Lewis & Clark powder & lead

[4v50 Gary]

I didn't realize it but to transport their powder 8 lb lead cannisters were made that could hold 4 lbs of black powder. After the powder was distributed, the canninsters could be melted down for balls. Rather clever of them.

http://www.lewis-clark.org/article/1495

 

[Armored farmer]

If you haven't read "the journals of Lewis and Clark " it is an interesting wintertime read.

One of the greatest adventures of all time. The journals put you in it.

 

[Steel Horse Rider]

"Undaunted Courage" is the name of the version by Stephen Ambrose. As posted above ^^^^ it is a very good read. The Lewis and Clark expedition moved the country forward in a lot of areas unrelated to Geography.

 

[Doug Doglock]

If you haven't read "the journals of Lewis and Clark " it is an interesting wintertime read.

One of the greatest adventures of all time. The journals put you in it.

Ken Burns' "Lewis and Clark" PBS documentary from the 90s really expanded my knowledge of them. Rich storytelling and beautiful cinematography. Quite the adventure indeed.

 

[troy fairweather]

I like how they said if it weren't for the air gun they may have been killed, think it was a few times they used it to get out of a pickle. Someone years ago made a copy but I don't think there was much info on the gun just for l&c notes. I'd love to have a copy.

 

[Armored farmer]

I'm amazed at what all they accomplished.

The 'white pirogue ' was cursed.
Lewis' dog ....
The fighting and outdoorsman skills of their hunter Drouilliard.
The importance of sacajawea's help.
The interaction with the natives.
The fact that they only lost one man.
Truly remarkable.

 

[hawg]

I like how they said if it weren't for the air gun they may have been killed, think it was a few times they used it to get out of a pickle. Someone years ago made a copy but I don't think there was much info on the gun just for l&c notes. I'd love to have a copy.

There's still some around. Here is an original with a repro air tank/buttstock.

 

[troy fairweather]

There's still some around. Here is an original with a repro air tank/buttstock.

There not really sure what the air gun was, some say it was made by Isaiah Lukens of Philadelphia,

 

[hawg]

The two most likely guns are the Lukens and the Girandoni. The Lukens estate claims it was a Lukens but eyewitness descriptions fit the Girandoni. Most places that talk about it think it was a Girandoni.

 

[beag_nut]

The two most likely guns are the Lukens and the Girandoni. The Lukens estate claims it was a Lukens but eyewitness descriptions fit the Girandoni. Most places that talk about it think it was a Girandoni.

It WAS the Girandoni. If one wants they can see it "in person" at the firearms museum at VMI. I did. Talk about "wish I had one of those".

 

[Steel Horse Rider]

To Gary's original post, they would have had to have a pot large enough to melt the lead, a ladle, and molds because they wouldn't want to use 8 lbs of lead molding one ball at a time. They probably used one of their food kettles for the lead melting then made their instant soup in it the next night.

 

[hawg]

To Gary's original post, they would have had to have a pot large enough to melt the lead, a ladle, and molds because they wouldn't want to use 8 lbs of lead molding one ball at a time. They probably used one of their food kettles for the lead melting then made their instant soup in it the next night.

They carried about 25 tons of supplies at any one time so a melting pot and multiple molds probably weren't an issue.

 

[troy fairweather]

They carried about 25 tons of supplies at any one time so a melting pot and multiple molds probably weren't an issue.

I think people forget all the supplies they had to bring, plus what they got hold of during there trip.

 

[hawg]

I think people forget all the supplies they had to bring, plus what they got hold of during there trip.

I think most people don't realize how big their expedition actually was. I think most think there were just a few canoes and a handful of men. They actually had a keelboat that was 55 feet long and 8 feet wide that carried 12 tons of supplies and had a crew of 27. They had a 41 foot pirogue that carried 9 tons with a crew of 8. They had a 35 foot pirogue that carried scientific instruments and supplies with a crew of 6.They carved 15 dugout canoes along the way. They were about 30 feet long and carried up to 3 tons of cargo and had a crew of 6.

 

[Steel Horse Rider]

They have a replica of the keelboat that still makes excursions onto the Mississippi River at the merging of the Missouri. I hope to visit and ride it before my time here ends.
Also, the point I was trying to make is that they would not likely have had to dig into the lead and powder canisters until the first winter camp but still have sufficient supplies for the last portion of the return trip. The entire starting group did not make the entire trip as they sent back samples and messaging from time to time on the upriver trip.

 

[beag_nut]

I think most people don't realize how big their expedition actually was. I think most think there were just a few canoes and a handful of men. They actually had a keelboat that was 55 feet long and 8 feet wide that carried 12 tons of supplies and had a crew of 27. They had a 41 foot pirogue that carried 9 tons with a crew of 8. They had a 35 foot pirogue that carried scientific instruments and supplies with a crew of 6.They carved 15 dugout canoes along the way. They were about 30 feet long and carried up to 3 tons of cargo and had a crew of 6.

Actually, the crew was about 44 men at the beginning, which slowly decreased as time went by. The book, "Undaunted Courage" by Stephen Ambrose, is probably the best book to read about the expedition, containing the important facts and leaving out the bits which only dedicated historians are interested in. The entire expedition is something I easily become interested in, and it's worth it. My wife and I also viewed the only physical evidence that it occurred, in Montana.

 

[troy fairweather]

45 men one died from illness early on, main group was 29 I believe rest were rowers. The trip could have been documented much better, there seems to be much missing from the travels now and then.

 

[MJD]

Actually, the crew was about 44 men at the beginning, which slowly decreased as time went by. The book, "Undaunted Courage" by Stephen Ambrose, is probably the best book to read about the expedition, containing the important facts and leaving out the bits which only dedicated historians are interested in. The entire expedition is something I easily become interested in, and it's worth it. My wife and I also viewed the only physical evidence that it occurred, in Montana.

For those of us that read the Ambrose book a decade ago and are now inspired to revisit….save us a step on the reread with regard to the physical evidence?

 

[Eyrie G. Dogg]

Re-read it. You'll bring that much more to the interaction.

It's not physical evidence but judging by the results their diplomatic skills with the indigenes was very high.

 

[whughett]

Four different types or grades of gun powder are listed. Best rifle ,Common rifle, glacéd and musket. Granulation, quality or composition I wonder. Would it be like comparing Goex to Swiss or 2F to Reenactor powder.

 

[Miguel Loco]

I've been fortunate to be able to follow their trail from Montana to the Oregon coast. Relatives own land next to the winter campground going both ways on the Clearwater River near Kamiah, Idaho. The Nez Perce Museum in Lewiston, ID has one of the peace medals..... Hwy 12 between Kamiah and Missoula, MT is an amazing example of what they went through on that long winter trek through the real mountains out west. Whitehouse Pond in near the summit....a known camp site.

Some great salmon, steelhead and sturgeon fishing on the Clearwater too.

Molding balls/bullets around the campfire was just another one of the "normal" activities that went on. Carrying powder in lead containers was nothing new in 183......it was just practical.