In a letter to his brother, Clark says that the captains arrived at Fort Kaskaskia on this date and selected twelve new recruits. They also learn that the Spanish Governor of Upper Louisiana intends to stop the expedition from going up the Missouri.
Spain to Block Expedition
December 16th 1803
[H]ere we was informed that the Lieut. Govr. of upper Louisiana intended to Stop us (at this place we let our rout be known) this information made it necessary for one of us to go on to St. Louis by land without delay — my being to weak too ride that far Capt. Lewis deturmined to proceed on, Shew his Vouchers and do away any Obstruction.
WM CLARK[1]James J. Holmberg, ed. Dear Brother: Letters of William Clark to Jonathan Clark (New Haven: Yale University Press, 2002), 61.
Above: George Drouillard casually observes as a Spanish soldier—dressed in white—has a discussion with Meriwether Lewis. For more, see Spanish Opposition and Louisiana’s Political Geography. The Spanish lieutenant governor was Dehault Delassus.
Kaskaskia Recruits
We arrived at Kaskaskees on the 29th & Selected 12 men for our party, I made Some arrangement for our winters Provisions, during this time I had very Comfartable quarters with Capt. Stodard [Amos Stoddard], and a Mr. Wm. Morrison a merchant of that place, —
WM CLARK[2]Ibid.
The men known to be selected at Kaskaskia:
Clark’s Relief
December 16th 1803
after a fiew days of telerable health, I was again attacked with a violent Pain in the Sumock & bowels, with great Obstruction in those parts, which Could not be removed untill I arrived at Kaskaskees which was Eleven Days, at that place I precured Some Allow [Aloe] which gave me relief.
WM CLARK[3]Ibid.
Notes
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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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