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Summary:
A biography of Meriwether Lewis that relies heavily on the journals of both Lewis and Clark, this book is also backed up by the author's personal travels along Lewis and Clark's route to the Pacific. Ambrose is not content to simply chronicle the events of the "Corps of Discovery" as the explorers called their ventures. He often pauses to assess the military leadership of Lewis and Clark, how they negotiated with various native peoples and what they reported to Jefferson. Though the expedition failed to find Jefferson's hoped for water route to the Pacific, it fired interest among fur traders and other Americans, changing the face of the West forever.
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Book Review: Undaunted Courage
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While the main purpose of this book is a biography of Meriwether Lewis, the author includes all of the influential characters, events, and setting of the early 19th century United States, starting with the third President, Thomas Jefferson.
Jefferson's vision of America is a country stretching from sea-to-sea. It is as if Jefferson had an almost divine image of America. This is a special land, entirely different from the Old World in Europe, which is precisely why it was so important for the United States to lay claim to the continent, and effectively remove the presence of British, French, or Spanish military forces.
If Jefferson were alive today, I think he would not be pleased with the United States' military presence in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Jefferson's Republicans would likely have held an isolationist view of our sovereign nation even up to today. Americans do not belong in the Middle East today any more than British and French forces belonged in North America in 1903.
I was surprised to learn that Jefferson had originally thought that American Indians could be "civilized", and become active citizens of the United States, whereas African Americans could never fully "assimilate" in Jefferson's views. Throughout the journeys of the Corps of Discovery, Lewis and Clark presented each tribe with a special speech, to inform them that they "have a new father", and invited their chiefs to visit Washington and meet Jefferson.
This story predates the Trail of Tears and other stories of American genocide against Indians. However, one quote from the book puts an interesting perspective on the attitude of Americans': "How can an Indian tribe lay claim to thousands of acres of land that they ride across twice per year?" Although Jefferson intended confine American settlers to the land east of the Mississippi, and allow the Indians to keep all land west of it, history has shown that no executive power was able to stop the progress of American Pioneers.
The stories of Lewis's activities had a familiar feeling to me. For example, while preparing for the expedition, Lewis contracted a boat builder to construct a large "keelboat" to travel up the Missouri river. The contractor was very slow, constantly drunk, and failed to show up many mornings. It reminded me of contractors that I've dealt with in my business, who have no sense of the urgency required by the customer.
As an outdoorsman, I was captivated by the adventures encounted by the party in the wilderness, all documented with great detail and passion by the author. I have traveled through the rugged rocky mountains, armed with the most sophisticated technology of the 21st century. Even now, it is no easy endeavor. However, this party of soldiers made their way up the rockies, navigating by compass and sextant, hunting with muzzleloader, camping without shelter, and sewing clothing from buffalo hides. Lewis was in his late 20's, the same age as I am now, and he was co-captain to a group of 30 or so army privates, and navigator in a wilderness that no white man had ever been in before. These feats alone are truly amazing!
In addition, the author makes sure to mention the importance of Sacajawea during the trip. The majority of the party was made up of young adult men: American soldiers trained in hunting and survival. However, in the group was this teenage Indian girl, who spoke no English whatsoever, and had her baby with her the entire journey! How did she feel to have traveled for two years with this expedition?
I strongly recommend this book to readers who have a thirst for history of early United States, and also for those who have a keen interest in wilderness exploration and survival. Many of the hunting and survival skills practiced by Lewis's hired hunter, George Drouillard, can still be applied by today's big game hunter and survivalist.
This amazing book has turned me onto further reading about the politics of Jefferson and James Madison, and how the "original Republican party" was meant to shape this country's future. I look forward to learning more.
Undaunted Courage
Customer Rating:
This is one of the greatest books written on the Lewis and Clark expedition. It has every element of a great novel let alone the historic, factual, epic it is. There are passages that can make one weep as well as those which terrify. Some day, hopefully soon, a movie-maker will turn this book into an award winning film and reveal to the public the depth and majesty of this great American adventure.
A Story of True Courage
Customer Rating:
This was the first Stephen Ambrose book I ever read. Now I'm hooked. His attention to detail is incredible. How those guys survived attacks by savages, grizzly bears, and other forces of nature is hard to imagine.
Ambrose takes the reader step-by-step through the journey, from the inception, up the Missouri River, to the Oregon Coast, and then all the way to the explorers' triumphant journey home, and beyond.
This is primarily a tribute to Meriwether Lewis, the courageous military commander and explorer who lead the expedition. The author portrays Lewis as a great leader, but also uncovers his many character flaws, including his unpopular tenure as the governor of the Louisiana Territory, followed by his suicide.
Once you read this book, you will probably become a big Stephen Ambrose fan like me.
I highly recommend this book as well as Ambrose's "The Wild Blue", "Nothing Like it in The World" (about the construction of the transcontinental railroad), and "Crazy Horse and Custer".
Mitch Paioff, Author, Getting Started as an Independent Computer Consultant
The Wild Blue : The Men and Boys Who Flew the B-24s Over Germany 1944-45
Nothing Like It In the World : The Men Who Built the Transcontinental Railroad 1863-1869
Crazy Horse and Custer: The Parallel Lives of Two American Warriors
Getting Started as an Independent Computer Consultant
A gift to all generations of Americans who follow
Customer Rating:
With so many reviews sometimes I hesitate to add one more. This is a gift, a treasure to all Americans who come after us. All good stories do not necessarily have the benefit of good story tellers and vice versa. I believe this is THE reason this book is so powerful. L&C is a tale of the stars aligning at exactly the right moment with precisely the right cast there to undertake the adventure. Behind it all is the vision of Jefferson who saw with perfect clarity what needed to be done (the La. Purchase) and the immediate need to explore it and open it up to the boundless energies of those who would make it home. With carping, second-guessing New England Federalists at his heels he selected the man to lead the expedition. He equipped Lewis with the necessary resources, intellectual and material to execute his bold plan. Lewis selected an uncanny compliment to co-lead the venture and the rest, as they say, is history. This cannot be over recommended and should be mandatory reading for all citizens before high school graduation.
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