18) The Story of Merriwether Lewis and William Clark Young Americans
by Nellie Kingsley
The source book entitled, four American Heroes, was authored by Nellie Kingsley, and published by the The Werner School Book Company.
This book included the follow titles:
1) The Story of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark for Young Americans
2) The Story of John Charles Fremont for Young Americans
This review includes only The Story of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark for Young Americans; the other two are covered in separate articles.
This story is an abbreviated account of the expedition of 1804-1805 and as the subtitle indicates is For Young Americans.
The publication consists 132 pages of text and approximately 28 black and white/gray scale images.
This is an ideal book for the first time exposure to the Lewis and Clark Expedition. The book is short and uncomplicated so it doesn't have the same kind of detail and background that a longer work would have; realistically even a 600 page book could not tell the whole story but it would have much more detail than this short work.
Beyond grammar school I never remember reading or remembering much about the Lewis and Clark Expedition (or the Corps of Discovery). I think I envisioned it as being a very long backpacking trip. And I probably assumed that for the men of that day and time it was just a picnic. Only in my later reading and study have I learned that it was a monumental achievement.
The physical strength and endurance the fortitude and courage intelligence and common sense were all common attributes of all the members of the expedition. Not only did they have to battle the elements from oppressive heat to freezing cold to dry desert and flowing rivers but they also had to contend with wild animals, especially the dreaded grizzly bear (whom the Indians also feared) and some hostile Indians (though some Indians were also friendly).
It is amazing that only one man was lost during the whole expedition and that was due to an acute case of appendicitis I've read much more detail works and I'm sure I've absorbed other details through the years but I still found this book to be an interesting and compelling read.
It is exciting and definitely includes details and stories that I'd never heard before; (perhaps this is true because of the age of the book or because of my own age and memory.)
For example in the following passage I'd never heard of this initiation/custom; (in fact I didn't realize that there were sailors on the expedition) and the phrase equinoctial line.
----At last the Platte River was reached. There the sailors carried out a curious custom. It seems that the passing of the Platte River is regarded by Missouri River boatmen just as the crossing of the equinoctial line is regarded by sailors on the sea. To mark the passing of it every man in the who had never been there before was caught and shaved unless he could stand treat; to his comrades.
Or that the Kite Indians were “so called because they were always flying about.
This is an interesting one though kind of bad for the horse:
Early in August they came to the burial-place of a great and awful chief of the Omaha nation named Blackbird. He was buried sitting erect on horseback.
How about the singing Indians:
No sooner were the explorers settled than a dozen Indians appeared on the opposite bank and began to sing. This was their sign of friendship and their friendship was very genuine.
I would be remiss not to mention Sacajawea. She and her husband were essential members of the expedition of that there is no doubt. I myself did not know that during that time while she was traveling with them she gave birth to a son and carried him along with her. She was a tough lady !
Table of Contents:
INTRODUCTION I. THE TWO CAPTAINS II. THE START III. JUNE AND JULY IV. THE FIRST INDIAN COUNCIL V. THE MOUNTAIN OF LITTLE PEOPLE VI. THE COUNCIL WITH THE SIOUX VII. AN INDIAN DANCE VIII.WINTER AMONG THE MANDANS IX. INDIAN HUNTS X. THE MANDAN INDIANS XI. THE WINTER XII. FIGHTS WITH GRIZZLY BEARS XIII. A IMPORTANT DECISION XIV. MAKING A CACHE XV. AN EXCITING MORNING XVI. PASSING THE FALLS XVII. UP THE JEFFERSON RIVER XVIII. THE COLUMBIA RIVER REACHED XIX. AMONG THE INDIANS XX. HESITATION XXI. DOWN THE SNAKE RIVER XXII. DOWN THE COLUMBIA XXIII. FORT CLATSOP AND THE START HOME XXIV. ASCENT OF THE COLUMBIA XXV. CROSSING THE BITTER ROOT MOUNTAINS XXVI. CAPTAIN LEWIS'S ADVENTURES XXVII. CAPTAIN CLARK'S ADVENTURES XXVIII. THE END OF THE GREAT EXPEDITION"