Nathaniel Hale Pryor in the Lewis and Clark journals | Lewis & Clark Research Database

The Corps in the War of 1812

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 15:14:16 +0000

The Corps of Discovery disbanded in 1806, but its members walked straight into the run-up to the War of 1812. Lorna Hainesworth gathers brief biographies of more than thirty expedition veterans and associates and traces what each did during the conflict. The sketches are organized into three groups: Corps military members (William Clark, John Colter, Patrick Gass, John Ordway, Nathaniel Pryor, George Shannon, William Bratton, Joseph Whitehouse, and others), Corps non-military figures (the Charbonneau family, Sacagawea, Jean Baptiste, and York), and associates ranging from Thomas Jefferson and Albert Gallatin to Pierre Chouteau, Manuel Lisa, Zebulon Pike, and William Henry Harrison.

Framing the sketches is a concise narrative of the war’s origins — from the embargo years through the treaties of 1815 — along with an appendix on the presidents involved. It is a useful group portrait of where the expedition’s people landed in the decade after the journey home.

This summary is provided for reference on the Lewis and Clark Research archive; the full compilation by Lorna Hainesworth is available at the source link.

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Nathaniel Hale Pryor

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 17:42:22 +0000

Nathaniel Pryor (1772-1831) was one of the three sergeants of the Corps of Discovery and a cousin of William Clark. He was among the most trusted and capable members of the expedition.

Pryor was given several important independent commands during the journey, including leading the horse herd during the return trip. When Crow warriors stole the horses near the Yellowstone, Pryor improvised by building bullboats — circular hide boats — and descended the river to rejoin Clark.

After the expedition, Pryor led the ill-fated 1807 attempt to return Chief Sheheke to the Mandan villages, which was repelled by the Arikara. He served with distinction in the War of 1812, reaching the rank of captain, and later settled among the Osage in present-day Oklahoma as a trader and Indian agent.

Pryor married an Osage woman and was adopted into the nation. He died in 1831 and was buried with Osage honors near present-day Pryor, Oklahoma — the town later named for him.

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William Clark: August 20, 1804

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 17:34:27 +0000

20th August Monday 1804. Sergeant Floyd much weaker and no better. Made Mr. Fauforn the interpter a fiew presents, and the Indians a Canister of whisky. we Set out under a gentle breeze from the S. E. and proceeded on verry well. Serjeant Floyd as bad as he can be no pulse & nothing will Stay a moment on his Stomach or bowels.

Passed two Islands on the S. S. and at first Bluff on the S S. Serjeant Floyd Died with a great deel of Composure, before his death he Said to me, “I am going away” “I want you to write me a letter”— We buried him on the top of the bluff ½ Miles below a Small river to which we Gave his name, he was buried with the Honors of War much lamented; a Seeder post with the Name Sergt. C. Floyd died here 20th of August 1804 was fixed at the head of his grave— This Man at all times gave us proofs of his firmness and Determined resolution to doe Service to his Countrey and honor to himself after paying all the honor to our Decesed brother we Camped in the mouth of floyds river about 30 yards wide, a butifull evening.—

Source: Thwaites, Original Journals (1904–05). Public domain.

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