land, but persisting in his efforts to explore the Pacific Coast, armed with passports from the Russian Government, procured through Thomas Jefferson, then United States minister to France, Ledyard, in 1786, left St. Petersburg, intending to go by land to Kamschatka, cross on one of the Russian vessels to Nootka Sound, enter the latitude of the Missouri, and penetrate through to the United States; departing on his journey with full assurance of protection while passing through Russian territory. Two hundred miles from Kamschatka, he went into winter quarters, and while preparing for his journey the next spring, he was arrested February 24, 1788, by an officer of the Russian Government, and, forbidden to proceed on his explorations, was conveyed by day and night in a closed carriage direct to Poland, where he was released and given to understand that if again found in Russian territory, he would be hanged. Broken in health and spirits, he died in Cairo, Egypt, January 17, 1789, at the age of thirty-eight. Many extracts from his letters to Jefferson have been published. In 1792, Thomas Jefferson, then secretary of state in the cabinet of George Washington, President of the United States, proposed to the American Philosophical Society a subscription to engage some competent person to explore Louisiana, by ascending the Missouri River, crossing the mountains and descending to the Pacific Coast, as Lewis and Clark finally did. Capt. Meriwether Lewis of the First United States Infantry, then stationed at Charlottesville, Va., on recruiting service solicited his selection for this service. He was to be accompanied by a single person only, and Andre Michaux, a distinguished French botanist, received the appointment. They went as far as Kentucky, when the French minister recalled Michaux, on the plea that his services were required elsewhere by his government in botanical research. Thus a second attempt to explore Louisiana failed. THE UNITED STATES IN THE PURCHASE OF LOUISIANA In 1801 Thomas Jefferson was inaugurated President of the United States. Spain had ceded Louisiana back to France and Napoleon Bonaparte was preparing to defend it against the whole world, but the war clouds of Europe were threatening. Spain had denied to the United States rights previously enjoyed in Louisiana and there was dissatisfaction with France through her attitude in the Floridas. The Mississippi was practically closed to the United States. A proposition had been submitted to the United States Congress, to appropriate $5,000,000, and send an army of. 50,000 men to seize the mouth of the Mississippi River. Robert R. Livingston, United States minister to France, was in Paris, endeavoring to arrange the matter amicably with the French. He was joined by James Monroe, of Virginia, commissioned to assist in the work, in whose hands the sum of $2,000,000 was placed to secure the cession of New Orleans and the Floridas. While these negotiations were pending with no apparent likelihood of success, President Jefferson had proposed to Congress that an expedition be sent to trace the Missouri River to its source, crossing the highlands, and following the best water communication to the Pacific Ocean. Congress had made this appropriation, and Captain Lewis, who was then President Jefferson's private secretary, had been chosen to carry the plan into effect. Suddenly Napoleon's policy changed and he demanded the United States take not only New Orleans and the Floridas, but the whole of Louisiana, and the price finally agreed upon was 80,000,000 francs (about fifteen million dollars) the French commissioners insisting, however, that the compact must be signed and sealed without delay. The envoys assumed the responsibility and completed the treaty, which was ratified by a vote of twenty-four to seven in the United States Senate, October 20, 1803. The purchase price included 20,000,000 francs for the payment of the debts of the Louisiana Province which the United States assumed. The total expense of the purchase up to June 20, 1880, was $27,267,621. The population of the province at the time of the purchase did not exceed 90,000. With the conclusion of the treaty, Napoleon, who realized that he must lose this vast possession, was happy in the thought that it would not fall to England, and that he was free to attack that nationality in another direction. Greatness had been "thrust upon" our country. Jefferson was perplexed, for he did not believe that the constitution warranted this transaction. The opposition stormed and ridiculed. The East was bitter in its opposition, but those who were pushing their way westward, knew there was no longer danger of attack upon our country from the West. The South rejoiced. THE LEWIS AND CLARK EXPEDITION The instructions to Captain Lewis were signed June 20, 1803. It