Difficulties In President Thomas Jefferson's Journeys

President Thomas Jefferson and the two captains knew there would be thousands of difficulties in the journeys, so they prepared very carefully for it. Thirty volunteers participated in training at camp Dubois where were near present-day Illinois, while their captain, Lewis leant about medicinal cures under Benjamin Rush. Finally, at four p.m. on May 14, 1804, the corps of discovery departed from camp Dubois. At the end of the first year, except the death of sergeant Charles Floyd on August 20,the corps remained the same as they were. Lewis and Clark encountered many native tribes on their way, as well the captains established relation with them. There were more than two dozens of native tribes, some of them friendly offered assistance. However,
it was not all native nations were friendly, and one of the most dangerous problems was with Lakota nation or called Sioux. The corps and these people almost came to fight several times, while the Sioux demanded more gifts for passing through their territory. In addition, Lewis and Clark had a trouble with a tribe at Fort Mandan who demanded for a boat of the corps. Unfortunately, due to the trip had been mostly on the river route, so this demand was unacceptable to the captains. Both sides were preparing to fight, but the fight did not happen. When the winter 1804 was in the air, captain Lewis decided to build fort Mandan, near present-day Washburn, North Dakota. This was where the captains met Toussaint Charbonneau and one of his wives, Sacajawea. At this point, it seem like the corps could not continue on with their boats too further, and the captains also realized that they were reaching the great mountains, Atlas mountains.