The Lewis And Clark Expedition

The Lewis and Clark expedition was a turning point in American history. It radically expanded our current knowledge of what used to be the Louisiana Territory. When thinking of this expedition, most forget that many people accompanied Lewis and Clark. Each member had important jobs and roles that may have drastically increased the aqusition of knowledge. There were even cases of incredulous misbehavior with appropriate punishments, and of course, along the way deaths occurred. Without the information that was brought back from exploring these lands, Americans would be lost when colonizing the West.

There were 59 people and one dog that participated over the course of the expedition, though everyone that joined didn’t make it to the Pacific.

Some of the voyagers included the famous Sacagawea; a 16 year-old Native American who helped with translations in a peaceful demeanour that would disband hostility, all while caring for her infant. There was George Drouillard; a 28 year-old who was a good hunter equipped with the knowledge of Native American character and sign language, who also helped transport volunteers. Toussaint Charbonneau; a 37 year-old French Canadian man who lived among the Hidatsa people, and could translate and was known as the husband of Sacagawea, he boasted about skills he didn’t have and was lazy as well. Patrick Gass; he made detailed notes and coined the name “Corps of Discovery”. He also commanded the return portage around the waterfalls. Finally, Charles Floyd; a Kentucky resident who kept a detailed journal about the land quality on the voyage. This group of recruits played vital parts as cogs of the machine that helped further the quest for

This was the passing of Charles Floyd. Lewis remarked that Charles’s death was the saddest part of the journey. The presumed cause of death was appendicitis, but other sources have stated it may have been peritonitis, inflammation of the wall of the abdominal wall or biliary colic. Charles Floyd was one of the first to volunteer to join Lewis and took extremely detailed notes. He died in 1804 on the Missouri River. Floyd received a 100’ memorial in Iowa made of sandstone — the most prestigious memorial of all the voyagers. In conclusion, the trip would not have been possible without the other members and the help they provided with their various specialties. There are many more individuals who helped in this mission. Without it and them, our world would not be the