Shortly after starting up the Missouri, the expedition meets two traders coming down who had recently been robbed. The two turn around and travel with the expedition. In passing the Cannonball River, a ‘cannon ball’ is selected as a new anchor. Clark learns that most Arikaras avoid liquor, and Lewis adds prairie wild rose to his plant collection.
The Cannonball River
by Yellowstone Public Radio[1]Originally aired weekdays by Yellowstone Public Radio during the Bicentennial observance of 2003-2006. Narrated by Hal Hansen. Scripts by Whit Hansen and Ed Jacobson. Produced by Leni Holliman. © … Continue reading
Cannonball River Rock
Provided by the U.S. Geological Survey.
Cannonball Anchor
the river takes its name from those Stones which resemble Cannon Balls.—
—William Clarkwe took one of them on Board to answer for an anker.
—John Ordway
Empty-handed Traders
we met 2 frenchmen in a Canoe, who informed our Officers . . . . that they were robbed, by a party of the Mandan Indians, who had taken their Traps & furrs from them; as they were returning back to the Rick a Ree nation The owner of the Traps & fur, was one of the french men that we had with us, (Monsier Gravellin [Joseph Gravelines]) The two frenchmen returned with us, being in hopes to Recover their Traps & fur from the Indians—
—Joseph Whitehouse
Plenty of Game
the Game is verry pleanty here the man that killed the 3 Elk Said he counted 150 in the Same flock. (handsome plains back f.[rom?] R.[iver?])
—John Ordway
Arikara Aversion to Liquor
The Ricarei [The Arikaras] are not fond of Spiritous liquers, nor do they apper to be fond of receiveing any or thank full for it [Nicholas Biddle: they say we are no friends or we would not give them what makes them fools.]
—William Clark
Prairie Wild Rose Specimen
The small Rose of the praries it rises from 12 to 14 Inches high does not vine
—Meriwether Lewis[2]Rosa arkansana, Moulton, ed. Herbarium, specimen 153.
Weather Diary
Thermot. at rise
Weather Wind at thermotr. at 4 P.M. Weather Wind at 4 oC P.M. 30 fair N. W. 68 fair N W hard frost last night, the clay near the water edge was frozen, as was the water in the vessels exposed to the air.
—Meriwether Lewis[3]To assist the reader, the editor of this web page has omitted the “day of the month” column and spelled out some of the abbreviations.
Notes
| ↑1 | Originally aired weekdays by Yellowstone Public Radio during the Bicentennial observance of 2003-2006. Narrated by Hal Hansen. Scripts by Whit Hansen and Ed Jacobson. Produced by Leni Holliman. © 2003 by Yellowstone Public Radio. |
|---|---|
| ↑2 | Rosa arkansana, Moulton, ed. Herbarium, specimen 153. |
| ↑3 | To assist the reader, the editor of this web page has omitted the “day of the month” column and spelled out some of the 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.
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.
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This site is provided as a public service by the
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- Idaho Governor's Lewis and Clark Trail Committee
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- Yellowstone Public Radio
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).