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Let the expedition begin!
Lewis and Clark begin their expedition to the west coast of America. They took along a Newfounland dog (Seaman) and many supplies and men. The "Corps of Discovery" left from St. Louis, Missouri. -
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Lewis and Clark expedition
These are the dates they left and came back. -
Independance Day on the expedition
They did in fact celebrate the Fourth of July on the journey. It was celebrated near what is now Atchinson, Kansas. They fired off a canon, named a creek (Independence Creek), and had an extra ration of wiskey. -
The first casualty
Seargent Charles Floyd dies from a burst appendix. The expeditions first casualty was buried on Floyd's Bluff. They also named a river after him, Floyd's River. -
New animals are discovered
They started seeing different animals than they were used to as they moved across the Great Plains. A prairie dog is captured to be shipped to President Jefferson. Other animals spotted were: mule deer, antelope, and coyotes. -
The Sioux Tribe almost attacks the expedition
When the expedition came to what is now Pierre, South Dakota, they incountered the Teton Sioux Tribe. This tribe wanted one of the boats to stay behind because they were poor and needed it. In order to get pass them, Clark said "he had men and medican on board that would kill 20 Such nations in one day" this scared the tribe and the expedition was able to move on. -
Fort Mandan is made
Near what is now Bismark, North Dakota, the expedition stops at the villages of the Mandas and Hidatsas. Together these villages were home for over 4000 people. The expedition decided to build Fort Mandan across the river from the villages. -
A baby is born
Sacagawea gives birth to a baby boy named Jean Baptiste Charbonneau and he was nicknamed Pompey by Clark. Lewis helps speed the birth by giving her a drink made of crushed rattlesnake tail. The baby accompanies them for the rest of the journey. -
A member gets very sick
One of the members of the expedition became ill. The mans name was Joseph Fields, Lewis describes his illness as a "high fever" and he gives him a "doze" of Glauber salts. The fever dropped that evening. -
Seaman saves the camp
As the camp slept a bull buffalo saw the fires and charged the camp. The guards saw him and scared it off once but it came back. This time Seaman, the Newfoundland dog, made the buffalo "change his course a second time" saving the camp from an unkind awakening. -
Trees Profoundly Affected the Expedition
The expedition arrives at the Great Falls of the Missouri. In order to get around the falls they cut down Cottonwood trees to make carts for their supplies. The expedition also buried some of their supplies to come back to later, sadly the supplies spoiled before they got back. -
Fourth of July on the trail
The expedition celebrates Independance day and drinks their last whiskey. Lewis commented,"our work being at an end this evening, we gave the men a drink of Sperits, it being the last of our stock." This occured after completing an 18 day portage around the Great Falls on the Missouri River. -
Shoshone village is found
Lewis finds a Shoshone village and tries to get horses for the rest of the journey. The village is near what is now Dillon, Montana. It is found that the Chief is actually Sakagewea’s brother. They are able to get the horses they need. -
Trading with Indains
The expedition speaks with the Snake tribe of Indians. They discuss their needs and the reason for the expedition. The men help with getting food and they split the meal. “We trade any useless article which we have no need of for dressed rams skins…” says John Ordway. -
The men get sick and make canoes
The expedition is fed salmon by the Nez Perce Indians who befriended them. The men get sick from the change in diet. The Indians also teach the men to make canoes with which they can travel faster by water. They begin making canoes the next day. -
Expedition uses canoes on Clearwater river
The expedition had been pushing their canoes through small rivers for a while. They finally arrived at the Clearwater River near to present day Orofino, Idaho. They use the current of the Clearwater to travel to the Columbia River. -
The expedition is stopped by weather
The expedition is stopped for three weeks by wind, rain, and storms; "we are all wet and disagreeable" says Clark. They believed they could see the ocean but it was just Gray's Bay. The expedition was really 20 miles from the sea. -
An Experience at Fort Clatsop
The expedition has Christmas at Fort Clatsop. Fort Clatsop was named after a neighboring tribe. Lewis and Clark handed out handkerchiefs and the last of the tobacco supplies to the men. -
Native Americans are killed
Heading toward the Missouri, the expedition comes across eight Blackfoot Indians. The men camp with them but catch the indians trying to steal horses and supplies. When the expedition engages them, two Blackfoot Inadians are killed in the scuffle. -
The end of the journey
This was the last day they were known as the "Corps of Discovery." The expedition ended when they made it back to St. Louis. During the two years, four months, and ten days of this journey, 7689 miles were traveled.
