In 1805 the Lewis and Clark Expedition was far from civilization, heading across the western plains and into the Rocky Mountains. It was the critical year for the Corps of Discovery, as the men overcame enormous physical obstacles and eventually reached their goal, the Pacific coast.
The year began with the Corps of Discovery in its winter quarters, among the Mandan Indians in South Dakota.
January 1, 1805
The Corps of Discovery celebrates New Year's Day by firing the cannon on the keelboat.
The journal of the expedition noted that 16 men danced for the amusement of the Indians, who enjoyed the performance immensely. The Mandans gave the dancers "several buffalo robes" and "quantities of corn" to show appreciation.
February 11, 1805
Sacagawea gave birth to a son, Jean-Baptiste Charbonneau.April 1805
Packages are prepared to send back to President Thomas Jefferson with a small return party. The packages contained such items as a Mandan robe, a live praire dog (which survived the trip to the east coast), animal pelts and plant samples. This would be the only time the expedition would be able to send back samples until its eventual return.April 7, 1805
The small return party set off back down the river toward St. Louis. The remainder set out toward the west.April 29, 1805
One of the Corps of Discovery shoots and kills a grizzly bear, which had chased him. The men would develop a respect and fear for grizzlies.May 11, 1805
Meriwether Lewis describes another encounter with a grizzly bear in his journal. He mentions how the formidable bears are very difficult to kill.May 26, 1805
Lewis sees the Rocky Mountains for the first time.June 3, 1805
The men come to a fork in the Missouri River, and it's unclear which fork they should follow. A scouting party goes out and determines that the south fork was the one to take. They are correct, the north fork is actually the Marias River.June 17, 1805
The Great Falls of the Missouri River are encountered. The men can no longer proceed by boat, and must "portage," carrying the boat across land. The travel at this point is extremely difficult.July 4, 1805
The Corps of Discovery marks Independence Day by drinking the last of their alcohol. The men had been trying to assemble a collapsible boat which had been carried along, but in the following days they could not make it watertight and the boat was abandoned. They plan to construct canoes to continue the journey.
