University of Virginia Library

[Clark, first draft:]

December 16th. Monday 1805.

rained all the last night we covered our selves as well as we
could with Elk skin, & set up the greater part of the night, all
wet I lay in the wet verry cold, the 5 men who stayed out
all night joined me this morning Cold & wet, Ordway Colter
Collens, Jo. Whitehouse J Mc. Neal, I had the two canoes
loaded with the 11 Elk which was brought to the canoes, despatched
12 men to meet me below with 2 Elk, The rain
continues, with Tremendious gusts of wind, which is Tremends.
I proceeded on and took in the 2 Elk which was brought to
the creek, & send back 7 men to carrey to the canoe & take
down to camp 3 Elk which was left in the woods, and I proceeded
on to camp thro the same chanel I had assd. The winds
violent Trees falling in every derection, whorl winds, with
gusts of rain Hail & Thunder, this kind of weather lasted all
day, Certainly one of the worst days that ever was! I found
3 Indeans with Capt Lewis in camp they had brought fish to
sell, we had a house covered with Punchens & our meat hung
up. Several men complaining of hurting themselves carry[ing]
meat, &c.

Monday 16th. December 1805

I as also the party with me experiencd a most dreadfull
night rain and wet without any couvering, indeed we Set up the
greater part of the Night, when we lay down the water soon
Came under us and obliged us to rise. the five men who
Stayed out all night joind. me this morning wet and Cold, haveing
Stayed out without fire or Shelter and the rain poreing
down upon them all night their appearance was truly distressing.
they had left all their loads near the place they Spent
the night. I dispatched 12 men for 2 Elk which was reather

MAP SHOWING LOCATION OF FORT CLATSOP,

AND TRAIL TO THE INDIAN VILLAGE

below on the opposit Side of the Creak, with directions to
meet me at the 2d. bend in the creek below, had all the meat
which had been brought in yesterday put into 2 canoes and proceeded
down to the 2d. bend where I met the 12 men with the
2 Elk, dispatchd. 6 men with one of those who Staid out last
night for the meet left in the woods & the remainder [of] an
elk at Some distance and proceeded on my Self with 3 canoes
to the fort. wind violent from the S E trees falling, rain and
hail, we with Some risque proceeded on thro the high waves
in the river, a tempestious disagreeable day.

I found 3 indians at our camp, they brought fish to Sell
which were pore & not fit for use, had the Meet house coverd
and the Meat all hung up, Several men complain of haveing
hurt themselves [with] heavy loads of meat.[27]