In the late afternoon, Clark leaves Fort Kaskaskia with the boats, and they go three miles up the Mississippi. Lewis checks the accuracy of his chronometer by taking equal altitudes of the sun.
In New Orleans, Daniel Clark writes Secretary of State James Madison to tell him that the residents of New Orleans look forward to its cession to the United States.
Celestial Observations
together with my Chronometer, as with her I took the time in my observation for equal Altitudes at the mouth of the Ohio, this peace has been going regularly since and I now took Eequal Altd.—
—Meriwether Lewis
A Plan of the Several Villages
Thomas Hutchins, 1778, Detail
Thomas Hutchins, A Topographical Description of Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and North Carolina, 1778.
Leaving Kaskaskia
Set out from the landing at half passed 4 oClock passed an Island near the middle of the River the lower point within three quaters of a mile, came to on the Larbd side after Dark
—William Clark
New Orleans Anticipation
3 December 1803, New Orleans.
The morning of the surrender of the Country was gloomy and an incessant torrent of rain poured down the whole day . . . Except the noise of the Cannon not a sound was heard, the most gloomy silence prevailed and nothing could induce the numerous spectators to express the least Joy or give any sign of Satisfaction on the Occasion—a general fear & hatred of the french Government prevails and our own is looked to as the point of Salvation for the Country.
. . . . .
the day we take possession will be a day of Joy and exultation, it will not pass in Gloomy silence like that of which ushered in the Authority of the Prefect but the General Joy will manifest itself by the most heartfelt and unbounded acclamations—and when the American flag is hoisted the sound of the Cannon announcing the Event will be drowned in the louder cries of our exulting people.[1]“To James Madison from Daniel Clark, 3 December 1803 (Abstract),” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Madison/02-06-02-0135. [Original source: The … Continue reading
Notes
| ↑1 | “To James Madison from Daniel Clark, 3 December 1803 (Abstract),” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Madison/02-06-02-0135. [Original source: The Papers of James Madison, Secretary of State Series, vol. 6, 1 November 1803–31 March 1804, ed. Mary A. Hackett, J. C. A. Stagg, Ellen J. Barber, Anne Mandeville Colony, and Angela Kreider. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2002, pp. 136–139.] |
|---|
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).