May 16, 1804–May 21, 1804

On May 16, 1804 the Corps of Discovery arrived in St. Charles, Missouri.

Journal entry by Clark

a fair morning    Set out at 5 oClk    pass a remarkable Coal Hill on the Larboard Side Called by the French Carbonere, this hill appear to Contain great quantity of Coal & ore of a [blank] appearance[8]    from this hill the village of St Charles may be Seen at 7 miles distance—    we arrived at St. Charles at 12 oClock    a number Spectators french & Indians flocked to the bank to See the party. This Village is about one mile in length, Situated on the North Side of the Missourie at the foot of a hill from which it takes its name Petiete Coete [NB: petite côte] or the Little hill    This village Contns. about 100 [NB: frame] houses, the most of them Small and indefferent and about 450 inhabitents Chiefly French, those people appear pore, polite & harmonious—    I was invited to Dine with a Mr. Ducett [NB: Duquet]    this gentleman was once a merchant from Canadia, from misfortunes aded to the loss of a Cargo Sold to the late Judge Turner[9] he has become Somewhat reduced, he has a Charming wife an eligent Situation on the hill Serounded by orchards & a excellent gardain.

Journal entry by Gass

Wednesday 16th.  We had a fine pleasant morning; embarked early, and at 2 o'clock in the afternoon arrived at St. Charles, and fired a gun.  A number of the inhabitants came to see us.  This is an old French village; in the country around which, a number of Americans have settled.

We remained at St. Charles until the 21st, where Captain Lewis arrived from St. Louis and joined us. At 4 o'clock in the afternoon we left this place under a salute of three cheers from the inhabitants, which we returned with three more and a discharge of three guns. This evening was showery, and we again encamped[12] on the north side of the river.

Journal entry by Whitehouse

Wednesday May 16th    We set out this morning, having clear weather, and proceeded on very well, about 2oClock P. M we arrived at Saint Charles, where we passed the Evening with a great deal of satisfaction, and chearfulness, and all our men appeared to be in good spirits.

We shall waite here for Captain Lewis, who is to meet us from Saint Louis 〈here〉;—    Saint Charles is a Village settled by French Inhabitants.    It is a handsome situation, laying on the North side of the River contains about 80 Houses, built in the french fashion, and has a small Roman Catholic Chapel.    its Inhabitants are chiefly canadian french; who are chiefly concerned & employed by others Trading with the Indians who reside on the River Mesouri, and other Rivers that empty into it.    The land adjoining it appear to be hilly, but the soil is good and fitting for Agriculture.

Journal entries quoted from:

Lewis, Meriwether, Clark, William, et al. September 4, 1806. The Journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Ed. Gary Moulton. Lincoln: U of Nebraska Press, 2002.The Journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. 2005. U of Nebraska Press / U of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries-Electronic Text Center. 5 Oct. 2005 .http://lewisandclarkjournals.unl.edu/read/?_xmlsrc=1804-05-16.xml&_xslsrc=LCstyles.xsl