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Meriwether Lewis, William Clark and
several other men on the expedition kept journals that detailed
their thoughts and experiences. Some, like Clark, made daily
entries; others wrote less frequently. Lewis' entries are obviously
penned by someone with an education, while journals written by
several of the enlisted men demonstrate little or no formal
schooling. Taken as a whole, these journals provide us with an
invaluable record of the greatest journey of discovery in American
history.
In fact, President Jefferson gave Lewis
specific instructions to keep detailed notes of the journey: "Your
observations are to be taken with great pains & accuracy to be
entered distinctly & intelligibly for others as well as yourself to
comprehend all of the elements necessary…"
The 200th anniversary of the start of
the Lewis and Clark Expedition will be celebrated during "The
Departure," a special event scheduled for May 13-16 at
Lewis and Clark State Historic
Site in Hartford. To commemorate this bicentennial observance,
the Illinois Historic
Preservation Agency, which administers the historic site, is
providing the following information that should prove interesting
for history enthusiasts of all ages.
These are notes made by several of the
men exactly 200 years ago during the first few days of the journey,
when the men departed from Camp River Dubois in what is now the
state of Illinois. The authentic spelling and punctuation have been
kept to give you a better feel for the men who wrote these entries.
Capt.
William Clark, co-leader of the journey of discovery
From Clark's Camp Dubois field notes:
May 13, 1804
All in health and readiness to Set
out. Boats and every thing Complete, with the necessary Stores of
provisions & such articles of merchandize as we thought ourselves
autherised to procure.
May 14, 1804
A Cloudy morning fixing for a Start
Some provisions on examination is found to be wet rain at 9 oClock
Many of the Neighbours Came from the Countrey Mail and feeMail
rained the greater part of the day, I set out at 4 oClock to the
head of the first Island in the Missourie 6 Miles and incamped, on
the Island rained…
From
Clark's journal:
May the 14th - Monday
Set out from Camp River a Dubois at 4
oClock P.M. and proceeded up the Missouris under Sail to the first
Island in the Missouri and Camped on the upper point opposite a
Creek on the South Side below a ledge of limestone rock Called
Colewater, made 4 ˝ miles, the Party Consisted of 2, Self one
frenchman and 22 Men in the Boat of 20 ores, 1 Serjt. & 7 french in
a large Perogue, a Corp and and 6 Soldiers in a large Perogue. a
Cloudy rainey day. wind from the N.E. men in high Spirits
Tuesday 15
Rained the greater part of the last
night, and this morning untile 7 oClock- at 9 oClock Set out and
proceeded on 9 miles. passed two Islands & incamped on the Starbd.
Side at a Mr. Pipers Landing opposit an Island, the Boat run on logs
three times to day, owing her being too heavyly loaded a Sturn, a
fair after noon, I Saw a number of Goslings to day on the Shore, the
water excessively rapid, & Banks falling in-
May 16th Wednesday
a fair morning Set out at 5 oClk pass
a remarkable Coal Hill on the Larboard Side Called by the french
Carbonere, this hill appear to Contain great quantity of Coal & ore
of a appearance from this hill the village of St Charles may be Seen
at 7 miles distance- we arrived at St. Charles at 12 oClock a number
Spectators French & Indians flocked to the bank to See the party.
This Village is about one mile in length, Situated on the North Side
of the Missourie at the foot of a hill from which it takes its name
Petiete Coete or the Little hill This village Contns.
About 100 houses, the most of them Small and indefferent and about
450 inhabitents Chiefly French, those people appear pore, polite &
harmonious- I was invited to Dine with a Mr. Ducett this gentleman
was once a merchant from Canadia, from misfortunes aded to to the
loss of a Cargo Sold to the late Judge Turner he has become Somewhat
reduced, he has a Charming wife an eligent Situation on the hill
Serounded by orchards & a excellent gardain.
Tuesday May 15th
It rained during the greater part of
last night and continued untill 7 OCk. A.M. after which the Prarty
proceeded, passed two Islands and incamped on the Stard. Shore at
Mr. Fifer's landing opposite an Island, the evening was fair. some
wild gees with their young brudes were seen today. the barge run
foul three several times (today) -- on logs, and in one instance it
was with much difficulty they could get her off; happily no injury
was sustained, tho' the barge was several minutes in eminent danger;
this was cased by her being too heavily laden in the stern. Persons
accustomed to the navigation of the Missouri and the Mississippi
also below the mouth of this river, uniformly take the precaution to
load their vessels heavyest in the bow when they ascend the stream
in order to avoid the danger incedent to runing foul of the
concealed timber which lyes in great quantities in the beds of these
rivers.
