|
January
18, 1804
An Inch of Snow
|
On a day of slightly higher temperatures, the first heavy
snowfall.
Wednesday 18th Jany. a Cloudy morning with moderate breaze
from the N W. b[y] W The river run with Ice, a 8 oClock the
Thromtr. Stoodat 1° below 0,— 9 oClock 1° abov
0, at 11 oClock rose to 4° above 0, and beg[an] to Snow,
at 12 oClock The Thermt. at 2 above 0,. Snow above 1 Inch
at 1 oClock 2 abov 0, at 2 oClock 1 abov 0, and left off Snowing—
Sources: Osgood 19, 203; Moulton 2:157.
|
January 19, 1804
Higher Temperatures. The Hunters Have Good Luck
|
On a considerably warmer day, the hunters brought back a
grand haul of game.
Thursday 19 Jany Som Snow fell
last night, a cloudy morning, the river continues to fall,
& Some Ice running, at 8 oClock this morning the Thermormeter
Stood at 13° above 0, the wind moderate from the N W,
at 9 oClock 15° abov 0, at 10 oClock 16° above 0,
at 11 oClock 16° above 0, at 12 oClock 19° above 0,
at 1 oClock 17° abo[ve] 0, at 2 oClock 15 1/2°—abov
0, at 3 oClock 13° abov 0, at 4 oClock 11° abov 0,
at [5?] oClock 10 1/2 abov 0,— Gibson Killed 3 Deer and
Colter 3 Turkey, Shields 4 Turkey, Worne[r] & Thompson
14 rabits—
Sources: Osgood 19, 203; Moulton 2:158.
|
January
20, 1804
More Measurements, and More Good Hunting
|
On a day spent recording temperatures and astronomical readings
(none of these reproduced below), the hunters again brought
in some good eating.
Friday 20th 1804 Jany—
a verry Cold night, river Still falling no Ice running out
of the Missouries, the wind this morning from NW— . .
. . a Cloudy [day], many Grous Caught to Day and Hall Caught
14 Rabits—
Sources: Osgood 19, 203; Moulton 2:158.
|
January
21, 1804
Journey Calculations, Boat Design, and Rules for a Court Martial
|
Before recording the day’s events (two and a half
inches of snow, and fine hail falling) Clark wrote two pages
containing two calculations, the length of time needed to
travel to the Pacific and back, the amount of space required
on the expedition’s boats for men and equipment, and
detailed rules for a court martial. The page also contains
a philosophical definition of the word “Sense,”
perhaps copied by Clark as a composition and spelling exercise.
Journey Calculations
Clark assessed the distance to the Pacific at 3,050 miles,
with an underestimate of the distance to the Rocky Mountains.
The actual distance was close to 4,000 miles. Clark calculated
a total journey time of around nineteen months, assuming
quicker travel down the Missouri on the return. This was
close to the actual time taken, though Clark made no allowance
for the winter stops at the Mandan villages and at Fort
Clatsop, which between them added ten months to the total
journey time. The calculations present a shrewd estimate,
made by an experienced soldier.
Boat Design
The second set of numbers record the most efficient distribution
of men and equipment between the large keelboat and the
pirogues, again showing careful forward planning. Clark
was at the same time estimating the number of men needed
to man the boats and the number of lockers that would need
to be constructed on the keelboat to house their equipment.
Rules for a Court Martial
The third set of notes from this day consist of a set of
draft regulations for a court martial, drawn up with reference
to the Articles of War carried on all military expeditions.
The full text of Clark’s draft is given here.
Supposeing the party to Consist
of 2 Intptrs 4 Non Comd. officers and 21 men and the rules
to be observed is Strictly such as Cap. L & C shall
from time [to time] establish, and a violiation or Disobediance
shall be Subject to Such punishment as derected by the articles
of War, in like Cases and Such other punishments, as Shall
be inflicted by the Sentence of a Court Martial which are
to be formed in the following manner, Viz; one Intptr or
Sergt. to act as president and at least 1 n Comd. officers
& 5 privates members The Court to Consist of not less
then 7 members, at other times when Convenient one of the
Capts. will preside at the Court in that Case the Court
will have an addition to their number of a presdt. (but
in all Cases Capt L. & C doe reserve to themselves the
right [of] rudcing [reducing in rank] N[on] C[ommissioned]
officers at will [and] of inflicting such punishment as
they may thin[k] right agreeable to Law at any time which
from the nature of the offence & the good of the Service
require it) This Court will act agreeable to the rules and
regulations of the articles of War and Such others as may
be established by the Said Cpt L. & C. from time to
time.
Sources: Osgood, 19-21, 203-4; Moulton 2:159-63.
|
January 22, 1804
Deep Snow
At camp, Clark recorded a heavy snowfall. In Washington,
Jefferson wrote to Lewis, with further advice and encouragement.
