33

AMERICAN JOURNALISM, 21(3), 3354

Copyright 2004 American Journalism Historians Association

The Overlooked Legend:

The Failure of the Media to Report
on the Lewis and Clark Expedition
by Carol Sue Humphrey
Modern Americans have long revered Meriwether Lewis, William Clark,
and their companions as legendary heroes, and the bicentennial has only heightened interest in the expedition and what it accomplished. But much of the
interest in Lewis and Clark has developed in the last one hundred years. Published historical accounts of the expedition have abounded for years. But none of
these historical narratives really address the issue of the press coverage of the
Lewis and Clark Expedition. This study seeks to fill that gap by considering the
reports about Lewis and Clark that appeared in newspapers following the return
of the expedition in September 1806. Overall, American newspapers did not
provide extensive press coverage of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, but Federalist and big-city editors proved less interested than their Republican and more
rural counterparts.

n 14 January 2003, the United States began to celebrate the

bicentennial of the Lewis and Clark Expedition with a ceremony at Monticello, the home of President Thomas
Jefferson. The celebration will last until 2006, the 200th anniversary of the
safe return of the expedition from their explorations to the Pacific coast.
Modern Americans have long revered Meriwether Lewis, William Clark,
and their companions as legendary heroes, and the bicentennial has only
heightened interest in the expedition and what it accomplished. Fascinated
with the success of the original expedition, bicentennial celebrations are
taking place all along the original route. Much of the focus of the bicentennial will be on a day-to-day recreation of the trip west. But much of the
interest in Lewis and Clark has developed in the last one hundred years.
Historian Thomas P. Slaughter recently wrote that the success of the Lewis
Carol Sue Humphrey is a professor of history at Oklahoma Baptist University. E-mail:
Carol_Humphrey@okbu.edu.

Summer 2004

34

and Clark Expedition became a fiction treated as a fact transformed into

history that created a myth.1 Interest in the results of the Lewis and Clark
Expedition increased in the twentieth century as some disillusioned Americans searched for frontier heroes. However, public interest faded fairly rapidly in the nineteenth century, and the contemporary media did not help
because it failed to cover the expedition and its aftermath in any great detail.
Historians have also taken a great interest in Lewis and Clark. Published historical accounts of the expedition have abounded for years. The
first account, written by Nicholas Biddle, appeared in 18142 and many
others have appeared since then. However, most of the published accounts
have been published since the mid-1900s. Popular accounts that are very
readable and provide a good telling of the expedition and its trials include
Those Tremendous Mountains by David Freeman Hawke and Undaunted
Courage by Stephen Ambrose.3 A number of publications have appeared in
conjunction with the bicentennial as popular interest in the expedition has
grown.4 But none of these historical narratives really address the issue of
the press coverage of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Instead, the drama of
the day-to-day adventures of the explorers has provided the focus of most
accounts of the expedition. Most historical accounts end either with the
return of the expedition to St. Louis or quickly move through the aftermath
of the journey and the lives of Lewis and Clark in later years.
Even historians of the media have failed to study the press coverage of
the Lewis and Clark Expedition in any detail. This study seeks to fill that
gap by considering the reports about Lewis and Clark that appeared in newspapers following the return of the expedition in September 1806. One
hundred and fifteen newspapers from all over the United States were read
for the months from September 1806 to March 1807 for the reports published about the Lewis and Clark Expedition. In an effort to search for
patterns and differences, the newspapers studied were classified according
to political party affiliation (Republican, Federalist, or neutral) based on
categorizations originally published in Isaiah Thomass The History of Printing in America and Donald H. Stewarts Opposition Press of the Federalist
Period.5 Of the 115 newpapers studied, forty-five were Republican, sixtythree were Federalist, and seven were neutral. Furthermore, the newspapers
were divided according to the size of the town in which the newspaper appeared, with thirty-four being published in major urban areas and eightyone being published in outlying areas such as smaller towns and more rural
settings.6 Overall, American newspapers did not provide extensive press
coverage of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, but Federalist and big-city
editors proved less interested than their Republican and more rural counterparts.
Journalism scholars joke among themselves that if it bleeds, it leads.
Today, stories involving riots, illegal activities, and disasters fill the news
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reports and provide the bulk of the topics covered by print and broadcast
journalistic outlets. Although crime and violence have always constituted
an important part of the news, they have not always dominated as they do
today. In the early history of the country, the media slogan would have
been, if its related to politics (particularly political controversy), it leads.
Until the middle of the nineteenth century, newspapers included lots of
materials about the political arena at all levels of government.7 And the
dominance of this outlook helped lead to the newspapers almost totally
missing one of the big events of the first decade of the nineteenth century.
The Voyage of Discovery
The year was 1806. The majority of domestic news reports in the
American media related to the activities of former Vice President Aaron
Burr and General James Wilkinson. Apparently guilty of treason, Burr had
been arrested and faced trial for his attempts to break away the territory
west of the Appalachian Mountains and form either an independent country or a satellite of Spain. Burr eventually escaped conviction for his supposed treasonous actions, but in 1806 and 1807, Americans read piece after
piece discussing Burrs activities, their potential impact, and how the nation
had barely avoided dismemberment and disaster at the hands of one of its
own. In the midst of all this controversy about conspiracies and turncoats,
another story almost went unnoticed. On 23 September 1806, the exploring expedition of Captains Meriwether Lewis and William Clark arrived
safely in St. Louis, having successfully traveled from St. Louis to the Pacific
Coast and back without any major problems and the loss of only one man
(apparently due to a burst appendix). It was the type of event from which
legends and heroes are made, but the newspapers in the United States almost missed it. Names such as Stanley and Livingston and Burton and
Speke make up part of the legendary history of world exploration primarily
because of the role that newspapers played in telling their stories. In many
ways, Lewis and Clark were just as successful, maybe even more so, in their
endeavors, but they have not always conjured up similar visions of successful heroic deeds. There are many reasons for this difference, but one of the
major causes was the failure of the American media at the time to tell their
story.
The Lewis and Clark Expedition had its origins in Thomas Jeffersons
worries over the future of the land west of the Mississippi River and his
belief that the United States was destined to extend from the Atlantic Ocean
to the Pacific Coast. Believing in what later became known as Manifest
Destiny and hoping to use contact with, and exploration of, the west to
strengthen Americas claim to the area, Jefferson secretly approached ConSummer 2004

