The Death of Sergeant Charles Floyd
Sergeant Charles Floyd died on this day, becoming the only member of the Corps of Discovery to die during the expedition. About 22 years old, he had been ill for several days, likely from acute appendicitis, an untreatable condition at the time. Before dying calmly, he asked Clark to write a letter for him. The men buried Floyd atop a bluff overlooking the Missouri River near present-day Sioux City, Iowa, and Clark named a nearby river in his honor. The men later elected Patrick Gass to replace him as sergeant.
Sergeant Charles Floyd, one of the three sergeants of the expedition and the youngest at approximately 22 years old, died on August 20, 1804 — the only member of the Corps of Discovery to perish during the entire journey.
“Serjeant Floyd Died with a great deal of Composure, before his death he Said to me, ‘I am going away. I want you to write me a letter.'”
Floyd had been ill for several days with what modern physicians believe was acute appendicitis — a condition that would have been fatal even in the best hospitals of the era. He was buried atop a bluff overlooking the Missouri River near present-day Sioux City, Iowa.
Clark named the nearby river “Floyd’s River” in his honor. Patrick Gass was later elected by the men to replace Floyd as sergeant — a remarkable example of frontier democracy within a military unit.
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Sergeant Charles Floyd, one of the three sergeants of the expedition and the youngest at approximately 22 years old, died on August 20, 1804 — the only member of the Corps of Discovery to perish during the entire journey.
"Sergeant Floyd died with a great deal of composure. Before his death he said to me, 'I am going away. I want you to write me a letter.'"
Floyd had been ill for several days with what modern physicians believe was acute appendicitis — a condition that would have been fatal even in the best hospitals of the era. He was buried atop a bluff overlooking the Missouri River near present-day Sioux City, Iowa.
Clark named the nearby river "Floyd's River" in his honor. Patrick Gass was later elected by the men to replace Floyd as sergeant — a remarkable example of frontier democracy within a military unit.
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