THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE LEWIS & CLARK TRAIL HERITAGE FOUNDATION, INC. VOL. 13, NO. 1 FEBRUARY 1987 "Clark on the Yellowstone" - Foundation's 19th Annual Meeting August 2-5, 1987, Billings, Montana By President John E. Foote POMPEYS PILLAR ("POMPY'S TOWER"): "Arrived at a on one side which is the N.E. the other parts of it being a remarkable rock in an extensive bottom on the Stard Side of perpendicular clift of lightish coloured gritty rock . the the [Yellowstone] River & 250 paces from it. this rock I as­ natives have ingraved on the face of this rock the figures of cended and from its top had a most extensive view in every animals & near which I marked my name the day of the direction. This rock which I shall call Pompy's Tower [after month & year." the nickname Clark had given Sacagawea's child] is 200 feet high and 400 paces in sercumpherence and only axcessable William Clark's Journal, July 25, 1806 The theme for the 19th Annual ful area th at by hosting the 1987 down the river to below the mouth Meeting of the Lewis and Clark Annual Meeting, we will be able to of the Shields River1 where they Trail Heritage Foundation, Inc. is provide Foundation members with camped for the night. "Clark on the Yellowstone." This substantial historical information meeting will be held in Billings, about Clark's exploration and The Expedition spent the next four show Foundation members many days on horseback following the Montana, on August 2, 3, 4 & 5, north side of the river until they 1987, and will feature excursions of our important historical sites. reached a site near present Park in the Yellowstone valley and The Yellowstone River is the long­ City (see map) where they found northern Wyoming. est free flowing river in the conti­ trees of sufficient size to build dug­ Volumes of material have been nental United States. Captain Wil­ out canoes. Clark wrote in his written on the Lewis and Clark liam Clark first beheld the upper journal on July 20, 1806, "I detur­ Expedition and the Lewis and portion of this magnificent river mined to have two canoes made Clark Trail from St. Louis, Mis­ on July 15, 1806, when he and his out of the largest of those trees souri, to the Pacific Ocean, but very party of 11 men, 1 woman, a small and lash them together which will little has been written about boy, with 49 horses descended the (continued on page 2) Clark's exploration of the Yellow­ Bridger Range in southcentral 1. Named for Private John Shields, the stone valley on his return trip to Montana. They arrived at the site blacksmith, gunsmith, and handyman for St. Louis in 1806. It is the hope of of present-day Livingston (see the exploring enterprise (see WPO, Vol. 5, the people who live in this beauti- map) about 2 p.m. and continued No. 3, pp. 14-16). cause them to be Study [sturdy] and fully sufficient to take my THE LEWIS AND CLARK TRAIL small party & Self with what little HERITAGE FOUNDATION, INC. baggage we have down this river. had handles put in the 3 axes and Incorporated 1969 under Missouri General Not-For-Profit Corporation Act IRS Exemption after Sharpening them with a file Certificate No. 501(C)(3) - Identification No. 51-0187715 fell the two trees which I intended OFFICERS - EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE for the two canoes, those trees ap­ President 1st Vice President 2nd Vice President peared tolerably Sound and will make canoes of 28 feet in length John E. Foote H. John Montague Donald F. Nell and about 16 or 18 inches deep 1205 Rimhaven Way 2864 Sudbury Ct. P.O. Box 577 Billings, MT 59102 Marietta, GA 30062 Bozeman, MT 59715 and from 16 to 24 inches wide." Edrle Lee Vinson, Secretary John E. Walker, Treasurer During their stay at "canoe P.O. Box 1651 200 Market St., Suite 1177 camp," they had the misfortune to Red Lodge, MT 59068 Portland, OR 97201 lose half their horses to an Indian raiding party. While some of the Ruth E. Lange, Membership Secretary, 5054 S.W. 26th Place, Portland, OR 97201 men were working on the canoes, DIRECTORS the others were out looking for the horses. The search was ended Ruth Backer Winifred C. George James P. Ronda when it was concluded that the Cranford, NJ St. Louis, MO Youngstown, OH Indians had hurriedly taken the Harold Billian Bob Doerk Ralph H. Rudeen Villanova, PA Great Falls, MT Olympia, WA horses down the river. Malcolm S. Buffum James R. Fazio Bob Saindon After four days of building can oes, Portland, OR Moscow, ID Helena, MT the Expedition departed on July Roy D. Craft Charles C. Patton Arthur F. Shipley Stevenson, WA Springfield, IL 24, 1806. Sergeant Pryor and three Bismarck, ND men were instructed to take the L. Edwin Wang