36

gress in 1803 to request $2,500 to cover the costs for a Voyage of Discovery into the Far West. Having received the appropriation, Jefferson appointed his personal secretary, Meriwether Lewis, to head the expedition.
Lewis soon asked William Clark to join him as co-leader, and the two of
them made preparations. The Corps of Discovery, under the leadership
of Clark, left St. Louis on 14 May 1804. Lewis joined them several days
later at St. Charles, Missouri. The group spent the winter of 1804/1805 in
the Mandan Indian villages on the upper Missouri River. Leaving there on
7 April 1805, the expedition ventured into unknown territory. They reached
the Pacific Ocean on 25 November 1805 and spent the winter of 1805/
1806 on the west coast. They began the return trip on 23 March 1806 and
reached St. Louis on 23 September 1806. The expedition had been gone
more than two years. Lewis and Clark returned with an enormous amount
of information about the terrain, flora, fauna, and people of the Far West.8
All of this knowledge would prove very useful in the future, but few details
got noticed by the media at the time of their return.
Reporting on the Expedition
During the course of the trip, a few pieces appeared in the press but
contained little of substance. A brief notice of their departure appeared in
the National Intelligencer on 14 June 1804, but it contained few details of
the plans for the journey. Several weeks later, the same publication corrected a rumor that had surfaced in a Lexington, Kentucky, paper:
A report has been a few days in circulation, and obtained some credit,
that captains Lewis and Clarke, with their companions, had been fallen
upon by the Osage Indians and put to death, only two men escaping.
We have the pleasure to inform our readers that the report is without
foundationthat on the 19 ult. [May] capt. Lewis was at St. Louis,
and expected to depart that or the succeeding day, and was in high
spirits. The report probably originated from some traders on the
Missourie, and others on the Aus-Arc river, having fallen victims to
their own imprudence, or the jealousy of the Indians.9
Following this brief notice, the explorers disappeared from the pages
of the American press for almost two years, reflecting their lack of contact
with the civilized world once they left St. Louis. They sent back a report
to President Jefferson at the time of their departure from the Mandan villages in 1805, and Jefferson made reference to their work in a message to
Congress on 19 February 1806. This message was published in the NaAmerican Journalism

37

tional Intelligencer, the official newspaper of the Jefferson administration,

on 21 February 1806, but few newspapers reprinted this report.
Although the expedition arrived in St. Louis on 23 September 1806,
news of the success of their mission did not begin to appear in most newspapers until over a month later. On 27 October 1806, the National Intelligencer
announced their safe return: It is with sincere pleasure that we announce
to our fellow-citizens, the arrival of Captain Lewis, with his exploring party
at St. Louis. The President of the United States has received a letter from
him, dated at St. Louis, September 23 at which place himself, captain Clark
and their party arrived that day. The story then went on to summarize the
events of the trip, noting in passing that one man of his party had died
before he reached fort Mandan, in 1804, every other one is returned in
good health.10 Variations of this report appeared throughout the country,
in newspapers from Maine to Georgia, but few went into any great detail
beyond the announcement of the safe return. Thus began the process of
denying the Voyage of Discovery the press coverage necessary to make it an
American legend.11
In subsequent weeks, a few eastern newspapers reprinted more details
of the joyous return to St. Louis. Most of these consisted of letters from
people who witnessed the events. One author simply declared that Capts.
Lewis and Clark are just arrived, all in very good health,12 while another
was more wordy in his announcement: Concerning the safe arrival of Messrs.
Lewis & Clark, who went two years and four months ago to explore the
Missouri, so anxiously wished for by every one, I have the pleasure to mention, that they arrived here about one hour ago, in good health, with the
loss of only one man, who died.13 Another writer sent a quick notice to
merely mention the long wished for and safe arrival of Messrs. Lewis and
Clark, who went to explore the Missouri. They are now at camp and will be
in town to day.14
A few letters went beyond the cursory announcement to give more
details of the expeditions arrival. One correspondent stated that Captains
Lewis and Clark arrived here two hours since, having lost but one man of
their partythey enjoy good health and are in high spirits. On their arrival
we fired a salute of 17 gunsthey have fully completed their tour to the
Pacific. After penetrating to the source of the Missouri, they crossed the
high mountains and descended Columbia river, and in latitude 46 encamped
for five months on the Pacific ocean. This writer clearly believed that
everyone would want to hear this news quickly, declaring that I have left
the gentlemen for a moment to inform you of their arrival; and an express is
about starting with dispatches for the mail.15 Another author announced
their arrival to a correspondent, but gave the wrong date:

Summer 2004

38

This desirable and unexpected event took place on Tuesday, the 23rd
October [sic], about the hour of ten oclock in the morning. On Monday evening the news reached this place, that captains Lewis and Clark
had arrived at the cantonment, near the mouth of the Missouri; and the
great concourse of people that lined the bank of the river at the time of
their landing, at this place the next day, must be considered as a strong
evidence of the respect entertained for those gentlemen for the danger
and difficulties they must have encountered in their expedition of discovery.16
This report went on to describe in detail the banquet and ball held on
25 September to honor the members of the expedition, an event which
ended with eighteen toasts to honor the success of the exploration and the
glories of the United States. This piece, more than any other published at
the time, came the closest to shrouding the Corps of Discovery in the mists
of heroism and legend: The respectable number of persons who attended
both the dinner and the ball, given on the occasion, together with the unanimity which prevailed throughout the company, cannot but be an honorable testimony of the respect entertained for those characters who are willing to encounter fatigue and hunger for the benefit of their fellow citizens
but what is not due to those who penetrate the gloom of unexplored regions, to expel the mists of ignorance which envelope [sic] science and overshadow their country.17
The official announcement of the success of the Lewis and Clark expedition came in President Jeffersons annual report to Congress, delivered on
1 December 1806 and published by the National Intelligencer in an extra
edition on 2 December 1806. Jefferson discussed many issues and concerns
in this report, but he praised the success of the Voyage of Discovery:
The expedition of Messrs. Lewis and Clarke, for exploring the river
Missouri, and the best communication from that to the Pacific Ocean,
has had all the success which could have been expected. They have
traced the Missouri nearly to its source, descended the Columbia to the
Pacific Ocean, ascertained with accuracy the geography of that interesting communication across our continent, learnt the character of the
country, of its commerce and inhabitants, and it is but justice to say
that Messrs. Lewis and Clarke, and their brave companions, have, by
this arduous service, deserved well of their country.
The majority of the newspapers published this report and thus made mention of the return of the expedition. However, many of that number published nothing else and so the notice of the success of the explorers disapAmerican Journalism

