N3841

Lewis & Clark Expedition - Bicentennial

Fred's Anecdotal Note

The Corps of Discovery

This series of forty-seven hand painted Collins First Day Covers proudly tells the story of the individuals who formed the Corps and the Indians they encountered during their journey of discovery to the Pacific Ocean and back to St. Louis. Each member of the expedition appears in at least one cachet, and historical accuracy has been researched as much as possible to show their clothing and equipment as it was in the early 180Os. The two caplains were extraordinary leaders of men, and their loyalty to and faith in each other was complete. Chief scout and head hunter George Drouillard was called on by Lewis and Clark for important and vital tasks time after time. It is my opinion that he is an American hero whose public recognition is long overdue, and it is my hope that a U.S. stamp will eventuaily be issued to honor him. York proved himself time and again as a goodwill ambassador to the various lndian tribes encountered on the trail. Sacajawea has been largely reinvented by history revisionists. She did not act as a guide for the Corps as is widely believed but was a valuable member. Most importantly she helped secure horses fiom the Shoshones that were an absolute necessity to cross the Rockies. Descendants of her brother, Chief Cameahwait, have maintained that the correct spelling of her name was with a "J" rather than the "G" now in common usage. Early on I decided to go with that family preference.

The military men were superb. Each was an excellent shot, in superior physical shape, self-reliant and most importantly one hundred percent devoted to the mission and their captains. The three sergeants - John Ordway, Nathaniel Pryor and Patrick Gass provided a second layer of leadership and each had the total respect and support of the men. The carefully recruited privates were all devoted to the expedition with every ounce of effort and dedication that they could exert. Al] deserve more individual recognition for the magnificent way they served their country. Of particular note were the numerous exploits of the Field brothers and the many contributions of John Shields, George Shannon, and John Colter. Their epic exploratory achievement is hard to believe. May current and future generations of Americans always remember with awe and respect that small, dedicated unit that opened a continent -- Captains Lewis and Clark and their Corps of Discovery.