Lewis and Clark Journal Summary 5: Dates January 15, 1805 - June 1, 1805
The following is a summary of the journal entries made by Lewis and Clark. Dates: January 15, 1805 - June 1, 1805
 

A Birth, a Grizzly Encounter and the First Sighting of the Rockies

January 15, 1805
Lewis and Clark witnessed a total eclipse of the moon, which they recorded in their journals along with reports of their findings and events of the journey so far.

February 11, 1805
Charbonnau’s wife, Sacagawea, gave birth to a boy. They named him Jean Baptiste.

February 26, 1805
By January the thick ice on the river had trapped the expedition’s boats. With heavy snow threatening to cover them completely, several attempts were made to free them. From 24th to 26th February more attempts were made and the boats were finally dug out and pulled onto the river bank on 26th February.

February 28, 1805
Lewis and Clark decided to have several canoes made so that the barge could be sent back. By the end of March the river ice was breaking up and Lewis and Clark were preparing to continue the expedition.

April 7, 1805
At 4pm Lewis and Clark sent the barge back to President Jefferson to deliver journals maps and weather data, along with botanical and mineral specimens that they had collected. Also included was a document with a comprehensive list of the Indian tribes that lived to the east of the Rockies, with details about them such as their boundaries, trade with other tribes and whether they farmed. At the same time, Lewis and Clark set off, with two pirogues and six canoes, into an area where no American had previously been.

April 29, 1805
The expedition was hampered by strong winds which slowed it's progress. On 29th April Lewis and some of his men came across two Grizzly bears. They shot and wounded both of them and one ran off, however the other chased after Lewis. Fortunately the bear was slowed down by its wound so they were able to reload their guns and kill it before it reached Lewis.

May 14, 1805
One of the pirogues was almost turned over by a sudden gust of wind. This pirogue was carrying the journals and instruments and many other items crucial to the success of the Lewis and Clark expedition. Several items floated out, however most were recovered by Sacagawea who had been sitting in the rear of the pirogue.

May 25, 1805
William Clark saw what he thought might be the Rocky Mountains. The following day, when the view was much clearer, he was able to confirm that they were indeed the Rocky Mountains. That afternoon, Lewis also saw the Rockies for the first time. In Lewis’s journal he wrote that whilst he felt a ’secret pleasure’ at being so near to the perceived head of the Missouri, the feeling was counterbalanced by the anticipated hardships that still awaited them.

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