39

peared in the mass of political information in the presidents state of the

union message.18
Several editors reported on the journey of Lewis from St. Louis as he
wound his way through Kentucky on his way to Washington to report to
Jefferson. They made particular note of his curious companions, a Mandan
chief and several Osage Indians.19 The National Intelligencer trumpeted his
arrival in the national capital: We have the high satisfaction of informing
our readers of the arrival of Captain Meriwether Lewis at this place; after an
absence of nearly three years and a half, which have been exclusively and
actively employed in exploring the western country under the direction of
the President of the U. S.20 This piece, however, was not picked up by
most of the other newspapers studied.
The coverage of the honors given the members of the expedition could
have potentially given these explorers the status of legendary heroes, but few
detailed reports appeared. In February 1807, the business leaders of Washington held a dinner in Lewiss honor. The dinner planners had scheduled
and rescheduled the event several times, hoping that William Clark would
also come to Washington, but that did not happen. The National Intelligencer
described the evening in great detail, and several newspapers did reprint the
piece: On Wednesday an elegant Dinner was given to Capt. Meriwether
Lewis, by the citizens of Washington, as an expression of their personal
respect and affection, of their high sense of the services he has rendered his
country. . . . The report continued with a discussion that came close to
elevating Lewiss exploits to the level of legend: Every one present seemed
to be deeply impressed with a sentiment of gratitude, mingled with an elevation of mind, on sitting down, at the festive board with this favorite of
fortune, who has thus successfully surmounted the numerous and imminent perils of a tour of nearly four years, through regions previously unexplored by civilized man.21 Still, the number of reprints was limited to only
a handful.
Most of the public honors went to Meriwether Lewis. William Clark
returned home to Indiana following the end of the trip and avoided public
recognition whenever possible. He apparently believed that Lewis deserved
the praise as the leader of the expedition. Lewis, however, insisted that the
two of them share the mantle of leadership, both on the actual trip and in its
aftermath. Whenever asked, he spoke of his colleague, captain Clark, in
the most affectionate terms, and declare[d] his equal title to whatever merit
may be ascribed to the success of the enterprize.22 In his report to Congress, Lewis insisted that whatever grant of land Congress might think proper
to make to himself and lieutenant Clarke, it was his wish there should be no
distinction of rank so noticed, as to make a difference in the quantity granted
to each; and that he would prefer an equal division of whatever quantity
might be granted to them.23 Furthermore, in the prospectus for the pubSummer 2004

40

lication of the journals of the expedition, Lewis referred to Lewis and Clarks
Tour to the Pacific Ocean.24 In this effort, at least, the press proved supportive. In almost all cases, including all of the major publications (the
original report, Jeffersons message, and the letter to Clarks brother), the
introductions by the editors of the various newspapers referred to the exploring party as the Lewis and Clark Expedition, even ascribing the rank of
captain to both men even though Clark was technically a lieutenant.
Of the few editors who did cover the return of the Lewis and Clark
Expedition, most included in their discussions some comments about what
it all meant. Some reprinted the statement that Captains Lewis and Clark
were the first white people that ever visited the country from whence they
have just returned.25 Several of the reports about the dinner in St. Louis
listed the toasts, one of which praised The Missouri expeditionmay the
knowledge of the newly explored regions of the west, be the least benefit we
may derive from this painful and perilous expedition.26 A piece that originated in Kentucky declared that the expedition will, doubtless, be productive of incalculable commercial advantages to the Western Country, at no
very distant periodimprove our geographical knowledge of those hitherto
unexplored regionsand assist the government of the Union in estimating
the true value of those boundaries which we claim by the purchase of Louisiana.27 The Lewis and Clark Expedition helped fuel the developing ideas
of Manifest Destiny, and an attendee at the Washington, D. C., banquet
showed this idea by toasting The American EagleWhen she expands her
wings from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean, may she quench her thunders
in both.28 The National Intelligencer summarized the ideas of many that
increased knowledge would be the biggest benefit: If we are correctly informed, the information of captain L., will not merely gratify literary curiosity, but open views of great and immediate objects of national utility.29
The most detailed printed report consisted of a letter ostensibly from
William Clark to his brother, General George Rogers Clark, written from
St. Louis on the day of the expeditions return. Actually written by Lewis,
the letter summarized the events of the expedition. All or part of this letter
appeared in journals throughout the country.30 Various bits of information
caused especial comment in the newspapers. One editor exclaimed over the
delays in the trip because of bad weather in the mountains on which are
eternal snows.31 The same writer also commented about how the men
looked when they returned: They really have the appearance of Robinson
Crusoesdressed entirely in buckskins.32 Another piece announced that
they suffered much from want of provisions.33 Several editors reprinted
discussions of the curiosities that the explorers brought back with them,
including a wild sheep caught in the Rocky Mountains and several Native
Americans from west of the mountains. A few comments appeared about
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the Indians being as numerous on the Columbia, as the whites are in any
part of the U. States and that they are represented as being very peaceable
with not an iron tool among them.34 To most of the newspaper producers, such information was the most important results of the expedition.
Political Party Press Coverage
But even with all of these comments, the coverage of the Lewis and
Clark Expedition, the Voyage of Discovery, was sparse, scattered, and incomplete. Of the 115 newspapers studied, eleven printed nothing at all in
1806 (the height of the coverage), and ninety-two printed nothing at all in
1807 (mostly follow-up materials). Forty-seven newspapers carried some
form of the original report out of Washington, D. C., which reported the
safe return of the explorers, while forty-eight published the letter to William
Clarks brother. Some variation of thirteen other shorter pieces about the
aftermath of the expedition appeared fifty-five times. The most widely published item was Jeffersons annual report to Congress, which contained a
brief paragraph about the Lewis and Clark expedition. But this piece appeared in ninety-five newspapers, leaving twenty that failed to publish it.
Legends and heroes are not created by such haphazard reporting.
Further consideration of the pieces published about the Lewis and Clark
Expedition brings one back to the place this study began: an emphasis on
politics. The partisanship between the Republicans and the Federalists that
dominated the newspapers of the early nineteenth century also influenced
the coverage of the Corps of Discovery. The official newspaper of Jeffersons
Republican administration, the National Intelligencer, provided most of the
coverage. Throughout the early 1800s, many newspapers across the country, both Republican and Federalist, regularly reprinted items from the National Intelligencer because it provided more complete information about
the activities of the national government. Of the sixteen different pieces
published about the trip, eight either originated in, or received widespread
dissemination through, the National Intelligencer.35
Summary of the Political Party Press Coverage
Total Newspapers
= 115

