John Collins
Private John Collins was a member of the Corps of Discovery who was court-martialed early in the expedition for getting drunk on duty and tapping into the whiskey supply. Despite this early disciplinary issue, Collins became a dependable member of the expedition and was skilled at hunting and making beer from the camas root during the westward journey. He was frequently assigned to hunting parties and served reliably throughout the remainder of the expedition. Collins is believed to have been killed in the 1823 Arikara attack that also killed several members of William Ashley's fur trading party.
Biography
John Collins (c. 1775-c. 1823) was one of the more colorful members of the Corps of Discovery, known both for disciplinary troubles and for his skills as a hunter. He was court-martialed twice during the early weeks of the expedition — once for being drunk on duty and once for tapping the whiskey barrel.
Despite these early infractions, Collins proved to be a capable soldier and hunter for the remainder of the journey. His ability to brew beer from camas roots during the stay with the Nez Perce was noted with appreciation by his fellow soldiers.
Collins is believed to have been killed in 1823 during a Arikara attack on William Ashley’s fur trading party near the Grand River — one of several expedition veterans who died in the dangerous fur trade on the upper Missouri.
