At Wood River, Clark stages a shooting contest between local farmers and the enlisted men. He notes that two soldiers—perhaps privates Reed and Windsor—were drunk. He meets with a new washer woman, and a visitor tells him about the Mandans and their country. Both captains begin their weather diaries.
The Sergeant’s Shot, Winter at Wood’s River
10″ x 28″ oil on canvas
© 2009 by Charles Fritz. Used by permission.
New Washer Woman
a woman Come forward wishing to wash and doe Such things as may be necessary for the Detachmt
—William Clark
Shooting Contest
Several men Come from the Countrey to See us & Shoot with the men . . . . I put up a Dollar to be Shot for, the two best Shots to win Gibson best the Countrey people won ther dollar—
—William Clark
Well-traveled Visitors
Three men Mr. Lisbet Blacksmith &c, one Man offers to sell pork at [blank] apply to Hannerberry, the blacksmith has traveled far to the north, & Visited the Mandols [Mandans] on Missouris
—William Clark
The Poker’s Hake
Pokers hake, the Nut is Sheshake, a plant growing in the ponds with a large broad leaf, stem in the middle of the leaf in french Volies
—William Clark
Weather Diary
Therm. at rise
weather wind Therm. at 4 oClock weather wind River Cloudy Cloudy Snow 1 Inch Deep
—Meriwether Lewis[2]To assist the reader, the editor of this web page has omitted the date column, merged the “River” columns, and spelled out some abbreviations.
Experience the Lewis and Clark Trail
The Lewis and Clark Trail Experience—our sister site at lewisandclark.travel—connects the world to people and places on the Lewis and Clark Trail.
Plan a trip related to January 1, 1804:
- Winter Camp at Wood River (Camp Dubois)
- Old Cahokia Courthouse
- Along the Mississippi (Inspiration Trip)
- Around St. Louis (Inspiration Trip)
Winter Camp at Wood River (Camp Dubois) is a High Potential Historic Site along the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail managed by the U.S. National Park Service. The site, near Hartford, Illinois, is managed as Lewis and Clark State Historic Site and is open to the public.
