Expedition Timeline

The most significant dates affecting the Lewis and Clark Expedition are listed here. Compiled by Jill Jackson with input from Gary Moulton, Don Peterson, Stephenie Ambrose Tubbs, Landon Jones, and Dick Smith. For more in-depth coverage, visit our educational website at https://lewis-clark.org/day-by-day/calendar.

1801

February 23 President Thomas Jefferson writes to Meriwether Lewis, asking him to become the president’s secretary.

1802

January 8 Caspar Wistar, Philadelphia physician, anatomist, and paleontologist, writes to Jefferson, drawing his attention to Mackenzie’s Voyages.
June 21 Jefferson orders Mackenzie’s book and Arrowsmith’s latest map of North America from James Cheetham of New York.
August 10–25 Benjamin Smith Barton, Philadelphia physician, naturalist, and botany professor, visits Jefferson; is NOT told about the proposed expedition.
Summer or Fall 1802 Jefferson informs Lewis that he would be in command of an Expedition to the Pacific.
November 21 Secretary of Treasury, Albert Gallatin letter received by Jefferson, advising him to make a secret request to Congress to fund the Expedition, rather than a part of his annual message to Congress.
December 2 Spanish minister Irujo writes to Madrid, says Jefferson asked him if Spain would object to a scientific expedition up the Missouri River. Later, Spain declines to issue Lewis a passport.

1803

January 18 President Jefferson sends encrypted letter to Congress seeking funding for a proposed expedition.
February 27 Jefferson writes to Barton indicating that he has appointed Meriwether Lewis to head the Expedition to the Pacific.
February 28 Jefferson writes to Wistar that Lewis has learned how to calculate latitude and longitude.
February 28 Meriwether Lewis’ British passport is issued.
March 1 Meriwether Lewis’ French passport is issued.
March 14 Gallatin writes to Jefferson with two things of note: 1) He has issued a warrant for $2,500 for the Expedition and 2) he mentions a “manuscript transcribed from Mr. Thornton’s map by Captain Lewis.”
March 15 Meriwether Lewis leaves Washington, D.C. for the federal armory at Harpers Ferry, Virginia.
March 19 Lewis arrives at Harpers Ferry to arrange for supplies.
April 13 Gallatin writes to Jefferson. Comments on the draft of Jefferson’s instructions to Lewis.
April 19 Lewis arrives at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, calls on Andrew Ellicott, astronomer, mathematician, and surveyor.
April 20 Lewis begins practice in celestial navigation with Ellicot.
April 30 American and French delegates initial the Louisiana Purchase Treaty.
May–June Lewis is in Philadelphia purchasing equipment and studying with various experts.
May 7 Ellicott writes to John Vaughn and Robert Patterson, letters to be carried by Lewis.
May 10 Lewis starts training in Philadelphia: Barton-botany, Patterson-navigation, math, Rush-medicine, Wistar-anatomy.
May 12 Lewis dines with his long-time friend, Mahlon Dickerson.
May 14 Ellicott writes to Jefferson – he has talked to Patterson and Henry Voigt about instruments.
May 16 Jefferson writes to Lewis, encloses a draft of his instructions about the Expedition.
