Primary Sources Describing 5 Dangers of the Lewis and Clark Expedition
Read about a variety of dangers of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
If you’ve graduated from high school you’ve heard of Lewis and Clark. If you haven’t, you were probably sleeping, throwing pencils into ceiling tiles, or daydreaming when your history teacher brought it up. It’s one of the most notable events in early American history. Essentially, it was a small group of explorers who traveled many miles of uncharted territory, and who returned to their country with information that helped it in the future. While on this expedition, Lewis and Clark described marvelous landscapes, the rigors of the trail, exotic wildlife, and much, much more. Imagine seeing the vista of the American West for the first time in the natural state of the early 1800s. It would have been enchanting, and that’s a big part of the romance.
However, the journey was also dangerous. In fact, in its day, it was seen as an extremely dangerous undertaking. On their return, several of the journal entries essentially say what William Clark’s September 20, 1806 entry says,
“every person, both French and americans Seem to express great pleasure at our return, and acknowledged them selves much astonished in Seeing us return. they informed us that we were Supposed to have been lost long Since, and were entirely given out by every person…”
In a world without an ounce of the communication capabilities we have, people had no idea what was going on with the expedition. The West was a dangerous place, and after a long absence, they were assumed to have perished. In reality, the only member of the expedition to die was Sergeant Charles Floyd. While it’s not exactly known what caused his death, the source in the previous link identifies the probable cause as appendicitis. The fact that only one member of a crew of over 45 people died on this dangerous trip of over 2 years is remarkable. This is especially true when you understand some of the close calls during the expedition.
Although the list of dangers of the Lewis and Clark expedition could be rather long, in this article we’ll highlight five different situations. The list isn’t exhaustive. Instead, it covers several categories of dangers they faced and gives an example of incidents in each.
The Landscape
One danger of the Lewis and Clark Expedition was the landscape itself. Even the rivers they traveled were a constant danger. Here is one example from June 29, 1805, when a flash flood almost claimed the lives of several crew members.
“…the first shower was moderate accompanyed by a violent rain the effects of which they did but little feel; soon after a most violent torrent of rain decended accompanyed with hail; the rain appeared to decend in a body and instantly collected in the rivene and came down in a roling torrent with irrisistable force driving rocks mud and everything before it which opposed it's passage, Capt. C. fortunately discovered it a moment before it reached them and seizing his gun and shot pouch with his left hand with the right he assisted himself up the steep bluff shoving occasionaly the Indian woman before him who had her child in her arms; Sharbono had the woman by the hand indeavouring to pull her up the hill but was so much frightened that he remained frequently motionless and but for Capt. C. both himself and his [wo]man and child must have perished. so suddon was the rise of the water that before Capt C could reach his gun and begin to ascend the bank it was up to his waist and wet his watch; and he could scarcely ascend faster than it arrose till it had obtained the debth of 15 feet with a current tremendious to behold. one moment longer & it would have swept them into the river just above the great cataract of 87 feet where they must have inevitably perished….”
As you can see, the flash flood apparently came on very quickly. Had the three been caught up in it, they would have been carried over a precipice 87 tall and fallen to their deaths.
Animals
In addition to the landscape, animals posed a danger to the Corps of Discovery as well. Of course, there were all sorts of predators prowling the country. As you might expect, frontiersmen had plenty of negative encounters with some of these. One species that nearly every early frontiersman had a negative encounter with was the grizzly bear. Here is one excerpt from May 14, 1805 that describes how dangerous this could get.
