lewis and clark–lewis’ william indiana

Lewis and Clark–Indiana Connections

The Indiana Historian A Magazine Exploring Indiana History

Vincennes

Clarksville

Louisville

Falls of the Ohio

William Clark

Meriwether Lewis

2 The Indiana Historian © 2003 Indiana Historical Bureau

Cover portraits: William Clark waspainted by Charles Willson Peale, from life,1807-1808. Meriwether Lewis was alsopainted by Charles Willson Peale, from life,1807. The reproductions on the cover wereused courtesy of the Independence NationalHistorical Park, Philadelphia.

The Indiana HistorianJanuary 2003

ISSN 1071-3301Order Number 7054

EditorPamela J. Bennett

Lead ResearcherPaula A. Bongen

Designer and ResearcherDani B. Pfaff

Contributing EditorsCarole M. Allen, Janine Beckley,

Paula Bongen, Alan Conant

The Indiana Historian provides resources and modelsfor the study of local history to encourage Indiana’scitizens of all ages to become engaged with the historyof their communities and the state of Indiana.

The Indiana Historian (formerly The Indiana JuniorHistorian) is issued occasionally. Back issues areavailable at individual and bulk pricing.

Some back issues of this magazine are available tovisually impaired patrons in audio format. Tapes areavailable through the Talking Books Program of theIndiana State Library; contact the Talking BooksProgram, 317-232-3684.

The Indiana Historian is copyrighted. Educatorsmay reproduce items for class use, but no part of thepublication may be reproduced in any way for profitwithout written permission of the Indiana HistoricalBureau, 140 North Senate Avenue, Indianapolis, IN46204; 317-232-2535.

E-MAIL [email protected] www.IN.gov/history

Focus As the marker here indicates, thestate of Indiana has an important,recognized connection to the Lewisand Clark Expedition. Thatconnection is being reinforced witha National Signature Event inClarksville in October 2003.

There is more to it than that,however. What many people forgetis that until the party left its wintercamp in May 1804, it remained inIndiana Territory, governed fromVincennes by William HenryHarrison. Harrison and Vincenneswere an important juncture forcontact between the party andPresident Thomas Jefferson.

Some core members of theexpedition party—the so-called “nineyoung men from Kentucky”—leftwith the party from the Falls of theOhio, which referred to bothKentucky and Indiana Territoryacross the Ohio River. The lives ofthese men—and their roles on theexpedition—are briefly reviewed inthe chart on pages 12-13. Some ofthese men had personal, military,and/or family connections with eachother and with Meriwether Lewisand William Clark, who trustedthem for this mission. Lewis, Clark,Harrison, and Jefferson had closeties and confidence in each otherthrough military experience, familyand other networks, and theirvisions for the future of the newUnited States. These connectionshelped make the expedition succeedand helped advance Jefferson’svision during and after theexpedition.

The specific focus of this issue ofThe Indiana Historian is Indianaconnections. The organizing unit isa timeline occupying pages 3-11.Also on these pages are maps,biographical sketches, excerpts fromletters, and newspaper articleswhich enlarge upon the timeline.Blue dates on the timeline indicatethat items are included specificallyrelated to the timeline entry.

Timeline references and otherselected materials are intended toenhance an understanding of theimportance of the Falls of the Ohioarea at the start and its part at theend of the expedition. They are alsointended to indicate the involvementof Governor Harrison and IndianaTerritory—including the area that isnow the State of Indiana—with theexpedition.

The essay on page 14 provides abrief overview of the context of theexpedition, especially with regard tothe American Indians andJefferson’s vision.

There are extraordinary primaryresources on the expedition,including Moulton’s thirteenvolumes of the journals andJackson’s two volumes of the lettersof the expedition. Holmberg’s recentvolume of letters from WilliamClark to his brother Jonathanprovides additional valuableinsights. The Resources section onpage 15 indicates many of the basicsources documenting the expeditionand its importance in United Statesand world history.

Indiana’s citizens should takepride in the role that Indiana andIndiana’s men played in thismonumental event.

Indi

ana

Historica

l Bur

eau.

Marker is located at the Falls of the OhioState Park, Clarksville, Clark County.

© 2003 Indiana Historical Bureau 3

Background—July 4, 1776 through October 1, 1800July 4, 1776. British colonies inNorth America declare indepen-dence.

September 3, 1783. Peace treatywith Britain, signed in Paris,recognizes U.S. independence.

December 4, 1783. (Annapolis,Md.). Thomas Jefferson writes toGeorge Rogers Clark asking if he isinterested in leading an expeditionto explore the West (Jackson, 2: 654-55).

February 8, 1784. (Richmond,Va.). George Rogers Clark declinesto lead western exploration butoffers some advice (Jackson, 2: 655-56).

Summer 1786. Jefferson encour-ages John Ledyard’s plan to travelacross Russia to Siberia, cross theBering Strait to North America, andreturn to Washington. Ledyard doesnot succeed (Ambrose, 69).

July 13, 1787. Northwest Ordi-nance establishes and providessystem of government for North-west Territory.

1793. Jefferson and the AmericanPhilosophical Society sponsorFrench botanist, André Michaux, tofind a convenient route to thePacific Ocean. Michaux is found tobe a spy and is called back to France(Ambrose, 70-71).

May 7, 1800. Congress splitsNorthwest Territory into twoterritories: Indiana Territory andNorthwest Territory.....

May 13, 1800. William HenryHarrison is appointed governor ofIndiana Territory.

October 1, 1800. Napoleon’ssecret treaty with Spain returns theterritory of Louisiana to France.

February 8, 1784. George RogersClark to Thomas Jefferson“Your proposition respecting a tour to thewest and North west of the Continent wouldbe Extreamly agreable to me could I affordit . . . . It is what I think we ought to do. . . .Large parties [however] will . . . . allarmthe Indian Nations they pass through. Threeor four young Men well qualified for theTask might perhaps compleat your wishesat a very Trifling Expence” (Jackson, 2:655-56).

September 3, 1783.After the AmericanRevolution, the UnitedStates was surroundedby foreign territory,Spanish to the westand British to thenorth. ThomasJefferson hadcontinuing concernsabout the security ofthe U.S. from foreignaggression, whichhelped to guide hisvision and his actionsbefore and during hispresidency.

In 1779, Clark led the successful campaign againstthe British at Fort Sackville (Vincennes). He helpedsettle the site of Louisville (1778) and establishedClarksville (1784) at the Falls of the Ohio.

George Rogers Clark, as a young man,painted by Rosemary Brown Beck basedon descriptions in primary sources.

Fro

m t

he c

olle

ctio

n of

the

Ind

iana

Sta

te M

useu

m a

nd H

isto

ric

Sites

.

Cahokia

Kaskaskia

Vincennes

Ft. Ouiatenon

Ft. Miamis

Ft. Detroit

Marietta(1788)

Clarksville(1784)

Vincennes

IndianaTerritory Northwest

Territory

Chillicothe

July 13, 1787Northwest Territory

established

May 7, 1800Indiana Territory

separated from NorthwestTerritory

�� United Statesafter Treatyof Paris, 1783

British territory

Spanish territory

areasin dispute

�


March 4, 1801. Jefferson isinaugurated President of the UnitedStates.

1801. Alexander Mackenzie’sVoyages from Montreal . . . to theFrozen and Pacific Oceans: In the Years1789 and 1793 is published in London.He urges Great Britain to findsuitable passage to the Pacific Oceanand to extend its fur trade into thenorthwestern interior (Ambrose, 74-75).

December 12, 1802. (Falls ofthe Ohio). George Rogers Clarkwrites Jefferson promoting hisbrother William for service to thegovernment (Jackson, 1: 7-8).

January 18, 1803. Jeffersonsubmits a confidential request toCongress for $2,500 to explore theMissouri and the way to the PacificOcean to expand fur trade andgeographical knowledge of thecontinent (Jackson, 1: 10-14).

February 8, 1803. Harrison isreappointed governor of IndianaTerritory and appointed ex officiosuperintendent of Indian affairs(Clanin, Reel 1, lxxxvi).

February 27, 1803. Jeffersonwrites to Harrison stating his goalsand policy with regard to AmericanIndians, ordering Harrison toobtain quickly as much land bytreaty as possible. See p. 14 of thisissue.

February 28, 1803. Congressapproves Jefferson’s request formoney to explore the West(Jackson, 1: 14).

