March 15, 1805

Greetings from the trail!
We ate a fine feast of buffalo and Indian corn last night, thanks to the fine skills of our blacksmith. He fashioned several crude axes out of spare iron pieces, which the Mandans were happy to trade for food. The crew has been busy getting ready for our departure. I have determined that the keelboat is too big and unruly so we will send it back St. Louis with a few men and the rest of us will continue in dugout canoes. The Mandans showed us how to build the canoes of giant cottonwood trees, using fire and axes to hollow them out. I am anxious for us to be on our way.
— Meriwether Lewis