Phase 3: Winter at Fort Clatsop (1805-1806) Archives - Lewis & Clark Research Database

Clark: March 22, 1806

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:36:57 +0000

Saturday March 22nd 1806 Drewyer and the two Fieldses departed this
morning agreably to the order of last evening. we Sent out Six hunters
this morning in different directions on both Sides of the Netul. about 10
A.M. we were visited by Que-ne-o alias Commorwool 8 Clatsops and a
Kil-a-mox; they brought Some dried Anchovies, a common Otter Skin and a
Dog for Sale all of which we purchased. the Dog we purchased for our Sick
men, the fish for to add to our Small Stock of provision’s, and the Skin
to cover my papers. those Indians left us in the evening. the air is
perfectly temperate, but it continues to rain in Such a manner that there
is no possibillity of getting our canoes completed in order to Set out on
our homeward journey. The Clatsops inform us that Several of their nation
has the Sore throat, one of which has laterly died with this disorder. the
Hunters Sent out to day all returned except Colter unsessfull.

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Lewis: March 22, 1806

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:36:57 +0000

Saturday March 22cd 1806. Drewyer and the Feildses departed this morning
agreably to the order of the last evening. we sent out seven hunters this
morning in different directions on this side the Netul. about 10 A.M. we
were visited by 4 Clatsops and a killamucks; they brought some dried
Anchoveis and a dog for sale which we purchased. the air is perefectly
temperate, but it continues to rain in such a manner that there be is no
possibility of geting our canoes completed.at 12 OCk. we were
visited by Comowooll and 3 of the Clatsops. to this Cheif we left our
houses and funiture. he has been much more kind an hospitable to us than
any other indian in this neighbourhood. the Indians departed in the
evening. the hunters all returned except Colter, unsuccessfull. we
determined to set out tomorrow at all events, and to stop the canoes
temperarily with Mud and halt the first fair day and pay them. the leafing
of the hucklebury riminds us of spring.

