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Nearly four dozen men set off on to explore the Louisiana Purchase. This day the Lewis and Clark expedition started. Clark said it was a cloudy morning when they were getting ready in his journal.
“Set out from Camp River a Dubois at 4 oClock P. M.”-- Clark -
Lewis and Clark meet with Zottous Indians. The Indians acknowledge the U.S. as the government of their people. Lewis and Clark give them some peace gifts, flags, medals, and other goods. The Indian chiefs gave speeches and they left in peace.
“This morning the two Captains held a Counsel With the 13 Zottous Indians & made 6 Chiefs under the american government” --Ordway -
August 20 1804 the Lewis and Clark expedition experienced their first and only casualty. Sergeant Charles Floyd died from a bowels injury. They paid all the respects they could to his body.
“Capt Lewis read the funeral Service over him after paying everry respect to the Body of this desceased man” -
The expedition comes across prarie dogs, and is very excited. They spent a long time trying to get to the animals. They dug six feet down and still didn’t reach the prairie dogs. They also tried to drown the dogs out by pouring five barrels of water down the holes.
“The Village of those little dogs is under the ground a conisiderable distance we dig under 6 feet thro rich hard clay without getting to their Lodge” -- Lewis -
The Lewis and Clark expedition met with some Sioux Indians. The expedition treated the Indians well, and gave them some many goods. The Indians wanted more though, so the expedition ended up shooting a gun to scare them away.
“…Said we must Stop with them or leave one of the pearogues with them, as that was what they expected. Capt. Lewis Shewed them the air Gun.” --Ordway -
Sacajawea joins the expedition with her husband, Chaubonée. This is a big moment because she will prove to be very helpful during the journey. Not much is written in the journals on this day, but it proves to be helpful later.
“…a Mr. Chaubonée, interpeter for the Gross Vintre nation Came to See us” --Clark -
For Christmas day at fort Mandan the crew all enjoyed two glasses of brandy and they celebrated as best they could. During the day some of the crew went to hunt while others danced after dinner. When it was time for meals a gun was fired to signal it.
“we had the Best to eat that could be had, & continued firing dancing & frolicking dureing the whole day.”-- Ordway -
Sacagawea gave birth to a boy, Jean Baptiste on Feb 11, 1805. Sacagawea started labor at five o’clock. To hasten the birth of the child Sacagawea was given a drink of rattle snake tail and water mix.
“about five oclock this evening one of the wives of Charbono was delivered of a fine boy”-- Lewis -
Lewis visits a Shoshone village and tries to get horses from the chief. The rest of his group shows up and they find out that the chief is Sacagawea’s brother. The expedition ends up able to take all the horses they need.
" Capt. Clark arrived with the Interpreter Charbono, and the Indian woman, who proved to be a sister of the Chif Cameahwait"--Lewis -
The Lewis and Clark expedition exit out of the mountains and enter into present day Idaho. Fields met them and gave them some food, because he was sent out of the group to get food because they were all very hungry. They came into a village, but most of the women fled the village on horseback. The men were off at war.
“Reubin Fields one of oure hunters, whom Capt. Clark had dispatched to meet us with some dryed fish and roots”-- Lewis -
Captain Lewis was really sick as well as a few other men. They were in a hot place with only warm water. One man on the expedition, Gass, thought that the water had something to do with their indisposition.
“The men in general appear to be getting much better; but Captain Lewis is very sick and taking medicine; and myself and two or three of the men are yet very unwell.”--Gass -
The expedition gets help from a Nez Pierce tribe in making canoes. The canoes are made from hollowed out trees. One of the canoes had a thin spot and the expedition stopped to fix it.
“Had the Canoes unloaded examined and mended a Small leake which we discovered in a thin place in her Side” --Clark -
The Lewis and Clark expedition was preparing for departure from Fort Clatsop, but some of the men were taken ill. One of them was bled by Clark. Some men started repairing the canoes and making other preparations.
“Drewyer was taken last night with a violent pain in his side. Capt. Clark blead him. several of the men are complaining of being unwell. it is truly unfortunate that they should be sick at the moment of our departure.” --Lewis -
To protect themselves from the poor weather the expedition made shelters near the Nez Pierce Indians. They planned to stay for one month at their shelters. This they did, not leaving again till late June.
“…some hunters went out early. The rest of the party were engaged in making places of shelter,…” --Gass -
In July 1806 the Lewis and Clark expedition was challenged by some Blackfeet Indians. The Indians came during the night and tried to take some of their guns and horses. Two Indians were killed, but the rest got away with some of the horses and one gun. The expedition could have killed more, but Lewis tried to prevent deaths.
“R Fields as he seized his gun stabed the indian to the heart with his knife the fellow ran about 15 steps and fell dead…” -- Lewis
