History of the expedition under the command of Captains Lewis and Clark, to the sources of the Missouri, thence across the Rocky mountains and down the River Columbia to the Pacific Ocean : performed during the years 1804-5-6 by order of the government of the United States; Volume 1

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Lewis cuul Clarke's Expedition the highest settlement on tltc Missouri. llut tl1e Spani:b commandant of the province, not having received an officml account of its transfer to the United States, was obliged by the general policy of his government, to prevent str·angers from passing through the Spanish territory. They thm·e­fore encamped at the mouth of Woo<l river, on the eastern side of the Mississippi, out of his jur·isdiction, where they passed the winter in disciplining the men, and making the necessary preparations for setting out early in the Spring, before which the cession was otfieially announced. 'rhe party consistc(l of nine young men from Kentucky, fourteen soldiers of the United States army who volunteered their· services, two F1·cuch watermen-an interpreter and hunter -and a black servant belonging to car,tain Clat·ke-All these, except the last, were enlistetl to serve as privates du­ring the expedition, and three sergeants appointed from amongst them by the captains. In addition to these were engaged a corporal and six soldiers, aml nine watermen ta accompany tbc expedition as fa1· as the l\1amlan nation, in or­der to assist in carrying t11e stores, or repelling an attack which was most to be apprehended between Wootlriver and that tribe. The necessary stores were subdivided into seven bales, and one box, containing a small portion of each article in case of accident. They consisted of a great variety of clothing, working utensils, locks, flints, }lOwder, ball, and articles of tl1e greatest use. To these were added fourteen bales and one box of Indian presents, distributed in the same manner, and composed of richly laced coats and other arti­cles of dress, medals, flags, knives, and tomahawks for the chiefs-ornaments or different kinds, }Jar·ticularly beads .• lookingglasses, Jwndkcrchicfs, paints, and generally such articles as were deemed best calculated for the taste of the Indians. The party was to embark on board of tht·ce bo~ts; the fit·st was a keel boat fifty-f1ve feet long, drawing three r~et water, carl·ying one large squaresail and twenty-two oars, a deck often feet in the bow, and stern formed a fot·e - U11 the ..rliissom·i. ., •' ~ast.lc and cabin, while the middle was covered by lockers, which might be rahed so as to form a breast-work in case or attack. 'rhis was accompanied by two perioques or open boats, one of six and the other of seven oars. Two horses were at the same time to be led along the banks of the river fot· the pm·pose of bringing home game, or hunting in case of scarcity. Of the proceedings of this cxpe(lition, the following is a succinct and rircumstantial narrative. All the pre}lara.tions being eomplet.etl, we left our cn­oampmcnt on l\1onday, May 14th, 180-1. This spot is at the mouth of \Voo(l river, a small stl'eam which empties itself into the l\1ississillJli, opposite to the cnt a·ance of the 1\Iis­souri. It is situated iu latitude 38° 55' 19"T6o north, and longitude from G rcenwiC11, 89° 57' ,1;;". On both sidei of the MississillPi the land for i wo or three miles is rich and level, but gradually swells into a high pleasant counh·y, with less timber on the western than on the eastern side, but all susceptible of cultivation. The point which sepa­rates the two rivea·s on the not'th, extends for fifteen or twenty miles, the greater part of which is an open level plain, in which the people of the neighboua·hood cultivate what little grain they raise. Not being able to set sail before fout· o'clock I"). l\1., we did not make more than four miles, and encampcll on the fit·st island opposite a small creek called Col<l \Vatet·. l\fay 15. 'rhe rain, which had continued yesterday and last night, ceasod this morning. 'Ve then proceeded, and after passing two small islands about ten miles fUl·thcr, stop­ped for the night at Piper's landing, opposite another island. The water is here vm·y rapid and the banks faJling in. \Vc found that our boat was too heavily laden in the stern, in consequence of which she ran on logs three times to day. It became necessary to throw the greatest weight on the l>ow of the boat, a precaution '\'cry uccessary in ascending