The Journals of Lewis and Clark: 1804: Volume I

The Journals of Lewis and Clark: 1804 Volume I of III On May 14, 1804, the Corps of Discovery set out from Camp Dubois, Illinois, heading westward under the command of Captain Meriwether Lewis and his Second Lieutenant, William Clark. While Lewis led the group in terms of rank, the two men became de facto equals, giving their names jointly to a journey that would shape the future of the fledgling United States — the Lewis and Clark Expedition. This book presents journal entries taken directly from the expedition. The hardships faced and the valor shown by the party along the way have become the stuff of American legend. The idea of exploring, engaging with, and taming the “wild frontier” captured the American imagination in a big way in the succeeding century and was critical in the establishment of the Union we see today. But there are melancholy notes too. The theft of Indigenous lands and the destruction of natural habitats and ecosystems in the wake of rapid industrialization can trace their roots, at least in part, back to the journey of two commissioned officers and several dozen men at the turn of the 19th century. From a historical perspective, this is a vital primary resource.