Following Meriwether Lewis and William Clark – The Corps of Discovery II – Chapter 1: Nebraska and Iowa

The idea for the 1803-1806 explorations of Lewis and Clark had their origin sometime in the 1700s in the mind of that great president, Thomas Jefferson.  Jefferson wondered what lay out there in the wilds past St. Louis, then a possession of Spain and later France.  Was the fabled Northwest Passage to the Pacific Ocean out there?

Opportunity knocked and Jefferson answered.  France, in dire need of funds to bankroll Napoleon’s wars, offered to sell the 838,000 square miles of North America known as Louisiana for about 4 cents an acre or $25.60 per square mile.  Jefferson made this constitutionally questionable purchase and then sought to find out just what the U. S. had bought by sending out the Corps of Discovery, a group of about 60 soldiers and civilians to explore the source of the Missouri River and beyond to the Pacific coast.

Our 2014 Corps of Discovery was smaller, consisting of 4 stalwart explorers:  Jim Cooper (aka Chief Fiddle Faddle), his lovely wife Sandy (Sack-of-Potato) and

Elaine (Sack-in-the Back) and Don Sluti (Blade-on-Face)

While the Corps started its river travels in the Pittsburg area in 1803 and left from St. Louis in May of 1804, our Corps left from Ft. Collins, Colorado and Kearney, Nebraska.  The first Corps returned to St. Louis in 1806 by a varied route that the outgoing path.  As we flew back from the Coast, we did not cover all of both paths, but were a mixed bag of outgoing and returning sites.  I decided to organize this narration by our dates of travel, rather than the order of 1804-1806.  So, we begin…

At the Lewis and Clark Center near Nebraska City, Nebraska on July 17, 2014.  As with many of the Interpretive Centers along the route, this center was opened during the 200^th anniversary commemoration in 2004.  Each interpretive center seems to focus more on one aspect of the trip, along with general information on the Corps. 

July 18, 1804 [Sgt Floyd] .. Saw a Dog on the Bank Which we Sepose to be Indians.  .. this is the first Sine of Indians we have Saw. (Camped a little below Nebraska City, Otoe County, Nebraska)

Nebraska City main focus is on the animals encountered on the journey.

There are several short hiking trails providing the visitor views of the Missouri River and the forested land of the area.

The Missouri and Columbia Rivers of today are vastly different than those same-named rivers traveled by Lewis and Clark.  In the mid 20^th century a series of flood control, irrigation and electric power dams were put in place, changing the seasonal flows and making much of these once wild rives into vast lakes.  Some of the rapids and waterfalls have disappeared under these lakes and the sinewy channels have been straightened.  Thus, many of the sites along the riverbanks spoke of by the Corps are no longer accessible.

One movie made about the Corps had an exact replica of the Keel Boat used by the Corps.  This replica is located just outside of the visitor Center.  The boat is (was) 55 ft long and 8 ft 4 inches wide.  Besides the crew, it hauled an estimated 12 to 15 tons of supplies. 

Another type of boat employed was the pirogue, a small, flat-bottomed boat capable of traveling on the more shallow waters of the upper Missouri River.  The dog in the photo is Seaman a Newfoundland breed.  Seaman traveled the whole route and was much valued.  Later in the journey, when faced with starvation, the Corps was reduced to eating horse and dog meat.  Seaman was spared that fate and is believed to have returned to St. Louis in 1806, even after being dognapped by some Indians later on.

Floral beauty abounds along the trail.

July 21, 1804 [Clark] … went up thus Great rive Platte about 1 miles,  … passing through different Channels none of them more than five or Six feet deep ..  [Gass] Up this river live three nations of Indians, the Otos (Otoes), Panis (Pawnee), and Loo(p)s, or Wolf Indians (Wolf Pawnee).

While there is an Iowa City named Council Bluffs, the Council Bluffs spoke of by Lewis and Clark was actually in Nebraska near to the modern day city of Omaha (see Dec. 2009 slutigram on Omaha).

July 30, 1804 [Clark] … walked in the Prarie on top of the Bluff and observed the most butifull prospects imaginable …

Omaha is the location of the National Headquarters of the Lewis and Clark Trail.  It has a few exhibits, gift shop and a very good movie about Lewis and Clark.  At this site you may take a walk on the Bob Kerrey pedestrian bridge, which links Nebraska and Iowa.

