The Journals of Lewis and Clark (Lewis & Clark Expedition)

In 1803, when the United States purchased Louisiana from France, the great expanse of this new American territory was a blank -- not only on the map but in our knowledge. President Thomas Jefferson keenly understood that the course of the nation's destiny lay westward and that a national ''Voyage of Discovery'' must be mounted to determine the nature and accessibility of the frontier. He commissioned his young secretary, Meriwether Lewis, to lead an intelligence-gathering expedition from the Missouri River to the northern Pacific coast and back. From 1804 to 1806, Lewis, accompanied by co-captain William Clark, the Shoshone guide Sacajawea, and thirty-two men, made the first trek across the Louisiana Purchase, mapping the rivers as he went, tracing the principal waterways to the sea, and establishing the American claim to the territories of Idaho, Washington, and Oregon. together the captains kept a journal, a richly detailed record of the flora and fauna they sighted, the Indian tribes they encountered, and the awe-inspiring landscape they traversed, from their base camp near present-day St. Louis to the mouth of the Columbia River. In keeping this record they made an incomparable contribution to the literature of exploration and the writing of natural history. The Journals of Lewis and Clark, writes Bernard DeVoto, was ''the first report on the West, on the United States over the hill and beyond the sunset, on the province of the American future. There has never been another so excellent or so influential...It satisfied desire and created desire: the desire of the westering nation.'' In 1803, When The United States Purchased Louisiana From France, The Great Expanse Of This New American Territory Was A Blank - Not Only On The Map But In Our Knowledge. President Thomas Jefferson Keenly Understood That The Course Of The Nation's Destiny Lay Westward And That A National Voyage Of Discovery Must Be Mounted To Determine The Nature And Accessibility Of The Frontier. He Commissioned His Young Secretary, Meriwether Lewis, To Lead An Intelligence-gathering. Expedition From The Missouri River To The Northern Pacific Coast And Back. From 1804 To 1806, Lewis, Accompanied By Co-captain William Clark, The Shoshone Guide Sacajawea, And Thirty-two Men, Made The First Trek Across The Louisiana Purchase, Mapping The Rivers As He Went, Tracing The Principal Waterways To The Sea, And Establishing The American Claim To The Territories Of Idaho, Washington, And Oregon. Together The Captains Kept A Journal, A Richly Detailed Record Of. The Flora And Fauna They Sighted, The Indian Tribes They Encountered, And The Awe-inspiring Landscape They Traversed, From Their Base Camp Near Present-day St. Louis To The Mouth Of The Columbia River. In Keeping This Record They Made An Incomparable Contribution To The Literature Of Exploration And The Writing Of Natural History. Edited By Bernard Devoto ; Foreword By Stephen E. Ambrose ; Maps By Erwin Raisz. Based On The Reuben Gold Thwaites Ed., Published In 1904-1905. A Mariner Book. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. The Journals of Lewis and Clark are "the first report on the West, on the United States over the hill and beyond the sunset, on the province of the American future" (Bernard DeVoto). In 1803, the great expanse of the Louisiana Purchase was an empty canvas. Keenly aware that the course of the nation's destiny lay westwardand that a "Voyage of Discovery" would be necessary to determine the nature of the frontierPresident Thomas Jefferson commissioned Meriwether Lewis to lead an expedition from the Missouri River to the northern Pacific coast and back. From 1804 to 1806, accompanied by co-captain William Clark, the Shoshone guide Sacajawea, and thirty-two men, Lewis mapped rivers, traced the principal waterways to the sea, and established the American claim to the territories of Idaho, Washington, and Oregon. Together the captains kept this journal: a richly detailed record of the flora and fauna they sighted, the native tribes they encountered, and the awe-inspiring landscape they traversed, from their base camp near present-day St. Louis to the mouth of the Columbia River, that has become an incomparable contribution to the literature of exploration and the writing of natural history. Cover 1 Foreword 6 Preface 12 Table of Content 18 Introduction 24 Chapter 1 63 Chapter 2 74 Chapter 3 85 Chapter 4 95 Chapter 5 119 Chapter 6 137 Chapter 7 149 Chapter 8 164 Chapter 9 177 Chapter 10 194 Chapter 11 209 Chapter 12 217 Chapter 13 232 Chapter 14 247 Chapter 15 264 Chapter 16 278 Chapter 17 294 Chapter 18 311 Chapter 19 321 Chapter 20 335 Chapter 21 354 Chapter 22 365 Chapter 23 374 Chapter 24 393 Chapter 25 405 Chapter 26 418 Chapter 27 432 Chapter 28 446 Chapter 29 462 Chapter 30 480 Chapter 31 510 Chapter 32 515 Chapter 33 529 Appendix I 542 Appendix II 549 Appendix III 552 Index 555 The Lewis and Clark Expedition or the Corps of Discovery Expedition was the first American expedition to cross what is now the western portion of the United States. It began near St. Louis, made its way westward, and passed through the continental divide to reach the Pacific coast. The campaign's secondary objectives were scientific and economic: to study the area's plants, animal life, and geography, and to establish trade with local Native American tribes. With maps, sketches, and journals in hand, the expedition returned to St. Louis to report its findings to Jefferson. For forty-five years, the standard edition of this classic, with a new foreword by Stephen Ambrose, the best-selling author of Undaunted Courage.