Original Report
47 newspapers

Clarks Letter
48 newspapers

Special Pieces
55 newspapers

Jeffersons Report
95 newspapers

Republican
45 newspapers

22 (49%)

15 (33%)

26 (58%)

33 (73%)

Federalist
48 newspapers

16 (25%)

21 (33%)

21 (33%)

40 (64%)

Independent
Federalist
15 newspapers

7 (11%)

6 (10%)

7 (11%)

15 (24%)

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The National Intelligencer reported on the Lewis and Clark Expedition

because, as the official paper in Washington, coverage of the exploring
trip provided a way to support the administration. But the reporting by
other papers also generally reflected party politics. Generally, a greater percentage of Republican editors were more likely than Federalist publishers to
report on the Corps of Discovery and their activities. Of the 115 newspapers surveyed, forty-five were Republican papers, sixty-three were Federalist
productions, and seven remained politically neutral.36 Of those who published the original report about the safe return, twenty-two (49%) clearly
supported the Republican Party. Twenty-three (37%) Federalist papers also
published this report, but seven (11%) of these had established themselves
as independent Federalist publications that did not always follow the party
line. This pattern continued with the special pieces. Special pieces appeared in various party newspapers: twenty-six (58%) in Republican news
sheets, seven (11%) in independent Federalist papers, and twenty-one (33%)
in hardline Federalist organs. And, of the Federalist papers that published
special pieces, most of them just reprinted items from the National
Intelligencer. Federalist publications proved more likely to publish the letter
to William Clarks brother than other reports about the expedition. The
letter appeared in the same percentage of Republican and hardline Federalist newspapers (fifteen (33%) Republican papers, six (10%) independent
Federalist papers, and twenty-one (33%) hardline Federalist papers). And
Jeffersons annual message to Congress appeared in considerably more Federalist than Republican papers (fifty-five (87%) Federalist to thirty-three
(73%) Republican). However, this is not surprising because of the apparent
stronger Federalist interest in the day-to-day activities of the national government. And, even here, fifteen (24%) of the fifty-five Federalist papers
that published Jeffersons message were independent Federalist productions.
One editor, in criticizing Jeffersons annual message to Congress, apparently
summed up the feeling of most diehard Federalists about the Lewis and
Clark Expedition: . . . from the poor abandoned and neglected Atlantic
States, our philosopher bounds, like the Mammoth, away to the Pacific, and
feasts himself with panegyricks on the useless, and to us, very unimportant
discoveries of Lewis & Co. on the Columbia, and Missouri, and Red-river,
concluding with recommending further appropriations for prosecuting these
glorious discoveries. We conclude with recommending to our good President, to go with them and establish a New Empire on the Pacific, where he
may be assured of our best wishes.37 Another Federalist editor commented
on the naming of a western river after the President: What similitude they
found between the river and the man, that induced them to give one the
name of the other, I cant conceive, unless it is because both are addicted to
running.38 For many of the Federalists, the success of Lewis and Clark was
of little consequence and not worth reporting. The failure of the hardline
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Federalist press to fully report the success of the Voyage of Discovery indicates that party politics influenced the press coverage of the Lewis and Clark
Expedition. Partisanship did not constitute the only reason for the failure
of the press to cover the Lewis and Clark Expedition, but it did help reduce
their potential legendary status because some editors chose not to discuss
the expedition for partisan reasons.
Several Republican papers commented on the partisanship present in
the coverage of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. The Pittsfield Sun stated
that the expedition of Captains Lewis and Clark, tho fully successful, has
become a subject of federal ridicule. But, the editor continued, expeditions for discovery have always before been deemed worthy objects of governmental patronage. English and Russian discoveries, tho tending to extend the empire of despotism, are deemed meritorious enoughwhile our
chief magistrate is subjected to ridicule for patronizing discoveries on our
own immense continent, which tend to enlarge the influence of freedom.39
The editor of the Salem Register, in reporting the results of the endeavor,
hoped that the great success of the expedition has rescued it from that
intemperate ridicule which has been spent upon it, and the philosopher
contemplates it with as much pleasure as the patriot. The voyages of Cooke,
Vancouver, and Peyrouse, and the travels of Mebuht of Staunton and
Thunberg, will not refuse to be associated with the enterprise which has
executed, or the wisdom which has planned this great design.40 In many
ways, these hopes proved to be in vain because party politics influenced the
reporting of the expedition and reduced the amount of news space given to
it.
Urban Versus Rural
But the press coverage of the Voyage of Discovery does provide an
inkling into a vision for the future. Later journalists in American history
would become boosters of a sort, emphasizing the need for expansion and
development. This was particularly true for editors who lived outside of the
major cities on the East Coast. A study of the stories about Lewis and Clark
show the beginnings of this attitude. The newspapermen most interested in
the success of the Lewis and Clark Expedition published papers in areas
beyond the major urban areas of the United States. The initial report appeared in only ten out of thirty-five papers (29%) in major urban areas,
while it ran in thirty-seven of eighty outlying publications (46%). The
letter to Clarks brother ran in eleven urban (31%) and thirty-seven outlying publications (46%), while the special pieces ran sixteen times in urban
publications and thirty-four times in outlying papers. In numbers, almost
three times as many papers in outlying areas ran the Presidents report as did
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Summary of Geographic Impact on Coverage

Total Newspapers
= 115

Initial Report
47 newspapers

Clarks Letter
48 newspapers

Special Reports
50 newspapers

Presidents
Report
95 newspapers

Major Urban
Areas
35 newspapers

10 (29%)

11 (31%)

16 (36%)

25 (71%)

37 (46%)

37 (46%)

34 (43%)

70 (81%)

