Browse Items (74 total)
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Letter from William Clark to Jonathan Clark, 17 August 1811
Clark writes his brother Jonathan from St. Louis complaining that they don't hear very often from their Kentucky family and fears they are being forgotten. He mentions how scattered the family is at this time and wishes they all were together. Violence between settler colonists and Indigenous people have been active east of the Mississippi, but they are tranquil west of the river. He mentions Native American delegations that have recently visited. He fears that The Prophet and his followers are stirring up trouble and need to be dispersed. -
Letter from William Clark to Jonathan Clark, 16 September 1809
Clark writes his brother Jonathan from St. Louis shortly before setting out on their trip eastward. He has concluded Native American trade business and will turn matters over to Frederick Bates in his absence. The Secretary of War William Eustis has given him more responsibilities and directed him to remove agents and other Indian department employees appointed by Meriwether Lewis. To do so is disagreeable to him. A man convicted of murder is to be hanged today and the town is full of people. -
Letter from William Clark to Jonathan Clark, 28 May 1809
Clark writes his brother Jonathan from St. Louis, Missouri, regarding plans to travel east for a visit in the fall and their likely route. He reports how Julia and Lewis are doing, including Lewis being vaccinated with the cowpox and his reaction to being bathed. Sends regrets of George Rogers Clark's situation and hopes he will continue to recover. Talks of York's return to St. Louis from Kentucky and his continued bad attitude, punishment, and possible plans regarding him, and an enslaved woman Priscilla giving birth to a stillborn child and her little boy getting accidently scalded. He provides an update on the most recent news regarding Native American affairs and possible hostilities. -
Letter from William Clark to Edmund Clark, 15 April 1809
Clark writes his brother Edmund from St. Louis, Missouri, reporting general news regarding the town and some of its inhabitants. He comments on the status of their nephews Benjamin O'Fallon, there with him in St. Louis, and his brother, John O'Fallon, in school in Lexington, Kentucky. He updates Edmund regarding the status of their interest in the St. Louis Missouri Fur Company and their planned mercantile business venture, and on Native American affairs both up the Missouri and the Mississippi. -
Letter from William Clark to Jonathan Clark, ca. 1 March 1809
Clark writes his brother Jonathan from St. Louis informing him he has invested in the St. Louis Missouri Fur Company, is acting as an agent for the government's Native American trade factory system, and the trouble he is having with several of his enslaved persons and the punishment he is meting out. Julia requests seeds be sent to her because the rats have eaten all of hers. He keeps no copies of the letters he writes to him. -
Letter from William Clark to Jonathan Clark, 10 December 1808
Clark writes his brother Jonathan from St. Louis continuing a discussion of a planned partnership in a store between himself based in St. Louis and Jonathan's son John Hite Clark based in Louisville. He also further discusses estate matters and difficulties stemming from their late brother-in-law Charles M. Thruston. He regrets the falling out between him and the man he enslaved, York. He does not agree with York that he deserves to be freed. Julia again requests sage from her "Kentucky mother." Clark has been in council all day with a forty-man Winnebago delegation from the Upper Mississippi. -
Letter from William Clark to Jonathan Clark, 22 and 24 November 1808
Clark writes his brother Jonathan a lengthy letter from St. Louis regarding foreign affairs, politics, Native American affairs, and land investment and resources such as lead mining and salt springs. He has placed some the people he enslaved and one indentured person Ben Gee/McGee (formerly enslaved) to work in various ways or what he intends to do regarding them, including York and Scipio. Discusses selling land owned by their brother George and some William owns and some of the proceeds benefitting George. Reviews prices of livestock and goods locally and reiterates his desire to enter into business with his nephew John. Reports on the state of Julia's health and Meriwether Lewis' plans to go to Philadelphia to finish the expedition history. -
Letter from William Clark to Jonathan Clark, 5 October 1808
Clark writes his brother Jonathan from St. Louis relating news about the fort [Fort Osage] he has built up the Missouri and a treaty he negotiated with the Osage Nation. He is overwhelmed with official business. He very much wants to engage in mercantile business with John Hite Clark. He reviews possible opportunities in St. Louis for John Sullivan who is there. -
Letter from William Clark to Jonathan Clark, 24 September 1806
Clark follows up his letter of 23 September with a personal letter mentioning that they will be traveling east to Louisville, Kentucky, via Vincennes, Indiana, with a delegation of Mandan Indians, with which Meriwether Lewis will continue on to Washington, D. C. They will be detained for a time in St. Louis wrapping up expedition business and discharging the men. Clark specifically requests that Jonathan have his 23 September letter published. -
Letter from William Clark to his brother, April 1805
Letter from William Clark to his brother talks of sending his journal to the President and the Secretary of War, documenting his voyage and discoveries. Includes note stating he has included with the letter: one shirt worn by the Mandan Indigenous women, a few pairs of moccasins, some Mandan "legins", hides from several different animals, corn, tobacco seeds, a Mandan pot, and more, from the western country. He sends compliments from Meriwether Lewis to him and his lady. -
Letter from Anthony Wayne to Isaac Shelby, 18 May 1793
The commission of three men to meet with Indigenous peoples for a treaty. -
Letter from James Wilkinson to Isaac Shelby, 6 June 1796
In a letter from James Wilkinson to Governor Isaac Shelby, Wilkinson refers to children being returned from Native Americans and declares he has become good friends with Blue Jacket. He believes the women might have "lost their innocence and formed attachments that forbid their returns." -
Letter from the War Department to Isaac Shelby, 19 July 1790
Letter from Henry Knox discussing protection on the western frontier from Native Americans, mentioning how many rangers needed and what they would be paid. -
Letter from the War Department to Isaac Shelby, 24 April 1793
Letter from Henry Knox to Isaac Shleby, prohibiting white inhabitants from entering near the "hostile Indian country" until after a treaty is closed. -
Letter from William Christian to Isaac Shelby, 14 December 1777
This letter discusses provisions and trade with the Native Americans. "Pray inform me how much of the salt belongs to the Indians-- and how much the country's if any, that I may know what to let the Indians have." -
Letter from George Foote to William Foote, Sr., 2 October 1816
Letter discussing family business, the purchase of Native American land and treaties, politics, "immortal Jackson", and the weather. -
Letter from Ann Pearce to Isaac Clark, 24 October 1812
Talks of Isaac Clark needing clothing but expecting him to be home soon so she isn't sure their mother would send any. Discusses William Clark being back to Louisville soon with Native Americans from Washington, which she states "appear very friendly now, but I reckon as soon as they return, they will be as bad as any of them." -
Two accounts from the United States
One is to George Shannon for the loss of his leg during battle with Native Americans. The other is to James Toben for a pair of millstones for the horse mill intended for the Osage Indians. -
Letter from William Preston to William Clark, 2 May 1795
Preston writes friendly greetings to Clark, mentioning he had wished to hear from him sooner because he is eager for news from Kentucky. Updates a little on the relations with Native Americans. Writes a recommendation for a man who wishes to become a clerk in the quartermasters department. -
Letter from William Clark to Edmund Clark, 25 December 1814
Letter from William Clark in St. Louis to his brother, Edmund Clark, in Louisville. Writes that he has drawn on him for sixty dollars for a sword and printing. Inquires about his health. Mentions his enslaved man, York. Notes "the prospect of Indian war is unfavourable to us and it may be proper to send my family to Kentucky or Tennessee. It is most probable to Kentucky in that case."