Background Information Timeline
Captain Meriwether Lewis and Second Lieutenant Clark began their expedition towards the west of the United States because of the newly acquired land that was purchased in the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. Thomas Jefferson, the President at the time made this to order. They departed from St. Louis on the Mississippi River on May, 14 1804.
Their MissionThe mission that Jefferson proposed to Lewis and Clark was to map and explore the newly bought land, and to have an American
presence on that land so that no Europeans or Natives would not try and to make a riot or take over their land. Even though finding new resources, new species, and new plants wasn't the mission and goal, they found and researched as much as they could along the way. Native American encounters helped affect them and Lewis and Clark brought back much cultural and also medicine ideas and learned about how the Natives lived. The geography and mapping helped out by showing and knowing where there are new rivers, lakes, where certain Natives live, and where the soil is most fertile and where the soil is desert. Timeline: Continuing1806:
March 22: Corps of Discovery leave Fort Clatsop and begin journey back home, in the east. March 23 to May 14: Corps' travel to Camp Chopunnish. April 11: Lewis's dog was stolen by Natives but soon given back to Lewis. Lewis warns cheif about mishchievous acts and other wrongdoings. May 14 to June 10: They are prepared to cross mountains but the Bitterroot Mountains are still covered in snow and are unable to pass. June 10 to June 30: They travel to Traveler's Rest by following the Lolo Creek. June 30 to July 3: They camp at Traveler's Rest. July 3: The Corps of Discovery divide into two groups with Lewis leading one group to the Blackfoot River and Clark leading the other group to the Bitterroot River. Clark explores Yellowstone along the way. July 7: Lewis's group cross the Continental Divide at the Lewis and Clark Pass. July 13: They reach White Bear Island. July 15: Lewis explores Maria's River. July 25: Clark discovers Pompey's Pillar and writes on it. July 27: The Blackfeet Native Americans try and steal the Corps' group' rifles. A fight breaks out and two Natives die. This was the only hostile encounter with a Native tribe. July 28: Lewis meets Ordway and Gass. August 11: Lewis is shot accidently. August 12: The two groups of the Corps of Discovery rejoin on the Missouri River in present day North Dakota. September 23: The Corps of Discovery arrive in St. Louis, ending their long journey. |
Important events and findings of new species, plants, and interactions with Native Americans are listed below.
1804 -June 12: They meet Pierre Dorion, and he helps as an interpreter, for the Sioux Native Americans. August 23: Pvt. Joseph Field kills first bison. September 7: They find the first ever "prairie dog" and send it back to the Thomas Jefferson to investigate. September: 14: First "prairie goat" found and then killed, they soon named it an Antelope. September 25: The Americans demand a toll from the Lakota Sioux Native Americans. October 8: They pass by the Arikara Native Americans. October 24: They meet the Mandan Chief, named Big White. Joseph Gravelins acts and helps as an interpreter. November-December: Fort Mandan is constructed. November 4: They meet Toussaint Charbonneau, a French Canadian fur trapper that was living with Sacagawea and others. December 24: Fort Mandan is completed. 1805: April 7 to April 25: They travel to Yellowstone River. April 25: Fort Union and Fort Buford were built. April 25 to June 3: They travel to Marias River. May 5: Lewis and another hunter kill the first ever "grizzly bear". May 8: Travel to "Milk River". May 14: A random storm tips one of the boats with numerous items on it, and many of the Corps' journals fall into the river. Sacagawea calmy recovers most of the items. June 3: Camp Deposit is established and there is also confusion with where the Missouri River geographically is. June 3 to June 20: They travel to Great Falls. June 14: Lewis kills a bison. June 21 to July 2: Boats and equipment are moved around the falls. July 15 to August 8: the Corps' travel to the Shoshone Indians and then travel through the Gates of the Mountains to the Three Forks which make up the Missouri River. The hike pass Beaverhead Rock. August 12: Lewis decides to hike separately and crosses the Continental Divide at Lemhi Pass. August 13: Lewis meets Cameahwait, the chief and leader of the Shoshone. August 15 to August 17: Lewis returns from Lemhi Pass with Cameahwait and sets up Camp Fortunate. August 17: A council of the Corps' and the Native Americans meet with the Shoshone. During this, Sacagawea learns the fate of her family and finds out that Cameahwait is her brother. Lewis and Clark both negotiate for horses for the hike over the Rocky Mountains. They hire guide Old Toby from the Shoshone. August 26: Lewis and the Corps' cross the Continental Divide at Lemhi Pass and leave the United States into Oregon Country. September 1 to October 6: They cross the Bitterroot Mountains September 4: They meet the Flathead Native Americans at Ross's Hole. October 6 to October 9: They meet the Newz Perce Native Americans on Clearwater. October 9 to December 7: They travel down Clearwater River, Snake River, and Columbia River to the ocean. October 25 to October 28: They camp at Rock Fort and mee the Chinookan Native Americans from lower Columbia. December 25: Fort Clatsop is completed and this is where the Corps' winter camp will be. |