Timeline
Documenting Lewis and Clark – 1806, The Return Home
 July
19-24: Clark Sets Out Down The Yellowstone By Canoe And Sergeant Pryor Heads
Overland Along With Two Other Men And The Horses.
July 18
William Clark: Gibson in attempting to mount his horse after Shooting a deer this evening fell and on a Snag and sent it nearly two inches into the Muskeler part of his thy. he informs me this Snag was about 1 inch in diamuter burnt at the end. this is a very bad wound and pains him exceedingly. I dressed the wound.(Moulton, Vol. 8, p. 202)
July 19
William Clark: I rose early and dressed Gibsons wound. he Slept but very little last night and complains of great pain in his Knee and hip as well as his thy. there being no timber on this part of the Rochjhone sufficiently large for a Canoe and time is pracious as it is our wish to get to the U States this Season, conclude to take Gibson in a litter if he is not able to ride on down the river untill I can find a tree Sufficently large for my purpose. . . . I derected Shields to keep through the thick timber and examine for a tree sufficently large & Sound to make a Canoe, and also hunt for Some Wild Ginger for a Poltice for Gibsons wound. he joined me at dinner with 2 fat Bucks but found neither tree or Ginger. . . . I Encamped under a thick grove of those trees which was not Sufficiently large for my purpose, tho' two of them would mak small Canoes. . . . Shabono informed me that he Saw and Indian on the high lands on the opposit Side of the river, in the time I was absent in the woods. I saw a Smoke in the Same direction with that which I had Seen on the 7th inst. it appeared to be in the Mountains.(Moulton, Vol. 8, p. 204-206)
July 20
William Clark: I directed Sergt. Pryor and Shields each of them good judges of timber to proceed on down the river Six or 8 miles and examine the bottoms if any larger trees than those near which we are encamped can be found and return before twelve oClock. . . . they had proceeded down the timbered bottoms of the river for about 12 miles without finding a tree better than those near my Camp. I deturmined to have two Canoes made out of the largest of those trees and lash them together which will Cause them to be Study and fully Sufficient to take my Small party & Self with what little baggage we have down this river. had handles put in the 3 Axes and after Sharpening them with a file fell the two trees which I intended for the two Canoes. those trees appeared tolerably Sound and will make Canoes of 28 feet in length and about 16 or 18 inches deep and from 16 to 24 inches wide. . . . Gibsons wound looks very well. I dressed it.(Moulton, Vol. 8, p. 208-209)
July 21
William Clark: This morning I was informed that Half of our horses were absent. Sent out Shannon Bratten, and Shabono to hunt them.. . . . Shannon informed me that he Saw a remarkable large Lodge about 12 miles below, covered with bushes and the top Deckorated with Skins &c and had the appearance of haveing been built about 2 years. . . . Gibsons wound is beginning to hear. I am in great hope that it will get well in time for him to accompany Sgt. Pryor with the horses to the Mandans. . . . I am apprehensive that the indians have Stolen our horses, and probably those who had made the Smoke a fiew days passed towards the S.W. I deturmined to have the ballance of the horses guarded and for that purpose sent out 3 men, on their approach near the horses were So alarmed that they ran away and entered the woods and the men returned . . ..(Moulton, Vol. 8, p. 209-210)
July 23
William Clark: . . . Sergt. Pryor found an Indian Mockerson and a Small piece of a roab, the mockerson worn out on the bottom & yet wet, and have every appearance of haveing been worn but a fiew hours before. those Indian Signs is Conclusive with me that they have taken 24 horses which we lost on the night of the 20th instant, ant that those who were about last night were in Serch of the ballance of our horses which they could not find . . .. the men finished both Canoes by 12 oClock to day, and I sent them to make Oars & get poles . . .. I gave Sergt Pryor his instructions and a letter to Mr. Haney and directed that he G. Shannon & Windser take the remaining horses to the Mandan, where he is to enquire for Mr. Heney if at the establishments on the Assinniboin river to take 12 or 14 horses and proceed on to that place and deliver Mr. Heney the letter which is with a view to engage Mr. Heney to provable on some of the best informed and most influential Chiefs of the different bands of Sieoux to accompany us to the Seat of our Government with a view to let them See our population and resources &c. which I believe is the Surest garantee of Savage fidelity to any nation that of a Governmt. Possessing the power of punishing promptly every aggression. Sergt. Pryor is directed to leave the ballance of the horses with the grand Chief of the Mandans untill our arival at his village also to keep a journal of his rout courses distances water courss Soil production, & animals to be particularly noted.(Moulton, Vol. 8, p. 211-212)
July 24
William Clark: had all our baggage put on board of the two Small Canoes which when lashed together is very Study and I am Convinced will the party I intend takeing down with me. at 8 A M. we Set out and proceeded on very well . . ..(Moulton, Vol. 8, p. 217)
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