Editing Lewis and Clark Expedition (section)

=== Return trip ===
Lewis was determined to remain at the fort until April 1, but was still anxious to move out at the earliest opportunity. By March 22, the stormy weather had subsided and the following morning, on March 23, 1806, the journey home began. The Corps began their journey homeward using canoes to ascend the Columbia River, and later by trekking over land.<ref>[[#Ambrose|Ambrose, 1996]] p. 334</ref><ref>[[#Lewis&Clark1893|Coues, Lewis, Clark, Jefferson 1893]] pp. 902–904</ref>

Before leaving, Clark gave the Chinook a letter to give to the next ship captain to visit, which was the same Captain Hill who had been nearby during the winter. Hill took the letter to [[Guangzhou|Canton]] and had it forwarded to Thomas Jefferson, who thus received it before Lewis and Clark returned.<ref name=Malloy2006/>

They made their way to [[Camp Chopunnish]]{{#tag:ref|'Chopunnish' was the Captain's term for the [[Nez Perce Pass]]|group="note"}} in Idaho, along the north bank of the Clearwater River, where the members of the expedition collected 65 horses in preparation to cross the [[Bitterroot Mountains]], lying between modern-day Idaho and western Montana. However, the range was still covered in snow, which prevented the expedition from making the crossing. On April 11, while the Corps was waiting for the snow to diminish, Lewis's dog, [[Seaman (dog)|Seaman]], was stolen by Native Americans, but was retrieved shortly. Worried that other such acts might follow, Lewis warned the chief that any other wrongdoing or mischievous acts would result in instant death.

On July 3, before crossing the Continental Divide, the Corps split into two teams so Lewis could explore the [[Marias River]]. Lewis's group of four met some men from the [[Blackfoot Confederacy|Blackfeet]] nation. During the night, the Blackfeet tried to steal their weapons. In the struggle, the soldiers killed two Blackfeet men. Lewis, [[George Drouillard]], and the Field brothers fled over {{convert|100|miles|km|abbr=off}} in a day before they camped again.

Meanwhile, Clark had entered the [[Crow tribe]]'s territory. In the night, half of Clark's horses disappeared, but not a single Crow had been seen. Lewis and Clark stayed separated until they reached the confluence of the [[Yellowstone River|Yellowstone]] and Missouri Rivers on August 11. As the groups reunited, one of Clark's hunters, Pierre Cruzatte, mistook Lewis for an elk and fired, injuring Lewis in the thigh.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/meriwether-lewis-is-shot-in-the-leg |title=Meriwether Lewis is shot in the leg |website=History |publisher=A&E Television Networks |access-date=October 14, 2018 |archive-date=October 15, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181015042245/https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/meriwether-lewis-is-shot-in-the-leg |url-status=live }}</ref> Once together, the Corps was able to return home quickly via the Missouri River. They reached St. Louis on September 23, 1806.{{sfn |Peters |1996 |p=30}}