After the Vote

What happened after the votes were cast?

National Park Service

Captain Clark writes:

...together with the Solicitations of every individual, except one of our party induced us Conclude to Cross the river and examine the opposit Side, and if a Sufficent quantity of Elk could probebly be precured to fix on a Situation as convenient to the Elk & Sea Coast as we Could find. (Clark, from Moulton V.6, 85)

- William Clark, November 24th, 1806

According to the following entries, Captain Lewis and five men set off upriver to “cross and examine” several days later and returned the 5th of December:

They have found a place about 15 miles from this camp, up a small river which puts into a large bay on the south side of the Columbia, that will answer very well for winter quarters, as game is very plenty, which is the main object with us; and we intend to move there as soon as circumstances will admit. There is more wet weather on this coast, than I ever knew in any other place; during a month, we have had three fair days; and there is no prospect of a change. (Gass, from Moulton V.10, 180)

- Patrick Gass, December 5th, 1805

Ken Furrow

...about noon Capt. Lewis and three men returned and informed us that they had found a tollarable good place for our winters quarters about 15 miles down the South Shore, a Short distance up a Small River. they had killed 7 Elk and five Deer. (Ordway, from Moulton V.9, 258)

- John Ordway, December 5th, 1805