Day-by-Day / December 16, 1803

December 16, 1803

Eight men from Tennessee

Winter Camp at Wood River, IL Clark sends Sgt. Floyd to Cahokia with letters for Lewis. Samuel Griffith, a local farmer, visits camp. In the evening, Drouillard arrives at Cahokia with eight new recruits brought from a fort in Tennessee.

New Recruits

Cahokia December 17th 1803.

Dear Captain,

Drewyer arrived here last evening from Tennissee with eight men. I do not know how they may answer on experiment but I am a little disappointed, in finding them not possessed of more of the requisite qualifications; there is not a hunter among them

M. LEWIS.[1]Lewis to Clark. Donald Jackson, ed. Letters of the Lewis and Clark Expedition with Related Documents: 1783-1854, 2nd ed. (Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1978), 144.

Letters for Lewis

Continu to raise Cabins, Sent off C Floyd to Koho [Cahokia] with Letters for Capt Lewis to put in the post office &.
William Clark

Mr. Griffith and Mr. Gilbert

Several boats pass down to day a Pierogue Came to, a Mr Saml Griffeth good farmer who Lives 9 miles up the Misouris & a Mr. [Martin? Charles?] Gilbert a Trader in Salt
—William Clark

 

Notes

Notes
1 Lewis to Clark. Donald Jackson, ed. Letters of the Lewis and Clark Expedition with Related Documents: 1783-1854, 2nd ed. (Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1978), 144.

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.