Lewis and Clark
Journal Summary 15: Dates April 19, 1806 - May 1, 1806
The following
is a summary of the journal entries made by Lewis and Clark.
Dates: April 19, 1806 - May 1, 1806
The Expedition
Switches From Canoes to Horseback and Meets the Walla Walla
Indians
April 19, 1806
The Corps of Discovery set about transporting the canoes
and baggage over land past some rapids. The following day
one of their horses was taken away as it had already been
gambled away before being sold to them. Lewis managed to
procure a few more horses and to sell 2 of the canoes for
beads. They cut a third up for more fuel.
The Indians continued to steal from them with several tomahawks
and a knife going missing over the course of a few days.
Lewis caught an Indian trying to steal from them and in
his journal he says that he ‘gave him several severe blows’.
He then went on to warn the Indians that he would kill the
first Indian who attempted to steal anything further from
them, and that he was able to kill all the Indians and set
fire to their houses, although it wasn’t what he wanted
to do as long as they left his equipment alone.
The expedition progressed using the horses and remaining
2 canoes for transport.
April 22, 1806
They saw Mount Hood in
the distance with snow on the summit. They had no proper
shelter at night and Clark commented on the cold which blew
in from the direction of Mount Hood. Dogs purchased from
the Indians were the main meals during this part of the
journey.
April 24, 1806
The remaining canoes
were sold for beads and the expedition resumed their journey
by land. With the use of the horses to travel overland the
Corps of Discovery was making reasonable progress. The expedition
was surviving on dogs and jerk meat.
April 27, 1806
Lewis and Clark met with
the chief of the Walla Walla tribe. He took them to his
village where they were given supplies of mullet. These
Indians also told Lewis and Clark of a road that would save
them 80 miles, and was well stocked with deer and antelope.
While staying with the Walla Walla tribe Lewis and Clark
were asked to render medical aid to some injured and diseased
Indians. Among the complaints was a broken arm, splinted
by William Clark, a case of rheumatism, ulcers and sore
eyes. Meriwether Lewis believed that the fine sand on the
plains was responsible for the eye conditions.
After procuring some more horses and dogs the expedition
left the Walla Walla Tribe. They had 23 horses at this point
although many had sore backs brought about by the way the
Indians rode them. The expedition camped after traveling
26 miles. That evening three young Indians arrived with
a steel trap that had been left behind by a member of the
expedition. Lewis noted how several knives that had been
lost were returned to them while they stayed with the Walla
Walla tribe.
May 1, 1806
Lewis wrote in his journal
‘I think we can justly affirm to the honor of these people
that they are the most hospitable, honest, and sincere people
that we have met with in our voyage’.
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