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Lewis: March 19, 1806

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:36:56 +0000

Wednesday March 19th 1806. It continued to rain and hail today in such
manner that nothing further could be done to the canoes. a pratry were
sent out early after the Elk which was killed yesterday with which they
returned in the course of a few hours. we gave Comowooll alias Connia, a
cirtificate of his good conduct and the friendly intercourse which he has
maintained with us during our residence at this place; we also gave him a
list of our names.do not. The Killamucks, Clatsops, Chinnooks, Cathlahmahs
and Wac-ki-a-cums resemble each other as well in their persons and dress
as in their habits and manners.their complexion is not remarkable,
being the usual copper brown of most of the tribes of North America. they
are low in statue reather diminutive, and illy shapen; possessing thick
broad flat feet, thick ankles, crooked legs wide mouths thick lips, nose
moderately large, fleshey, wide at the extremity with large nostrils,
black eyes and black coarse hair. their eyes are sometimes of a dark
yellowish brown the puple black. I have observed some high acqualine noses
among them but they are extreemty rare. the nose is generally low between
the eyes.the most remarkable trait in their physiognomy is the
peculiar flatness and width of forehead which they artificially obtain by
compressing the head between two boards while in a state of infancy and
from which it never afterwards perfectly recovers. this is a custom among
all the nations we have met with West of the Rocky mountains. I have
observed the heads of many infants, after this singular bandage had been
dismissed, or about the age of 10 or eleven months, that were not more
than two inches thick about the upper edge of the forehead and reather
thiner still higher. from the top of the head to the extremity of the nose
is one streight line. this is done in order to give a greater width to the
forehead, which they much admire. this process seems to be continued
longer with their female than their mail children, and neither appear to
suffer any pain from the operation. it is from this peculiar form of the
head that the nations East of the Rocky mountains, call all the nations on
this side, except the Aliahtans or snake Indians, by the generic name of
Flat heads. I think myself that the prevalence of this custom is a strong
proof that those nations having originally proceeded from the same stock.
The nations of this neighbourhood or those recapitulated above, wear their
hair loosly flowing on the back and sholders; both men and women divide it
on the center of the crown in front and throw it back behind the ear on
each side. they are fond of combs and use them when they can obtain them;
and even without the aid of the comb keep their hair in better order than
many nations who are in other rispects much more civilized than
themselves.the large or apparently swolen legs particularly
observable in the women are obtained in a great measure by tying a cord
tight around the ankle. their method of squating or resting themselves on
their hams which they seem from habit to prefer to siting, no doubt
contributes much to this deformity of the legs by preventing free
circulation of the blood. the dress of the man consists of a smal robe,
which reaches about as low as the middle of the thye and is attatched with
a string across the breast and is at pleasure turned from side to side as
they may have occasion to disencumber the right or left arm from the robe
entirely, or when they have occasion for both hands, the fixture of the
robe is in front with it’s corners loosly hanging over their arms. they
sometimes wear a hat which has already been discribed. this robe is made
most commonly of the skins of a small animal which I have supposed was the
brown mungo, tho they have also a number, of the skins of the tiger cat,
some of those of the Elk which are used principally on their war
excursions, others of the skins of the deer panther and bear and a blanket
wove with the fingers of the wool of the native sheep. a mat is sometimes
temperarily thrown over the sholders to protect them from rain. they have
no other article of cloathing whatever neither winter nor summer. and
every part except the sholders and back is exposed to view. they are very
fond of the dress of the whites, which they wear in a similar manner when
they can obtain them, except the shoe which I have never seen woarn by any
of them. they call us pah-shish’e-ooks, or cloth men. The dress of the
women consists of a robe, tissue, and sometimes when the weather is
uncommonly cold, a vest. their robe is much smaller than that of the men,
never reaching lower than the waist nor extending in front sufficiently
far to cover the body. it is like that of the men confined across the
breast with a string and hangs loosly over the sholders and back. the most
esteemed and valuable of these robes are made of strips of the skins of
the Sea Otter net together with the bark of the white cedar or silk-grass.
these strips are first twisted and laid parallel with each other a little
distance assunder, and then net or wove together in such manner that the
fur appears equally on both sides, and unites between the strands. it make
a warm and soft covering. other robes are formed in a similar manner of
the skin of the Rackoon, beaver &c. at other times the skin is dressed
in the hair and woarn without any further preperation. in this way one
beaver skin, or two of those of the Raccoon or tiger catt forms the
pattern of the robe. the vest is always formed in the manner first
discribed of their robes and covers the body from the armpits to the
waist, and is confined behind, and destitute of straps over the sholder to
keep it up. when this vest is woarn the breast of the woman is concealed,
but without it which is almost always the case, they are exposed, and from
the habit of remaining loose and unsuspended grow to great length
particularly in aged women in many of whom I have seen the hubby reach as
low as the waist. The garment which occupys the waist, and from thence as
low as nearly to the knee before and the ham, behind, cannot properly be
denominated a petticoat, in the common acceptation of that term; it is a
tissue of white cedar bark, bruised or broken into small shreds, which are
interwoven in the middle by means of several cords of the same materials,
which serve as well for a girdle as to hold in place the shreds of bark
which form the tissue, and which shreds confined in the middle hang with
their ends pendulous from the waist, the whole being of sufficient
thickness when the female stands erect to conceal those parts usually
covered from formiliar view, but when she stoops or places herself in many
other attitudes, this battery of Venus is not altogether impervious to the
inquisitive and penetrating eye of the amorite. This tissue is sometimes
formed of little twisted cords of the silk grass knoted at their ends and
interwoven as discribed of the bark. this kind is more esteemed and last
much longer than those of bark. they also form them of flags and rushes
which are woarn in a similar manner. the women as well as the men
sometimes cover themselves from the rain by a mat woarn over the sholders.
they also cover their heads from the rain sometimes with a common water
cup or basket made of the cedar bark and beargrass. these people seldom
mark their skins by puncturing and introducing a colouring matter. such of
them as do mark themselves in this manner prefer their legs and arms on
which they imprint parallel lines of dots either longitudinally or
circularly. the women more frequently than the men mark themselves in this
manner.

