In Washington City, Meriwether Lewis pens a letter to William Clark inviting him to share in the fatigues, dangers, and honors of the upcoming exploration of the west. He also tells Clark of his intention to embark from Pittsburgh and the need to recruit suitable soldiers and hunters.
William Clark (1810)
Oil on canvas, 23-1/4 x 18-1/8 inches. Courtesy Independence National Historic Park.
Leaving for Pittsburgh
Washington June 19th 1803
Dear Clark
I shall set out for Pittsburgh (the intended point of embarcation) about the last of this month, and as soon after as from the state of the water you can reasonably expect me I shall be with you, say about the 10th of August.
The Personnel Plan
To all persons engaged in this service I am authorized to offer the following rewards by way of inducement—1st the bounty (if not a soldier) but in both cases six months pay in advance; 2dly to discharge them from the service if they wish it, immediately on their return from the expedition giving them their arrears of pay clothing &c & 3dly to secure them a portion of land equal to that given by the United States to the officers and soldiers who served in the revolutionary war.
Looking for Hunters
When descending the Ohio it shall be my duty by enquiry to find out and engage some good hunters, stout, healthy, unmarried men, accustomed to the woods, and capable of bearing bodily fatigue in a pretty considerable degree: should any young men answering this discription be found in your neighborhood I would than you to give information of them on my arrival at the falls of the Ohio . . . .
Recruiting Soldiers
The soldiers that will most probably answer this expedition best will be found in some of the companies stationed at Massac, Kaskaskia, & Illinois . . . .
The Journey
Pardon this digression from the discription of my plan: it is to descend the Ohio in a keeled boat of about ten tons burthen, from Pittsburgh to it’s mouth, thence up the Mississippi to the mouth of the Missourie, and up that river as far as it’s navigation is practicable . . . .
Jefferson’s Secrecy
You must know in the first place that very sanguine expectations are at this time formed by our Government that the whole of that immense country wartered by the Mississippi and it’s tributary streams, Missourie inclusive, will be the property of the U. States in less than 12 Months from this date; but here let me again impress you with the necessity of keeping this a matter of perfect secret . . . .
The Invitation
If therefore there is anything under those circumstances, in this enterprise, which would induce you to participate with me in it’s fatiegues, it’s dangers and it’s honors, believe me there is no man on earth with whom I should feel equal pleasure in sharing them as with yourself. . . .
Clark’s Commission
I make this communication to you with the privity of the President, who express an anxious with that you would consent to join me in this enterprise; he has authorized me to say that in the event of your accepting this proposition he will grant you a Captain’s commission. . . .
MERIWETHER LEWIS[1]All excerpts from Donald Jackson, ed. Letters of the Lewis and Clark Expedition with Related Documents: 1783-1854, 2nd ed. (Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1978), 57–60.
Notes
| ↑1 | All excerpts from Donald Jackson, ed. Letters of the Lewis and Clark Expedition with Related Documents: 1783-1854, 2nd ed. (Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1978), 57–60. |
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- 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.
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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).