Meriwether Lewis, William Clark and the Opening of the American West.

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Meriwether Lewis, William Clark and the Opening
of the American West.
Based on Stephen E. Ambrose Undaunted Courage
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Early in 1800, Spain ceded the Louisiana
Territory to France. In 1803, in order to secure
American rights in the trans-Mississippi region
and especially at New Orleans, Jefferson sent
James Monroe to France as a special envoy with
instructions to attempt to purchase New Orleans
for no more than 10 million dollars. Jefferson
was fearful that Napoleon and his armies would
attempt to forge their own New World Empire.
Frances designs on North America suddenly and
unexpectedly collapsed In one fell swoop,
Napoleon sold all of the Louisiana Territory to
the United States for 15 million dollars! Despite
the obvious unconstitutionality of Jeffersons
actions, Congress and the Senate quickly approved
the transaction.
The Constitution has made no provision for our
holding foreign territory It it the case of a
guardian, investing the money of his ward in
purchasing an important adjacent territory and
saying to him when of age, I did this for your
good.
Thomas Jefferson
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Ever the avid scientist and botanist, Jefferson
longed to have the newly acquired territory
explored and mapped. In addition to catalogueing
the natural resources of the Missouri River
Valley, Jefferson hoped that the famed Northwest
Passage the supposed all-water route to the
Pacific could be discovered and mapped. The task
fell, in 1804, to an intrepid young secretary to
the president, Meriwether Lewis. Lewis handpicked
as his second in command, a former colleague of
his in the Army, William Clark.
The Object of your mission is to explore the
Missouri river such principal stream of it as
by it's course and communication with the waters
of the Pacific ocean, whether the Columbia,
Oregon, Colorado or any other river may offer the
most direct practicable water communication
across this continent for the purpose of
commerce.
Thomas
Jefferson
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Medicine and Medical Supplies   50
dozen Dr. Rushs patented "Rushs pills"
lancets forceps syringes
tourniquets 3,500 doses of diaphoretic
(sweat inducer) other drugs for
blistering, salivation and increased kidney
output  
The quantity of provisions required to complete a
voyage of this magnitude was enormous. The Corps
of Discovery consisted of men handpicked from
among the finest in the Army along with those
recommended to Lewis and Clark by friends and
associates. The greatest assemblage of woodsmen,
blacksmiths, carpenters, boat builders and
rifleman would attempt to make their way to the
Pacific Northwest and back again reliant only
each other and the invaluable leadership of
Meriwether Lewis.
Traveling Library   Bartons
Elements of Botany Antoine Simon Le Page
du Pratzs History of Louisiana Richard
Kirwans Elements of Mineralogy A
Practical Introduction to Spherics and Nautical
Astronomy The Nautical Almanac and
Astronomical Ephemeris a four-volume
dictionary a two-volume edition of
Linnaeus (the founder of the Latin
classification of plants). tables for
finding longitude and latitude map of
the Great Bend of the Missouri River
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Arms and Ammunition 15 prototype Model
1803 muzzle-loading .54 caliber rifles
knives 500 rifle flints 420
pounds of sheet lead for bullets 176
pounds of gunpowder packed in 52 lead canisters
1 long-barreled rifle that fired its
bullet with compressed air
Mathematical Instruments   surveyors
compass hand compass quadrants
telescope thermometers
2 sextants chronometer  
Presents for Indians 12 dozen
pocket mirrors 4,600 sewing needles
144 small scissors 10 pounds of
sewing thread silk ribbons
ivory combs handkerchiefs yards
of bright-colored cloth 130 rolls of
tobacco tomahawks that doubled as pipes
288 knives 8 brass kettles
vermilion face paint 33 pounds of
tiny beads assorted colors
Camp Supplies pliers
chisels 30 steels for striking to make
fire handsaws hatchets
two dozen tablespoons mosquito curtains
10 1/2 pounds of fishing hooks and
fishing lines 12 pounds of soap
193 pounds of "portable soup" three
bushels of salt writing paper, ink and
crayons
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It was common knowledge to everyone in the Corps
of Discovery that encounters with Indians were
going to be frequent Jefferson welcomed them.
Little was truly known about the Indians living
west of the Mississippi. It was Lewiss duty to
foster friendly relations with each of the tribes
he encountered. Jefferson, they were told, was
their new Father and earning his loyalty will
ensure peaceful relations for generations to
come.
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Friendship Medals would be provided to the
Indians in exchange for their loyalty to the new
father namely, Jefferson. The medals were
designed to express the earnest intentions of the
United States government in keeping the peace
with the Indians. Fact was, Lewis and Clarks
mission precluded any possibility that Indian
rights would ultimately be respected. Implicitly,
it was indicated that the Indians must respect
that which the whites were bound and determined
to have trading rights in Louisiana, free
navigation up the Missouri and its tributaries,
and passage to the Pacific via, what was presumed
to be, a newly discovered route by Lewis and
Clark.