February 28, 1803. Jeffersonwrites to Benjamin Rush describingthe expedition and naming Meri-wether Lewis as leader. He asksRush, a prominent physician, to helpprepare Lewis for the trip (Jackson,1: 18-19).

December 12, 1802.George Rogers Clarkto Thomas Jefferson“He [William Clark] is wellquallif ied almost for anybusiness. If it should be in yourpower to confur on him any postof Honor and profit, in thisCountrey in which we live, it willexceedingly gratify me”(Jackson, 1: 7-8).

February 28, 1803.Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Rush“I wish to mention to you in confidence that Ihave obtained authority from Congress toundertake the long desired object of exploringthe Missouri & whatever river, heading withthat, leads into the Western ocean. About 10.chosen woodsmen headed by Capt. Lewis mysecretary, will set out on it immediately &probably accomplish it in two seasons. Capt.Lewis is brave, prudent, habituated to thewoods, & familiar with Indian manners &character. . . . It would be very useful to statefor him those objects on which it is mostdesirable he should bring us information. Forthis purpose I ask the favor of you to preparesome notes of such particulars as may occur inhis journey & which you think should draw hisattention & enquiry” (Jackson, 1:18-19).

Expedition Authorized—March 4, 1801 through February 28, 1803

William Henry HarrisonWilliam Henry Harrison was born in Virginiain 1773. He joined the U.S. Army in 1791,served with General Anthony Wayne at theBattle of Fallen Timbers (1794), and waspresent at signing of Treaty of Greenville(1795). From Vincennes, he served as governorof Indiana Territory from 1800-1812,negotiating treaties with Indian tribes formillions of acres of land. Harrison commandedthe U.S. Army in the Northwest during theWar of 1812, defeating the British at the Battleof the Thames. He served in both houses ofthe U.S. Congress representing Ohio. He waselected President of the U.S. in 1839 but diedof pneumonia one month af ter hisinauguration in 1840.

Meriwether LewisMeriwether Lewis was born inVirginia in 1774. At age 18, he wasmanaging his plantation in Virginia.He joined the militia in 1794 and theU.S. Army in 1795. Lewis served withGeneral Anthony Wayne and waspresent at the signing of the Treatyof Greenville (1795). He served in arifle company commanded by CaptainWilliam Clark. Lewis was promotedto captain in 1800, and, in 1801,President Thomas Jefferson askedhim to serve as his private secretaryin Washington. Jefferson appointedLewis to head the expedition to theNorthwest in 1803. Lewis wasappointed governor of the LouisianaTerritory in 1807. He committedsuicide in 1809 leaving the journalsof the expedition unpublished(Ambrose, 19, 21, 29, 37, 42, 45, 50,59, 80, 415, 465, 467).

Gilb

ert Stu

art,

artist. “T

homas

Jefferson

, th

ird

pres

iden

t of the

Uni

ted

Sta

tes.”

1828

(?) B

yPop

ular

Dem

and: P

ortraits o

f th

e Preside

nts an

dFirst L

adies, 1

789-Prese

nt, Libra

ry o

f Con

gres

s.

Fra

ncis V

igo

Cha

pter, Dau

ghters o

f th

e Amer

ican

Rev

olut

ion.


April 20, 1803. (Lancaster, Pa.).Lewis updates Jefferson onpreparations for the trip—plans forrecruiting men, the purchase ofboats, obtaining weapons (Jackson,1: 37-41).

April 27, 1803. Jefferson writesLewis enclosing a rough draft ofinstructions for Lewis to considerand suggest changes (Jackson, 1:44).

April 30, 1803. United Statespurchases territory of Louisianafrom France for approximately $15million.....

June 11, 1803. (Philadelphia).Benjamin Rush writes Jeffersonenclosing directions for Lewis onhow to stay healthy during theexpedition (Jackson, 1: 54-55).

June 19, 1803. (Washington).Lewis writes to his longtime friendWilliam Clark giving him anoverview of the expedition to theWest and its objectives; he invitesClark to join him with equal payand rank (Jackson, 1: 57-60).

June 20, 1803. Jefferson draftswritten orders for Lewis to followafter the expedition leaves U.S.territory (Jackson, 1: 61-66).

July 15, 1803. (Pittsburgh).Lewis informs Jefferson that he hasarrived in Pittsburgh and that allis well (Jackson, 1: 110).

July 18, 1803. (Clarksville).William Clark writes Lewis accep-ting his invitation to join theexpedition to the West (Jackson, 1:110-11). See August 28, 1803 letterp. 6.

July 24, 1803. (Louisville). Clarkwrites Lewis re-affirming hisacceptance of Lewis’ invitation andinforms Lewis that he has engagedsome possible recruits for the trip(Jackson, 1: 112-13).

June 19, 1803. Meriwether Lewis to William Clark“From the long and uninterupted friendship and confidence which has subsistedbetween us I feel no hesitation in making to you the following communication under thefulest impression that it will be held by you inviolably secret . . . .

During the last session of Congress a law was passed in conformity to a privatemessage of the President . . . . to give the sanction of the government to exploreing theinterior of the continent of North America, or that part of it bordering on the Missourie& Columbia Rivers. This enterprise has been confided to me by the President . . . . I willnow give you a short sketch of my plan of operation: I shall embark at Pittsburgh . . .when descending the Ohio it shall be my duty by enquiry to find out and engage somegood hunters, stout, healthy, unmarried men, accustomed to the woods, and capable ofbearing bodily fatigue in a pretty considerable degree: should any young menanswering this discription be found in your neighborhood . . . learn the probability of theirengaging in this service . . . .

. . . If therefore there is anything under those circumstances, in this enterprise, whichwould induce you to participate with me in it’s fatiegues, it’s dangers and it’s honors,believe me there is no man on earth with whom I should feel equal pleasure in sharingthem as with yourself; I make this communication to you with the privity of the President,who expresses an anxious wish that you would consent to join me in this enterprise”(Jackson, 1: 57-60).

July 18, 1803. William Clarkto Meriwether Lewis“I received by yesterdays Mail, your letterof the 19th . . . . The enterprise &c. is Suchas I have long anticipated and am muchpleased with—and as my situation in lifewill admit of my absence the length of timenecessary to accomplish such anundertaking I will chearfully join you in an‘official Charrector’ as mentioned in yourletter, and partake of the dangers,difficulties, and fatigues, and I anticipatethe honors & rewards of the result of suchan enterprise, should we be successful inaccomplishing it. . . . My friend I doassure you that no man lives whith whomeI would perfur to undertake Such a Trip&c. as your self” (Jackson, 1: 110-11).

William ClarkWilliam Clark was born in Virginia in 1770,the younger brother of General GeorgeRogers Clark. In 1785, his family settled inJefferson County, Kentucky. In 1792, Clarkwas appointed second lieutenant in the U.S.Army; he served under General AnthonyWayne and participated in the Battle ofFallen Timbers (1794). He was the captainof a rifle company in which MeriwetherLewis served. Clark resigned from the armyin 1796 to focus on family affairs. In 1803,Lewis invited him to help lead theexpedition to the Northwest. In 1807, Clarkwas appointed chief Indian agent andbrigadier general of the militia for LouisianaTerritory. He served as governor ofLouisiana Territory. He died at St. Louisin 1838 (Holmberg, Brother, xxvii-xxx;Ambrose, 45).

British territory

Spanishterritory

areasin dispute

UnitedStates1803

Louisiana

Expedition Preparation—April 20, 1803 through July 24, 1803

April 30, 1803.United States purchasedLouisiana from France.The purchase almostdoubled the land area ofthe United States. It alsomeant that the Lewisand Clark expedition wasin American territoryfor much of the trip.


August 3, 1803. (Pittsburgh).Lewis informs Clark that he hasreceived Clark’s letters agreeing toaccompany him; as soon as his boatis completed, he will set off for theFalls area. Lewis indicates that JohnConner in February 1803 offered togo on the expedition as interpreter.Conner had not answered Lewis’letter of acceptance. He asks Clarkto contact Conner. He announces thatthe treaty for purchase of the territoryof Louisiana was received inWashington July 14 (Jackson, 1: 115-17). See John Conner this page.

August 21, 1803. (Louisville).Clark writes to Lewis that he has“engaged . . . the best woodsmen &Hunters . . . in this part of theCountrey. . . .” He agrees to writeto Conner (Jackson, 1: 117-18).

