Journal
Sergeant Gass’s Journal (Published 1807)
Patrick Gass's journal, published in 1807, was the first published account of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, appearing seven years before the official Biddle edition. Edited by schoolteacher David McKeehan, the journal provided the American public with their first detailed narrative of the expedition and became a bestseller.
Gass’s account was published as “A Journal of the Voyages and Travels of a Corps of Discovery” in 1807. As the expedition carpenter, Gass provided unique details about the construction of Fort Mandan and Fort Clatsop, boat building, and the physical challenges of the journey. The published version was edited and polished by McKeehan, making it more literary than the raw journal entries. It went through multiple editions and was translated into French and German.
