Lewis the Governor of the Upper Louisiana Territory & Clark the Brigadier General of the Missouri Militia and Superintendent of Indian Affairs

Planning, exploration and reporting phase Lewis and Clark expedition was over. The realities of governing the complex Upper Louisiana Territory settled-in on the newly appointed Governor and the Brigadier General. Editing and printing of the Lewis and Clark Journals by Lewis and returning Sheheke and his family to their home at the Mandan Villages by Clark were the primary responsibilities outlined President Jefferson and Secretary of War Dearborn. The fact that the men had little or even no personal time during the last 30 plus months seemed to be of little or no concern by the President or Secretary.

The time between March 1807 and October 1809 has been examined by noted Lewis and Clark writers and scholars, even dissecting the time period like the birds and animals examined and described during the expedition. This time includes Lewis’ courtships with several young women. Writer John Brakeless even suggested that Lewis would not have made a good husband.⁽¹⁾

In August 1807, following his report to Jefferson and the initial work in Philadelphia to publish journals, Lewis returned to his mother’s home in Virginia. Lewis then traveled to Richmond in September to observe the Burr Treason Trial, unfortunately a written report of his observations has never been found, if one was written. He reviewed land investment for the Lewis family along with plans for their education. A document of more than 10,500 words describing Lewis’ Observations and Reflections relating to the American Indian People and the fur trade in the Upper Louisiana Territory is attributed in part to this period. The Observations and Reflections document show that Lewis a was developing a framework for governing the Upper Louisiana Territory and establishing a solid economic foundation. ⁽²⁾

Clark was back in St. Louis in April 1807, with Sheheke, his wife, Yellow Corn and son, White Painted House, plus the funds and Land Warrants awarded by Congress to make final payment to the Expedition Members. Failure of the first attempt to return Sheheke to his home only added to the diplomatic concerns for the Jefferson Administration. The failure clearly increased the burden on Lewis and Clark.⁽³⁾⁽⁴⁾ Late 1807 or early 1808, Lewis departed Ivy, Virginia for St. Louis via the Great Valley Road, the Boone Trace and Wilderness Road. His traveling companions were John Pernier, his free mulatto servant, and Reuben Lewis, his younger brother. While it is not certain, Captain Tom, Reuben’s slave may have been in the west bound traveling party.  The Old Kentucky Road from Bean Station, TN and over Clinch Mountain had been improved to accommodate wheeled vehicles like the carriage Lewis was taking to St. Louis.⁽⁵⁾ The route through Bean Station was slightly longer but crossed fewer mountains and streams. Following the historic trail through Cumberland Gap the foursome followed the Boone Trace and Wilderness Road to Lexington, KY. 

Lewis was honored at a public dinner at Mr. Wilsons Inn, present-day Phoenix Park (N. Limestone and E. Main Street) Lexington, KY.⁽⁶⁾ Lewis and his party traveled to Louisville and like other travelers in that era, traveled by boat to St. Louis. Reuben Lewis took the carriage over the old French Military Road from Lusk Ferry, present-day Golconda, IL, arriving in St. Louis on 26 February 1808. This is the same route York and Joseph Charles used later that same year. Removing the carriage would lighten the load for upriver travel on the Mississippi River.⁽⁷⁾ Lewis arrived in St. Louis on 8 March 1808 with the boat and immediately went to work.