Day-by-Day / August 7, 1804

August 7, 1804

Deserters and tormentors

After a night of troublesome mosquitoes, Drouillard, Reubin Field, Bratton, and Labiche are sent to bring back the deserters Moses Reed and La Liberté. The boats leave late in the morning reaching a camp near present Little Sioux, Iowa.

In Search of Deserters

by Michael Haynes

Sketch of four armed men with packs

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

Daily Troubles

last night about 8 oClock a Storm from N. W. of wind and rain which lasted about ¾ of an hour. the Musquetoes verry troublesome last night we set out late this morning. the wind N. we proceeded on round bends & Sand bars &C—
—John Ordway

Related: Mosquitoes | Sandbar Hazards

Searching for Deserters

we then sent G. Drewyer W. Bratton R. Fields & W. Labuche [François Labiche] Back to the ottaus [Otoe] village after M. B. Reed who had deserted from us with orders to fetch him Dead or alive, and to look for La Liberty [La Liberté] who was lost as we expect with a publick horse.
—John Ordway

Related: Horse Chronicles

 

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).