May 15 Lewis dines with Dr. George Logan, visits Governor John Mckean.
May 17 Dr. Benjamin Rush writes a list of questions about Indians for Lewis.
May 19 Lewis dines with Henry Sheaff, a Philadelphia merchant.
May 24 Lewis has a “conference” with Mahlon Dickerson.
May 29 Lewis writes to Jefferson: most articles are purchased; Patterson has been busy for days; no time to study; sends sketches from Vancouver maps. Sees Wistar, Barton, Rush.
May 31 Lewis spends the evening with Governor Mckean.
June 17 Lewis leaves Philadelphia for Washington, D.C., he has arranged for wagon transport of goods to Philadelphia.
June 19 Lewis arrives in Washington, D.C. Lewis writes a letter to William Clark asking him to join Lewis on a trip to the Pacific.
June 20 Jefferson’s instructions to Meriwether Lewis for the Expedition are finalized.
June 24 Jefferson writes to Rush, informs him that Lewis will leave in 4-5 days.
June 29 Secretary of War Henry Dearborn authorizes the army paymaster to pay Lewis six-month’s pay for “one Lieutenant, one Sergeant, one corporal, and ten Privates.”
July 2 Lewis writes to his mother, he will leave “the day after tomorrow” for the “Western Country” and will not be able to see her before he departs.
July 4 Jefferson writes a letter of general credit for Lewis to use on the journey.
July 5 Lewis leaves Washington, D.C. for Harpers Ferry.
July 8 Lewis arrives at Harpers Ferry. Lewis writes to Jefferson that he will set out “in the course of an hour” and gives the route that he intends to travel: Charlestown, Frankfort, Uniontown, Redstone.
July 14 President Thomas Jefferson receives news of the Louisiana Purchase.
July 15 Lewis arrives in Pittsburgh at 2:00 p.m. Jefferson writes to Lewis to inform him of the treaty from Paris ceding Louisiana to the United States.
July 18 Clark accepts Lewis’ offer of a trip to the Pacific. Lewis received Clark’s letter on July 29.
July 22 Lewis writes to Jefferson from Pittsburgh, informs him of delay in keelboat construction, hopes to leave by August 5.
August 3 Lewis writes to Clark from Pittsburgh, has received Clark’s acceptance, only the boat construction detains him.
August 31 Keelboat is completed at 7:00 a.m. Lewis departs Pittsburgh at 10:00 a.m. and starts the descent of the Ohio River.
September 8 Lewis purchases a second pirogue to assist traveling on the Ohio River.
September 11 First mention in the journals of Lewis’ dog, Seaman.
September 28 Lewis and party reach Cincinnati, Ohio, purchase supplies. Lewis comments on low water in the Ohio River. He stays in the area for week. During this time, Lewis goes by land to the Big Bone Lick in Kentucky to view a mammoth skeleton.
October 15 Lewis joins Clark at Clarksville, Indiana. They spend nearly two weeks there.
October 20 United States Senate ratifies the Louisiana Purchase treaty.
October 26 Lewis and Clark leave Clarksville, Indiana. They continue via keelboat.
December 6 Clark drops off Lewis in St. Louis (present-day Missouri).
December 12 Clark and crew arrive at Camp River Dubois (Wood River Camp) (present-day Illinois).

