Personal Narrative: My First Immigrant Expedition

In the summer of 1803, a twenty-eight year old Virginian was preparing to lead a field expedition into some of the most rugged wilderness on the North American Continent. It would be a perilous undertaking. The platoon traveled by boat, horse and foot for approximately 8,000 miles- venturing beyond maps, traveling into the headwaters of the great Missouri river, across the fearsome Rocky Mountains, and through the unforgiving western plains. The crew explored an undiscovered route to the pacific and back; encountering cold, hunger, danger, and wonders beyond belief. No expedition had ever attempted such an arduous undertaking, no one thought it was possible.

Dear Mother, The day after tomorrow I shall set out for the Western Country; my absence will probably be equal to fifteen or eighteen months; the nature of this expedition is by no means dangerous, my route will be altogether through tribes of Indians. For it's fatiegues I feel myself perfectly prepared, nor do I doubt my health and strength of constitution to bear me through it; I go with the most perfect preconviction
Louis Missouri in 1804, to the pacific Ocean and back, the Corps of Discovery traveled approximately 8,000 miles. The posse consisted of 48 men when it left St. Louis and headed up the Mississippi river. These men traveled 10 to 20 miles a day, forcing the Keelboat up the Missouri River. During the expedition, the crew kept detailed journals of their findings, and over the course of the journey, 178 new plants had been identified, including Douglas fir and bitterroot and 122 new animals had been distinguished some of which included prairie dogs, and grizzly bears. During the expedition, the crew encountered many animal herds and ate well consuming one buffalo or equivalent in meat everyday. Unfortunately, the trip was not consistently easy, during the expedition the crew experienced dysentery, venereal disease, boils, tick bites, and injuries from prickly