was not then known that Louisiana had been ceded to the United States, though such treaty was signed on the 30th of April, for the Information did not reach this country until about the first of July. There were no ocean liners in those days, no steamships, no cables to transmit news now flashed across an ocean or a continent in a moment; therefore Captain Lewis bore the passports of both the French and English ministers, the latter for use on the western part of their trip. Captain Lewis had been intimate with the Indians; he was familiar with their habits and customs, their hopes and fears, and the tender spots in their hearts, and Jefferson knew that nothing but the impossible would divert him from his purpose. He could confide in his capacity and courage, for he had known him from boyhood, and for two years had employed him as his private secretary. He caused him to take special instruction on scientific subjects and to make other needful preparation for his work. His instructions required him. to study the soil and climate, the topography, the inhabitants, etc., and urged upon him the importance of extending to the Indians the most friendly treat ment. July 5, 1803, Captain Lewis left Washington, proceeding to Pittsburgh, and reaching St. Louis in December of the same year, spent the winter in further preparation for work, at the mouth of Wood River on the east side of the Mississippi River, outside of the jurisdiction of the Spanish officers. William Clark, a younger brother of Gen. George Rogers Clark, was associated with Captain Lewis. He had been in the regular army, had resigned on account of ill health, and had served as a captain of militia. His rank on the expedition was second lieutenant of artillery until January 31, 1806, when he was promoted first lieutenant. He was promised, however, before undertaking the expedition the rank of captain of engineers, and was to have equal rank and authority with Captain Lewis. He was so recognized by Captain Lewis. His official signature was captain of engineers. In addition to Captain Lewis and Captain Clark, the party consisted of fourteen picked men from the United States army-born and bred among the dangers and difficulties incident to frontier life, nine young men from Kentucky, two French watermen, an interpreter, a hunter and the colored servant of Captain Clark, named "York," also, a corporal and six men and nine watermen, who were to return when they reached the Mandan nation. Their means of transportation was a keel-boat fifty-five feet long drawing three feet of water. It carried one large square sail and twenty-two oars, and had a deck of ten feet in the bow and stern, affording cabin and forecastle. Midships it was fitted with lockers, which might be raised for breastworks in case of need. There were, also, two open boats, one of six and the other of seven oars. After spending the winter at Wood River, they broke camp May 14, 1804, at 4 P. M. and made four miles that evening, the next day making ten miles, and reached St. Charles the third day. St. Charles then had about four hundred and fifty inhabitants, relying principally for subsistence upon hunting and trade with the Indians. THE JUNE RISE IN THE MISSOURI On the 23rd they found a small American settlement at Goodman Creek, and in a few days evidently encountered the "June rise" in the Missouri River, for they speak of the cut banks of the river falling so rapidly as to force them to change their course instantly to the other side. The sand bars were shifting continuously, and the current was so strong, that it was scarcely possible to make any headway. Some days by the aid of the sail, even, it was impossible to make more than four miles. The current of the river at the time of the June rise is about seven miles an hour. The river runs nearly bank full from the melting snows in the mountains, and the heavy rains of that season, and wherever the current strikes the shore it quickly cuts away the banks, which tumble in; several rods of the bank often disappearing in one day. The water is extremely muddy, but when settled is considered perfectly pure and healthful, and is clear above the mouth of the Yellowstone River, where that stream joins the Missouri. THE ARIKARA VILLAGES Lewis and Clark arrived at the three Arikara villages about three miles above the mouth of the Grand River, October 8, 1804. The villages extended up the river about four miles, and numbered about two thousand six hundred men. The first composed of about sixty lodges, was on an island three miles in length, covered with fields of corn, beans, potatoes and squashes. The principal chiefs of the first village were Kakawissassa or Lighting Crow, Pocasse or Hay and Piaheto or Eagle's Feather. The chief of the second village was Lassel and the chief of the third village, |