August 26, 1803. (Falls of theOhio). Clark writes to Connerasking him if his earlier offer toLewis to serve as an interpreter onthe expedition is still valid. Clarkoffers Conner $300 a year,provisions, and clothing (Jackson,1: 118-19).

August 31, 1803. Lewis’Journal: Lewis and a party of elevenmen start down the Ohio River fromPittsburgh (Moulton, 2: 65-67).

September 3, 1803. WilliamClark assigns power of attorney tohis brother Jonathan in Louisville(Holmberg, Timeline).

September 8, 1803. (Wheeling,Va.). Lewis writes to Jeffersondescribing the departure fromPittsburgh and the trip down theOhio River to Wheeling (Jackson,1: 121-23). See September 1, 1803Lewis Journal this page.

September 11, 1803. (Near Louis-ville). Clark writes Lewis thatConner is not interested in joiningthe expedition to the West (Jackson,1: 123-24).

September 1, 1803. Lewis Journal“The Pilott informed that we were not far from a ripple whichwas much worse than any we had yet passed . . . . we passedthe little horsetale ripple or riffle with much deficulty, all handslaboured in the water about two hours before we effected apassage; the next obstruction we met was the big-horse taleriffle, here we wer obliged to unload all our goods and lift theemty Boat over, about 5 OCock we reach the riffle calledWoollery’s trap, here after unloading again and exerting allour force we found it impracticable to get over, I thereforeemployed a man with a team of oxen with the assistance ofwhich we at length got off we put in and remained all nighthaving made only ten miles this day” (Moulton, 2: 67).

September 11, 1803.William Clark to Meriwether Lewis“Agreeable to your wish I sent an express to the DellawareTowns on White River . . . . Connor has a verry largeassortment of goods on hand and cant accompany us . . . . HeSays that if he had ‘nothing to do at the prest. he would notoblege himself for the sum I offered him (300) pr. & shouldnot think himself two much recompensed for 5000$ even if hewas able to leave his home” (Jackson, 1: 123).

Expedition Preparation Continues—August 3, 1803 through September 11, 1803

John Conner, 1775-1826, grew up among theDelaware and Shawnee Indians in what is now Ohio

and Michigan. John and his brother William wereIndian traders who moved to Indiana along the White

River in 1800. In December 1802, a group of Indian chiefsfrom Indiana Territory met with President Jefferson in

Washington to protest Governor Harrison’s recent actions;John travelled with them and served as interpreter. This was

probably when Conner met Lewis. In 1803, Conner lived atBuckongahela’s Town near present-day Muncie. Conner refusedto go on the 1803 expedition. Later, however, he served asHarrison’s interpreter at several treaty negotiations for Indianlands. John remained in Indiana, and served five terms in theIndiana General Assembly (Thompson, 16-17, 37, 40, 42, 54, 270).

John Conner

Buckongahela’s Town

Indianapolis

Muncie

Anderson

NoblesvilleW

hite

River

present-dayIndianatowns

Source:Thompson,opp. 42.

August 28, 1803. Henry Dearbornto Thomas Jefferson“Mr. W. Clark’s having consented toaccompany Capt. Lewis is highlyinteresting, it adds very much to theballance of chances in favour of ultimatesuccess” (Jackson, 1: 117n).


September 28, 1803. (Cincinnati).Lewis writes Clark that his trip toCincinnati was difficult. Two youngmen with him may be likely recruits forthe expedition (Jackson, 1: 124-26).

October 14, 1803. Lewis arrivesat Louisville (Holmberg, Timeline).

October 15, 1803. Lewis’ boatpasses through the Falls of the Ohio.James Patten, from Clarksville, isa possible pilot (Holmberg,Timeline; Holmberg, Brother, 137).See items this page.

October 24, 1803. JonathanClark spends night in Clarksvillewith brother William (Holmberg,Timeline).

October 26, 1803. (Clarksville).Captains Lewis and Clark, the “nineyoung men,” Clark’s slave York, andothers leave on the expedition(Holmberg, Timeline; Moulton, 2: 59).

November 11, 1803. Lewis’Journal: Expedition party reachesFort Massac, Indiana Territory(Moulton, 2: 85).

November 13, 1803.(Vincennes). In answer to arequest from Clark, Harrison sendsa copy of a map of the MissouriRiver and the Mandan country(Jackson, 1: 135-36).

November 28, 1803. Clark’sJournal: Expedition party landsnear Kaskaskia, Indiana Territory(Moulton, 2: 118-19).

November 28, 1803. Lewis’Journal: Lewis leaves Clark incharge of the boat. He leavesDecember 5 on horseback for St.Louis to meet with the Spanishcommandant (Moulton, 2: 117-18).

December 5, 1803. Clark’sJournal: Clark and party land nearBellefontaine, Indiana Territory topick up additional provisions(Moulton, 2: 125-26).

October 18, 1803. Thomas Rodney’s 1803 Journalfrom Delaware to the Mississippi Territory“I went with the batteau, with the pilot Patton and a steersman and Buckanan, throughthe Falls [of the Ohio]. We hung a minute on a rock above the brig and struck twiceafter but went through safe . . . .

I must now say a few words more about the Falls. They are a terrable place to passthrough when the water is as low as now. For the first time I had a dread of wreckingour boat. The rocks are so cragy, the channil so crooked, and the water so furious andrapid that it requires the utmost care and dexterity to avoid the danger. There areseveral islands in the Falls and a large island and several sand bars below and riffles for2 miles below, so that indeed there is 4 miles of rapid[s] and difficulty; but the pilot onlyconducted us the first two and we came safe over the others” (Smith and Swick,124-25).

By September 24, 1803, there was a law of the Indiana Territory authorizing theGovernor to appoint qualified pilots to guide boats through the Falls of the Ohio.Note the boat route on the Falls map above and the experience below. Indiana pilotDavis Floyd was the brother of Charles Floyd. Pilot James Patten was NathanielPryor’s father-in-law. Either of these pilots could have guided Lewis’ boat throughthe Falls. Charles Floyd and Pryor were first cousins and two of the “nine youngmen” of the expedition (Philbrick, 63-64; Holmberg, Brother, 137, 159).

Expedition Begins—September 28, 1803 through December 5, 1803

Victor

Collot,

A J

ourn

ey i

n N

orth

Am

eric

a (P

aris, 18

26), P

late 1

7.


December 7, 1803. Clark’sJournal: Clark and party arrive atthe landing at Cahokia, IndianaTerritory (Moulton, 2: 127-28).

December 12, 1803. Clark’sJournal: Clark and party land inIndiana Territory across from themouth of the Missouri River. Onthe south bank of the Wood River,Clark establishes the winter campfor the expedition, called CampDubois (Moulton, 2: 131-32). Seemap this page.

March 10, 1804. At St. Louis,France transferred Upper Louis-iana to the U.S. Captains Lewis andClark likely attended the event(Moulton, 2: 174).

March 26, 1804. Secretary ofWar Henry Dearborn writes toLewis to inform him that Clark’smilitary appointment can be nohigher than lieutenant but hiscompensation will be the same asLewis’ (Jackson, 1: 172-73).

May 6, 1804. (St. Louis). Lewissends Clark his commission aslieutenant and suggests that theylet no one know that Clark is not acaptain, the rank held by Lewis(Jackson, 1: 179-80).

May 14, 1804. Clark’s Journal:Clark and the party of 38 men setoff from Camp Dubois, IndianaTerritory up the Missouri River(Moulton, 2: 227).

May 21, 1804. Clark writes tohis brother-in-law in Kentucky thatLewis has finally joined the partyat St. Charles after being detainedin St. Louis with arrangements tosend Osage chiefs to Washington.They continue up the Missouri im-mediately, heading for winter campat Fort Mandan (Jackson, 1: 195-96). See June 3, 1804 letter thispage.

May 14, 1804. Clark Journal“Set out from Camp River a Dubois at 4oClock P. M. and proceded up theMissouris under Sail to the first Island inthe Missouri and Camped on the upperpoint opposit a Creek on the South Sidebelow a ledge of limestone rock CalledColewater, made 41/2 miles, the PartyConsisted of 2, Self one frenchman and22 Men in the Boat of 20 ores, 1 Serjt. &7 french in a large Perogue, a Corp and 6Soldiers in a large Perogue. a Cloudyrainey day. wind from the N E. men inhigh Spirits” (Moulton, 2: 227).