immediate Past President is a Foundation Director horses overland to the Mandan vil­ PAST PRESIDENTS - DIRECTORS EX OFFICIO lages and Clark and the remaining party traveled by canoe. During Edwynne P. Murphy, 1970 Gary Leppart, 1974-75 Bob Saindon, 1979-80 St. Louis, Missouri Butte, Montana the day they passed the site of Helena, Montana present-day Billings and camped E.G. Chuinard, M.D., 1971 Wilbur P. Werner, 1975-76 Irving W. Anderson, 1980-81 Tigard, Oregon Cut Bank, Montana Portland, Oregon farther down the river. John Greenslit, 1972 Clarence H. Decker, 1976-77 V. Strode Hinds, 1981-82 Lansing, Michigan East Alton, Illinois Sioux City, Iowa The following day the party de­ Lynn Burris, 1972-1973 Gail M. Stensland, 1977 -78 Hazel Bain, 1982-83 parted at sunrise and proceeded on Topeka, Kansas Fort Benton, Montana Longview, Washington until 4 p.m. Clark wrote in his Robert E. Lange, 1973-74 Mitchell Doumit, 1978-79 Arlen J. Large, 1983-84 journal on July 25, 1806, "arived Portland, Oregon Cathlamet, Washington Washington, D.C. at a remarkable rock situated in William P. Sherman, 1984-85 L. Edwin Wang, 1985-1986 an extensive bottom on the Star4 Portland, Oregon Minneapolis, MN Side of the river & 250 paces from it. this rock I ascended and from ABOUT THE FOUNDATION its top had a most extensive view The purpose of the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation, Inc., ls to stlmulate nationally: public Interest in in every direction. This rock which matters relating to the Lewis and Clark Expedition; the contributions to American history made by the expedition members; and events of time and place concerning and following the expedition which are of I shall call Pompy's Tower is 200 historical Import to our nation. The Foundation recognizes the value of tourist-oriented programs, and supports activities which enhance the enjoyment and understanding of the Lewis and Clark story. The scope feet high and 400 paces in secum­ of the activities of the Foundation are broad and diverse, and Include Involvement In pursuits which, in the pherance and only axcessable on IUdQment of the Directors are, of historical worth or contemporary social values, and commensurate with the heritage of Lewis and Clark. The activities of the National Foundation are Intended to compliment and one Side which is from the N.E. supplement those of state and local Lewis and Clark Interest groups. The Foundation may appropriately recognize and honor Individuals or groups for: art works of distinction; achievement In the broad field of Lewis the other parts of it being a per­ and Clark hlstorlcal research; writing; or deeds which promote the general purpose and scope of activities of pendicular clift of lightish coloured the Foundation. Membership In the organization comprises a broad spectrum of Lewis and Clark enthusiasts Including Federal, State, and local government officials, historians, scholars, and others of wide ranging Lewis gritty rock on the top there is a and Clark Interests. Officers of the Foundation are elected from the membership. The Annual Meeting of the Foundation Is tradltlonally held during August, the birth month of both Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. tolerable soil of about 5 or 6 feet The meeting place Is rotated among the States, and tours generally are arranged to visit sites In the area of the thick covered with short grass. Annual Meeting which have historic association with the Lewis and Clark Expedition. The Indians have made 2 piles of stone on the top of this Tower. The WE PROCEEDED ON ISSN 0275-6706 E.G. CHU/NARD, M.D., FOUNDER nativs have ingraved on the face We Proceeded On is the official publication of the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation, of this rock the figures of animals Inc. The publication's name is derived from the phrase which appears repeatedly in the & near which I marked my name collective journals of the famous Expedition. and the day of the month & year." PUBUCATIONS COMMITTEE Clark named this remarkable rock Robert E. Lange, Editor and Committee Chairman, 5054 S.W. 26th Place, Portland, OR 97201 after Sacagawea's son whom he Irving W. Anderson E.G. Chuinard affectionately called Pomp. When Box LC-196 Lewis & Clark College 15537 S.W. Summerfield Lane editing Clark's journals at a later Portland, OR 97219 Tigard, OR 97223 date, Nicholas Biddle inadvertent­ Paul R. Cutright Donald Jackson Gary E. Moulton ly changed the name from Pom­ 312 Summit Avenue 3920 Old Stage Road Love Library - Univ. Nebraska py's Tower to Pompeys Pillar, the Jenkintown, PA 19046 Colorado Springs, CO 80906 Lincoln, NE 68588 name by which it is presently Bob Saindon Wiibur P.