Congressional Compensation for a Job Well Done

On 15 January 1807, Lewis sent a list of the expedition members with comments concerning their “merits & service” during their enlistment to Henry Dearborn, Secretary of War.⁽¹⁾ On 3 March 1807, Congress passed “The Act of Compensation for Lewis and Clark and their Companions”. The act included land west of the Mississippi River and cash payments based on the enlisted men’s term of service. Land grants to Lewis and Clark were 1600 acres each and the men received 320 acres each. Pay was doubled.⁽²⁾

Clark’s pay was adjusted to be equivalent to Lewis by order of the President. The additional payment amounted to $4,931.50 for Clark.⁽³⁾

The President nominated Meriwether Lewis, Governor of the Upper Louisiana Territory to replace General James Wilkinson, who’s term had expired. Clark was nominated for promotion to Lieutenant Colonel. The Senate quickly approved the Lewis nomination but the promotion in rank for Clark violated the War Department procedure and the Senate vote was 20-9 against promotion. With Clark’s nomination back in the Presidents control, William Clark was appointed Superintendent of Indian Affairs for the Louisiana Territory and Brigadier General of the Missouri Militia.⁽⁴⁾

Additional payments were made for “subsistent rations that included York, described as “Clark’s black waiter”. However, York’s subsistence pay was made to Clark.⁽⁵⁾