MISSISSIPPI AND LOWER MISSOURI
EXPLORATION TIMELINE
1803
December 12 Clark and crew arrive at Camp River Dubois (Wood River Camp) in present-day Illinois.
1804
March 10 Captain Amos Stoddard, U.S. Army officer, takes possession of the Louisiana Territory for the
United States in a ceremony at St. Louis. Lewis and Clark both present.
May 14 Expedition leaves Camp River Dubois at 4:00 p.m.
May 20 Lewis joins the Expedition in St. Charles in present-day Missouri.
May 21 The entire Corps of Discovery departs St. Charles at 3:30 p.m. as St. Charles residents cheer.
May 26 The Captains organize the Expedition into three squads: Sergeants John Ordway, Nathaniel
Pryor, and Charles Floyd. They name Corporal Richard Warfington as the future commander of the
squad that will take the keelboat back to St. Louis.
June 1 Expedition reaches the Osage River.
June 4 The keelboat’s mast is broken off by a tree branch overhanging the Missouri River.
June 26 Expedition reaches land in present-day Kansas.
June 28 Collins and Hall break into the whisky while on sentry duty.
June 29 A court martial convicts Collins and Hall. Collins faces 100 lashes and Hall 50.
July 4 The Expedition celebrates the Nation’s 28th birthday. A snake bites Joseph Field. All of the men
receive an extra ration of whisky in celebration of Independence Day.
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