The Unknown Travels and Dubious Pursuits of William Clark

June 15, 2015

Years before he became cocaptain of the Corps of Discovery, territorial governor and Indian agent William Clark (1770-1838) was an adventurous young soldier, surveyor, and aspiring businessman. Travel opportunities within the U.S. Army brought him on campaigns away from his Kentucky home and in 1798, as a civilian, Clark traveled down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers to sell agricultural products in New Orleans, then a Spanish-controlled city. That trip is the focus of this volume. Clark kept a written account of the journey, including maps of the Mississippi River's course as well as notations of military fortifications along the way. Trogdon (St. Charles Borromeo: 200 Years of Faith) questions Clark's motives; asking if he was possibly collecting information for James Wilkinson, the infamous spy who was plotting to separate Kentucky from the Union. Skillfully describing events in Spanish Louisiana, Trogdon relates the roles of governors, businessmen, and a host of nefarious characters who schemed with Wilkinson and often crossed paths with Clark or his associates. VERDICT Trogdon makes adroit use of Clark's journal and sources in Spanish archives and expertly crafts questions, asking "what if?" and "might Clark have...?" This fascinating read is a substantial contribution to the history of post-Revolutionary America and the expanding knowledge on Clark.--Patricia Ann Owens, formerly with Illinois Eastern Community Colls., Mt. Carmel

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