The Corps of Discovery
The Corps of Discovery was led by co-captians, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. They conducted the expedition of the "Permanent Party" consisting of 31 other persons. Twenty nine of the thirty three were
active participants in the Corps’ organizational development, recruitment and training at its 1803 through 1804 winter staging area at Camp Dubois, Illinois Territory. In the spring of 1806, they set out downriver aboard a keelboat. All members were hand selected and Lewis was chosen by President Jefferson himself. Lewis enlisted the help of his friend Clark to accompany him on the voyage.
On January 15 in 1807 praising and presenting gratitude towards the members of the Corps of Discovery, Lewis wrote, "With rispect to all those persons whose names are entered on this roll, I feel a peculiar pleasure in declaring, that the Ample support which they gave me under every difficulty; the manly firmness which they evinced on every necessary occasion; and the patience and fortitude with which they submited to, and bore, the fatigues and painful sufferings incident to my late tour to the Pacific Ocean, entitles them to my warmest approbation and thanks; nor will I suppress the expression of a hope, that the recollection of services thus faithfully performed will meet a just reward in an ample remuneration on the party of our Government.” – Meriwether Lewis, Captain
This page was created by Brielle Powers.