August 14, 1804

Journal by Clark

14th August Tuesday 1804

a fine morning wind from the S E    The men Sent to the Mahar Town last evening has not returned    we Conclude to Send a Spye to Know the cause of Their delay    at about 12 oClock the Party returned and informed. us that they Could not find the Indians nor any fresh Sign, those people have not returned from their Buffalow hunt, Those people haveing no houses no Corn or any thing more than the graves of their ancesters to attach them to the old Village, Continue in pursuite of the Buffalow longer than others who had greater attachments to their native Village— the ravages of the Small Pox [NB: about 4 years ago] (which Swept off 400 men & women & Children in perpoposion) has reduced this Nation not exceeding 300 men and left them to the insults of their weaker neighbours which before was glad to be on friendly turms with them—    I am told whin this fatal malady was among them they Carried ther franzey to verry extroadinary length, not only of burning their Village, but they put their wives & Children toD[e]ath with a view of their all going together to Some better Countrey—    They burry their Dead on the tops of high hills and rais mounds on the top of them,—    The cause or way those people took the Small Pox is uncertain, the most Probable from Some other Nation by means of a warparty

Journal Reference:
Lewis, M., Clark, W., and Members of the Corps of Discovery. (2002). September 4, 1806. In G. Moulton (Ed.), The Journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press. Retrieved Oct. 1, 2005, from the University of Nebraska Press / University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries-Electronic Text Center, The Journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition web site:

August 3, 1804 Council Bluffs

 

Journal entry by Clark

August 3rd, Friday 1804

mad[e] up a Small preasant for those people in perpotion to their Consiqunce.    also a package with a meadile to accompany a Speech for the Grand Chief 〈which we intend to send to him〉    after Brackfast we Collected those Indians under an orning of our Main Sail, in presence of our Party paraded & Delivered a long Speech to them expressive of our journey the wirkes of our Government, Some advice to them and Directions how They were to Conduct themselves, 〈made one〉 the princapal Chief for the nation 〈to whom〉 being absente we sent him the Speech flag Meadel & Some Cloathes.    after hering what they had to say Delivered 〈two of〉 a medal of Second Grade to one for the Ottos & and one for the Missourie 〈part of the nation〉 present and 4 medals of a third Grade to the inferior Chief    two for each tribe. Those two parts of nations, Ottos & Missouries now 〈forming one of〉 residing together is about 250 men are 〈nearly equal in number〉 the Ottoes Composeing ⅔d and Missourie ⅓ part

Those 〈people〉 Chiefs all Delivered a Speech acknowledgeing Their approbation to the Speech and promissing to prosue the advice & Derictions given them    that they wer happy to find that they had fathers which might be depended on &c.

We gave them a Cannister of Powder and a Bottle of whiskey and delivered a few presents to the whole after giveing a Br: Cth: [breech cloth] Some Pain guartering & a Meadele to those we made Cheifs    after Capt Lewis's Shooting the air gun a feiw Shots (which astonished those nativs) we Set out and proceeded on five miles on a Direct line passed a point on the S. S. & round a large Sand bar on the L. S. & Camped on the upper point. The Misquitors excessively troublesom this evening    Great appearance of wind and rain to the N. W.    we prepare to rec've it—    The man Liberty whome we Sent for the Ottoes has not Come up    he left the Ottoes Town one Day before the Indians. This man has eithered tired his horse or, lost himself in the Plains    Some Indians are to hunt for him,

The Situation [WC: 25 Days from this to Santafee] of our last Camp Councill Bluff or Handssom Prarie appears to be a verry proper place for a Tradeing establishment & fortification    The Soil of the Bluff well adapted for Brick, Great deel of timbers above in the two Points.    many other advantages of a Small nature.    and I am told Senteral to Several nations    Viz. one Days march from the Ottoe Town, one Day & a half from the great Pania village,[18] 2 days from the Mahar Towns, two ¼ Days from the Loups Village, & Convenient to the Countrey thro: which Bands of the Soux [NB: rove &] hunt.    perhaps no other Situation is as well Calculated for a Tradeing establishment. The air is pure and helthy So far as we can Judge.

