Lewis and Clark in KansasA Kansas Portrait
On June 26, 1804, the expedition reached Kansas on three boats with 46 men, four horses, and a dog. They camped at Kaw Point, where the Missouri and Kansas Rivers meet. Today this is Kansas City. They built a small fort of logs and brush to protect themselves from the Indians. It was here that they first saw buffaloes. The men spent three days cleaning their boats, exploring the land, and resting. Since they were traveling up the Missouri River, they were going against the current. Clark wrote, "rowing the boats on the Missouri River was like trying to ride a wild animal." At times, they had to tow the boats, using long ropes pulled by men walking along the shore. Lewis and Clark liked what they saw in Kansas. They commented on the abundance of game and the beauty of the prairie. Clark wrote about seeing great quantities of grapes, raspberries, deer, and turkeys. This would be useful information for future settlers. Lewis and Clark also took special note of plants and animals since they were interested in making scientific discoveries of new specimens. On July 4, 1804, the Corps of Discovery celebrated the firstiIndependence Day west of the Mississippi River. The Corps of Discovery wore their dress uniforms at the morning and evening ceremonies and fired the keelboat's bow gun. They named two creeks near Atchison, Independence Creek and Fourth of July 1804 Creek. And Private Joseph Fields had the misfortune of being bitten by a snake. Captain Lewis doctored his wound with bark. Their time in Kansas was short, just 14 days going up river. The men were learning to work together as a crew. Their knowledge, strength, and courage would be put to many more tests before the journey ended. |
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