December 20, 1803
Louisiana's formal transfer
In New Orleans, officials conduct the formal transfer of the city and lower Louisiana from France to the United States. At the Wood River construction site, the enlisted men move into their huts.
December 19, 1803
Provisions arrive
Wagons with food and other provisions arrive at winter camp at Wood River. In Cahokia, Lewis writes a letter telling President Jefferson that Antoine Soulard will share geographic information about the West.
December 18, 1803
Louisiana observations
While winter camp on the Wood River is constructed, Clark checks the accuracy of his chronometer and sextant. In Cahokia, Lewis sends information about the Louisiana Territory to Thomas Jefferson.
December 15, 1803
Cutting a road
At winter camp at Wood River—Camp River Dubois—the day brings snow, and a road is made from the camp site to the prairie. An Indian brings meat, and the hunters kill several grouse.
December 14, 1803
Cutting logs
At Wood River, construction of winter quarters—presently called Camp River Dubois—continues. Lewis works elsewhere, likely in Cahokia.
December 12, 1803
Rivière à Dubois arrival
Lewis works in St. Louis, and Clark takes the boats to Riviére á Dubois—today called Wood River—just below the old confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers. Two canoes of drunk Potawatomis arrive.
December 11, 1803
St. Louis fanfare
From Cahokia, Clark takes the boats across the Mississippi and arrives in St. Louis under full sails and colors. Many people come to the landing to greet them.
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
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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).