|
Thomas Jefferson bought the Louisiana
Territory from France in 1802. The territory included all land that drained into the Missouri River. Soon after, he sent Captain
Meriwhether Lewis and the Corps of Discovery to explore this new territory that essentially doubled the size of the United
States. Lewis selected William Clark, a military man, to join him with equal status.
The Corps was made up of about 30 hardy
men that had a desire for adventure. Lewis also brought his dog, Seaman, a large black Newfoundland. Seaman made the entire
trip, there and back. French Canadian trapper Charbonneau and his 15 year old pregnant wife, Sacagawea, joined the corps in
1805 in North Dakota as guides and translators.
Only one member was lost. Sergeant
Charles Floyd died from appendicitis and was buried in present day Iowa overlooking the Missouri River atop a bluff now called
Sergeant's Bluff.
Captains Lewis and Clark spent over a year planning and preparing for their journey, securing provisions, weapons, trade goods,
transportation and crewmembers. Jefferson himself trained Lewis in science, map making and navigation.
There were several reasons for the expedition. They were sent to map the newly acquired territory, discover new plants
and animals and establish trading relations with the Indians. Also they were
looking for the fabled Northwest Passage, a water route from the Mississippi to the Pacific Ocean, which we know now does
not exist.
|
 |
|
Lewis and Clark kept detailed
records of their journey. They also encouraged the other members of the expedition to keep a daily journal. They discovered
species of animals and plants that were unknown to science at the time. They made detailed maps of the Missouri River System.
They gathered information about the Indian tribes living along the river. Without the information that L&C gathered, their
journey would have been just another long camping trip. |
My objective is to follow the Lewis
and Clark route all the way to the mouth of the Columbia River by bicycle. My name is Paul S. I am a biology teacher and wrestling
coach at Johnston City High School in Illinois.
In the summers of 2003-04 log on and
follow along as I rediscover the upper Louisiana Territory by bicycling up the Missouri River and across the continent.
|
