Summary
Highlights
In April 1805, the Corps of Discovery, now 33 members, pressed onward into uncharted territory. They faced increasingly rugged terrain, including the Rocky Mountains, which Lewis first sighted in May. The 'Missouri Breaks' presented a beautiful but challenging landscape of white cliffs. A critical moment arrived with an unexpected fork in the river, requiring careful reconnaissance to determine the correct path. Their choice led them to the Great Falls of the Missouri, confirming their decision. The portage around the falls was a brutal 12-day ordeal, marked by cactus thorns, extreme heat, and hailstorms. This was followed by navigating 'The Gates of the Rocky Mountains' and another perplexing confluence of rivers.
Lewis and Clark embarked on a journey into unknown territories west of the Mississippi, a land filled with mythical tales. Their 32-man expedition, traveling by boat, horse, and foot, aimed to explore this mysterious new land. President Jefferson envisioned a continental republic spreading from sea to sea and sought to secure the heart of the continent for the United States, fueled by Alexander McKenzie's book proposing British control of the Pacific Northwest.
Jefferson, driven by geopolitical and scientific interests, aimed to explore the unknown. He launched the expedition before the Louisiana Purchase was final, initially as a 'purely scientific expedition' to move beyond U.S. bounds. Meriwether Lewis, Jefferson's personal secretary, was chosen to lead due to his courage and leadership. Lewis then selected William Clark as co-captain, forming the 'Corps of Discovery.' Both were gifted men, with Lewis specializing in botany and Clark in mapping and engineering.
In December 1803, Camp Wood was established near St. Louis, where soldiers, French boatmen, and hunters were recruited. This group, the 'Corps of Discovery,' faced initial discipline problems, including rowdiness and drunkenness, requiring severe punishments. Lewis and Clark also received training from St. Louis traders on the etiquette of Indian trade, which was crucial for their survival and the expedition's success.
On May 14, 1804, the Corps set sail on the formidable Missouri River. The river, described as unpredictable, presented numerous challenges with snags, caving banks, and a constantly changing channel. The boats, laden with ten tons of supplies, struggled against the current, often making only 15 miles a day through strenuous polling and towing. The journey was also plagued by health issues like boils, dysentery, sunstroke, and oppressive insects, leading to the only fatality of the expedition, Sergeant Charles Floyd, who died of appendicitis.
Lewis and Clark's mission included informing Native American tribes, such as the Otoan, Missouri, and Sioux, that their lands now belonged to the United States. This diplomatic approach, often seen as a traveling roadshow, aimed to showcase American technology and power and encourage peace and trade. The Sioux, powerful warriors known as 'pirates of the Missouri,' initially confronted the expedition, threatening conflict. However, both sides ultimately avoided bloodshed, with the Lewis and Clark realizing the Sioux's power needed to be broken. They planned to forge alliances with upriver tribes against the Sioux.
Word of the expedition reached upriver tribes, who were keen on establishing favorable trade relations. The Arikara and Mandan tribes, who were often at war with the Sioux, were friendly and open to council. Lewis and Clark spent the winter of 1804-1805 among the Mandan, gathering crucial intelligence for Jefferson's expansionist plans. During this time, they met Sacagawea, a young Shoshone woman married to a French trader. She was invaluable as an interpreter and guide, especially for navigating her homeland and securing horses from the Shoshone. Her presence also symbolized peaceful intentions.
Beyond the Great Falls, the team faced anxieties about encountering Native Americans to acquire horses for the mountain crossing. Sacagawea’s recognition of Beaver Head Rock led to an astounding reunion with her brother, Cameahwait, chief of the Shoshone. This connection secured the much-needed horses. However, Lewis soon realized there was no navigable river through the Rockies, extinguishing hopes for a Northwest Passage. The subsequent trek through the Bitterroot Mountains was a nightmare, exacerbated by an early snowstorm, leading to starvation and the loss of horses. They were eventually aided by the friendly Nez Perce Indians, who provided food and assisted them in building canoes for the onward journey.
The Corps continued their journey by canoe, bravely running dangerous rapids, including the Great Falls of the Columbia River. They eventually tasted saltwater, indicating their proximity to the ocean, and heard English words from local Indians, confirming their return to known territory. On November 15, 1805, after a year and a half of arduous travel, they reached their goal: the Pacific Ocean. They spent a soggy winter at Fort Clatsop between Washington and Oregon, experiencing constant rain. They encountered Chinook and Clatsop Indians who were sharp traders, accustomed to European commerce, and Lewis and Clark found themselves short on goods, resorting to trading military items and even Sacagawea's beads for supplies and services.
The return journey was even more challenging. An early departure from Fort Clatsop in March led to them being caught in snows. During a separate exploration, Lewis’s small party encountered Piegan Blackfoot warriors who attempted to steal their horses, resulting in a violent confrontation where two warriors were killed. This marked a shift, with Lewis planting peace medals as a symbol of American dominance. The expedition returned triumphantly to St. Louis on September 23, 1806. Lewis was appointed Governor of the Louisiana Territory, but struggled politically and failed to compile his journals. He descended into melancholia, debt, and alcoholism, dying from two self-inflicted gunshots at age 35, a suspected suicide. Clark, in contrast, lived a prosperous life as a general and Indian superintendent.
Sacagawea's fate is less documented, dying of typhus in 1812. The Lewis and Clark expedition blazed a trail for pioneers and fur traders, cementing an American claim to the entire continent and the Pacific coast. The expedition's amicable relations with most Native American tribes contrasted sharply with the future conflicts that would arise. The success of the journey was due to the careful planning, organization, and resilience of the Corps, who met every challenge with determination.