The favorite ornament of both sexes are the common coarse blue and white
beads which the men wear tightly wound arond their wrists and ankles many
times untill they obtain the width of three or more inches. they also wear
them in large rolls loosly arond the neck, or pendulous from the cartelage
of the nose or rims of the ears which are purforated for the purpose. the
women wear them in a similar manner except in the nose which they never
purforate. they are also fond of a species of wampum which is furnished
them by a trader whom they call Swipton. it seems to be the native form of
the shell without any preperation. this shell is of a conic form somewhat
curved, about the size of a raven’s quill at the base, and tapering to a
point which is sufficiently large to permit to hollow through which a
small thred passes; it is from one to 11/2 Inches in length, white,
smooth, hard and thin. these are woarn in the same manner in which the
beads are; and furnish the men with their favorite ornament for the nose.
one of these shells is passed horizontally through the cartilage of the
nose and serves frequently as a kind of ring to prevent the string which
suspends other ornaments at the same part from chafing and freting the
flesh. the men sometimes wear collars of bears claws, and the women and
children the tusks of the Elk variously arranged on their necks arms &c.
both males and females wear braslets on their wrists of copper brass or
Iron in various forms. I think the most disgusting sight I have ever
beheld is these dirty naked wenches. The men of these nations partake of
much more of the domestic drudgery than I had at first supposed. they
collect and prepare all the fuel, make the fires, assist in cleansing and
preparing the fish, and always cook for the strangers who visit them. they
also build their houses, construct their canoes, and make all their wooden
utensils. the peculiar provence of the woman seems to be to collect roots
and manufacture various articles which are prepared of rushes, flags,
cedar bark, bear grass or waytape. the management of the canoe for various
purposes seems to be a duty common to both sexes, as also many other
occupations which with most Indian nations devolves exclusively on the
woman. their feasts which they are very fond are always prepared and
served by the men.

Comowool and the two Cathlahmahs left us this evening. it continued to
rain so constantly today that Sergt. Pryor could not pitch his canoes.

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Clark: March 20, 1806

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:36:56 +0000

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 hense 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 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 Stock 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 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-

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Lewis: March 20, 1806

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:36:56 +0000

Thursday March 20th 1806. It continued to rain and blow so violently today
that nothing could be done towards forwarding our departure. we intended
to have Dispatched Drewyer and the two Fieldses to hunt near the bay on
this side of the Cathlahmahs untill we jounded them from hence, but the
rain rendered our departure so uncertain that we declined this measure for
the present. nothing remarkable happened during the day. we have yet
several days provision on hand, which we hope will be sufficient to
subsist us during the time we are compelled by the weather to remain at
this place.

Altho we have not fared sumptuously this winter and spring at Fort
Clatsop, we have lived quite 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
entrance 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 our power to obtain an
addition to our stock of merchandize which would have made our homeward
bound journey much more comfortable. many of our men are still complaining
of being unwell; Willard and Bratton remain weak, principally I beleive
for the want of proper food. I expect when we get under way we shall be
much more healthy. it has always had that effect on us heretofore. The
guns of Drewyer and Sergt. Pryor were both out of order. the first was
repared with a new lock, the old one having become unfit for uce; the
second had the cock screw broken which was replaced by a duplicate which
had been prepared for the lock at Harpers ferry where she was
manufactured. 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 been untirely unfit for use; but
fortunately for us I have it in my power here to record that they are all
in good order.

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Clark: March 21, 1806

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:36:56 +0000

Friday March 21st 1806 as we could not Set out we thought it best to Send
out Some hunters and accordingly dispatched Shields and Collins on this
Side of the Netul for that purpose with orders to return in the evening or
Sooner if they were Successfull. they returned late in the evening
unsuccessfull. we have not now more than two days provisions on hand. we
derected Drewyer and the two Fieldses to Set out tomorrow morning early,
and indevour to provide us Some provision on the Bay beyond point William.
we were visited to day by Some Clatsops who left us in the evening. our
sick men willard and Bratten do not Seem to recover; the former was taken
with a violent pain in his leg and thye last night. Bratten is now so much
reduced that I am Somewhat uneasy with respect to his recovery; the pain
of which he complains most Seems to be Settled in the Small of his back
and remains obstenate. I believe that it is the Rheumatism with which they
are both affected.-.

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Lewis: March 21, 1806

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:36:56 +0000

Friday March 21st 1806. As we could not set out we thought it best to send
out some hunters and accordingly dispatched Sheilds and Collins on this
side the Netul for that purpose with orders to return in the evening or
sooner if they were successfull. The hunters returned late in the evening
unsuccessfull. we have not now more than one day’s provision on hand. we
directed Drewyer and the Feildses to set out tomorrow morning early, and
indevour to provide us some provision on the bay beyond point William. we
were visited to day by some Clatsop indians who left us in the evening.
our sick men Willard and bratton do not seem to recover; the former was
taken with a violent pain in his leg and thye last night. Bratton is now
so much reduced that I am somewhat uneasy with rispect to his recovery;
the pain of which he complains most seems to be seated in the small of his
back and remains obstinate. I beleive that it is the rheumatism with which
they are both afflicted.

