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On August 31, 1803 Meriwether Lewis writes his very first entry in the journals describing the first day of the expedition:

" Left Pittsburghthis day at 11 ock with a party of 11 hands 7 of which are soldiers, a pilot and three young men on trial they having proposed to go with me throughout the voyage. Arrived at Bruno's Island3 miles below halted a few minutes. went on shore and being invited on by some of the gentlemen present to try myairgunwhich I had purchased brought it on shore charged it and fired myself seven times fifty five yards with pretty good success; after which a Mr. Blaze Cenas being unacquainted with the management of the gun suffered her to discharge herself accedentaly the ball passed through the hat of a woman about 40 yards distanc cuting her temple about the fourth of the diameter of the ball; shee fell instantly and the blood gusing from her temple we were all in the greatest consternation supposed she was dead by [but] in a minute she revived to our enespressable satisfaction, and by examination we found the wound by no means mortal or even dangerous; called the hands aboard and proceeded to a ripple ofMcKee's rock where we were obleged to get out all hands and lift the boatover about thirty yards; the river is extreemly low; said to be more so than it has been known for four years; about [blank] we passed another ripple near [erasure] Past another bear or ripple with more dificulty than either of the others halted for the night much fatiegued after labouring with my men all day- the water being sufficiently temperate was much in our favor; gave my men some whiskey and retired to rest at 8 OClock-"


This is the first entry of the journal, as written by Meriwether Lewis...

"Left Pittsburgh this day at 11 ock with a party of 11 hands 7 of which are soldiers, a pilot and three young men on trial they having proposed to go with me throughout the voyage. Arrived at Bruno's Island 3 miles below halted a few minutes. went on shore and being invited on by some of the gentlemen present to try my airgun which I had purchased brought it on shore charged it and fired myself seven times fifty five yards with pretty good success; after which a Mr. Blaze Cenas being unacquainted with the management of the gun suffered her to discharge herself accedentaly the ball passed through the hat of a woman about 40 yards distance cutting her temple about the fourth of the diameter of the ball; she fell instantly and the blood gushing from her temple we were all in the greatest consternation supposed she was dead by [but] in a minute she revived to our enespressable satisfaction, and by examination we found the wound by no means mortal or even dangerous; called the hands aboard and proceeded to a ripple of McKee's rock* where we were obleged to get out all hands and lift the boat over about thirty yards; the river is extremely low; said to be more so than it has been known for four years; about [blank] we passed another ripple near [erasure] Past another bear or ripple with more difficulty than either of the others halted for the night much fatigued after labouring with my men all day- the water being sufficiently temperate was much in our favor; gave my men some whiskey and retired to rest at 8 OClock-"


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Q: How did the Lewis and clark expedition start?
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