1804

March 10 Captain Amos Stoddard, U.S. Army officer, takes possession of the Louisiana Territory for the United States in a ceremony at St. Louis. Lewis and Clark both present.

May 14 Expedition leaves Camp River Dubois at 4:00 p.m. And starts up the Missouri River. Clark leads the men; Lewis is in St. Louis.
May 16 Clark leads the Expedition to St. Charles to await Lewis’ return from St. Louis.
May 20 Lewis joins the Expedition in St. Charles.
May 21 The entire Corps of Discovery departs St. Charles at 3:30 p.m. as St. Charles residents’ cheer.
May 26 The Captains organize the Expedition into three squads: Sergeants John Ordway, Nathaniel Pryor, and Charles Floyd. They name Corporal Richard Warfington as the future commander of the squad that will take the keelboat back to St. Louis.
June 1 Expedition reaches the Osage River.
June 4 The keelboat’s mast is broken-off by a tree branch overhanging the Missouri river.
June 26 Expedition reaches land that is present-day Kansas.
June 28 Collins and Hall break into the whisky while on sentry duty.
June 29 A court martial convicts Collins and Hall. Collins faces 100 lashes, and Hall 50.
July 4 The Expedition celebrates the Nation’s 28th birthday. A snake bites Joseph Field. All of the men receive an extra ration of whisky in celebration of Independence Day.
July 11 Expedition reaches land that is present-day Nebraska. Willard is caught sleeping on guard duty.
July 12 Willard is convicted by a court martial and sentenced to 100 lashes.
July 18 Expedition reaches land that is present-day Iowa.
July 21 Expedition reaches the Platte River.
July 22–26 Expedition stays at Camp White Catfish, so named for the channel catfish caught by Goodrich.
July 23 Clark writes, “Sergt Floyd verry unwell a bad cold &c.” This was the first mention of Floyd being ill.
August 1 Clark’s birthday. The expedition celebrates with the best cuts of elk and venison, a beaver tail, and various fruit.
August 2 At sunset, the captains meet with six Oto chiefs and some warriors to plan a council for the next day. Gifts are exchanged.
August 3 Lewis and Clark hold council with Oto and Missouri Indians at Council Bluffs. Peace medals are given, and the air gun is demonstrated. The Frenchman called La Liberte deserts.
August 4 Moses Reed leaves to retrieve his knife that was left at the council. He does not return.
August 6 Drouillard, Reubin Field, Bratton, and Labiche are sent to look for Reed and arrest him for desertion.
August 13–20 Fishing Camp. Clark and some men catch 318 fish on the 15th and Lewis with others catches about 800 on the 16th.
August 17 One of the men sent to catch Reed and the missing La Liberte returns to say that they caught both. The Frenchman got away again, but they are bringing in Reed.
August 18 Reed confesses to desertion. He is expelled from the Corps and made to run the gauntlet four times. He will be sent home in the spring of 1805.
August 19 Sergeant Floyd is very ill with an abdominal illness.
August 20 Sergeant Charles Floyd dies. He is buried on a bluff above the mouth of Floyd’s River (within present-day Sioux City, Iowa). He is the only member of the Expedition to die during the journey.
August 21 Expedition reaches land that is present-day South Dakota.
August 23 Joseph Field kills the Expedition’s first bison.
August 26 Patrick Gass is formally appointed as sergeant to replace Charles Floyd. George Shannon becomes lost.
August 29–31 The Corps meets with the Yankton Sioux. Council begins at noon on the 30th.
September 11 George Shannon is found. He is starving having run out of ammunition.
September 24–25 Expedition encounters Teton Sioux at Bad River (near present-day Pierre, South Dakota).
October 1 Expedition reaches Jon Valle’s trading post.
October 9 Clark notes that York fascinates the Arikaras because they have never before seen a black man.
October 10 The Captains have a council with Arikara chiefs. York tells children he was “a cannibal” before Clark caught him.
October 13 Private John Newman is court martialed for “mutinous expressions” He is given 75 lashes, and will be sent back with Reed in the spring of 1805.
October 14 Expedition reaches land that is present-day North Dakota.
October 26 Expedition reaches the mouth of the Knife River, near Mitutanka, the first of the two Mandan Villages, near where they will spend the winter.
October 27 The boats move past Mitutanka to Ruptare, the second Mandan village, and sets up camp.
October 29 The Captains meet and smoke a peace pipe with four Mandan, three Hidatsa, and several Arikara chiefs.
November 2 The Expedition determines the location of their winter camp, Fort Mandan (14 miles west of present-day Washburn, North Dakota).
November 3 The French boatmen are discharged, except for Jean Baptiste Lepage, who is hired as a private to replace John Newman.
November 4 Touissaint Charbonneau hired as an interpreter. One of his Shoshone wives, Sacagawea, will join the Expedition.