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Lewis: March 17, 1806

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:36:55 +0000

Monday March 17th 1806. Catel and his family left us this morning. Old
Delashelwilt and his women still remain they have formed a camp near the
fort and seem to be determined to lay close sege to us but I beleive
notwithstanding every effort of their wining graces, the men have
preserved their constancy to the vow of celibacy which they made on this
occasion to Capt C. and myself. we have had our perogues prepared for our
departer, and shal set out as soon as the weather will permit. the weather
is so precarious that we fear by waiting untill the first of April that we
might be detained several days longer before we could get from this to the
Cathlahmahs as it must be calm or we cannot accomplish that part of our
rout. Drewyer returned late this evening from the Cathlahmahs with our
canoe which Sergt. Pryor had left some days since, and also a canoe which
he had purchased from those people. for this canoe he gave my uniform
laced coat and nearly half a carrot of tobacco. it seems that nothing
excep this coat would induce them to dispose of a canoe which in their
mode of traffic is an article of the greatest value except a wife, with
whom it is equal, and is generally given in exchange to the father for his
daughter. I think the U States are indebted to me another Uniform coat,
for that of which I have disposed on this occasion was but little woarn.we
yet want another canoe, and as the Clatsops will not sell us one at a
price which we can afford to give we will take one from them in lue of the
six Elk which they stole from us in the winter.-

The pellucid jellylike substance, called the sea-nettle is found in great
abundance along the strad where it has been thrown up by the waves and
tide.

There are two speceis of the Fuci or seawreckwhich we also find thrown up
by the waves. the 1st speceis at one extremity consists of a large vesicle
or hollow vessell which would contain from one to two gallons, of a conic
form, the base of which forms the extreem end and is convex and globelar
bearing on it’s center some short broad and irregular fibers. the
substance is about the consistence of the rind of a citron mellon and 3/4
of an inch thick. the rihind is smooth. from the small extremity of the
cone a long, hollow, celindrick, and regularly tapering tube extends to 20
or thirty feet and is then terminated with a number of branches which are
flat 1/2 an inch in width rough particular on the edges where they are
furnished with a number of little ovate vesicles or bags of the size of a
pigeon’s egg. this plant seems to be calculated to float at each extremity
while the little end of the tube from whence the branches proceed, lies
deepest in the water.

The other speceis I have never seen but Capt. Clark who saw it on the
coast towards the Killamucks informed me that it resembled a large
pumpkin, it is solid and it’s specific gravity reather greater than the
water, tho it is sometimes thrown out by the waves. it is of a yellowis
brown colour. the rhind smooth and consistence harder than that of a
pumpkin tho easily cut with a knife. there are some dark brown fibers
reather harder than any other part which pass longitudinally through the
pulp or fleshey substance wich forms the interior of this marine
production.The following is a list of the names of the commanders of
vessels who visit the entrance of the Columbia river in the spring and
autumn fror the purpose of trading with the natives or hunting Elk. these
names are spelt as the Indians pronounce them.

Mr. Haley, their favorite trader visits them in a vessel with three masts,
and continues some time

Youens, visits in a 3 masted vessel- Trader Tallamon do. 3 do. no trader
Callallamet do. 3 do. Trader. has a wooden leg. Swipton do. 3 do. Trader.
Moore do. 4 do. do. Mackey do. 3 do. do. Washington do. 3 do. do. Mesship
do. 3 do. do. Davidson do. 2

no trader hunts Elk Jackson do. 3 masted vessel Trader Bolch do. 3 do. do.
Skelley do. 3 do. do. tho he has been gone some years. he has one eye.

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Clark: March 18, 1806

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:36:55 +0000

Tuesday March 17th 1806 Drewyer was taken last night with a violent pain
in his Side. I bled him. Several of the men are complaining of being
unwell. it is truly unfortunate that they Should be Sick at the moment of
our departure. Derected Sergt. Pryor to prepare the two Indian Canoes
which we had purchased for his mess. they wanted Some knees to Strengthen
them, and Several cracks corked and payed. he compleated them except
paying. the frequent Showers of rain prevented the Canoes drying
Sufficient to pay them even with the assistance of fire.

Commorwool and two Cathlahmahs visited us to day; we Suffered them to
remain all night. this morning we gave Delashelwilt a certificate of his
good deportment &c. and also a list of our names, after which we
dispatched him to his village with his female band. Those list’s of our
Names we have given to Several of the nativs, and also pasted up a Copy in
our room. the Object of these lists we Stated in the preamble of the Same
as follows Viz: “The Object of this list is, that through the medium of
Some civilized person who may See the Same, it may be made known to the
informed world, that the party consisting of the persons whoes names are
hereunto annexed, and who were Sent out by the Government of the United
States in May 1804, to explore the interior of the Continent of North
America, did penetrate the Same by way of the Missouri and Columbia
rivers, to the discharge of the latter into the Pacific Ocian, where they
arrived on the 14th of November 1805, and from whence they departed the
____ day of March 1806 on their return to the United States by the Same
rout they had come out.”

