From St. Louis, Meriwether Lewis sends William Clark a commission for second lieutenant—not for captain as promised. He also updates Clark on preparations and expresses a strong opinion regarding Manuel Lisa and Francis Benoit. Across the Mississippi at winter camp, the expedition’s men win shooting contests with several of the country people.
French Charleville Musket
By Mike Cumpston, released to the public domain.
Shooting Contest
Several of the Countrey people In Camp Shooting with the party all git beet and Lose their money a fair Day
—William Clark
Clark’s Commission
St. Louis May 6th 1804.
My dear friend,
I send you herewith inclosed your commission accompanyed by the Secretary of War’s letter; it is not such as I wished, or had reason to expect; but so it is—a further explaneation when I join you. I think it will be best to let none of our party or any other persons know any thing about the grade . . . .
M. LEWIS[1]Donald Jackson, ed. Letters of the Lewis and Clark Expedition with Related Documents: 1783-1854, 2nd ed., (Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1978), 179.
Engagés Will Arrive Soon
The French hands eight in number are all engaged; they will go up in the Perogue on Tuesday or Wednesday next; by which time I hope all matters will be in readiness for my departure from this place.
M. LEWIS[2]Ibid., 180.
Damn Manuel Lisa and His Partner
Damn Manuel [Manuel Lisa] and triply Damn Mr. B. [Francis Marie Benoit] They give me more vexation and trouble than their lives are worth. I have dealt very plainly with these gentlemen, in short I come to an open rupture with them; I think them both great scoundrels . . . .
M. LEWIS[3]Ibid.
Weather Diary
Thermometer at rise
Weather Wind at Thermometer at 4 oCk. P.M. Weather Wind at 4 oCk. P.M River 42 above fair S. W 78 above fair S W fall ½ in. —Meriwether Lewis[4]To assist the reader, the editor of this web page has omitted the date column, merged the “River” columns, and spelled out some abbreviations.
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 | Donald Jackson, ed. Letters of the Lewis and Clark Expedition with Related Documents: 1783-1854, 2nd ed., (Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1978), 179. |
|---|---|
| ↑2 | Ibid., 180. |
| ↑3 | Ibid. |
| ↑4 | To assist the reader, the editor of this web page has omitted the date column, merged the “River” columns, and spelled out some abbreviations. |
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).