18 January – 4 July 1803 Presidents House drawing by Jannes Hoban President Jefferson meets with Meriwether Lewis – Photo Courtesy of the White House Historical Association Walking Tour of Meriwether Lewis Sites in Philidelphia In 1803, President Thomas Jefferson was the President and no longer just providing verbal support with small amounts of finance for exploration of the Western America. The publication and public knowledge of Alexander Mackenzie’s trans-continental crossing of Canada in 1789-1793 became the catalyst that brought the President to action.(1) Using commerce as the primary reason to secure funding from Congress on 18 January 1803, planning for the expedition was fully underway.(2) Early planning considerations included, traveling to Ft. Southwest Point, present-day Kingston, TN where troops would be selected then continue overland to Nashville, TN. Lewis’ thought process went so far as to send $50.00 to Dr. (William) Dickson in Nashville for a down payment to procure boats to transport supplies and men via the Cumberland and Ohio Rivers.(3) By June Lewis had learned that qualified men could not be found at Ft. Southwest Point and securing a boat in Nashville was not a good option. He would travel by the Ohio River from Pittsburgh, PA selecting men at post along the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers.(4) While members of the Jefferson Administration were securing maps, and passports for the foreign lands to be crossed, Lewis travels to the U. S. Arsenal at Harpers Ferry to secure rifles, knives, and tomahawks, etc. Much of his time at Harpers Ferry was spent superintending the construction of an iron frame boat. He planned to cover it with animal skins where wood was unavailable for canoes in the dryer western climate. Jefferson arranged with the leading scholars and scientist in Philadelphia to provide a “crash course” for skills that Lewis would need during the expedition. Traveling through Lancaster, PA, Lewis stayed with Andrew Ellicott for instruction on using instruments to determine longitude by using a sextant, artificial horizon, and chronometer. In Philadelphia, he was tutored by Robert Patterson, professor of mathematics; Benjamin Smith Barton, author of Elements of Botany; Casper Wistar, paleontologist; and Benjamin Rush, physician. During his “idle time” Lewis secured supplies at the Schuylkill Arsenal and purchased material that included $696.00 in “Indian presents”(5) (Note, for a full list of supplies purchased in Philadelphia see: www.lewis-clark.org/article/2977 . Lewis was back in Washington by 19 June 1803, having completed the basic education skills and securing supplies. He turned his thoughts to additional leadership then wrote his friend and former ranking Army Office, William Clark.(6) This was the most important decision made during the planning. The combined strengths of the two men made the expedition successful. Clark’s response, dated 18 July 1803, was a firm “yes” to Lewis’s offer to be a co-leader. We can almost hear Lewis’ audible sigh of relief in Pittsburgh, where he was trying to get the keel boat built.(7) The combined strengths of the two Captains had been developed through life experiences with little formal education. Lewis has served and traveled between the Army Post west of the Allegheny Mountains and served and as the President’s personal secretary, a position of great importance with an unlimited opportunity to learn. Clark had traveled and served admirably during the Indian Wars of 1792-1796, attempted to sort-out the tangled financial affairs of his brother, General George Rogers Clark and made two successful commercial trips from the Falls of the Ohio to New Orleans, the east coast and back to Louisville. Clarks extensive travel and cultural experiences that included a basic understanding the French and Spanish language, and attending theater productions had elevated him to “cosmopolitan explorer” with the ability to live in the wilderness and communicate with Tribal people. William Clark was ready for the challenge when he received Lewis’ invitation to be a Co-Commander. (8)(9) Planning and equipping was complete, with only minor adjustments as the mission was carried out. Senior Leadership was selected, now it was time to select the crew and produce results. With President Jefferson’s Instructions to Lewis, dated 20 June 1803, clearly defining the mission that Lewis and Clark are about to undertake, the mission is nearly ready to launch.(10) On 2 July, Lewis wrote to his mother, Lucy Marks.(11) The letter is worthy of reading and hearing a son reassure his mother of his good health, wellbeing and safety in the coming months then turning to educational concerns for his siblings. On 4 July 1803, Thomas Jefferson personally wrote a Letter of Credit backed by the United States Government to support the expedition when it reached the Pacific Ocean and on the 5 th of July, Lewis leaves the White House on a 28 month expedition across the North American continent. Materials purchased in Philidelphia: Beads, Peace Medals, Coins, etc.
Sources
(1) Mackenzie, Alexander, Sir, The Journals of Alexander Mackenzie: Voyages from Montreal, on the River St. Laurence: Through the Continent of North America, To the Frozen and Pacific Oceans; in the Years, 1789 and 1793, Narrative Press, 2001.
(2) Jackson, Donald, Letters of the Lewis and Clark Expedition , University of Illinois Press, Urbana, 1978, Vol. I, page 10.
(3) Ibid, page 38.
(4) Ibid, page 53.
(5) Ambrose, Stephen, Undaunted Courage: Meriwether Lewis, Thomas Jefferson, and the Opening of the West , Simon & Schuster, NY, 1996, page 78.
(6) Jackson, Donald, Letters of the Lewis and Clark Expedition , University of Illinois Press, Urbana, 1978, Vol. l, page 57.
(7) Ibid, page 110.
(8) https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/1897611.pdf
(9) https://collections.shsmo.org/manuscripts/columbia/c1075
(10) Jackson, Donald, Letters of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, University of Illinois Press, Urbana, 1978, Vol. 1, page 61.
(11) Ibid, page 100.