Mathematical Instruments $ 217 Arms and accoutrements extraordinary 81 Camp Ecquipage 255 Medicine and packing 55 Means of transportation 430 Indian presents 696 Provisions extraordinary 224 Materials for making up the various articles into portable packs 55 For the pay of hunters, guides and interpreters 300 In silver coin, to defray the expences of the party from Nashville to the last white settlement on the Missisourie 100 Contingencies 87 ----- Total $2500 Eighty-seven dollars for the contingencies of a twenty-eight months' journey of discovery, more than eight thousand miles in length, with a company of forty-five men, and through a land literally unknown! Captain Lewis set out from Washington in July, 1803, and was joined by Captain Clark at Louisville, whence they proceeded to the rendezvous on the Mississippi, near St. Louis. They intended to embark upon their course in the autumn; but several delays occurred, of one sort and another, and the party was not assembled until December. The officers wished to establish winter quarters at the last white settlement on the Missouri, a few miles above St. Louis; but the Spanish governor of the territory had not yet learned of the change in ownership, and would not suffer them to proceed. This compelled them to remain in the lower camp until spring. The winter months were not lost, however; they were passed in drilling and instructing the men in the details of the work before them, thus greatly increasing their efficiency and no doubt obviating delays at later times. CHAPTER IV THE START As it was first organized, the party consisted of twenty-nine members,--the two officers, nine young Kentuckians, fourteen soldiers of the regular army who had volunteered to accompany the expedition, two French watermen, an interpreter and hunter, and a negro servant of Captain Clark. At St. Louis there were sixteen additional recruits,--an Indian hunter and interpreter, and fifteen boatmen, who were to go as far as the villages of the Mandan Nation. This brought the total to forty-five.