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Start of the expedition
The expedition sets off from Camp Dubois "under a jentle brease", Clark writes. Lewis joins the group several days later from St, Louis, Missouri. -
Sergeant Charles Floyd dies
Sgt. Charles Floyd died of what was probably a burst appendix. He was the first and only casualty of the expedition. He was also the first American soldier to die west of the Mississippi. -
The first council between the Yankston Sioux and the Corps of Discovery
The expedition holds a friendly council with the Yankston Sioux. According to Yankton oral tradition, when a baby is born, Lewis wraps him an U.S. flag and declares him "an American." -
Period: to
Fortifying Fort Mandan for the winter
Fort Mandan Winter
The Corps spent this time preparing to winter at Fort Mandan. -
Winter fortification of Fort Mandan is completed
After nearly a month of work, Fort Mandan is ready for the winter.The Corps had prepared it not only for protection from the elements, but also for protection from nearby hostile Native American tribes. -
Sacagawea gives birth
Sacagawea's baby, Jean Baptiste Charbonneau, is born. Lewis assists in speeding her delivery by giving her a potion he made of the crushed rattle of a rattlesnake. -
The Corps encounter a grizzly bear
The Corps incounter a grizzly bear. It takes ten shots to bring the animal down.
" I went out with one man Geo. Drewyer & killed the bear, which was verry large and a turrible looking animal. This animal is the largest of the Carnivourous kind I ever saw."
Clark, May 5, 1805 -
Sacagawea becomes dangerously ill
Sacagawea became severly ill. Lewis treats her with bark and opium and has her drink mineral water. She recovers enough to coninue on the next day.
" I reached the camp found the woman extreemly ill and much reduced by her indisposition. This gave me concern as well for the poor object herself, then with a young child in her arms…" Lewis, June 16, 1805 -
Clark, Charbonneau, and Sacagawea narrowly escape a flash flood
After taking shelter from a storm in a ravine, Lewis and his two companions narrowly escaped being carried away by a flash flood.
"I took my gun & Shot pouch in my left hand, and with the right scrambled up the hill pushing the Interpreters wife (who had her Child in her arms) before me, the Interpreter himself makeing attempts to pull his wife by the hand..."
Clark, June 29, 1805 -
The expedition crosses into present-day Idaho
The Corps cross Lemhi Pass, crossing into what is now the state of Idaho. -
Sacagawea reunites with her brother
Sacagawea reunites with her brother Chief Cameahwait.
"Clark arrived with the Interpreter Charbono, and the Indian woman, who proved to be a sister of the Chif Cameahwait. the meeting of those people was really affecting, particularly between Sah cah-gar-we-ah and an Indian woman, who had been taken prisoner at the same time with her, and who had afterwards escaped from the Minnetares and rejoined her nation."
Lewis, August 17, 1805 -
The Corps meets the Nez Perce
The Corps meets the Nez Perce, who provide them with food and care for their horses.
" a man came out to meet me with great caution & conducted us to a large spacious lodge… those people gave us a small piece of buffalow meat, some dried Salmon berries & roots and some bread made of this root all of which we eate harilty."
Clark, September 20, 1805 -
Clark carves his name into a tree on the Pacific coast
Clark carves his name, the date, etc. into the trunk of a small pine tree on the Pacific coast.
"I proceeded on the sandy coast and marked my name on a small pine, the Day of the month & year."
Clark, November 19, 1805 -
Christmas at Fort Clatsop
Unfortunately, there wasn't much of a Christmas feast for the explorers. In fact, what they did have to eat, they ate only out of necessity.
"we would have spent this day the nativity of Christ in feasting, had we anything either to raise our Spirits or even gratify our appetites, our dinner consisted of pore Elk, so much Spoiled that we eate it through necessity, Some spoiled pounded fish and a few roots".
Lewis, December 25, 1805 -
Blackfoot Indians are caught trying to steal weapons from the Corps
Two Medicine Fight Sight
The morning of the 27th the explorers catch Blackfeet trying to steal their horses and guns. In the fight that follows, two Blackfeet are killed–the only act of bloodshed during the entire expedition.
"This morning at day light the indians got up and crouded around the fire, ... a scuffle, hollers... R Fields seized his gun stabed the indian to the heart..."
Lewis, July 27, 1806