Expedition Continues—December 7, 1803 through May 21, 1804

June 3, 1804. Amos Stoddardto Henry Dearborn“Captain Lewis, with his party, began toascend the Missouri from the village of St.Charles on the 21 Ultimo. . . . [He] beganhis expedition with a Barge of 18 oars,attended by two large perogues; all ofwhich were deeply laden, and wellmanned. I have heard from him about 60miles on his route, and it appears, that heproceeds about 15 miles per day—acelerity seldom witnessed on the Missouri;and this is the more extraordinary as thetime required to ascertain the courses ofthe river and to make other necessaryobservations, must considerably retard hisprogress. His men possess great resolutionand they [are in the best] health andspirits” (Jackson, 1: 196). Note: Stoddardwas civil and military commandant ofUpper Louisiana. He assisted withpreparations for the expedition; several ofhis men went on the expedition (Moulton,2: 145n).

IndianaTerrito

ry

Louisiana

Sources: Moulton, 1: 64, 2: 6;Barnhart and Riker, 288-89.

Winter Camps1803-1804 and

1804-1805

Marietta

Cincinnati

Louisville

FortMandan1804-1805

CampDubois1803-1804

St. Louis CahokiaKaskaskia

FortMassac

VincennesClarksville

River

Misso

uri

St. Charles


October 1, 1804. Harrison,governor of Indiana Territory, isalso named administrator of theDistrict of Louisiana (Clanin, Reel1, p. lxxxvii).

October 2, 1804. Harrisonleaves Vincennes for St. Louis toset up a new government in theDistrict of Louisiana (Clanin, Reel1, p. lxxxvii).

April 7, 1805. (Fort Mandan).Small party is sent back to St. Louiswith specimens for Jefferson, lettersand gifts, and Indian chiefs to visitWashington; Clark included lettersto his brother and Harrison(Moulton, 3: 327-32). See otheritems this page.

May 22, 1805. (St. Louis). PierreChouteau writes to Harrisonrequesting instructions forconducting the Indian chiefs fromFort Mandan on to Washington(Jackson, 1: 242-44).

May 27, 1805. (Vincennes).Harrison writes back to Chouteauagreeing that the Indians’ trip toWashington should be postponed,if the Indian chiefs agree, untilcooler weather arrives (Jackson, 1:247-48).

May 27, 1805. Harrison writesSecretary of War Dearborn toinform him of the possible travel ofIndian chiefs to Washington.Harrison also relays that Clark hassent him a letter saying that all iswell (Jackson, 1: 246-47).

July 4, 1805. Distr ict ofLouisiana made a separateterritory; General James Wilkinsonis named governor (Clanin, Reel 2,p. xliii).

August 9, 1805. Zebulon Pike,commissioned by Wilkinson, beginsexpedition to explore the source ofthe Mississippi River, which wasanother of Jefferson’s priorities.

April 2, 1805. William Clarkto William Henry Harrison“By the return of a party which we send from this placewith dispatches, I do myself the pleasure of giving you asummary view of the Missouri, &c.. . . The country on both sides of the Missouri . . . has . . .extensive fertile plains, with but very little timber, andthat little principally confined to the river bottoms andstreams. . . . this country abounds in a great variety ofwild animals but a few of which the Indians take, manyof those animals are uncommon in the U. States, such aswhite, red and grey bears, long ear’d male or blacktailed deer (black at the end of the tail only) large hare,antelope or goat, the red fox, the ground prairie dog,(burrows in the ground) the braroca, which has a headlike a dog, and the size of a small dog, the white brant,magpye, calumet eagle, &c and many other are said toinhabit the rocky mountains” (Jackson, 1: 227-30).

Expedition Continues—October 1, 1804 through August 9, 1805

April 1805. William Clark to Jonathan Clark.“I send to you three Boxes containing the following articles viz: 1 Shirt worn by themandan Indian women . . . made of the Skins of the Antilope or goat, 1 pr. Chiefsmockersons with white Buffalow Skin tops (a white buffalow Skin Sels in this Countreyfor about fifteen horses) 2 pr. of Summer & 1 pr. of winter mockersons Com all ofBuffalow Skin, The Skin & horns of an Antilope or goat . . . 1 pr. of Mandan legins of theAntilope Skins,_The Skins of 2 Burrowing Dogs or barking Squirels . . . . The Skin of aBrarow, which burrows in the grown 2 white hare Skins . . . . Some Specimons of theCorn of this Countrey . . . . Ricara Tobacco Seed, the flowr, leaves & Stems of whichthey Smoke. . . .

3 horns of the mountain Ram all Small one a faun . . . much prized by the Indians(one for Govr. Harrison) a parchment Case Dressed and used by the mandans to carrytheir valueable articles in. . . . 1 Skin of a Red fox . . . . a Specimon of Indian artachokescommon in the plains . . . . 1 Small pot in the Mandan fashion. 1 Spoon of the horn ofthe mountain Ram” (Holmberg, Brother, 84-86).

Cin

cinn

ati (O

hio)

Wes

tern

Spy

, Ju

ne 2

6, 1

805.

One of the party sent back fromFort Mandan on April 7 by Lewisand Clark traveled throughVincennes, probably deliveringClark’s letter to Harrison, andthen to Louisville with a letterfor Jonathan Clark.


September 23, 1806. (St.Louis). Lewis writes Jefferson ofthe party’s safe return and describesthe expedition and the potential forfur trade (Jackson, 1: 319-25).

September 23, 1806. (St.Louis).Clark writes his brotherJonathan informing him that theexpedition has returned to St. Louisand describing part of the journey(Jackson, 1: 325-30). See Clark’sJournal this page.

September 24, 1806. (St.Louis). Clark’s Journal: Clarkwrites to Harrison and to friendsin Kentucky (Moulton, 8: 371-72).

September 24, 1806. (St.Louis). Clark writes to his brotherJonathan giving possible time ofarrival in Louisville by way ofVincennes and giving permission forhis letter of September 23 to bepublished in the newspapers(Holmberg, Brother, 115-18). See p.11, October 9, 1806 item.

October 10, 1806. (St. Louis).Clark returns his commission aslieutenant to Secretary of WarDearborn; it was accepted February27, 1807 (Jackson, 1: 347).

October 10, 1806. (St. Louis).Members of the Corps of Discoveryare officially discharged fromservice (Holmberg, Brother, 116-17).See Bratton this page.

October 26, 1806. Jeffersonwrites Lewis of his happiness at thesafe return of Lewis, Clark, andtheir men (Jackson, 1: 350-51).

October 30, 1806. (Vincennes).Lewis sends Bills of Exchange toSecretary of War Dearborn forpayment. One is for $500 owed toGeorge Wallace, Jr., a merchant inVincennes and a contractor forarmy rations (Jackson, 1: 349).

September 23, 1806.Lewis to Jefferson“It is with pleasure that I anounce to youthe safe arrival of myself and party at 12OClk. today at this place [St. Louis] withour papers and baggage. In obedience toyour orders we have penitrated theContinent of North America to the PacificOcean, and sufficiently explored theinterior of the country to affirm withconfidence that we have discovered themost practicable rout which dose existacross the continent by means of thenavigable branches of the Missouri andColumbia Rivers. . . .

We view this passage . . . affordingimmence advantages to the fur trade. . . .

With rispect to the exertions andservices rendered by that esteemable manCapt. William Clark in the course of latevoyage I cannot say too much; if sir anycredit be due for the success of thatarduous enterprize in which we have beenmutually engaged, he is equally withmyself entitled to your consideration andthat of our common country. . . .

The rout by which I purpose travelingfrom hence to Washington is by way ofCahokia, Vincennes, Louisvill Ky. [etc.]”(Jackson, 1: 319-25).

September 23, 1806.Clark’s Journal“decended to the Mississippi and downthat river to St. Louis at which place wearived about 12 oClock. we Suffered theparty to fire off their pieces as a Salute tothe Town. we were met by all the villageand received a harty welcom from it’sinhabitants &c. . . . as the post haddeparted from St. Louis Capt Lewis wrotea note to Mr. Hay in Kahoka to detain thepost at that place untill 12 tomorrow”(Moulton, 8: 370-71).