[to top of second column in
this article]
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Pvt.
Joseph Whitehouse
Born about 1775 in Fairfax County, Va.
Joined Lewis at Fort Kaskaskia,
Illinois territory, in November 1803
The following is an excerpt from his
journal:
Monday 14th May 1804. hard
Showers of rain. this being the day appointed by Capt. Clark to Set
out, a number of the Sitizens of Gotian Settlement came to See us
start. we got in readiness. Capt. Lewis is now at St. Louis but will
join us at St. Charls. about 3 Oclock P.M. Capt. Clark and the party
consisting of three Sergeants and 38 men who manned the Batteaux and
pirogues. we fired our Swivel on the bow hoisted Sail and Set out in
high spirits for the western Expedition. we entered the mouth of the
Missourie haveing a fair wind Sailed abt. 6 miles and Camped on the
North Side.-
Tuesday 15th May 1804.
hard rain. we Set out eairly. the current Swift, & water muddy.
passed Islands & Some inhabitants &c. the after part of the day
proved pleasant. (w)e Camped on the North Side.-
(Wedn)esday 16th May 1804. a
clear morning. Set out (early) and proceeded on verry well. about 2
oclock P.M. (we ar)rived at St. Charls. and passed the evening with
a (gr)eat deal of Satisfaction, all chearful and in good Spirits.
this place is an old French village Situated on the North Side of
the Missourie and are dressy polite people and Roman Catholicks.-
Sergeant
Patrick Gass
Born 1771 in Pennsylvania; lived until
1870
His skills as a carpenter served the
expedition well.
This account was published in April
1807 based on a journal Gass kept during the expedition.
The corps consisted of forty-three men
(including Captain Lewis and Captain Clarke, who were to command the
expedition) part of the regular troops of the United States, and
part engaged for this particular enterprize. The expedition was
embarked on board a bateau and two periogues. The day was showery
and in the evening we encamped on the north bank six miles up the
river. Here we had leisure to reflect on our situation, and the
nature of our engagements: and, as we had all entered this service
as volunteers, to consider how far we stood pledged for the success
of an expedition, which the government had projected; and which had
been undertaken for the benefit and at the expence of the Union: of
course of much interest and high expectation.
(Source
for all of the above: "The Journals of the Lewis & Clark
Expedition," edited by Gary Moulton)
Sgt. John
Ordway
Born 1775 in New Hampshire
Left in charge at Camp River Dubois
when both Lewis and Clark were absent
Highest ranking enlisted man on the
journey of discovery
The following is a letter written to
his parents:
Honored Parence, Camp River Dubois
April the 8th 1804
I now embrace this oppertunity of
writing to you once more to let you know where I am and where I am
going. I am well thank God, and in high spirits. I am now on an
expidition to the westward, with Capt. Lewis and Capt. Clark, who
are appointed by the President of the united States to go on an
expidition through the interior parts of North America. We are to
ascend the Missouri River with a boat as far as it is navigable and
then go by land, to the western ocean, if nothing prevents, &c.
This party consists of 25 picked Men
of the armey & country likewise and I am So happy as to be one of
them pick'd Men from the armey, and I and all the party are if we
live to Return, to receive our Discharge when ever we return again
to the united States if we chuse it. This place is on the
Mississippi River oppisite to the Mouth of the Missouri River and we
are to Start in ten days up the Missouri River. This has been our
winter quarters. We expect to be gone 18 months or two years. We are
to Receive a great Reward for this expidition, when we Return. I am
to Receive 15 dollars pr. Month and at least 400 ackers of first
Rate land, and if we make Great Discoveries as we expect, the united
States, has promised to make us Great Rewards more than we are
promised, &c. For fear of exidants I wish to inform you that I left
200 dollars in cash, at Kaskaskias. Put it on interest with a
Substantial man by the name of Charles Smith &c. pertnership which
were three(?) more Substantial men binding with him and Capt. Clark
is bound to See me paid at the time and place where I receive my
discharge and if I should not live to return my heirs can git that
and all the pay Due me from the U.S. by applying to the Seat of
Government. I have Recd. no letters Since Betseys yet, but will
write next winter if I have a chance. Yours, &c.
John Ordway Sergt.
(Source: "Letters of the Lewis and
Clark Expedition," edited by Donald Jackson)
[Illinois
Historic Preservation Agency
news release]
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