Let us keep a Traditional Muzzleloader Focus!

[Adam Helmer]

I am nearly finished reading "The Journals of Lewis & Clark", by Anthony Brandt. ISBN 0-7922-6921-7.

All of us old Long Hunters need to read this one-volumn work. I am so impressed by the day-by-day effort of 28 men who literally walked from St. Louis to the Pacific Ocean and back over 28 months. Their principal arms were flintlocks. They shot lots of wildlife for sustenance, but the biggest challenge was always the "white bear" (aka the grizzly).

Yes, all they had was roundball and courage and it was enough. Albeit, just barely in many cases. I think of Lewis & Clark many times when I go afield with my MLs. I am sorry I was not yet born when they filled out their muster roll for that historic trek.



Adam

[rattus58]

Hi Adam...

Where did you find the book? Reading bout the old days is to me a good lesson for the future...

Aloha...

[BILLY D.]

Adam

You would have loved visiting North Dakota, last year especially. The state was celebrating the 200th anniversary of the Corps of Discovery. It was a extremely big celebration with Pow Wows and interpritive centers set up from Bismarck west and north along the river.

As you head west much of a major highway travels along the path L&C took.

I have lived in Dakota country for roughly 40 years now and still marvel at how those people must have lived and survived. I've been out on the plains at -40° and can tell you it was a numbing cold. And I had modern clothing.

The planning that went into their mission was fantastic. They never once ran short of projectiles or powder or candles. If you read their journals closely you see that they could barely name the game they were taking because up untill that time there was no name for it. They used the Red Mans name for it and converted it. The way they painstakingly drew pictures of each animal was a task in itself.

L&C might be considered country bumpkins by our standards but they were both highly intelligent.

One of the smartest strategic moves they made was taking Sacagawea with them. Not only was she an interpretor she identified eatable plants and roots and knew all the good fishin' holes.

Effectively about 3/4 of our country was explored, and mapped utilizing one of the most effective tools known to man, The Flintlock Rifle. If I am not mistaken I seen some pictures of artists drawings showing wheel locks in the mix also. I can't remember where I seen them though, could have been in the Charles M. Russell museum in Gt. Falls.

I to would have liked to live in that time frame. Life sometimes wasn't very long but it was fulfilled. I'm now living my Grandfathers fantasy. When he emigrated to this country his dream was the West. He never made it. So I'm doing it for him.
He used to tell me stories about American History, he probably knew as much about American history as most Americans. He loved the history and the firearms as he read about them. He always wanted a Black Powder firearm. Gramps never had one but the first chance I had to get one I did. My Sidelock is a tribute to him. Someday I'll own a Flintlock also.

Best wishes, Bill

[Adam Helmer]

rattus58,

I got the book as a Christmas gift in 2003. This is my third time reading it.

Billy D.,

I see they had many celebrations of the Lewis & Clark bicentennial in the West in 2006. Steven Ambrose also wrote a book about them, if I am remembering correctly.

Adam

[Gil Martin]

Adam,
Stephen P. Ambrose wrote "Undaunted Courage" about the exploits of Lewis and Clark. I have read it several times. There are a few things that are marvels regarding the expedition.

-only one man died, Sgt. Floyd of appendicitis

-the oldest survivor was Sgt. Gass from Pennsylvania who lived to be 99 years old and died in 1870. Incidentally, at age 60 he married the "daughter of a judge" and they had seven children

-Sacagawea's role was to show the native people that the Corp of Discovery was not a war party because war parties did not include women. She was twelve when captured by Hidatsa Indians and was not familiar with the land to the west

-Old Toby really saved the expedition and got them over the Bitteroot Mountains and he is now lost to history

-Finally, after the expedition was over, the careers of Lewis and Clark went different ways. Clark became governor of the territory, married well and prospered. Lewis sank into a deep depression and probably committed suicide.

All the best...
Gil

[BILLY D.]

I have to differ on the origin of Sacagawea. She was a Shoshone and was kidnapped in the Idaho area. She was kidnapped by the Mandan Hidatsa Sioux. The Shoshone traveled freely throught Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado ETC. From North Dakota to Idaho Sacagewea was truly a guide because she had traveled the route previously, after they reached the Rockies she was in virgin territory but she could converse with Nez Perce. Now Chief Joseph comes into the picture.

The Indians had many wars amongst themselves for territorial rights and probably killed as many of each other as the White Man ever did.

Best wishes, Bill

[BILLY D.]

I had to chuckle about Sgt. Gass. Reminds me of a joke I once heard.

A little boy was with his grandpa at the mall and they became separated. The boy saw a security officer and told him of his plight.

The security officer said he'd help. He asked the boy "whats he like". The boy in all childhood innocence said " Jack Daniels and women with big boobs."




Best wishes, Bill

[Gil Martin]

Billy,
You are correct about Sacagawea being familiar with the route from the Mandan village to her homeland in the mountains. She was not well versed on the route over the Bitterroot's and beyond. Old Toby was the go to guy and guide for that leg of the trip. I really enjoyed reading about the expedition. All the best...
Gil

[BILLY D.]

One thing always puzzled me about Sakakawea, Sacajewea, Sacagawea.

How come nobody ever figured out only one spelling for her name? For all intents and purposes she is a national heroine. She deserves better. Theres more ways to spell her name than there are brands of peanut butter.

Also, could you imagine going on a trip of that length as an 18 year old girl. Yes she was with her husband and gave birth to their child. But she was more a slave than a wife.

Even amongst the Native Americans there is consternation. Also I don't agree with the term Native American. Recently DNA test have proven that samples showed that the DNA that showed up in Native Americans was showing the same generic traits as peoples from Australia and South Pacific Islands up through the central part of the far east, Russia and over the land bridge. They are not native here, they migrated just like everybody else. So just who the hell did they steal this land from?

Bill

[rattus58]

Originally posted by BILLY D.
They are not native here, they migrated just like everybody else. So just who the hell did they steal this land from?

Bill

Probably Neanderthal or maybe not... probably mayan or inca... or maybe not ... who on this earth is not a migrant? From 20,000 years ago and beyond maybe... but from about 15,000 years ago... man spread out all over the place from what I remember of human history classes... course that was some 5 decades ago...