Reunited
Journal 2006 08 12
Reunited
“…my wounds felt very stiff and soar this morning but gave me no considerable pain. there was much less inflamation than I had reason to apprehend there would be. I had last evening applyed a poltice of peruvian barks” Meriwether Lewis acting as his own physician and medic reports the condition of his wound.
July 1, 1806 the Captains put in motion a decision thought out through their wet winter on the Pacific Coast. They asked for volunteers to go overland with Captain Lewis and the balance of the men would accompany Captain Clark down the Yellowstone River. Today, forty seven days later, Meriwether Lewis records his rejoining of the main force. “Being anxious to overtake Capt. Clark who from the appearance of his camps could be at no great distance before me, we set out early and proceeded with all possible expedition at 8 A. M. the bowsman informed me that there was a canoe and a camp he beleived of whitemen on the N. E. shore. I directed the perogue and canoes to come too at this place and found it to be the camp of two hunters from the Illinois by name Joseph Dickson and Forest Hancock. these men informed me that Capt. C. had passed them about noon the day before… I gave them a short discription of the Missouri, a list of distances to the most conspicuous streams and remarkable places on the river above and pointed out to them the places where the beaver most abounded. I also gave them a file and a couple of pounds of powder with some lead. these were articles which they assured me they were in great want of. I remained with these men an hour and a half when I took leave of them and proceeded. <at one OCK in the> while I halted with these men Colter and Collins who seperated from us on the 3rd ist. rejoined us. they were well no accedent having happened. they informed me that after proceeding the first day and not overtaking us that they had concluded that we were behind and had delayed several days in waiting for us and had thus been unable to join us untill the present momet. So the first joining is by Colter and Collins who were waiting for Lewis not knowing Lewis and party were anxiously awaiting them.
“…at 1 P. M. I overtook Capt. Clark and party and had the pleasure of finding them all well.” What relief there must have been in both camps! Captain Clark sent Private Shannon back to last nights camp to retrieve the tomahawk he left behind. It is no coincidence that Shannon and Gibson, who Clark sent with him, meet Lewis and his party in the process. Can you imagine the good natured conversation that must have occurred between these young soldiers after they realized every one was safely accounted for short of Lewis’ wound? “Hey Captain Clark, look what we found floating down the river like lost little kittens!?!” “Hoorah, Captain Lewis, why does the cavalry always have to come rescue these sailors who lose there tools?”
After checking out Lewis’ wound the parties find a good camp with fewer mosquitoes and get to trading the exploits of each camp over the past seven weeks. Regarding the accidental shooting Clark goes a step further in exonerating Cruzatte from any wrong-doing. “This Crusat is near Sighted and has the use of but one eye, he is an attentive industerous man and one whome we both have placed the greatest Confidence in dureing the whole route.—“
Before noting details about a type of cherry that caught his attention Lewis enters into his journal, “…as wrighting in my present situation is extreemly painfull to me I shall desist untill I recover and leave to my frind Capt. C. the continuation of our journal.”
Knowing the personality of Meriwether Lewis should it surprise us that he finds his friend, receives a report, recognizes his condition, breathes a sigh of relief and determines that his friend and co-leader will record their exploits over the balance of the journey?
The expedition’s activity will change greatly as the force is once again at full strength intent on completing their mission and informing their leaders and the nation of their discoveries and well being.
I can close my eyes and see in his wounded condition a relieved Meriwether Lewis expel all the air held in his lungs and with it all his worry and anxiety as he whispers the line penned by King Solomon centuries before, “Endings are better than beginnings. Sticking to it is better than standing out.”
Proceed on.
Reunited
“…my wounds felt very stiff and soar this morning but gave me no considerable pain. there was much less inflamation than I had reason to apprehend there would be. I had last evening applyed a poltice of peruvian barks” Meriwether Lewis acting as his own physician and medic reports the condition of his wound.
July 1, 1806 the Captains put in motion a decision thought out through their wet winter on the Pacific Coast. They asked for volunteers to go overland with Captain Lewis and the balance of the men would accompany Captain Clark down the Yellowstone River. Today, forty seven days later, Meriwether Lewis records his rejoining of the main force. “Being anxious to overtake Capt. Clark who from the appearance of his camps could be at no great distance before me, we set out early and proceeded with all possible expedition at 8 A. M. the bowsman informed me that there was a canoe and a camp he beleived of whitemen on the N. E. shore. I directed the perogue and canoes to come too at this place and found it to be the camp of two hunters from the Illinois by name Joseph Dickson and Forest Hancock. these men informed me that Capt. C. had passed them about noon the day before… I gave them a short discription of the Missouri, a list of distances to the most conspicuous streams and remarkable places on the river above and pointed out to them the places where the beaver most abounded. I also gave them a file and a couple of pounds of powder with some lead. these were articles which they assured me they were in great want of. I remained with these men an hour and a half when I took leave of them and proceeded. <at one OCK in the> while I halted with these men Colter and Collins who seperated from us on the 3rd ist. rejoined us. they were well no accedent having happened. they informed me that after proceeding the first day and not overtaking us that they had concluded that we were behind and had delayed several days in waiting for us and had thus been unable to join us untill the present momet. So the first joining is by Colter and Collins who were waiting for Lewis not knowing Lewis and party were anxiously awaiting them.
“…at 1 P. M. I overtook Capt. Clark and party and had the pleasure of finding them all well.” What relief there must have been in both camps! Captain Clark sent Private Shannon back to last nights camp to retrieve the tomahawk he left behind. It is no coincidence that Shannon and Gibson, who Clark sent with him, meet Lewis and his party in the process. Can you imagine the good natured conversation that must have occurred between these young soldiers after they realized every one was safely accounted for short of Lewis’ wound? “Hey Captain Clark, look what we found floating down the river like lost little kittens!?!” “Hoorah, Captain Lewis, why does the cavalry always have to come rescue these sailors who lose there tools?”
After checking out Lewis’ wound the parties find a good camp with fewer mosquitoes and get to trading the exploits of each camp over the past seven weeks. Regarding the accidental shooting Clark goes a step further in exonerating Cruzatte from any wrong-doing. “This Crusat is near Sighted and has the use of but one eye, he is an attentive industerous man and one whome we both have placed the greatest Confidence in dureing the whole route.—“
Before noting details about a type of cherry that caught his attention Lewis enters into his journal, “…as wrighting in my present situation is extreemly painfull to me I shall desist untill I recover and leave to my frind Capt. C. the continuation of our journal.”
Knowing the personality of Meriwether Lewis should it surprise us that he finds his friend, receives a report, recognizes his condition, breathes a sigh of relief and determines that his friend and co-leader will record their exploits over the balance of the journey?
The expedition’s activity will change greatly as the force is once again at full strength intent on completing their mission and informing their leaders and the nation of their discoveries and well being.
I can close my eyes and see in his wounded condition a relieved Meriwether Lewis expel all the air held in his lungs and with it all his worry and anxiety as he whispers the line penned by King Solomon centuries before, “Endings are better than beginnings. Sticking to it is better than standing out.”
Proceed on.
posted by @2007 Dick Cinkovich | 12:03 PM
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