Lewis said he got word from President Jefferson that the purchase was being delayed as they worked through some situations. We"ll have some time to build extra canoes as Capt. Clark said they will be calling upon 40 volunteers to help with this expedition. It's bee a bitter winter so far.
January 20, 1804 .
We met a Scottish trader named James Mackay, working for Spain, who visited Clark today. We are at the Wood River camp. Mackay had primed John Evans for a trip to the Pacific in 1796. Evans learned that the Missouri ran north from its source between chains of the Rockies before it left the mountains, dropping over a great waterfall. This helped in knowing the general course of the Missouri River. .
May 4, 1804.
We received word that the expedition can officially start. Jefferson finalized the Louisiana Purchase.We have 40 volunteers and plan to travel up the Mississippi River. We have with us lots of equipment and supplies; books, instruments, maps, guns and kettles.We want to locate a water route across the continent so we can trade. We are traveling in flat bottom riverboats and 2 pirogues. The American Flag was raised over St. Louis in honor of the Louisiana Purchase being official.
June 4, 1804.
There was a flash flood on the river near Great falls around sunset when we were crossing through a water route, Clark had gone out into the water but ended up in trouble and looked as if he was in danger of drowning. The others say I risked my own life to save Clark's life but to me it was the natural thing to do. To get around the falls at Great Falls we had to carry boats and supplies for 18 miles. We built wheels of cottonwood and attached them to the boats. It will probably take a few more weeks to get to our next mapped out destination. .
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July 5, 1804.
Clark sent me to Sand Bar to gather greens for dinner. Came back with 3 bushels of roots we traded and bread. Snakes and even a summer hailstorm have slowed us down a bit.