Meriwether Lewis leaves St. Louis with Amos Stoddard and other Army officers, key traders, and several distinguished citizens. Due to a violent thunderstorm, they must shelter in a little cabin. Already in St. Charles this Sunday morning, many of the enlisted men attend Catholic mass.
Capt. Lewis Joins the Party
by Yellowstone Public Radio[1]Originally aired weekdays by Yellowstone Public Radio during the Bicentennial observance of 2003-2006. Narrated by Hal Hansen. Scripts by Whit Hansen and Ed Jacobson. Produced by Leni Holliman. © … Continue reading
Dr. Antoine François Pierre Saugrain
Pfuel family archive.
One of the dignitaries traveling with Lewis to St. Charles was Dr. Antoine Saugrain (Paris, 17 February 1763 France – St. Louis, Missouri, 5 March 1820). He provided medical supplies and assisted Lewis by preparing early specimens to send to Thomas Jefferson.
Leaving St. Louis
The morning was fair, and the weather pleasent; at 10 oCk A M. agreably to an appointment of the preceeding day, I was joined by Capt. Stoddard, Lieuts. Milford & Worrell together with Messrs. A. Chouteau, C. Gratiot, and many other respectable inhabitants of St. Louis, who had engaged to accompany me to the Vilage of St. Charles
—Meriwether Lewis
Taking Shelter
At half after one P. M. our progress was interrupted [hole] the near approach of a violent thunder storm from the N. W. and concluded to take shelter in a little cabbin hard by untill the rain should be over; accordingly we alighted and remained about an hour and a half and regailed ourselves with a could collation which we had taken the precaution to bring with us from St. Louis.
—Meriwether Lewis
St. Charles Arrival
we arrived at half after six and joined Capt Clark, found the party in good health and sperits. suped this evening with Charles Tayong a Spanish Ensign & late Commandant of St. Charles at an early hour I retired to rest on board the barge—
—Meriwether Lewis
St. Charles Citizens
The Vilage contains a Chappel, one hundred dwelling houses, and about 450 inhabitants; their houses are generally small and but illy constructed; a great majority of the inhabitants are miserably pour, illiterate and when at home excessively lazy, tho’ they are polite hospitable and by no means deficient in point of natural genious, they live in a perfect state of harmony among each other;
—Meriwether Lewis
Benedict Joseph Flaget
Unknown artist – Assumption College: Gallery Direct, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=26063728.
Although long acquainted with the Clark family, Father Flaget likely did not officiate the Mass described by the journalists.
—Kristopher K. Townsend, ed.
Sunday Mass
Several of the party went to church, which the french call Mass, and Saw their way of performing &c.—
—Joseph Whitehouse
Weather Diary
rained the after part of the Day Capt. and Several gentlemen arrive from St. Louis.
—Meriwether Lewis
Today, the St. Charles Historic District is a High Potential Historic Site along the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail managed by the U.S. National Park Service.
Notes
| ↑1 | Originally aired weekdays by Yellowstone Public Radio during the Bicentennial observance of 2003-2006. Narrated by Hal Hansen. Scripts by Whit Hansen and Ed Jacobson. Produced by Leni Holliman. © 2003 by Yellowstone Public Radio. |
|---|
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.
This page was funded in part by the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, U.S. National Park Service.
This site is provided as a public service by the
Lewis and Clark Trail Alliance
with cooperation and funding from the following organizations:
- Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail
- Montana Committee for the Humanities
- Idaho Governor's Lewis and Clark Trail Committee
- The Capital Gallery (Lewis and Clark Fort Mandan Foundation)
- Yellowstone Public Radio
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).