A Louisville newspaper leaks a story that William Clark and Meriwether Lewis will soon lead an expedition to the Pacific Ocean. The source is likely Clark who is waiting there for Lewis to arrive from Pittsburgh.
Frankfort, September 1 [1803]
Independent Gazetteer, 6 September 1803.
On 1 September 1803, a Frankfort, Kentucky newspaper reprinted the following:
Frankfort 6 September 1803
The Louisville paper of the 25th alt. contains the following information:— “An expedition is expected to leave this place shortly, under the direction of Capt. William Clark and Mr. Lewis, (private secretary to the President) to proceed through the immense wilderness of Louisiana to the Western or Pacific Ocean. The particular objects of this undertaking are at present matters of conjecture only: But we have good reason to believe that our government intend to encourage settlements and establish seaports on the coast of the Pacific Ocean, which would not only facilitate our Whaling and Sealing on a more direct and rapid trade with China and the East indies.”[1]Independent Gazetteer, Lexington, Kentucky, Tuesday, 6 September 1803.
These details, likely supplied by William Clark, were more accurate than the official story that the expedition was to explore the Mississippi River. For more, see Jefferson’s Secrecy.
Philadelphia, 20 September 1803
Philadelphia Aurora, 20 September 1803.
On 20 September 1803, the Philadelphia Aurora reprinted the same article. Differences are emphasized with bold and italic text.
The Louisville. (Ken.) paper of the 29th ult. contains the following information:— “An expedition is expected to leave this place shortly, under the direction of Capt. William Clark and Mr. Lewis, (private secretary to the President) to proceed through the immense wilderness of Louisiana to the South or Pacific Ocean. The particular objects of this undertaking are at present matters of conjecture only: But we have good reason to believe that our government intend to encourage settlements and establish sea-ports on the coast of the Pacific Ocean, which would not only facilitate our whaling and sealing voyages, but enable our enterprising merchants to carry on a more direct and rapid trade with China and the East-Indies.”[2]Philadelphia Aurora, 20 September 1803, page 2.
That the Western Ocean is here the South Ocean speaks to the confusion at that time of Western geography. It also speaks to why the Spanish decided to block the Lewis and Clark Expedition. For more, see Spanish Opposition.
Notes
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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.
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Unless otherwise noted, journal excerpts are from The Journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, edited by Gary E. Moulton, 13 vols. (Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1983-2001).