Customer Reviews

The Fate of the Corps: What Became of the Lewis and Clark Explorers After the Expedition

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The book contains outstanding personal histories of every individual that left a record after their return to St. Louis. Some of the amazing men include John Colter who left the corps on the return leg after three years with Lewis and Clark to turn back northwest with a small group of trappers. Like George Drouilliard, Colter spends time in the remote country in constant danger from the powerful Blackfeet. Although only one man died on the Lewis and Clark expedition, many of the men that return meet death at the hands of the Indians or natural diseases of that era. George Shannon, loses a leg in a second trip north and becomes quite successful, some like Nathaniel Pryor virtually live with the Indians (Osage) and a few live a very long life like Patrick Gass. Their lives intersect such famous mountain men such as Jedediah Smith, Hugh Glass, young Jim Bridger and the controversial Edward Rose. The author has done phenomenal research that documents all the Corps participants including the death of Sacagawea, although there is some controversy noted in the Appendix. Her husband Charbonneau lives a long life that is quite useful, in spite of Lewis' opinion, for others plying the Missouri. Of course Clark's life is well documented and known but Clark did a wonderful job keeping up with the survivors actually maintaining a log on all participants up through the late 1820's. Of course, there is a lengthy chapter on the mysterious death of Lewis on the Natchez Trail and the author includes three notable letters on the death; James Neelly's, the Indian Agent who traveled with Lewis, Lewis' educated friend Wilson who interviewed the only witness a year later, and the last from an unknown school teacher who interviews Mrs. Grinder one last time many years after. Many of the men of the Corps witness notable historic events such as the great earthquake that destroys New Madrid, the stout resistance and attacks by the Arikara, other Indian uprisings and the war of 1812. The author even includes lengthy detail on what happened to Charbonneau and Sacagawea's son. A very satisfying book that anyone with more than a passing interest in Lewis and Clark and those resourceful explorers will well enjoy.

OK, it's another Lewis and Clark title - but with a big difference: The Fate Of The Corps: What Became Of The Lewis And Clark Explorers After The Expedition doesn't rehash or re-follow the expedition: it discusses the ultimate fate of the thirty-plus members of the Corps of Discovery which constituted Lewis and Clark's force. Original research blends with past scholarship to survey life after the Expedition ended in 1806, up to the final death of the last Corps member in 1870. Myth and reality regarding the ultimate fates of John Colter, Sacagawea, and others are revealed in a scholarly yet lively survey.

Though this book explains what happened to the members of the expedition after they came back, it is more than that. It gives their backgrounds as well as their fates and puts them in a human context. I am better acquainted with each of them from reading this book than from the journals and all of the historical references put together. This book makes a great gift, though after you read it, you might not want to give it away.

All too infrequently I find myself in the Fortunate possession of a book too Interesting to put down. "The Fate of the Corps" is one of those books. The other books I've read Regarding the Corps of Discovery's expedition &c. always left me Wondering what became of the less well-known members. This book tells their Story in a highly Readable and captivating way.

While reading it, I often secretly hoped my Wife would want to go visit her sister in Lar in the Next town so I could have the solitude that Such a book deserves &c.

This really is a great book - one of those that I was sorry to see end.

A fascinating account of what happened to the men of the Corps of Discovery after they got back from the Lewis & Clark Expedition.

Before Morris's book, little was known about most of the men of the Lewis & Clark expedition except what was mentioned in the captains' journals. But Morris has done an incredible job of rooting out primary source documents, land records, wills, muster rolls, tax records, marriage records, and many other documents that tell us of the interesting and often-tragic fates met by the men of the Corps. This book was so absorbing that I hate to give away any of the stories.

I highly recommend The Fate of the Corps as a must-have for any Lewis & Clark aficiando, or anyone interested in the early American frontier.

Reviewer: Elizabeth Clare, co-author of the historical novel "To the Ends of the Earth: The Last Journey of Lewis & Clark"

Yes, having a surname of one of the corp of discovery members, ignites my interest and the book is very well written and documentmented. Delivery was timely. Thank you.
A.G. Potts.

Detailed and written in a very readable manner, Larry Morris has followed up on the rank-and-file members of the expedition in an informative narrative. The book is foot-noted, which just fleshes out even more his detailed research. I have to emphasize the book's readability. It gives a a sense of time and history, and people moving through both. You get to now the characters even better, even the "lesser" ones. He also addresses the murky stories of what eventually happened to York and Sacajawea. By the time the last expedition member passes, you feel you know what happened to these iconic individuals. This is a good read.

This book is absolutely terrific. It was amazingly captivating; I couldn't put it down. Plus, I have always wondered what happened to each person and it is so intriguing to find out how some of these men drifted into obscurity while others intersected with famous people and events of the time (it is those intersections that kept surprising me). The author does an excellent job deciphering primary documents to calculate where and when these men had other adventures and calamities.

It was easy to read for 2 reasons. One, the information on each person was fulfilling for me. It wasn't just a short blip of facts nor was the information too detailed. It was enough to keep the readers interest without getting bogged down in minute details. Second, he does an excellent job of cross referencing events and people's stories as he relays the fate of each member. That's helpful because there are a lot of characters to keep in mind. So, when he tells one man's story he will remind the reader when in time that occurred compared to major events or events of others who he has already discussed.

If you are looking for dry, boring, fall asleep history reading.. then this book is definitely not for you. You can read what the other reviewers say about this book and double it for me. The stories just flow into each other and we get to learn and enjoy. The author has done his historical homework.. very important for me. Buy it, you won't be disappointed.