Day-by-Day / June 5, 1804

June 5, 1804

Passing the Manitou

South of present Lupus, Missouri, the enlisted men and engagés struggle to move the boats past sandbars and channels clogged with driftwood. They pass a pictograph of a Manitou, York gathers cress to supplement their diet, and a scout finds fresh signs of a Sauk war party. They meet two French traders coming down in a raft.

The Manitou

we passed a high Clifts of Rocks on which was painted the pickture of the Devil on South Side of the River.
John Ordway

The culture paintings and carvings seen by travelers in 1804 have weathered away.

Shifting Sands

the Boat Drew too much water to cross the quick Sands which intervened, She draws 4 foot water, a fair wind our mast being broke by accidence provented our takeing the advantage of it
William Clark

York Gathers Greens

here my Servent York Swam to the Sand bar to geather greens for our Dinner and returnd with a Sufficent quantity wild Creases [Cresses] or Teng [Tongue] grass
—William Clark

Sauk War Party

our Scout discovd. the fresh sign of about 10 Inds. I expect that those Indians are on their way to war against the Osages nation probably they are the Saukees [Sauks]
—William Clark

Two French Traders

at 11 oClock brought a Caissie in which was 2 men, from 80 League up the Kansias River, where they wintered and caught a great qty of Beever but unfortunattey lost it by the burning of the plains, the Kansas Nation hunted on the Missourie last Winter and are now persueing the Buffalow in the Plains
—William Clark

 

Notes

Notes
1 A Fur Trader on the Upper Missouri: The Journal and Description of Jean-Baptiste Truteau, 1794–1796, Raymond DeMallie, Douglas Parks, Robert Vézina, ed. (Lincoln, Nebraska: University of Nebraska Pres, 2017), 487–88.

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.