Day-by-Day / March 27, 1804

March 27, 1804

Making corn meal

At winter camp across from the mouth of the Missouri, the men make corn meal from parched corn. Clark reports he is sick and notes the appearance of buds on the spice bushes.

Making Parched Corn Meal

one man Sick to Day all hands parching Corn &c Som Delaways [Lenape Delawares] pass down to St. Louis (Simon Girty) river continue to rise, beating at two morters parched Corn. “I am unwell”
William Clark

Spice Bush Blooms

The buds of the Spicewood appeared, and the tausels of the mail Cotton wood were larger than a large Mulberry, and which the Shape and Colour of that froot, Some of them had fallen from the trees. the grass begins to Spring. The weather has been warm, and no falling weather until this time tho the atmispere has been verry Smokey and thick, a heavy fall of rain commenced which continued untill 12 at night, attended with thunder, and lightning—
—Weather Diary

 

Weather Diary

Therm at sun symbol rise weather wind Therm at 4 Oclk weather wind River
42 above 0 rain & thunder E 50 above 0 fair after rain N E rise 7 in.

Meriwether Lewis and William Clark[1]To assist the reader, the editor of this web page has omitted the date column, merged the “River” columns, and spelled out some abbreviations.

Notes

Notes
1 To assist the reader, the editor of this web page has omitted the date column, merged the “River” columns, and spelled out some abbreviations.

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.