Working in Cahokia and St. Louis, Lewis finds that many American emigrants have arrived in anticipation of the Louisiana transfer. At the Wood River camp, roofs are completed and passing boatmen visit with Clark.
Squaring a Log
Photo provided by Lewis & Clark State Historic Site, Hartford, Illinois. Used by permission. (Altered: a lawn and parking lot have been replaced with mud.)
Covering Huts
men Continue to put up & Cover the necessary huts . . . . finish Covering our huts this evening—
—William Clark
American Emigrants
Cahokia December 28th 1803.
Dear Sir,
Many persons from different parts of the U’States, particularly N. Carolina, have visited Louisiana since the cession of that country to the U’States has been made known; these persons were in serch of some eligible positions to form settlements as soon as the American government was in operation in that quarter. They appear generally pleased with the country, and will no doubt make a favourable report on their return.
MERIWETHER LEWIS. CAPT.
1st. U.S. Regt. Infty.[1]Lewis to Jefferson. Donald Jackson, ed. Letters of the Lewis and Clark Expedition with Related Documents: 1783-1854, 2nd ed. (Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1978), 153.
Boat Men
two French Perogues pass up the river to day, and peregoue with black guard Americans, passed down the river . . . . a French man who passed up to day told me that a man of abt. 30 years of age well acquainted with the Missoures for 8 years, wishes to go with me
—William Clark
Hunting Report
Drewyear returned with 3 Deer & 5 Turkeys I send Shields with Mr. Griffeth to purchase me some butter on the other Side of the river . . . . The Indian Come in with a Deer this evening
—William Clark
Winter Camp at Wood River (Camp Dubois) is a High Potential Historic Site along the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail managed by the U.S. National Park Service. The site, near Hartford, Illinois, is managed as Lewis and Clark State Historic Site and is open to the public.
Notes
| ↑1 | Lewis to Jefferson. Donald Jackson, ed. Letters of the Lewis and Clark Expedition with Related Documents: 1783-1854, 2nd ed. (Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1978), 153. |
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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).