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The expedition sets of from Camp Dubois at four P.M. for the Mississippi River.
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The only casualty on the expedition, Charles Floyd died of a ruptured appendix. He was buried on a bluff overlooking the Missouri River. The explorer's death was described by Clark as "one with composure."
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The expedition meets the Yankton Sioux tribe. Supposedly, Lewis took a native baby, wrapped him in an American flag, and declared to those present that this baby was "an American."
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Due to language translation issues, the expedition could not communicate with a number of Sioux chiefs. Instead, they offered them whiskey and boated up to the next camp, where they were welcomed and the natives held a scalp dance.
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The expedition began to build Fort Mandan across the river from a Mandan-Hidatsa village.
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Sacajawea gave birth to the child of Toussaint Charbonneau. Lewis helped deliver the baby. Supposedly, a rattlesnake rattle was used in the delivery.
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During a storm, one of the expedition's boats tipped. The boat was holding much of the expedition's journals. Sacajawea dived into the river and retrieved most of the materials.
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While Lewis was out hunting, he shot an Elk. While he was waiting, a bear snuck up on him. He ran back to camp, and the bear left him alone.
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Lewis talked with Cameawait, the chief of a local Shoshone tribe.
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The expedition crosses the continental divide and enters Idaho through the Lemhi pass. This marks the first time Americans set foot in Idaho.
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Lewis noted that during the winter, many of his men fell sick, usually due to influenza. Over the winter, the expedition made 338 pairs of moccasins.
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Two members if the Pikani tribe were killed when they attacked the party and tried to steal rifles. This marked the only time that natives were killed during the whole expedition.
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In the months following the expedition's return, Jefferson cultivated the samples of corn brought back form the expedition at Monticello. The resulting specimens he described as being an "excellent" food source.