January 11, 1804
Clark Still Sick. Two Men Out All Night.

After an uneasy night, Clark found that two of his men had been lost out of camp all night.

Wednesday 11th Jany. I was unwell last night Slep but little, a fine morning, the river Still riseing, the Missouries run with fine Ice, the Boat is afloat, one man McNeal out last night, he Sepperated from the hunting party about 7 miles from this place, he returned this evening Sgt. Ordday was also lost all night at 1 oClock the wind blew strong from the west and turned Could & Cloudy this afternoon, I am a good deel indisposed.

Sources: Osgood, 17, 202; Moulton 2:155.

January 12, 1804
Clark's Chimney Catches on Fire

Clark’s ongoing field notes at Camp Dubois report a chimney fire and the river gradually on the rise.

Thursday 12th Jany: 1804 my Chimney got on fire last night, a fair morning, the wind from the S West, the river Continue to rise moderatly, I took maridinal altitude of Suns Lower Limb with Sextent and made it 59° 31’ 52” N th Error of Enstrument as usial river Continue to rise with large Sheets of ice running against the Ice atached to the bank with great force, the Boat is a float, and in perfect order

Sources: Osgood 17, 202; Moulton 2:155.

January 13, 1804
Clark Recovers from Illness

The brevity of entries in Clark’s field notes during these days suggests how seriously he was indisposed. On this day he reported an improvement in his health.

Friday 13th January Sent N Pryor with Letters &c. to cap Lewis a[t] Kohokia the river rise, a fall of Snow last night, the Missouris is riseing and runs with Ice a Cloudy & warm day, I am better &c. a fine rain in the evening.

Sources: Osgood 17 ,202; Moulton 2:155.

January 14, 1804
Twenty-one Rabbits Trapped in Two Days

While hunters continued to bring in food, Clark reported that ice had now closed the Mississippi.

Saturday 14 January a Snow fall last night of about an Inch [and one] half The river falling and running with Ice, a fair Sun shineing morning— the party Caught 14 Rabits to day & 7 yesterday. a Cold afternoon. The Mississippi, is Closed with Ice.

Sources: Osgood 17, 202; Moulton 2:156.

January 15, 1804
Clark Writes to His Brother-in-Law
As the weather continued to get colder, Clark wrote of further drunkenness in his field notes, and sent a description of the camp to his brother-in-law Major William Croghan in Louisville.

Field Notes

Sunday 15th Jany: river falling & runs still with Ice, I took the M[eridional] altitude of [the sun’s] L[ower] L[imb] & made it 60° 33’ 50” N, at Sun Set Maj Rumsey the Com[mis]s[ar]y arrived with Some provisions in a waggon of Mr. Todd, Seven or Eight men followd the waggon intoxicated from the whiskey they rece[v]ed of R[amey or Rumsey?] on the way out of the barrel which was for the Party, I ordered a Gill to each man a Cold night the Wag: in passing the Lowr Prarie which was Covrd. with Ice Suf[ficien]t Strong to bear the teem but not the waggon which caused it to be dif[ficul]t to pass

Letter

River a Dubois January 15th 1804

Dear Major

I have postponed writing to you untill this time with a view of haveing something worth informing you relitive to this Country, but have been disaptd. and this hasty scraul will do little more than inform you that I am in tolerable health. I have not been from Camp to any house since my arrival here. It is hourly expected that the American’s will take possession of the other side of the Mississippi. All the Inhabitents appear anxious except the people of St. Louis, who are ingaged in the Indian Trade which they are doubtfull will be divided, amongst those whome will trade on the best terms. . . .

My situation is as comfortable as could be expected in the woods, & on the frontiers; the Country back of me is butifull beyond discription; a rich bottom well timbered, from one to three mile wide, from the river to a Prarie; which runs nearly parrilal to the river from about three miles above me, to Kaskaskia and is from three to 7 miles wide, with gradual rises and several streams of running water, and good Mill seats; This Prarie has settlements on its edges from Kahoka within three miles of this place. The Missouri which mouths imedeately opposet me is the river we intend assending as soon as the weather will permit. This Great river which seems to dispute the preeminence with the Mississippi, coms in at right angles from the West, and forces its great sheets of muddy Ice (which is now running) against the Eastern bank. We are collecting what information we can of this river and its rises so as we may make just Calculations, before we set out.

I shall be glad to here from you at all times. Please to present my best wishes to my sisters Lucy & Fanny & the Children, to them and your self I tender the assurances sincear esteem & friendship.

WM. CLARK

Sources: Osgood 17, 202; Moulton 2: 156; Jackson, Letters, item 104.

January 16, 1804
A Shooting Match

After a morning dealing with the local contractor, Clark arranged a shooting match between his men and a local group.

Monday 16th Jany: this morning Maj. R[umsey] observed that he brought 2 trunks of Goods, and asked pirmition to Sell them to the Citizen for Provisions, and the mens Coon Skins, I accented to the plan, and agreed he might untill other arrangements, after the arrival of Capt Lewis— I settled with the Contractor for what has been furnished to this day and find him Due the Party 30 gills of whiskey which he payd,—and 750 rat[ion]s of Soap Candles & vinager, for which he gave his Due bills, the Party made up a Shooting match, with the country people for a p[ai]r [of] Leagens [leggings], Reuben Fields made the best Shot, next one Wist [Windsor or Wiser, or a local?] & the 3 & 4 was Shields R, F[razer?] Colter Gibson &[c], Mr. Prior returned at 8 oClock in the evening with a letter from Capt. Lewis (Lent Colter 3/- lent George 3/-) and one from Louisville & 3 newspapers which Capt. Lewis had Sent me— also a file and 3 plain bits

Sources: Osgood 17, 202; Moulton 2:156

January 17, 1804
Thermometer Below Zero Almost All Day

This day was so cold that Clark took ten temperature readings, with only the midday readings creeping above zero.

Tuesday 17th Jany a verry Cold morning, at 7 oClock the Thermometer in the air fell 8° below 0, the wind from the N W, a Stiff Breeze Ice run greatly out of Missouries— at 9 oClock the Thermometer 6d below 0— at 10 oClock 3d below 0 at 12 oClock at 0, at 1 oClock 1° above 0, at 2 oClock 1 1/2 above 0, 3 oClock at 0, at 4 oClock the Thermometer was 1 1/2° below 0 at 5 the Ther: was at 3° below 0,— at 9 oClock 6° below 0, a verry Cold night; the Missouris has fallen to day about 6 Inches, runs with Ice— Ice from Shore 20 yds in the river is 5 1/2 Inches thick—

Sources: Osgood 17, 202; Moulton 2:157