Day-by-Day / April 4, 1806

April 4, 1806

Hunting parties

At Provision Camp near present Washougal, Washington, the captains coordinate various hunting parties. One group is sent up the Columbia River to hunt in advance of the main group. Many “parties of the natives” visit, and Lewis takes astronomical observations.

A Bear Brought In

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

Hunting for Hunters

I and 2 men went over the River to see what success the hunters had met the hunters & returned with 5 of them they had killd. one Elk Six Deer and a handsome black bear & 2 Geese
John Ordway

Indian Visitors

Several parties of the natives visit us today as usual both from above and below; those who came from above were moving with their families, and those from below appeared to be empeled mearly by curiossity to see us.
Meriwether Lewis

Gibson Hunts Ahead

About noon we dispatched Gibson Shannon Howard and Wiser [Weiser] in one of the light canoes, with orders to proceed up the Columbia to a large bottom on the South side about six miles above us and to hunt untill our arrival.
—Meriwether Lewis

Astronomical Observations

this evening being fair I observed time and distance of moon symbol Eastern Limb from regulus with Sextant. star symbol West.
—Meriwether Lewis

 

Weather Diary

State of weather at sun symbol rise Wind at sun symbol rise State of the weather at 4 P.M. Wind at 4 P.M. River
cloudy after rain S W cloudy after rain S W 4 ½ in.

the rains have been very slight.
—Meriwether Lewis[2]To assist the reader of this web page, the date column is not presented, the “State of the Columbia River” columns have been merged, and 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 To assist the reader of this web page, the date column is not presented, the “State of the Columbia River” columns have been merged, 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.