Fort Clatsop

March 15, 1806

"we were visited this afternoon by Delashshelwilt* a Chinnook Chief his wife and six women of his nation... late this evening we were also visited by Catel** a Clatsop man and his family.  he brought a canoe and a Sea Otter for sale neither of which we purchased this evening.  Bratton still sick."

Delashshelwilt* - The name is Chinookan (i) tlasxilwilt, meaning unknown

Catel** - The Clatsop chief's name is from Chinookan qatl, meaning unknown.

 March 16, 1806

"Not any occurence worthy of relation took place today.  Drewyer and party did not return form the Cathlahmahs this evening as we expected.  we suppose he was detained by the hard winds of today.  the Indians remained with us all day, but would not disposse of their canoes at a price of Merchandize.  two handkercheifs would now contain all the small articles of merchandize which we possess; the ballance of the stock consist of 6 blue robes one scarlet do. one uniform artillerists coat and hat, five robes made of our large flag, and a few old cloaths trimed with ribbon.   on this stock we have wholy to depend for the purchase of horses and such portion of our subsistence from the Indians as it will be in our powers to obtain."

March 17, 1806

"we have our perogues prepared for our departure, and shall 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 Cath-lah-mahs as it must be calm or we cannot accomplish that part of the rout in our canoes.  Drewyer returned late this evening from the Cath-lah-mahs with our Indian 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 Captn. Lewis's uniform laced coat and nearly half a carrot of tobacco.  it seams that noghtin except 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 whome it is nearly equal, and is generally given in exchange to the father for his daughter.  I think that the United States are in justice indebted to Captn Lewis another uniform coat for that of which he has disposed of on this ocasion, it was but little worn."

March 18, 1806

"this morning we gave a list of our names to several of the natives and paisted up a copy in our room.  the object of these lists we sated in the preamble of the same as follows ( viz)*  - The object of this list is, through the medium of some 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 of November 1805, and from whence they departed March 1806 on their return to the United States by the same rout they had come out."

( viz)* - While the party was preparing to leave, the Russian ship Juno, out of New Archangel (Sitka) in Alaska, commanded by Nicolai Rezanov, was attempting to cross the Columbia bar.  It was finally driven off by the storm of March 21.  Rezanov was seeking a more hospitable place than Alaska for a Russian settlement.  His failure at this time not only prevented a possible confrontation with Lewis and Clark but kept the Russians from gaining a foothold on the Columbia.  On June 12, 1806, Captain Samuel Hill's Lydia, of Boston entered the mouth of the river.  The Indians told him about their American visitors, showed him medals given them, and gave him at least one copy of the declaration and muster roll.  The news did not reach the United States by this route until after the party's safe return to St. Louis.  The ultimate fate of the documents is unknown.

March 19, 1806

"It continued to rain and hail today in such a manner that nothing further could be done to the canoes.  a party were sent out early after the Elk which was killed last evening.  we gave Commorwool alias Cania, a Certificate of his good conduct and the friendly intercourse which he has maintained with us during our residence at this place." 

March 20, 1806

"It continued to rain and blow so violently today that nothing could be done towards forwarding our departure.  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 in 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.."

March 21, 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 successful.  they returned late in the evening unsuccessfull.  we have not more than two days provisions on hand.  we derected Dweyer and the two Fieldses to set out tomorrow morning early."