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February 1, 1806

Ammunition inspection

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At Fort Clatsop near present Astoria, Oregon, the lead canisters are unsealed, and the gunpowder they hold is found to be safe and dry. The captains also describe highly prized Chinookan canoes.

Elsewhere, Zebulon M. Pike reaches what he thinks is the source of the Mississippi River—the intended destination of his expedition.

In St. Louis, several prominent citizens petition Congress to repeal an act requiring that Spanish land grants be transferred on the condition of occupancy and cultivation.

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December 10, 1805

Beachcombing

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Near present Seaside, Oregon, Clark goes beach combing while the villagers look for fish stranded by the retreating tide. He returns to the Fort Clatsop construction site, where workers are falling trees and building a foundation.

Near Little Falls, Minnesota, U.S. Army explorer Zebulon Pike‘s men must drag two sleds over the prairie and a pirogue over the frozen river.

An attempt to return Arikara chief Too Né (Eagle Feather) to his home is stopped by some Kansa. Louisiana Territory Governor James Wilkinson decides to send him to Washington City.

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November 21, 1805

Clatsop and Chehalis visitors

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At Station Camp near the mouth of the Columbia, some Clatsops and Lower Chehalis visit. Additionally, the wife of Chinook chief Delashelwilt brings six young females to camp. Clark describes Chinookan head flattening and woven mats and hats.

In Washington City, Secretary of War Henry Dearborn orders Louisiana Territory Governor and Commander of the U.S. Army, James Wilkinson, to cancel his plans to build a fort on the Platte River.

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September 8, 1805

Mountains to the left and right

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The expedition proceeds north through the Bitterroot valley with the snow-capped Bitterroot Mountains to the west and the mostly barren Sapphire mountains to the east. They find two Indian horses and a colt. They also find a new pest—brittle prickly pears.

In St. Louis, the Governor of Upper St. Louis, James Wilkinson, plans expeditions to the Yellowstone River and Sante Fe.

At Monticello in Virginia, President Jefferson writes about the mineral specimens that Lewis sent from Fort Mandan.

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August 26, 1805

Past the Great Divide

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With the help of the Lemhi Shoshones, Lewis has the last of the baggage carried over the Continental Divide. At Cameawait’s village, he receives Clark’s letter with bad news about the Salmon River. He has the men dance for the amusement of the villagers, and writes his last known journal entry for the year.

Clark and his small group move up the Lemhi River camping at a small village that has some fish. He directs his men to mend their moccasins and be ready to hunt early the next morning.

In St. Louis, Commandant James Wilkinson dictates that only American traders be permitted up the Missouri and that all their trade goods be made in the United States.

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August 25, 1805

A change of plans

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While taking the expedition’s baggage over Lemhi Pass, Charbonneau informs Lewis that he and Sacagawea will soon return home and that Cameahwait’s People will also leave without completing the portage.

On the Salmon River, Clark and his small group retrace their steps to reach their old campsite at Tower Rock. They subsist on berries and a small portion of fresh salmon.

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August 10, 1805

End of the navigable river

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Lewis and his scouts reach the end of the Beaverhead River and then explore two ‘Indian roads’ to determine which one will lead to the Shoshones.

Several miles downriver, Clark and the enlisted men manage to move the heavy dugouts 13 river miles, but because of river bends, they move only four land miles to the south.

In St. Louis, the Native American delegates sent there on the expedition’s barge wait for permission to continue to Washington City.

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July 28, 1805

Sacagawea's capture

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At the headwaters of the Missouri, the expedition takes a rest day. The captains learn of Sacagawea’s capture as a young child, and Lewis remarks on how she “would be perfectly content anywhere”. A shade bower is built for Clark, and Pvt. Whitehouse is busy making clothes for the party.

In a lengthy report to Thomas Jefferson, James Wilkinson discusses the new Indian factory at Camp Belle Fontaine and encourages the President to allow Pierre Chouteau to take Native delegations to Washington City.

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July 26, 1805

Charbonneau nearly drowns

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Above the Missouri River headwaters, Clark and two others climb a mountain to survey the Jefferson River. While crossing that river, Clark saves Charbonneau from drowning.

