Picture Courtesy of Jim Kuntz

Picture Courtesy of Jim Kuntz

The co-captains Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, were the principal journal keepers of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Besides Lewis and Clark, at least four other members of the Corps of Discovery kept journals: Sergeants John Ordway, Charles Floyd (who died three months after departure), Patrick Gass (Floyd's replacement) and Pvt. Joseph Whitehouse. Lewis was the most literary writer of the party, but his journal has several huge gaps. He wrote virtually nothing in Missouri after late November 1803. Clark made detailed journal entries for every day of the trek through Missouri once he assumed journal keeping duties from Lewis on Nov. 28, 1803. His writing lacked the flair of Lewis', and his spelling left much to be desired, but he wrote thorough accounts of each day's journey. Often he wrote two or more versions that included entries in his journal and on loose sheets of paper that are now known as the field notes. In terms of detail, his writing does not take a back seat to that of Lewis, who is sometimes considered to be the superior chronicler. The sergeants' journal entries are usually short and businesslike but do contain information not found in the captains' accounts. Whitehouse was the only writer to give the privates' view of the epic trip. Since Lewis once mentioned seven journal keepers among the enlisted men, it's possible that Sgt. Pryor and Privates Frazer and Willard also kept journals that are undiscovered.

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