Lewis And Clark Historic Trail - "The Boat Struck a moveing Sand

The U.S. Army expedition led by captains Meriwether Lewis and William Clark journeyed up the Missouri River north of here on June 29-30, 1804. The expedition traveled in a 55-foot keelboat and two smaller pirogues, one white and one red. To propel the laden keel boat against the current, the men used sails, oars, and long poles. Sometimes men walking on shore had to pull the boats with ropes, a procedure called "cordelling." The grueling work moved the party 10 to 15 miles a day. On the afternoon of June 30, the men rested for three hours as the temperature soared to ninety-six degrees.