On May 14, 1804, the Corp of Discovery, led by whom, departed Camp Dubois to start their journey by heading down the Missouri River?
Camp Dubois smooth relations with the Spanish authorities in St Louis to make the transfer of the Louisiana Purchase easier. Camp Dubois was a fully operating military camp. Soldiers stationed at the camp were required to participate in training, maintain personal cleanliness, police the camp and other duties spelled out by the United States military. They had inspections, marched, stood guard duty and hunted to supplement their military rations. Sergeant John Ordway was in charge of the camp during periods in which both Lewis and Clark were away. On May 14, 1804, the Expedition, under Clark's command, left Camp River Dubois on
Corps of Discovery John Shields. In total almost a third of the party's permanent members – forming the heart of the Corps – were from Louisville, Clarksville or their surrounding areas. A total of 33 volunteers, including 29 in training, spent the 1803–1804 winter at Camp Dubois in Indiana Territory. On May 14, 1804, the Corps left Dubois by canoe in order to meet up with Lewis at St. Charles, Missouri. The expedition then set off west following the Missouri River on 21 May. Three days later, they passed La Charrette, the last Euro-American settlement on the Missouri. The expedition followed the Missouri