Day-by-Day / November 29, 1805

November 29, 1805

Looking for winter camp

Tongue Point, Astoria, OR Lewis and five men leave in the Chinookan canoe looking for a winter campsite. At Tongue Point, some try to hunt while others attempt to dry leather clothes over smoky fires.

Lewis Sets Out in an Indian Canoe[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

Columbia River from Tongue Point

The Shore below the point at our Camp is formed of butifull pebble of various colours.
I observe but fiew birds of the Small kind, great numbers of wild fowls of Various kinds
—William Clark

Looking for a Winter Campsite

I determined therefore to proceed down the river on it’s E. side in surch of an eligible place for our winters residence and accordingly set out early this morning in the small canoe accompanyed by 5 men. drewyer R. Fields, Shannon, Colter & labiesh [Labiche]. proceeded along the coast.
Meriwether Lewis

Smoky Fires

all the others engaged drying their leather before the fire, and prepareing it for use—they haveing but fiew other Species of Clothing to ware at this time
The winds are from Such points that we cannot form our Camp So as to provent the Smoke which is emencely disagreeable, and painfull to the eyes—
William Clark

Poor Diet

our diat at this time and for Severall days past is the dried pounded fish we purchased at the falls boiled in a little Salt water—.
—William Clark

Weather Diary

Day of the month Wind State of the Weather
29th S W. rain

rained all last night hard, and to day moderately I decend with 5 men in a canoe to examine the Country.
—Meriwether Lewis[2]Some abbreviations have been spelled out.

 

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 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.