Near Dayton in Columbia County, Washington — The American West (Northwest)

"encamped on the N. side"

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, August 15, 2020

1. "encamped on the N. side" Marker

Inscription.

"encamped on the N. side". . "in a little bottom" . The Lewis and Clark Expedition camped in the small valley below this viewpoint on May 2, 1806. The Expedition included thirty-three people from diverse backgrounds and cultures. Known as the Corps of Volunteers for Northwestern Discovery, each person had important responsibilities and duties. As you view the landscape beyond, imagine what the Expedition's encampment might have looked like that evening. Think about what each Expedition member might have been doing. , The Corps of Volunteers for Northwestern Discovery ~ Expedition to the Pacific Ocean , Meriwether Lewis, Captain, field botanist/scientist, ethnographer, journal keeper William Clark, Captain, surveyor, cartographer, journal keeper , (The list of members of the Corps appears in three columns, one for each of the three messes organized by Captains Meriwether Lewis and William Clark.) . Nathaniel Pryor, Sergeant, boatman (repairs), scout George Gibson, Private, fiddler, hunter, boatman, interpreter John Shields, Private, blacksmith, gunsmith, hunter John Collins, Private, cook, hunter, quartermaster Joseph Whitehouse, Private, tailor, tanner, journal keeper Peter M. Weiser, Private, quartermaster, cook Pierre Cruzatte, Private, boatman, fiddler, interpreter Francois Labiche, Private, interpreter, hunter, boatman Thomas P. Howard, Private, hunter George Shannon, Private, hunter Patrick Gass, Sergeant, carpenter, journal keeper Hugh McNeal, Private, hunter Reubin Field, Private, hunter, scout Joseph Field, Private, hunter, scout, saltmaker John B Thompson, Private, hunter Robert Frazer, Private, tanner Richard Windsor, Private, hunter Jean Baptiste Lepage, Private, hunter John Ordway, Sergeant, journal keeper William Bratton, Private, blacksmith, saltmaker, hunter John Colter, Private, hunter, scout Alexander Willard, Private, blacksmith, hunter William Werner, Private, cook, saltmaker, quartermaster Silas Goodrich, Private, fisherman John Potts, Private, miller Hugh Hall, Private, hunter , Non-Military Members: George Drouillard, interpreter, scout, hunter, trapper York, Clark’s African American slave, cook, hunter Toussaint Charbonneau, interpreter, cook, Sacagawea’s husband Sacagawea, wife, mother, interpreter, gatherer, occasional guide Jean Baptiste Charbonneau (Pompy), toddler Seaman, Captain Lewis’s Newfoundland dog, hunter, retriever, sentinel, playmate Expedition member's roles listed above were mentioned in the journals. Each person may have had other roles or talents that are not listed here. . , May 2, 1806 "Several hunters went on up the branch a hunting. Several of the men went out in different directions to look for the lost horse... Camped on a fork of the branch." ~ John Ordway ~ , May 2, 1806 "we passed the small creek...and encamped on the N. side in a little bottom, having traveled 19 miles today. at this place the road leaves the creek and takes the open high plain. this creek is about 4 yds wide and bears East as far as I could observe it." ~ Meriwether Lewis ~ , Overland Trail In spring 1806, the Corps followed an ancient trail between the Columbia and Snake rivers traveled by American Indian tribes. The Corps started following this trail near the mount of the Walla Walla River and then traveled through the present-day vicinity of Prescott. Waitsburg, and Dayton and crossing the Touchet, they came to this little valley and camped along the Patit Creek. This overland "shortcut" shaved many miles off their eastbound trek. , Roughing It Where do you like to camp? Do you sleep in a "camper"? In a tent? Under the stars? What things do you use when camping that wouldn't have been available in 1805-1806? Draw a picture of you favorite campground or campsite. . This historical marker was erected by Lewis and Clark Expedition - Washington. It is Near Dayton in Columbia County Washington

"in a little bottom"
The Lewis and Clark Expedition camped in the small valley below this viewpoint on May 2, 1806. The Expedition included thirty-three people from diverse backgrounds and cultures. Known as the Corps of Volunteers for Northwestern Discovery, each person had important responsibilities and duties. As you view the landscape beyond, imagine what the Expedition's encampment might have looked like that evening. Think about what each Expedition member might have been doing.

