Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 6.djvu/55

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49
F. G. Young.
49

STORY OF LEWIS AND CLARK'S JOURNALS. 49 American Philosophical Society's collection. There are also in this book four excellent colored maps. Miscellaneous Material. An orderly book running from April 1-October 13, 1804, and a de- tached entry for January 1, 1806; detached orders promulgated at River Dubois camp February 20 and March 4, 1804 ; also several other detached orders issued during the expedition. Ten letters (some of them drafts). Levyis offering (June 19, 1803), Clark an equal partnership in command of the expedition ; Clark's acceptance thereof (July 17); Clark's letter to President Jefferson (July 24), informing him of acceptance ; Lewis to Clark (August 3), expressing his gratification at the latter's acceptance; six others, chiefly by Clark, relating to various phases of the expedition. Numerous other letters and memoranda among them an original of Jefferson's letter of credit; Clark's various military commissions before, during, and after the expedition; fragmentary records of courses and distances, Indian tribes, weather data, and the like ; and data concerning the Assinniboin country, obtained from British traders at Fort Mandan. Maps. Most important of all the documents are about sixty detailed maps, for the most part made by Clark, while on the trip. Collectively these illustrate the greater part of the journey both going and returning, indicate camping places,, and contain many interesting comments on the country and the Indians. These charts vary in size from eight inches square to several feet long. In addition to the above materials bearing directly on the expedition, there are in this collection a considerable store of manuscripts concerning the career of William Clark during the period prior and anterior to the expedi- tion, some of them being of much importance in connec- tion with the early history of the territories of Louisiana and Missouri ; there are also numerous manuscripts bear- ing upon the life of George Rogers Clark, William's elder brother. These, and several oil paintings of the Clarks chiefly George Rogers and William together with numer- ous valuable relics of these men, make of the home of Mrs. Voorhis a museum of great interest to students of Western history.