The Lewis and Clark Expedition embarked on their historic journey from Camp Dubois near St. Louis, Missouri, launching a three-year exploration of the American West that would revolutionize the mapping and understanding of the newly acquired Louisiana Territory.

The Lewis and Clark Expedition stands as one of America's most remarkable journeys of discovery. On May 14, 1804, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark embarked on their historic voyage from Camp Dubois near St. Louis, Missouri, setting off up the Mississippi River with their Corps of Discovery.

President Thomas Jefferson's vision of exploring the newly acquired Louisiana Territory came to life as the expedition team loaded their keelboat and two pirogues with supplies. The 33-member crew faced unknown territories, harsh weather conditions, and encounters with Native American tribes as they prepared to navigate the vast waterways of North America. This pivotal moment marked the beginning of a three-year journey that would forever change the landscape of American exploration and mapping of the western frontier.

President Thomas Jefferson orchestrated the Lewis and Clark Expedition as a strategic mission to explore the American West after the Louisiana Purchase of 1803.

Thomas Jefferson envisioned a transcontinental trade route connecting the eastern United States to the Pacific Northwest. His objectives included:

• Mapping the newly acquired Louisiana Territory
• Establishing diplomatic relations with Native American tribes
• Documenting flora fauna species
• Assessing natural resources for economic potential
• Creating accurate geographical surveys of western waterways

Jefferson allocated $2,500 from Congress for the expedition, equivalent to $85,000 in modern currency.

Expedition Objectives	Expected Outcomes
Trade Routes	Northwest Passage Discovery
Scientific Research	Species Documentation
Territorial Claims	Resource Assessment
Diplomatic Relations	Native American Treaties
Geographic Survey	Accurate Western Maps

Jefferson appointed Meriwether Lewis as expedition commander based on specific qualifications:

• Military experience as an Army captain
• Background in scientific observation
• Knowledge of frontier survival skills
• Experience as Jefferson's personal secretary

Lewis selected William Clark as co-commander due to:

• Extensive river navigation expertise

• Prior military leadership experience

• Map-making proficiency

• Strong organizational abilities

• Lewis focused on scientific observations

• Clark managed navigation logistics

• Both shared command responsibilities

• Each maintained detailed expedition journals

The Corps of Discovery underwent extensive preparation from August 1803 to May 1804 to ensure mission success. Lewis conducted detailed planning in Philadelphia while Clark organized logistics in Indiana Territory.

Lewis established a rigorous military training program at Camp Dubois during winter 1803-1804. The Corps members learned wilderness survival techniques, weapons handling, boat navigation skills, and military discipline. Captain Clark implemented daily drills, marksmanship practice, and physical conditioning exercises to transform the diverse group of volunteers into a cohesive military unit.

The expedition amassed 3,500 pounds of supplies stored in waterproof containers across three boats:

• Scientific Equipment:
• Sextants for astronomical observations
• Compasses for navigation
• Microscopes for specimen examination
• Writing materials for documentation
• Medical Supplies:
• 1,300 doses of physics
• 50 dozen Dr. Rush's pills
• 30 gallons of concentrated rum
• Basic surgical instruments
• Trading Goods:
• 2,800 sewing needles
• 130 rolls of tobacco
• 4,600 fishhooks
• 700 feet of brass wire
• Survival Gear:
• 176 pounds of gunpowder
• 420 pounds of lead for bullets
• 12 axes for clearing paths
• 30 iron kettles for cooking

The supplies cost $2,324 of the allocated $2,500 budget, with emphasis on durability, portability, and practical value for the extensive journey ahead.

The Lewis and Clark Expedition's launch phase spanned multiple stages between August 31, 1803, and May 14, 1804. These critical dates marked significant milestones in the early phases of their historic journey.

Lewis embarked from Pittsburgh on August 31, 1803, aboard a custom-built keelboat. The 55-foot vessel carried essential supplies while navigating the Ohio River toward Louisville, Kentucky. Encountering low water levels near Brunot's Island delayed progress for 11 days. Lewis reached Cincinnati on September 28, 1803, where he gathered additional provisions for the expedition.

The Corps established their winter headquarters at Camp Dubois near the Wood River's mouth on December 12, 1803. This strategic location, situated on the east bank of the Mississippi River, offered:

• Direct access to St. Louis for supply acquisition

• Protection from harsh winter conditions

• Space for military training exercises

• Opportunities for hunting game

• Time for equipment maintenance

• Conducted daily drills from 0600 to 1800 hours

• Practiced weapon maintenance procedures

• Built shelters using local materials

• Mapped the surrounding territory

• Documented local flora species

Winter Camp Statistics	Data
Duration of Stay	156 days
Number of Structures Built	4 permanent buildings
Training Hours per Day	12 hours
Total Personnel	33 members
Distance from St. Louis	18 miles

The Lewis and Clark Expedition's initial phase concentrated on navigating the Mississippi River system from Camp Dubois to the confluence with the Missouri River. This strategic waterway served as the primary transportation corridor for the Corps of Discovery's journey westward.

