University of Virginia Library

Sir: Herewith enclosed I transmit you the roll of the men who
accompanied me on my late tour to the Pacific Ocean, through the interior
of the continent of North America.

In addition to the men whose names are entered on this roll, there
are two others who have some claims to a gratuity, as connected with
the expedition; but as I cannot consider them, in all respects, as of the
permanent party, I have thought their pretensions more properly
the subjects of this detached communication, than of the roll which
accompanies it.

Richard Warfington was a corporal in the infantry of the United
States' army, whom I had occasion to take with me on my voyage as
far as the Mandan nation. His term of service expired on the 4th of
August, 1804, nearly three months previous to my arrival at that place.
Knowing that it would become necessary for me to send back my boat
in the spring of 1805, with a party of soldiers, whose terms of service
had not expired; that it was of some importance that the Government
should receive, in safety, the despatches which I was about to transmit
from thence; that there was not one of the party, destined to be returned
from thence, in whom I could place the least confidence, except himself;

and that, if he was discharged at the moment of the expiration of
his term of service, he would necessarily lose his military standing, and
thereby lessen the efficiency of his command among the soldiery; I was
induced, under these considerations, to make an arrangement with him,
by which it was agreed between us, that he should not receive his discharge
from the military service until his return to St. Louis, and that
he should, in the interim, retain his rank, and receive only for his services
the accustomed compensation. Accordingly, he remained with me
during the winter, and was, the next spring, in conformity to my plan,
placed in command of the boat, and charged with my despatches to the
Government. The duties assigned him on this occasion, were performed
with a punctuality which uniformly marked his conduct while
under my command. Taking into view the cheerfulness with which he
continued in the service after every obligation had ceased to exist from
his enlistment; the fatigues, labor, and dangers, incident to that service;
and, above all, the fidelity with which he discharged his duty; it would
seem, that when rewards were about to be distributed among those of
the party who were engaged in this enterprise, that his claim to something
more than his pay of seven dollars per month, as corporal, cannot
be considered unreasonable.

John Newman was a private in the infantry of the United States'
army, who joined me as a volunteer, and entered into an enlistment, in
common with others, by which he was held and mustered as one of the
permanent party. In the course of the expedition, or shortly before we
arrived at the Mandan village, he committed himself by using certain
mutinous expressions, which caused me to arrest him, and to have him
tried by a court martial, formed of his peers: they, finding him guilty,
sentenced him to receive seventy-five lashes, and to be discharged from
the permanent party. This sentence was confirmed by me, and the
punishment took place. The conduct of this man, previous to this
period, had been generally correct; and the zeal he afterwards displayed
for the benefit of the service, was highly meritorious. In the course of
the winter, while at Fort Mandan, from an ardent wish to atone for the
crime which he had committed at an unguarded moment, he exerted
himself, on every occasion, to become useful. This disposition induced
him to expose himself too much to the intense cold of that climate, and
on a hunting excursion, he had his hands and feet severely frozen, with
which he suffered extreme pain, for some weeks. Having recovered
from this accident by the 1st of April, 1805, he asked forgiveness for
what had passed, and begged that I would permit him to continue with
me through the voyage; but deeming it impolitic to relax from the sentence,

although he stood acquitted in my mind, I determined to send
him back, which was accordingly done. Since my return I have been
informed that he was extremely serviceable as a hunter, on the voyage
to St. Louis, and that the boat, on several occasions, owed her safety, in
a great measure, to his personal exertions, being a man of uncommon
activity and bodily strength. If, under these circumstances, it should
be thought proper to give Newman the remaining third which will be
deducted from the gratuity awarded Baptiste Le Page, who occupied his
station in the after part of the voyage, I should feel myself much
gratified.

I have the honor to be, with due consideration, and much respect,