Lewis & Clark Expedition

Lewis & Clark Expedition

• What prompted the expedition?

The tension rose to crisis level in October 1802, when the Spanish Intend ant of New Orleans suddenly revoked the American right of deposit. This caused considerable agitation among Americans dependent upon the Mississippi as a waterway for transporting goods. To quell the hostile feelings and threats of an armed march on New Orleans that could potentially lead to war, Jefferson appointed James Monroe as Minister Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary with "discretionary powers" to join Livingston in Paris and negotiate with France and Spain if needed. Monroe owned a large tract of land in Kentucky and had spoken out on behalf of the rights of these western territories. This made him a popular figure in the West, and, as Jefferson noted, he possessed, "the unlimited confidence of the administration and of the western people." His charge was to negotiate for the purchase of the port of New Orleans and the provinces of East and West Florida, which Jefferson wrongly assumed were being transferred to France as well. Monroe's appointment was presented to Congress for approval exactly a week before the confidential message requesting funds for an exploratory party up the Mississippi. (Stephenie 2008)

• The Time Line of the Expedition

* May 14 - The Corps of Discovery departs from Camp Dubois at 4 P.M., marking the beginning of the voyage to the Pacific coast.

* May 16 - The Corps of Discovery arrives at St. Charles, Missouri.

* May 21 - Departure from St. Charles at 3:30pm.

* May 24 - Pass Boone's Settlement. Home of famous woodsman Daniel Boone.

* May 25 - The expedition passes the small village of La Charrette on the Missouri River. Charles Floyd writes in his journal that this is "the last settlement of whites on this river."

* June 1 - The expedition reaches the Osage River.

* June 12 - Lewis and Clark meet 3 trappers in two pirogues. One of the men was Pierre Dorion-who knew George Rogers Clark. Lewis and Clark persuaded Dorion to return to Sioux camp to act as interpreter.

* June 26 - The expedition arrives at Kaw Point where the Kansas River drains into the Missouri River basin.

* June 28-29 - First trial in new territory. Pvt. John Collins was on guard duty and broke into the supplies and got drunk. Collins invited Pvt. Hugh Hall to drink also. Collins received 100 lashes, Hall received 50 lashes.

* July 4 - Marking Independence Day, the expedition names Independence Creek located near Atchison, Kansas.

* July 11-12 - Second trial in new territory. Pvt. Alexander Hamilton Willard was on guard duty. Charges were lying down and sleeping at his post whilst a sentinel. Punishable by death. He received 100 lashes for four straight days.

* July 21 - Reached the Platte River-640 miles from St Louis. Entering Sioux Territory.

* August 1 - Captain William Clark's 34th birthday.

* August 3 - The Corps of ...