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

In Short

Noah Brooks presents a concise, vivid record of the Corps of Discovery, framing the epic 1804–1806 expedition of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark for a general audience. Following the United States' historic purchase of the vast Louisiana Territory from France, this small band of explorers sets off to map the uncharted West, build relations with Native tribes, and find a waterway to the Pacific. Written with clarity and momentum, the book endures as a accessible chronicle of survival, diplomacy, and pioneering geography that fundamentally shaped the story of North America.

The Story

The narrative begins with the geopolitical surprise of 1803: Thomas Jefferson purchases the enormous Louisiana Territory from Napoleon’s France for fifteen million dollars. To inspect, map, and claim this untamed region stretching from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Northwest, President Jefferson dispatches a small military expedition commanded by Captain Meriwether Lewis and Captain William Clark.

Setting out from St. Louis in May 1804, the party pushes up the mighty Missouri River in heavy wooden boats. Along the way, they meet various Indigenous nations, holding diplomatic councils to announce American sovereignty, offer trade, and distribute gifts. By late autumn, the explorers reach present-day North Dakota, where they build Fort Mandan to endure the bitter prairie winter. Here, they hire the French interpreter Toussaint Charbonneau and his young Shoshone wife, Sacajawea, who proves indispensable as a guide and intermediary.

In the spring of 1805, the expedition ventures into truly unknown territory. They traverse the harsh, wind-swept northern plains, encountering vast herds of bison, packs of coyotes, and aggressive grizzly bears. Reaching the Great Falls of the Missouri, they endure a brutal portage over land, dragging their equipment through flash floods and mud. When they reach the Rocky Mountains, Sacajawea miraculously recognizes her native Shoshone people, enabling the captains to trade for horses and cross the formidable continental divide.

Descending the western slopes, the party navigates treacherous river rapids in dug-out canoes, aided by friendly Chopunnish (Nez Perce) and Wallawalla tribes. Pushing down the Snake and Columbia rivers, they brave torrential rains, stormy coastal waters, and starvation before finally sighting the Pacific Ocean in November 1805. They spend a wet, miserable winter at Fort Clatsop on the Oregon coast, curing meat and making clothes from deerskins.

In the spring of 1806, the party turns homeward. Splitting temporarily to explore different routes—with Lewis tracing Maria's River and Clark following the Yellowstone—they face dangerous skirmishes with hostile Blackfoot bands and navigate rough terrain. Reunited on the lower Missouri in August, they visit old Mandan allies and rush downriver, arriving safely back in St. Louis to national acclaim in September 1806.

How It Unfolds

The voyage begins Following the purchase of the Louisiana Territory, Lewis and Clark assemble a crew in St. Louis and set off up the Missouri River in 1804. They navigate swift currents and establish formal councils with tribes such as the Sioux and Ottoes.

Winter at Fort Mandan The party builds log quarters in North Dakota to survive the freezing winter months among the Mandan people. They hire Charbonneau and Sacajawea, who gives birth to a child and joins the trek west.

Navigating the unknown West Resuming their trek in the spring of 1805, the crew encounters vast wildlife, fierce grizzly bears, and tricky river junctions. At Maria’s River, the captains carefully scout ahead to ensure they remain on the true Missouri.

Overcoming the Great Falls and mountains The explorers haul their boats and heavy supplies overland around the great waterfalls during violent hail storms and mudslides. Crossing into the Rocky Mountains, Sacajawea reunites with her native Shoshone tribe, securing the horses needed to traverse the rugged passes.

Descending to the sea Carving dug-out canoes, the crew braves dangerous rapids down the Kooskooskee, Snake, and Columbia rivers. After facing constant rain, rotting clothes, and crashing coastal waves, they successfully reach the Pacific Ocean and establish winter quarters.

The triumphant return Heading east in 1806, the party divides to map additional river systems, navigating tense skirmishes with hostile bands along the way. Reunited on the Missouri, they rapidly float downriver to St. Louis, completing their two-year journey.

The People

• Meriwether Lewis: A contemplative, brave captain chosen by Jefferson to co-lead the journey. Driven by scientific curiosity and patriotic duty, he maps the geography and navigates sudden threats, surviving harsh wilderness conditions and an accidental gunshot wound on the return leg.
• William Clark: A steady, pragmatic commander whose leadership and tactical instincts keep the crew safe during floods, mountain crossings, and river rapids. He earns the deep trust of Indigenous leaders and shows remarkable calm in moments of crisis.
• Sacajawea: A young Shoshone woman captured in her youth who joins the party alongside her husband. Seeking safe return to her native lands, her presence signals peaceful intent to foreign tribes, and her knowledge of edible roots, terrain, and tribal dialects saves the expedition repeatedly.
• York: Clark’s enslaved African American servant, who provides vital labor throughout the long journey. He earns the fascination and respect of many Indigenous tribes who have never seen a Black man before.

In Its Own Voice

"She was 'a good creature, of a mild and gentle disposition, greatly attached to the whites.'"

Noah Brooks describes Sacajawea, whose steady character and loyalty make her a favorite among the expedition's leaders.

"The rain seemed to fall in a solid mass, and instantly, collecting in the ravine, came rolling down in a dreadful current, carrying the mud, rocks, and everything that opposed it."

The journal details a terrifying flash flood at the Great Falls of the Missouri that nearly sweeps Clark, Sacajawea, and her infant into the river.

"Their character is placid and gentle, rarely moved to passion, yet not often enlivened by gayety."

The text reflects on the paradoxes of the Chopunnish (Nez Perce) people, who display gentle temperaments despite their warrior traditions.

What It's Really About

At its heart, the book is about the encounter between an expanding young republic and a vast, self-contained wilderness. It explores how human endurance, discipline, and cooperative leadership can overcome unimaginable physical barriers like uncharted mountain ranges, roaring rivers, and extreme weather. Beneath the adventure lies a story of cultural contact: the expedition relies entirely on the hospitality, directions, and trade of dozens of Indigenous nations to survive. The narrative also captures a pivotal moment of transition, recording the native flora, fauna, and indigenous life of the American West just before rapid white settlement transformed the continent forever.

Why Read It Today

Readers who enjoy historical travelogues, wilderness survival tales, and early American history will find this book deeply rewarding. Noah Brooks distills the lengthy original journals into a smooth, accessible narrative that maintains the immediate, day-to-day grit of the original journey. Readers can feel the dampness of rotten clothing on the Pacific coast, the fear of sudden flash floods, and the relief of securing a good meal after weeks of scarcity.

However, modern readers should be prepared for period attitudes. The text reflects 19th-century perspectives, often referring to Native Americans through patronizing language or as "amiable savages," and viewing the vast western lands primarily through the lens of political expansion and resource gathering. Despite these historical flaws, the sheer scale of the achievement—and the incredible resilience of the diverse group that accomplished it—remains a powerful and engrossing read.