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The Exploratory
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March 1st, 1804 Simon Clarkson It is the night before we are leaving on our expedition through the unknown land of the west. Captain's Meriwether Lewis and William Clark picked me to join them on this mission because of my talent of making maps. I've been thinking a lot about what this journey is going to be like and it is kind of scary. I'm excited also but I can't help to not be scared. All I have heard about is giant volcanoes and seven foot beavers. I hope that we meet many Native American groups so that they can help us and guide us if we need help. But there is also the question of, are they going to be friendly? What if they don't understand what we are doing and think we are trying to harm them? I hope there is a way we will be able to communicate with them if they don't understand what we are saying. I'm also scared we might encounter harsh weather or terrible sickness that may wipe out our whole crew. If we make it through this journey I know it will be a huge jump in the expansion of our great nation. But most of all I just hope that all our crew will make it back safe to tell of all our explorations. Simon
April 2nd, 1804 Today we saw the Missouri River for the first time. It is such a beautiful sight. The grass is green, the plants are healthy and bright, and animals are everywhere. Along the sides of the river there are huge prairies of grass, with herds of roaming buffalo. The river is fairly clean, shallow and deep in some parts, and sand bars periodically. I am excited to begin our journey down the river exploring all these parts of the river. Simon
March 1, 1804 Men are are packing and saying farewell to there women and children as we are preparing for the unknown. It is night right now as so many thoughts run through my head. I find myself thinking about all the things I fear insted of the many things I will discover as we begin the expedition. I'm afrade of what I have heard, about the mammoths and the seven foot beaver, but I'm mostly afrade of not knowing, and not having any knowlej of what is out there. My journey begins tomorrow at dawn where I will cross the Mississippi with Merewether Lewis, William Clark, and many other men that are assigned to explore the west. I'm preparing myself by thinking of the worse situation possible and what I would need to survive. All these nerves and all these emotions make me exausted tho, and I think I should get my last night of good sleep, because i think it will be the last good one i have. -Collin Clark Smith April 2, 1804 I have not done an entry for about two months now, but there was nothing great about our expedition until this evening. Today was the first day that we have spotted the Missouri. The flowing water caught our eyes when we had first seen the river. It didnt hit me until just then when i thought about how useful this is to our expedition. With transportation, food supply and water supply, the river helps our men so incredibly. Words cant express the joy i have when we first sighted. Even though finding the river was a big relief, we still have a lot of negative situations ahead of us on our expedition, so im just thinking that this is one thing that we should all take for granted throughout our trip. -Collin Clark Smith
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Today is March 8th, 1804, and I Bernard am preparing for the most amazing expedition. Tomorrow in the very early day, I am to go with Lewis and Clark. We are going to explore the West of America. I do not know when I am coming back or if I will even come back alive. It is a dangerous expedition and I am very scared. I have heard stories of the seven foot beaver. I and he are going to tango. I am to catch this beaver of mine and take him back to the natural world, where I will become famous. People will love me, and I will be the most looked upon man in all of the world. People will bow down to me and I will have servants. I feel excited and scared at the same time. I am nervous and eager to go to the new world where I have no idea what I will encounter. It will be very different from what I am used to down here in my home town of Chester Ville. I have very little money and I am to hope that this expedition will roll in the dough. If everyone in the expedition dies and I am the only one remaining, then George Washington will give me lots of money and fame. I have many questions about this expedition. I want to know what is to become of me and my compadres. I would really love to learn and understand the side of the Country that no one has been to yet. The future is what I am most concerned about, and what is to be of our time keeping expedition. The land forms that we will encounter are unpredictable and to say the least outrageous if the rumors are true. We leave tomorrow on the orders of George Washington. If this is the last time you hear from Bernard, I bid you farewell.
Signed, Bernard Bosco
April 2nd, 1804 We are now just a few days short of a month into the expedition. We have just seen the almighty Missouri River. It is a great sight. I have never seen such a magical and powerful river. I can already imagine it now, this river will be my salvation. When this expedition is over and I am still alive, I will get a place on this river. I will live here, trade here, transport here, and thrive here. This will be my new home. It is great here, I look down in the water and I can see fish clear as day. There are animals all around the banks of the the river. Down yonder there are deer drinking water from this great river. Beavers swim freely without a worry in the world. Birds sing their hearts out for their nature friends. I can already see that the rumors that I have heard before I left are not going to be true. This land is going to be beautiful and free. We will soon be going down the river exploring more and more. We will find many things that will be benificial for the world to come. I Bernard will be one of the first to find these such benificial things. I will one day be a guide for this country, because no one person on this earth will know more about this country side then me. I will guide many people through this country and they will be in my gratitude forever. I will be the most known person in the country. Only one day when I get out of this expedition will this all come true. We are heading off on the river soon so this is all I got to say for the day, and what a glorious day it was. Signed, Bernard Bosco 1804
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March 1st 1804 Tomorrow our expedition through the Midwest beings, I am extremely anxious, yet afraid to see what we may run into in the western United States. We have heard that we will see all kinds of unbelievable creatures such as seven foot beavers and mastodons and other creatures, I don’t know if I should believe the rumors or not. The fact that no one has been here before frightens me, we may be ill prepared for what we will run into. We have no idea how long this will take, it may take a long time, or a little time, considering the fact that no one has any idea of this area of the world. We hope to find things such as the southwest passage through the mountains, which will make things much easier navigate. Although we have not the slightest idea of what we will run into I am anticipating to have great adventures, and fun times, discovering what may one day be a part of our country.
April 2, 1804 My first impression of the Missouri river is that it is a small muddy river, with a heavy current. it will be unpleasant fighting the current along the way, but going with the current will be nice, it will be easy to move along at high speed. Phil Casidy
March 1, 1804 Tomorrow I leave for the great and wild west! I can't wait until I get start exploring and fighting wild savages. I just finished packing my bag, in it I put 3 pairs of pants, 4 shirts, and enough underclothes to last a week. I really want to discover a new plant or animal and have it named after me. Rueben's Deer has a nice ring to it. This adventure is going to be something I remember until the day I die. I had better go so I will be well rested for the morning. Rueben
April 2nd, 1804 Dear Journal, Today we first saw the Missouri River! What a beautiful sight! The grass and trees are so lush and green, its unbelievable! There are animals all over and fish are practically jumping into our boat. The only downside is the many mosquito bites we have gotten. Many men are sick and not able to leave camp. Even with this trouble the Missouri river is the most spectacular thing I have ever seen. Rueben
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