The Lewis and Clark Expedition Thomas Jefferson becomes President in 1801. Two-thirds of the American People live within 50 miles of the Atlantic Ocean. TJ decides to attempt to traverse the continent, the fourth attempt.

The U.S. in 1800

The Lewis and Clark Expedition Jefferson asks Meriwether Lewis to become his personal secretary. Lewis lives is the East Room of the White House and in addition to his other duties begins planning for the Western Expedition.

The Lewis and Clark Expedition January 18, 1803 – In secret communication with Congress, Jefferson seeks authorization for the expedition – first official exploration of unknown spaces undertaken by the United States government. An appropriation of $2,500 is requested. Final cost will be $38,000.

Preparations for the Journey Spring of 1803 -Lewis is sent to Philadelphia for instruction in botany, zoology, celestial navigation, and medicine from the nation’s best scientists. He also begins buying the expedition’s supplies.

Preparations for the Journey Lewis writes to his former army comrade, William Clark, inviting him to share command of the expedition. Clark writes back to accept.

Preparations for the Journey Summer 1803 – Lewis oversees the construction of the keelboat in Pittsburg. Once completed he takes it down the Ohio River picking up Clark and some recruits along the way.

Preparations for the Journey Lewis brings his Newfoundland dog, Seaman. Clark brings his slave York.

The Corps of Discovery Nearly four dozen men are involved (the precise number is unknown). Members hail from every corner of the young nation. Reuben and Joseph Field are brothers. George Drouillard, Pierre Cruzatte, François Labiche are sons of French-Canadian fathers and Indian mothers. Besides the captains, other diarists are John Ordway, a young soldier from New Hampshire; Patrick Gass, a carpenter of Irish stock from Pennsylvania; Joseph Whitehouse, a tailor from Virginia; and Charles Floyd of Kentucky, a “young man of much merit,” Lewis writes.

Preparations for the Journey Fall/Winter 1803 - Expedition establishes Camp Wood (also called Camp Dubois) on the east bank of the Mississippi River, upstream from St. Louis. More men are recruited and trained.  

The Expedition Begins The expedition sets off, May 14, 1804, from Camp Dubois “under a jentle brease,” Clark writes. (Lewis is in St. Louis and joins group a few days later.)

The Expedition Begins They travel in a big keelboat (55 feet long, 8 feet wide, capable of carrying 10 tons of supplies) and two smaller boats called pirogues. Proceeding up the Missouri River involves sailing, rowing, using setting poles, and sometimes wading along the bank to pull the boats with cordelling ropes. 14 miles is a good day’s progress.

Ten Tons of Supplies Mathematical Instruments: surveyor’s compass hand compass quadrants telescope thermometers 2 sextants set of plotting instruments chronometer (needed to calculate longitude)

Ten Tons of Supplies Camp Supplies: 150 yards of cloth to be oiled and sewn into tents and sheets pliers chisels 30 steels for striking to make fire handsaws hatchets whetstones iron corn mill two dozen tablespoons Camp Supplies: mosquito curtains 10 1/2 pounds of fishing hooks and fishing lines 12 pounds of soap 193 pounds of "portable soup" (a thick paste concocted by boiling down beef, eggs and vegetables) three bushels of salt writing paper, ink and crayons several barrels of whiskey

Ten Tons of Supplies 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 of assorted colors Approximately 90 Peace and Season medals

Ten Tons of Supplies Clothing: 45 flannel shirts coats frocks shoes woolen pants blankets knapsacks stockings

Ten Tons of Supplies Arms and Ammunition: One Pounder Canon 15 prototype Model 1803 muzzle-loading .54 caliber rifles 24 large 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, rather than by flint, spark and powder 15 Gun slings Powder horns

Ten Tons of Supplies Medicine and Medical Supplies: 50 dozen Dr. Rush’s patented "Rush’s Lightening Bolts" lancets forceps syringes tourniquets 1,300 doses of physic 1,100 hundred doses of emetic 3,500 doses of diaphoretic (sweat inducer) other drugs for blistering, salivation and increased kidney output

Ten Tons of Supplies Traveling Library: Barton’s Elements of Botany Antoine Simon Le Page du Pratz’s History of Louisiana Richard Kirwan’s 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

Map of the Journey of the Corps of Discovery

Clark’s Map of the Journey of the Corps of Discovery