Timeline of The Lewis and Clark Expedition - 1806

1806

• January 1 – Discharged a volley of small arms to usher in the new year. Several Corps members build a salt-making cairn near present-day Seaside, Oregon.
• March 22 – Corps of Discovery leave Fort Clatsop for the return voyage east.
• March 23 to May 14 – Traveled to Camp Chopunnish.
• April 11 – Lewis' dog was stolen by Indians and retrieved shortly. Lewis warned the chief that any other wrongdoing or mischievous acts would result in instant death.
• May 14 to June 10 – Camp Chopunnish collected 65 horses. Prepared for crossing mountains. Bitterroot Mountains still covered in snow; cannot cross.
• June 10 to June 30 – Traveled to Traveler's Rest (Lolo, Montana) via Lolo Creek. 300 miles shorter than westward journey. 17 horses and 5 Nez Perce guides.
• June 30 to July 3 - Camped at Traveler's Rest (Lolo, Montana), now a National Historic Landmark
• July 3 – The Corps of Discovery split into 2 groups with Lewis leading one group up the Blackfoot River and Clark leading another group up the Bitterroot River.
• July 3 to July 28 – Lewis's party heads back to The Great Falls of the Missouri. Sgt. Gass, J. Thompson, H. McNeal, R. Field, R. Frazier, J. Fields, W. Werner, G. Drouillard, S. Goodrich.
• July 7 – Lewis' group crosses the Continental Divide at Lewis and Clark Pass.
• July 13 – Reached White Bear Island. Opened cache and many items were ruined. The iron frame of the boat had not suffered materially.
• July 15 – Lewis explores Maria's river separates from Gass to meet at Mouth of Maria's between Aug 5 and no later than Sept 1. Maria's River expedition includes M. Lewis, R. Fields, J. Fields, G. Drouillard.
• July 15 to July 26 – Camp Disappointment. Marias River does not go far enough north. Indians are finally discovered.
• July 20 – Sgt. Ordway's party (from Clark's party) meets Sgt. Gass's party at The Great Falls of the Missouri.
• July 27 – The Blackfeet Indians try to steal Lewis's group's rifles. A fight broke out and two Indians were killed. This is the only hostile encounter with an Indian tribe.
• July 28 – Lewis meets Ordway and Gass.
• July 3 – Clark Explores Yellowstone-Leaves for Three Forks and Yellowstone. *Sgt. Pryor, *G. Gibson, *H. Hall, * R. Windsor. Sgt. Ordway, J. Colter, J. Colter, P. Cruzatte, F. LaBiche, T. Howard, J. Shields, B. LaPage, G. Shannon, J. Potts, W. Brattan, P. Wiser, P. Willard, J. Whitehouse, T. Charboneau, Sacagawea & Pomp, York.
• July 6 – Clark's group crosses the Continental Divide at Gibbons Pass.
• July 8 – Reached Camp Fortunate dug up cache from year before-tobacco most prized.
• July 13 – Sgt. Ordway splits from Clark to travel up Missouri River to meet Lewis and Gass.
• July 25 – Clark discovers and writes on Pompey's Pillar.
• August 1 – Capt. Clark's 36th birthday.
• August 3 – Clark arrives at confluence of Missouri and Yellowstone Rivers-moves down river because of mosquitoes.
• August 8 – Pryor and party reached Clark. Pryor and party (*Sgt. Pryor,*G. Gibson, *H. Hall, *R. Windsor) left Clark with horses and a letter to Hugh Henry to get Sioux to go to Washington and make peace with other Indians. Horses stolen had to make bull boats to get across and down river.
• August 11 – Lewis is accidentally shot by a member of his own party.
• August 12 – The two groups rejoin on the Missouri River in present-day North Dakota.
• August 18 – Capt. Lewis's 32nd birthday.
• August 14 – Reached Mandan Village. Charbonneau and Sacagawea stayed . John Colter went back up river with trappers Hancock and Dickson provided rest of company stay with expedition all the way to St. Louis.
• September 23 – The Corps arrives in St. Louis, ending their journey after two years, four months, and ten days.