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William Clark was Born
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Meniwether Lewis was Born
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Lewis becomes comander of expodition
Lewis picked as commander of expedition. Writes to ask William Clark to join him and share command. Clark accepts -
Louisiana Purchase was announced
Announcement of Louisiana Purchase. -
Expedition begins
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Friendly council with Yankton Sioux held
Friendly council with Yankton Sioux held -
Fort Mandam built
Expedition discovers earthlodge villages of the Mandan and Hidatsas Indians. The captains decide to build Fort Mandan across the river from the main village -
Encounter Fur trappers
Toussaint Charbonneau, a French Canadian fur trapper living with the Hidatsas, is hired as an interpreter. His wife, Sacagawea, a Shoshone who had been captured by the Hidatsas and sold to Charbonneau, is also considered helpful as the Shoshones are said to live at the headwaters of the Missouri -
Hired a Fur Trapper
Toussaint Charbonneau, a French Canadian fur trapper living with the Hidatsas, is hired as an interpreter. His wife, Sacagawea, a Shoshone who had been captured by the Hidatsas and sold to Charbonneau, is also considered helpful as the Shoshones are said to live at the headwaters of the Missouri -
Move in fort for Winter
Fort Mandan completed, expedition moves in for the winter. -
Sacagawea gives birth
Sacagawea gives birth to baby boy, Jean Baptiste. -
Expadition comes to a fork in river
The expedition comes to a fork in the river. Lewis and Clark believe the south fork is the Missouri, while all of the other men believe it is the north fork. Although they are not convinced that the south fork is the Missouri the captains recount; "they were ready to follow us any where we thought proper to direct." -
Missouri Falls
Scouting ahead of the rest of the expedition, Lewis comes across the Great Falls of the Missouri. He also discovers four more waterfalls farther upstream. The expedition will have to portage over eighteen miles, taking nearly a month, to get past them. -
Lewis and Clark returne
Lewis and Clark are treated as national heroes. They return to Washington, D.C. The men receive double pay and 320 acres of land as reward, the captains get 1,600 acres. Lewis is named governor of the Louisiana Territory, Clark is made Indian agent for the West and brigadier general of the territory's militia. -
Lewis Dies
Lewis commits suicide at Grinders Stand, an inn south of Nashville. -
Sacagawea dies
Sacagawea dies at Fort Manuel. Clark, who is St. Louis, assumes custody of Jean Baptiste, as well as her daughter, Lisette. -
Clark Dies
William Clark dies at the home of his eldest son, Meriwether Lewis Clark. William Clark had married Julia "Judith" Hancock for whom he had named a river while on the expedition.