N3847

Lewis & Clark Expedition - Bicentennial

Fred's Anecdotal Note

Curents of Change

The visionary desire of President Thomm Jefferson to explore and open the Americm West put in motion the  expansion of United States to the Pacific Ocean. Following in the footsteps of the Corps of Discovery, the mountain men, ranchers, farmers, miners, and adventurers from every walk of life settled the West. By foot, horseback, canoe, covered wagon, steamship, and railroad they came and every one of them did so foliowing the glorious successful journey of Captains Lewis md Clark. Through out the 1800's the currents of change that swept to the Pacific ocean were their legacy. To close this philatelic tribute to their grand adventure, I thought it wouid be fitting to view this period of change from the perspectives of three expedition members. The young Sergemt Patrick Gass lived the longest and when he died on April 2, 1870 he was aimost 99 years old, Patrick witnessed in his long lifetime many inventions and the complete settlement of the West. His portrait is based on a late life woodcut of his likeness. Private Alexander Hamilton Willad actually took part in the sweep westward. In 1852 he loaded his family in a covered wagon md migrated to Califomia. Before he died in 1865 a photograph was taken of him and his portrait is based on that image, Two of his sons were named Lewis and Clak in their honor. 

Most intriguing is how the life of Jean Baptiste Chabonneau (Pomp) unfolded. He traveled as an infant and toddler to the Pacific and back. About five yeas after the expedition, his parents took him to St- Louis and left him with Clark to raise and educate. In 1823 a visiting Duke from Gemay was so impressed he took Jean to Europe to further his education. While there, Pomp becme fluent in four languges and retumed to the U.S. jn 1829. He was knom for his fine character, manners, and education. He wmt on to administer a Spanish mission in Califomia and eventually returned to Oregon (where he had journeyed with Lewis and Clark) where he died in 1866. Pomp's life and how it relates to multiple ethnicity, upwrd mobility, and the currents of change is another amazing story from the Corps of Discovery. Afterward, Jefferson wrote regrding Lewis "the result confirms that he was the fittest person in the world for such an expedition." Meriwether's-choice of his friend William to co-lead the Corps and the subsequent history of our country confirms those words. Together Lewis and Cirk shared an incredible exploration of discovery and forever they shall be "endeared to every American heart."