Most of the members of the Lewis and Clark Expedition were soldiers in the United States Army. The captains recruited candidates along the Ohio River and military posts on the western frontier. Some would be dismissed early, others would man the barge on its return to St. Louis in 1805, and the rest would become part of the permanent party.
Captain Amos Stoddard commanded the U.S. military presence in the Illinois territory and would serve as the commandant of the Upper Louisiana Territory after its transfer to the United States.
Interpreter with "fortitude and resolution"
by Barbara Fifer
She was with the expedition for just over 16 of the 28 months of the official journey. Speaking both Shoshone and Hidatsa, she served as a link in the communication chain during some crucial negotiations. She remains the third most famous person of the expedition.
Passing the Bad River
While passing the Bad River in present Pierre, South Dakota, Clark recalls how the Lakota Sioux attempted to stop them in 1804. They make about sixty miles and now expect to find those Indians.
An offer to raise Jean Baptiste
The expedition leaves the Knife River Villages without Pvt. Colter and the Charbonneau family. Clark encourages the Charbonneaus to come to St. Louis where he can arrange the education of Jean Baptiste.
Sgt. Pryor catches up
In the morning, Pryor arrives at Clark’s camp having paddled two bull boats down the Yellowstone River. Lewis sets up a camp near present-day Williston to make clothes, repair boats, hunt, and make jerky.
Willard swept away
During the night, Pvt. Willard is swept down the Missouri. Further downriver, Clark moves his group to escape the mosquitoes. Sgt. Pryor finds that his two bull boats can handle the Yellowstone rapids.
Drouillard gives chase
With his Shoshone guide Toby, Clark travels to the end of the Lemhi Valley and names the Salmon River after Meriwether Lewis. At Fortunate Camp, all is ready to take the baggage over Lemhi Pass.
First Shoshone encounter
After weeks of searching, Lewis has an encounter with a Shoshone warrior. He tries several methods to persuade the man to meet with him but is unsuccessful. The boats continue up the Beaverhead.
Shallow and winding river
The men struggle to move the dugouts up the shallow and winding Beaverhead River. Lewis moves ahead to find Shoshones and hopefully be able to trade for horses, and Pvt. Shannon finally returns.
Burying Sgt. Floyd
The expedition stops near present Sioux City, Iowa to bury Sgt. Floyd with a full military ceremony. Elsewhere, Salcedo reports on several American expeditions in contested Spanish territory.
Moses Reed is missing
The expedition travels 15 miles and encamps southwest of present Modale, Iowa. The captains record yesterday’s speech to the Otoes, and Pvt. Moses Reed, who left to retrieve his knife, does not return.
Leaving Pittsburgh
After eight months of preparation, Lewis finally leaves Pittsburgh with a crew of eleven hands. During a stop, he shows off his new air gun, and Blaze Cenas accidentally shoots a female spectator.
Ohio River flatboats
As he waits in Pittsburgh for the military barge to be completed, Lewis leaves little record of his day-to-day activities. The role of flatboats in Ohio River commerce was described by other travelers.
Newspaper leaks
A Louisville newspaper leaks a story that Clark and Lewis will soon lead an expedition to the Pacific Ocean. The source is likely Clark who is waiting there for Lewis to arrive from Pittsburgh.
New Orleans smugglers
From Natchez, William Claiborne, Governor of the Mississippi Territory, answers President Jefferson‘s Louisiana questions and describes smuggling at New Orleans—an activity experienced by William Clark.
Ohio flatboat men
As he waits in Pittsburgh for the military barge to be completed, Lewis leaves little record of his day-to-day activities. The Ohio River boatmen he encountered there were described by other travelers.
A final inspection?
Lewis anxiously awaits completion of the military barge so that he can head down the Ohio. Clark writes to tell him that the best interpreters, hunters, and boatmen can be hired at St. Louis and Cahokia.
Maple sugar
As he waits in Pittsburgh for the military barge to be completed, Lewis leaves little record of his day-to-day activities. Likely he enjoyed the coarse maple sugar made in the surrounding hills.
Louisiana cession news
Lewis is in Pittsburgh having a military barge built prior to departing down the Ohio River. President Jefferson in Monticello and Daniel Clark in New Orleans write news of the Louisiana cession.
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Unless otherwise noted, journal excerpts are from The Journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, edited by Gary E. Moulton, 13 vols. (Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1983-2001).