Private William Werner

Quick Facts

Significance:

Private on the Lewis and Clark Expedition

Place of Birth:

Potentially Kentucky

Date of Birth:

Unknown

Place of Death:

Virginia

Date of Death:

1839

Place of Burial:

Unknown

"This morning dispatched Howard & Werner to the Camp of the Salt makers for a Supply of Salt." - Clark, January 23rd, 1806

William Werner wasn't written about often on the expedition. Him being kept on as a permanant member of the journey and the small pieces that are written on him show that he was a man to be trusted. However they did have a rocky start on the journey.

Werner was trusted with hunting duties, all other basic daily operations, and included on small team excursions into the unmapped Montana territory.
 

On the Expedition

Before the expedition had made it to North Dakota, where they would construct Fort Mandan, fights and disagreements occured often. One of the first mentions of Werner in 1804, January 4th, shows this well. Captain Clark writes "Worner & Potts fight after Dark without my Knowledge & the Corpl. head of the mess left the hut & Suffered them to bruse themselves much, he has no authority..."

Fights and disagreements often resulted in court martials and punishments being given out. Although none were given out for the first fight he wouldn't be so lucky next time. On May 17th Werner was put to the court for being absent without leave. To this Werner was convicted guilty of being absent from camp, a breach of the articles of war as noted by Sergeant Ordway, and sentenced to 25 lashes upon the bare back. However due to their overall good conduct thus far the punishment was "remitted under the assurence arriveing from a confidence which the Commanding officer has of the Sincerity of the recommendation from the Court" (Ordway).

Having shaped up and with the officers feeling Werner was a responsible member, he would be appointed as Cook to Sergeant Ordway's squad on the 8th of July, 1804. Being the cook was a desired position as it would mean you didn't have to do guard duty or some other of the more laborous tasks unless specified by the Captains.

Not only given a good role of cook, Werner's service was awarded by the Captains on May 9th, 1805, where he is given a creek named after him. This "Werner's Creek" would later become known as Duck Creek, Valley County, Montana. Later, on July 5th, 1806, Werner would receive a second named commendation, another "Werner's Creek" which would later be known as the Clearwater River in Montana. 
 

After the Expedition

After his service to the expedition Werner was awarded $166.66.

He married around 1807 and would live until about 1839 in Virginia.

Resources:

Morris, Larry E. The Fate of the Corps. Yale University Press, 2004. Print.

Moulton, Gary. The Journals of the Lewis & Clark Expedition: August 30, 1803 - August 2, 1804 . University of Nebraska Press, 1986. Print.

Moulton, Gary. Journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. University of Nebraska Press. Web.

Further Reading:

Learn more about William Werner at Lewis-Clark.org.