Journal entry by Floyd

Friday august 3dth    the Council was held and all partes was agreed    the Captens Give them meney presents    thes is the ottoe and the Missouries    The Missouries is a verry Small nathion    the ottoes is a very Large nathion So thay Live in one village on the Plate River    after the Council was over we took ouer Leave of them and embarked at 3 oclock P. m under Jentell Brees from the South Est. Sailed made 6 miles    Campt on the South Side    the Land Low, that on the N. prarie Land—

Journal Reference:
Lewis, M., Clark, W., and Members of the Corps of Discovery. (2002). September 4, 1806. In G. Moulton (Ed.), The Journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press. Retrieved Oct. 1, 2005, from the University of Nebraska Press / University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries-Electronic Text Center, The Journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition web site:

July 30, 1804

This journal entry has a great description of the prairie dog, and a funny note about a “Great no. Musquitors this evening"

Journal entry by Clark

July 30th Monday 1804

Set out this morning early    proceeded on to a Clear open Prarie on the L. S. on a rise of about 70 feet higher than the bottom which is also a Prarie both forming Bluffs to the river of High Grass & Plumb bush Grapes &c. and Situated above high water is a Small Grove of timber at the foot of the Riseing Ground between those two priraries, and below the Bluffs of the high Prarie we Came too and formed a Camp, intending to waite the return of the french man & Indians—    the white horse which we found near the Kanzeis River, Died Last night

posted out our guard and Sent out 4 men, Captn. Lewis & went up the Bank and walked a Short Distance in the high Prarie.    this Prarie is Covered with Grass of 10 or 12 inches in hight. Soil of good quallity &, Still further back at the Distance of about a mile the Countrey rises about 80 or 90 feet higher, and is one Continual Plain as fur as Can be Seen, from theBluff on the 2d rise imediately above our Camp the most butifull prospect of the River up & Down and the Countrey opsd. prosented it Self which I ever beheld; The River meandering the open and butifull Plains, interspursed with Groves of timber, and each point Covered with Tall timber, Such as willow Cotton Sun [NB: Some] Mulberry, Elm, Sucamore, Lynn & ash (The Groves Contain Hickory, Walnut, Coffeenut & Oake in addition)—

Two ranges of High Land parrelel to each other and from 4 to 10 miles Distant between which the river & its bottoms are Contains. (from 70 to 300 feet high)

Joseph Fields Killed and brought in an Anamale Called by the French Brárow, and by the Ponies Cho car tooch    this Anamale Burrows in the Ground and feeds on Flesh, (Prarie Dogs), Bugs, & vigatables—    "His Shape & Size is like that of a Beaver, his head mouth &c. is like a Dogs with Short Ears, his Tail and Hair like that of a Ground Hog, and longer, and lighter.    his Interals like the interals of a Hog,["]

his Skin thick and loose, his Belly is White and the Hair Short—    a white Streek from his nose to this Sholders.

The toe nails of his fore feet is one Inch & ¾ long, & feet large; the nails of his hind feet ¾ of an Inch long, the hind feet Small and toes Crooked, his legs are Short and when he Moves Just Suffcent to raise his body above the Ground 〈he〉    He is of the Bear Species.    we hav his Skin Stuffed—

Jo. & R. Fields did not return this evening, Several men with Verry bad Boils—    Cat fish is Cought in any part of the river    Turkeys Gees & a Beaver Killed & Cought    every thing in prime order    men in high Spirits.    a fair Still evening    Great no. misquitors this evening

Journal entries from:

Lewis, Meriwether, Clark, William, et al. September 4, 1806. The Journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Ed. Gary Moulton. Lincoln: U of Nebraska Press, 2002.The Journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. 2005. U of Nebraska Press / U of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries-Electronic Text Center. 5 Oct. 2005 .  http://lewisandclarkjournals.unl.edu/read/?_xmlsrc=1804-07-30.xml&_xslsrc=LCstyles.xsl

Missouri Town 1855, Lesson Plans

The Jackson County Parks and Recreation Department has a Historic Sites Teacher's Guide that highlights lessons to teach at Fort Osage National Historic Landmark and Missouri Town 1855.

Picture from http://www.jacksongov.org/content/7880/7890/7994/default.aspx

The Lesson plans include ideas for things to do before visiting the park, things to do at the park, and things to do after your visit.

