March 22, 1806
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Aug 30, 1803 Sep 30, 1806

March 22, 1806

 

Drewyer and the Feildses departed this morning agreably to the order of the last evening.    we sent out seven hunters this morning in different directions on this side the Netul.    about 10 A. M. we were visited by 4 Clatsops and a killamucks; they brought some dried Anchoveis and a dog for sale which we purchased.    the air is perefectly temperate, but it continues to rain in such a manner that there be is no possibility of geting our canoes completed.—    at 12 OCk. we were visited by Comowooll and 3 of the Clatsops.    to this Cheif we left our houses and funiture.    he has been much more kind an hospitable to us than any other indian in this neighbourhood. [1]    the Indians departed in the evening.    the hunters all returned except Colter, unsuccessfull.    we determined to set out tomorrow at all events, and to stop the canoes temperarily with Mud and halt the first fair day and pay them.    the leafing of the hucklebury [2] riminds us of spring.

 

Drewyer and the two Fieldses departed this morning agreably to the order of last evening.    we Sent out Six hunters this morning in different directions on both Sides of the Netul.    about 10 A. M. we were visited by Que-ne-o alias Commorwool 8 Clatsops and a Kil-a-mox; they brought Some dried Anchovies, a common Otter Skin and a Dog for Sale all of which we purchased.    the Dog we purchased for our Sick men, the fish for to add to our Small Stock of provision's, and the Skin to cover my papers.    those Indians left us in the evening.    the air is perfectly temperate, but it continues to rain in Such a manner that there is no possibillity of getting our canoes completed in order to Set out on our homeward journey. The Clatsops inform us that Several of their nation has he Sore throat, one of which has laterly died with this disorder.    the Hunters Sent out to day all returned except Colter unsessfull.

 

Saturday 22nd 1806.    continues rainy.    three hunters [3] Set out with a Small canoe to go on a head to hunt untill we come up.    carried their baggage with them.    6 men Sent out a hunting.    a number of the Clatsop Indians [4] visited us    Sold us a dog & Some Small dry fish and Some fancy Hats &C.    in the evening the hunters returned except one. [5]    had killed nothing.

Fort Clatsop 22nd March 1806 [6]

A Scetch of the beginning of Sergt. John Ordway's journal which he commenced at River Dubois (14 May) in the Year 1804.—    Under the directions of Captains Meriwether Lewis and Capt. William Clark, and patronised by the Government of the U. States.—    The individuals who composed the party engaged to essay the difficulties, dangers, and fatigues, of this enterprize with the Said officers; consists of the persons whose Names are here unto anexed. Viz:    George Drewyer to act as interpreter and Hunter John Ordway Nathl Pryor, Charles Floyd & Patrick Gass Sergts John Shields William Bratten John Colter Hugh Hall John Collins Joseph Fields Reuben Fields Silas Goodrich Alexander Willard William Werner John Potts Thomas Proctor Howard Peter Wiser George Gibson George Shannon John B. Thompson Richard Windsor Robert Frazer Hugh McNeal, Peter Cruzatte Francois Labeech and Joseph Whitehouse—also Capt. Clarks Black man York.—    At the Mandans Toussaint Sharbono and his Indian woman & child joined as Interpreters and Interpretess to the Snake Indians.    also it being a Minute relation of the various transactions and occurences which took place during a voiage of two Years four months & 9 days from the U. States to the Pacific Ocean through the interior of the continent of North Amnerica.—

 

Saturday 22nd.    We had a cloudy wet morning. Three hunters were sent on ahead to remain at some good hunting ground until we should all come up; and six others to hunt near the fort. In the evening all these came in except one, without any success.

 

Saturday March 22nd    It continued raining.    Three of our hunters set out in a small Canoe to go on up the Columbia River, in order to hunt untill we come up to them.    Six of our men were also sent out, in order to hunt.    About noon a number of the Clatsop Nation of Indians came to the fort.    They brought some Straw & Cane hatts & dry'd fish to trade with us.    We purchased some of those articles from them.    In the Evening all our hunters that went out by land this day returned (excepting one of them).    We are all getting in readiness to start which we expect if the weather permits will be tomorrow—

1. See Thwaites (LC), 4:196 n. 1, on Lewis and Clark's relations with local chiefs. (back)
2. Perhaps mountain huckleberry, noted on February 7, 1806, but red huckleberry Vaccinium parvifolium Sm., or oval-leafed blueberry, V. ovalifolium Sm., are probably better candidates for Lewis's huckleberry than mountain huckleberry, a montane species. (back)
3. Drouillard and the Field brothers, according to the captains. (back)
4. Including Coboway. (back)
5. Colter stayed out. (back)
6. This entry appears near the end of Ordway's second book of his three-volume journal. At least part of it must have been written after the return to St. Louis, since he counts the passage of time for the entire trip. It is placed here by date. (back)