Lewis and Clark: Heading downstream and coming home
By Bob Ford Special to
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Mountain climbers and explorers know, it’s not going out, it’s coming back. Most accidents occur on the descent. The Lewis and Clark expedition was no different, even though most of the trip back was spent floating with the current.
Heading upstream was new and exciting, native tribes had never seen a well organized or sponsored expedition before because, well, there had never been one! Now two years later, tribes had spent time thinking and discussing what this white man’s intrusion into their land meant. The effect would mean nothing for this generation of natives, but the next meant struggle and the following disaster.
No one can see the future, but what had been sacred and sustaining land for a thousand years for the American Indian was about to change drastically by what this peaceful and vulnerable river quest represented.
Coming home, the Corps of Discovery was tired. They had survived a harsh winter, near starvation, illnesses, accidents and death but their mission was an unmitigated success.
From the expedition, politicians in the East would have an idea of the expanse and possibilities the territory held. Vast fertile lands, unending timber, enough wildlife to clothe and feed a growing nation plus friendly natives who mostly wanted to help.
In the early 1800s, the territory was raw. Films like “The Big Sky,” “Man in the Wilderness” and “The Revenant” depict the explorer’s life and struggle traveling the Missouri well.
How to deal with the native Americans was another issue. Historically, what is it when you get old, educated, white guys together? They only know how to deal with other old, educated, white guys. Native Americans, slaves, immigrants and women, sorry! They barely viewed them as people, let alone equals.
The results from the Corps of Discovery was a monumental triumph for our nation. To explore and map this massive amount of land spurred macro economic growth that still generates billions of dollars for the U.S. economy today.
No doubt, many of the policies of the old white guys in Washington were wrong. Their decisions destroyed American Indian cultures, abused natural resources and almost eliminated the buffalo, but victors get to write the history.
As time went on, mass migration and economic development on a global scale made Mid-America into what it is today.
The Re-Enactment
In 2004, all the river towns along the Missouri were abuzz. This was the year of the bicentennial celebration of the Lewis and Clark/Corps of Discovery expedition and there was going to be a full blown re-enactment.
Up the river came the keelboat and two support pirogues — with a little help from internal combustion technology — to visit the small and big stops the original voyage made.
In the summer of ‘04, St Joseph joined the hype and promoted the stop by Lewis and Clark with my favorite named dog, Seaman.
I, on the other hand, was in Minnesota and could not get back for the festivities. Driving South on I-29 days later, I got the idea to try and find the Corps as they came north. My father and I, as birders, used to roam on levy roads along the river hunting with binoculars for rarely seen bald eagles or the never seen Bigfoot.
Cruising south into northern Missouri, I drove over a well-known small river named the Nishnabotna.
Slipping around a couple gates, I positioned myself at the end of a levy where another creek spilled into the Missouri, here they came. Only 30 yards off the river. It was a pristine day. You could make out in the distance the hum of the boats.
They were getting closer, all the men were dressed in period clothes with Lewis and Clark on the keelboat studying a map. I could listen to them talking, then they saw me and waved. Lewis yelled out, “is that the Nabonotah?” I cupped my hands around my mouth and answered, “it’s Nish-na-bot-na and no it isn’t.”
Lewis waved back but as you know by now I’m ornery. I cupped again and yelled back, “is that the way they did it?” With that Lewis causally lifted his arm and gave me the middle finger salute! I responded, “Are you guys sure you’re on the right river?” Now Clark looked up and joined Lewis with the same gesture, plus I could read his lips. It must have been a long day on the river.
OK, the next time your kids or grandkids accuse you of getting old … agree, “Yep I’m so old I know someone who got flipped off by Lewis and Clark!”
There are several ways to know if someone has become immortal. Traditionally, you have towns, bridges or streets named after them, which several members of the Corps achieved; however, I prefer something newer.
On Jan. 4, 2024, the Final Jeopardy category was Historic Americans. The answer “going their separate ways in 1806, both becoming Territorial Governors: one in upper Louisiana and the other Missouri.
Think of the music yours truly and only one other contestant got it right, “Who were Lewis and Clark.”
After 220 years, now that’s immortality!
