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The Journey Begins
About fifty men from all over the U.S. had joined Lewis and Clark in their mission. The men came from many backgrounds, including Irish carpenters and a tailor from Virginia. They left St. Louis, Missouri in high spirits and to celebrate, they all got extra rations of whiskey. They set out in a large keel boat up the Missouri River. -
Peaceful trade
On August 18, 1804, the company meets the Oto and Missouri tribes and trades with them. The members of the tribes give furs to the company and they in turn, receive metals, flags, and other gifts. The next day, the company of Lewis and Clark continue on their way. -
Sergeant Charles Floyd passes
On the twentieth of August in 1804, only three months into the voyage, Sergeant Charles Floyd passed. Scientists now think he died from acute appendicitis. The company named a nearby stream Floyd's river to mark the place of their only casualty. -
Yankton Sioux
The expedition finds the Yankton Sioux, and befriends them. Later, tradition was, when a baby was born, Lewis wrapped him or her in an American flag and declare him or her an American. This historical fact was passed down through the tribal generations by oral means. -
The winter at Fort Mandan
On December 17, 1804 the Lewis and Clark expedition members moved into the newly built Fort Mandan. This fort wasn't finished a moment to soon, for closely following the completion of the fort, temperatures dropped to lower than -45 degrees. This was so cold that guards had to be relieved every thirty minutes. A man named John Ordaway added in his journal that it was "...colder than I ever knew it to be in the states." -
Jean Baptiste Charbonneau was born
At fort Mandan Sacajawea delivered her son who was named Jean Baptiste. Clark gave him the nickname Pompey. The baby came along with the company until they arrived at Sacajawea's tribe again. -
The wide open Country
After staying a Fort Mandan for the winter Lewis and Clark dispatched a company of men on the keel boat back to St. Lewis. Along with the men were several Indian artifacts, scientific specimen and a prairie dog that had taken nearly a whole day to capture. Lewis later wrote that, “We were now about to penetrate a country at least two thousand miles in width, on which the foot of civilized man had never trodden. I could but esteem this moment of my departure as among the most happy of my life.” -
Sacagawea Becomes Ill
On the tenth of June in 1805, Sacagawea contracts a sickness causing the whole expedition to have to stop for a couple of days. She somehow got better because there was a stream nearby that was filled with sulfur. She was sick for around seven days. -
Independence day celebration
On July forth of 1805, the company celebrates independence day for the second time on the road. The did this by dancing late into the night and drinking the last of the whiskey they had brought with them. -
Bitterroot Mountains
The Corps of Discovery travels into the Bitterroot Mountains, which Sergeant Patrick Gass calls “the most terrible mountains I ever beheld." They run short of provisions and have to butcher a horse for food but worst of all, John Ordway writes on September 18th, “the mountains continue as far as our eyes could extend. They extend much further than we expected.” Clark decided to name a stream Hungry Creek to because they were so starved -
Help from Friends
During their stay, the men used all of their food. The Nez Perce tribe, could have came in and wiped out the company, but in stead they helped them and even took care of their horses. after the winter stay the two groups left in friendship. -
Fort Clatsop and the Pacific Ocean
Fort Clatsop, at the time that it was built, housed 32 men, a woman, a baby and a dog. The fort was only built and settled when the company found enough elk to have food for the winter. They stayed there for most of the winter before traveling back to The Nez Perce tribe. -
Meriwether Lewis shoots Blackfoot Indian
Lewis was exploring Marias river country of northwestern Montana, and he knew this area was claimed by the Blackfoot tribe. they were claimed to be the most fierce native tribe on the Great Plains. At first, Lewis thought they would be satisfied with the metal they gave them, but later the tribe tried to steal their horses, and as a result. Lewis shot one of them in the stomach. -
Animals
The animal that most affected the trip saw a 600 pound grizzly bear. Lewis was sure that a bear was no match for a rifle but his mind was soon changed. After 10 bullets were shot into the bear it finally died.
