Day-by-Day / November 16, 1803

November 16, 1803

Seaman not for sale

Mouth of the Ohio, IL The captains scout the western shore of the Mississippi where a Shawnee Indian tries to buy Lewis’s dog, Seaman. In Washington City, Thomas Jefferson defines the boundaries of Louisiana and plans more expeditions.

Clark, Seaman, Lewis

Spirit of Discovery Statue at Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, Sioux City, Iowa

Statue of two men in 19th century military uniforms and a Newfoundland dog

Courtesy U.S. National Park Service, Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail.

Mississippi Excursion

Passed the Missippi this day and went down on the other side after landing at the upper habitation on the oposite side. we found here som Shawnees and Delewars [Lenape Delawares] incamped;
—Meriwether Lewis

No Deal for Seaman

one of the Shawnees a respectable looking Indian offered me three beverskins for my dog [Seaman] with which he appeared much pleased, the dog was of the newfoundland breed one that I prised much for his docility and qualifications generally for my journey and of course there was no bargan, I had given 20$ for this dogg myself—
—Meriwether Lewis

Large Catfish

we were a little surprised at the apparent size of a Catfish which the men had caught in our absence.

I have been informed that these fish have been taken in various parts of the Ohio & mississippi weighing from 175 to 200 lbs.
—Meriwether Lewis

Related: Fishing on the Expedition

Boundaries of Louisiana

Washington Nov. 16. 1803.

Dear Sir

it seems generally to be assented to, that Congress shall appropriate 10. or 12.000 D. for exploring the principal waters of the Missipi & Missouri. in that case I should send a party up the Red river to it’s head, then to cross over to the head of the Arcansa, & come down that. a 2d party for the Pani [Platte] & Padouca [Kansas] rivers, & a 3d perhaps for the Moingona [Des Moines & St. Peters [Minnesota]. as the boundaries of Louisiana are the high lands inclosing all the waters which run into the Misipi or Missouri directly or indirectly . . . .

Th: Jefferson[1]“Jefferson to Meriwether Lewis, 16 November 1803,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-42-02-0005-0001. [Original source: The Papers … Continue reading

Related: Louisiana’s Political Geography | Freeman-Custis Expedition

 

Notes

Notes
↑1 “Jefferson to Meriwether Lewis, 16 November 1803,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-42-02-0005-0001. [Original source: The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, vol. 42, 16 November 1803–10 March 1804, ed. James P. McClure. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2016, pp. 6–9.]

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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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).