USA > Wyoming > The history of Wyoming from the earliest known discoveries > Part 5
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History of Wyoming.
protect and develop the great West. President Adams con- templated an expedition against New Orleans, the Spanish Intendant at that point having issued an order prohibiting New Orleans as a place of deposit by Americans. This order set the West in a blaze and the expedition was the all-absorbing topic among the people. President Adams put on a bold front and ordered three regiments of regulars to the Ohio River. The order also included the getting in readiness of a sufficient number of boats to transport the troops down the river. At the same time twelve new regi- ments were recruited and it looked very much as if war between the United States and Spain was inevitable, and would certainly have followed if the term of office of Mr. Adams had not been too near its close to admit of a ter- mination of the proposed war during his administration. The following year Thomas Jefferson was elected presi- dent and the same year the Louisiana domain became the property of France.
Resuming the thread of events leading to the explora- tion of the West, it should be here mentioned that at the time the expedition up the Missouri was talked of Capt. Meriwether Lewis, of the United States army, made known his desire to command the proposed expedition, and after making his application to the American Philosophical Society and having it rejected, sought out Mr. Jefferson and the two men had long conferences and Jefferson un- folded his plan to Capt. Lewis. To those who live in Wyo- ming today and have a knowledge of the dangers and dif- ficulties of such a journey, the plan of Thomas Jefferson looks like the weakest folly. He explained to Capt. Lewis that the man who should undertake the journey must have but a single companion in order not to alarm the natives to be encountered on the way. Fortunately this plan was not adopted, as it was pronounced impracticable by men who had experience in this line of work. Capt. Lewis did not take kindly to Mr. Jefferson's idea and in return sub- mitted one of his own which included a force sufficient to command the respect of savage tribes and to be able to
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manage canoes, transport supplies, hunt game and con- struct cabins for the use of the party during a winter which must be spent on the Pacific coast. Mr. Jefferson listened attentively to this man of military experience and evidently was won over by the captain. An intimacy sprang up be- tween the two men, and a friendship was cemented which lasted through life. In the year 1801, when Jefferson was inaugurated, Capt. Lewis became his private secretary. The president did not lose sight of the exploring expedition. The new Republic was fast making history. Robert Living- ston, who was our minister to France, negotiated a treaty in 1803 with Napoleon for the purchase of the Louisiana domain, $15,000,000 being the price agreed on. This pur- chase was regarded at the time as a necessity by leading American statesmen of all parties. This same year Pres- ident Jefferson, who had been watching the course of events, saw that the time was ripe to recommend his exploring expedition and he accordingly sent to Congress a special and confidential message and proposed an exploring party be sent up the Missouri in accordance with the plans long talked of. Congress acted promptly, giving the required authority and made the necessary appropriation. Capt. Lewis of course received the appointment and was to com- mand the expedition. He asked for an assistant and the choice fell on Lieut. William Clark and he was accordingly appointed.
Never was expedition started under more favorable circumstances. The Louisiana purchase had been made public about the 1st of July, ten days after Capt. Lewis had received his instructions, and this purchase in- cluded a portion of the territory to be explored. The people of the whole country were anxious to know the character and extent of our western possessions. The journals of the day had discussed the subject of the expedition with an earnestness that betokened the interest the people felt. Capt. Lewis was regarded by President Jefferson as the ideal explorer and his opinion was taken up by the people and consequently everything that pertained to.
-(3)
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the expedition was discussed by the press until the under- taking assumed great national importance. How it came about that Capt. Lewis permitted the name of Clark to ap- pear co-equal with his own has never been explained by him or anyone else. Lieut. Clark was made a captain for the purposes of this expedition and was in every way worthy of his associate. He was brave, untiring and cautious and he left throughout the West many friends among the sav- age tribes with whom he came in contact. Never were two men better fitted for a great undertaking, and the manner in which they carried out their instructions is creditable to them as explorers. On their return numerous volumes appeared giving an account of their travels. One was pub- lished in Pittsburg in 1808 and republished in London. Another was published in Philadelphia and two more in London in 1814-15.
