Officer of the Day
The day is rainy at winter camp across from the mouth of the Missouri. In his journal, Sgt. John Ordway records detachment orders for Officer of the Day and leaving camp. Lewis continues working in St. Louis.
From Washington City, Secretary of War Henry Dearborn tells Captain Amos Stoddard that Major James Bruff will soon arrive to replace him.
Finding Simon Girty
Lewis sends Thomas Jefferson Osage orange cuttings from Pierre Chouteau’s garden and in one of the Indian camps near the mouth of the Missouri, Clark meets Simon Girty, an infamous American traitor.
Quarters and stores
At Wood River, Illinois, the day begins with sub-zero temperatures. While they are in St. Louis, the captains leave specific orders for Sgt. Floyd regarding quarters and stores.
Big Bone Lick
Lewis is likely at Big Bone Lick collecting fossils and fellow travelers Thomas Rodney and Nicholas Cresswell describe the diggings that he saw. Elsewhere, the U.S. Army expects problems with Spain.
To Big Bone Lick
On or near this date, Lewis leaves Cincinnati for Big Bone Lick where he expects to collect fossils for Thomas Jefferson. Elsewhere, tensions rise between Spain and the United States over Louisiana.
Hanging Rock
On or near this date, Lewis passes a notable hanging rock and the Ohio River towns of Alexandria (Portsmouth, Ohio) and Vanceburg, Kentucky. Travelers Fortescue Cuming and Thomas Rodney describe the area.
Leaky boats
As they leave Pennsylvania along the Ohio River, the pirogue springs a serious leak, so they must stop to repair it. Lewis buys a canoe, but it too leaks. Camp is near Newell in present West Virginia.
Ohio River flatboats
In Pittsburgh, Lewis oversees the final steps to complete the expedition’s military-style barge. All summer he could see flat-bottomed boats heading down the river—each a reminder that he is unable to get underway.
New Orleans smugglers
As Clark waits in Louisville and Lewis waits in Pittsburgh for the barge to be ready, the Governor of the Mississippi Territory answers Thomas Jefferson’s questions about Louisiana. In his letter, he describes smuggling at New Orleans—an activity experienced first-hand by Clark.
Forts Duquesne and Pitt
In Pittsburgh, Lewis oversees construction of the expedition’s military-style barge prior to departing down the Ohio River. His base is the U.S. Army headquarters at Fort Fayette. Nearby, remnants of two earlier forts—Pitt and Duquesne—can still be seen.
Building Fort Kaskaskia
In Pittsburgh, Lewis oversees construction of the barge and waits to see if Clark will accept or decline his offer to co-command his Western expedition. In Washington City, orders are issued to lease land in Kaskaskia to build an American Army post to support the transfer of Louisiana and Jefferson’s Western expeditions.
Stoddard's orders
In Pittsburgh, Lewis is working and waiting for the day he can begin down the Ohio River.
In Washington City, Cpt. Stoddard’s orders are to support President Jefferson’s Western expeditions and the transfer of Louisiana to the United States by recommending the best location for an Army fort west of the Mississippi.
Gifts and fishing tackle
In Philadelphia, Purveyor of Public Supplies Israel Whelan buys over $150 of gifts and trade items and $25 of fishing tackle.
Spain announces the retrocession of Louisiana to France, and Washington City residents learn that the port of New Orleans has reopened to American trade.
The price for Louisiana
In Paris, France, the Louisiana Purchase negotiators settle on a price—80 million francs (about 15 million dollars) plus payment of French debts worth about 20 million francs (3.75 million dollars). This is twice as much as Napoleon originally desired.
Philadelphia mentors
From Washington City, President Jefferson tells Lewis that he has mentors waiting for him in Philadelphia. He also misinforms the public by saying his Western Expedition will explore the Mississippi River.
In Paris, James Monroe, Robert Livingston, and François Barbé-Marbois negotiate a price for Louisiana’s purchase.
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