The United States Expands: The Lewis and Clark Expedition, 2nd Edition Part 3
The United States Expands:
The Lewis and Clark Expedition, 2nd Edition
Part 3
Thoroughly fed up with the not-so-Pacific Ocean the decision was made to break camp on March 23, 1806, and head, eastward, for home. [57] Although the return trip took only six months, it still included all the “physical stress” and hardship that accompanied the Corps’ westward crossing. [58] By June 29, the expedition had crossed the Divide and was starting down the northeast side of the Rocky Mountains into modern day Montana. [59] After resting for a few days, Lewis and Clark decided to divide their forces so they could cover more territory. Lewis traveled overland north of the Missouri, exploring the basin of Marie’s River as far as he could, while Clark went south to the Yellowstone River and floated down it’s current into the Missouri. [60] Both parties would be susceptible to attack from hostile Indians, especially since they would be weakened by the split up. Having to go through Blackfeet territory, Lewis was almost certain to have trouble.
On July 3, the two groups separated, with Lewis taking the northerly route and Clark the more southern one. At first, it was a pleasant if not easy journey. Although game was scarce, no Indians were sighted until July 26. Lewis, who by this time had only three men with him, having sent the others on ahead to get the supplies that he had cached the previous year, ran into a party of eight Blackfeet Indians. All went well until that night. When the Indians tried to steal their rifles and horses, Lewis and his men were left with no choice but to fight. One Indian was stabbed to death while Lewis accounted for another with a shot through the belly at 30 paces. [61] “Lewis, himself, was almost killed. The shot came so close that Captain Lewis, who was bareheaded felt the wind of the ball distinctly.” [62] The rest of the Indians faded away into the darkness and Lewis’s men were able to recover their rifles and horses. Although the fight was not their fault, it had a profound effect on the course of history for the Blackfeet held a grudge and “for decades the tribe made war upon the pioneers who came westward on the Lewis and Clark trail.” [63]
The only other major incident on the homeward trip occurred on August 11 and again the expedition’s leader was involved. While hunting elk with Pierre Cruzatte (who was blind in one eye), Lewis was accidently shot in the butt. Although Cruzatte vigorously denied having done the deed, the fact that it was “an army bullet, something which no Indian could have possibly fired” tends to point a guilty finger at Cruzet. [64] Although the wound did bleed quite freely and was the cause of much pain, it was not a serious wound. No charges were ever brought against Cruzet.
Two days later, on August 13, the two parties were reunited near the mouth of the Yellowstone River. [65] Now that they were together again and could float down the great Missouri rather than fight the current upstream, the expedition made 80 miles a day.
Finally, the great day that the Corps of Discovery had long awaited was upon them. On September 23, 1806, “after traveling 7,689 punishing miles” and being lost to the civilized world for 2 years, 4 months, and 10 days, the Lewis and Clark Expedition pulled up in the center of St. Louis. [66][67][68] The Corps of Discovery had returned.
The Lewis and Clark Expedition had been gone for so long that many people had given them up for dead. Even President Jefferson believed they had perished. [69] The startling news of their return quickly spread throughout the nation. Overnight Lewis and Clark became national heroes. Not only had they traveled through a vast new land but because of Clark’s outstanding skill, future settlers would have an excellent map in going on their westward journeys. “They also collected hundreds of plant and animal specimens, many of them new to the scientific world.” [70] Although they had their differences with the Blackfeet and Sioux, Lewis and Clark did “establish cordial relationships between several tribes and the U.S. Government.” [71] Probably one of the most amazing facts was that Lewis and Clark were able “to add nearly 200 to the world’s roster of known plants, and 122 species and subspecies of birds, animals, and reptiles that were unknown to science.” [72] [73] They even unearthed the bones of a 45-foot dinosaur. [74]
Most important, however, were the many miles traveled, surveyed, logged, and mapped by the illustrious duo and their adventurous party. Because of Lewis and Clark, the United States of America, which had been expanding gradually, now began to grow in leaps and bounds. The Corps of Discovery, which would become known worldwide as the Lewis and Clark Expedition, made possible the phrase, “From Sea to Shining Sea,” that Katharine Lee Bates would pen 87 years later, in her now famous poem, America the Beautiful after she visited Pike’s Peak in modern-day Colorado. Because of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, the original thirteen colonies would one day, grow into a great nation of fifty states, perhaps the greatest nation this world has ever seen, and one that is still at the forefront of world democracy on the planet known as Earth.