1805

January 1 Two cannons are fired to celebrate the new year. Many of the Corps attends a dance with the Mandans.
February 10 Howard is court martialed for scaling the fence of the fort. Lewis suspends the sentence. It is the last court martial for the remainder of the trip.
February 11 Jean Baptiste is born to Sacagawea and Touissaint Charbonneau.
April 7 4:00 p.m., the keelboat, commanded by Corporal Richard Warfington heads back to St. Louis with specimens and written information for President Jefferson. They includes a live prairie dog, four magpies, and a grouse.
April 7 Expedition of thirty-one men (one a black slave), one woman, one baby and a dog starts up the Missouri River into uncharted territory.
April 12 Expedition reaches the Little Missouri River, North Dakota.
April 25–26 The Expedition reaches the mouth the Yellowstone River.
April 27 Expedition enters present-day Montana.
May 8 Expedition reaches the Milk River, so named because it is the color of tea with a bit of milk. The Hidatsas call it, “The River which Scolds at All Others”.
May 14 The white pirogue tips, Sacagawea rescues floating papers, medicines, instruments, and trade goods.
May 20 Expedition reaches the Musselshell River. They name it the Sacagawea River.
May 26 Lewis reports seeing the Rocky Mountains.
May 31 Expedition passes through the White Cliffs area (present-day Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument).
June 2–12 Expedition finds the confluence of the Missouri and the Marias Rivers and must make a decision. They must decide which fork is the Missouri River.
June 13 Lewis finds the Great Falls of the Missouri River. This tells him that he is on the correct fork.
June 14 To his dismay, Lewis finds four additional falls. Lewis is charged by a grizzly bear and chased into the Missouri River.
June 16 Clark establishes the Lower Potage Camp below the mouth of Portage Creek (now named Belt Creek). Lewis administers water to an ailing Sacagawea from the Sulphur Springs (near present-day Great Falls, Montana).
June 18–July 12 Clark establishes the Upper Portage Camp about 3/4 miles north of Sand Coulee Creek near White Bear Islands. The camp is occupied until July 12.
June 22 First canoe begins the portage around the five waterfalls.
June 23–Jul 8 Various men work on Lewis’ experimental iron boat.
July 2 The last of the baggage is brought in off the plains, completing the portage.
July 4 A celebration is held at White Bear Islands. The last of the daily ration of rum is consumed (near present-day Great Falls, Montana).
July 9 Lewis’ iron boat experiment fails (it leaks) near White Bear Islands.
July 15 Expedition continues up the Missouri River after building two more dug-out canoes to replace the iron boat.
July 19 Expedition encounters rock formation and names it “Gates of the Rocky Mountains” (near present Helena, Montana).
July 25 Expedition arrives at Three Forks, the Missouri headwaters (near present-day Missouri River Headwaters State Park). They name the three rivers Gallatin, Madison, and Jefferson.
August 8 Expedition sees Beaverhead Rock (between present-day Twin Bridges and Dillon, Montana). Sacagawea recognizes the formation, indicating that it is near where the Shoshone spend their summers.
August 12 Lewis and his party are the first American citizens to cross the Continental Divide at Lemhi Pass. His small party enters present-day Idaho.
August 13 Lewis meets the Shoshone Indians near the Lemhi River.
August 15 Lewis leaves the Shoshone camp with several Indians on horseback to find Clark.
August 17–24 Lewis is reunited with Clark and the main party. Sacagewea recognizes the Shoshone Chief Cameahwait as her brother. Part of the expedition spends a week at the junction of Horse Prairie Creek and Red River Rock (Camp Fortunate).
August 18 Clark and 11 men leave camp Fortunate to “examine the Country” and to find timber to build canoes to take them to the Pacific Ocean. Most of the Indians leave with Clark. Sacagewea and Charbonneau accompany Clark as far as the Shoshone village.
August 22 Cameahwait and about 50 men with a number of women and children, along with Sacagewea and Charbonneau, join Lewis at Camp Fortunate.
August 26 The main party, along with most of the Shoshone, crosses back into Idaho, across the Continental Divide.
August 26 Clark informs Lewis of the unsatisfactory reconnaissance of the Salmon River and lists three possible crossing of the mountains. He “advised the purchase of horses and the prusute of a rout he had learned from his guid who had promised to piolet ous to the road north &c.”
August 29 Clark joins Lewis at the upper Shoshone camp.
August 30 Expedition heads north and the Shoshone headeast to the buffalo country. The Expedition is now traveling with40 horses and a guide.
September 3 Expedition crosses back into Montana west of Lost Trail Pass.
September 4 Lewis and Clark encounter the Salish (Flathead) Indians camped near present-day Ross’ Hole.
September 9 Expedition arrives at Lolo Creek, Traveler’s Rest camp (near present-day Lolo, Montana).
September13 Expedition crosses Lolo Pass and re-enters present-day Idaho.
September 20 A nearly starving Clark encounters Nez Perce Indians near Weippe Prairie. They feed him dry salmon and roots, which does not agree with him.
September 22 Lewis and the main party join Clark at Weippe.
September 26–October 7 Expedition camps on the Clearwater River (Canoe Camp) 5-miles west of present-day Orofino, Idaho and builds five canoes.
October 7 Expedition sets out by canoe, down the Clearwater River toward the Snake River.
October 10 Expedition reaches the Snake River and camps near present-day Lewiston, Idaho. They cross into present-day Washington.
October 16 Lewis and Clark’s Expedition reaches the confluence of the Snake and Columbia Rivers.
October 18 Expedition reaches present-day Oregon.
October 23 Expedition reaches the Great Falls of the Columbia River (later called Celilo Falls).
October 30 Expedition reaches the Great Rapids (cascades) of the Columbia River.
November 7 Clark, “Great joy in camp we are in view of the ocian” (actually the estuary of the Columbia River).
November 24 Expedition members participate in a decision about where to locate the winter quarters. Sacagawea and York both participated.
December 9 Lewis and main party starts to construct Fort Clatsop (near present-day Astoria, Oregon).
December 28 Joseph Field, Bratton and Gibson depart to establish a salt making camp (near present Seaside, Oregon).
December 30 Fort Clatsop was completed on the evening of this day. This would be the Expedition’s home for the next 3 1/2 months. Most of time was spent hunting for “poor” elk, trading for roots and other food, and making clothing for their return trip home.