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Sacajawea, a Shonone Indian maiden, and wife of
the guide Charbonneau, was a godsend to Lewis and
to the entire Corps of Discovery. Through her
(although only circuitously), the explorers
could communicate with other Indian tribes. On
one occasion, her presence may have saved the
entire expedition. Low on provisions and
virtually lost, Lewis and Clark stumbled into the
territory of potentially hostile natives. As fate
would have it, Sacajaweas Shoshone brother led
the band of explorers to safety and would later
provide a guide aiding the Corps in their journey
over the Rockies and Bitterroot mountains.
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The river system that Lewis and Clark hoped to
use as their primary means of transportation
stemmed from both the Missouri River and
ultimately the Columbia River.. The Plan was to
follow the Missouri as far as its waters would
take them, cross the Rockies at what was deemed
to be the most practical point, and descend via
a waterway yet to be determined to their final
destination, the Pacific Ocean. Difficult
portages were going to be required as was the
necessity of securing competent guides who could
lead them through the Rockies and the Bitterroot
Mountains.
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The expedition planned to first make their way up
the Missouri River as far as was deemed practical
before the winter of 1804 1805 set in. That
meant that Lewis and Clark would lead the Corps
of Discovery through Sioux territory up to where
the Mandan were known to reside. It was there,
with the Mandan people, that the expedition came
to a halt and it was there that the expedition
would reside for the remainder of that harsh
mid-western winter.
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The Mandan were excellent hosts. The Corps built
their own shelter Fort Mandan where they
resided throughout the winter. Preparations were
made for the following spring when the expedition
would resume its journey through the wilderness.
While at Fort Mandan, Lewis and Clark would
replenish their stores and take on a guide along
with Sacajawea.
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The wilderness through which Lewis and Clark
ventured teemed with animals and wildlife of
every imaginable shape and size. Buffalo were
encountered by the millions. Wild elk, deer, and
beaver served as excellent food sources and were
routinely relied upon as such. As the Corps of
Discovery made their way closer and closer to the
Rockies, Grizzly Bears became a persistent threat
to the safety of the explorers. On more than one
occasion, bears were shot in self defense. Lewis
and Clark both remarked in their journals the
enormity and awesome power of the famed Grizzly
Bear.
he the bear pursued them so close that they
were obliged to throw aside their guns and
pouches and throw themselves into the river
altho the bank was nearly twenty feet
perpendicular M.
Lewis Tuesday May 14th
1805
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After wintering with the Mandan, in the spring of
1805 the expedition once again set forth on their
journey. The greatest obstacle that yet needed to
be overcome were the mighty Rocky Mountains.
Lewis and Clark followed the Missouri River to
its source and on to the falls. Difficult
portages required strength and determination of
the both Lewis and Clark and of the men of the
Corps of Discovery.
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In late summer, 1805, the expedition made its
way out of the Bitterroots and into the high
desert plains and low rolling mountains of the
West. The bitter truth of their being no all
water route to the Pacific wore heavily on
Lewis mind. How would he explain his perceived
failure to Jefferson? Alas, the Columbia River
was sighted and the expedition would once again
use nature to their advantage. The river, despite
numerous tricky portages, would float Lewis and
Clark to their ultimate destination the Pacific
Ocean.
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Ocean in view! O! the joy.

William Clark
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Their westward journey complete, the Corps of
Discovery built Fort Clatsop in a sheltered
location that would serve as winter quarters.
Local Indians were numerous and served as trading
partners through the long, wet winter. Game was
scarce but available and the men did their best
to wait out the weather until the following
spring when the Eastern leg of the journey would
resume. The expectation that a ship would be
waiting to aid them in their return journey, went
for not. No matter. They had made their way
across the continent the first white men to do
so. The scientific and cultural data they had
gathered - as well as the thrilling adventure
they had shared together! would serve them and
there country for decades.
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The return trip journey was marked by Lewis
attempt to better discern the true northern
boundary of the Louisiana Territory. He and Clark
would divide the Corps of Discovery a dangerous
proposition considering the expedition was
heading straight into hostile Indian country.
With little warning, Lewis small band awoke one
morning to discover local Indians pilfering
through their supplies. A fight ensued! Lewis
chased down an Indian who had stolen a rifle he
shot him dead and the small band would be forced
to flee on foot and rejoin Clark as quickly as
possible.
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The rest of the journey could not end quickly
enough for Lewis, for Clark and for the entire
Corps of Discovery. Down the Missouri they came
with word of their discoveries and heroics
preceding them. For Lewis, the expedition had
been the highlight of his life. Wracked by debt
and depression, the remainder of his days were
tumultuous and trying. Feeling despondent and
alone, on October 11th, 1809 Lewis removed his
revolver from his jacket and shot himself in the
head and in the chest Oh Lord! he exclaimed.
Before the sun could rise again, he was dead.
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Of courage undaunted, possessing a firmness
perseverance of purpose which nothing but
impossibilities could divert from its direction
of sound understanding and a fidelity to the
truth so scrupulous that whatever he should
report would be as certain as if seen by
ourselves, with all these qualifications as if
selected and implanted by nature in one body, for
this express purpose, I could have no hesitation
in confiding the enterprise to him.
Thomas Jefferson