Expedition Returns—September 23, 1806 through October 30, 1806

October 10, 1806.William Bratton’s discharge“To all whom it may concern

Know ye, that the bearer hereofWillliam Bratton, private in a corpsdistined for the discovery of the interior ofthe continent of North America, havingfaithfully discharged his duty in saidcapacity so long as his services have beennecessary to complete the objects of aVoyage to the Pacific Ocean, is in virtue ofthe authority vested in me by the Presidentof the United States hereby dischargedfrom the military service of the said States;and as a tribute justly due the merits of thesaid Willm. Bratton, I with cheerfullnessdeclare that the ample support which hegave me under every difficulty, the manlyfirmness which he evinced on everynecessary occation, and the fortitude withwhich he boar the fatugues and painfullsufferings incident to that long Voyage,entitled him to my highest confidence andsincere thanks; while it eminentlyrecommends him to the consideration andrispect of his fellow Citizens.

Meriwether Lewis Capt.1st U.S. Regt. Infty.” (Jackson, 2: 347)

Indi

ana

Historica

l Bur

eau.

Marker is located at Old Pioneer Cemetery,Waynetown, Montgomery County, whereBratton is buried.


November 5, 1806. Lewis andClark and their entourage arrive atthe Falls of the Ohio (Holmberg,Brother, 117).

November 8, 1806. JonathanClark, Lewis, and William Clarkattend a family celebration atWilliam Croghan’s Locust Groveestate (Holmberg, Timeline).

Circa November 11, 1806.Lewis and most of the party,including two Indian delegations,leave Louisville for Washington(Holmberg, Timeline).

December 2, 1806. Jeffersonrevises his Annual Message toCongress to report on the returnof the Lewis and Clark expedition(Jackson, 1: 352-53).

Circa December 15, 1806.Clark, probably with his slave York,leaves Louisville for the East(Holmberg, Timeline). See January22, 1807 letter.

February 28, 1807. Jeffersonnominates Lewis to be Governor ofLouisiana Territory and Clarkpromoted to Lieutenant Colonel.Clark’s promotion is not approved.However, in March, Clark isappointed superintendent of Indianaffairs for Louisiana Territory andbrigadier-general of militia for theterritory (Jackson, 1: 376).

March 3, 1807. Act passes U.S.House and Senate compensatingLewis, Clark, and their men withland and double wages for serviceon the expedition (Jackson, 2: 377-78).

After March 3, 1807. Eight ofthe expedition members sign apetition to Congress asking thattheir warrants be acceptableimmediately for land in IndianaTerritory or Louisiana Territorywhere several of them already reside(Jackson, 2: 378-80).

After the Expedition—November 5, 1806 through March 1807

January 22, 1807. William Clarkto Jonathan Clark“I arived here [Washington] on Sundayevening and Sence that time have beenengaged in formal visits to the heads ofdepartments and partakeing of theSumptious far of maney of the members . .. . my old western friends do not forsakeme and appere happy that they have it intheir power to pay me much respect whichappers to be the general disposition ofevery member of Congress with whome Ihave become acquainted. . . . a Commiteis appointed to bring in a bill giveingCompensation to the Party on the lateExpedition. I think the Comite will report 2Sects. of Land to Capt. Lewis and my Selfeach, and half a Section and half pay tothe men, the most of the members appearfavourable to a liberal appropriation . . . .. . . I most probably will return to yourhouse in Public Servece, but what SituationI Shall be in is not yet deturmined on”(Holmberg, Brother, 119-20).

Fra

nkfort (Ky.)

The

Pal

ladi

um, Octob

er 9

, 18

06.

Fra

nkfort (Ky.)

The

Pal

ladi

um, Nov

embe

r 20

, 18

06.

October 9, 1806. This newspaperalso included Clark’s entire letter ofSeptember 23, 1806 to his brotherJonathan summarizing theexpedition.

Circa November 11, 1806. Lewis andChouteau with a Mandan chief and a groupof Osage chiefs arrived in Frankfort, Ky.November 13. Lewis left for Washington viathe Old Wilderness Road November 15.Chouteau headed east through Lexington, Ky.


Will

iam

Bra

tton

Aug

usta

Co.

, Va.

7/29

/177

8—11

/11/

1841

10/2

0/03

—10

/10/

0635

mon

ths,

20 d

ays

$178

.33

1 /3

Ran

k: P

riva

te. Dut

ies: B

lack

smith,

hun

ter. O

n M

ay 1

1, 1

805,

Bra

tton

sho

ots

a be

ar, bu

t it c

hase

s hi

m. H

ere

join

s th

e Cor

ps; t

hey

trac

k an

d ki

ll th

e be

ar a

nd d

ress

it. T

hey

rend

er e

ight

gal

lons

of be

ar’s o

il an

d st

ore

in k

egs. O

n M

ay 2

4, 1

806,

Bra

tton

is

unab

le to

wal

k fr

om the

pai

n in

his low

er b

ack;

he

endu

res

a se

vere

Indi

an s

wea

t tr

eatm

ent

adm

iniste

red

by J

ohn

Shi

elds

, whi

ch c

ures

him

alm

ost

imm

edia

tely. In

Cla

rk’s

jour

nal

on J

uly

17,

1806

, he

cal

ls a

lar

g e c

reek

Bra

tten

s Cre

ek,

pres

umab

ly a

fter

Bra

tton

. After

the

expe

dition

, he

lives

in

Ken

tuck

y an

d figh

ts in

the

War

of 18

12. H

e m

arries

Nov

. 25,

181

9. O

n Nov

. 8, 1

822,

he e

nter

s la

nd in

Way

ne T

owns

hip,

Mon

tgom

ery

Cou

nty, Ind

.; he

hol

ds sev

eral

pub

lic o

ffices

the

re. O

n Nov

.11

, 18

41 h

e di

es a

nd is

bur ied

in

the

pion

eer

cem

eter

y, W

ayne

town.

See

also

p. 1

0 of

thi

s issu

e.

Intr

oduci

ng t

he “

nin

e y

oun

g m

en

fro

m K

en

tuck

y”

an

d Y

ork

, Cla

rk’s

sla

ve

The

“ni

ne y

oung

men

” wer

e th

e firs

t re

crui

ts for

the

per

man

ent pa

rty;

the

y de

part

ed fro

m C

lark

svill

e, Ind

iana

Ter

rito

ry w

ith

Lew

is, Cla

rk, Yo

rk a

ndot

hers

on

Oct

ober

26,

180

3. T

he inf

orm

atio

n fo

r th

is c

hart

has

bee

n ga

ther

ed f

rom

a v

arie

ty s

ourc

es. The

citat

ions

—an

d in

som

e ca

ses

addi

tion

alin

form

atio

n—ar

e in

clud

ed in

the

Web

dat

abas

e ve

rsio

n of

thi

s ch

art at

<www.IN

.gov

/his

tory

>.

Nam

eB

irth

Bir

th/

Serv

ice/

Pay

Com

men

tspla

ceD

eath

John

Col

ter

Vir

ginia

circ

a 17

75—

circ

a 18

1310

/15/

03—

10/1

0/06

35 m

onth

s,26

day

s$1

79.3

3 1 /

3

Ran

k: P

riva

te. D

utie

s: H

unte

r. O

n J

une

18, 18

05, Col

ter

is c

hase

d by

whi

te [

griz

zly]

bea

r an

d fo

rced

into

the

Mis

sour

i Riv

er to

esca

pe. I

n C

lar k

’s jo

urnal

on O

ct. 8

, 180

5, h

e m

ention

s a

cree

k t h

at is

nam

edaf

ter

John

Col

ter. A

ccor

ding

to C

lark

’s jou

rnal

on A

ug. 15

, 18

06, Col

ter

is a

llowed

to

leav

e th

e pa

rty

and

retu

rn u

p th

e M

isso

uri Riv

er w

ith

som

e tr

appe

rs. H

e is

giv

en t

hat pr

ivile

ge “

as w

e wer

e di

spos

edto

be

of s

ervi

ce t

o an

y on

e of

our

par

ty w

ho h

ad p

erfo

rmed

the

ir d

uty

as w

ell as

Col

ter

had

done.

”Col

ter

spen

ds f

our

year

s as

a t

rapp

er a

nd

is a

ppar

ently

the

firs

t w

hite

man

to

see

wha

t is

now

Yel

low

ston

e Par

k. H

e se

ttle

s in

Mo.

and

mar

ries

; he

die

s of

jau

ndi

ce in 1

813.

