September 29, 1806

Most Practicable Route

St. Louis 29th Sept. 1806

Dear Sir [unknown],

I arrived here the 23rd instant from the Pacific Ocean where I remained during the last winter . . . . [I] Therefore have no hesitation to say & declare, that such as Nature has permitted we have discovered the most practicable Route which does exist across the continent of North America in that direction;

[The Road to the Buffalo]

The Passage of 320 M. from the Missesourii to the Kooskooskee [Clearwater] is the most formidable part of the Track proposed across the Continent, of this distance 200 M. is along a good Road [Cokhalah ishkit: The Road to the Buffalo] and 140 M. over tremendous Mountains, which are covered with eternal Snows; however a passage is practicable from the latter part of June to the last of September.

[Horses and Portages]

The cheap rate at which Horses are to be obtained from the Indians of the Rocky Mountains & west of them, reduces the Expences of Transportation over this Passage to a mere Trifle. The Navigation of the Kooskooskee, Louise [Snake] Rivers, & Columbia safe and good from the 9th of April to the middle of August, by making three Portages in the Columbia.

[Columbia and Multnomah Rivers]

The Tides flow up the Columbia 138 Miles, thus far large Sloops might ascend in safety & vessels of 300 Tons could with equal safety reach the Entrance of Multnomack River, a large souther Branch of the Columbia, which taking it’s rise on the confines of Mexico with the Collarado . . . . the Furs collected in 9/10 if the valuable Fur Country of America . . . will of course reach Canton earlier than the Furs which are annual exported from Montreal reach Great Britain.^[1]Letters of the Lewis and Clark Expedition with Related Documents: 1783–1854, ed. Donald Jackson (Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1978), 1:336–337.

Bonds for Land Grants

All men are to know by these presents that I Joseph Whitehouse of the county of Fairfax state of Virginia, being one of those who accompanyed Captains Lewis & Clark as a private in an expedition up the Missouri river and to the Pacific Ocean, do hereby for and in consideration of the sum of Two hundred and eighty dollars . . . Convey unto George Drewyer . . . all the right title interest, claim and property to all that tract or parcel of land, to which I may be entitled for my services as a private in the aforesaid expedition.

Joseph Whitehouse^[2]Ibid., 1:343.

This, and a similar bond with Pvt. John Collins selling his future land grant to Drouillard were brought before Judge William Christy—the same William Christy who owned the tavern where eighteen toasts were given in honor of the expedition.

Pike’s Pawnee Speech

My Brothers; Here is an American Flag which I will present you—but it must never be hoisted by the side of that Spanish one which I desire in return—for the one I now present you. My Brothers; You cannot have two Fathers—your former Fathers the Spaniards have now no further Authority over you—if we permit their traders to come amongst you it will be for your good—But after next year we will not permit Spanish officers, or soldiers; to come into this country to present medals or Flags—as all those marks of Distinction must come through you American Father—
—Zebulon M. Pike^[3]Donald Jackson, The Journals of Zebulon Montgomery Pike (Norman, Oklahoma: University of Oklahoma Press, 1966), 1:328, 2:127.

This transcript was copied by Spanish authorities while Zebulon Pike was their prisoner. It is an excerpt of Pike’s original speech—the parts most relevant to Spanish officials and the King in Madrid.