Page:Oregon, her history, her great men, her literature.djvu/42

Rh informed, and upright and considerate with others. Lewis selected William Clark as his coadjutor and comrade. The expedition was, therefore, organized under two captains. Both men had received military training. Both knew how to command and to obey. Both were eminently qualified for the undertaking.

SENATOR THOMAS H. BENTON

The Party Assembled at St. Louis. The party of explorers consisted of two commanders, eighteen soldiers, nine Kentucky hunters, Clark's negro, and two French interpreters. There were also sixteen other soldiers who accompanied the expedition the first season. They spent the winter of 1803-4 at the mouth of the river Du Bois, (Illinois) building boats and gathering information and material for the journey.