Jose

phFie

ldVir

ginia

circ

a 17

80—

1807

8/1/

03—

10/1

0/06

38 m

onth

s,10

day

s$1

91.6

6 2 /

3

Ran

k: b

oth

Priva

tes. D

utie

s: T

wo

of b

est m

arks

men

and

hun

ters

. The

tru

st a

nd c

onfide

nce

Lew

is a

nd C

lark

had

in the

Fie

ld b

roth

ers

is c

onfirm

ed in

the

ove

r 22

0 re

fere

nces

to

them

in the

jour

nals. O

n Ju

ly 2

7, 1

806,

Jose

ph, R

eubi

n, L

ewis a

nd o

ther

s ar

e in

a s

kirm

ish

with

som

e Bla

ckfo

ot Ind

ians

; one

or tw

o of

the

Ind

ians

are

kille

d. T

his

is t

he o

nly

reco

rded

inc

iden

t in

whi

ch m

embe

rs o

f th

e ex

pedi

tion

tak

e th

e liv

es o

f an

yhu

man

s. L

ewis ind

icat

es tha

t Jo

seph

and

Reu

bin

are

“Two

of the

mos

t ac

tive

and

ent

erpr

isin

g yo

ung

men

who

acc

ompa

nied

us. It was

the

ir p

ecul

iar fa

te to

have

bee

n en

gage

d in

all

the

mos

t da

nger

ous an

d di

fficul

tsc

enes

of th

e vo

yage

, in

whi

ch the

y un

iform

ly a

cqui

tted

the

mse

lves

with

muc

h ho

nor.”

How

Jos

eph

dies

is

not clea

r; h

e an

d hi

s br

othe

r ar

e in

St. L

ouis in

the

spr

ing

of 1

807,

his d

eath

is c

onfirm

ed in

Oct

ober

180

7,an

d Cla

rk lat

er ind

icat

es tha

t he

was

“ki

lled.

” Little

is k

nown

abou

t Reu

bin’

s lif

e af

ter

the

expe

dition

. H

ese

ttle

s in

Ky. a

nd m

arries

in

1808

.

Reu

bin

Fie

ldVir

ginia

circ

a 17

81—

early

1823

?8/

1/03

—10

/10/

0638

mon

ths,

10 d

ays

$191

.66

2 /3

Cha

rles

Flo

ydJe

ffer

son

Co.

, Ky.

1782

—8/

20/1

804

8/1/

03–

8/20

/04

12 m

onth

s,20

day

s$8

6.33

1 /3

Ran

k: S

erge

ant. D

utie

s: A

ppoi

nted

one

of t

hree

ser

gean

ts in

com

man

d of

a squ

ad, A

pr. 1

, 180

4. W

hile

Lew

isan

d Cla

rk a

re in

St. L

ouis in

Apr

. 180

4, h

e is in

char

ge o

f th

eir

quar

ters

and

the

sup

plie

s. B

y 17

99, F

loyd

’sfa

mily

mov

es t

o Cla

rksv

ille

area

; he

is

appo

inte

d firs

t co

nsta

ble

of C

lark

svill

e To

wns

hip.

He

dies

fro

m a

nap

pare

nt rup

ture

d ap

pend

ix n

ear pr

esen

t Sio

ux C

ity, Iow

a, w

here

he

is b

urie

d. F

loyd

’s R

iver

, Iow

a be

ars hi

sna

me.

Lew

is c

omm

ends

him

as

“A y

oung

man

of m

uch

mer

it. H

is fat

her, w

ho n

ow r

esid

es in

Ken

tuck

y, is

a m

an m

uch

resp

ecte

d, tho

ugh

poss

esse

d of

but

mod

erat

e wea

lth.

As

the

son

has

lost

his li

fe w

hilst on

thi

sse

rvice,

I c

onside

r hi

s f a

ther

ent

itle

d to

som

e gr

atui

ty,

in c

onside

ration

of

his

loss

; an

d al

so,

that

the

dece

ased

bei

ng n

oticed

in thi

s way

, will

be

a tr

ibut

e bu

t ju

stly

due

to

his m

erit.” F

loyd

is the

onl

y m

an in

the

part

y to

die

on

the

expe

dition

.


Geo

rge

Gib

son

Pen

nsy

lvan

iaUnkn

own—

1809

10/1

9/03

—10

/10/

0635

mon

ths,

21 d

ays

$178

.50

Ran

k: P

riva

te. D

utie

s: E

xper

t m

arks

man

, hu

nte

r, inte

rpre

ter, fid

dle

play

er; in

cha

rge

of p

erog

ue. O

nJu

ly 1

8, 1

806,

whi

le m

ounting

his

hors

e af

ter

shoo

ting

a de

er, G

ibso

n fal

ls o

nto

a o

ne-in

ch d

iam

eter

tree

snag

whi

ch g

oes

two

inch

es into

his

thi

gh. The

wou

nd

is s

o pa

infu

l th

at G

ibso

n is

inca

paci

tate

d;by

Jul

y 21

, it is

beg

innin

g to

hea

l with

Cla

rk’s tre

atm

ent; o

n J

uly

25 h

e is

ass

igned

to

a m

issi

on to

the

Man

dan I

ndi

ans.

Cla

rk n

ames

the

cre

ek w

here

Gib

son is

inju

red,

Thy

[th

igh]

Snag

’d C

reek

. It

is

not

clea

r w

hat

happ

ened

to

Gib

son a

fter

the

exp

editio

n. H

e di

es in S

t. L

ouis

.

Nat

hani

elPry

orVir

ginia

1772

—18

3110

/20/

03—

10/1

0/06

35 m

onth

s,20

day

s$2

78.5

0

Ran

k: S

erge

ant. D

utie

s: A

ppoi

nte

d on

e of

thr

ee s

erge

ants

in c

omm

and

of a

squ

ad, Apr

. 1,

180

4. L

ike

all

of t

he m

en i

n t

he C

orps

, Pry

or d

oes

wha

t is

ask

ed o

f hi

m.

Jour

nal

entr

ies

have

him

pad

dlin

gca

noe

s, h

unting,

and

wha

teve

r el

se it

take

s fo

r th

e su

rviv

al o

f th

e Cor

ps. In

Sep

t. 1

807,

he

lead

s an

unsu

cces

sful

exp

editio

n t

o re

turn

a M

anda

n c

hief

to

his

peop

le. Lew

is a

nd

Cla

rk “

consi

dere

d hi

m ‘a

man

of ch

arac

ter

and

abili

ty’ an

d af

ter

the

expe

dition

hel

ped

him

sec

ure

an o

f fic

er’s c

omm

issi

on in

the

arm

y.”

Pry

or s

tays

in t

he A

rmy

until 18

10. H

e th

en b

ecom

es a

n I

ndi

an tr a

der

on t

he M

issi

ssip

piRiv

er a

nd

runs

a le

ad-sm

elting

furn

ace

in n

orth

ern I

llinoi

s Te

rritor

y. H

e se

rves

in t

he A

rmy,

181

3-18

15, an

d figh

ts a

t th

e Bat

tle

of N

ew O

rlea

ns.

He

beco

mes

a tr a

der

amon

g th

e O

sage

Indi

ans

on t

heArk

ansa

s Riv

er, m

arri

es a

n O

sage

wom

an, an

d re

mai

ns

with

her

trib

e un

til hi

s de

ath.

The

tow

ns

ofPry

or, O

kla.

and

Mon

t., an

d t h

e Pry

or M

ounta

ins,

Mon

t., be

ar h

is n

ame.

Geo

rge

Sha

nnon

Pen

nsy

lvan

ia17

85—18

3610

/19/

03—

10/1

0/06

35 m

onth

s,21

day

s$1

78.5

0

Ran

k: P

riva

te. D

utie

s: H

unte

r. O

n A

ug. 2

6, 1

804

in w

hat is

now

S. D

ak.,

he g

oes

with

anot

her

man

to

find

lost

hor

ses

and

beco

mes

sep

arat

ed. S

ixte

en d

ays

late

r on

Sep

t. 1

1, h

e is

fou

nd

by the

Cor

ps n

ear

star

vation

. He

belie

ved

he w

as b

ehin

d th

e pa

rty

but was

act

ually

ahe

ad. T

hey

nam

e th

e ri

ver, S

hann

on’s

Riv

er. In

Sep

t. 1

807,

he

is p

art of

Pry

or’s u

nsu

cces

sful

exp

editio

n t

o re

turn

the

Man

dan c

hief

; in

an

atta

ck, hi

s le

g is

inju

red

and

has

to b

e am

puta

ted.

