The expedition’s supplies included an unknown number of American flags. Those that the journals refer to only as being “of second size,” and “of third size,” were given to selected Indian leaders as tokens of peace.
St. Charles hospitality
The boatmen paddle and row the 48 miles from La Charrette to St. Charles. They are greeted by the latter’s citizens with great cheer and hospitality. Lewis starts a letter to President Jefferson.
Floyd's grave
On a wet morning, the expedition sets out with ample tobacco and flour obtained from trader James Aird. They stop to visit Sgt. Floyd’s grave and camp early to dry out near present Dakota City, Nebraska.
An offer to raise Jean Baptiste
The expedition leaves the Knife River Villages without Pvt. Colter and the Charbonneau family. Clark encourages the Charbonneaus to come to St. Louis where he can arrange the education of Jean Baptiste.
All hands aboard
With all hands aboard, they start the day as one corps for the first time since separating on 3 July 1806. With favorable winds, they make eighty-six miles and pass the Little Missouri River.
Fight with the Blackfeet
Today, the expedition travels in five separate groups along four different rivers. On the Two Medicine River, the young Blackfeet camping with Lewis and his small party attempt to steal rifles and horses. A fatal encounter ensues, and everyone takes flight.
Clark and his group paddle down the Yellowstone passing large herds of bison and elk and camping near present Forsyth, Montana.
South of Pompeys Pillar, Sgt. Pryor and three others are stranded without horses. They decide to haul their gear to the Yellowstone River and make bull boats.
Below the Great Falls of the Missouri, Sgt. Gass and Pvt. Willard swim the horses across the river and head towards the mouth of the Marias River. They camp on the Teton River.
At Lower Portage Camp, Sgt. Ordway and his group load the dugouts and white pirogue and paddle down the Missouri River intending to re-join Ordway tomorrow.
Off to the Marias
The expedition travels in four separate groups, each with a different destination. Lewis, Drouillard, and Pvts. Joseph and Reubin Field leave the Falls of the Missouri headed to the Marias River. They lunch at Rainbow Falls and encamp at the Grand Fall.
Sgt. Gass’s detachment remains at the White Bear Islands. They repair the wagon trucks that will be used to haul the canoes along the portage route.
On the Yellowstone River, Clark keeps moving downriver in search of trees large enough to make canoes. Moccasins are made for the lame horses, and Clark describes area geology and the mountain sucker—a fish new to science. He camps near present Big Timber, Montana.
On the Missouri River, Sgt. Ordway’s paddlers take the dugout canoes through the Gates of the Mountains, around Oxbow Bend, and past The Bears Tooth.
Snowbanks deepen
In the Lolo Travel Corridor in present Idaho, fallen trees slow progress, and deepening snowbanks appear. They encamp at Horsesteak Meadow on Hungery Creek where Clark had shot a stray horse last fall. Lewis prepares two plant specimens: Oregon boxleaf and sticky currant.
A day at the beach
Clark’s group walks four miles up present Long Beach and sees a dead sturgeon and whale. At Station Camp near Chinook, Washington, one of the men trades his old razor blade for a Chinookan woven hat.
A "bad whorl & Suck"
The expedition’s most valuable cargo is carried around the Long Narrows of the Columbia, and then the best paddlers run the canoes. At present The Dalles, Oregon, Fort Rock Camp is established.
Bitterroot Mountain triumph
Lewis and the main party arrive at the Weippe Prairie villages “having tryumphed over the rocky Mountains”. Clark and Twisted Hair climb up from the Clearwater River and the two captains unite.
Up to Snowbank Camp
The corps travels down the Lochsa River and then takes a steep trail to return to the Northern Nez Perce Trail. On the climb, several horses slip and roll. They camp in an area with banks of old snow.
Upper Village reunion
Clark travels to the Lemhi village where Lewis is trading for horses. He trades a pistol, 100 balls, powder, and a knife for a horse. Sgt. Gass describes sunflower bread and how the Shoshones make fire.
Portage route adjustments
Above the Great Falls of the Missouri, Lewis establishes an area to assemble the iron-framed boat, and the dugout canoe—abandoned the previous night—is brought in. On the way back to the lower camp, Clark adjusts the portage route. Prickly pears make walking difficult, and the men suffer from fatigue and sore feet.
"sublimely grand specticle"
Lewis reaches the Grand Fall of Missouri and marvels at its ‘sublimely grand spectacle’. Several miles downriver, Clark gives Sacagawea a dose of salts as a purgative and the enlisted men move the boats 13 miles up the river.
Near the mouth of the Ohio at Fort Massac, General James Wilkinson has questions about the delegation of Native Peoples who recently arrived aboard the expedition’s barge (keelboat).
Leaving Fort Mandan
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.
Sgt. Ordway's visit
Braving a cold northwest wind, Sgt. Ordway visits a Mandan village, likely the one nearest Fort Mandan—Mitutanka. On the Ouachita River in present Arkansas, the Hunter and Dunbar Expedition turns back.
A new year at Fort Mandan
At Fort Mandan, New Year’s Day starts with rain and cannon fire. Several enlisted men are allowed to visit Mitutanka—a nearby Mandan village, and Clark orders York to dance for them. He also learns of a conflict between the two Hidatsa villages, and the day ends snowy and cold.
Looking for winter quarters
Lewis sends a letter and his British passport to a North West Company Fort and three Mandan chiefs visit. In the evening, Clark leaves to establish winter quarters and Lewis visits Mitutanka to get corn.
Gangs of buffalo
On their way to the mouth of the Little Heart River in present North Dakota, the expedition sees large herds of bison and elk, golden eagle nesting areas, and an abandoned Mandan village.
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