Outlying
Areas
80 newspapers

those in the urban areas (seventy to twenty-five), although the percentage

was much closer (88% to 71%). These trends show that the more rural
areas, which might have been hoping for government encouragement of
growth and development, were more interested in hearing about the Far
West than were the big cities along the East Coast.
In such cases, the desire for government support of expansion overshadowed partisanship. The Frederick-Town Herald in Maryland provides a
good example of this trend. A strongly Federalist paper, the Herald also
showed a strong interest in the Lewis and Clark Expedition. In November
and December 1806, the Herald contained five pieces about the Voyage of
Discovery, including the original report from Washington, D. C., the letter
to Clarks brother, the Presidents annual message to Congress, and two special stories about the expedition.
Conclusion
In 1807, the politics that pervaded almost every newspaper in the early
nineteenth century moved news about the Lewis and Clark Expedition to
the back page or out of the paper altogether. Lewis and Clark quickly
became overshadowed by later explorers such as John C. Fremont, John
Wesley Powell, and others, whose exploits received widespread publicity
because of personal political ambitions and greater support from government agencies. By the middle of the nineteenth century, the Lewis and
Clark Expedition had almost faded from the pages of history. It would not
be until the twentieth century that, first, western historians desiring to understand the impact of the frontier on American history, and, then, feminist
historians trying to rescue heroines such as Sacagawea, would finally raise
the Lewis and Clark Expedition to the status of legendary heroes. The
contemporary newspapers played no part in that process.
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Appendix: Newspaper ListCoverage Of Lewis And Clark*
Connecticut

Bridgeport

Bridgeport Advertiser

Federalist

Hartford

American Mercury

Republican

Connecticut
Courant

Federalist

Litchfield Monitor

Federalist

The Witness

Republican

Middletown

Middlesex Gazette

Federalist

New Haven

Connecticut Herald

Federalist

Connecticut
Journal

Federalist
independent

New London

Connecticut Gazette

Federalist

Norwich

Courier

Neutral

Georgetown

Washington
Federalist

Federalist

Washington

National
Intelligencer

Republican

Frankfort

Western
World

Federalist

Lexington

Kentucky Gazette

Republican

Russellville

The Mirror

Republican

Lousiana

New Orleans

Louisiana Gazette

Federalist

Maine

Portland

Eastern Argus

Republican

Portland Gazette

Federalist

Saco

Freemans Friend

Republican

Annapolis

Maryland
Gazette

Federalist
independent

Baltimore

American and
Commercial Daily
Advertiser

Republican

Evening
Post

Republican

Litchfield

District of
Columbia

Kentucky

Maryland

Summer 2004

46

Massachusetts

Frederick

Frederick-Town Herald

Boston

Boston Gazette

Federalist
Federalist

Columbian Centinel

Federalist

The Democrat

Republican
Republican

Dedham

Independent Chronicle
New England
Palladium
Repertory
Norfolk Repository

Haverhill

Haverhill Museum

Leominster

Weekly Messenger

Newburyport

Federalist
Federalist
Republican
Federalist
independent
Federalist
independent
Federalist
independent

Newburyport

Newburyport Herald

Pittsfield

Pittsfield Sun

Republican

Salem

Friend

Republican

Salem Gazette

Federalist
independent

Salem Register

Republican

Springfield

Hampshire Federalist

Worcester

Massachusetts Spy

Federalist
Federalist
independent
Republican

National Aegis
Mississippi

Natchez

Mississippi
Messenger

Neutral

New Hampshire

Amherst

Farmers Cabinet

Neutral

Concord

Concord Gazette

Federalist

Portsmouth

New Hampshire
Gazette

Republican

Portsmouth Oracle

Federalist

Farmers Museum

Federalist

Political
Observatory
New Jersey
Journal

Federalist
independent

Walpole

New Jersey

Elizabeth-town
Newark

American Journalism

Newark Centinel of
Freedom

Republican
Republican

47
New York

North Carolina

Albany

Republican Crisis

Republican

Cooperstown

Ostego Herald

Republican

Hudson

The Balance

Federalist

Lansingburgh

Farmers Register

Republican

Poughkeepsie

Poughkeepsie
Journal

Federalist

New York City

American Citizen

Republican

Commercial
Advertiser

Federalist
independent

Mercantile
Advertiser

Federalist
independent

Morning Chronicle

Republican

New York
Evening Post

Federalist

New York
Herald

Federalist
independent

New York Price

Current

Neutral

New York Spectator

Federalist

Peoples Friend

Federalist

Public Advertiser

Republican

Republican Watch
Tower

Republican

Weekly Inspector

Federalist

Weekly Museum

Republican

Sag Harbor

Suffolk Gazette

Republican

Salem

Northern Post

Federalist

Sherburne

Olive Branch

Republican

Halifax

North Carolina
Journal

Neutral

Raleigh

Raleigh Register

Republican

Minerva

Federalist

Wilmington
Gazette

Federalist
independent

Wilmington

Summer 2004

48
Ohio

Pennsylvania

Chillicothe

Scioto Gazette

Federalist

Cincinnati

Western Spy

Republican

Steubenville

Western Herald

Neutral

Bedford

Bedford Gazette

Federalist

Carlisle

Carlisle Gazette

Republican

Carlisle Herald

Federalist

Doylestown

Pennsylvania
Correspondent

Federalist

Easton

Northampton Farmer
and Easton Weekly

Republican

Gettysburg

Adams Centinel

Federalist

Harrisburg

Sprig of Liberty
Dauphin Guardian

Neutral
Republican

Lancaster

Lancaster Journal

Federalist
independent

Philadelphia

Aurora
Poulsons Daily
Advertiser

Republican
Federalist
independent

Relf s Philadelphia
Gazette

Rhode Island

South Carolina

American Journalism

Federalist

Spirit of the Press

Republican

United States
Gazette

Federalist

Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh Gazette

Federalist
independent

Wilkesbarre

Luzerne Federalist

Federalist

Bristol

Mount Hope Eagle

Federalist
independent

Newport

Newport Mercury

Federalist
independent

Providence

Providence Gazette

Federalist

Providence Phoenix

Republican

Charleston

City Gazette and

Daily Advertiser

Republican

Georgetown

Charleston Courier

Federalist

49
Vermont

Virginia

Bennington
Brattleboro

Vermont Gazette

Republican

Reporter

Federalist

Danville

North Star

Republican

Middlebury

Middlebury Mercury

Federalist

Montpelier

Vermont Precursor

Federalist

Peacham

Green Mountain
Patriot

Federalist
independent

Randolph

Weekly Wanderer

Republican

Windsor

Windsor Post Boy

Federalist
independent

Alexandria

Alexandria Advertiser

Federalist

Alexandria Expositor

Republican

Virginia Herald

Federalist

Lexington

Virginia Telegraphe

Federalist

Norfolk

Norfolk Gazette and

Public Ledger

Federalist

Petersburg

Petersburg
Intelligencer

Republican

The Republican

Republican

Richmond Enquirer

Republican

Fredericksburg

Richmond

*Party identifications are based on Isaiah Thomas, The History of Printing in America, 2nd edition
(New York: Burt Franklin, 1967(1874)), 2:296-305; and Donald H. Stewart, Opposition Press of the
Federalist Period (Albany: State University of New York Press, 1969), 868-893.

