This voyage will be a testament of the human body, mind, and will; the individuals partaking in this journey will need to posses certain skills. The first skills that should be possessed are the skills that of a frontiersman. Secondly these men should have the abilities of a draftsman. Thirdly I would like these men to have some experience navigating foreign terrain. Fourthly these men should have some skills navigating waterways such as rivers, lakes, and tributaries. Lastly, I would expect these individuals to be healthy, intelligent, posse’s knowledge of the wilderness and have skills in hunting, gathering, and shelter building.
Each of the men chosen should understand that this is a journey through uncharted territories; this trip will be a testament of human strength, intelligence, skill, and spirit. Having this task of organizing the Corps of Discovery appointed to me by Lewis and Clark, I have devised a question that I will ask each man before I admit them into this elite group. The question that I will ask each man is not whether they are willing to take this trip, but is your body physically capable with the skills and attributes that you posses to not only complete this voyage in its entirety, but complete it while performing the necessary duties required? Judging on the responses that I receive from each man, and my own evaluation, I will admit individuals into the Corps of Discovery. These men admitted into the Corps of Discovery will be joining Lewis and Clark on their voyage to the great ocean.
The Corps of Discovery is an elite group that will be taking the journey alongside Lewis and Clark, and they are now asking me if I would like to join them. Presented with this humbling opportunity I would have to ask myself the same question that I had asked each of the men. Is my body physically capable with the skills and attributes that I posses to not only complete this voyage in its entirety, but complete it while performing the necessary duties required? After deep consideration and careful thought I would have to reply with a simple yes. With such a great opportunity bestowed upon me I would need to get into the correct mindset in order to prepare myself for such a long and grueling journey that could break a mans back and crush his spirit. Knowing the challenges in front of me I am still not deterred, because knowing that I am going to be a pioneer of my time, which will be taking a journey with highly respected individuals of my time, I know this is an opportunity and a mark in history that will be remembered long after we all expire.
The maps above depict the route the Corps of Discover led by Lewis and Clark took on their way through the Louisiana Purchase, and a geographic map depicting the land acquired in the purchase. The top map shows the route taken and specific sites they discovered along the way. May 14, 1804 the start of their journey on the expedition marks first 4th of July west of the Mississippi by firing the keelboat's cannon, and naming Independence Creek. Shortly after the Corps of Discovery meet with representatives of the Oto and Missouri Indians, give peace medals, 15 star flags and other gifts. Then along their journey near present day Sioux City, Iowa, Sgt. Charles Floyd dies of a probable burst appendix. Captains name hilltops where he is buried Floyd's Bluff and a nearby stream, Floyd's River. On September 7 the men attempted to drown a prairie dog, foreign to them, and ship it back to Jefferson. Later on their journey they discover earth lodge villages of the Mandan and Hidatsas Indians; the captains decided to build Fort Mandan across the river from the main village. A turning point in the expedition when they discovered Toussaint Charbonneau, a French Canadian fur trapper living with the Hidatsa’s, they decided to hire him as an interpreter. Sacagawea, his wife, is a Shoshone who had been captured by the Hidatsa’s and sold to Charbonneau, is also deemed helpful as the Shoshones are said to live at the headwaters of the Missouri. On April 7, 1805 Lewis and Clark sent the keelboat loaded with a dozen men back downriver, with maps, reports, Indian artifacts and other specimens for Jefferson; and the remainder of the group headed west. While scouting ahead of the rest of the expedition, Lewis comes across the Great Falls of the Missouri. Further along the expedition Lewis discovers a village of Shoshones and tries to bargain for some horses. Later Clark and the rest of the expedition arrive, and it is discovered that the Shoshone chief Cameahwait is Sacagawea's brother. With this stroke of luck working in their favor Lewis and Clark decide to name the site Camp Fortunate. After their departure the Shoshones grant them a guide, Old Toby, 29 horses and a mule. Before they prepare to cross the mountains the expedition camps at present day Missoula, Montana, a spot Lewis and Clark called Travelers Rest to prepare for the mountain crossing. The mountains prove to be tougher than imagined the trip nearly taking their lives due to starvation before reaching Idaho. At the end of their journey before turning home they present fort Clatsop to the Clatsop Indians. After crossing the bitterroots the group decides to split up in order to cover more territory acquired in the Louisiana Purchase. Clark heads down the Yellowstone River, while Lewis heads to the Great Falls and heads north following the Maris River. The parties reunited at the mouth of the Yellowstone River. Upon their arrival at home after a monumental journey Lewis and Clark are treated as national heroes. They return to Washington, D.C. The men received double pay, along with a reward of 320 acres, the captains got 1,600 acres. Lewis is named governor of the Louisiana Territory, and Clark is made Indian agent for the West and brigadier general of the territory's militia.
References
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Ayers, Edward L., Lewis L. Gould, David M. Oshinsky, and Jean R. Soderlund. American Passages: A history of the United States. 2nd ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2006.
