Sgt. Floyd's Bluff
Journal 2006 09 04
Sgt. Floyd's Bluff
“I rose at the usial hour found all the party as wet as rain could make them.” Captain Clark had a good night's sleep in a dry tent. Captain Clark then asked to purchase tobacco for his men from Mr. Aird. “...as we were in want of Some tobacco I purposed to Mr. Airs to furnish us with 4 Carrots for which we would Pay the amount to any Merchant of St. Louis he very readily agreed to furnish us with tobacco and gave to each man as much as it is necessary for them to use between this and St. Louis, an instance of Generossity for which every man of the party appears to acknowledge.”
“Mr. Airs also insisted on our accepting a barrel of flour, we gave to this gentleman what Corn we Could Spear amounting to about 6 bushels, this Corn was well Calculated for his purpose as he was about to make his establishment and would have it in his power to hull the Corn & The flower was very acceptable to us. we have yet a little flour part of what we carried up from the Illinois as high as Maria's river and buried it there untill our return...”
Freely giving, freely receiving. Something special was going on between these travelers headed in opposite directions. The soldiers were glad to have tobacco and the traders were grateful to learn of the dangers and that might lie ahead. I pray we still show the same hospitality today. The two parties set out in opposite directions at 8:00AM.
“...at 11 A. M. passed the Enterance of the big Sieoux River which is low, and at meridian we came too at Floyds Bluff below the Enterance of Floyds river and assended the hill,...” Can't you picture the men somberly ascending the river bank and then the bluff to the grave markers they had constructed in August of 1804 for their “beloved” Sgt. Floyd. Floyd was the only “casualty” of the Corps of Discovery. Medical experts think he most probably died from a ruptured appendix. As the men approached the grave to pay their respects they found “the grave had been opened by the nativs and left half Covered. we had this grave Completely filled up, and returned to the Canoes and proceeded on to the Sand bar on which we encamped from the 12th to the 20th of August 1804...” Can you imagine the thoughts passing through the minds of these men? More than one must have wondered when they buried Floyd if any of them would ever live long enough to return and visit his grave. Most were probably angry that his grave had been desecrated. And I'm hoping all the party was feeling grateful to God that they were returning from their mission whole.
I have other thoughts in my mind for us today, but I want to stop right here with that last sentence. Have I, have any of us, arrived at a place that requires reflection over our accomplishments? What is the reply of my heart? Do I acknowledge my God and His sovereign care over me and my compatriots or do I grumble and complain about the hardships endured? I hope I would stand in front of that gravemarker inscribed with the name of Jesus Christ, Messiah, King of the Jews, Savior and be grateful that I am alive and blessed to transverse the unknown. No more reflection is needed at a moment like this. Grateful to be alive is enough for today. And I am grateful to count myself in the land of the living this day. It, like pain, reminds me I am alive and that God is not through with me yet!
Proceed on.
Sgt. Floyd's Bluff
“I rose at the usial hour found all the party as wet as rain could make them.” Captain Clark had a good night's sleep in a dry tent. Captain Clark then asked to purchase tobacco for his men from Mr. Aird. “...as we were in want of Some tobacco I purposed to Mr. Airs to furnish us with 4 Carrots for which we would Pay the amount to any Merchant of St. Louis he very readily agreed to furnish us with tobacco and gave to each man as much as it is necessary for them to use between this and St. Louis, an instance of Generossity for which every man of the party appears to acknowledge.”
“Mr. Airs also insisted on our accepting a barrel of flour, we gave to this gentleman what Corn we Could Spear amounting to about 6 bushels, this Corn was well Calculated for his purpose as he was about to make his establishment and would have it in his power to hull the Corn & The flower was very acceptable to us. we have yet a little flour part of what we carried up from the Illinois as high as Maria's river and buried it there untill our return...”
Freely giving, freely receiving. Something special was going on between these travelers headed in opposite directions. The soldiers were glad to have tobacco and the traders were grateful to learn of the dangers and that might lie ahead. I pray we still show the same hospitality today. The two parties set out in opposite directions at 8:00AM.
“...at 11 A. M. passed the Enterance of the big Sieoux River which is low, and at meridian we came too at Floyds Bluff below the Enterance of Floyds river and assended the hill,...” Can't you picture the men somberly ascending the river bank and then the bluff to the grave markers they had constructed in August of 1804 for their “beloved” Sgt. Floyd. Floyd was the only “casualty” of the Corps of Discovery. Medical experts think he most probably died from a ruptured appendix. As the men approached the grave to pay their respects they found “the grave had been opened by the nativs and left half Covered. we had this grave Completely filled up, and returned to the Canoes and proceeded on to the Sand bar on which we encamped from the 12th to the 20th of August 1804...” Can you imagine the thoughts passing through the minds of these men? More than one must have wondered when they buried Floyd if any of them would ever live long enough to return and visit his grave. Most were probably angry that his grave had been desecrated. And I'm hoping all the party was feeling grateful to God that they were returning from their mission whole.
I have other thoughts in my mind for us today, but I want to stop right here with that last sentence. Have I, have any of us, arrived at a place that requires reflection over our accomplishments? What is the reply of my heart? Do I acknowledge my God and His sovereign care over me and my compatriots or do I grumble and complain about the hardships endured? I hope I would stand in front of that gravemarker inscribed with the name of Jesus Christ, Messiah, King of the Jews, Savior and be grateful that I am alive and blessed to transverse the unknown. No more reflection is needed at a moment like this. Grateful to be alive is enough for today. And I am grateful to count myself in the land of the living this day. It, like pain, reminds me I am alive and that God is not through with me yet!
Proceed on.
posted by @2007 Dick Cinkovich | 10:56 PM
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