Capt. Lewis felt the weight of responsibility placed upon his shoulders and he at once fitted himself for the high calling by such scientific studies as to enable him to take astronomical observations and to make a report of the geography of the route. Congressional action had been secured on January 18, 1803, and the instructions had been signed on the 20th of June following. Capt. Lewis left Washington July 5, for the West and arriving at Pittsburg, where his outfit for the expedition was presented him. Here also he received his instructions, which were of the most comprehensive character. These instructions were written by President Jefferson, and as they form the foun- dation upon which was builded the plan of all explorations in the West, I give them in full. It will be seen that they were intended for Capt. Lewis, whom he held responsible for the success or failure of the expedition.
"Your situation as secretary of the President of the United States has made you familiar with the objects of my confidential message of January 18, 1803, to the Legislature; you have seen the act they passed, which, though expressed in general terms, was meant to sanction those objects, and you are appointed to carry them into execution. Instru- ments for ascertaining, by celestial observations, the geog-
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The First American Explorers.
raphy of the country through which you will pass, have al- ready been provided. Light articles for barter and trade among the Indians, arms for your attendants, say for from ten to twelve men, boats, tents and other traveling appara- tus, with ammunition, medicines, surgical instruments and provisions, you will have prepared, with such aids as the Secretary of War can yield in his department, and from him also you will receive authority to engage among our troops, by volunteer agreement, the number of attendants above mentioned; over whom you, as their commanding officer, are invested with all the powers the laws give in such a case. The object of your mission is to explore the Missouri River, and such principal streams of it, as, by its course and communication with the waters of the Pacific Ocean, whether the Columbia, Oregon, Colorado or any other river, may offer the most direct and practicable water communication across the continent, for the purposes of commerce. The intersecting points of the portage between the heads of the Missouri and of the water offering the best communication with the Pacific Ocean should also be fixed by observation; and the course of that water to the ocean, in the same manner as that of the Missouri. Your obser- vations are to be taken with great pains and accuracy, to be entered distinctly and intelligently for others as well as yourself; to comprehend all the elements necessary, with the aid of the usual tables, to fix the latitude and longitude of the places at which they were taken; and are to be ren- dered to the war office, for the purpose of having the cal- culations made concurrently by proper persons within the United States. Several copies of these, as well as of your other notes, should be made at leisure times and put into the care of the most trustworthy of your attendants to guard, by multiplying them against the accidental losses to which they will be exposed. A further guard would be, that one of these copies be on the circular membranes of the paper birch, as less liable to injury from damp than com- mon paper. The commerce which may be carried on with the people inhabiting the line you will pursue renders a knowledge of these people important. You will therefore endeavor to make yourself acquainted, so far as a diligent pursuit of your journey will admit, with the names of the nations and their numbers; the extent and limits of their possessions; their relations with other tribes or natives; their language, traditions, monuments; their ordinary oc- cupations, in agriculture, fishing, hunting, war, arts and the
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implements for these; their food, clothing and domestic ac- commodations; the diseases prevalent among them, and the remedies they use, moral and physical circumstances which distinguish them from tribes we know; peculiarities in their laws, customs and dispositions; and articles of commerce they may furnish, and to what extent. And considering the interest which every nation has in extending and strengthening the authority of reason and justice among the people around them, it will be useful to acquire what knowledge you can of the state of morality, religion, and information among them; as it may better enable those who may endeavor to civilize them to adopt their measures to the existing notions and practices of those on whom they are to operate. Other objects worthy of notice will be the soil and surface of the country, its growth and vegetable productions, especially those not of the United States; the animals of the country generally, and especially those not known in the United States; the remains and accounts of any which may be deemed rare or extinct; the mineral productions of every kind, but more particularly metals, limestone, pit coal and saltpetre; salines and mineral waters, noting the temperature of the last and such circumstances as may indicate their character; volcanic appearance, cli- mate as characterized by the thermometer, by the propor- tion of rainy, cloudy and clear days; by lightning, hail, snow, ice; by the access and recess of frost; by winds prevailing at different seasons; the dates at which particular plants put forth, or lose their flower or leaf; times of appearance of particular birds, reptiles or insects. Although your route will be along the channel of the Missouri, yet you will en- deavor to inform youself, by inquiry, of the character and extent of the country watered by its branches, and espec- ially on its southern side. The North River, or Rio Bravo, which runs into the Gulf of Mexico, and the North River, or Rio Colorado, which runs into the Gulf of California, are understood to be the principal streams heading oppo- site to the waters of the Missouri, and running southwardly. Whether the dividing lines between the Missouri and them are mountains or flat lands, what are their distance from the Missouri, the character of the intermediate country, and the people inhabiting it, are worthy of particular inquiry. "The northern waters of the Missouri are less to be inquired ยท after, because they have been ascertained to a considerable extent, and are still in the course of ascertainment by Eng- Fish traders and travelers; but if you can learn anything
