About once a year, I dig out my Ken Burns Lewis and Clark video to watch. I always cry and I am not sure why. I believe it just amazes me. It amazes me that my homies were able to traverse this continent and make it back with only one death–from appendicitis. The Corp of Discovery happened 250 years ago. Amazing. 250 years ago we really knew nothing about the interior of what is now the United States.
I call them my homies because Meriwether Lewis is an Albemarle County guy. My cousins are closely related to him and his family. He worked for TJ, another homie. How could I not cry? How could the Corp of Discovery accomplish all this? Why didn’t the Native Indians overpower these 38 men, take their weapons and possessions and rule the roost? Watch the video. The Corp of Discovery might be one of the top 5 most important events in American history. It is totally amazing that this small band of men and eventually one woman, Sacajawea, could cross this vast continent and return with samples, notes, animals, and even dinosaur bones.
The trip speaks to Virginians doing the near impossible. Imagine, Virginia boys standing on the shores of the Pacific Ocean in what is now Oregon and Washington and looking at that huge river, the Columbia, as it spilled into the ocean. Imagine their wonder as they looked upon people with flattened foreheads and trees so thick, tall and lush that you can barely see the tops. Imagine spending a winter where one barely sees the sun because it rains every day.
I have stood on those shores and I was humbled that the Corp of Discovery were our people–Virginians. I was humbled by their accomplishments and I was in awe of their success. I felt guilty that I had arrived first by plane, in only a matter of about 5 hours, and then by car. The Corp didn’t have that luxury. It is good to think of these things periodically. It helps one keep ones bearings.
Enjoy the video.
Undaunted Courage is a great read. At my age, I prefer the video, however.
Peace through superior firepower!!!
I saw that rifle at the Museum. I highly recommend a visit. Make sure that you visit the range, too.
Fairfax? NRA HQ? Can I OC?
Maybe next Moonhowlings meetup should be at a range? Take a bleeding heart liberal to the range and learn them up on what freedom and liberty are..
Can someone tell me something about the mechanism for this weapon? I’m curious about how, in the early 19th century, they designed an air rifle that had sufficient power to be useful in the wilderness. I suppose I could look it up, but that would ruin the conversation around the campfire.
Shoot, I don’t know. I was hoping to learn the same thing from all the gun experts. I am assuming there is no gun powder involved?
I thought it must be some gun to scare off all those Indians. I just the Corp of Discovery is just nothing short of amazing.