Endnotes
1. Thomas P. Slaughter, Exploring Lewis and Clark: Reflections on Men and Wilderness
(New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2003), 204.
2. Nicholas Biddle, History of the Expedition Under the Command of Captains Lewis and
Clark . . . Prepared for the Press by Paul Allen (Philadelphia: 1814).
3. David Freeman Hawke, Those Tremendous Mountains: The Story of the Lewis and
Clark Expedition (New York: W. W. Norton, 1980); Stephen A. Ambrose, Undaunted Courage (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1996).
4. The University of Nebraska Press has issued a new edition of The Definitive Journals of
Lewis and Clark edited by Gary E. Moulton (Bison Books, 2002-2004). Also of interest
among the many recent publications are James J. Holmberg, ed., Dear Brother: Letters of
Summer 2004

50
William Clark to Jonathan Clark (Yale University Press, 2002), Larry E. Morris, The Fate of
the Corps: What Became of the Lewis and Clark Explorers After the Expedition (Yale University
Press, 2004), James P. Ronda, Finding the West: Explorations with Lewis and Clark (Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 2001), and Thomas P. Slaughter. Exploring Lewis
and Clark: Reflections on Men and Wilderness. (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2003).
5. Isaiah Thomas, The History of Printing in America, 2nd edition (New York: Burt
Franklin, 1967(1874)), 296-305; and Donald H. Stewart, Opposition Press of the Federalist
Period (Albany: State University of New York Press, 1969), 868-893.
6. For the purposes of this discussion, the major urban areas are defined as the major
seaports on the East Coast: Washington, D. C. (including Alexandria, Virginia); Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; New York, New York; Boston, Massachusetts; Newport and Providence,
Rhode Island; Baltimore, Maryland; and Charleston, South Carolina. All other places of
publication are defined as outlying areas. These cities were the center of American politics
and the American economy in the early 1800s. Newspapers published in these cities were
generally major sources of information for newspapers printed elsewhere in the country.
7. Carol Sue Humphrey, The Press of the Young Republic, 1783-1833 (Greenwood, 1996)
discusses the importance of politics in the newspaper press of the early nineteenth century.
8. The best source for further details about the Lewis and Clark Expedition are their
journals, which have been published in several editions, including The Journals of Lewis and
Clark, ed. John Bakeless (New York: New American Library, 1964). A good selection from
the journals as well as a good effort to set the expedition in its historical context can be found
in The Lewis and Clark Expedition, ed. Gunther Barth (Boston: Bedford/St. Martins, 1998).
9. National Intelligencer (Washington, D. C.), 7 July 1804.
10. Ibid., 27 October 1806.
11. Evening Post (Baltimore, MD), 28 October 1806; American and Commercial Daily
Advertiser (Baltimore, MD), 29 October 1806; United States Gazette (Philadephia, PA), 29
October 1806; Relf s Philadelphia Gazette (PA), 29 October 1806; Aurora (Philadelphia,
PA), 30 October 1806; Weekly Inspector (New York, NY), 1 November 1806; Vermont Gazette (Bennington), 4 November 1806; Newark Centinel of Freedom (NJ), 4 November 1806;
The Balance (Hudson, NY), 4 November 1806; Connecticut Herald (New Haven), 4 November 1806; Republican Watch Tower (New York, NY), 4 November 1806; The Democrat (Boston, MA), 5 November 1806; Connecticut Courant (Hartford), 5 November 1806; The Witness (Litchfield, CT), 5 November 1806; Frederick-Town Herald (MD), 6 November 1806;
Independent Chronicle (Boston, MA), 6 November 1806; Salem Register (MA), 6 November
1806; Connecticut Journal (New Haven), 6 November 1806; American Mercury (Hartford,
CT), 6 November 1806; Northern Post (Salem, NY), 6 November 1806; Eastern Argus (Portland, ME), 6 November 1806; Middlesex Gazette (Middletown, CT), 7 November 1806;
Political Observatory (Walpole, NH), 7 November 1806; Freemans Friend (Saco, ME), 8
November 1806; Virginia Gazette (Lexington), 8 November 1806; Northampton Farmer and
Easton Weekly (PA), 8 November 1806; Portsmouth Oracle (NH), 8 November 1806; Raleigh
Register (NC), 10 November 1806; Bedford Gazette (PA), 10 November 1806; Farmers Cabinet (Amherst, NH), 11 November 1806; Windsor Post Boy (VT), 11 November 1806; New
Hampshire Gazette (Portsmouth), 11 November 1806; Newburyport Herald (MA), 11 November 1806; City Gazette and Daily Advertiser (Charleston, SC), 11 November 1806; Republican Crisis (Albany, NY), 11 November 1806; Wilmington Gazette (NC), 11 November
1806; Luzerne Federalist (Wilkesbarre, PA), 14 November 1806; Pittsfield Sun or Republican
Monitor (MA), 15 November 1806; Suffolk Gazette (Sag Harbor, NY), 17 November 1806;
Weekly Wanderer (Randolph, VT), 17 November 1806; Green Mountain Patriot (Peacham,
VT), 18 November 1806; Olive Branch (Sherburne, NY), 19 November 1806; Haverhill
American Journalism

