Day-by-Day / July 9, 1803

July 9, 1803

Cushing's instructions

In Frederick, Maryland, Inspector General Thomas Cushing gives Lewis instructions for the soldiers that will accompany him down the Ohio. Lewis travels somewhere between Brucetown and Gainesboro, Virginia—the area he was a lieutenant in the Virginia State Militia during the Whiskey Rebellion.

Thomas Humphrey Cushing (1799)

by James Peale (1749-1831)

Portrait of Thomas Humphry Cushing in military uniform

Watercolor on ivory. 3 x 2 3/8 (framed oval original). Courtesy Indianapolis Museum of Art, gift of Josiah K. Lilly, Jr., Accession number 57.147.

Thomas Humphrey Cushing (1755–1822) served as Adjutant and Inspector General for many years. He was promoted to Brigadier General during the War of 1812.[1]“Thomas Humphrey Cushing,” Wikipedia accessed 11 June 2022, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Humphrey_Cushing

Lewis’s Ohio River Detachment

Inspectors Office Fredk. Town (Md.) 9th July 1803

Sir,

I take the liberty of enclosing sundry letters for Officers to the Westward to which I request your attention, and also a descriptive list & account of the party orders to attend you from Pittsburgh.

Should any casualties happen in this party, I beg of you to note them on the list . . . .

That your expedition may be pleasant to yourself and advantageous to our Country; and when its toils and dangers are ober, that you may enjoy many years of happiness, prosperity and honor, is the sincere wish of Sire, Your most obdt. Servt.[2]Thomas H. Cushing to Lewis in Letters of the Lewis and Clark Expedition with Related Documents: 1783-1854, 2nd ed., ed. Donald Jackson (Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1978), 107.

The soldiers assigned to Lewis between Pittsburgh and Fort Massac were likely ultimately bound for Fort Adams which prior to the Louisiana’s Purchase, was the port of entry between Spanish Western Florida and the Mississippi Territory.

Lewis and the Whiskey Rebellion

On his way from Harpers Ferry to Pittsburgh, Lewis likely passes through Winchester, Virginia. In 1794, he wrote to his mother Lucy Marks, describing his time there as a soldier in the Virginia Militia.

Dear Mother

Headquarters Winchester

We arrived on the evening of the twenty third without any thing more material than will general occur in camp. where we had the pleasure of seeing our two Generals Matthews [Mathews] and Darke the former of which is this morning—— in marching orders with the first two redgments that march destined for fort Cumberland and I now write with the sound of his paraid in my year. They have been here about nine or ten days at this school if I may term it so where they have been well equipped, tutored and now cut a most martial figure. we shall this day draw all our accutraments and receive our first lesson. We have mountains of Beef and oceans of Whiskey and I feel myself able to share it with [the] heartiest fellow in camp. I had last night the pleasure of suping with all my acquaintances in Capt Randolph’s campainy, they are all well except himself.

Remember me to all the girls and tell them that they must give me joy today, as I am to be married to heavyest musquit in the Magazeen. also to Rubin and the children and believe me as well abroad as at home, your most affectionate son

Meriwether Lewis

October the 4th 1794[3]“Letter signed Meriwether Lewis, Headquarters Winchester, to Mother, Mrs. Lucy Marks, Albemarle, October 4, 1794,” Missouri Historical Society, Online Collections A0897-25597. … Continue reading

William Darke (1736–1801) was the elected brigadier general of the Virginia militia and Thomas Mathews (1742–1812) was likely an officer in the state militia. The latter was also a prominent Free Mason, perhaps influencing Lewis’s decision to become a Mason in 1796.[4]“William Darke, Dictionary of Virginia Biography, Library of Virginia, www.lva.virginia.gov/public/dvb/bio.php?b=Darke_William accessed 24 November 2022; J. D. Harris, “General Thomas … Continue reading

 

Notes

Notes
↑1 “Thomas Humphrey Cushing,” Wikipedia accessed 11 June 2022, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Humphrey_Cushing
↑2 Thomas H. Cushing to Lewis in Letters of the Lewis and Clark Expedition with Related Documents: 1783-1854, 2nd ed., ed. Donald Jackson (Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1978), 107.
↑3 “Letter signed Meriwether Lewis, Headquarters Winchester, to Mother, Mrs. Lucy Marks, Albemarle, October 4, 1794,” Missouri Historical Society, Online Collections A0897-25597. mohistory.org/collections/item/A0897-00004
↑4 “William Darke, Dictionary of Virginia Biography, Library of Virginia, www.lva.virginia.gov/public/dvb/bio.php?b=Darke_William accessed 24 November 2022; J. D. Harris, “General Thomas Mathews,” Virginia Law Register, Vol. VII, No 3, July, 1901.

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).