Illinois Valley news., January 21, 2004, Page 12, Image 12

Page 12
Under a Gentle Breeze
During the journey
through the present day
states of Kansas and western
Missouri the river changed
course and flowed north.
Many of the mornings
Clark’s journal recorded the
boats sailed upstream, “On a
gentle breeze.” This was a
good period for the Corps.
A sense of discovery over-
came the men as they wit-
nessed new sights along the
river.
The captains were anx-
ious to meet with Indians,
who were away from the
river on summer buffalo
hunts. The weather re-
mained fair allowing the
keelboat and pirogues to
average fifteen to twenty
miles per day. Only a few
violent Midwestern thunder-
storms interrupted their pro-
gress.
Clark and the sergeants
noted the changing land-
scapes and new animals
they encountered on shore.
Several times the men
witnessed beautiful gray
wolves standing on shore
and eyeing the strangers as
they passed.
To help fill the need
for food someone in the
expedition began to fish the
river and caught channel
catfish, a slender, silver-
blue-gray color, about three
to nine feet in length, and
averaging about fifty
pounds per fish.
The animal everyone
noted in their journal entries
was the beaver. They dis-
covered the small, brown,
animal in the tributaries of
the Missouri on July 3,
1804, near present day At-
chison, Kansas.
President Jefferson
had given the explorers
strict orders to determine if
beaver were abundant along
the rivers. If so, might the
United States begin to take
some of Great Britain’s fur
trade away from them?
Today beavers are seen
infrequently along the tribu-
taries of the Missouri and
because they build dams are
considered a nuisance to
commerce.
Although some of the
crew became fond of fried
beaver tail for supper the
beaver was significant be-
cause of the current fashion
trend of wearing beaver skin
hats. The animal hides were
incredibly valuable and the
animal’s presence on the
Missouri was good news for
the economy of the region.
The pelts or skins would
provide the basis for new
fortunes.
This portion of the Mis-
souri River was part of the
western flyway for migra-
tory birds.
Clark’s diary and oth-
ers made frequent notations
of the quantity of waterfowl
they sighted as they poled
up river or walked inland to
hunt. Pelicans, wood ducks
and many geese flocked to
the Missouri side of the
river. Patrick Gass’ journal
noted the spotting of a new
kind of rat, “The principle
difference is its having hair
on its tail.” Gass had just
witnessed his first muskrat.
On July 4, 1804 the
Captains celebrated their
first Independence Day with
military honors. Volleys of
rifle fire rang across the
prairie and an extra gill of
alcohol was ordered for the
men that night. With the
help of a fiddle and clapping
hands the men celebrated
with vigor and enthusiasm.
The next morning the Corps
moved out again under a
gentle breeze.
Dave Hinze is a professional histo-
rian and tour guide. He leads tours and
presents at conferences on Lewis & Clark,
and other topics pertaining to early
American history, for the American His-
tory Education Association. For informa-
tion about this series or one of AHEA’s
many history tours you can contact Hinze
at
1-800-298-1861
or
AHEA2004@yahoo.com
Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, OR Wednesday, January 21, 2004