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KF5JRV > TODAY 20.09.18 12:35l 37 Lines 1954 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 21736_KF5JRV
Read: GUEST
Subj: Today in History - Sept 20
Path: IW8PGT<IR2UBX<F1OYP<F1OYP<AB0AF<KF5JRV
Sent: 180920/1129Z 21736@KF5JRV.#NWAR.AR.USA.NA BPQ6.0.16
On this day in 1806, after nearly two-and-a-half years spent exploring
the western wilderness, the Corps of Discovery arrived at the frontier
village of La Charette, the first white settlement they had seen since
leaving behind the outposts of eastern civilization in 1804.
Entirely out of provisions and trade goods and subsisting on wild plums,
Meriwether Lewis, William Clark, and their men were understandably eager
to reach home. Upon arriving at La Charette, the men fired a three-round
salute to alert the inhabitants of their approach and were answered by
three rounds from the trading boats moored at the riverbank. The people
of La Charette rushed to the banks of the Missouri to greet the
returning heroes. “Every person,ö Clark wrote with his characteristic
inventive spelling, “both French and americans Seem to express great
pleasure at our return, and acknowledge them selves astonished in Seeing
us return. They informed us that we were Supposed to have been lost long
Since.ö
The Lewis and Clark mission had been a spectacular success. With the aid
of friendly Native American tribes, the explorers had charted the upper
reaches of the Missouri, proved there was no easy water passage across
the Continental Divide, reached the shores of the Pacific Ocean, and
made the first major step to opening of the trans-Mississippi West to
the American settlement.
After spending the evening celebrating with the people of La Charette,
the next day the expedition continued rapidly down the river and after
two more days reached St. Louis, the city where their long journey had
begun. Lewis’ first act upon leaping from his canoe to the St. Louis
dock was to send a note asking the postmaster to delay the mail headed
east so he could write a quick letter to President Jefferson telling him
that the intrepid Corps of Discovery had, at long last, come home.
73 de Scott KF5JRV
Pmail: KF5JRV@KF5JRV.#NWAR.AR.USA.NA
email: KF5JRV@ICLOUD.COM
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