Dates March 23, 1806 - April 18, 1806: Journals of Lewis and Clark ***

Lewis and Clark Journal Summary 14: Dates March 23, 1806 - April 18, 1806
The following is a summary of the journal entries made by Lewis and Clark. Dates: March 23, 1806 - April 18, 1806

The Return Journey Began With Strong Currents and Problems With Some Indians

March 23, 1806
The Corps of Discovery left Fort Clatsop at 1pm to return home. They battled against the wind and strong currents but managed to progress 15 to 20 miles for the first few days. Lewis and Clark sent a couple of hunters ahead to provide meat for the expedition to eat when they caught up with them.

April 1, 1806
Lewis and Clark learned from passing Indians that further along their route there were not many animals to hunt and that the fish wouldn’t return until early May. However they couldn’t wait where they were until then as the delay could prevent them reaching the Missouri before it froze, and could interfere with their plans to meet up with the Chopunnish Indians to recover the horses that they’d left with them. They decided to remain long enough to stock up with enough meat to sustain them until they met up with the Chopunnish. They intended to send a small party ahead to collect the horses and be ready for the main party’s arrival.

Following some information gained during a meeting with some Indians, William Clark led a small party back along the river to find a river they hadn’t seen. It had been suggested that this river, which the Indians called Multnomah, was a large river which discharged itself into the Columbia. Clark’s trip was successful and returned with a sketch of the river, and the nations living on it, that had been drawn by one of the Indians.

Many parties of Indians visited as they were passing. Those traveling down the river were moving homes because of the scarcity of food, and scavenged the animal bones and our leftovers. Those traveling up the river were visiting through curiosity. A few Indians tried to sneak into the camp, at different times, to steal things but were seen off by guards.

When the expedition stopped at one of the Indian villages on their route, they found a tomahawk that had been stolen from them on their way to the Pacific. They retrieved it and, despite protestations from the Indians, managed to keep hold of it.

Their journey continued to be difficult with the very strong currents carrying them in the wrong direction whenever they crossed the river. The wind and rain continued daily.