LXXVI. LXXVI
STODDARD NOTIFIED OF LEWIS'S DEATH
LXXVI. [From original MS. in possession of Missouri Historical Society.]
Nashville, Tennessee. 18th Oct. 1809.
Dear Sir: I am sorry to inform you of the death of Governor
Meriwether Lewis, which took place on the Morning of the 11th
instance at the House of a Mr. Grender about seventy five miles from
here on the Natchez Road. it is reported that he arrived there the
evening before—the man of the house was from home—the governor
went to bed in a room alone. about three o'clock the woman of the
house who slept in a house near the other heard two pistols fire—she
awoke the servants, and they rushed into the Room, and found the
unfortunate Governor weltering in his blood; he had shot himself in
the head and just below his breast—he died in about three hours; in a
few hours Major Neeley Agent to the Chickasaws came up, who had
remained behind to hunt two horses which they had lost the night
before—he had him intered and took into his care & possession two
trunks said to contain his valuable papers, amongst which is said to be
his Journal to the pacific ocean, & perhaps some vouchers which he
was taking on for settlement—Majr Neeley has his pistols, Rifle,
Watch, &c—his servant John Parney will proceed on early in the
morning with letters to Mr. Jefferson from Majr Neeley communicating
to him the particulars of the unhappy affair. I lament extremely the
unfortunate fate of this worthy Character.
[The remainder of the letter concerns Brahan's personal
affairs.—Ed.]
[Superscription:] John Brahan to Major Amos Stoddard, U. S. Artillerists, Washington City.
