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Members of the Expedition
Privates

Private John Boley (Dates Unknown)
Pennsylvania
First Infantry

Recruited at Fort Kaskaskia from Captain Russell Bissell's company of the First Infantry Regiment, Boley had some disciplinary problems at Camp River Dubois and was designated for the return party. He later accompanied Zebulon Pike's expedition to the upper Mississippi in 1805, and continued with Pike to the southwest and the Rockies in 1806.

 

Private William Bratton (1778-1841)
Virginia / Kentucky

One of the "Nine Young Men from Kentucky," Bratton served the expedition as a hunter, blacksmith, and gunsmith. In the spring of 1806, he was incapacitated for several weeks by a mysterious back ailment, perhaps the longest period of serious illness experienced by any member of the Corps of Discovery. An Indiana sweat bath finally cured Bratton. After the expedition he served in the War of 1812.

 

Private John Collins (?-1823)
Maryland
First Infantry

Collins was recruited at Fort Kaskaskia from Captain Russell Bissell's company of the First Infantry Regiment. He was a good hunter, but was frequently drunk and disobedient. He was court-martialed for stealing whiskey from the official supply while detailed to guard it. He received 100 lashes for his misconduct.

 

Private John Colter (1775-1813)
Virginia / Kentucky

One of the "Nine Young Men from Kentucky, " Colter was an excellent hunter and woodsman. On the return trip, he requested permission to leave the expedition at the Mandan villages so he could join a trapping party heading back up the Missouri River. He apparently became the first white man to see the region of present-day Yellowstone Park.

 

Private Pierre Cruzatte (Dates Unknown)

Half French and half Omaha Indian, Cruzatte was master boatman and fiddle player. Unlike the contract French boatmen, he and Francois Labiche were enlisted members of the expedition's permanent party. Blind in one eye and nearsighted in the other, Cruzatte accidentally shot Lewis while the two were hunting in August 1806. Lewis later paid tribute to Cruzatte's experience as a riverman and to his integrity. His fiddle playing often entertained the Corps of Discovery.

 

Private John Dame (1784 - ?)
New Hampshire
Regiment of Artillery

Recruited at Fort Kaskaskia from Captain Amos Stoddard's artillery company, Dame is mentioned only once in the journals. He was a member of the return party

 

Private Joseph Field (1772-1807)
Private Reubin Field (1771-1823?)
Virginia / Kentucky

The Field brothers were two of the "Nine Young Men from Kentucky, " They were among the best shots and hunters in the Corps of Discovery and, with George Drouillard, accompanied the captains on special reconnaissance missions. Both were with Lewis in the fight with the Blackfeet on July 17, 1806.

 

Private Robert Frazer (? - 1837)
Virginia

There is no information on when Frazer joined the expedition or if he had previously been in the Army. He was not a first part of the permanent party, but was transferred from the intended return party on October 8, 1804, to replace Moses Reed after the latter's expulsion. Frazer kept a journal and received special permission from the captains to publish it. But the publication never took place and the journal is apparently lost. Frazer's map of the expedition has survived.

 

Private George Gibson (? - 1809)
Pennsylvania / Kentucky

Another of the "Nine Young Men from Kentucky," Gibson was a good hunter and on occasion played the fiddle for the Corps of Discovery. He served as an interpreter, most likely through sign language.

 

Private Silas Goodrich (Dates Unknown)
Massachusetts

The place Goodrich joined the expedition is not known, nor is there information regarding any prior military service he may have had. But he was one of the finest fishermen of the Corps of Discovery. After the expedition, Goodrich re-enlisted in the Army.

 

Private Hugh Hall (1772- ?)
Massachusetts
Second Infantry

Recruited at South West Point from Captain John Campbell's company of the Second Infantry Regiment, Hall was court-martialed with Collins for tapping into the official whiskey ration and getting drunk.

 

Private Thomas Howard (1779- ?)
Massachusetts
Second Infantry

Recruited at South West Point from Captain John Campbell's company of the Second Infantry Regiment, Howard was the last member of the expedition court-martialed when he climbed over one of the walls of Fort Mandan after the gate had been closed. He was found guilty of "pernicious example" to the Indians, by showing them that the fort wall was easily scaled.

 

Private François Labiche (Dates Unknown)

Recruited at Fort Kaskaskia, Labiche was an enlisted member of the expedition, not a hired boatman. Like Cruzatte, he was an experienced boatman and Indian trader. He also spoke English, French, and several Indian languages. Lewis noted his services as an interpreter, recommending that he receive a bonus. Labiche accompanied Lewis to Washington after the expedition to interpret for the Indian chiefs.

 

Private John Baptiste Lepage (Dates Unknown)

Recruited at Fort Mandan, Lepage was a French-Canadian fur trader.

 

Private Hugh McNeal (Dates Unknown)
Pennsylvania

McNeal may have been in the Army prior to joining the expedition on April 1, 1804. A man with that name was on the Army rolls as late as 1811.