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certain of the most northern source of the Mississippi, and of its position, relatively to the Lake of Woods, it will be inter- esting to us. Some accounts, too, of the Canadian traders. from the Mississippi, at the mouth of the Onisconsine to where it strikes the Missouri, and of the soil and rivers in its course. In all your intercourse with the natives treat them in the most friendly and conciliatory manner which their own conduct will admit; allay all jealousies as to the object of your journey, satisfy them of its innocence; make them acquainted with the position, extent, character, peaceable and commercial dis- position of the United States, of our wish to be neighborly and friendly and useful to them, and of our disposition to a commercial intercourse with them; confer with them on points most convenient as useful emporium, and the articles of most desirable interchange for them and us. If a few of their influential chiefs, within a practicable distance, wish to visit us, arrange such a visit with them and furnish them with authority to call on our officers on their enter- ing the United States to have them conveyed to this place at the public expense. If any of them should wish to have some of their young people brought up with us, and taught such arts as may be useful to them, we will receive. and take care of them. Such a mission, whether of influential chiefs or of young people, would give security to your own party.
"Carry with you some matter of the kine-pox; inform those of them with whom you may be, of its efficacy as a preservative from the small-pox, and instruct and encour- age them in the use of it. This may be especially done wherever you may winter. As it is impossible for us to see in what manner you will be received by those people, whether with hospitality or hostility, so it is impossible to prescribe the exact degree of perseverance which you are to pursue your journey. We value too much the lives of citizens to offer them to probable destruction. Your num- ber will be sufficient to secure you against the unauthor- ized opposition of individuals, or of small parties; but if a superior force, authorized, or not authorized, by a nation, should be arrayed against your further passage and inflex- ibly determine to arrest it, you must decline its further pur- suit and return. In the loss of yourselves we should lose also the information you have acquired. By returning safe- ly with that. you may enable us to renew the essay with better calculated means. To your discretion, therefore,
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must be left the degree of danger you may risk and the point at which you should decline, only saying we wish you to err on the side of your safety, and to bring back your party safe, even if it be with less information. As far up the Missouri, as far as the white settlements extend, an intercourse will probably be found to exist between them and the Spanish posts of St. Louis opposite Cahokia, or Saint Genevieve opposite Kaskaskia. From still further up the river the traders may furnish a conveyance for letters. Beyond that you may perhaps be able to engage Indians to bring letters for the government to Cahokia or Kaskaskia, on promising them that they shall receive such special compensation as you shall have stipulated with them. Avail yourself of these means to communicate to us, at seasonable intervals, a copy of your journal, notes and observations of every kind, putting into cipher whatever might do injury if betrayed. Should you reach the Pacific Ocean, inform yourself of the circumstances which may decide, whether the furs of those parts may not be collected advantageously at the head of the Missouri (convenient as is supposed to the waters of the Colorado and Oregon or Columbia) as at Nootka Sound, or any other point of that coast; and that trade be conse- quently conducted through the Missouri and United States more beneficially than by the circumnavigation now prac- ticed. On your arrival on that coast, endeavor to learn if there be any port within your reach frequented by sea vessels of any nation, and to send two of your trusted people back by sea, in such way as shall appear practicable, with a copy of your notes; and should you be of opinion that the return of your party by the way they went will be eminently dangerous, then ship the whole and return by sea, either by the way of Cape Horn, or the Cape of Good Hope, as you shall be able. As you will be without money, clothes, or provisions, you must endeavor to use the credit of the United States to obtain them; for which purpose open letters of credit shall be furnished you authorizing you to draw on the executive of the United States, or any of its officers in any part of the world in which drafts can be disposed of, and to apply with our recommendations to the consuls, agents, merchants, or citizens of any nation with which we have intercourse, as- suring them in our name that any aids they may furnish you shall be honorably paid and on demand. Our consuls Thomas Hewes, at Batavia in Java: William Buchanan in the isles of France and Bourbon, and John Elmslie at the
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The First American Explorers.