1806

January 8 Clark and Sacagawea see whale skeleton on beach. The captain buys blubber and oil from Indians who were processing the whale.
March 17 Some of the men steal a canoe from the Clatsop Indians.
March 23 The Expedition departs Fort Clatsop by canoe to begin its return journey.
April 10 Expedition passes the Great Rapids of the Columbia.
April 18 Expedition reaches the Great Falls of the Columbia.
April 20 Transition from canoes to horses to begin return trek over the Rocky Mountains.
April 28 Expedition departs from present-day Oregon.
May 5 Expedition leaves Washington and crosses into present-day Idaho.
May 14–June 10 Camp Chopunnish, near present-day Kamiah, Idaho. Expedition remained there for nearly a month, tending sick Indians, hunting, and waiting for the mountain snows to melt.
June 29 Expedition crosses Lolo Pass from Idaho back into present-day Montana.
June 30–July 3 Expedition camps again at Traveler’s Rest.
July 3 Expedition splits into two parties. Lewis proceeds up the Blackfoot River. Clark goes south up the Bitterroot River.
July 6 Clark’s group traverses Gibbon’s Pass (Continental Divide) Montana.
July 7 Lewis’ party crosses the Continental Divide at present-day Lewis and Clark Pass.
July 8–10 Clark’s party arrives at Camp Fortunate. They camp there for several days. They open their cache and for the first time since Christmas they have real tobacco.
July 11 Lewis and his party arrive at the White Bear Island area (Upper Portage Camp) near Great Falls, Montana.
July 13 Clark’s party reaches the Three Forks. Clark splits up with Ordway. Clark’s party will head to the Yellowstone River and Ordway’s party will head down the Missouri to join Lewis.
July 15 Last mention of Seaman, Lewis’ dog. Clark’s group reaches the Yellowstone River.
July 16 Lewis takes three men to explore the Marias River; Drouillard, Joseph and Reubin Field. Sergeant Gass, Werner, Frazer, Thompson, McNeal and Goodrich work to recover materials from caches and to portage around the Falls.
July 18 Lewis’ group reaches the Marias River.
July 19 Ordway (as well as Collins, Colter, Cruzatte, Howard, Lepage, Potts, Weiser, Whitehouse, and Willard) arrive at White Bear Island with six canoes. They join the Gass party and then head down the Missouri to meet Lewis.
July 19–24 Clark’s group is building canoes above the Clark Fork of the Yellowstone, south of present-day Park City, Montana.
July 21–27 Gass/Ordway’s party portages the canoes around the five waterfalls, and departs from area near present-day Great Falls for the Marias River.
July 21 Half of Clark’s 50+ horses are missing. He is “apprehensive that indians have Stolen our horses.”
July 22–26 Lewis and three others at Camp Disappointment on the upper Marias (near present-day Cut Bank Creek).
July 24 Clark’s party proceeds down the Yellowstone River after building two dugout canoes.
July 24 Sergeant Pryor takes three men and the remaining horses and heads for the Mandan Villages.
July 25 Clark scratches his name into the rock at Pompy’s</div> Tower (east of present-day Billings, Montana).
July 25 Pryor’s party loses the remaining horses, borrowed by Crow Indians. They build two bullboats and try to catch Clark.
July 26 Clark’s group reaches the Big Horn River, Montana.
July 26–27 Lewis’ group skirmishes with Blackfeet party at Two Medicine Creek. Two warriors are killed.
July 28 Lewis party meets with the Ordway/Gass party near the confluence of the Marias and Missouri.
July 29 Clark’s group reaches the Tongue River, Montana.
August 2 Clark’s group reaches the Missouri River, depart Montana for North Dakota.
August 3 Clark’s group arrives at the mouth of the Yellowstone River.
August 8 Pryor’s party catches up with Clark’s party.
August 11 Cruzatte accidentally shoots Lewis in the buttocks. Clark’s party encounters Dixon and Hancock, trappers, first whites they have seen since April 1805.
August 12 Lewis’ party rejoins Clark just above the mouth of the Little Knife River (in present-day North Dakota). Lewis’s last entry in his journals is a description of the pin, or bird, cherry.
August 14 Expedition reaches the Mandan Villages.
August 15 John Colter is released from the Corps of Discovery to join two trappers (Dixon and Hancock) headed upriver.
August 20 Expedition leaves North Dakota, passes into present-day South Dakota on their return trip.
September 1 Expedition leaves South Dakota, passes into present-day Nebraska.
September 4 Expedition leaves Nebraska, passes into present-day Iowa.
September 9 Expedition leaves Iowa passes into present-day Missouri.
September 11 Expedition leaves Nebraska, passes into present-day Kansas.
September 15 Expedition leaves Kansas.
September 23 Corps of Discovery arrives in St. Louis about noon after two years, four months and 10 days. They are home.