 

Private John Newman (1785-1838)
Pennsylvania
First Infantry

Recruited at Fort Massac from Captain Daniel Bissell's company of the First Infantry Regiment, Newman was expelled from the expedition following his court-martial for "having uttered repeated expressions of a highly criminal and mutinous nature." He remained with the expedition doing hard labor until sent back with the return party to St. Louis in April 1805.

 

Private John Potts (1776-1808?)
Germany
Second Infantry

Recruited at South West Point from Captain Robert Purdy's company of the Second Infantry Regiment, Potts was a miller by trade. Following the expedition, he joined Manuel Lisa's fur-trading venture to the upper Missouri and, with his friend John Colter, was ambushed by Blackfeet near the Three Forks of the Missouri. Potts was killed and Colter narrowly escaped.

 

Private Moses Reed (Dates Unknown)

Little is known about Reed's origin and background. In August 1804, he attempted to desert, was apprehended, tried, convicted, and expelled from the expedition. He remained with the Corps of Discovery doing hard labor until sent back with the return party to St. Louis in April 1805.

 

Private John Robertson (1780 -?)
New Hampshire
Regiment of Artillery

Recruited at Fort Kaskaskia from Captain Amos Stoddard's artillery company, Robertson was initially a corporal when he joined the expedition. Robertson may have had some leadership problems, because on January 4, 1804, Clark admonished him for having "no authority" over his men. Robertson's failure to break up a fight at Camp River Dubois caused Clark to demote him to private. Robertson was most likely the first man to leave the expedition. On June 12, 1804, Joseph Whitehouse recorded in his journal that a private "belonging to Captain Stoddard's company of Artillery" was sent back to St. Louis with a trading party encountered coming down river. Presumably Robertson returned to his artillery company, because there is no further record of him.

 

Private George Shannon (1785-1836)
Pennsylvania / Kentucky

The youngest member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, Shannon joined Lewis at Maysville, Kentucky, and is listed as one of the "Nine Young Men from Kentucky." In the fall of 1804, he was lost for over two weeks and nearly starved to death. After the expedition, Shannon became a lawyer and later served as a senator from Missouri.

 

Private John Shields (1769-1809)
Virginia / Tennessee

The oldest member of the Corps of Discovery, and one of the few who were married, Shields is one of the "Nine Young Men from Kentucky." During the expedition, he skills as a blacksmith, gunsmith, and carpenter were invaluable. "Nothing was more peculiarly useful to us, in various situations," wrote Lewis, "than the skill of this man as an artist, in repairing our guns, accoutrements, &c." Lewis recommended that Congress give Shields a bonus for his services.

 

Private John Thompson (Dates Unknown)

This is virtually no information on John Thompson, other than Clark praising him as "a valuable member of our party." Thompson may have been a surveyor before joining the expedition.

 

Private Ebenezer Tuttle (1773-?)
Connecticut
Regiment of Artillery

Recruited at Fort Kaskaskia from Captain Amos Stoddard's artillery company, Tuttle was a member of the return party in April 1805. The only mention of him in the journals is in the Detachment Order of May 26, 1804.

 

Private Peter Weiser (1781 - ?)
Pennsylvania
First Infantry

Recruited at Fort Kaskaskia from Captain Russell Bissell's company of the First Infantry Regiment, Weiser descended from the noted frontier diplomat Conrad Weiser. After the expedition he joined Manuel Lisa's fur-trading venture up the Missouri.

 

Private William Werner (Dates Unknown)

Little is known about William Werner. He fought with John Potts at Camp River Dubois, and was convicted of being absent without leave at St. Charles, Missouri. Other than these incidents, the journals reveal little more about him.

 

Private Isaac White (1774 - ?)
Massachusetts
Regiment of Artillery

Recruited at Fort Kaskaskia from Captain Amos Stoddard's artillery company, White was a member of the return party to St. Louis in April 1805. The only mention of him in the journals is in the Detachment Order of May 26, 1804.

 

Private Joseph Whitehouse (1775 - ?)
Virginia / Kentucky
First Infantry

Recruited at Fort Massac from Captain Daniel Bissell's company of the First Infantry Regiment, Whitehouse was initially expelled from the expedition for misconduct, but allowed to return after repenting. He kept a journal and often acted as a tailor for the other men. Whitehouse later served during the War of 1812, but deserted in 1817.

 

Private Alexander Willard (1778 - 1865)
New Hampshire
Regiment of Artillery

Recruited at Fort Kaskaskia from Captain Amos Stoddard's artillery company, Willard was convicted of sleeping while on guard duty, which was punishable by death. He was given 100 lashes instead and detailed to the return party in April 1805. A blacksmith, Willard often assisted Shields in his work during the first year of the expedition. Willard later served during the War of 1812.

 

Private Richard Windsor (Dates Unknown)
First Infantry

Little is known about Richard Windsor, other than the fact that he was recruited at Fort Kaskaskia from Captain Russell Bissell's company of the First Infantry Regiment. Windsor was an experienced woodsman and productive hunter throughout the expedition.


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