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Starting point: St. Louis, Missouri
Lewis and Clark got supplies from St. Louis to prepare for there journey. President Jefferson paid for Lewis and Clark to buy their supplies. -
A spot where the expedition experiences a causality
The only death was the death of Sergeant Charles Floyd who died of appendicitis near Sioux City some day in August. (www.pbs.org/video/2365496920/) -
Experience with a Sioux Tribe
As the Yankton Sioux had warned, the Teton Sioux greeted the expedition and its gifts with hostility. One of the Teton chiefs demanded a boat as the price of passage. When the Indians became threatening, the men prepared to protect the expedition. At the last moment both sides pulled back, and the crisis was over. Nevertheless, the expedition had failed to deliver on Jefferson's hopes for friendly relations with all the Sioux. This happened during the month of September. -
Experience at Fort Mandan
The fort was built near the Mandan tribe. The fort was constructed to protect the settlers from the elements and from the Sioux. This happened from October first through December twentieth. -
A spot where a baby is born
Jean Baptiste Charbonneau was born at Fort Mandan. His nickname became "Pomp" or "Pompy" for his pompous antics. His parents were French Canadian interpreter Touissant Charbonneau and Sacagawea. -
A spot where weather profoundly influences the expedition.
Early May...The Corps of Discovery almost lost two pirogues with a sudden wind. Sacagawea is credited with saving journals and supplies with quick thinking. -
A spot where an animal profoundly affected the expedition
Ursus arctos horribilis means Grizzly Bear! The Corps of Discovery had heard of grizzly bears from the native Americans, but underestimated the danger. They thought their guns were enough, and hunting brown bears was common for men. The first time grizzlies were noted was April 29, 1805, and from Clark's journal about the bear encounter, "...we found verry hard to kill we Shot ten Balls into him before we killed him...his weight may be stated at 500 pounds..." -
A spot where the expedition experienced a peaceful trade exchange with a native tribe.
The Shoshone had been driven into the mountains because they did not have guns unlike their enemies. Lewis and Clark were able to trade weapons for horses to cross the mountains. The chief of the tribe was also Sacagawea's brother which made it even easier to trade with the tribe. This happened in 1805. -
Experience with the Shoshone Tribe
On August 11th, 1805 met a Shoshone who took the Corps of Discovery to their leader. The leader of the Shoshone happened to be Sacajawea's brother. The Corps of Discovery bought horses from the Shoshone to cross the Rocky Mountains with. This happened between August 8 and August 24. -
A spot where a plant or tree profoundly affected the expedition
The passing of the bitter roots...The men were not used to eating the types of food that the native Americans did. They had bad reactions to the roots, and they were starving. "We have nothing to eate but roots, which give the men violent pains in they bowels after eating much of them… " William Clark's Journal -
An experience at Fort Clatsop
Every body in the Corps got sick at least once. The fort was only 50 square feet and it held 32 men, a woman, and a baby, plus a dog. -
A spot where the expedition was significantly aided by the help of a native tribe.
They named Fort Clatsop after the nearby native American tribe who had helped them. When they left they gifted the fort to Chief Coboway. -
An experience that occurred in present day Idaho
The Corps of Discovery spent a month near where a Nez Perce tribe lived. This was the first time that the Nez Perce met with out siders. -
A spot where a member of the expedition becomes ill
Jean Baptiste Charbonneau became ill while on the return trip while they were detained by snow on the Lolo Pass in Spring. Depending on the website, it was one to two and a half weeks before he was better. Both Captains treated the boy with poultices. This was around May. -
Another place where weather profoundly affected the Corps of Discovery
In crossing the Bitterroot Mountains again, the Corps of Discovery encountered massive snow. It disheartened the group that they were stalled in their desire to get home. From Meriwether Lewis journal, "...we found ourselves invelloped in snow from 12 to 15 feet...deep...hands and feet were benumbed...this is the first time...we have ever been compelled to retreat or make a retrograde march." -
An incident where someone from the expedition killed a person from a native tribe.
The only time that a person from the Corps of discovery killed a Native American was at Two medicine Fight Site. Eight Blackfeet tried to steal Lewis and company's guns two Blackfeet were killed in the struggle.
