[Clark:]
Thursday March 20th.. 1806
It continued to rain and blow so violently to day that
nothing could be done towards fowarding our departure. we
intended to have dispatched Drewyer & the 2 Field'es to hunt
above Point William untill we joined them from here but the
rain renders our departure so uncertain that we decline this
measure for the present. nothing remarkable happened dureing
the day. we have yet several days provisions on hand,
which we hope will be sufficient to serve us dureing the time
we are compell'd by the weather to remain at this place.
Altho' we have not fared sumptuously this winter & spring
at Fort Clatsop, we have lived quit[e] as comfortably as we
had any reason to expect we should; and have accomplished
every object which induced our remaining at this place except
that of meeting with the traders who visit the enterance of
this river. our Salt will be very sufficient to last us to
the Missouri where we have a stock in store. it would have been
very fortunate for us had some of those traders arrived previous
to our departure from hence; as we should then have
had it in our power to obtain an addition to our sock of
Merchandize, which would have made our homeward bound
journey much more comfortable.
Maney of our men are still complaining of being unwell;
Bratten and Willard remain weak principally I believe for the
want of proper food. I expect when we get under way that
we shall be much more healthy. it has always had that effect
on us heretofore.
The Guns of Sergt. Pryor & Drewyer were both out of
order. the first had a cock screw broken which was replaced
by a duplicate which had been prepared for the Locks at
Harpers Ferry; the second repared with a new Lock, the old
one becoming unfit for use. but for the precaution taken in
bringing on those extra locks, and parts of locks, in addition
to the ingenuity of John Shields, most of our guns would at
this moment [have] been entirely unfit for use; but fortunate
for us I have it in my power here to record that they are in
good order, and complete in every respect.
