Ft. Massac and “A Man of Much Merit”, Ft. Massac State Park, IL

Leaving West Point on 27 October and traveling to Ft. Massac, present day Massac Co. IL, was uneventful except for Clark’s health. Digestive ailments were an old situation but it did not stop Clark from his duties.⁽¹⁾

During the 15-day passage to Ft. Massac they passed the future Trail of Tears site at Berry’s Ferry and the future site of Paducah, KY, another Trail of Tears Crossing.

Immediately on arriving at Ft. Massac, Lewis “engaged” George Drouillard, a man of French/Indian parentage, to travel to Ft. Southwest Point, TN. George’s mission was to escort the 8 soldiers to the expedition winter encampment in IL.⁽²⁾

After the selection of William Clark, as co-commander of the expedition, the hiring of George Drouillard was the wisest decision Meriwether Lewis made to bring about a successful expedition. George’s total payment was $833.331/3 for 33 months of service. In Lewis’ report to Secretary of War Dearborn, 15 January 1807, Lewis used 124 word to define his appreciation for George’s service as a civilian contractor.⁽³⁾

At the Mouth of the Tennessee River, Clark had passed the future site of Paducah, a city he would survey and established in 1827.