September 23 Lewis and Clark stay with Pierre Choteau. Lewis writes to Jefferson.
September 24 Lewis and Clark write letters and shop in St. Louis.
September 25 Dinner and ball.
September 26 Per Clark, they “commenced wrighting &c.”
October Frazer’s prospectus advertising his journal is published. The journal is never published.
October 21 Lewis and Clark depart St. Louis.
November 5 Lewis and Clark are at Louisville, Kentucky.
mid-Nov. Lewis leaves Clark at Frankfort, Kentucky.
December 11 Lewis writes to Sec. Dearborn from Staunton, Virginia.
December 28 Lewis arrives in Washington D.C.
December 30 President Jefferson receives Lewis and Sheheke, a chief of the Mandans.

1807

January 8 A public reception for Clark is held at Fincastle, Virginia.
January 10 A reception is held at the White House for Lewis and Sheheke.
January 15 Lewis sends muster roll and comments to Sec. Dearborn.
January 21 Clark arrives in Washington.
February 28 Jefferson nominates Lewis to be Governor of Upper Louisiana, Clark as Lieutenant Colonel (Clarks was rejected).
March 9 Clark is appointed Agent for Indian Affairs for Louisiana.
March 10 Clark departs Washington D.C.
Late March–Early April Lewis prospectus appeared from the press of John Conrad of Philadelphia (about April 1). It announced a work of two parts in three volumes, the first part the narrative and the latter the scientific observations and a compendium of twenty-three Indian vocabularies. The prospectus also appeared about this time in several other publications.
March–April David M’Keehan, the editor of Gass’ journal, and Lewis exchange published letters about the various journals. Lewis denounces Gass’ journal as unauthorized.
April Gass’ journal, A Journal of the Voyages and Travels of a Corps of Discovery Under the Command of Capt. Lewis and Capt. Clarke of the Army of the United States is published by Zadok Cramer, edited by M’Keehan.
April–July Lewis is in Philadelphia.
by May 1 Clark is in St. Louis.
by May 5 Charles Wilson Peale finishes sketch for Lewis’ portrait.
May 9 Lewis calls on Barton in Philadelphia.
May 22 Clark is in council with Sioux chiefs at St. Louis
May 23 Party of Sioux, Pryor and Sheheke depart St. Louis towards the Mandan village.
June 19 Lewis meets with the American Philosophical Society.
July 17 Lewis again meets with the American Philosophical Society.
After July 17 Clark goes to his home in Kentucky.
August 5 Final financial record of the Expedition, cost was $38,722.25.
September 9 Arikara Indians attack Sheheke’s escort, Shannon’s leg is wounded. Later, latter his leg would be amputated.

