Page:A History of the Pacific Northwest.djvu/70



CHAPTER IV

OPENING A HIGHWAY TO THE PACIFIC

Plan of organization; Captain Meriwether Lewis.

Jefferson's plan for carrying out the exploring project was to appoint an army officer as leader, and let him select a few men from the military posts, wherever they could best be spared. In this way he would not only secure men trained to obey a commander, which was an important point, but would be enabled to fit out the expedition at slight expense; for the soldiers and officers would continue to draw their regular pay from the military department. His choice for leadership fell upon Meriwether Lewis, a young Virginian, brought up in the neighbourhood of Monticello, who had long been a favourite of Jefferson. He was of good family, was fairly well educated, and had many gifts both of mind and person. From boyhood Lewis had been fond of hunting, and had made himself an excellent woodsman. He was also an enthusiastic student of plants and animals, was inured to the hardships and discipline of camp life, and understood the character and customs of the American Indians. For a number of years he had been in the regular army, but at this time held the office of private secretary to