Lewis & Clark Journal Entries ( http://www.lewisandclarktrail.com/diary.htm ) May 14, 1804 "Set out from camp River a Dubois at 4 oClock PM and proceed up the Missouris under Sail to the first Island in the Missouri and Camped on the upper point opposit a Creek on the South Side below a ledge of limestone rock called Colewater* made 4 1/2 miles, the party consited of 2, Self one frenchman and 22 men in the boat of 20 ores, 1 Serjt. & 7 french in a large Perogue, a Corp and 6 soldiers in a large Perogue, men in high spirits . I determined to go as far as St. Charles a french village 7 Leags.*** up the Missourie, and wait at that place untill Cap. Lewis Could finish the business in which he was obliged to attend to at St. Louis and join me by land from that place 24 miles; by this movement I calculated that if any alterations in the loading of the Vestles or other changes necessary, that they might be made at St. Charles." Clark
July 30, 1804 -Camped near Fort Calhoun, Nebraska, the party's Council Bluff
"Set out early this morning proceeded on to a Clear open Prairie on the LS on a rise of about 70 feet higher than the bottom which is also a Prairie both forming Bluffs to the river of High Grass Plumb bush Grapes and situated above high water is a small grove of timber at the foot of the Riseing Ground between those two prairies, and below the Bluffs of the high prairie we Came too and formed a Camp*, intending to waite the return of the french man & Indians. - the white horse which we found near the Kanzeis River, Died last night. I am ingaged in and drawing off my courses to accompany the map Drawn at White Catfish Camp." Clark
September 13, 1804 (Camped in Brule County, South Dakota) "Made twelve miles today through a number of sandbars, which make it difficult to find the proper channel. At night the mosquitoes were verry troublesome. Killed a Porcupine; found it in a Cottonwood tree near the river. the leaves of the Cottonowood were much distroyed-as were those of the Cottonwood trees in it's neighbourhood. I therefore supposed that it fed on the folage of trees at this season." January 16, 1805 "one of the 1st War Chiefs* of the big bellies nation came to see us to day. we shot the air gun and gave two shots with the cannon which pleased them verry much... this war chief gave us a chart in his way of the Missourie, he informed us of his intentions of going to war in the Spring against the Snake Indians we advised him to look back at the number of the nations who had been distroyed by war, and reflect upon what he was about to do, observing if he wished the hapiness of his nation, he would be at peace with all, by that by being at peace and haveing plenty of goods amongst them & free intercourse with those defenceless nations, they would get on easy terms a gret Number of horses, and that nation would increas, if he went to was against those Defenceless people, he would displease his great father, and he would not receive that pertection & care from him as other nations who listened to his word - This Chief who is a young man 26 yr. old replied that ifhis going to war against the Snake indians would be displeasing to us be would not go, he had horses enough."
August 24, 1805 Clark realizes that the Salmon River is not passable by canoe or horseback and begins his journey to rejoin the party: " I wrote a letter to Capt Lewis informing him of the prospects before us and information received of my guide which I thought favourable & stating two plans… and despatched one man & horse... the plan I stated to Capt Lewis if he agrees with me we shall adopt is toprocure as many horses (one for each man) if possible and to hire my present guide who I sent on to him to interegate thro' the Intprtr. and proceed on by land to some navagable part of the Columbia River, or to the Ocean, depending on what provisions we can procure by the gun aded to the Small Stock we have on hand depending on our horses as the last resort. a second plan to divide the party one part to attempt this deficuet river with what provisions we had, and the remainder to pass by Land on hose back depending on our gun & for provisions and come together occasionally on the river. the 1st of which I would be most pleased with*. directed the party to get ready to march back."
September 27, 1805 " all the men able to work comened building 5 canoes, Several taken Sick at work, our hunters returned Sick without meet. J. Colter returned he found only one of the lost horses, on his way killed a deer, half of which he gave the Indians the other proved nourshing to the Sick the day verry hot, we purchase fresh Salmon of them Several Indians Come up the river from a Camp some distance below. Capt Lewis very Sick nearly all the men sick. our Shonshonee Indian Guide employed himself makeing flint points for his arrows. " Clark January 7, 1806 “ I hired a young Indian to pilot me to the whale for which service I gave him a file in hand and promised several other articles on my return, left Sergt. Gass and one man of my party Werner to make salt & permitted Bratten to accompany me, we proceeded on the round Slipery Stones my guide made a suden halt, pointed to the top of the mountain and uttered the word Pe Shack which means bad, but must pass over that mountain, I hesitated a moment & view this emence mountain the top of which was obscured in the clouds and the assent appeard. to be almost perpindecular; as the small Indian parth allong which they had brought emence loads but a fiew hours before, led up this mountain and appeared to assend in a sideling direction, I thought more than probable that the assent might be torerable easy and therefore proceeded on, I soon found that the become much worst as I assended and at one place we were obliged to support and draw our selves up by the bushes & roots for near 100 feet, and after about 2 hours labour and fatigue we reached the top of this mountain*, from the top of which I looked down with estonishment to behold the hight which we assended, which appeared to be 10 or 12 hundred feet up a mountain. we met 14 Indians men and women loaded with the oil and blubber of the whale.” Clark March 20, 1806 "It continued to rain and blow so violently today that nothing could be done towards forwarding our departure. Altho’ we have not fared sumptuously this winter and spring at Fort Clatsop, we have lived quite as comfortably as we had any reason to expect we should; and have accomplished every object which induced our remaining at this place except that of meeting with the traders who visit the entrance of this river. our salt will be very sufficient to last us to the Missouri where we have a stock in store. - it would have been very fortunate for us had some of those traders arrived previous to our departure from hence, as we should then have had it in our power to obtain an addition to our stock of merchandize which would have made our homeward bound journey much more comfortable. many of our men are still complaining of being unwell.." March 29, 1806 "we set out very early this morning and proceeded to the head of deer island and took brackfast. here we were joined be threee men of the Clan-nah-min-na-mun nation*. after brackfast we proceeded on... the morning was very cold wind sharp and keen off the rainge of Mountains to the East covered with snow. the river is now rising very fast and retards our progress very much as we are complelled to keep out at some distance in the curent to clear the bushes, and fallin trees and drift logs makeing out from the Shore. we made 15 miles to day only." July 25, 1806 ... "at 4 PM arived at a remarkable rock situated in an extensive bottom on the Stard. Side of the river & 250 paces from it. this rock I ascended and from it's top had a most extensive view in every direction. This rock which I shall Call Pompy's Tower is 200 feet high and 400 paces in secumphrance and only axcessable on one Side ... The nativs have ingraved on the face of this rock the figures of animals & near which I marked my name and the day of the month & year"