Lewis breaks the apparent pause in his journal by writing “Arrived as [at] Fort Massac“. There, the captains meet George Drouillard who would become a key expedition member. The fort’s officer of financial affairs advances him his first month’s pay of $25.
Inspection and Selection
© Michael Haynes, https://www.mhaynesart.com. Used with permission.
Drouillard Signs On
engaged George Drewyer in the public service as an Indian Interpretter, contracted to pay him 25 dollards pr. month for his services.— Mr Swan Assistant Millitary agent at that place advanced him thirty dollars on account of his pay.—
—Meriwether Lewis
Fort Massac View
[F]rom whence is a view upwards to Tennessee river, downwards about two miles, and the opposite shore which is one mile and a quarter distant-the Ohio being now so wide.
—Fortescue Cuming[1]Fortescue Cuming, Sketches of a Tour to the Western Country: Through the States of Ohio and Kentucky, a voyage down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, and a trip through the Mississippi territory, and … Continue reading
Military Order
It [Fort Massac] appears to be in good order and the soldiers on duty. It is a small fort stockade round, with 6 or 9 inch pointed posts ten to 12 feet high, with a shallow ditch and bank, and is supplied with several pieces of brass cannon beside musquitry and other guns. The soldiers we saw appeared well dressed and neat and clean.
—Thomas Rodney[2]4 November 1803. Dwight L. Smith and Ray Swick, ed., A Journey Through the West: Thomas Rodney’s 1803 Journal from Delaware to the Mississippi Territory (Athens: Ohio University Press, 1997), … Continue reading
Notes
| ↑1 | Fortescue Cuming, Sketches of a Tour to the Western Country: Through the States of Ohio and Kentucky, a voyage down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, and a trip through the Mississippi territory, and part of West Florida, commenced at Philadelphia in the winter of 1807 . . . (Pittsburgh: Cramer, Spear, & Eichbaum, 1810), 251. |
|---|---|
| ↑2 | 4 November 1803. Dwight L. Smith and Ray Swick, ed., A Journey Through the West: Thomas Rodney’s 1803 Journal from Delaware to the Mississippi Territory (Athens: Ohio University Press, 1997), 163. |
Experience the Lewis and Clark Trail
The Lewis and Clark Trail Experience—our sister site at lewisandclark.travel—connects the world to people and places on the Lewis and Clark Trail.
Discover More
- The Lewis and Clark Expedition: Day by Day by Gary E. Moulton (University of Nebraska Press, 2018). The story in prose, 14 May 1804–23 September 1806.
- The Lewis and Clark Journals: An American Epic of Discovery (abridged) by Gary E. Moulton (University of Nebraska Press, 2003). Selected journal excerpts, 14 May 1804–23 September 1806.
- The Lewis and Clark Journals. by Gary E. Moulton (University of Nebraska Press, 1983–2001). The complete story in 13 volumes.
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- Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail
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Unless otherwise noted, journal excerpts are from The Journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, edited by Gary E. Moulton, 13 vols. (Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1983-2001).