Lewis & Clark Expedition Leg 1
On the first leg of the journey, the Corps of Discovery embarked into the Missouri River, heading North West. They traveled on a keelboat and pirogues (smaller flat-bottom boats) and slept on the shores of the river or river islands. During this portion of their journey, the Expedition risked the dangers of the river, and several times were almost lost in the capsizing of their boats. They also came into their first contact with Native American Tribes.
May 13, 1804
William Clark
Boats and everything Complete, with the necessary stores of provisions & such articles of merchandize as we thought ourselves authorised to procure -- tho' not as much as I think nessy. for the multitude of Inds. thro which we must pass on our road across the Continent &c. &c.
May 14, 1804
All the preparations being completed, we left our encampment. This spot is at the mouth of the Wood River, a small stream which empties itsef into the Mississippi, opposite to the entrance of the Missouri...
...Not being able to set sail before four o'clock P.M., we did not make more than four miles, and encamped on the first island opposite a small creek called Cold Water.
May 24, 1804
Passing near the southern shore, the bank fell in so fast as to oblige us to cross the river instantly, between the northern side and a sandbar which is constantly moving and banking with the violence of the current. The boat struck on it and would have upset immediately, if the men had not jumped into the water and held her, til the sand washed from under her.
July 12, 1804
William Clark
The Commanding officers, Capts. M. Lewis & W. Clark constituted themselves a Court Martial for the trial of such persons as are Guilty of Capatal Crimes, and under the rules and articles of War punishable by DEATH.
Alexander Willard was brought forward Charged with "Lying down and Sleeping on his post" whilst a Sentinal...
To this Charge the prisoner pleads Guilty of Lying Down, and Not Guilty, of Going to Sleep
The court after Duly Considering the evidence aduced, are of oppinion that the Prisoner Alexdr. Willard is guilty of every part of the Charge exhibited against him. it being a breach of the rules and articles of War do Sentence him to receive One hundred lashes, on his bear back, at four different times in equal proportion. and Order that the punishment Commence this evening at Sunset, and Continue to be inflicted every evening until Completed.
Wm Clark
M. Lewis
**Footnotes: The Corps of Discovery operated as a Military body, under military hierarchy and under the Articles of War.
July 20, 1804
For a month past the party have been troubled with boils, and occasionally with the dysentery. These boils were large tomours which broke out under the arms, on the legs, and, generally, in the parts most exposed to action, which sometimes became to painful to permit the men to work.
This disorder....has not affected the general health of the party, which is quite as good, if not better, than that of the same number of men in any other situation.
August 20, 1804
...we had the misfortune to lose one of our sergeants, Charles Floyd. He was yesterday seized with a bilious colic, and all our care and attention were ineffectual to relieve him: a little before his death, he said to Captain Clark, " I am going to leave you" his strength failed him as he added, "I want you to write me a letter;" but he died with a composure which justified the high opinion had formed of his firmness and good conduct. He was buried on the top of the bluff with the honours due to a brave soldier**
**Footnote: Charles Floyd was the only man who died on the Expedition. He died from an appendix disease that even the most refined 19th Century medicine would not have been able to cure.
August 22, 1804
In order to supply the place of sergeant Floyd, we permitted the men to name three persons, and Patrick Gass having the greatest number of votes was made sergeant.
August 30, 1804
William Clark
... a Council under an Oak Tree near where we had a flag flying on a high flagstaff ... The Souex is a Stout bold looking people, & well made, the greater part of make use of Bows & arrows, Some fiew fusees I observe among them, notwith standing they live by the Bow and arrow, they do not Shoot So Well as the Northern Indians the Warriers are Verry much deckerated with Paint Porcupine quils & feathers, large leagins and mockersons, all with buffalow roabs of Different Colours. the Squars wore Peticoats & a White Buffalow roabe with the black hare turned back over their necks and Shoulders.
This Nation is Divided into 20 Tribes, ...
September 7, 1804
William Clark
... discovered a Village of Small animals that burrow in the grown (those animals are Called by the french Petite Chien) Killed one and Caught one live by poreing a great quantity of Water in his hole we attempted to dig to the beds of one of those animals, ...
... Contains great numbers of holes on the top of which those little animals Set erect make a Whistleing noise and whin allarmed Step into their hole.
September 7, 1804
The petit chien are justly named, as they resemble a small dog in some particulars, though they have also some points of similarity to the squirrel. The head resembles the squirrel in every respect, except that the ear is shorter, the tail like that of the ground-squirrel, the toe-nails are long, the fur is fine, and the long hair is gray.
