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The Request
US President Thomas Jefferson writes a message to congress. This message contains a request for funding for an exploration. He plans to have an exploration team go into the uncharted west to find what lies beyond their borders. -
The Beginning
The Corps of Discovery makes its way up the Mississippi to begin their travels. They go peacefully on the first day. It is written that journey began "under a gentle breeze". -
Death
Sergeant Charles Floyd dies near Sioux City. He is the only death in the group throughout the trip. He died of natural causes. -
Sioux
After the death of Charles Floyd, they begin to continue. The Sergeant died of natural causes and will be the only one to die in the group. They meet with the a group of Sioux Natives. Tensions grow high but luckily one of the chiefs wave his men down, and the conflict is averted. -
The Weather's Rath
They state that this winter is the harshest they have ever experienced. The men write that it must be around 45 below zero. The cold of winter urges the fort to be built faster, but additional causes it to be harder to build. -
The Fort
Now with two hired interpreters, Toussaint Charbonneau and his Shoshone wife, Sacagawea, they build a home for them to live in for the winter. This home is Fort Mandan, which was built in present day North Dakota. -
Near Death
In the beginning of January, it is noted that Sacagawea is very ill. "The Indian women verry bad...If she dies it will be the fault of her husband." Her symptoms included high fever, low pulse, irregular breathing, and twitching of her fingers and arms. Luckily, her health was regained later, after the strange illness became worse before lessening. -
Nature's Cure
Throughout the trip, including the week of Sacagawea's illness, the group suffers from many upon many sickness. They can be described as "a walking hospital". Without the help of the native plants, Sacagawea would have surely perished. -
The Birth
Sacagawea's son, Jean Baptiste Charbonneau, is born. He and his mother were both healthy and well. The birth was assisted by Lewis. -
The Shoshone
After long days of travel, they arrive at their next destination. This is a Shoshone camp. Sacagawea recognizes the chief of the camp. She is overjoyed to find that her long lost brother, Cameahwait, is residing here. -
Idaho
Finally, after many days travel through the mountains with horses from the Shoshone, they arrive in present day Idaho. They find themselves near the villages of the Nez Perce Natives. The men struggle onward, nearly starved to death after crossing over 160 miles through the Rocky Mountains. -
Great Help
Weak and weary, the group meets the Nez Perce. During their short stay, the natives help them by giving them supplies, horses, and teaching them how to craft canoes. Without this additional help, they may not have survived, especially after the brutal trip through the mountains. -
Fort Clatsop
After travelling down the Colombia River, drifting in canoes that they built, taught to them by the Nez Perce, they stop. They then all take a vote to where they shall stay for now. The vote ends and they decide to build Fort Clatsop on the Clatsop Native side of Columbia. -
Murder
Though it may believed to be an accident, during the returning trip, Lewis and another man got in a fight with some natives. During the fight he shot and killed two Blackfoot Natives. The Tribe then grew an obvious distrust of the white men. -
The Return
The Corps of Discovery returned home years after it all began. They brought back with them a wealth of information, and the public excitement was wild. After two and a half years, they finished their journey over the west.
