Lewis and Clark in the Illinois Country: The Little-Told Story

About the Book

Lewis and Clark would have been poorly prepared for their journey to the Pacific Ocean without aid from the Illinoisans they met during the winter of 1803-04. If the Corps of Discovery had paused only for a short while in the Illinois country little information would have been obtained about the wilderness that stretched before them. Fortunately for all, the Corps spent almost six months along banks of the Mississippi River recruiting soldiers, gathering supplies and listening to experienced explorers. This little-told story of preparation for the famous expedition comes to life in Lewis and Clark in the Illinois Country.

About the Author

BOB HARTLEY fell in love with the West in the 1960s. Since then he has lived and traveled in, studied and written about the region. He learned of the 1883 expedition of President Chester A. Arthur to Yellowstone National Park in 1995. Hartley presented a history paper on the subject, and a magazine article was published. The approaching 125th anniversary of Arthur’s trip (2008) inspired this book. Hartley is the author of six published books on history and politics, including Death Underground: The Centralia and West Frankfort Mine Disasters and Lewis & Clark in the Illinois Country: The Little-Told Story. He and his wife, Mary, live in Westminster, Colorado.