October 10, 1804
William Clark
... after the Council was over we Shot the air guns which astonished them much, the[y] then Departed and we rested Secure all night, Those Indians wer much astonished at my Servent, they never Saw a black man before, all flocked around him & examind him from top to toe, he Carried on the joke and made himself more turribal than we wished him to doe.
May 13, 1804
William Clark
Boats and everything Complete, with the necessary stores of provisions & such articles of merchandize as we thought ourselves authorised to procure -- tho' not as much as I think nessy. for the multitude of Inds. thro which we must pass on our road across the Continent &c. &c.
May 14, 1804
All the preparations being completed, we left our encampment. This spot is at the mouth of the Wood River, a small stream which empties itsef into the Mississippi, opposite to the entrance of the Missouri...
...Not being able to set sail before four o'clock P.M., we did not make more than four miles, and encamped on the first island opposite a small creek called Cold Water.
May 24, 1804
Passing near the southern shore, the bank fell in so fast as to oblige us to cross the river instantly, between the northern side and a sandbar which is constantly moving and banking with the violence of the current. The boat struck on it and would have upset immediately, if the men had not jumped into the water and held her, til the sand washed from under her.
July 12, 1804
William Clark
The Commanding officers, Capts. M. Lewis & W. Clark constituted themselves a Court Martial for the trial of such persons as are Guilty of Capatal Crimes, and under the rules and articles of War punishable by DEATH.
Alexander Willard was brought forward Charged with "Lying down and Sleeping on his post" whilst a Sentinal...
To this Charge the prisoner pleads Guilty of Lying Down, and Not Guilty, of Going to Sleep
The court after Duly Considering the evidence aduced, are of oppinion that the Prisoner Alexdr. Willard is guilty of every part of the Charge exhibited against him. it being a breach of the rules and articles of War do Sentence him to receive One hundred lashes, on his bear back, at four different times in equal proportion. and Order that the punishment Commence this evening at Sunset, and Continue to be inflicted every evening until Completed.
Wm Clark
M. Lewis
**Footnotes: The Corps of Discovery operated as a Military body, under military hierarchy and under the Articles of War.
July 20, 1804
For a month past the party have been troubled with boils, and occasionally with the dysentery. These boils were large tomours which broke out under the arms, on the legs, and, generally, in the parts most exposed to action, which sometimes became to painful to permit the men to work.
This disorder....has not affected the general health of the party, which is quite as good, if not better, than that of the same number of men in any other situation.
August 20, 1804
...we had the misfortune to lose one of our sergeants, Charles Floyd. He was yesterday seized with a bilious colic, and all our care and attention were ineffectual to relieve him: a little before his death, he said to Captain Clark, " I am going to leave you" his strength failed him as he added, "I want you to write me a letter;" but he died with a composure which justified the high opinion had formed of his firmness and good conduct. He was buried on the top of the bluff with the honours due to a brave soldier**
**Footnote: Charles Floyd was the only man who died on the Expedition. He died from an appendix disease that even the most refined 19th Century medicine would not have been able to cure.
August 22, 1804
In order to supply the place of sergeant Floyd, we permitted the men to name three persons, and Patrick Gass having the greatest number of votes was made sergeant.
August 30, 1804
William Clark
... a Council under an Oak Tree near where we had a flag flying on a high flagstaff ... The Souex is a Stout bold looking people, & well made, the greater part of make use of Bows & arrows, Some fiew fusees I observe among them, notwith standing they live by the Bow and arrow, they do not Shoot So Well as the Northern Indians the Warriers are Verry much deckerated with Paint Porcupine quils & feathers, large leagins and mockersons, all with buffalow roabs of Different Colours. the Squars wore Peticoats & a White Buffalow roabe with the black hare turned back over their necks and Shoulders.
This Nation is Divided into 20 Tribes, ...
September 7, 1804
William Clark
... discovered a Village of Small animals that burrow in the grown (those animals are Called by the french Petite Chien) Killed one and Caught one live by poreing a great quantity of Water in his hole we attempted to dig to the beds of one of those animals, ...
... Contains great numbers of holes on the top of which those little animals Set erect make a Whistleing noise and whin allarmed Step into their hole.
September 7, 1804
The petit chien are justly named, as they resemble a small dog in some particulars, though they have also some points of similarity to the squirrel. The head resembles the squirrel in every respect, except that the ear is shorter, the tail like that of the ground-squirrel, the toe-nails are long, the fur is fine, and the long hair is gray.
October 10, 1804
William Clark
... after the Council was over we Shot the air guns which astonished them much, the[y] then Departed and we rested Secure all night, Those Indians wer much astonished at my Servent, they never Saw a black man before, all flocked around him & examind him from top to toe, he Carried on the joke and made himself more turribal than we wished him to doe.