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Lewis and President Jefferson Background
Secretary to the PresidentPresident Jefferson new Lewis prior to the expodition. President Jefferson asked Lewis to be his Secretary. While Lewis was in the military, he lived next door to President Jefferson. -
Jefferson requests funds for Lewis and Clark
Jefferesons request funds for lewis and clarkJefferson requests funds for Lewis and Clark Jefferson has wanted to start the western expedition since the 1790's, and it only got stronger after he became president in 1801.
"Lewis carefully added up the costs for provisions, weapons, gunpowered, scientifici intruments, and a large boat. The tally came to $2,500." -
Lewis was picked as Commander
Lewis was sent to Philadphia and recieved training he would need for the expodition. He took crash courses in medicaine, botany and zoology. He studied maps and journals of traders and trappers. By the time he was ready to leave he new as much if not more than any man in America about the West. He also started getting his supplies ready. -
William Clark was asked to Join exploration
Preparing for the JourneyLewis wanted a fellow friend and college to help him recruite men for this expodition. He wrote a letter to Clark explaining what the real mission was (real destination was the pacific coast) and how the cover story was (going up the Mississippi River). Clark exepted Lewis' request and joined the Expodition in July 1803. -
Launching of the 50 foot Keeled Boat.
The Keeled Boat The Design of the Keeled Boat was that of Mr. William Clark. The boat was launched from Pittsburgh, with Lewis and 11 other men and headed down the Ohio River. The Boat was schedules to set sail on July 2oth. After two more delays the boat set sailed om Aug 31, 1803 -
Lewis and Clark meet up
Clarksville, Indiana Lewis arrives in Clarksville, across the Ohio River from present-day Lousiville, Kentucky. Lewis made contact with Clark with more people who were added to the party. -
Camp Dubois
Camp DuboiseLewis, Clark and crew arrived at the present day Hartford, Il and set up Camp Dubois. Journel entry from Dec 13, 1803 "fixed on a place to build huts Set the men to Clearing land & Cutting Logs - a hard wind all day-flying Clouds, Sent to the neghbourhood, Some Indians pass," By Christmas Eve the men were able to sleep indoors. -
Expedition Leaves Camps River Duboise
Departure of Camp DuboisJournel Entry from Clark May the 14th — Monday [1] Set out from Camp River a Dubois at 4 oClock P. M. and proceded up the Missouris under Sail to the first Island in the Missouri and Camped on the upper point opposit a Creek on the South Side below a ledge of limestone rock Called Colewater, The Keelboat and two smaller boats, proceeded up the Missouri River. -
Sgt Charles Floyd
Sgt FloydSgt Floyd was among the first to volunteer for the service in the Corps (Aug 1, 1803) Sgt Floyd keep a daily record of the expodition from May 14 til two days before his death (20 Aug, 1804) Sgt Floyd was the only fatality from Corps of Discovery. He died of colic, after attempts to make Sgt Floyd better.
He was considered a “man of much merit” by Captain Clark -
Yankton Sioux Indians
Yankton Siox Indians On Aug 30th 1804, A council was held with the Sioux Indians and the expidention. Clark gave a speech and presented the Sious with gifts.
"after dark we Made a large fire for the Indians to have a war dance, all the young men prepared themselves for the dance. Some of them painted themselves in curious manner Some of the Boys had their faces & foreheads all painted white" -
Mandan and Hidatsa Tribes
Mandan and Hidatsa Tribes The Expedition arrives at Mandan and Hidatsa Tribes (Bismarck, North Dakota) Capt. Lewis walked to the village with the principal Chiefs and our interpreters, my Rhumatic complaint increasing I could not go." Only one of the men (lewis or clark) was able to leave the boat, until it was decided if the area was safe. -
Fort Mandan
"We commence building our cabins."
- William Clark, November 3, 1804
Lewis and Clark stayed at Fort Mandam for the winter. While they were there they talked to the local people and plotted maps and planed their next phase of their journey. Toussaint Charbonneau and his wife Sacagawea became their interpreters. -
Baby Born
Birth of Charbonneau While still at Fort Mandan in the effort to help with the child birth, Lewis crushed up rattlesnake rings and mixed it with water. Shortly after Jean Baptiste Charbonneau was born. -
Furtherest West
Journel EntryTheir camp was around Big Muddy Creek, Montana. This is the farthest west any man was traveled. Lewis was chased by a grizzly bear for about 80 yards, and he killed it.