In 1

810,

at

Cla

rk’s r

eque

st, he

ass

ists

Nic

hola

sBid

dle

in p

repa

ring

the

hist

ory

of the

exp

editio

n. S

hannon

stu

dies

law

and

is p

ract

icin

g in

Lex

ingt

onby

181

5. H

e is

act

ive

in p

olitic

s in

Ky.

and

late

r in

Mo.

He

serv

es a

s U.S

. at

torn

ey for

the

Dis

tric

t of

Mis

sour

i, 18

30-1

834.

He

dies

and

is b

urie

d in

Pal

myr

a, M

o.

John

Shi

elds

Roc

kingh

amCo.

, Va.

1769

—18

0910

/19/

03—

10/1

0/06

35 m

onth

s,21

day

s$1

78.5

0

Ran

k: P

riva

te. D

utie

s: B

lack

smith,

gun

smith,

car

pent

er, h

unte

r. L

ewis n

otes

tha

t he

“H

as rec

eive

d th

e pa

yon

ly o

f a

priv

ate.

Not

hing

was

mor

e pe

culia

rly

usef

ul t

o us

, in

var

ious

situa

tion

s, t

han

the

skill

and

inge

nuity

of t

his

man

as

an a

rtist, in

repa

irin

g ou

r gu

ns, ac

cout

rem

ents

, &c. a

nd s

houl

d it b

e t h

ough

tpr

oper

to

allo

w h

im s

omet

hing

as

an a

rtificer

, he

has

wel

l de

serv

ed it.”

On

May

11,

180

6, S

hiel

ds c

ured

Will

iam

Bra

tton

with

an Ind

ian

swea

t tr

eatm

ent. T

he S

hiel

ds R

iver

, Mon

t. s

till

bear

s hi

s na

me.

After

the

expe

dition

, Shi

elds

and

Dan

iel Boo

ne, ap

pare

ntl y

a k

insm

an, tr

ap in

Mo.

for

a y

ear. S

hiel

ds e

vent

ually

settle

s in

Ind

iana

, nea

r Cor

ydon

, whe

re h

e di

es a

nd is

bur

ied.

Altho

ugh

mar

ried

, Shi

elds

was

allo

wed

to

goon

the

exp

editio

n de

spite

the

“no

mar

ried

men

rul

e.” The

re is

som

e ev

iden

ce tha

t Cla

rk’s b

roth

er m

ay h

ave

help

ed M

rs. Shi

elds

with

food

and

mon

ey d

urin

g Shi

elds

abs

ence

.

Yor

kCar

olin

e Co.

,Va.

?ci

rca

1772

—18

20s

?W

ent

entire

trip

with

no

pay

York

, as

Cla

rk’s s

lave

, is

not as

sign

ed a

par

ticu

lar

role

, but

he

“per

form

ed h

is ful

l sha

re o

f th

e du

ties

with

othe

r m

embe

rs o

f th

e pa

rty,”

includ

ing

hunt

ing.

Yor

k is the

first

Afr

ican

Am

erican

to

cros

s th

e U.S

. fro

mco

ast to

coa

st. “

York

s dr

y rive

r” a

nd Y

orks

8 Islan

ds a

re n

amed

after

him

. Yor

k ca

res

for Cha

rles

Flo

yd a

sth

ey try

to

save

his li

fe in

180

4. Ind

ians

, who

hav

e ne

ver se

en a

bla

ck m

an, a

re a

ston

ishe

d by

Yor

k. H

e was

Cla

rk’s com

pani

on fr

om chi

ldho

od a

nd w

as in

herite

d by

Cla

rk fr

om h

is fa

ther

in 179

9. A

fter

the

exp

editio

n,Yo

rk r

emai

ns C

lark

’s s

lave

unt

il po

ssib

ly 1

816;

his r

elat

ions

hip

with

Cla

rk is

desc

ribe

d in

sev

eral

let

ters

from

Cla

rk to

his br

othe

r. Y

ork

was

mar

ried

to

a slav

e with

a di

ffer

ent ow

ner be

fore

the

exp

editio

n; h

e an

dCla

rk h

ave

prob

lem

s af

ter

the

expe

dition

bec

ause

Yor

k wan

ts to

be n

ear

his

wife

in

Lou

isvi

lle. I

n an

183

2in

terv

iew, Cla

rk s

ays

York

die

d of

cho

lera

som

etim

e be

fore

183

2. R

ober

t B. Bet

ts, In

Sea

rch

of Y

ork

(2nd

ed.,

2000

) is a

bio

grap

hy o

f Yo

rk, up

date

d an

d with

an e

pilo

gue

by H

olm

berg

.


Source: Barnhart and Riker, 377.

Clark’s Grant

The GoreA

Harrison's Treaties withAmerican Indians for

Land Cessions, 1803-1809

B

C

D

EF

GH

Lands still belonging toAmerican Indian tribesafter 1809

Lake Michigan

A. June 7, 1803 at FortWayne, with Delaware,Shawnee, Potawatomi,Miami, Eel River, Wea,Kickapoo, Piankashaw,and Kaskaskia.

B. August 13, 1803, atVincennes, withKaskaskia.

C. August 18 and 27, 1804,at Vincennes, withDelaware andPiankashaw.

D. November 3, 1804, atSt. Louis, with Sauk andFox.

E. August 21, 1805, atGrouseland withDelaware, Potawatomi,Miami, Eel River, andWea.

F. December 30, 1805, atVincennes, withPiankashaw.

G. September 30, 1809, atFort Wayne, withDelaware, Potawatomi,Miami, Eel River; and,October 26, 1809, atVincennes, with Wea.

H. December 9, 1809, atVincennes, withKickapoo.

G

The Lewis and Clark Expedition did nottake place in vacuum. It occurredbecause of President Thomas Jefferson’slong fascination with the western landsand his vision for the young UnitedStates. Objectives to achieve that visionfocused on economic and securityconcerns. One strategy involved acquisi-tion of American Indian lands withinthe borders of the U.S. so that Ameri-cans could have more land on which tosettle. The expedition was anotherstrategy for achieving the objectives.

A document which addresses bothstrategies is Jefferson’s confidentialmessage to Congress, January 18, 1803,which resulted in the authorization ofthe Lewis and Clark Expedition (Jack-son, 1:10-14). The message was relatedto reauthorizing trading posts forIndian tribes, and it served as a usefulvehicle for proposing this Americanvoyage of discovery.

In that message, Jefferson firstmakes the case to Congress that Indiansmust be enticed to assimilate andbecome part of the U.S. He cites thefollowing reasons for action:• growing Indian unrest regarding

land sales,

Extending America’s Reach• the need for Indians to abandon

hunting and assume domestic occupa-tions requiring less land, and

• the need to increase governmenttrading posts to drive out for-profitcommercial traders.Jefferson then proposes an expedi-

tion to explore the Missouri River to theWestern ocean, “the only line of easycommunication across the continent.”He cites as benefits:• the Indian tribes and their exten-

sive fur trade,• the possibility of “conferences with

the natives on the subject of commer-cial intercourse,” and

• admission of American traders tothe area.

He notes that the geographical knowl-edge gained will “be an additionalgratification.”

On February 27, 1803, the day beforeCongress approved the expedition,Jefferson wrote a private letter toWilliam Henry Harrison, Governor ofIndiana Territory. Jefferson laid out hispolicy with regard to American Indiansin similar terms to the message toCongress but more bluntly. He feels thissystem “will best promote the interests

of the Indians & of ourselves, & finallyconsolidate our whole country into onenation only.” He tells Harrison that theymust concentrate on “the purchase andsettlement of the country on theMissisipi from it’s mouth to it’s North-ern regions, that we may be able topresent as strong a front on ourWestern as on our Eastern border.”Jefferson indicates that he has sentHarrison the authority to concludetreaties with the Indians in the IndianaTerritory and tells him to move quicklyto obtain any land possible (Clanin, Reel1, pp. 519-24).

Part of Jefferson’s concern was thesituation in the Spanish territory ofLouisiana on the western border of theU.S., which was about to be occupied bythe French. The U.S. purchase ofLouisiana from the French in the springof 1803 provided a major impetus toJefferson’s vision.

The map on this page demonstrateshow well Harrison accomplishedJefferson’s order in the Indiana Terri-tory. At the same time, the Lewis andClark Expedition solidified the U.S.ownership of the territory of Louisiana,explored the western lands that wouldlater become part of the U.S., andgathered extraordinary scientificinformation.