The Corps of Discovery utilized three vessels for their Mississippi River journey: a 55-foot keelboat and two pirogues. The keelboat, equipped with a cabin and cargo hold, carried 12 crew members and 14 tons of supplies. Navigation techniques included poling, rowing, sailing and cordelling - pulling the boats upstream with ropes from shore. The expedition averaged 5-7 miles per day upstream, following specific routes mapped by previous French traders through the river's main channel.

Vessel Type	Length (ft)	Crew Capacity	Cargo Capacity (tons)
Keelboat	55	12	14
Red Pirogue	41	8	6
White Pirogue	39	6	4

The expedition encountered several obstacles during their Mississippi River journey:

• Strong currents forced the crew to navigate around dangerous snags sandbars

• Spring flooding created hazardous conditions near river confluences

• Equipment malfunctions required repairs at multiple stopping points

• Heavy rainfall in May 1804 delayed progress for 3 days

• Navigation errors resulted in a damaged rudder near the confluence with the Illinois River

• Posted lookouts monitored water depths changes

• Established rotating shifts for night navigation watches

• Created detailed maps of hazardous areas

• Implemented a system of hand signals for communication between boats

• Maintained daily weather observation logs to predict river conditions

The Corps of Discovery consisted of 33 permanent members selected for their diverse skills and expertise. Lewis and Clark assembled this specialized team through careful recruitment and evaluation of military personnel, frontiersmen and civilian contractors.

The permanent expedition team included:

• 29 military personnel from the U.S. Army and U.S. Army Corps of Volunteers
• 3 civilian interpreters including George Drouillard
• Clark's enslaved man York
• Lewis's Newfoundland dog Seaman

Key demographics of the team:

Category	Number
Ages 17-25	24 members
Ages 26-35	7 members
Ages 36+	2 members
Military Experience	27 members
Frontier Experience	18 members

The Corps operated with specialized roles:

• Command Team

• Lewis: Scientific observations, diplomacy, medical care

• Clark: Navigation, mapping, logistics management

• Military Personnel

• Sergeants: Team leadership, discipline enforcement

• Privates: Hunting, construction, boat operations

• Specialists

• Interpreters: Native American language translation

• Blacksmiths: Equipment repair, tool making

• Carpenters: Boat maintenance, shelter construction

• Hunters: Game procurement, tracking

• Cooks: Food preparation, ration management

• Guards: Security, wildlife protection

• Boatmen: River navigation, equipment maintenance

Each team member performed multiple duties based on daily needs and conditions. The Corps maintained a rotation system for essential tasks like guard duty, hunting and boat operations.

On May 14, 1804, the Corps of Discovery embarked on their historic journey from Camp Dubois, marking the official start of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. The departure took place at 4 p.m. under clear skies with a temperature of 68°F.

The Corps initiated their voyage with a 6-mile journey up the Mississippi River to St. Charles, Missouri. Captain Lewis documented their departure inventory which included:

Equipment Type	Quantity
Keelboat	1
Red Pirogue	1
White Pirogue	1
Rifles	15
Powder Horns	25
Food Supplies	3,500 lbs

The crew maintained strict military protocol during the departure, with designated positions for each member aboard the vessels. Clark commanded the keelboat while Lewis coordinated final arrangements in St. Louis.

The Corps implemented specific navigation techniques to manage the challenging Mississippi currents:

• Positioned experienced rivermen at bow positions for depth sounding
• Established 4-hour rotating shifts for steering duties
• Created detailed river mapping protocols for recording:
• Sandbar locations
• Current patterns
• Channel depths
• Notable landmarks

The expedition utilized different propulsion methods:

• Cordelling through swift waters using rope tows
• Setting poles in shallow areas
• Oar power in deeper channels
• Square sail deployment during favorable winds

The crew maintained an average speed of 2 miles per hour upstream, documenting water conditions every 2 hours in their logbooks.

• Lewis and Clark began their historic expedition on May 14, 1804, departing from Camp Dubois near St. Louis, Missouri
• The 33-member Corps of Discovery embarked with three vessels: a 55-foot keelboat and two pirogues, carrying 3,500 pounds of supplies
• President Thomas Jefferson orchestrated the expedition after the Louisiana Purchase, allocating $2,500 for exploring the American West
• The expedition's objectives included mapping territories, establishing Native American relations, documenting species, and finding trade routes
• The team spent 156 days at Camp Dubois (winter 1803-1804) preparing through military training, gathering supplies, and planning
• Initial progress averaged 5-7 miles per day upstream, with crews facing challenges like strong currents, flooding, and equipment problems

The Lewis and Clark Expedition stands as a remarkable testament to American exploration and determination. Their Mississippi River journey began at Camp Dubois on May 14 1804 launching a historic venture that would shape the nation's understanding of its western territories.

The meticulous planning strategic team selection and comprehensive preparations laid the groundwork for this ambitious undertaking. Through their expert navigation techniques and military discipline the Corps of Discovery overcame numerous challenges as they embarked on their upstream journey.

This initial phase along the Mississippi River marked just the beginning of what would become a transformative three-year expedition that forever changed America's perception of its western frontier.