Timeline
Documenting Lewis and Clark – 1805, The Westward Passage
 June
2-11: Marias River Decision
June 2
Meriwether Lewis: Accordingly I walked on shore most of the day with some of the hunters . . . and killed 6 Elk 2 buffale 2 Mule deer and a bear. . . .the bear was very near catching Drewyer; it also pursued Charbono who fired his gun in the air as he ran but fortunately eluded the vigilence of the bear by secreting himself very securely in the bushes until Drewyer finally killed it by a shot in the head; the shot indeed that will conquer the farocity of those tremendious anamals.(Moulton, Vol. 4, p. 242)
William Clark: the Currant Swift but regular, we Camped on the Lard Side at the forks of the river the Currents & Sizes of them we Could not examine this evening a fair night we took Some Luner observations of moon & Stears(Moulton, Vol. 4, p. 244)
June 3
Patrick Gass: The commanding officers could not determine which of these rivers or branches, it was proper to take; and therefore concluded to send a small party up each of them. Myself and two men went up the South branch, and a serjeant and two more up the North.(Moulton, Vol. 10, p. 97)
John Ordway: the left fork which is the largest we are doubtful of. the Indians do not mention any river falling in on the right in this part of the Missourie.(Moulton, Vol. 9, p. 161)
Joseph Whitehouse: a fair morning. we delayed untill 8 oClock then moved our Camp over to the point between the two rivers. two Small canoes were unloaded and a Sergeant and 2 men I was one of them Sent in each up the 2 rivers. . . .Several of the party complain of their feet being Sore by their walking in the Sand & cut by the Stones. we to be Sure have a hard time of it oblidged to walk on Shore & haul the towing line and 9/10 of the time barefooted. in the evening the men all returned had been about 15 miles up each river but could not determine which was the Missourie, nor which would be our best course. our officers & all the men differ in their opinions which river to take. we expect the right hand fork would take us too far to the North, the left hand fork we expect heads in the mountains. however the officers conclude to leave the party here, and go by land with a Small party up each river, in order find out which will be the best for us to take.(Moulton, Vol. 11, p. 184)
June 8
Patrick Gass: The officers concluded that the south branch was the most proper to ascend, which they think is the Missouri. The other they called Maria's river. At dark the rain ceased.(Moulton, Vol. 10, p. 100
Joseph Whitehouse: . . . Capt. Lewis thinks that the N. fork bears too far North for our course to cross the Mountains, for if we Should take the wrong River, we Should have more mountains to cross & further to go by land to git to the Columbia River, . . .. the men in Camp generally employed Dressing Skins &c.(Moulton, Vol. 11, p. 190)
June 9
Meriwether Lewis: We determined to deposite at this place the large red perogue all heavy baggage which we could possibly do without and some provision, salt, tools powder and Lead &c with a view to lighten our vessels and at the same time to strengthen their crews by means of the seven hands who have been heretofore employd. In navigating the red perogue; accordingly we set some hands to diging a hole or cellar for the reception of our stores. these holes in the ground or deposits are called by the engages cashes; on enquiry I found that Cruzatte was well acquainted this business and therefore left the management of it intirely to him.(Moulton, Vol. 4, p. 269)
June 10
Meriwether Lewis: The day being fair and fine we dryed all our baggage and merchandize. Shields renewed the main Spring of my air gun we have been much indebted to the ingenuity of this man on many occasions; without having served any regular apprenticeship to any trade, he makes his own tools principally and works extreemly well in either wood or metal, and in this way has been extreenely serviceable to us, as well as being a good hunter and an excellent waterman.(Moulton, Vol. 4, p. 275)
June 12
Patrick Gass: The morning was fine; we set out from the mouth of Maria's river, and went on very well.(Moulton, Vol. 10, p. 101)
William Clark: The interpreters wife verry Sick So much So that I move her into the back part of our Covered part of the Perogue which is Cool, her own situation being a verry hot one in the bottom of the Perogue exposed to the Sun-. . . the Interpreters woman verry Sick worse than She had been. I give her medison . . . .(Moulton, Vol. 4, p. 281)
Back to Timeline |
Top of Page
|