1808

1808 Gass’ journal is published in London by John Budd.
January 5 Clark marries Julia Hancock in Fincastle, Virginia.
March Clark and his wife leave Fincastle.
March 8 Lewis arrives in St. Louis, probably is there until September 4, 1809.
April 12 The Clarks arrive in Louisville.
By June 23 The Clarks arrive in St. Louis.
July 17 Jefferson writes to Lewis, comments that there has been no word from Lewis since September.
August 25 Clark and militia force leave St. Charles for Fire Prairie, 300 miles from the mouth of the Missouri River in the heart of Osage country.
September 4 Clark party arrives at Fire Prairie.
September 5–6 Clark party begins fort at Fire Prairie.
September 12–14 Clark meets with Osage chiefs at Fire Prairie.
September 22 Clark returns to St. Louis.

1809

February 24 Lewis and Clark sign agreement with Missouri Fur Company to return Sheheke to the Mandan village.
August 18 Lewis writes to William Eustis – expects to leave St. Louis for Washington D.C. by “Thursday next.”
August 30 Lewis attends his last Governor’s Council meeting.
September 11 Lewis makes a last will and testament.
September 15 Lewis arrives at Fort Pickering, Chickasaw Bluffs, Tennessee.
September 16 Lewis writes to President Madison from Fort Pickering, he has decided to travel by land.
September 21 The Clarks leave St. Louis for the East.
September 28 The Clarks are at Lusk’s Ferry, Illinois.
September 29 Lewis leaves Fort Pickering.
October 11, (3:00 a.m.) Meriwether Lewis dies at Grinder’s Stand on the Natchez Trace (near present-day Hohenwald, Tennessee).
October 12 Clark is at Louisville, Kentucky.
October 28 Clark learns of Lewis’ death.
November 23 Clark arrives in Fincastle, Virginia
December 6 Clark at Mrs. Marks (Lewis’ mother) Charlottesville, Virginia.
Before December 11 Clark calls on Jefferson at Monticello.
December 18 Clark arrives in Washington D.C.

1810

January Clark goes to Philadelphia to arrange publication of the account of the Expedition.
by January 26 Clark has seen Pursh, Peale and Hassler in Philadelphia about the publication.
February 20 Clark writes from Fincastle to Nicholas Biddle, invites him to come to Fincastle to discuss the book.
April Biddle is at the Clark home in Fincastle through the 14th.
Late April Clark leaves Fincastle for St. Louis.
May (probably) Biddle published a new prospectus for publication of the Lewis and Clark journals.
May 22 Clark at Louisville, sends a letter to Biddle via Shannon.
July 9 Clark arrives in St. Louis.

1811

1811 Clark remained in St. Louis and surrounding area.

1812

May 5 Clark leaves St. Louis for the East.
mid-June Clark is in Louisville.
August 1 Clark and various Indian chiefs arrive in Washington D.C.
September 1 Clark arrives in Philadelphia, Biddle is not in town.
November 21 Clark returns to St. Louis.

1813

January 24 Clark is at Fincastle, Virginia.
March 29 Clark is in Philadelphia, gives Biddle power-of-attorney regarding publication of the book.
July 1 Clark is appointed Governor of Upper Louisiana.

1814

March 24 Biddle writes to Clark to announce that, “the Travels are published”.
1814 Nicholas Biddle publishes the first edition of the journals, entitled, ”The History of the Expedition Under the Commands of Captains Lewis and Clark.” The author’s name on these volumes is Paul Allen.

Other Years

1893 Elliott Coues publishes a reprint of the Biddle edition with the addition of footnotes on natural history and geography.
1904 Reuben Gold Thwaites starts publication of the complete journals in eight volumes.
1916 Milo Quaife publishes Lewis’ and Ordway’s journals for his trip down the Ohio River.
1962 Donald Jackson’s Letters of the Lewis and Clark Expedition is published.
1964 Ernest Staples Osgood publishes The Field Notes of Captain William Clark.
1978 Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail created via Public Law 95-625.
1983–2001 A new edition of the journals is published (13 volumes), edited by Gary Moulton. It is the most comprehensive set to date.