Cape of Good Hope, will be able to supply your necessities, by drafts on us.
"Should you find it safe to return by the way you go, after sending two of your party around by sea, or with your whole party, if no conveyance by sea can be found, do so; making such observations on your return as may serve to supply, correct or confirm those made on your outward journey. On re-entering the United States and reaching a place of safety, discharge any of your attendants who may desire and deserve it, procuring for them immediate pay- ment of all arrears of pay and clothing which may have ac- crued since their departure, and assure them that they shall be recommended to the liberality of the Legislature for the grant of a soldier's portion of land each as proposed in my message to Congress, and repair yourself with your papers to the seat of government. To provide on the accident of your death against anarchy, dispersion, and the consequent danger to your party and total failure of the enterprise you are hereby authorized, by any instrument signed or written in your own hand, to name the person among them who shall succeed to the command on your decease, and by like in- instruments to change the nomination from time to time as further experience of the characters accompanying you shall point out superior fitness, and all the powers and au- thorities given to yourself are in the event of your death transferred to and vested in the successor so named, with further power to him and his successors in like manner to name each his successor, who, on the death of his predeces- sor, shall be invested with all the powers and authorities given to yourself. Given under my hand at the city of Wash- ington, this twentieth day of June, 1803. Thomas Jefferson, President of the United States of America."
Leaving Pittsburg ,the party proceeded down the Ohio and went into winter quarters at the mouth of Wood River late in the fall of 1803. Here they remained until May 14, 1804, and on the 16th they reached St. Charles, a town 21 miles up the Missouri. On June 1st they reached the Osage River, 133 miles from the mouth of the Missouri. On the 26th they reached the mouth of the Kansas, 340 miles form the Mississippi. They did not reach the River Platte until the 21st of July. Capt. Lewis and his party spent much time exploring rivers which they passed, and in visiting the various tribes of Indians encamped along the
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upper Missouri. On October 27th, they reached the village of the Mandans and after being royally entertained by these Indians for several days they proceeded to build winter quarters and erect a fort for the protection of the party, which they called Fort Mandan. The winter proved very severe and the party suffered greatly with the cold. They left the fort on April 7th and proceeded onward up the Mis- souri. At the same time seven soldiers, two Frenchmen and a fur trader named M. Gravelines, started with a boat down the Missouri, with dispatches for President Jefferson.
