In Louisville, Privates Gibson, Shields, and Shannon officially enlist in the “corps of volunteers for North West Discovery”. Each of the three new recruits would make notable contributions to the success of what would become known as the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
Three New Recruits
In a summary of extra pay awarded the men, Clark recorded the enlistments of privates Gibson, Shields, and Shannon as starting on this day:
We the Subscribers do acknowledge to have received of [blank] the several Sums set opposite to our names, the Same being due us from the War department pursuant to an Act of Congress bearing date March 3rd 1807, entitled ‘an Act makeing compensation to Messrs. Lewis & Clark and their companions.
. . . .
Name Period of Service Monthly Rate Amount George Gibson 19 Oct. 1803 to 10 Oct. 1806 5 [$]178.50 John Shields 19 Oct. 1803 to 10 Oct. 1806 5 178.50 George Shannon 19 Oct. 1803 to 10 Oct. 1806 5 178.50[1]Donald Jackson citing Yale University Library, New Haven, Connecticut in Letters of the Lewis and Clark Expedition with Related Documents: 1783-1854, 2nd ed. (Urbana: University of Illinois Press, … Continue reading
Private George Gibson
Gibson specialized in hunting, Plains Sign Language, and on at least one occasion, he played the fiddle:
Indians Came from the different Lodges, and a number of them brought wood which they gave us, we Smoked with all of them, and two of our Party Peter Crusat [Pierre Cruzatte] & Gibson played on the violin which delighted them greatly
—William Clark, 19 October 1805
The occasion was a celebration with some Umatilla people living on the Columbia River. See also Fiddle Music.
Private John Shields
After the expedition, Lewis praised Shields’ contribution:
[He] has received the pay only of a private. Nothing was more peculiarly useful to us in various situations, than the skill and ingenuity of this man as an artist, in repairing our guns, accoutrements, &c. and should it be thought proper to allow him something as an artificer, he has well deserved it.
—Meriwether Lewis, 15 January 1807[2]Donald Jackson, ed., Letters of the Lewis and Clark Expedition with Related Documents, 1783-1854; 2nd ed.; 2 vols. (Chicago: University of Illinois Press, 1978), 1:367.
Private George Shannon
Shannon contributed significantly to the expedition—both during and after. But the thing he seems to be most famous for is getting lost on what became a 16-day hunting trip.
George Shannon who had been absent with the horses 16 days joined the boat about one oclock. his bullets he Shot all away & he was with out any thing to eat for about 12 days except a fiew Grapes . . . . He Shot a rabit with Sticks which he cut & put in his gun after his Balls were gone.
—John Ordway, 11 September 1804
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Plan a trip related to October 19, 1803:
Notes
| ↑1 | Donald Jackson citing Yale University Library, New Haven, Connecticut in Letters of the Lewis and Clark Expedition with Related Documents: 1783-1854, 2nd ed. (Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1978), 2:378. |
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| ↑2 | Donald Jackson, ed., Letters of the Lewis and Clark Expedition with Related Documents, 1783-1854; 2nd ed.; 2 vols. (Chicago: University of Illinois Press, 1978), 1:367. |
