Day-by-Day / June 12, 1804

June 12, 1804

Old Dorion signs on

While heading up the river near present Dalton, Missouri, the expedition meets a contingent of boats led by fur trader Pierre Dorion, Sr. He agrees to join as an interpreter, and one expedition member is sent back to St. Louis with the fur traders.

Meeting Pierre Dorion, Sr.

by Michael Haynes

The Captains talk to an old French fur trader

© Michael Haynes, https://www.mhaynesart.com. Used by permission.

Meeting Old Dorion

at 1 oClock we brought too two Chaussies one Loaded with furs & Pelteries, the other with Greece buffalow grease & tallow   We purchased 300 lb. of Greese, and finding that old Mr. Durioun [Pierre Dorion, Sr.] was of the party we questioned him untill it was too late to Go further
—William Clark

Related: The Fur Trade

Adding Pierre Dorion, Sr.

we provld. [prevailed] on this old man Mr. Duriaur [Dorion] to return with us, with a view to get Some of the Soux [Sioux] Chiefs to go to the U. S.
—William Clark

we Got an old Frenchman to go with us which could Speak Sevral languages, among the indians for a long distance.—
—John Ordway

Sending One Man Back

Sent One of Our Men Belonging to the white pierouge back that Belongd. to Captn Stodders [Stoddard‘s] Company of Artilery
—Joseph Whitehouse

The man sent back could have been John Robinson, Ebenezer Tuttle, or Isaac White.

 

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.

This page was funded in part by the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, U.S. National Park Service.

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Unless otherwise noted, journal excerpts are from The Journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, edited by Gary E. Moulton, 13 vols. (Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1983-2001).