The Journals of Lewis and Clark, 1804-1806

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

8419

Title

The Journals of Lewis and Clark, 1804-1806

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

The authentic journals of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark chronicle the Corps of Discovery's two-year expedition from 1804 to 1806. This edition preserves the original spelling, punctuation, and tone of the explorers' daily logs, offering an unvarnished look at their journey down the Missouri River, interactions with Native American nations, and the arduous return voyage to St. Louis.

Summary up to 500 words

Beginning on May 14, 1804, the expedition led by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark departed from the Mississippi River, navigating the winding course of the Missouri westward. The journals chronicle the daily realities of frontier life, including the construction of canoes, hunting for provisions such as deer and bear, and enduring harsh weather conditions. A significant portion of the narrative is dedicated to natural history, with Lewis providing detailed descriptions of new bird species, plants, and geological features. The explorers document extensive interactions with various tribes, including the Saukees, Ottowas, and Osages, often relying on interpreters and former traders to navigate diplomatic and trade complexities. As they approached the Pacific, the party encountered Captain McClellin, who shared news of the political state of the United States, highlighting the explorers' isolation. The return journey was marked by extreme heat, dwindling food supplies forcing reliance on wild roots like poppaws, and severe physical tolls, including eye infections caused by sun glare on the water. The expedition concluded on September 26, 1806, with the team arriving in St. Louis. Although their papers were wet and seeds spoiled, the party was greeted with immense relief and celebration by the inhabitants, who had long believed them lost. The mission was ultimately accomplished, having traversed a vast and unknown continent.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

Download URL

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/8419.epub.noimages

Local file path

data/epubs/pg8419.epub

Removed after upload

Downloaded at

2026-07-01 08:56 UTC

Categories

• Biography
• History
• Travel