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Corps of Discovery leave from Fort Dubois
The Corps of Discovery leave from Fort Dubois. (near St. Louis) A gentle breeze was blowing. Almost four dozen men left on a keelboat headed west. They sailed, rowed, and sometimes waded along the bank to travel around fourteen miles per day. -
Charles Floyd dies
Sargeant Charles Floyd dies from a burst appendix. He becomes the first US Soldier to die west of the Mississippi. The hilltop where he is buried is named Floyd's Bluff. -
Sioux tribe demand toll to pass
The Corps of Discovery meet the Teton Sioux while moving west. They demand a boat as a toll to pass upriver. There is almost a conflict, but a chief named Black Buffalo helps defuse the situation. -
Construction of Fort Mandan begins
North of present day Bismark, North Dakota, the villages of the Mandans and Hitdadsas are found. Construction on Fort Mandan begins across the river from the main village. Construction is completed on December 24. -
Mandans call buffalo
The Mandans perform a buffalo calling ceremony. A herd shows up a few days later. They hunt this herd with the Mandans. -
Sacagawea gives birth
Sacagawea gives birth. Lewis makes a potion to help delivery by crushing a rattlesnake's rattle. She names the boy Jean Baptiste. -
Bargaining begins with Shoshone indians
Lewis begins negotigating for horses. Sacagawea is brought in to help translate. The place is named camp fortunate. -
Horses are aqquired
Lewis gets horses from the tribe he was bargaining with. These will be used to cross the mountains. This is also his birthday. -
Canoes hollowed out
The Corps hollow out trees to use as canoes. They are helped by a cheif called Twisted Hair. The Nez Perce help them and feed them. -
Expedition leaves on Clearwater River
The expedition leaves present day Orofino, Idaho. They leave on five canoes into the clearwater river. This is the first time since leaving St. Louis the expedition has a current at it's back. -
Christmas
The Corps of Discovery celebrate Christmas at Fort Clatsop. They hand out handkerchiefs and tobacco as presents. They are an entire continent away from home. -
Corps of discovery wait for snow to melt
The Corps of discovery wait for the snow to melt to cross the bitterroots. They play games with the Nez Perce indians. They provide the explorers with food. -
Lewis kills two Blackfeet warriors
Lewis sees eight Blackfeet warriors heading back to the Missouri. On the morning of the 27th the explorers catch the Blackfeet stealing their horses and guns. Two Blackfeet are killed.
