11. Meriwether Lewis and William Clark 1804-1806
President Thomas Jefferson commissioned the Corps of Discovery to explore and map the territory of the Louisiana Purchase. By mapping out the land, the United States would have a legal claim to the land. Jefferson selected Meriwether Lewis as the captain for the expedition who in turn hired his long-time friend, William Clark as his Second Lieutenant.
Over several months, President Jefferson had Captain Lewis study the geography of the Missouri River, study medical techniques and treatments, and learn how to use navigational equipment. After his training, Lewis recruited US Army volunteers that were willing and able to endure the physical demands of paddling upriver each day, be under constant threat of Indian attack, and who could tolerate the lengthy journey so far away from family and friends.
In May 1804, the Corps of Discovery began their upriver journey from St. Charles, Missouri. The expedition documented everything that they saw, measuring each bend in the river, observing plants, animals, and people. The Corps entered Sioux Territory, 640 miles from St. Louis, on July 21, 1804.
Because the United States government-funded the expedition, they carried gifts, various supplies, medicine, 15-star US flags, and Indian Peace Medals created by the US Mint. The front side had an image of President Jefferson with the flip side displaying a message of friendship. Although the men traveled in peace, they had to inform all native tribes that they were now under control of the United States government.
In total, there were 33 men as part of the Corps of Discovery. Others joined as guides along the way with the most famous being Sacagawea, a Shoshone Indian who was Toussaint Charbonneau’s wife. During their expedition, the men became the first non-native people to see the Yellowstone River, cross the western Continental Divide, and enter into present-day Montana. The Corps of Discovery relied upon the numerous native tribes that they encountered. Without them the men may have starved or been permanently lost. Only one member of the expedition died and that was from appendicitis.
Two months after the end of the voyage, President Thomas Jefferson gave a public address to Congress proclaiming that the mission was a success and then proceeded to justify the allocations of money for the Corps of Discovery. Meriwether Lewis reportedly committed suicide while outside of Nashville, Tennessee on October 10, 1809. William Clark went on to become the governor of the Missouri Territory. He died in St. Louis on September 1, 1838.