On the Missouri River several miles to the north, Lewis and the main party work the boats past “Howard” Creek where they suffer from barbed grass and prickly pears. Even Seaman is “in a rack of pain.”

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June 27, 1805

Sightseeing at the falls

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At the Great Falls of the Missouri, Sgt. Ordway’s group detours from the portage route to view the falls and Giant Springs. Sgt. Gass reports hail stones as large as seven inches. At the upper camp, Pvts. Whitehouse and Frazer sew hides that will cover the iron-framed boat, Drouillard and Pvt. J. Field ambush a grizzly bear, and Seaman barks at bears all night.

Near Kaskaskia, James Wilkinson takes his oath of office as Governor of Louisiana Territory and asks the Secretary of War what should be done with the many Natives that have come to St. Louis.

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June 15, 1805

Sacagawea deteriorates

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Below the Great Falls of the Missouri, Sacagawea’s health deteriorates, and Charbonneau asks to return home. For the enlisted men, towing the boats becomes increasingly difficult. Several miles ahead and unaware of Sacagawea’s condition, Lewis fishes and counts the scuta on a prairie rattlesnake.

Elsewhere, Pierre Chouteau ships Lewis’s Fort Mandan specimens from St. Louis to Washington City via New Orleans, and the expedition’s barge (keelboat) arrives at Fort Massac.

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May 28, 1805

Judith River oasis

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The enlisted men tow the boats twenty miles to reach the fertile Judith River Basin. Lewis finds the change in scenery reviving. Several Native American items are found floating down the river, and they worry the owners are not far ahead.

In St. Louis, military commander James Bruff proposes a mission for the expedition’s old barge.

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April 19, 1805

Grounded by winds

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The wind being high, the captains decide to remain another day at their present camp below present Williston, North Dakota. Lewis describes the area’s beaver and collects a specimen of creeping juniper.

In Washington City, Secretary of War Henry Dearborn orders James Wilkinson to establish a factory near St. Louis to manufacture and store Indian trade goods.

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April 7, 1805

Leaving Fort Mandan

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The permanent party—under Capts. Lewis and Clark—leaves Fort Mandan in six dugout canoes and two larger pirogues bound for the Pacific Ocean. They make it only as far as Mitutanka, one of the Knife River Villages. The return party—under Cpl. Warfington—takes the barge and one canoe down the Missouri headed for St. Louis.

In Washington City, James Wilkinson writes to James Madison, United States Secretary of State, accepting his appointment as Governor of Louisiana Territory.

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March 12, 1805

Charbonneau quits

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At Fort Mandan, Hidatsa interpreter Toussaint Charbonneau quits, and two men go to a Hidatsa village to trade for tobacco.

In St. Louis, Commandant James Bruff forwards President Jefferson a speech made by a Kaskaskia chief that foments war against the Osage.

In Washington City, Spanish Minister Yrujo complains that President Jefferson‘s Western expeditions are intruding on Spanish territory.

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March 11, 1805

Charbonneau's corruption

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At Fort Mandan below the Knife River Villages, the captains accuse Hidatsa interpreter Toussaint Charbonneau of acting in the interests of local fur traders and give him an ultimatum.

In Washington City, President Jefferson commissions James Wilkinson as Territorial Governor of Louisiana.

In St. Louis, Pierre Chouteau—U.S. Agent for Indian affairs west of the Mississippi River—informs Jefferson of an alliance against the Osage—a complication arising from the captains sending a delegation of Osage to Washington City.

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March 2, 1805

North West Company news

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At Fort Mandan, Canada-based trader François-Antoine Larocque visits with a fresh supply of trade goods and news of the death of Simon McTavish, the principal director of the North West Company.

From St. Louis, fur trader and merchant Pierre Chouteau writes President Jefferson to tell him news of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

In Kaskaskia, Illinois, the captain’s intended peace between the Osage and their many neighbors appears to be falling apart.

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September 19, 1804

The Sioux Pass

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Setting out early, the winds are favorable and the hunting good. Clark explores the Sioux Pass of the Three Rivers—a well-used river crossing and a place where different tribes can meet in peace. Lewis adds broom snake weed to his plant collection, and the evening’s camp is near present Lower Brule, South Dakota. The daily weather diary resumes.

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