9 POUNDS OF MEAT!!!!!!!!!!!

Week 2 of The Corps Of Rediscovery 2002

As We Begin Climbing Skyline Dr. in Shenandoah National Park

We were very hungry and we went to a local shop to fill up on food for the next three days. As we were in there I remembered something in Lewis and Clark's joirnal about how each man in the Corps was eating 9 pounds of meat a day. I decided to ask some one working there if they could weigh 9 pounds of meat ao I could take a picture of it. I was amazed with the result. This is what it looked like:

Lewis and Clark Games

August 24th 2002
Week 10
Bismarck,ND

Today we had to update the website. I of course did my part in the website than seized the opportunity of Internet access. I played a few Lewis and Clark games such as Onward!, Buffalo Dodge, and Meriwether's Memory Match Game. Onward! was a difficult game because the answer was always surprising. Buffalo Dodge was an easy game to get used to and before I knew it I was dodging every buffalo that came at me! Meriwether's Match Game was also easy and I beat it. No problem. Playing the games was fun but it was sure hard to play them with Brads techno music blasting in the backround.

A Good Hunt

August 23th, 1804


Today was a great day. Although some of the men argued about who shot the first buffalo, it was Joe Fields. I could tell how happy he was. The animal was really a huge beast. So many men had to go help him carry it back to camp. Everyone was grateful for the huge feast it provided. The men ate and ate and ate – and the leftover meat was made into jerky by salting it and putting it in the sun. Seaman also had a great feast from our leftovers.

Severe Discipline

August 24th, 1804


They mean business on this expedition. It’s no journey for the weak, timid or lazy. When Reed left without telling anyone, Lewis had a group of soldiers go get him. When they found Reed he was whipped hard. He ran between two lines of men, and they whipped his back. It was called: “running the gauntlet.” This was an example to the rest of us, not to run away. It was brutal seeing this type of discipline. You could see the blood dripping from his wounds. He was shrieking in pain. It was a type of torture that no one would want to endure. He was to say good bye to the journey and the team he had run away from in the first place. Others were punished and whipped for getting drunk, sleeping on the job, and stealing whiskey. They made their point and none of us were ever going to think about running away after this.

Death on the Trail

August 20th, 1804

Well, I knew the journey would not be easy, but I was surprised we’d lose a good comrade so soon. Sgt. Charles Floyd became sick. Stomach flu? No, probably appendicitis – undiagnosed – ruptured – lethal. He was well regarded, and given a proper and honorable burial. He was wrapped in a blanket. Clark said a few kind words about Floyd’s service to his country. He was then buried on top of the bluff. Lewis actually presided over the funeral, and there was full military honors and a marked grave. They named the knoll “Sergeant Floyd Bluff” and a nearby river, “Floyd’s River.” I think that is a great tribute to a great man. While death may come swiftly, it won’t be forgotten in haste.

Style In Clothes of the Teton Sioux

September 26, 1804

Southern Dakota

Teton men wore hawk feathers about their heads and robes over their bodies, while women dressed in buffalo skins and robes. They seemed very thin and almost ill-looking. Looks may be deceiving. This tribe seemed fierce and ready to fight. Captain Clark said the tribe was very powerful. We almost got in a blood battle with them on the 24th but their chief, Black Buffalo, calmed the anger down.

Any way hear is some samples of what the Teton Sioux wore.

A Teton Sioux Chief named Fool Bull

A mother with her child

The First Day (Preparing for the Trip Up the Missouri)

May 14, 1804

Place: Heading up the Missouri from Clarksville

The great journey has started. It was a long and stressful day. We have been packing the keel boat with: weapons, equipment and supplies, medicine, clothes, food, navigation tools, and things to trade with the Indians. I have brought a fiddle to cheer up the corps on the journey and I might even trade it for an Indian musical instrument on the way.

After working the whole corps lined up for dinner. The smell of salted pork and biscuits filled the air. There wasn't a lot of noise in the boat. There was much tension in the air. Everyone was just waiting for their meal and that's all they wanted. When I tried to start a conversation with someone they would just ignore me. So I took out my fiddle to try to burn the stress and grumpiness.

My first song was very catchy and a tune that everyone knew. I started dancing to it by myself then another joined in. Pretty soon the whole boat was dancing. Every one was clapping to the beat. Then someone jumped in the middle and did their best Irish dance. Even Seaman (Captain Lewis's dog) joined in!

The night was great and everyone was happy. They even asked for an encore! I felt as if I did my job and I went to sleep with a smile on my face.