Day-by-Day / June 17, 1804

June 17, 1804

Rope Walk Camp

Near a traditional river crossing and present-day Waverly, Missouri, the expedition travels one mile up the river to find a better site to make new rope and oars. The engagés ask the captains for more food and instead receive a rebuke. Clark complains about the numerous ticks and mosquitoes and several men suffer from boils and dysentery.

Making Oars and Rope

by Yellowstone Public Radio[1]Originally aired weekdays by Yellowstone Public Radio during the Bicentennial observance of 2003-2006. Narrated by Hal Hansen. Scripts by Whit Hansen and Ed Jacobson. Produced by Leni Holliman. © … Continue reading

Rope Walk Camp

came too to make oars, & repair our Cable & toe rope &c. &c. which was necessary for the Boat & Perogues . . . . Set Some men to make a Toe Rope out of the Cords of a Cable which had been provided by Capt Lewis at Pitts burg for the Cable of the boat
William Clark

Indian Crossing

George Drewyer our hunter and one man came in with 2 Deer & a Bear, also a young Horse, they had found in the Prarie, this horse has been in the Prarie a long time and is fat, I suppose he has been left by Some war party against the Osage, This is a Crossing place for the war partis against that nation from the Saukees [Sauks], Aiaouez [Iowas], & Souix [Sioux].
—William Clark

New Oars

Stoped on N. Side to make Some oars. Some men went out hunting the hunters came in towards Evening with one bear— we got out Timber for 20 oars this day.
John Ordway

Clark Complains

The Ticks are numerous and large and have been trousom [troublesome] all the way and the Musquetors are beginning to be verry troublesom, my Cold Continues verry bad
—William Clark

Engagé Complaints

the French higherlins Complain for the want of Provisions, Saying they are accustomed to eat 5 & 6 times a day, they are roughly rebuked for their presumption
—William Clark

Boils and Dysentery

The party is much aflicted with Boils and Several have the Decissentary, which I contribute to to the water
—William Clark

 

Notes

Notes
1 Originally aired weekdays by Yellowstone Public Radio during the Bicentennial observance of 2003-2006. Narrated by Hal Hansen. Scripts by Whit Hansen and Ed Jacobson. Produced by Leni Holliman. © 2003 by Yellowstone Public Radio.

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.