August 15, 1805

Captain Lewis persuades Shoshone Chief Cameahwait and others to follow him to the forks of Jefferson River to meet Captain Clark. Captain Lewis informs the Chief " there is a party of whitemen waiting my return either at the forks of Jefferson’s river or a little below coming on to that place in canoes loaded with provisions and merchandize."

August 16, 1805

Proceeding on, Captain Lewis’ group and Chief Cameahwait’s people reached the lower part of Shoshone Cove.

Approaching the forks both parties were disappointed that the main party was not visible. Captain Lewis assigned Drouillard & a Native Shoshone to deliver a note to Captain Clark at sunrise. Captain Lewis writes: " I had mentioned to the chief several times that we had with us a woman of his nation who had been taken prisoner by the Minnetares, and that by means of her I hoped to explain myself more fully."

August 17, 1805

Captain Lewis dispatches Drouillard and one of Chief Cameahwait’s people in search of Clark and the main party. After struggling up river, Captain Clark and the main party connect with the group:
"The interpreter and woman whom were before me at some distance danced for the joyful sight, she made signs that they were her nation. every article about us appeared to excite astonishment in their minds; the appearance of the men, their arms, the canoes, our manner of working them, the black man york and the sagacity of my dog were equally objects of admiration. I also shot my air-gun which was so perfectly incomprehensible that they immediately denominated it the great medicine."

Clark" I deturmined to go in advance and examine the Countrey, see if those dificueltes presented themselves in the gloomey picture in which they painted them, and if the river was practiable and I could find timber to build canoes, those ideas & plan appeard to be agreeable to Capt. Lewis's Ideas to this point and I selected 11 men* and be ready to set out at 10 oClock tomorrow morning,"

11 men*-  Clark took Gass, Pryor, Collins, Colter, Cruzatte, Shannon, Windsor, and four others

August 18, 1805

Lewis  " This day I completed my thirty first year, and conceived that I had in all human probability now existed about half the period which I am to remain in this Sublunary world. I reflected that I had as Yet done but little, very little, indeed, to further the hapiness of the human race or to advance the information of the succeeding generation. I viewed with regret the many hours I have spent in indolence, … in future to live for mankind, as I have heretofore lived for myself."

Clark  "Purchased of the Indians three horses for which we gave a Chiefs Coast some Handkerchiefs a shirt legins & a fiew arrow points  I gave two of my coats to two of the under Chiefs who apeared not well satisfied that the first Chief was dressed so much finer than themselves... set out at 10 oClock. "

August 19, 1805

Lewis  " The Shoshonees may be estimated at about 100 warriors and about three times that number of woomen and children. They have ore children among them than I expected to have seen among a people who procure subsistence with such difficulty."

Gass  "At 1 O'Clock we dined at the head spring of the Missouri and Jefferson river... It is not more than a mile from the head spring of the Missouri to the head of one of the branches of the Columbia.  (Lemhi County, Idaho)

August 20, 1805

Lewis " I now asked Cameahwait by what rout the Pierced nosed indians, who he informed me inhabited this river below the mountains, came over to the Missouri; this he informed me was to the north, but added that the road was a very bad one as he had been informed by them and that they had suffered excessively with hunger on the rout being obliged to subsit for many days on berries alone as there was no game in that part of the mountains… knowing that Indians had passed, my rout was instantly settled in my own mind."

Clark  "Set out at half past 6 oclock and proceeded on met maney parties of Indians thro a hilley countrey.  I was introduced into the only Lodge they had wich was pitched in the cetner for my  party all the other lodges made of bushes,  after a fiew Indian Seremonies I ... requested them all to take over their horses  assist Capt Lewis across also informing them the object of my journey down the river and requested a guide to accompany me, all of which was repeited by the Chief to the whole village... at 3 oclock I set out accompanied by an old man as my guide* ... so I left our interpreter & his woman to accompany the Indians to Capt Lewis tomorrow.  

* The Captains later nicknamed the Shoshone guide "Old Toby"