News Report
Journal 2006 09 03
News Report
It has been over two years since the Corps of Discovery has received any news regarding the United States.
It is storm season in the Midwest. The men have no home or shelter to retreat to when thunder, lightning, high winds and rain pummel them. Last night was rough on them because of it. They camped on a sand bar hoping to avoid the ever “troublesome” mosquitos only to see the wind shift “...last night to the S. W. and blew the Sand over us in Such a manner as to render the after part of the night very disagreeable.” During a morning lull in the storm the explorers set out for the day. Around 4:00PM “...spy two boats and several men...” led by a Scotsman holding a permit from the United States Government to trade with the Sioux for one year. This Scotsman, James Aird, presents himself as an American to the Indians. He was one of the founders of Wisconsin and later worked as a British agent during the War of 1812. He lived the balance of his life in Wisconsin. Today he is sick with “the agu” which I believe is the flu. He greets the Captains and men warmly and in friendship. He has lost one boat laden with trading goods already during a storm.
Camp is set up as another violent storm breaks. Clark records that he is invited into Mr. Aird's tent of which he “partook” and found it dry.
Clark records, “our first enquirey was after the President of our country and then our friends and the State of the politicks of our country &c. and the State Indian affairs to all of which enquireys Mr. Aires gave us as Satisfactory information as he had it in his power to have Collected in the Illinois which was not a great deel.” Aird then gives the Corps their first news report in two years. The list surprised me because so much of it is recorded and familiar to us yet today.
First is news of their host and friend in St. Louis losing his house and possessions to fire.
Revolutionary War General Wilkinson has been appointed Governor of Missouri.
Three hundred U.S. soldiers are stationed near St. Louis in preparation for any Spanish military attacks after a U.S. vessel is fired upon by Spain in the Mediterranean.
Two British ships fire upon an American ship in New York harbor. This is one of several incidents leading up to the War of 1812.
“Mr. Burr & genl. Hambleton fought a Duel, the latter was killed” (in Clark's words and spelling!)
And finally, two Indians had been hung for murder with a third receiving a last minute commutation indicating a rapidly growing problem with whites and Indians as the nations clashed along the western edge of the swelling United States.
“Dr.” Clark adds to his medical chart regarding his patient Lewis, “I am happy to find that my worthy friend Capt L's is so well as to walk about with ease to himself...”
While not directly stated here, you'll notice that the first inquiry is to the political scene and the Presidential election. Meriwether Lewis' life would be greatly affected by who won the election of 1806. As it is today it was two hundred years ago. Friends in high places can do great good to an individual. And the converse is still true. Enemies in high places can do great harm to an individual. We will touch on this concept later as it applies to Lewis post mission.
“...a good report makes the bones fat.” Proverbs 15:30 (MKJV) William Clark slept in a dry tent after hearing a good report. Like Solomon said in this proverb centuries before, Clark had to feel as contented as if he had just finished a great meal. From yesterday's journal record we learn that the men stopped during a lull in the storm and took six fat buffalo cows. It is safe to deduce that William Clark had both a great meal of fat buffalo meat and a heartful of good news and slept like a baby for the first time in a long time.
Proceed on.
News Report
It has been over two years since the Corps of Discovery has received any news regarding the United States.
It is storm season in the Midwest. The men have no home or shelter to retreat to when thunder, lightning, high winds and rain pummel them. Last night was rough on them because of it. They camped on a sand bar hoping to avoid the ever “troublesome” mosquitos only to see the wind shift “...last night to the S. W. and blew the Sand over us in Such a manner as to render the after part of the night very disagreeable.” During a morning lull in the storm the explorers set out for the day. Around 4:00PM “...spy two boats and several men...” led by a Scotsman holding a permit from the United States Government to trade with the Sioux for one year. This Scotsman, James Aird, presents himself as an American to the Indians. He was one of the founders of Wisconsin and later worked as a British agent during the War of 1812. He lived the balance of his life in Wisconsin. Today he is sick with “the agu” which I believe is the flu. He greets the Captains and men warmly and in friendship. He has lost one boat laden with trading goods already during a storm.
Camp is set up as another violent storm breaks. Clark records that he is invited into Mr. Aird's tent of which he “partook” and found it dry.
Clark records, “our first enquirey was after the President of our country and then our friends and the State of the politicks of our country &c. and the State Indian affairs to all of which enquireys Mr. Aires gave us as Satisfactory information as he had it in his power to have Collected in the Illinois which was not a great deel.” Aird then gives the Corps their first news report in two years. The list surprised me because so much of it is recorded and familiar to us yet today.
First is news of their host and friend in St. Louis losing his house and possessions to fire.
Revolutionary War General Wilkinson has been appointed Governor of Missouri.
Three hundred U.S. soldiers are stationed near St. Louis in preparation for any Spanish military attacks after a U.S. vessel is fired upon by Spain in the Mediterranean.
Two British ships fire upon an American ship in New York harbor. This is one of several incidents leading up to the War of 1812.
“Mr. Burr & genl. Hambleton fought a Duel, the latter was killed” (in Clark's words and spelling!)
And finally, two Indians had been hung for murder with a third receiving a last minute commutation indicating a rapidly growing problem with whites and Indians as the nations clashed along the western edge of the swelling United States.
“Dr.” Clark adds to his medical chart regarding his patient Lewis, “I am happy to find that my worthy friend Capt L's is so well as to walk about with ease to himself...”
While not directly stated here, you'll notice that the first inquiry is to the political scene and the Presidential election. Meriwether Lewis' life would be greatly affected by who won the election of 1806. As it is today it was two hundred years ago. Friends in high places can do great good to an individual. And the converse is still true. Enemies in high places can do great harm to an individual. We will touch on this concept later as it applies to Lewis post mission.
“...a good report makes the bones fat.” Proverbs 15:30 (MKJV) William Clark slept in a dry tent after hearing a good report. Like Solomon said in this proverb centuries before, Clark had to feel as contented as if he had just finished a great meal. From yesterday's journal record we learn that the men stopped during a lull in the storm and took six fat buffalo cows. It is safe to deduce that William Clark had both a great meal of fat buffalo meat and a heartful of good news and slept like a baby for the first time in a long time.
Proceed on.
posted by @2007 Dick Cinkovich | 6:46 PM
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