“one of the party wounded a brown bear very badly, but being alone did not think proper to pursue him. In the evening the men in two of the rear canoes discovered a large brown bear lying in the open grounds about 300 paces from the river, and six of them went out to attack him, all good hunters; they took the advantage of a small eminence which concealed them and got within 40 paces of him unperceived, two of them reserved their fires as had been previously conscerted, the four others fired nearly at the same time and put each his bullet through him, two of the balls passed through the bulk of both lobes of his lungs, in an instant this monster ran at them with open mouth, the two who had reserved their fires discharged their pieces at him as he came towards them, boath of them struck him, one only slightly and the other fortunately broke his shoulder, this however only retarded his motion for a moment only, the men unable to reload their guns took to flight, the bear pursued and had very nearly overtaken them before they reached the river; two of the party betook themselves to a canoe and the others seperated an concealed themselves among the willows, reloaded their pieces, each discharged his piece at him as they had an opportunity they struck him several times again but the guns served only to direct the bear to them, in this manner he pursued two of them seperately so close that they were obliged to throw aside their guns and pouches and throw themselves into the river altho' the bank was nearly twenty feet perpendicular; so enraged was this anamal that he plunged into the river only a few feet behind the second man he had compelled take refuge in the water, when one of those who still remained on shore shot him through the head and finally killed him; they then took him on shore and butched him when they found eight balls had passed through him in different directions; the bear being old the flesh was indifferent, they therefore only took the skin and fleece, the latter made us several gallons of oil…”
Yes, you read that correctly. The guy jumped off a cliff into the river and the bear jumped in after him.
Weather
Another danger of the Lewis and Clark Expedition was related to the weather. In fact, you might be surprised just how bad the weather was at certain points. Here is one set of entries about a pretty brutal period that comes from January 10, 1805.
“last night was excessively Cold the murkery this morning Stood at 40° below 0 which is 72° below the freesing point, we had one man out last night, who returned about 8 oClock this morning The Indians of the lower Villages turned out to hunt for a man & a boy who had not returnd from the hunt of yesterday, and borrowd a Slay to bring them in expecting to find them frosed to death about 10 oclock the boy about 13 years of age Came to the fort with his feet frosed and had layen out last night without fire with only a Buffalow Robe to Cover him, the Dress which he wore was a pr of Cabra [NB: Antelope] Legins, which is verry thin and mockersons— we had his feet put in Cold water and they are Comeing too— Soon after the arrival of the Boy, a man Came in who had also Stayed out without fire, and verry thinly Clothed, this man was not the least injured—
“Customs & the habits of those people has ancered to bare more Cold than I thought it possible for man to indure—”
-40˚F is cold. You might also appreciate his story of the Native people who had camped out in it. I’ve often thought about Clark’s statement, “Customs & the habits of those people has ancered to bare more Cold than I thought it possible for man to indure.” They must have been some tremendously tough people for Clark to be impressed by their physical toughness.
Natives
If you know much about frontier history, you won’t be surprised to learn that Lewis and Clark faced dangers from Native people. It’s worth pointing out that Native people were very instrumental in the expeditions’ success. Without the help and hospitality of multiple tribes, it’s hard to see how the men would have made it. However, there were a few points where a few bands of Native people threatened the expedition. This entry comes from September 25, 1804, on their quest up the Missouri. For several days they had been meeting with and trading with a large party of Natives, many from the Brule tribe. Although relations were cordial the first few days, eventually, events nearly erupted into a bloody battle. Here is how Clark told it:
“a fair Morning the wind from the S. E. raised a Flagg Staff and formed an orning & Shade on a Sand bar in the Mouth of Teton R to Council under, the greater portion of the party to Continue on board— about 11 oClock the 1st & 2d Chief arrived, we gave them to eat; they gave us Some meat, (we discover our interpeter do not Speak the language well) at 12 oClock the Councill Commenced & after Smokeing agreeable to the usial custom C. L. [Lewis] Delivered a written Speech to them, I Some explinations &c. all party Paraded, gave a Medal to the grand Chief in Indian Un-ton gar-Sar bar, or Black Buffalow— Torto-hongar, Partezon (Bad fellow) the 3d Tar-ton-gar-wa-ker, Buffalow medison— we invited those Chiefs & a Soldier on board our boat, and Showed them many Curiossites, which they were much Surprised, we gave they ½ a wine glass of whiskey which they appeared to be exceedingly fond of they took up an empty bottle, Smelted it, and made maney Simple jestures and Soon began to be troublesom the 2d Chief effecting Drunkness as a Cloak for his vilenous intintious (as I found after wards,) realed or fell about the boat, I went in a perogue with those Chief who left the boast with great reluctians, my object was to reconsile them and leave them on Shore, as Soon as I landed 3 of their young ment Seased the Cable of the Perogue, one Soldiar Huged the mast 〈which was〉 and the 2d Chief was exceedingly insolent both in words and justures to me declareing I Should no go off, Saying he had not recived presents Suffient from us— 〈his〉 I attempted to passify 〈him〉 but it had a contrary effect for his insults became So personal and his intentions evident to do me injurey, I Drew my Sword 〈and ordered all hands under arms〉 at this motion Capt Louis ordered all in the boat under arms, the fiew men that was with me haveing previously taken up their guns with a full deturmination to defend me if possible— The grand Chief then took hold of the Cable & Sent all the young men off, the Soldier got out of the perogue and the 2nd Chief walked off to the Party at about 20 yards back, all of which had their bows Strung & guns Cocked— I then Spoke in verry positive terms to them all, 〈but〉 principaly addressing myself to the 1st Chief, who let the roape go and walked to the Indian, party about, 100— I again offered my hand to the 1st Chief who refused it— (all this time the Indians were pointing their arrows blank—[)] I proceeded to the perogue and pushed off and had not proceeded far before the 1st & 3r Chief & 2 principal men walked into the water and requested to go on board, I took them in and we proceeded on abot a Mile, and anchored near a Small Island, I call this Island Bad humered Island”
The reality is that the frontier could be a violent place. This is just one example of how that violence could erupt in a moment.
Survival
Finally, members of the Lewis and Clark Expedition also faced basic survival challenges as well. Things like staying fed and staying healthy were real challenges. At certain points, their basic needs were well taken care of. At others, they faced serious privation. Here is one example of the latter.
“Cap Clark set out this morning to go a head with six hunters. there being no game in these mountains we concluded it would be better for one of us to take the hunters and hurry on to the leavel country a head and there hunt and provide some provision 〈for〉 while the other remained with and brought on the party…
“we suffered for water this day passing one rivulet only; we wer fortunate in finding water in a steep raviene about ½ maile from our camp. this morning we finished the remainder of our last coult. we dined & suped on a skant proportion of portable soupe, a few canesters of which, a little bears oil and about 20 lbs. of candles form our stock of provision, the only resources being our guns & packhorses. the first is but a poor dependance in our present situation where there is nothing upon earth exept ourselves and a few small pheasants, small grey Squirrels, and a blue bird of the vulter kind about the size of a turtle dove or jay bird…”
“we took a small quantity of portable soup, and retired to rest much fatiegued. several of the men are unwell of the disentary. brakings out, or irruptions of the Skin, have also been common with us for some time…
“…I directed the horses to be hubbled to prevent delay in the morning being determined to make a forced march tomorrow in order to reach if possible the open country. we killed a few Pheasants, and I killd a prarie woolf which together with the ballance of our horse beef and some crawfish which we obtained in the creek enabled us to make one more hearty meal, not knowing where the next was to be found…
“I find myself growing weak for the want of food and most of the men complain of a similar deficiency and have fallen off very much…
“…we had proceeded about two and a half miles when we met Reubin Fields one of oure hunters, whom Capt. Clark had dispatched to meet us with some dryed fish and roots that he had procured from a band of Indians, whose lodges were about eight miles in advance. I ordered the party to halt for the purpose of taking some refreshment. I divided the fish roots and buries, and was happy to find a sufficiency to satisfy compleatly all our appetites. Fields also killed a crow after refreshing ourselves we proceeded to the village…”
These entries record the Corps’ trek over the Bitterroot Mountains. In terms of basic survival, it was one of the more difficult parts of the trip. As you read, the men were reduced to eating bear fat, portable soup, candles, vultures, and crows.
Hopefully, you have found these journal entries describing the dangers of the Lewis and Clark expedition helpful. While the expedition certainly would have been one of excitement and adventure, it also would have been very difficult. In some ways, that was life on the frontier in a nutshell.
