Download - 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.
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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.
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July 13, 1787Northwest Territory
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May 7, 1800Indiana Territory
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4 The Indiana Historian © 2003 Indiana Historical Bureau
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).
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© 2003 Indiana Historical Bureau 5
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.
6 The Indiana Historian © 2003 Indiana Historical Bureau
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).
© 2003 Indiana Historical Bureau 7
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
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8 The Indiana Historian © 2003 Indiana Historical Bureau
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
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Louisiana
Sources: Moulton, 1: 64, 2: 6;Barnhart and Riker, 288-89.
Winter Camps1803-1804 and
1804-1805
Marietta
Cincinnati
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© 2003 Indiana Historical Bureau 9
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).
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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.
10 The Indiana Historian © 2003 Indiana Historical Bureau
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.
© 2003 Indiana Historical Bureau 11
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.
12 The Indiana Historian © 2003 Indiana Historical Bureau
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
.
© 2003 Indiana Historical Bureau 13
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
.
14 The Indiana Historian © 2003 Indiana Historical Bureau
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.
© 2003 Indiana Historical Bureau 15
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.