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Salt and the Expedition

Salt played a critical role in the Lewis and Clark Expedition as dietary supplement, meat preservative, and even a soldier’s pay. President Jefferson instructed Lewis to look for sources of saline and while wintering at Fort Clatsop, considerable man-power and time was given to making salt from sea-water. Lewis seemed to crave it, Clark not so much.

    April 14, 1804

    Packing corn, pork, and salt

    The day at winter quarters on present Wood River, Illinois is spent packing provisions such as corn, flour, and salt. Moses Reed is sent to St. Louis to run errands.

    September 10, 1804

    Plesiosaur bones

    Fivemile Creek, SD Under a gentle breeze the expedition makes twenty miles stopping about six miles below the present-day Snake Creek bridge. Along the way, they collect fossilized bones from a plesiosaur, an aquatic dinosaur.

    November 6, 1803

    The Saline River

    Saline River, IL On or near this date, the expedition passes the Saline River. If the captains had visited the salt works on that river, they would have likely traveled to it by land from Shawneetown on a previous day.

    June 10, 1805

    Caching the red pirogue

    Boats are emptied, and cargo not critical is set aside to be cached. Shields impresses Lewis by fixing the air gun. After hiding the red pirogue on an island near Decision Point, Sacagawea becomes ill.

    September 22, 1803

    Salt Lick Creek

    Near Vanceburg, KY On or near this date, Lewis stops at or passes by the Ohio River towns of Alexandria and Vanceburg. Lewis provides no journal entry, but Thomas Rodney describes this area nine days later.

    April 18, 1804

    Sending for Capt. Lewis

    Sgt. Charles Floyd and Pvt. George Shannon leave Camp River Dubois with two horses to meet Cpt. Meriwether Lewis who is crossing over from St. Louis by boat. By afternoon, Lewis arrives at camp.

    May 2, 1804

    St. Louis preparations

    In St. Louis, Lewis writes Clark regarding seven French engagés and the enlisted men’s pay. He sends flags, mosquito netting, and shirts to Clark who is managing the winter camp across the Mississippi.

    October 6, 1803

    Buffalo bones

    Big Bone Lick, KY Lewis is likely collecting fossil specimens and sending them to the nearest Ohio River landing so that the bones can be shipped to President Thomas Jefferson.

    May 6, 1805

    Curiosity satisfied

    With a fair morning and favorable winds, the boats set out early making 25 miles to a camp east of present Frazer, Montana. Lewis says most of the men are no longer interested in killing grizzly bears.

    Dietary Salt

    Lewis's singular thirst

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    The formula is simple. One molecule of sodium, a reactive metal, plus one molecule of chlorine, a poisonous gas, equals a harmless mineral that once was deemed “the fifth element,” along with earth, air, fire, and water.

    The Salt Works

    Making salt from ocean water

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    On 28 December 1805, the officers detailed three enlisted men to proceed to the Ocean and “at Some Convenient place form a Camp and Commence makeing Salt with 5 of the largest Kittles . . . .”

    Searching for Salines

    Objects worthy of notice

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    Among the “objects worthy of notice” President Jefferson instructed Meriwether Lewis to watch for en route were saltpetre deposits and salines. By “salines” Jefferson meant salt flats, salt marshes, salt pans, salt springs, and rock or “fossil” salt deposits.

    November 5, 1803

    Shawneetown, Illinois

    Shawneetown, IL One week ahead of the expedition, contemporary traveler Thomas Rodney finds wrecked boats below the Wabash River. In Washington City, the State Department prepares “An Account of Louisiana” for the press.

    June 19, 1806

    Fishing for steelhead

    Despite the fine grass and camas at their camp on Eldorado Creek, they plan to move back to Weippe Prairie. Most of the expedition members spend the day hunting, fishing for “Salmon Trout”, and searching for stray horses.

    Salt-curing Meat

    Preserving without refrigeration

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    Salt served functions that were equally as important as dietary needs: drying meat—namely, and tanning hides for clothing and moccasins.

    June 6, 1804

    Passing Petite Saline Creek

    After fixing the barge’s mast, the expedition sets out. They pass Petite Saline Creek which has several salt licks and signs that indicate bison are nearby. They camp early to let a pirogue catch up.

    Soldier Pay

    Worth their salt

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    Early Roman soldiers received an allowance of salt, which was called a salarium—a “salary.” A good soldier had to be “worth his salt.” What sort of salaries did the men of the Corps of Discovery earn?

Discover More

  • The Lewis and Clark Expedition: Day by Day by Gary E. Moulton (University of Nebraska Press, 2018). The story in prose, 14 May 1804–23 September 1806.
  • The Lewis and Clark Journals: An American Epic of Discovery (abridged) by Gary E. Moulton (University of Nebraska Press, 2003). Selected journal excerpts, 14 May 1804–23 September 1806.
  • The Lewis and Clark Journals. by Gary E. Moulton (University of Nebraska Press, 1983–2001). The complete story in 13 volumes.