Ft. Mandan Departure Day 1805

Photo:  Creative Commons, Chris Light

On April 7, 1805, the members of the Lewis and Clark Expedition departed from Fort Mandan – one group headed downstream, the other upstream.

The group heading back to St. Louis was led by Corporal Richard Warfington, who would manage the keelboat on its return voyage down river, arriving safely on May 22. It’s not entirely clear of everyone who traveled in this crew, but we do know that it contained Privates John Boley, John Dame, Ebenezer Tuttle, Isaac White and John Robertson, along with the two discharged soldiers, John Newman and Moses Reed. It’s believed several of the engagés also went back to St. Louis.

Continuing up the Missouri would be members of the Corps of Discovery. Led by Captains Lewis and Clark, the permanent party headed west in two pirogues and six canoes – 33 people in total: two captains, three sergeants, twenty-three privates, along with Drouillard, York, Charbonneau, Sacagawea, Jean Baptiste, and, of course, Seaman.