Lewis & Clark
Meriwether Lewis and William Clark -- who led the dramatic exploration of the American West nearly 200 years ago -- were soldiers in the army that relied on Fort Hamilton in the 1790s. Their Indian-fighting experience on the Ohio frontier -- where the two Virginians became friends -- helped prepare them for their historic 1804-1806 expedition into the newly-acquired Louisiana Territory.
Their exploits will be hailed for the next three years with bicentennial observances of events and accomplishments of the Corps of Discovery as it gathered information on what was then the mysterious area between the Mississippi River and the Pacific Ocean.
It could be argued that the risky Lewis & Clark Expedition actually began 200 years ago this month when Lewis moved down the Ohio River from Pittsburgh.
Meriwether Lewis -- born Aug. 18, 1774, near Charlottesville, Va. -- joined a militia unit in 1794 during the Whiskey Rebellion in Pennsylvania. Later he entered the regular army and was sent to the Ohio country to serve under Gen. Anthony Wayne. His enlistment began May 1, 1795, with the rank of ensign.
Lewis arrived after Wayne’s army had defeated the Indians Aug. 20, 1794, at the Battle of Fallen Timbers, near Toledo. After that setback, several tribes agreed to negotiate. They relinquished control over much of Ohio in the Treaty of Greenville in August 1795. Lewis was an army captain in 1801 when the Lewis & Clark expedition began to take shape.
William Clark -- the youngest of six sons -- was born Aug. 1, 1770, in Caroline County, Virginia. He was 14 when his family moved to Kentucky.
A militiaman in campaigns against Ohio Valley Indians since 1789, Clark became an officer in Gen. Wayne's army in 1792 and participated in the Battle of Fallen Timbers in 1794. He resigned from the army in 1796 and returned to Virginia. Clark was living at Clarksville in Indiana Territory when he joined Lewis in 1803.
What isn't certain is how much time Lewis and Clark spent at Fort Hamilton, the frontier army's supply post that evolved into the City of Hamilton. As members of Anthony Wayne's army between 1792 and 1795, they had to at least pass through the fort.
In March 1801, while in Pittsburgh, Captain Lewis was invited by Thomas Jefferson to become secretary and aid to the newly-elected president. In offering the job, Jefferson cited the 26-year-old captain’s "knowledge of the western country," and "of the army," as qualifications for the position. He was paid $500 a year, plus room and board, for working at the White House.
Two years later, Jefferson -- eager for information on the country west of the Mississippi River -- asked Congress for $2,500 to finance a western expedition to be led by Lewis, who chose his friend, Lt. Clark, to share the leadership.
When news of the $15 million Louisiana Purchase was announced July 4, 1803, exploration of the upper part of the western region gained new importance.
Lewis arrived in Pittsburgh in mid July 1803 to supervise construction of a keelboat and recruit men for the mission. He started down the Ohio River Aug. 31, hampered at times by low water. He was in Cincinnati from Sept. 28 to Oct. 4.
Clark joined him Oct. 15 at Clarksville, opposite Louisville. By the time they left Louisville Oct. 26, they had selected several members of the Corps of Discovery. The group reached Cairo, Ill., Nov. 14, and started up the Mississippi River six days later.
They continued recruitment and preparations at a winter camp at Camp Wood, up river from St. Louis on the Illinois side of the Mississippi. They left that site, also known as Camp Dubois, May 14, 1804, starting from the mouth of the Missouri River.
After reaching the Pacific near the mouth of the Columbia River, the group returned to St. Louis Sept. 23, 1806, covering about 6,000 miles in more than 28 months.
Their exploits will be hailed for the next three years with bicentennial observances of events and accomplishments of the Corps of Discovery as it gathered information on what was then the mysterious area between the Mississippi River and the Pacific Ocean.
It could be argued that the risky Lewis & Clark Expedition actually began 200 years ago this month when Lewis moved down the Ohio River from Pittsburgh.
Meriwether Lewis -- born Aug. 18, 1774, near Charlottesville, Va. -- joined a militia unit in 1794 during the Whiskey Rebellion in Pennsylvania. Later he entered the regular army and was sent to the Ohio country to serve under Gen. Anthony Wayne. His enlistment began May 1, 1795, with the rank of ensign.
Lewis arrived after Wayne’s army had defeated the Indians Aug. 20, 1794, at the Battle of Fallen Timbers, near Toledo. After that setback, several tribes agreed to negotiate. They relinquished control over much of Ohio in the Treaty of Greenville in August 1795. Lewis was an army captain in 1801 when the Lewis & Clark expedition began to take shape.
William Clark -- the youngest of six sons -- was born Aug. 1, 1770, in Caroline County, Virginia. He was 14 when his family moved to Kentucky.
A militiaman in campaigns against Ohio Valley Indians since 1789, Clark became an officer in Gen. Wayne's army in 1792 and participated in the Battle of Fallen Timbers in 1794. He resigned from the army in 1796 and returned to Virginia. Clark was living at Clarksville in Indiana Territory when he joined Lewis in 1803.
What isn't certain is how much time Lewis and Clark spent at Fort Hamilton, the frontier army's supply post that evolved into the City of Hamilton. As members of Anthony Wayne's army between 1792 and 1795, they had to at least pass through the fort.
In March 1801, while in Pittsburgh, Captain Lewis was invited by Thomas Jefferson to become secretary and aid to the newly-elected president. In offering the job, Jefferson cited the 26-year-old captain’s "knowledge of the western country," and "of the army," as qualifications for the position. He was paid $500 a year, plus room and board, for working at the White House.
Two years later, Jefferson -- eager for information on the country west of the Mississippi River -- asked Congress for $2,500 to finance a western expedition to be led by Lewis, who chose his friend, Lt. Clark, to share the leadership.
When news of the $15 million Louisiana Purchase was announced July 4, 1803, exploration of the upper part of the western region gained new importance.
Lewis arrived in Pittsburgh in mid July 1803 to supervise construction of a keelboat and recruit men for the mission. He started down the Ohio River Aug. 31, hampered at times by low water. He was in Cincinnati from Sept. 28 to Oct. 4.
Clark joined him Oct. 15 at Clarksville, opposite Louisville. By the time they left Louisville Oct. 26, they had selected several members of the Corps of Discovery. The group reached Cairo, Ill., Nov. 14, and started up the Mississippi River six days later.
They continued recruitment and preparations at a winter camp at Camp Wood, up river from St. Louis on the Illinois side of the Mississippi. They left that site, also known as Camp Dubois, May 14, 1804, starting from the mouth of the Missouri River.
After reaching the Pacific near the mouth of the Columbia River, the group returned to St. Louis Sept. 23, 1806, covering about 6,000 miles in more than 28 months.