Day-by-Day / August 20, 1804

August 20, 1804

Burying Sgt. Floyd

Clark spends most of the night attending to Sgt. Floyd who is gravely ill. The expedition leaves Fish Camp, but soon stops near present Sioux City, Iowa to bury him with a full military ceremony. Elsewhere, the former Spanish governor of Louisiana reports on several American expeditions in contested Spanish territory.

Sergeant Floyd Dies

by Yellowstone Public Radio[1]Originally aired weekdays by Yellowstone Public Radio during the Bicentennial observance of 2003-2006. Narrated by Hal Hansen. Scripts by Whit Hansen and Ed Jacobson. Produced by Leni Holliman. © … Continue reading

Rough Night

I am Dull & heavy been up the greater Part of last night with Serjt. Floyd, who is a[s] bad as he can be to live the [motion?] of his bowels having changed &c. &c. is the Cause of his violent attack &c. &c.
William Clark

Floyd’s Death

we Came to [to] make a warm bath for Sergt. Floyd hopeing it would brace him a little, before we could get him in to this bath he expired, with a great deel of composure
—William Clark

Floyd’s Burial

we buried him with all the honors of War, and fixed a Ceeder post at his head with his name title & Day of the month and year Capt Lewis read the funeral Service over him after paying everry respect to the Body of this desceased man
—William Clark

Salcedo’s Report

In an unsigned draft letter to the Commandant General of [Spanish] Interior Provinces, Juan Manuel de Salcedo reports on several American expeditions and warns they will take away the trade with the Native Nations.

New Orleans, August 20, 1804

Most Excellent Sir:

. . . it is almost eight months since the United States of America took possession of this province . . . . with great activity and care they are sending expeditions to the Upper Mississippi, Missouri, Arkansas and Red Rivers in order to reconnoitre their sources and courses, examine the lands, and attract and conciliate the Indian nations to them, which with study and with cautious skill they will separate from our friendship with their extended trade and presents.

. . . . .

May God keep, etc.[2]Salcedo to Cevallos, New Orleans, August 20, 1804 in Before Lewis and Clark: Documents Illustrating the History of the Missouri 1785–1804, ed. A. P. Nasatir, Bison Books edition. (Lincoln: … Continue reading

 
 

Notes

Notes
1 Originally aired weekdays by Yellowstone Public Radio during the Bicentennial observance of 2003-2006. Narrated by Hal Hansen. Scripts by Whit Hansen and Ed Jacobson. Produced by Leni Holliman. © 2003 by Yellowstone Public Radio.
2 Salcedo to Cevallos, New Orleans, August 20, 1804 in Before Lewis and Clark: Documents Illustrating the History of the Missouri 1785–1804, ed. A. P. Nasatir, Bison Books edition. (Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1990), 745,749–50.
3 Jay H. Buckley, “Exploring the Louisiana Purchase and Its Borderlands, Parts One and Two,” August 2020 and February 2021, Vol. 46 No. 3 and Vol.47 No. 1. Both are available at our sister site: https://lewisandclark.org/wpo/pdf/vol47no1.pdf#page=14 and https://lewisandclark.org/wpo/pdf/vol46no3.pdf#page=13.

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  • The Lewis and Clark Expedition: Day by Day by Gary E. Moulton (University of Nebraska Press, 2018). The story in prose, 14 May 1804–23 September 1806.
  • The Lewis and Clark Journals: An American Epic of Discovery (abridged) by Gary E. Moulton (University of Nebraska Press, 2003). Selected journal excerpts, 14 May 1804–23 September 1806.
  • The Lewis and Clark Journals. by Gary E. Moulton (University of Nebraska Press, 1983–2001). The complete story in 13 volumes.