Richard Windsor
Private Richard Windsor was a member of the Corps of Discovery who proved himself a reliable hunter and soldier throughout the expedition. He is particularly remembered for a harrowing near-death experience on a narrow cliff trail along the Missouri River, where he nearly fell to his death before Lewis talked him to safety. Windsor was frequently selected for hunting parties and scouting missions. Windsor Creek in Montana bears his name, bestowed by the captains during the expedition.
Biography
Richard Windsor was a private in the Corps of Discovery known for a terrifying cliff-side incident at the Great Falls of the Missouri. While scouting along the cliffs, Windsor slipped on wet rock and slid toward a precipice with a 90-foot drop.
Lewis, witnessing the fall, shouted calmly for Windsor to take out his knife and dig a foothold in the rock face. Windsor followed the instruction and saved himself — a moment that Lewis recorded with remarkable composure given the circumstances.
Windsor served reliably throughout the expedition and was among the men who accompanied Lewis on the Marias River reconnaissance during the return journey. After the expedition, he largely disappeared from the historical record, possibly settling in the frontier regions of Missouri or Illinois.
