Régis Loisel

On 25 May 1804, the expedition’s boats stopped at La Charrette—the “last settlement of white people on this River” that they would encounter until their return there on 20 September 1806. On their first visit, influential trader Régis Loisel would tell the captains what to expect:

here we met with Mr. Louisell imedeately down from the [Cedar] Isld. Situated in the Countrey of the [Sioux] 400 Leagues up he gave us a good Deel of information

After meeting with the captains, Loisel traveled to New Orleans to give his report on Missouri River tribes to the former Spanish governor. In October 1804 and before he could act on his Spanish loyalties, he died.

The information Loisel gave the captains seemed to take root. Throughout their journey to and from the Knife River Indian Villages, the expedition met and made use of several Loisel partners and employees: Pierre Dorion, Sr., Pierre-Antoine Tabeau, Joseph Gravelines, and Hugh Heney.

Prior to the expedition, Loisel operated a trading post on Cedar Island in South Dakota. When that post burned down, the site became one of Manual Lisa’s posts.^[1]Moulton, Journals, 2:253n9; Elin Woodger and Brandon Toropov, Encyclopedia of the Lewis & Clark Expedition (New York: Facts on File, Inc., 2004), 214.

Related Pages

September 5, 1803

Canoes delayed



In present West Virginia, the Ohio River is deep enough to navigate without the help of horses or oxen. When the two canoes fail to arrive, the sounding horn is blown.

Already stationed on the Mississippi, the expedition’s future Sergeant of the Guard, John Ordway, writes home.

Up the Missouri River in present South Dakota, trader Pierre-Antoine Tabeau describes a diplomatic encounter among the Lakota, Omaha, and Ponca.

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May 25, 1804

Last 'White' village



The expedition travels about ten miles reaching La Charrette—the last settlement of “white people on this River . . . .” Here the captains meet trader Régis Loisel who shares valuable information about the people and places between here and the Knife River Villages. The villagers sell them milk and eggs, and Lewis collects a cottonwood specimen.

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May 28, 1804

'Resting' at the Gasconade



At the mouth of the Gasconade in present Missouri, the day is used to hunt and dry items that got wet in the red pirogue. The captains try to make celestial observations, but clouds obscure the sun.

In St. Louis, trader Régis Loisel warns Spanish officials of American encroachments on the Missouri River.

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September 22, 1804

Fort aux Cedres



The expedition passes the abandoned Fort aux Cedres, a fur trading post built by Régis Loisel in present South Dakota. The hunters complain that the soils of the plains wear out their moccasins.

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August 26, 1806

Passing the Bad River



While passing the Bad River in present Pierre, South Dakota, Clark recalls how the Lakota Sioux attempted to stop them in 1804. They make about sixty miles and now expect to find those Indians.

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