Re; the Lewis & Clark Expedition

The 'pirogues' that accompanied the Lewis & Clark keelboat were described thus; - "The Red and White pirogues were designed to lighten the load of the keelboat. The Red pirogue was a 41-foot craft that could carry about 9 tons of supplies. It had a crew of up to 8 men. The White pirogue was originally slated for provisions, but carried the most vital scientific instruments and supplies. It was about 35 feet long and had a crew of up to 6 men."

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It's interesting to note that each of these 'pirogues' was larger than Capt Sturt's whaleboat, yet neither of them was considered large enough to be equipped with a swivel cannon. In fact, in lieu of a swivel mounted cannon, they each had a swivel mounted blunderbuss fitted in their fore section.

Furthermore; by June 1805, the expedition had reached a point where the Missouri's sandbars & shoals were proving troublesome for the keelboat so she was sent back downriver, while a 'lighter & leaner' Corp of men continued in the pirogues plus numerous dugout canoes, which were manufactured on-site. -- At that time, the swivel mounted cannon was de-mounted and buried along with a cache of supplies; a 'cache' that was later recovered, in August 1806, on their return journey. -- On 16th August 1806; Lewis recorded the following in his diary; "As our swivel [gun] could no longer be serviceable to us as it could not be fired on board the largest pirogue, we concluded to make a present of it to the Great Chief of the Menetaras (the One Eye) with a view to ingratiate him more strongly in our favour. ... ... After the council was over the gun was fired and delivered."

    See:  Discovery Expedition  

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