51
Museum (MA), 22 November 1806; Pennsylvania Correspondent (Doylestown, PA), 24 November 1806; Sprig of Liberty (Gettysburg, PA), 28 November 1806; Vermont Precursor (Montpelier), 29 November 1806.
12. Richmond Enquirer (VA), 31 October 1806; Newburyport Herald, 4 November 1806;
Frederick-Town Herald, 6 November 1806; Minerva (Raleigh, NC), 10 November 1806;
Haverhill Museum, 11 November 1806; Virginia Telegraphe, 15 November 1806.
13. Relf s Philadelphia Gazette, 27 October 1806; Norfolk (VA) Gazette and Public Ledger, 31 October 1806; Farmers Register (Lansingburgh, NY), 4 November 1806; Adams
Centinel (Gettysburg, PA), 5 November 1806; Farmers Museum (Walpole, NH), 7 November 1806; Ostego Herald (Cooperstown, NY), 13 November 1806.
14. United States Gazette, 27 October 1806; Repertory (Boston, MA), 4 November 1806.
15. Alexandria Daily Advertiser (VA), 27 October 1806.
16. Western World (Frankfort, KY), 11 October 1806; United States Gazette, 6 November
1806; National Intelligencer, 14 November 1806; The Democrat, 22 November 1806; Salem
Register, 24 November 1806; Pittsfield Sun, 29 November 1806; Weekly Wanderer, 1 December 1806; New Hampshire Gazette, 2 December 1806; Dauphin Guardian (Harrisburg, PA),
9 December 1806; Western Herald (Steubenville, OH), 20 December 1806.
17. Ibid.
18. National Intelligencer, 2 December 1806 (Extra); Evening Post, 3 December 1806;
Alexandria Daily Advertiser, 3 December 1806; American and Commercial Daily Advertiser, 4
December 1806; Aurora, 4 December 1806; United States Gazette, 4 December 1806; Relf s
Philadelphia Gazette, 4 December 1806; Poulsons American Daily Advertiser (Philadelphia,
PA), 5 December 1806; Commercial Advertiser (New York, NY), 5 December 1806; Virginia
Herald (Fredericksburg), 5 December 1806; Mercantile Advertiser (New York, NY), 6 December 1806; American Citizen (New York, NY), 6 December 1806; New York Spectator
(NY), 6 December 1806; Weekly Inspector (New York, NY), 6 December 1806; FrederickTown Herald, 6 December 1806; Peoples Friend (New York, NY), 6 December 1806; Norfolk
Gazette and Public Ledger, 8 December 1806; Newark Centinel of Freedom, 9 December
1806; The Balance, 9 December 1806; Connecticut Herald, 9 December 1806; New England
Palladium (Boston, MA), 9 December 1806; Petersburg Intelligencer (VA), 9 December 1806;
Poughkeepsie Journal (NY), 9 December 1806; New Jersey Journal (Elizabeth-town), 9 December 1806; Republican Watch Tower, 9 December 1806; The Witness, 10 December 1806;
The Courier (Norwich, CT), 10 December 1806; Hampshire Federalist (Springfield, MA), 10
December 1806; Connecticut Gazette, 10 December 1806; Connecticut Courant, 10 December 1806; The Democrat, 10 December 1806; Columbian Centinel (Boston, MA), 10 December 1806; New Hampshire Gazette, 10 (Extra) and 16 December 1806; Maryland Gazette
(Annapolis), 11 December 1806; American Mercury, 11 December 1806; Connecticut Journal, 11 December 1806; Salem Register, 11 December 1806; Eastern Argus, 11 December
1806; Boston Gazette (MA), 11 December 1806; Farmers Cabinet, 11 December 1806 (Extra) and 16 December 1806; Lancaster Journal (PA), 12 December 1806; Middlesex Gazette,
12 December 1806; Salem Gazette (MA), 12 December 1806; The Repertory, 12 December
1806; Newburyport Herald, 12 December 1806; Carlisle Gazette (PA), 12 December 1806;
Carlisle Herald (PA), 12 December 1806; Republican Crisis, 12 December 1806; Freemans
Friend, 13 December 1806; Virginia Telegraphe, 13 December 1806; Northampton Farmer
and Easton Weekly, 13 December 1806; Portsmouth Oracle, 13 December 1806; Providence
Gazette (RI), 13 December 1806; Providence Phoenix (RI), 13 December 1806; Charleston
Courier (Georgetown, SC), 15 December 1806; Portland Gazette (ME), 15 December 1806;
North Carolina Journal (Halifax), 15 December 1806; Raleigh Register, 15 December 1806;
Minerva, 15 December 1806; Bedford Gazette, 16 December 1806; Bedford Gazette, 16 DeSummer 2004

52
cember 1806; Pittsburgh Gazette (PA), 16 December 1806; Farmers Register, 16 December
1806; Vermont Gazette, 16 December 1806; Norfolk Repository (Dedham, MA), 16 December 1806; Windsor Post Boy, 16 December 1806; Dauphin Guardian, 16 December 1806;
Adams Centinel, 17 December 1806; Massachusetts Spy (Worcester), 17 December 1806;
Litchfield Monitor (CT), 17 December 1806; National Aegis (Worcester, MA), 17 December
1806; Middlebury Mercury (VT), 17 December 1806; Ostego Herald, 18 December 1806;
Political Correspondent, 18 December 1806; Weekly Messenger (Leominster, MA), 18 December 1806; Sprig of Liberty, 19 December 1806; Farmers Museum, 19 December 1806; Luzerne
Federalist, 19 December 1806; Political Observatory, 19 December 1806; Pittsfield Sun, 20
December 1806; Concord Gazette (NH), 20 December 1806; Western Herald, 20 December
1806; Vermont Precursor, 21 and 29 December 1806; Suffolk Gazette, 22 December 1806;
Weekly Wanderer, 22 December 1806; Kentucky Gazette (Lexington), 22 December 1806;
Wilmington Gazette, 23 December 1806; Green Mountain Patriot, 23 December 1806; Western Spy (Cincinnati, OH), 23 December 1806; Olive Branch, 24 December 1806; Northern
Post, 25 December 1806; Western World, 25 December 1806; Public Advertiser (New York,
NY), 9 January 1807; Louisiana Gazette (New Orleans), 9 January 1807; Mississippi Messenger (Natchez), 13 January 1807.
19. City Gazette and Daily Advertiser, 29 December 1806; Freemans Friend, 3 January
1807.
20. National Intelligencer, 31 December 1806; Pittsfield Sun, 17 January 1807.
21. National Intelligencer, 16 January 1807; American and Commercial Daily Advertiser,
19 January 1807; New York Spectator, 19 January 1807; Public Advertiser, 20 January 1807;
The Democrat, 24 January 1807; Connecticut Herald, 27 January 1807; Eastern Argus, 29
January 1807; Luzerne Federalist, 20 January 1807; Pittsfield Sun, 7 February 1807.
22. National Intelligencer, 27 October 1806; Weekly Inspector, 1 November 1806; Vermont Gazette, 4 November 1806; Newark Centinel of Freedom, 4 November 1806; The Balance, 4 November 1806; The Democrat, 5 November 1806; Connecticut Courant, 5 November 1806; Independent Chronicle, 6 November 1806; Salem Register, 6 November 1806; Connecticut Journal, 6 November 1806; American Mercury, 6 November 1806; Northern Post, 6
November 1806; Eastern Argus, 6 November 1806; Middlesex Gazette, 7 November 1806;
Political Observatory, 7 November 1806; Freemans Friend, 8 November 1806; Portsmouth
Oracle, 8 November 1806; Farmers Cabinet, 11 November 1806; Windsor Post Boy, 11 November 1806; New Hampshire Gazette, 11 November 1806; Newburyport Herald, 11 November 1806; City Gazette and Daily Advertiser, 11 November 1806; Republican Crisis, 11
November 1806; Pittsfield Sun, 15 November 1806; Suffolk Gazette, 17 November 1806;
Weekly Wanderer, 17 November 1806; Green Mountain Patriot, 18 November 1806; Olive
Branch, 19 November 1806; Farmers Register, 25 November 1806; Vermont Precursor, 29
November 1806.
23. National Intelligencer, 2 February 1807; American and Commercial Daily Advertiser, 5
February 1807.
24. National Intelligencer, 18 March 1807.
25. National Intelligencer, 3 November 1806; Alexandria Daily Gazette, 4 November
1806; Frederick-Town Herald, 8 November 1806; Republican Crisis, 18 November 1806;
Vermont Gazette, 18 November 1806; Charleston Courier, 21 November 1806; Virginia Herald, 21 November 1806; Ostego Herald, 27 November 1806.
26. National Intelligencer, 14 November 1806; The Democrat, 22 November 1806; Salem
Register, 24 November 1806; Pittsfield Sun, 29 November 1806; New Hampshire Gazette, 2
December 1806.

