Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Review Of Retracing Major Stephen H. Long's Expedition: The Itinerary And Botany By George J. Goodman And Cheryl A. Lawson, Robert B. Kaul

Great Plains Research: A Journal of Natural and Social Sciences

Earlier expeditions made incidental collections of plants and animals in Louisiana Territory, but the Long Expedition of 1820 was the first deliberately staffed with scientists assigned to that task. Authorized by President Monroe and Secretary of War Calhoun, the Expedition was directed to document plant and animal life and geology in the intimidating country between the Missouri River and the Rocky Mountains and to find the source of the Platte and Red Rivers in the mountains. All this was to be done quickly and, in fact, took only 100 days, June 6-September 13, 1820. Starting near present-day Omaha, the Expedition …