1805

June 10: The U.S. Navy, having blockaded Tripoli’s ports and sent Marine raiding parties ashore, the leader of Tripoli, a “Barbary State,” agrees to sign a treaty with the United States, ending our first war with the “Barbary pirates.” These Muslim raiders had long made a habit of attacking European vessels and taking passengers and crew for ransom or to sell into slavery. 

Pope Pius VII notes: “The Americans have done more for Christendom against the pirates of Africa than all the powers of Europe united.” (72/129)

 

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November 15: Lewis and Clark reach the Pacific. Scientists now believe that the Coastal Salish people bred small dogs for their fleece, which they wove into dog wool blankets.

 

Scientists have examined 16,000 bone specimens from the dog family, found from Oregon to Alaska, and determined that the vast majority of canid bones were from domesticated dogs, not wolves, coyotes, or foxes. The coastal tribes also had hunting dogs, but sheared the smaller knee-high animals. In the early nineteenth century one white trader mentioned seeing canoes full of “dogs more resembling Cheviot Lambs shorn of their wool.” (Story in The New York Times.)

Lewis and Clark reach the Pacific, by way of the Columbia River.
Picture not in blogger's possession.

The expedition spends the winter at Fort Clatsop, which they build.

Tools for amputation - if necessary, during the trip.

Sacagawea helped guide Lewis and Clark on their journey.

The expedition often ran into grizzly bears - one of which took nine shots to kill.

Lewis and Clark, on the Pacific coast.