On the back of lists we added a Sketch of the continent of the upper
branches of the Missouri with those of the Columbia, particularly of its
upper N. E. branch or Lewis’s River, on which we also delienated the track
we had Came and that we ment to pursue on our return, when the Same
happened to vary. There Seemes So many chances against our governments
ever obtaining a regular report, through the medium of the Savages, and
the traders of this Coast that we decline makeing any. Our party are too
small to think of leaveing any of them to return to the Unt. States by
Sea, particularly as we Shall be necessarily devided into two or three
parties on our return in order to accomplish the Object we have in View;
and at any rate we Shall reach the U, States in all humain probabillity
much earlier than a man Could who must in the event of his being left here
depend for his passage to the U, State on the traders of the Coast, who
may not return imediately to the U, States. or if they should, might
probably Spend the next Summer in tradeing with the nativs before they
would Set out on their return. This evening Drewyer went in quest of his
traps, and took an otter. Joseph Field killd and Elk.The Indians
repeated to us Eighteen distinct Nations resideing on the S S. E Coast who
Speak the Kil a mox language or understand it. and beyend those Six other
Nations which Speak a different language which they did not comprehend.

The 2d Species of Seawreck which I saw on the coast to the S. S. E. near
the Kil a mox nation. it resembles a large pumpkin, it is Solid and it’s
Specific Gravity reather greater than the water, tho it is Sometimes
thrown out by the waves. it is of a pale yellowish brown colour. the rhind
Smooth and consistency harder than that of the pumpkin, tho easily cut
with a knife. there are Some fibers of a lighter colour and much harder
than any other part which pass Longitudinally through the pulp or fleshey
Substance which forms the interior of this marine production

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Lewis: March 18, 1806

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:36:55 +0000

Tuesday March 18th 1806. Drewyer was taken last night with a violent pain
in his side. Capt. Clark blead him. several of the men are complaining of
being unwell. it is truly unfortunate that they should be sick at the
moment of our departure. we directed Sergt. Pryor to prepare the two
Canoes which Drewyer brought last evening for his mess. they wanted some
knees to strengthen them and several cracks corked and payed. he completed
them except the latter operation which the frequent showers in the course
of the day prevented as the canoes could not be made sufficiently dry even
with the assistance of fire. Comowooll and two Cathlahmahs visited us
today; we suffered them to remain all night. this morning we gave
Delashelwilt a certificate of his good deportment &c. and also a list
of our names, after which we dispatched him to his village with his female
band. These lists of our names we have given to several of the natives and
also paisted up a copy in our room. the object of these lists we stated in
the preamble of the same as follows (viz) “The object of this list is,
that through the medium of some civilized person who may see the same, it
may be made known to the informed world, that the party consisting of the
persons whose names are hereunto annexed, and who were sent out by the
government of the U States in May 1804 to explore the interior of the
Continent of North America, did penetrate the same by way of the Missouri
and Columbia Rivers, to the discharge of the latter into the Pacific
Ocean, where they arrived on the 14th November 1805, and from whence they
departed the ____ day of March 1806 on their return to the United States
by the same rout they had come out.”on the back of some of these
lists we added a sketch of the connection of the upper branches of the
Missouri with those of the Columbia, particularly of it’s main S. E.
branch, on which we also delienated the track we had come and that we
meant to pursue on our return where the same happened to vary. There
seemed so many chances against our government ever obtaining a regular
report, though the medium of the savages and the traders of this coast
that we declined making any. our party are also too small to think of
leaving any of them to return to the U States by sea, particularly as we
shall be necessarily divided into three or four parties on our return in
order to accomplish the objects we have in view; and at any rate we shall
reach the United States in all human probability much earlier than a man
could who must in the event of his being left here depend for his passage
to the United States on the traders of the coast who may not return
immediately to the U States or if they should, might probably spend the
next summer in trading with the natives before they would set out on their
return. this evening Drewyer went inquest of his traps, and took an Otter.
Joseph Fields killed an Elk.The Indians repeated to us the names of
eighteen distinct tribes residing on the S. E. coast who spoke the
Killamucks language, and beyound those six others who spoke a different
language which they did not comprehend.

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