Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 23.djvu/316



LETTER OF JOHN ORDWAY OF LEWIS AND CLARK EXPEDITION TO His PARENTS

Camp River Dubois April the 8th 1804 Honored Parence.

I now embrace this oppertunity of writeing to you once more to let you know where I am and where I am going. I am well thank God, and in high Spirits. I am now on an expedition to the westward, with Capt Lewis and Capt. Clark, who are appointed by the Presidant of the United States, to go on an expidition through the interior parts of North America. We are to ascend the Missouri River with a boat as far as it is navigable and then go by land, to the western ocean if nothing prevents, &c. This party con- sists of 25 picked men of the armey & country likewise and I am so happy as to be one of them pick'd from the armey, and I and all the party are if wee live to return, to Receive our our Discharge whenever we return again to the United States if we chuse it. This place is on the Mississippi River oppisite to the mouth of the Missouri River, this has been our winter quarters. Wee expect to be gone 18 months or two years. Wee are to Receive a great Reward for this expidition, when wee Return. I am to Receive 15 dollars pr. month and at least 400 ackers of first Rate land, and if wee make Great Discoveries as we expect, the Dnited States, has promised to make us Great Rewards more than we are promised, &c ,for fear of exidants I wish to inform you that I left 200 Dollars in cash, at Hark- ensteins, put it on interest with a substantial man by the name of Charles Smith & Copertnership which weere three more Substantial men binding with him and Capt. Clark is bound to see me paid at the time and place where I Re- ceive my discharge and if I should not live to return my heirs can git that and all the pay Due me from the U. S. by applying to the Seat of Government. I have Reed no letters Since Betseys yet, but will write next winter if I have a chance.

Yours, &c. JOHN ORDWAY