Capt. Meriwether Lewis, in his published travels (Lon- don, 1809), says: "While we were at Fort Mandan, the Sioux robbed several of our party and murdered several of the Mandan tribe in cold blood without provocation, while reposing on the bosom of friendship. On hearing of this massacre, Capt. Clark and the greater part of us volun- teered to avenge the murder, but were deterred by not receiving succor from the Mandan warriors, who declined to avenge the outrage committed upon them. Soon after this massacre we received authentic intelligence that the Sioux had it in contemplation to murder us in the spring; but were prevented from making the attack by our threat- ening to spread the small-pox, with all its horrors, among them. The same hour which witnessed the departure of Graveline for St. Louis, also saw the main division leave Fort Mandan for the Pacific in two pirogues and six canoes. This division comprised thirty-three persons, the names of which are given in the following roster: Capt. Meriwether Lewis, U. S. A .; Capt. William Clark, U. S. A .; Sergeants John Ordway, Nathaniel Pryor and Patrick Gass; privates William Bratton, John Colter, John Collins, Peter Crusatte, Robert Frazier, Reuben Fields, Joseph Fields, George Gib- son, Silas Goodrich, Hugh Hall, Thomas P. Howard, Jean Baptiste La Page, Francis Labiche, Hugh McNeal, John Potts, John Shields, George Shannon, John B. Thompson, William Werner, Alexander Willard, Richard Windsor, Joseph Whitehouse, Peter Wiser, the negro servant York, the two interpreters, George Drewyer and Toussaint Cha-
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boneau, and the latter's wife, Sacajawea with her pappoose. The story of the journeyings of this party is thus graphi- cally related by Major Walker, in his paper on early explor- ations published in 1879: Pursuing their journey, and reach- ing the summit of the Rocky Mountains beyond the Three Thousand Mile Island on the 12th of August, 1805, where, leaving the hidden sources of the Missouri which had never yet been seen by civilized man and following a descent of three-quarters of a mile to the westward they reached a handsome bold creek of cold, clear water, where they stopped to taste for the first time the waters of the Columbia. Pursuing their tedious way on foot, transporting their goods on Indian packhorses, at times so scarce of food as to be obliged to kill horses for subsistence and to purchase Indian dogs to eat, they reached the Columbia River on the 15th of September, and on the 7th of November they enjoyed for the first time the delightful prospect of the Pacific Ocean. Wintering some few miles south of the mouth of the Colum- bia River among the Clatsop Indians, they on the 23rd of March, 1806, began their return, and, recrossing the moun- tains on July 3rd, the party divided, Capt. Lewis going northward to strike the waters of the Marias, and Capt. Clark with fifteen men and fifty horses, set off to the south- east and down to the forks of the Jefferson where the boats and merchandise had been deposited the year before. Capt. Clark's party arriving by boats and on horseback at the Three Forks of the Missouri, this party again divided and Sergeant Ordway and men set out in six canoes to descend the Missouri while Capt. Clark and ten men, and the wife and child of Chaboneau proceeded by land, with fifty horses, to the Yellowstone River, the distance traveled by Capt. Clark from the Three Forks of the Missouri to the Yellow. stone River being forty-eight miles. Capt. Lewis being joined by Sergeant Ordway's party in five canoes and the white pirogue on the 28th of July, 1806, and turning loose all their horses, embarked on the river and proceeding down the Missouri formed a junction on the 12th day of August, thirty miles below the mouth of the Yellowstone with Capt.
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Clark and party, who had come down the river. The whole command being once more all together proceeded down the Missouri, arriving at St. Louis on the 23rd of September, 1806."
Before closing the Lewis and Clark narrative I desire to call attention to two men, comprising the party, John Colter and John Potts, as their names will appear again in the history of Wyoming. When Lewis and Clark, on their return trip, reached Fort Mandan, John Colter asked to be discharged at that point and his request was granted. John Potts kept with the party and was discharged in St. Louis. In 1807 he joined the Manuel Lisa trapping expedition which went up the Missouri. This party met Colter at the mouth of the Platte when he was on his return to St. Louis. Lisa urged him to return to the mountains with his party and thus it was that he and John Potts again became asso- ciates in adventures in the Rocky Mountains. The name of Colter has become famous in western explorations and his deeds of daring are worthy of the early heroes of the Stony Mountains. The chapter I devote to him proves that he is the first American explorer to enter Wyoming.
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