Day-by-Day / September 19, 1806

September 19, 1806

Anxious paddlers

Osage River, MO Determined to make the first French village by tomorrow, the men paddle hard stopping only once. After seventy-two miles, they reach the Osage River and encamp. Many have sore eyes and lips.

Missouri and Osage River Confluence

View southwest, upstream

Aerial photo of the clearer and smaller Osage entering the larger and muddy Missouri

© 2000 Airphoto—Jim Wark.

For the article accompanying the above photo, see The Osage River.

A Sight for Sore Eyes[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

Anxious to Reach St. Louis

The 19th, was a fine day, and at day light we continued our voyage; passed the mouth of Mine [Lamine] river; saw several turkeys on the shores, but did not delay a moment to hunt: being so anxious to reach St. Louis
—Patrick Gass

Related: Jefferson City

Estimated Time of Arrival

we Calculate on ariveing at the first Settlements on tomorrow evening which is 140 miles, and objecet of our party is to divide the distance into two days, this day to the Osarge River, and tomorrow to the Charriton [La Charrette] a Small french Village—
—William Clark

Related: Osage River

A Rash of Sore Eyes and Lips

a very singular disorder is takeing place amongst our party that of the Sore eyes. three of the party have their eyes inflamed and Sweled in Such a manner as to render them extreamly painfull, particularly when exposed to the light, the eye ball is much inflaimed and the lip appears burnt with the Sun, the cause of this complaint of the eye I can’t [account?] for.
—William Clark

This irritation was likely from handling pawpaws.[2]Moulton, Journals, 8:366n3.

Weather Diary

State of the weather at Sun rise Course of the wind at Sun rise State of the weather at 4 oClock Course of wind at 4 P. M
fair S E fair S E

Saw a green Snake as high up as Salt Rivr on the missouri. the limestone bluffs commence below Salt river on S. Side
—William Clark[3]To assist the reader of this web page, the date column is not presented and some abbreviations have been spelled out.

Related: Weather Observations

 

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.
↑2 Moulton, Journals, 8:366n3.
↑3 To assist the reader of this web page, the date column is not presented and some abbreviations have been spelled out.

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.

This site is provided as a public service by the
Logo: Lewis & Clark Trail Heritage Foundation
Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation
with cooperation and funding from the following organizations:

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).