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Meriwether Lewis picked as commander of expedition. Writes to ask William Clark to join him and share command. Clark accepts.
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Large keelboat constructed in Pittsburgh, overseen by Lewis. After its construction Lewis took it down the Ohio River and picked up Clark and the recruits along the way.
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Expedition marks first 4th of July west of the Mississippi by firing the keelboat's cannon, and naming Independence Creek.
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They exchange peace medals fifteen star flags and other gifts.
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Sgt. Charles Floyd dies of a probable burst appendix. Captains name hill where he is buried Floyd's Bluff and a nearby stream, Floyd's River.
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Expedition discovers earthlodge villages of the Mandan and Hidatsas Indians. The captains decide to build Fort Mandan across the river from the main village.
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Fort Mandan was completed on December 24, 1804 and the expadition moves in for the winter. Then Toussaint Charbonneau, a French Canadian traper and interpreter is hired on to the expadition along with his "wife" Sacagawea. (A Shoshone who had been captured by the Hidatsas and sold to Charbonneau.) On Febuary 11, 1805 Sacagawea's baby is born.
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Lewis and Clark believe the south fork is the Missouri, while all of the other men believe it is the north fork. Eventhough the men are not convinced the captains decide that the south fork is the Missouri.
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The expedition reaches the three forks of the Missouri River, and name them the Gallatin, the Madison, and the Jefferson.
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Lewis finds a village of Shoshones and tries to negotiate for horses. Clark and the rest of the expedition arrives as well, and it is discovered that the Shoshone chief Cameahwait is Sacagawea's brother. Lewis and Clark name the site Camp Fortunate.
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After nearly starving in the mountains the expedition emerges in Idaho.
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The expadition has to wait to cross the mountans untill the smow melts.
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Charbonneau, Sacagawea, and Pomp bid farwell to the expadition.
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