"about 8 A. M. we fell in with two brown or white bear...after my firing on him pursued me seventy or eighty yards, but fortunately had been so badly wounded that he was unable to pursue so closely as to prevent my charging my gun; we again repeated our fire and killed him." -
Rocky Mountains
First time Lewis saw the Rocky Mountains. "on arriving to the summit one of the highest points in the neighbourhood I thought myself well repaid for any labour... the Rocky Mountains were covered with snow and the sun shone on it in such manner as to give me the most plain and satisfactory view....I felt a secret pleasure in finding myself so near the head of the heretofore conceived boundless Missouri" -
Great Falls
Great FallsThe Expodition reached the Great Falls, Montana. The reached five waterfalls and had to find away to navagate around the falls. They had to make trucks and wheels to move the boats onto land for 18 miles. we were fortunate enough to find one cottonwood tree just below the entrance of portage creek that was large enough to make our carrage wheels about 22 Inches in diameter;.. -
Hail Storm at the Great Falls
While at the Great Falls, a huge storm hit the area and almost killed Clark "so suddon was the rise of the water that before Capt C could reach his gun and begin to ascend the bank it was up to his waist and wet his watch; and he could scarcely ascend faster than it arrose till it had obtained the debth of 15 feet with a current tremendious to behold. one moment longer & it would have swept them into the river just above the great cataract of 87 feet where they must have inevitably perished" -
Beaverhead Rock
Beaverhead rock
Sacagawea was excited because she recognizes the area. She was close to Beaverhead Rock. This was were her people live and they have hourses that the expadition would need for the trip. Lewis recorded: "the Indian woman recognized the point of a high plain ..she assures us that we shall either find her people on this river or on the river immediately west..important with us to meet with those people as soon as poss -
Sacagawea was reunited with her family
Reunited with family
Sacagawea was reunited with her brother, who is now the Chief of Shonone. Sacagawea translated in a conference with the Shoshoni's. They were able to negotiate for horses, which were needed for the Expedition through the Rocky Mountains. They named this spot Camp Fortunate. -
Expedition set off over land
horses and mulsAfter spending time with Sacagawea's brother and tribe. The Expedition set off over land with 29 horses and a mule.
"They all came down to our camp, and we proceeded on with 27 horses and one mule. Our old guide after consulting with the rest of the Indians, thought it was better to go along the north side of the Columbia, than on the south side. " -
Gibbonsville Idaho
The men were cutting a road north of the current day Gibbonsville Idaho. They lost some horses to do the slipper steep hills.
"without a roade proceded on thro' thickets in which we were obliged to Cut a road, over rockey hill Sides where our horss were in pitial [1] danger of Slipping to Ther certain distruction & up & Down Steep hills, where Several horses fell," -
Flathead Indians
Flathead indiansThe Shoshone Indians told the expadition that they would most likely meet the "flathead" Indians while moving west. The Shoshone and "flathead" indians were friends. The Chief "Three Eagles" observed the white men before they reach their logges. When their reached the lodges, the indian gave them a warm greating. The chief provided the expodition with more horses and directions. -
Camp Clatsop
VoteOn Nov 23rd near modern day Fort Columbia Park, the "famous" vote was made to determine were they would set camp for the winter. All members of the party including Sacagawa were able to vote. They decided to cross the river into "Oregon" and set camp were there was plenty of elk and the site along the seacoast to make salt. -
Ocean View
Whale bonesClark and a small crew made it to the ocean and observed a whale on the beach. The Indians have used every part of the whale except th eskeleton. " I proceded on a Short distance to the whale [5] which was noting more than the Sceleton, of 105 feet long, we tok out a few bones and returned to the Cabins at the mouth of the Creek, and attempted to trade" -
Out of tobacco
out of tobaccoHaving run out of whiskey, the expedition now ran out of tobacco. The crew started using tree bark as a substitute. "this was a wet morning, and some showers fell occasionally during the day. Among our other difficulties we now experience the want of tobacco and out of 33 persons composing our party, there are but 7 who do not make use of it; we use crab-tree [8] bark as a substitute. In the evening one of our hunters came in and had killed an elk a considerable distance off." -
Expedition sets off for home
After their long journey exploring the west, the expedition packs up their stuff and starts heading back home. -
Hard to find food
Clark and his crew were on the Willamette River. They came across some indians who refused to trade for food. Clark resorted to using "magic", he put a piece of slowmatch into the fire, which sizzled like gun powder, and used a magnet to move the needle on his compass. The Indians brought them all the food they wanted, either they were amazed or afaid of the evil in their presence. -
Camp Chopunnish
Camp ChopunnishThe Corps had to set up camp until the snow melted in the mountains. This was located near Kamiah, Idaho on the Nex Perce Reservation. "I am pleased at finding the river rise so rapidly, it now doubt is attributeable to the melting snows of the mountains; that icy barier which seperates me from my friends and country, from all which makes life esteemable. - patience, patience." On around June 10th, 1806 they started back on their journey home. -
Blackfeet Indians
two indian deathsLewis camped in Pondera County (Blackfeet Reservation). Lewis's group came across a hunting party of 8 blackfeet worries, and they decided to camp together for the night. Lewis gave the worries a medal, a flag and a handkerchief. The next morning some of the worries took some guns from Lewis and his men. "he seized his gun stabed the indian to the heart with his knife the fellow ran about 15 steps and fell dead" This was the only violent death on the journey. -
Lewis shot
Lewis shotWhile out hunting Lewis was shot by accident. " Cruzatte had shot me in mistake for an Elk...damn you, you have shot me... Lewis yelled out for Cruzatte and other and there was no answer. I was now preswaded that it was an indian that had shot me" After fruther investigation the crew did not find any indians in the area. Cruzatte then stated that if he did shoot Lewis it was not his intentions. the pain I experienced excited a high fever and I had a very uncomfortable night. -
St. Louis
Home ComingThe Expedition arrives in St. Louis, after two years, four month and ten days. They were treated like national heroes. "we arived about 12 oClock. we Suffered the party to fire off their pieces as a Salute to the Town. we were met by all the village and received a harty welcome"
