The Lewis and Clark Journals: An American Epic of Discovery

In 1803, President Thomas Jefferson sought to expand westward for commercial purposes which ended in obtaining land from France. He was confident that an expedition on foot seeking a route for establishing a waterway all the way to the Pacific Ocean was viable. When he needed an "errand" done right, he sent his Secretary of the President of the U S., Meriwether Lewis. As a result of his need for his legislature to appropriate $2500 to cover the cost, not realizing it would result in the death of Lewis -- after years of surveying, fighting off bears and other dangerous animals, Congress passed an act which Lewis as co-leader would abide by as appointed by his boss "to carry into execution." They were to start surveying at the mouth of the Missouri river to explore ways and to map out the territory from detail orders and instructions from the president himself. The object would be to discover a direct water "communication" across this continent "for the purpose of extending the external commerce of the United States." It was to culminate in a transcontinental route for interoceanic trade. Months later, on May 14, 1804, the adventure began with the departure of the Lewis & Clark Expedition into unknown territory. Thus, one of the most important events in history took place, called the Louisiana Purchase. Along the way, they were to be-friend the natives ("treat them in the most friendly and conciliatory manner which their own conduct will admit") and complete a census of all the nations. It was especially necessary to have the detailed information set out by President Jefferson on June 20, 1803, even to the point of choosing his successor as commander "on the accident of your death." Lewis was on his way (alone?) to give a report to his boss when he was killed in Tennessee on the Natchez Trace, not too far from the Alabama border. On a Sunday excursion down the trace, I had the opportunity to read the marker at the cabin where he died. It is one of life's mysteries one can only surmise, an anecdote of history and its consequences.

This one-volume abridgement of the 13-volume "definitive Nebraska edition" of 2001 is a fascinating read from historical and anthropological perspectives as well as being a gripping adventure story. The presentation of the 1804-06 trek of the Corps of Discovery is superb; the editor provides a comprehensive introduction that tells the story crisply, then presents selections from the journals of the officers and men of the Corps (judiciously annotated with sidenotes), and finishes with an afterword that lays out the fortunes of the Corps members after their return home. A really satisfying book!

As an historian with an interest in the L & C expedition, I have dozens of books on my shelves detailing their adventure, including at least a half-dozen one volume editions of the journals. Until recently, Bernard DeVoto's 50 year old edition was the best. Now Gary Moulton's masterful editing of the definitive 13 vol edition of the journals is echoed in this single-volume abridgement that is destined to become the standard for the foreseeable future. If you must read a popular accounting of the Corps of Discovery, Stephen Ambrose's _Undaunted Courage_ is quite readable and provides ample context for the expedition. But then do yourself a favor and read Mouton's abridgement of the journals, and learn firsthand the thrill of reading L & C's original words. Recommended for all with an interest in the expedition.

The only better source for understanding the adventure of theLewis and Clark expedition would be the full 11-volumn setedited by this same author for the U. of Nebraska. As a readable one-volumn summary of their fabulous and hair-raisingexpedition, the editor has selected many of the most interestingpassages from the actual diaries of the participants, and manyreaders will be able to vicariously experience the wonder atwhat the men saw and how they reacted to the natives of the large region, as well as to the flora and fauna of a then-unknown part of the continent.Frequently, the same adventure, or the same encounter, is toldin the words of multiple observers, and it is most interestingto see how they reacted.One of the most fascinating, and almost humorous, attitudes isthat of Lewis toward Grizzly bears and how that attitude changes quickly as he encounters the great bear. It is easy tofeel the superior attitude of Lewis as he relates the first warnings of the Indians about the ferocity and size of this distinct bear. He first writes: "...the indians may well fearthis anamal equiped as they generally are with their bows andarrows...but in the hands of skillful riflemen they are by no means as formidable or dangerous as they have been represented."He is speaking of someone who is acquainted with the black bearof the Ohio valley.Shortly thereafter he notes, writing of another grizzly, that hewas "...extreemly hard to kill..." specifying that bear had beenshot 10 times before finally expiring. Only a few days later,after another terrifying encounter with a grizzly, where a party of hunters had to go after a bear wounded who had escaped,after chasing one of his men, Lewis concludes, "...these bear being so hard to die rather intimedates us all; I must confessthat I do not like the gentlemen and had rather fight two Indians than one bear;..."These passages are only a sample of the learning curve the greatexplorers were on, and their own words show how they learned andadapted so quickly that they made their amazing trek to the Pacific coast and back with no casualties other than Sgt. Floydwho died of a burst appendix. The editor relates that Sgt.Floydcouldn't have been saved even with the best medical care available at the time.The book abounds with descriptions of birds and animals seen forthe first time by any white man, and both Captains provide details showing their dedication and ability; in addition, Clarkdrew many significant maps of the area.But the book isn't perfect; some decent maps should have beenprovided, because the very small, sometimes confusing maps aren't helpful at all, and the serious student or reader will have to find some maps to accompany his reading. Not even oneexample of the fine maps drawn by Clark is provided. A few moreof their drawings of animals would have been very helpful and entertaining.But fascinating beyond belief are their copious observations andnotes of the native Indians they encountered. They show fa

Professor Moulton has done a tremendous job of abridging over one million words in this manageable volume of five hundred or so pages. This volume will be the functional equivalent of the DeVoto edition for the twenty-first century. An excellent job that preserves the personalities of both Clark and Meriwether Lewis. Too many editors cannot avoid the temptation of "correcting" the 1804-06 English of the pair.