First Across the Continent: The Story of The Exploring Expedition of Lewis and Clark in 1804-5-6 - Softcover

Originally published in 1901, Noah Brooks’ First Across the Continent remains the authoritative document on Lewis and Clark’s exploration of the Louisiana Purchase, the most significant expedition in American history and one of the great adventure stories of all time.

In 1803 President Thomas Jefferson charged his personal secretary, Captain Meriwether Lewis, to lead and command a voyage up the Missouri River to the Rockies, over the mountains, down the Columbia River to the Pacific Ocean, and finally to return. Lewis and his partner, Captain William Clark, created the first map of the trans-Mississippi West, which provided invaluable scientific data on the flora and fauna of the Louisiana Purchase territory, and established the American claim to Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. Incredible true life adventure and politics, suspense, drama, and diplomacy combine with romance and personal calamity to make this historic masterpiece as readable as a bestselling novel of survival and triumph.

Contents

Chapter I A Great Transaction in Land Chapter II Beginning a Long Journey Chapter III From the Lower to the Upper River Chapter IV Novel Experiences among the Indians Chapter V From the Tetons to the Mandans Chapter VI Winter among the Mandans Chapter VII From Fort Mandan to the Yellowstone Chapter VIII In the Haunts of Grizzlies and Buffalo Chapter IX In the Solitudes of the Upper Missouri Chapter X To the Great Falls of the Missouri Chapter XI A the Heart of the Continent Chapter XII At the Sources of the Missouri Chapter XIII From the Minnetarees to the Shoshonees Chapter XIV Across the Great Divide Chapter XV Down the Pacific Slope Chapter XVI Down the Columbia to Tidewater Chapter XVII From Tidewater to the Sea Chapter XVIII Camping by the Pacific Chapter XIX With Faces turned Homeward Chapter XX The Last Stage of the Columbia Chapter XXI Overland east of the Columbia Chapter XXII Camping with the Nez Perces Chapter XXIII Crossing the Bitter Root Mountains Chapter XXIV The Expedition Subdivided Chapter XXV Adventures on the Yellowstone Chapter XXVI The End of a Long Journey