Day-by-Day / July 10, 1804

July 10, 1804

Tall-grass prairie

The previous night’s confusion regarding the lost hunters is sorted out, and they all continue up the Missouri. As they approach the present Nebraska-Kansas border, they remark on a large prairie of Canada wild rye and Indian potato growing on an island.

Canada Wild Rye

Elymus canadensis

Long heads of grass in a meadow

Photo © 2008 by Crazytwoknobs. Downloaded from Wikimedia and used with permission of the Creative Commons 3.0 License.

Friendly Fire

Set out this morning with a view to Land near the fire Seen last night, & recornetre, but Soon discovered that our men were at the fire, they were a Sleep early last evening, and from the Course of the Wind which blew hard, their yells were not hea[r]d by party in the perogue, a mistake altogether—.
—William Clark

Related: Hunters Lost and Found | July 9, 1804

Resting at Solomon’s Island

Delayed 3 hours on this Island to recruit the men opposit on the L. S. is a butifull bottom Plain of about 2000 acres (3) Covered with wild rye & Potatoes, [Nicholas Biddle: ground apple; pomme de terre] intermix’t with the grass,
—William Clark

Soloman’s Island may be named from Salomin or Solomon Petit who traded with the Poncas.

Nearing Nebraska

We set out early this morning and had a fair day and fair wind. There is a handsome prairie on the south side opposite an island. We encamped on the north side.
—Patrick Gass

 

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.

This page was funded in part by the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, U.S. National Park Service.

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Unless otherwise noted, journal excerpts are from The Journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, edited by Gary E. Moulton, 13 vols. (Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1983-2001).