Pre-visit activities include; doing school work without electricity and learning about non-refrigerated foods.  There is also a great vocabulary list to study.

For activities to do at the park, included are quests to find information in the Mercantile Store, Blacksmith's Shop, and Tavern as well as questions to ask the interpreters at the park, such as discussing the similarities and differences between 1850s agriculture and today's practices.

Picture from http://www.jacksongov.org/content/7880/7890/7994/default.aspx

After visiting the park, the activities include using descriptive writing to write a summary of their experiences or a letter to family about the trip.  Make a memory trip about what senses you used and what they were, and discuss time capsules and what students would put in them.

In the Teachers Guide, there is also a list of additional resources for further study.

Missouri Town 1855

Missouri Town is not a location that represents something that Lewis and Clark experienced on their Corps of Discovery journey.  It sounds like a fun place to visit and have some experiences.

Picture from http://www.jacksongov.org/content/7880/7890/7994/default.aspx

Missouri Town 1855 is located:
Fleming Park
8010 E Park Road
Lee's Summit, Missouri

Hours are:
March 1-November 15:  Tuesday-Sunday 9:00am to 4:30 pm
November 16-February 28:  Weekends only 9:00am to 4:30 pm

Admissions:  Adult $5
                    Children (5-13) $3
                    Seniors (62+) $3

Picture from http://www.jacksongov.org/content/7880/7890/7994/default.aspx

From the Jackson County Parks and Recreation Department's Historic Sites Teacher's Guide

Missouri Town 1855 is a collection of original mid-19th century structures carefully relocated from seven western Missouri counties to one site.   Over twenty-five period building including houses with barns and outbuildings, a one-room schoolhouse, church, tavern, lawyer's office, blacksmith shop and a livery stable depict a typical antebellum farming community.  Living history interpreters, in 19th century attire, bring the site to life by portraying the daily routies of village residents.

Other references for Missouri Town 1855

Missouri Town 1855

Map of Missouri Town 1855

Society of Friends of Missouri Town

Flemming Park

Fort Osage, Lesson Plans

The Jackson County Parks and Recreation Department has a Historic Sites Teacher's Guide that highlights lessons to teach at Fort Osage National Historic Landmark and Missouri Town 1855.

Picture from http://www.jacksongov.org/fortosage/

The Lesson plans include ideas for things to do before visiting the park, things to do at the park, and things to do after your visit.

Pre-visit activities include; doing school work without electricity and learning about non-refrigerated foods.  There is also a great vocabulary list to study.

For activities to do at the park, included are questions to ask the interpreters at the park, such as the differences between jobs in frontier times and current times and the experiences of living at a frontier outpost.

Picture from http://www.jacksongov.org/fortosage/

After visiting the park, the activities include using descriptive writing to write a summary of their experiences or a letter to family about the trip.  Make a memory trip about what senses you used and what they were, and discuss time capsules and what students would put in them.

In the Teachers Guide, there is also a list of additional resources for further study.

Fort Osage National Historic Landmark

This site was noted on the Corps of Discovery journey by Clark, he noted "a high commanding position, more than 70 feet above high-water mark, and overlooking the river, which is here but of little depth." Making this a suitable location for a future fort.   

Picture from http://www.jacksongov.org/fortosage/

The Fort Osage National Historic Landmark is run by the Jackson County Parks and Recreation Department.

It is located at:
107 Osage Street
Sibley, Missouri
(816)650-5737


Hours are:
Yearround -   Tuesday-Sunday 9:00am to 4:30 pm

Admissions:  Adult $7
                    Children (5-13) $4
                    Seniors (62+) $3

Picture from http://www.jacksongov.org/fortosage/

From the Jackson County Parks and Recreation Department's Historic Sites Teacher's Guide

Under the direction of William Clark, joint commander of the Lewis and Clark expedition, soldiers began construction of the Fort in 1808 to serve several purposes.  It functioned as one of the first Federal outposts in the newly acquired Louisiana Territory, housing soldiers to guard the new territory and to protect the trading post located there.  

Other references about Fort Osage National Historic Landmark:

Fort Osage National Historic Monument

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Osage

http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/lewisandclark/osa.htm