Day-by-Day / September 14, 1803

September 14, 1803

Helpless sailors

Parkersburg, WV In the morning, two of the crew are so drunk that Lewis must assist them to the boat. Lewis’s dog, Seaman, catches squirrels swimming across the Ohio River, and Lewis notes that many people in this area suffer from malaria and ague.

Fevers and Ague

The fever and ague and bilious fevers here commence their banefull oppression and continue through the whole course of the river with increasing violence as your approach it’s mouth—
—Meriwether Lewis

Drunken Sailors

Set out this morning at 11 oClock was prevented seting out earlyer in consequence of two of my men geting drunk and absenting themselves. I f[i]nally found them and had them brought on board, so drunk that they were unable to help themselves passed several riffles and lay all night on the N. W. shore—
Meriwether Lewis

Also on this day . . .

Lewis’s dog, Seaman, hunts squirrels swimming across the river, likely the Eastern gray squirrel.

 

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.