American Journalism

53
27. Richmond Enquirer, 4 November 1806; Alexandria Daily Gazette, 4 November 1806;
New York Evening Post, 4 November 1806; New York Herald, 5 November 1806; Republican
Crisis, 11 November 1806; Boston Gazette, 13 November 1806; Connecticut Journal, 13
November 1806; American Mercury, 13 November 1806; Reporter (Brattleboro, VT), 15
November 1806; Vermont Gazette, 18 November 1806; Farmers Cabinet, 18 November 1806;
City Gazette and Daily Advertiser, 18 November 1806; Eastern Argus, 20 November 1806;
Political Observatory, 21 November 1806; The Balance, 25 November 1806; Farmers Register,
25 November 1806; Ostego Herald, 27 November 1806; Poulsons American Daily Gazette, 1
December 1806; Middlebury Mercury, 3 December 1806; Carlisle Gazette 14 December 1806.
28. The Democrat, 24 January 1807.
29. National Intelligencer, 31 December 1806; Pittsfield Sun, 17 January 1807.
30. Western World, 11 October 1806; Western Spy, 14 October 1806; Kentucky Gazette,
16 October 1806; Pittsburgh Gazette, 28 October 1806; United States Gazette, 1 November
1806; Virginia Telegraphe, 1 November 1806; National Intelligencer, 3 November 1806; The
Balance, 4 November 1806; Richmond Enquirer, 4 November 1806; Alexandria Daily Advertiser, 4 November 1806; New York Evening Post, 4 November 1806; New York Herald, 5
November 1806; Relf s Philadelphia Gazette, 5 November 1806; Norfolk Gazette and Public
Ledger, 7 November 1806; Petersburg Intelligencer, 7 November 1806; Western Herald, 8
November 1806; Frederick-Town Herald 8 November 1806; Mississippi Messenger, 11 November 1806; Virginia Herald, 11 November 1806; Connecticut Herald, 11 November 1806;
Republican Crisis, 11 November 1806; Boston Gazette, 13 November 1806; Connecticut Journal, 13 November 1806; American Mercury, 13 November 1806; Carlisle Herald, 14 November 1806; Reporter, 15 November 1806; Louisiana Gazette, 15 November 1806; North Carolina Journal, 17 November 1806; Vermont Gazette, 18 November 1806; Poughkeepsie Journal, 18 November 1806; Farmers Cabinet, 18 November 1806; City Gazette and Daily Advertiser, 18 November 1806; The Courier, 19 November 1806; The Witness, 19 November
1806; Eastern Argus, 20 November 1806; Luzerne Federalist, 21 November 1806; Political
Observatory, 21 November 1806; The Balance, 25 November 1806; Farmers Register, 25
November 1806; Ostego Herald, 27 November 1806; Sprig of Liberty, 28 November 1806;
Northampton Farmer and Easton Weekly, 29 November 1806; Vermont Precursor, 29 November 1806; Poulsons American Daily Gazette, 1 December 1806; Wilmington Gazette, 2 December 1806; Middlebury Mercury, 3 December 1806; Pennsylvania Correspondent, 11 December 1806; Carlisle Gazette 14 December 1806.
31. Relf s Philadelphia Gazette, 27 October 1806; Maryland Gazette, 30 October 1806;
Norfolk Gazette and Public Ledger, 31 October 1806; Farmers Register, 4 November 1806;
Adams Centinel, 5 November 1806; Farmers Museum, 7 November 1806; Ostego Herald, 13
November 1806.
32. Ibid.
33. Louisiana Gazette, 4 November 1806.
34. Richmond Enquirer, 31 October 1806; National Intelligencer, 3 November 1806;
Republican Watch Tower, 4 November 1806; Newburyport Herald, 4 November 1806; The
Repertory, 4 November 1806; Alexandria Daily Gazette, 4 November 1806; Frederick-Town
Herald, 8 November 1806; Minerva, 10 November 1806; Haverhill Museum, 11 November
1806; Virginia Telegraphe, 15 November 1806; Republican Crisis, 18 November 1806; Vermont Gazette, 18 November 1806; Charleston Courier, 21 November 1806; Virginia Herald,
21 November 1806; Ostego Herald, 27 November 1806.
35. These eight stories included the three major pieces: the original report from Washington, D. C., William Clarks letter to his brother, and Jeffersons annual message to Congress.
Summer 2004

54
36. For a list of the papers studied and their party identification, see the appendix.
37. Charleston Daily Courier, 17 December 1806.
38. Luzerne Federalist, 14 November 1806.
39. Pittsfield Sun, 13 December 1806.
40. Salem Register, 13 November 1806.

American Journalism