August 3, 1804 [Clark] after Brackfast we Collected those Indians under an orning of our Main Sail, in presence of our Party paraded & Delivered a long Speech to them expressive of our journey … after hering what they had to say Delivered a medal of Second Grade … after Capt. Lewis Shooting the air gun a few Shots (which astonished the nativs) ..

The medals mentioned in their journals showed a profile of President Jefferson on the obverse side and clasped hands, a peace pipe and an axe on the reverse.  Medals of two types were given to Native American chiefs, depending upon the status of the particular chief.  To those of lower status might be given beads, ribbon or some other low-value trinket.  What the Indians wanted more than anything else were the explorers weapons and later in the journey, their horses.

The air rifle referred to was an interesting item.  The user had to pump the gun about 1200 to 1500 times to bring the pressure sack in the stock up to maximum effect.  It could then shoot up to 24 shots in a row with destructive effect.  Naturally, the rifle was pre-pumped before it was demonstrated and never used to shoot more than 10 or 20 shots.  The Indians were thus left in the dark about the long preparation time, and were left with the impression that the gun could keep on shooting with no end to its lethal effect.  Like many of the weapons taken on the journey, it was never fired in anger.  The original rifle used by Lewis in Clark is located in Philadelphia.

The Western Historic Trail Center is located in Council Bluffs, Iowa.  This center also has a replica keel boat (as do a few other Interpretive Centers).  Besides the Lewis and Clark Trail, the exhibits also focus on the Mormon Trail, the California Trail and the Oregon Trail.

On the way to present day Sioux City, Iowa, the Corps saw the deadly effects that smallpox and other European diseases had on the natives.

August 14, 1805 [Clark] … the ravages of the Small Pox reduced this Nation.

August 17, 1804 [Clark] … the Party was behind with one of the deserters M.B. Reed and the 3 principal Chiefs of the Nations.  August 18, 1804 [Clark] Sentenced him to run the Gauntlet four times.

The return of Moses Reed by the Indian chiefs is the subject of one of the center’s paintings.

The only fatality experienced by the party occurred near Sioux City.  Sgt. Floyd had taken ill several days prior to this Journal entry.  It is believed that he died of Appendicitis.  The treatments of the day, using strong laxatives and bleeding probably increased his agony and certainly did no good.  However, appendicitis was a fatal malady even in the most modern hospital of the time.

August 19, 1804 [Clark] …Sergt Floyd was taken violently bad with the Beliose Cholick and is dangerously ill  we attempt to relieve him, I am much concerned for his Situation.

August 20, 1804 [Gass] here Sergeant Floyd died.  [Clark] we buried him on top of the bluff …

Floyd’s remains have been moved several times since the original burial due to the erosive nature of the Missouri River.  Each time, a memorial stone marked the burial.  Today, as you drive along Interstate 29 near Sioux City, you see his monument watching the passage of the waters of the Missouri.  The monument flies the 15 stars and stripes flag that was the national colors in 1804.

Sioux City also houses the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center.  Another good movie.  This movie was also shown at another interpretive center,; the only time that this happened on our trip.  Thus, we received a progressive education about the journey in each of the centers visited.  A sculpture garden features Lewis, Clark and Seaman and several sculptures of the animals encountered on the trail.

Inside, there was  a diorama of the leaders speaking of their journey in this area. Only Lewis and Clark are speaking mannequins, the rest is a painting.

Our Corps could not follow all of the adventures of the original group - perhaps in a future time we can enjoy some more adventures.  For instance, following the exploits of Private George Shannon.  Shannon was the youngest member of the Corps of Discovery (not counting Seaman or Sacajewa's son, who was born on the trail).  While out scouting for wild horses in northeast Nebraska, Shannon became lost for two weeks.  Remember, this was a time when their were no roads, farms, etc.  He wandered about, surviving on wild berries.  He decided to head back to St. Louis.  Unknown to Shannon, he was so far in advance of the main party, that on his way back, he stumbled upon the main party and rejoined the group.  This was only the first time that this happened to him.  Luck held, and he did return to his home state of Kentucky, finding his way in life, he later became a state senator.  A "Finding Private Shannon" trail has been set up in 16 northeastern Nebraska towns (all very small towns).  A small bust of Private Shannon is somewhere in each town.  If you find them all, you win a small prize.  Of course, since none of these towns existed in 1804 and Shannon never really knew where he was, the 16 locales are mainly an attempt to attract tourists to the local cafes and other businesses of these very tiny bergs.  But it would be fun to spend a day or tour on the trail.

Our travels leave Iowa and begin the start of Chapter 2 – South and North Dakota.