Clark's Journal
Sunday 22nd Jany: 1804 Snow all the lst night, and Snows this
morning, the depth is 5 3/4 Inches, The Thermometer Stands
at 9 oClock this morning in the Open Air at 11° abov 0,—,
at 12 oClock rose to 14° abov 0, aand Stoped Snowing wind
Easterly at 3 oClock 13d[egrees] abv 0, riv nearly Clear of
Ice,
Jefferson's Letter
Washington Jan. 22. 1804
Dear Sir
My letters since your departure have been of July 11. &
15. Nov. 16. and Jan. 13. Yours received are of July 8. 15.
22. 25. Sep. 25. 30. & Oct. 3. Since the date of the last
we have no certain information of your movements. With mine
of Nov. 16. I sent you some extracts made by myself from the
journal of an agent of the trading company of St. Louis up
the Missouri. I now inclose a translation of that journal
in full for your information. In that of the 13th inst. I
inclosed you the map of a Mr. Evans, a Welshman, employed
by the Spanish government for that purpose, but whose original
object I believe had been to go in search of the Welsh Indians,
said to be up the Missouri. On this subject a Mr. Rees of
the same nation, established in the Western parts of Pennsylvania,
will write to you. N. Orleans was delivered to us on the 20th
of Dec. and our garrisons & government established there.
The order for the delivery of the Upper posts were to leave
N. Orleans on the 28th and we presume all those posts will
be occupied by our troops by the last day of the present month.
When your instructions were penned, this new position was
not so authentically known as to effect the complection of
your instructions. Being now become sovereigns of the country,
without however any diminution of the Indian rights of occupancy
we are authorized to propose to them in direct terms the institution
of commerce with them. It will now be proper you should inform
those through whose country you will pass, or whom you may
meet, that their late fathers the Spaniards have agreed to
withdraw all their troops from all the waters & country
of the Missisipi & Missouri, that they have surrendered
to us all their subjects Spanish & French settled there,
and all their posts & lands: that henceforward we become
their fathers and friends, and that we shall endeavor that
they shall have no cause to lament the change: that we have
sent you to enquire into the nature of the country & the
nations inhabiting it, to know at what places and times we
must establish stores of goods and persons to carry them and
make the proper establishments: that in the mean time, the
same traders who reside among or visit them, and who now are
a part of us, will continue to supply them as usual: that
we shall endeavor to become acquainted with them as soon as
possible, and that they will find in us faithful friends and
protectors. Although you will pass through no settlements
of the Sioux (except seceders) yet you will probably meet
with parties of them. On that nation we wish most particularly
to make a friendly impression, because of their immense power,
and because we learn they are very desirous of being on the
most friendly terms with us.
I inclose you a letter which I believe is from some one on
the part of the Philosophical society. They have made you
a member, and your diploma is lodged with me; but I suppose
it safest to keep it here & not to send it after you.
Mr. Harvie [Lewis’s successor as Jefferson’s private
secretary] departs tomorrow for France as the bearer of the
Louisiana stock to Paris. Capt. William Brent takes his place
with me. Congress will probably continue in session through
the month of March. Your friends here & in Albemarle,
as far as I recollect are well. Trist will be the Collector
of N. Orleans, & his family will go to him in the spring.
Dr. Bache is now in Philadelphia & probably will not return
to N. Orleans. Accept my friendly salutations & assurances
of affectionate esteem & respect.
TH: JEFFERSON
Sources: Osgood, 24, 205; Moulton 2:164; Jackson, Letters,
item 105. |
January
23, 1804
An Uneventful Day
Clark’s field notes record the gradual settling into
a winter routine.
[S]munday 23rd Jany 1804 a
Cloudy morning but little Ice runig to day The Thermtr. at
8 oClock at 11° abo 0, at 12 oClock Stood at 10° abov
o, (I pen an Ordr to Corpl.) at 3 oClock 17° abo 0, in
the evening the wind raised and Shifted to the North Cought
14 rabits & Killed 2 Deer—
Sources: Osgood, 24, 205; Moulton 2:164. |
January 24, 1804
Clark Takes Physic for His Ailments
On a beautiful day, Clark recorded taking a draught of medicine
for his continued sickness.
Tuesday 24th a Butifull morning
Clear Sunshine the wi[n]ds ligh[t] from the N W, the Thermometer
at 9 oClock Stood at 4° abo 0, (I take fesick), at 10
oClock 8° abov 0, wind West, at 12 oClock—14°
abo 0, at 3 oClock 11° abov 0, Smone [some] Small pieces
of Ice running Sick to day
Sources: Osgood, 24, 205; Moulton 2:165. |
|
