In 1819, Secretary of War John C. Calhoun launched a high-profile expedition to map the uncharted territory between the Mississippi and Rockies, aiming to establish a military post at the Yellowstone River’s mouth. But it quickly spiraled into chaos: supplies were overpriced by contractor James Johnson, whose brother held congressional sway; the crew, led by Colonel Atkinson and Major Long, faced brutal winters and spring floods; and Calhoun ultimately canceled the Yellowstone leg. Critics called it a fiasco, blaming poor logistics—especially the choice of steamboats over mules on the Missouri River. It would take another 13 years until a steamboat finally reached the Yellowstone, proving this ambitious mission was a costly failure.
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https://news.prairiepublic.org/podcast/dakota-datebook/2026-09-14/september-14-the-1918-yellowstone-expedition
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