Lewis and Clark

Journal
May 14, 1803

“Today is the day where I start this tremendous journey, for I have been chosen to explore the

purchased Louisiana Territory. This day has been filled with excitement, triumphant, and has

been very indeed, busy. At three O’clock, we had packed loads of equipment, such as medicine,

Arms, clothing, Camping equipment, instruments, and the list goes on and on. At four was when

we started, we traveled up a long, immense river. There were plants that were so remote and

animals that had to be of Gods work. The weather was fair. Although we were inspired by the

environment, we were constantly on the lookout for Indians, hoping to make a peaceful affair.

We stopped at dusk and put some men out to guard.”

June 01, 1804

“It was a gracious morning. When we trekked for a long time, passed Big Muddy Creek and

came up to Bear Creek. Bear Creek was about 25 yards apart. We then came across the Osage

River, where we stopped traveling for the day. The captain ordered us to chop down some trees.

I estimate that the river was about 197 yards. Some of our men went through the rich, yet broken

country side. They collected oak, ash, hickory, and black Walnut. They also killed 5 deer. We

came along some Osage Indians and they lived about 200 meters up the river. I was very

cautious while they inspected our supplies. The Indians were very war like people.”

July 30, 1804

“We started the day early and set out early. We arrived at a majestic openly prairie. This prairie

was covered with grass that was about 10 – 12 inches high. While we were waiting for the Otto

Native Americans, we went up a high bluff and saw the overview of the delightful prairie. The

grass swayed like fur with the wind and you could see the trees and could shape out the river.
The sight was just immense and couldn’t bare leave such an image. The evenings were fair and

cool.”

August 01, 1804

“It was an average and clear morning. Two horses went missing over the night and so we sent

two of our men to search for them. Where we camped out was a prairie. The Prairie had flush

green color of grass to it and stood about 5 – 8 feet tall. We also found Hazel, Plumbs, and

Currents. To collect meat, we killed an elk, 3 deer, and caught two beavers. The meat from the

deer was delicious and we skinned the beaver’s fur. It was a gruesome sight as we skinned it.

Clark decided to examine the creature. We were still expecting the Indies to appear, but no sign

of them.”

August 02, 1804

“While we were encamped minding our own business, the Otto and Missouri Native Americans

arrived. The exchange was done properly and had no conflicts were made. President Jefferson

had specifically said that when we meet the Sioux, we have to make a really friendly impression.

We exchanged gifts and greetings when and the air was filled with excitement and curiosity.”

August 31, 1804

“We have reached the Great Plains, which was abounded with elk, deer, buffalo, and beavers.

Our curiosity has filled us for when we will meet the Sioux. The Great Plain was flat and just

flushed with rich green. You could see the clouds roll by over the plain and the horizon just

waiting for the sun to reach its final destination.”

September 25, 1804

“We got ready to meet with the band of the Sioux, call the Tribe of Tetons. The meeting took an

unwittingly turn. After we gave the Chief some of the wine, they took offense of it and as a

result, we were expecting a battle. Everybody arranged their equipment and prepared their arms.

Everybody was shaken and was scared for they kept on thinking that we were going to be

outnumbered. What a feeling it was to be prepared for a battle. We headed up the river, always

on the lookout for possibly threats. We were filled and sensitive to what was out there.

Unfortunately, Jefferson’s belief had failed on this expedition.”

October 01- December 20, 1804

“The snow was bitterly cold. The ice has dragged our hopes down in finding shelter. We were

hoping to find the Mandan tribe’s village. But no sight of the village was yet near. The Missouri

river froze, thus eliminating one of our ways of transportation. After days and days of the icy,

biting cold, we all decided to build a fort, which increased our chance of survival. We had to

trudge through the snow lugging logs and had to chop down trees. It was unpleasant but we got

the best of it afterwards. One of our men almost died out there, freezing. Boy, I felt horrible for

him. His nose was nearly gone and his hands….they didn’t look like hands with the cold and

snow on them.”

October 01 – December 20, 1804

“Our food supply is running low and the temperatures are dipping quite rapidly. Lewis and

Clark are trying to find ways of finding food. Lewis came up with an idea….but I forgot what it

was, but it had a flaw in it. We posted men on guard often so the shift wasn’t too long. Our

captains were constantly trying to find ways of supplying foods for us all. Well, it’s my shift

now…”
December 21, 1804 – April 06, 1804

“Our fort has given us shelter throughout the cold. Us men have been hunting for buffalo and

have been repairing our equipment. As soon as you step outside for your shift, you can feel the

wind cutting through your skin…one slice at a time. When we trade with the Native Americans,

we are sure to treat them with kindness and generosity. One day, while we were trading with the

Hidatsa Tribe, we met a French fur trader along with his wife who was very amiable. I believed

their names were Charbonneau and his Shoshone wife, Sacagawea. They had said that they had

a baby on the way. It was really a nice meeting, between Lewis and Clark and Sacagawea and

her husband. They were quite a well formed family. Tomorrow we are going to explore around

the lands and hills.”

April 07 – May 03 1805

“We are finally going west. We got to see some wild huge creatures they call the grizzlies. Oh

that was really close one. Our captain almost got killed by one of them grizzlies. There were two

grizzlies and he shot one, the other came by chasing after him. I tell you what a scene it was. If it

weren’t for us, he would have been killed. I made the first shot it hit the bear straight on…but it

only injured him. When the other men shot the grizzly, it pinned him down for good. We stripped

off the fur and we each got a piece of it. Boy was there intensity and nervousness. I was so shaky

when I tried to aim right….trying to only hit the bear.”

May 04 – 28, 1805

“We were very lucky to have that lady, Sacagawea on board. Today the wind was very rough and

nasty. It nearly blew us over board. Our journal entries and our paper analysis were almost blown

away if Sacagawea weren’t on board. We are hoping to reach the lands that we saw before and
was believed to be the Rockies. When we went back onto the river, the ride was bumpy. We

couldn’t control it very much. Some of our boat was damaged and went along the shores to fix it.

It was a lot of work fixing it.”

June 12 – July 20, 1805

“We came upon 5 different waterfalls. The trip was very long. The Native Americans told us only

that there was only one waterfall. Our captain became fondly disappointed. S then our captain

decided to just go on and skip the path. When we reached the Rockies, there were many majestic

hills, valleys, and mountains. We saw animals roaming around in packs and the scene was just so

graceful. We stopped after all that hard work rowing down a 12 mile river that was very tiring.

My arms and back were very indeed sore. I was very eager to rest.”

July 21 – August 07, 1805

“I was very curious of what a waits for us ahead of them. We are said to be crossing the continental

divide. The Hidatsa said that we are supposed to meet the Shoshone Tribe soon. We need the

Shone Tribe so we could get the horses and proper equipment to go over the Continental divide.

Hopefully Sacagawea would make good affairs with them. One of our men had thought to see

them, but nobody else saw anything. I think he was a bit crazy about meeting them. Our doubts

and excitement are rising.”

August 08 - 24, 1805

“We finally spotted the Shoshone Tribe! Our eyes were filled with joy. A Native American on a

horse came riding to us. Lewis ordered Sacagawea to come forth and greet him. We were very

fortunate that the Shoshone chief was Sacagawea’s brother. The bargaining went smoothly.

However, the prices for these poorly conditioned horses started off at a low cost, then gradually
the cost went higher and higher. But without these horses, we wouldn’t be able to cross the

continental divide.”