L&C Times
Journey's Journal

March 1st, 1804

Hello, my name is Logan Jones. I am preparing for our big journey to the uncharted Western Territory. I am expecting a long, maybe harsh journey. It should be very interesting. I am going to be following the great leaders Meriweather Lewis and William Clark. They have chosen me to join the expedition and I am very excited to go along. I have heard some rumors of seven-foot beavers and dangerous volcanoes. Hearing about these things disturbs me, but also makes me want to go even more. Thinking about some of the things we are going to encounter is a little scary too. There are many questions in my mind on what could possibly be over there, but there's only one way to find out, to explore it. I'm sure there will be many Native Americans, but we are going to bring presents and gifts to give to them to show our peaceful passing. Hopefully they will accept these gifts and we won't have to worry about any quarreling. It is all quite scary, but very exciting at the same time. I hope to be able to discover and name something that I find in the Western Territory, and I, like anyone else, hope to stay alive throughout the journey. I think it is going to be very exciting and fun and can't wait until we leave.

March 1st, 1804

My name is Froto and I am writing to you the night before I leave for a journey into the western territory. I am nervous for the journey since no one has been there. The captains for this long journey are Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. On this journey we are to make maps as we go on. We are to mark rivers and mountains; take a journal and write down experiences and drawings of unknown animals. The real reason why we are going is that we are to see if there is a path or trail there that we can use to reach the ocean with.

I am nervous about going on this journal but also very excited. No one has every been in the Louisiana Purchase yet and no one really knows what is out there. The animals are what I'm worrying about. We are not really sure what animals we are going to expect to see but we are supposed to draw and describe each different animal we see. I am worrying about Native Americans also. We aren't sure if they are going to be peaceful of aggressive towards us. Hopefully we will have a great and safe journey.

My name is Jory Stratford. I am a 23year old man and I have been picked to go on the Lewis and Clark journey. It is the night before the trip. I am waiting to start this outgoing adventure. I am extremely scared though. I have heard things that there are seven-foot beavers out there. I am more scared than not about this trip, its possible that I might not make it back to my family. I have a wife named Megan. She has all faith that I’m going to make it back…but you never know. I’m going to a unknown area. I wonder how long this trip is going to take. This is a once and a lifetime chance…I don’t know what I’m doing leaving and this is suppose to be very dangerous but I’m excited and ill keep in touch.

May 11th, 1804

The Missouri River! What a beautiful sight! The river's flow is pretty strong and we are moving upstream, which makes it a little difficult to move fast. The water isn't as clear as I heard it was going to be, but yet I can still see fish swimming around. There are animals all around. Elk, buffalo, and deer are just roaming around, they are beautiful. We should be well fed for a while. I can't wait to continue down the river!

May 24th, 1804

We have reached the Missouri River!!! It seems like its been awhile since we left Louisiana. We took camp right next to the river. It is really beautiful. There is trees and animals everywhere. The river is about a mile wide. I am sitting here staring out at the river is sparkling from the sun against it. Its blue and I just saw a fish jump out of the water. I can see an interesting animal drinking some of the water a few yards away. It has four tall legs and is light brown. It has two horns on top of his head. I believe we named this animal a deer.

We are all really enjoying getting to this river. We have all gone fishing for awhile and caught quite a few fish. Tomorrow we are going to start off again so I need to get packing soon. We are going to follow the river. We are hoping this river will have a path that leads to the ocean. So far I have seen a lot of different animals, named, and have drew them. We haven't gotten to see any Native Americans though. Hopefully when we do, they will be peaceful.

July 24th, 1804

Today we are traveling on the Missouri River for the first time.  This is my first time ever seeing the Missouri River and I am very excited to be on it.  So far there hasn't been a lot of sand dunes but Lewis told us that we should be ready to get out of the ship and be able to push the ship out of the sand dunes.  Since we are traveling up the river the current is going against us so we have to work extra had to get the ship going.  I saw many different animals that I have never seen before.  I saw a huge bear and the biggest beaver ever.  My arms are really tired from rowing all day long and I think that I am going to go to bed.

July 1st, 1804

Wow! We have finally found the great Missouri river! It’s an amazing site. The river isn’t as pure are everyone thought it was going to be, it is more like mud water in a way, but a little less thick. It is full of fresh fish. There are many animals roaming around the riverbanks. It is absolutely amazing! It’s the biggest river that I have ever seen. It a spectacular sight!

May 11, 1804