Day-by-Day / September 6, 1805

September 6, 1805

To the Bitterroot River

East Fork Bitterroot River, MT The captains record common Salishan words, and then climb out of the Ross’ Hole valley. They climb Sula Peak to reach the East Fork of the Bitterroot River which runs north. At supper, the thirty-three members share parched corn, berries, and two grouse.

Nothing to Eat but Berries[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

Taking a Salish Vocabulary

we take these Savages to be the Welch Indians if their be any Such from the Language. So Capt. Lewis took down the Names of everry thing in their Language, in order that it may be found out whether they are or whether they Sprang or origenated first from the welch or not.
Joseph Whitehouse

Over Sula Peak

Crossed a Mountain and Struck the river Several miles down, at which place the [Salish] Indians had Encamped two days before, we Proceeded on Down the River which is 30 yds. wide Shallow & Stone
William Clark

Little to Eat

rained this evening nothing to eate but berries, our flour out, and but little Corn, the hunters killed 2 pheasents [grouse] only—
—William Clark

Corralling Horses

all our horses purchased of the oote lash Shutes we Secured well for fear of their leaveing of us, and watched them all night for fear of their leaving us or the Indians prosuing & Steeling them.
—William Clark

 

Weather Diary

State of the Thermometer at sun symbol rise Weather at sun symbol rise Wind at sun symbol rise State of the Thermometer at 4 P.M. Weather at 4 P.M. Wind at 4 P.M.
  cloudy after rain N E   rain N E

Thermometer broke by the Box strikeing against a tree in the Rock mountains.
Meriwether Lewis and William Clark[2]To assist the reader, the editor of this web page has omitted the date column and spelled out some abbreviations.

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, the editor of this web page has omitted the date column 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.