The Corps of Volunteers for Northwestern Discovery ~ Expedition to the Pacific Ocean

Meriwether Lewis, Captain, field botanist/scientist, ethnographer, journal keeper
William Clark, Captain, surveyor, cartographer, journal keeper

(The list of members of the Corps appears in three columns, one for each of the three messes organized by Captains Meriwether Lewis and William Clark.)
Nathaniel Pryor, Sergeant, boatman (repairs), scout
George Gibson, Private, fiddler, hunter, boatman,
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interpreter
John Shields, Private, blacksmith, gunsmith, hunter
John Collins, Private, cook, hunter, quartermaster
Joseph Whitehouse, Private, tailor, tanner, journal keeper
Peter M. Weiser, Private, quartermaster, cook
Pierre Cruzatte, Private, boatman, fiddler, interpreter
Francois Labiche, Private, interpreter, hunter, boatman
Thomas P. Howard, Private, hunter
George Shannon, Private, hunter

Patrick Gass, Sergeant, carpenter, journal keeper
Hugh McNeal, Private, hunter
Reubin Field, Private, hunter, scout
Joseph Field, Private, hunter, scout, saltmaker
John B Thompson, Private, hunter
Robert Frazer, Private, tanner
Richard Windsor, Private, hunter
Jean Baptiste Lepage, Private, hunter

John Ordway, Sergeant, journal keeper
William Bratton, Private, blacksmith, saltmaker, hunter
John Colter, Private, hunter, scout
Alexander Willard, Private, blacksmith, hunter
William Werner, Private, cook, saltmaker, quartermaster
Silas Goodrich, Private, fisherman
John Potts, Private, miller
Hugh Hall, Private, hunter

Non-Military Members:

Patit Creek campsite and "encamped on the N. side" Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, August 15, 2020

2. Patit Creek campsite and "encamped on the N. side" Marker

George Drouillard, interpreter, scout, hunter, trapper
York, Clark’s African American slave, cook, hunter
Toussaint Charbonneau, interpreter, cook, Sacagawea’s husband
Sacagawea, wife, mother, interpreter, gatherer, occasional guide
Jean Baptiste Charbonneau (Pompy), toddler
Seaman, Captain Lewis’s Newfoundland dog, hunter, retriever, sentinel, playmate
Expedition member's roles listed above were mentioned in the journals. Each person may have had other roles or talents that are not listed here.

May 2, 1806
"Several hunters went on up the branch a hunting. Several of the men went out in different directions to look for the lost horse... Camped on a fork of the branch." ~ John Ordway ~

May 2, 1806
"we passed the small creek...and encamped on the N. side in a little bottom, having traveled 19 miles today. at this place the road leaves the creek and takes the open high plain. this creek is about 4 yds wide and bears East as far as I could observe it." ~ Meriwether Lewis ~

Overland Trail
In spring 1806, the Corps followed an ancient trail between the Columbia and Snake rivers traveled by American Indian tribes. The Corps started following this trail near the mount

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, August 15, 2020

3. Patit Creek campsite and "encamped on the N. side" Marker

of the Walla Walla River and then traveled through the present-day vicinity of Prescott. Waitsburg, and Dayton and crossing the Touchet, they came to this little valley and camped along the Patit Creek. This overland "shortcut" shaved many miles off their eastbound trek.

Roughing It
Where do you like to camp? Do you sleep in a "camper"? In a tent? Under the stars? What things do you use when camping that wouldn't have been available in 1805-1806? Draw a picture of you favorite campground or campsite.

Erected by Lewis & Clark Expedition - Washington.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Exploration. In addition, it is included in the Lewis & Clark Expedition series list. A significant historical date for this entry is May 2, 1806.

Location. 46° 20.742′ N, 117° 56.162′ W. Marker is near Dayton, Washington, in Columbia County. Marker is at the intersection of Patit Road and Ronan Hill Road, on the right when traveling east on Patit Road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Dayton WA 99328, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Patit Creek Campsite (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named Patit Creek Campsite (a few steps from this marker); Columbia County Courthouse (approx. 2.6 miles away); Columbia County

Patit Creek Campsite image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Scenic Washington State 365

4. Patit Creek Campsite

(approx. 2.6 miles away); City of Dayton (approx. 2.7 miles away); Railroad Track Park (approx. 2.7 miles away); Oldest Existing Depot in the State of Washington (approx. 2.7 miles away); The Celilo Falls Trail (approx. 2.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Dayton.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 1, 2020. It was originally submitted on November 1, 2020, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 97 times since then and 6 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 1, 2020, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.