After the return of the expedition,Lewis was appointed governor of theTerritory of Louisiana, and Clark wasappointed superintendent of Indianaffairs for that same territory. At thattime, Harrison was still governor ofIndiana Territory. All three mencontinued to be agents of Jefferson’spolicy to extinguish the land claims ofAmerican Indians and to protect theU.S. from foreign aggression.

Jefferson’s vision, however, underesti-mated the desire of Americans to workand live in the lands to the west andthe resistance to assimilation amongmost Indians. Harrison’s Treaty of FortWayne in 1809 added to the increasingunrest among the Indians and strength-ened the efforts of Tecumseh and theProphet to unify the Indian tribesagainst the Americans.


Selected ResourcesNote Regarding Resources: Items are listed on this page that enhance work with thetopic discussed. Some older items, especially, may include dated practices and ideas thatare no longer generally accepted. Resources reflecting current practices are noted wheneverpossible.

Bibliography• Ambrose, Stephen E. UndauntedCourage: Meriwether Lewis, ThomasJefferson, and the Opening of theAmerican West. New York, 1996.

Exciting, well-told story of theexpedition, but William Clark’s role isminimized.• Barnhart, John D., and Dorothy L.Riker. Indiana to 1816: The ColonialPeriod. Indianapolis, 1971.

Standard source for the period.• Clanin, Douglas E., ed. The Papers ofWilliam Henry Harrison, 1800-1815.Indianapolis, 1994-1999.

This ten-reel microfilm edition (withprinted guide) is the standard forHarrison materials.• Holmberg, James J., ed. DearBrother: Letters of William Clark toJonathan Clark. New Haven, Conn.,2002.

Over fifty letters, most discovered in1988, written by Clark before, during,and after the expedition providefascinating insights about Clark and histime. Extensive footnotes are invaluable.• Holmberg, James J. Lewis and Clarkat the Falls of the Ohio: A Timeline.Typescript, 2001.

A very useful document with sources,compiled by the curator of SpecialCollections, The Filson HistoricalSociety, Louisville, Ky.• Jackson, Donald, ed. Letters of theLewis and Clark Expedition withRelated Documents, 1783-1854. 2nd ed.Chicago, 1978.

Extensive and invaluable workprovides context before, during, andafter the expedition, and an annotatedbibliography.• Moulton, Gary E., ed. The Journals ofthe Lewis & Clark Expedition. 13 vols.Lincoln, Neb., 1983-2001.

The most extensive and completepresentation of the primary sourcesfrom and on the expedition; includesthe Lewis and Clark journals and othermaterials located after publication ofprior versions of the journals.• Philbrick, Francis S., ed. The Laws ofIndiana Territory, 1801-1809. India-napolis, 1931.

Reprinted from Illinois publication(1930) with supplemental Indiana materials.

• Smith, Dwight L., and Ray Swick,eds. A Journey through the West:Thomas Rodney’s 1803 Journal fromDelaware to the Mississippi Territory.Athens, Ohio, 1997.

Rodney gives a detailed account ofhis travels to the Mississippi Territory.On several occasions he encounters,and spends time with, Lewis and Clarkas they prepare for the expedition.• Thompson, Charles N. Sons of theWilderness: John and William Conner.2nd ed. Noblesville, Ind., 1988.

Contains valuable information aboutearly Indiana history.

Additional Resources:• Betts, Robert B. In Search of York:The Slave Who Went to the Pacificwith Lewis and Clark. 2nd ed. Boulder,Colo., 2000.

Biography of York, William Clark’sslave, updated with an epilogue byJames J. Holmberg.• [Biddle, Nicholas, ed.]. History of theExpedition under the Command ofCaptains Lewis and Clark . . . . 2 vols.Philadelphia, 1814.

Biddle accepted the job of editing theexpedition journals from William Clarkafter Lewis’ suicide. There was to be athird volume of scientific materialwhich was not accomplished, leavingthe image of the expedition as aromantic adventure.• Coues, Elliott, ed. History of theExpedition under the Command ofLewis and Clark . . . . 1893. 3 vols. NewYork, 1965; reprinted as The History ofthe Lewis and Clark Expedition . . . .New York, n.d. [1970-1980?].

Coues, an ornithologist, realized thevalue of the scientific materials in thejournals, worked from the originaljournals, and provided extensivefootnotes on geography, ethnology, andnatural history.• Thwaites, Reuben Gold, ed. OriginalJournals of the Lewis and ClarkExpedition, 1804-1806. 8 vols. NewYork, 1904-1905.

The journals and other documents aretranscribed literally; many new itemswere added that had not been availablefor the Coues edition. There is anextensive index.

Internet Resources:• Falls of the Ohio State Park <http:/www.fallsoftheohio.org>

Located in Clarksville, Indiana; is anofficial site on Lewis and Clark Na-tional Historic Trail. Has informationabout the Falls of the Ohio Lewis andClark Bicentennial Committee.• Gillette, Lance, comp. Bibliography ofthe Lewis and Clark Expedition <http://www.olypen.com/gillde/lance/bibliogra-phies/lewis.htm>• Indiana Lewis and Clark BicentennialCommission <http:/www.IN.gov/dnr/lewis-clark/>

Highlights Indiana’s important role inthe expedition and lists events tocommemorate the expedition.• Jefferson’s West <http://www.monticello.org/jefferson/lewisandclark/index.html>

From Monticello, provides goodinformation and timeline of expedition.• Lewis and Clark Expedition, Ameri-can Treasures in the Library of Con-gress <http://www.lcweb.loc.gov/exhibits/treasures/trr001.html>

Provides images of related primarysources. See also <http://www.lcweb.loc.gov/exhibits/lewisandclark> for infor-mation on an exhibition at the Libraryof Congress.• Lewis and Clark in Clarksville, Indiana<http:www.lewisandclarkinclarksville.org/>

In October 2003, Clarksville hosts thesecond of thirteen national signatureevents commemorating the expedition.The George Rogers Clark home site isfeatured.• Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Founda-tion, Inc. <http:/www. lewisandclark.org/>

Brings public attention and apprecia-tion to the expedition’s contribution toAmerica’s heritage; supports education,research, development, and preservationof the Lewis and Clark experience.• National Council of the Lewis andClark Bicentennial 2003-2006 <http:/www.lewisandclark200.org/>

Celebrates the achievements of theexpedition and promotes the natural,historical, and cultural resources that arepart of the Lewis and Clark story.Provides national timetable of commemo-rative events.

Map

s ca

rrie

d by

Lew

is a

nd C

lark

on

the

expe

dition

rep

rese

nted

the

mos

tcu

rren

t ge

ogra

phic

al inf

orm

atio

n ab

out N

orth

Am

eric

a no

rth

and

wes

t of

the

Mis

siss

ippi

Riv

er. The

map

to

the

left

was

pub

lishe

d in

Lon

don

in 1

802

byA

aron

Arr

owsm

ith.

Thi

s m

ap w

as u

sed

by T

hom

as J

effe

rson

and

Mer

iwet

her

Lew

is to

plan

the

exp

editio

n; a

cop

y was

als

o ca

rrie

d w

ith

Lew

is a

nd C

lark

on

the

expe

dition

. The

map

bel

ow is

a red

raw

n co

py p

ublis

hed

in 1

814

of the

map

draw

n by

Will

iam

Cla

rk a

s a

resu

lt o

f t h

e ex

pedi

tion

. Thi

s m

ap w

as a

maj

orac

com

plis

hmen

t an

d co

ntr i

bution

of th

e ex

pedi

tion

.To

get

an

idea

of th

e en

orm

ous am

ount

of g e

ogra

phic

al in

form

atio

n ga

ther

edby

the

exp

editio

n, loc

ate

the

inte

rsec

tion

of im

agin

ary

lines

dra

wn

from

the

arro

ws

on the

top

and

rig

ht s

ides

of ea

ch m

ap. O

n bo

th m

aps

the

inte

rsec

tion

is the

wes

tern

tip

of Lak

e Sup

erio

r. O

n th

e Arr

owsm

ith

map

, not

e th

e re

lative

lyem

pty

spac

e fr

om the

lake

to

the

Pac

ific

Oce

an. O

n th

e Cla

rk m

ap, t

hat sp

ace

is f

illed

with

rive

rs a

nd m

ount

ains

pre

viou

sly

unre

cord

ed.

Libra

ry o

f Con

gres

s Geo

grap

hy a

nd M

ap D

ivision.

Libra

ry o

f Con

gres

s Geo

grap

hy a

nd M

ap D

ivision.