Journal Record Keepers

Who Wrote the Most?
The history of the actual journals is a matter of some uncertainty. There are no journal entries written by Meriwether Lewis for months at a time. It is likely that one or more of his journals were lost en route. Anytime there is a gap in the records it is a matter of speculation whether a journal was lost or never written. Clark wrote entries for all but ten of the expedition’s 863 days. Entries written by Lewis cover 441 days. Clark made almost all of the expedition’s maps. Lewis recorded much of the scientific data.

Sergeant Floyd’s journal is the shortest due to his untimely death. Sergeant John Ordway wins the prize for consistency, as he recorded entries for every one of the 863 days. Sergeant Patrick Gass's journal was the first to be published. Private Joseph Whitehouse’s journal runs from May 14, 1804 through April 2, 1806. There are indications a second journal, most likely going through to the end of voyage on September 23, 1806, once existed.

Who were the Journalists?
Lewis wrote to Jefferson on April 7, 1805, the day of their departure from Fort Mandan: “We have encouraged our men to keep journals, and seven of them do so, to whom in this respect we give every assistance in our power.” Who were these seven other journal keepers? Editor Gary Moulton has written about them in his Introduction to Volume 11, the Journal of Joseph Whitehouse.

Private Robert Frazer was certainly one of them because he advertised his intention to publish his journal just a few weeks after returning to St Louis. He announced that the publication was with the permission of Captain Lewis. The journal, however, was never published, and what happened to it is unknown. His map of the Northwest is at the Library of Congress.

The Captains ordered the Sergeants to begin keeping journals on May 26, 1804, less than two weeks after leaving Wood River Camp. Three of the published journals are by the Sergeants: the journals of Charles Floyd, Patrick Gass and John Ordway. The other published journal is by Private Joseph Whitehouse. Sergeant Nathaniel Pryor was certainly another journal writer, but his journal has never been found. That leaves only one journal writer unaccounted for: Gary Moulton speculates that Alexander Willard might be the remaining journalist.

A Remarkable Achievement
The journals bring to life the adventures, dangers, and hardships endured by the Corps of Volunteers for Northwestern Discovery. By the flickering light of campfires, the journal keepers recorded the day's events, characterized and mapped the geography, entered navigational astronomic measurements, described new species of plants, and recounted the ways of native peoples. Their collective journal keeping remains a remarkable achievement.

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