Board of Directors
Jackie Lewin, Immediate past Chair
Steve Black, Treasurer
Kay Schaefer, Secretary
Kyle Carroll
Pete Cuppage
Gordon Kempf
Ross Marshall
Pat Traffas
Jennifer Scott
Gordon Julich, Immediate Past President National Foundation
Lewis and Clark in the Riverbend Area
Our Chapter derived its name from the natural bend of the Missouri River in our
area. At the confluence of
the Kansas and Missouri Rivers is an obvious bend from the north as it begins its trek eastward across the state of Missouri to join the
Mississippi River near St Louis. The Missouri-Kansas Riverbend Chapter consists
of members from the area roughly between Ft Osage, Missouri, east of KC to the northern
borders of eastern Kansas and western Missouri.
Bicentennial Journal
Readings
In late June and early July of 2004 members of our chapter commemorated the
bicentennial of the expedition by holding nightly readings of the journals.
These were held near or on the actual location of the expedition’s campsites
on the same day 200 years prior. The readings allowed members and guests to reflect on
the incredible accomplishments of the Corps of Discovery. The following are
excerpts from the original journals, as read by the Missouri-Kansas
Riverbend Chapter and as written in 1804.
June 23,1804
At Fort Osage, Fort Osage originally built in 1808 under the command
of William Clark. “Set out at 7 o’clock and proceeded on to the head of an
island on the S. S. the wind blew hard and down the river which prevented the
Pty moving from this island the whole day”
June 24, 1804 at Atherton “Passed the mouth of a Creek 20 yds wide named Hay
Cabbin Creek from camps of straw built on it” Today this creek is known as the
Little Blue River."
June 25, 1804 at La Benite Park “a Coal Bank on the opposite or L. S Side this bank
appears to Contain great quantity of excellente Coal, Passed a Small Creek L. S.
called Labeenie” Coal was later mined in the area as late as 1904. Bennet’s or
Labeenie Creek perhaps named for Francois Benoit."
June 26, 1804 at Kaw Point
,which was recently cleaned up after years of abuse. It now has a hiking
trail and a boat ramp with an excellent view just downstream of downtown KC MO. “passed a bad Sand bar, where our tow rope broke twice, & with great exertions
we rowed round it and Came to & camped in the Point above the Kansas River. I
observed a great number of Parrot queets this evening,”
June 27, 1804 at Kaw Point
“We determine to delay at this place three or four days to
make observations & recruit the party…unloaded one perogue and turned her up to
Dry with a view of repairing her after Completing a Strong redoubt or brest work
from one river to the other of logs and Bushes Six feet high”
June 28, 1804 at Kaw Point
“the great river of the Kansas…this River recves its name
from a nation which dwells at this time on its banks…this nation is now out in
the plains hunting the Buffalow”
June 29, 1804 at Kaw Point
“a court martial will set this day for the trial of John
Collins and Hugh Hall.” Collins charged “with getting drunk on his post” Hall
charged with taking whiskey out of a keg. Both were found guilty Collins to
receive one hundred lashes and Hall fifty lashes."
June 29, 1804 "stayed in camp at
Kaw Point until 4:30 pm administered punishment to
Collins and Hall, then traveled upstream a few miles and camped near present day
Riverside MO. Ordway described the location as “excellent bottomland covered
with a growth of rushes so thick as to be troublesome to walk through.”
June 30, 1804 near present day Parkville MO
“a verry large
wolf came to the bank and looked at us this morning, passed the mouth of a small
river called by the French PetiteRiver Platte” camped opposite lower point of
Diamond Island."
July 1, 1804 near Weston Bend State Park
excellent overlook of the Missouri River. "Camped on the lower point
of one of the islands called Isle de Parques”
July 2, 1804 near present day Weston MO
“Camped after dark on the SS opposite the 1st old village of the Kanzas. The
French formerly had a fort at this place" They were referring to Fort de Cavignial 1744 –1764 in
Leavenworth County KS approximately three miles north of Ft Leavenworth.
July 3, 1804present day
Lewis and Clark State Park
“Set out verry early this morning and proceeded on under a gentle breeze from
the S. Passed two islands one a small willow island the other large called by
the French Isle de Vache or Cow Island.”
July 4, 1804 present day Atchison KS
“Ushered in the day by a discharge of one shot from our bowpiece…Jos Fields got
bit by a snake…passed a creek on L.S. as this creek has no name and this being
the 4th of July we call it 4th of July 1804 Creek.”
July 5 , 1804 near present day Jentle Brees Conservation Area “we came to for dinner at a Beever house, Cap Lewis’s dog Seaman went in & drove
them out”
July 6, 1804 near present day Wathena KS “set out early this morning & Proceeded on
passed a small island…a verry warm day…I observe that the men swet more than is
common from some cause, I think the Missouries water is the principal cause”
July 7, 1804 near present day St Joseph MO
“Set out early passed some swift water, which obliged us draw up by roapes, a
sand bar at the point opposite a butifull Prairie on the S. side called St
Michul.”
July 8, 1804 Nodaway Island Landing “five men sick today with a violent Head ake &c
and several with boils…passed up a narrow channel about 5 miles to the mouth of
the Nadawa River.”
July 11, 1804 Confluence of Big Nemaha River “I went on shore and walked up parallel
with the river…after walking three or 4 miles I observed a fresh horse track…I
pursued the track and found him on a sand beach. This horse probably had been
left by some party of Otteaus hunters…last fall or winter. I joined the
party…opposite the mouth of Ne Ma Haw River at which place they had camped.”
July 18, 1804 Star School Hill Prairie The final site as the expedition passed
out ofr Missouri. “set out
at sunrise under a jentell brees…at 3 miles passed the head of the island on L.S.
called by the French Chauve or bald pate…little timber on either side of the
river”
