Day-by-Day / October 4, 1803

October 4, 1803

Traveling to Big Bone Lick

Big Bone Lick, KY[1]Because no known record exists of Lewis’s time at the diggings, we can only conjecture that he was there on this date. We do know he was in Cincinnati on 3 October 1803 and that he had left Big … Continue reading On or near this date, Lewis leaves Cincinnati for the fossil diggings. There, he expects to collect specimens to send to Thomas Jefferson. Unfortunately, the owner of the site has ordered the removal of fossils stopped. Tensions rise between Spain and the United States over the Louisiana Purchase.

Map of Big Bone Lick c. 1831

Early map of a small community connected by roads

from William Cooper’s Paper on Big Bone Lick, 1831.

William Cooper provides two early maps and a “Chronological Notice of the Explorers of Big-bone Lick” summarized here:

1739: Longueil is given bones by some Indians in his party
1765: Colonel George Croghan is first white visitor
1795: General William H. Harrison and French general Collaud, in separate parties
1804: Dr. Goforth of Cincinnati
1806: William Clark

Cooper also states little was known about the specimens collected prior to William Clark’s 1806—the year was more likely 1807—visit.[2]William Cooper, William, “Mr. Cooper’s Paper on Big-Bone Lick, Kentucky,” Monthly American Journal of Geology, &c., 1831, pages 2–3.

Big Bone Lick Specimens

Cincinnati, October 3rd 1803.

Dear Sir,

The late researches of Dr. William Goforth of this plase at that Lick, has made it a place of more interesting enquiry than formerly, I shall there seize the present moment to visit it, and set out early tomorrow morning for that purpose.

[t]he other part of the Dr.’s collection is yet at the Lick, these he informs me are much more perfect than those he shewed me, particularly the upper portion of a head . . . .

The Dr. informed me that he had been interdicted by the Agent of Mr. David Ross of Virginia, (the proprietor of the Lick) from removing these bones, as he was also from the further prosecution of his researches; he is much chagrined at this occurrence, and seems very anxious that some measures should be taken by which to induce Mr. Ross to suffer him to prosecute his enquiries.

MERIWETHER LEWIS. Capt.
1st. U.S. Regt. Infty.[3]Donald Jackson, ed. Letters of the Lewis and Clark Expedition with Related Documents: 1783-1854, 2nd ed., (Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1978), 127.

Related: Big Bone Lick | Fossils | Paleontology | Geology

Spanish Repugnance

Department of State. October 4th 1803.

The Marquis of Casa Yrujo.

SIR. I have duly received your two letters of the 4’b & 27’b Ult.88 and have laid them before the President.

The repugnance manifested in these communications on the part of his Catholic majesty to the cession of Louisiana lately made by the French Republic to the United States was as little expected, as the objections to the transaction can avail against its solidity.

. . . . .

With respect to the transaction itself by which the United States have acquired Louisiana, it would be superfluous to say more in justification of its perfect validity, than to refer to the Official communication made by Mr. Cevallos to the Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States at Madrid . . . .

“[Esta potencia] de los Estados Unidos prodra diriger se al Gobierno Frances para negocier la adquisition de territoreos que convengana su interis“

[Translation: The power of the United States will be able to address the French Government to negotiate the acquisition of territories that suit your interest]

Be pleased Sir, to accept assurances of the high respect & consideration with which I have the honor to be your most obedt. Servt.—

James Madison[4]Madison to Yrujo in Clarence E. Carter, The Territorial Papers of the United States (Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office, 1948), 9:69, digitized by Google books.

In response to Spain’s “repugnance,” the War Department made plans to meet any Spanish obstructions with military force (See October 5, 1803.)
Also related: Louisiana’s Purchase | Spanish Opposition

 

Notes

Notes
↑1 Because no known record exists of Lewis’s time at the diggings, we can only conjecture that he was there on this date. We do know he was in Cincinnati on 3 October 1803 and that he had left Big Bone Lick before Thomas Rodney arrived there on 10 October.
↑2 William Cooper, William, “Mr. Cooper’s Paper on Big-Bone Lick, Kentucky,” Monthly American Journal of Geology, &c., 1831, pages 2–3.
↑3 Donald Jackson, ed. Letters of the Lewis and Clark Expedition with Related Documents: 1783-1854, 2nd ed., (Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1978), 127.
↑4 Madison to Yrujo in Clarence E. Carter, The Territorial Papers of the United States (Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office, 1948), 9:69, digitized by Google books.

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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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).