Klem — The History of Science in St. Louis. 93 



West until 1819-20, when Major Stephen H. Long 9 and 

 his corps of scientists made their famous explorations. 



From the reports of trappers, topographers had begun 

 to suspect that the Platte river might possibly flow from 

 some pass in the center of the Rockies, more accessible 

 and more practicable than the round-about and difficult 

 path of Lewis and Clark and the Astorians to the Pacific. 

 In 1819 Major Stephen H. Long, a topographical engin- 

 eer, who had made trips to the Red and Washita rivers 

 in 1817-18, was sent by President Monroe to discover, 

 if possible, this desirable South Pass, and on his return 

 to make an attempt to determine the source of the Red 

 river. 



As originally planned, the scientific observations were 

 to be conducted by a company of specialists under the 

 command of Major Long. Among his associates were 

 Dr. William Baldwin, 10 the botanist, who terminated his 

 labors and his life on this expedition at Franklin, Mo. ; 

 Dr. Edwin James 11 , Dr. Baldwin's successor, who is best 



s Chittenden, H. M. The American fur trade of the far west. 2: 

 562-587. 1902. 



Thwaites, R. G. Edwin James's Account of an expedition from Pitts- 

 burgh to the Rocky Mountains, performed in the years 1819, 1820. 

 By order of the Hon. J. C. Calhoun, Secretary of War, under the com- 

 mand of Maj. S. H. Long, of the U. S. Top. Engineers. Early Western 

 Travels 1748-1846. 14-17. 1904. 



io Darlington, Wm. Reliquiae Baldwinianae. 1-346. 1843. 



Redfield, John. Dr. William Baldwin. Bot. Gaz. 8: 233-237. 1883. 



Harshberger, J. W. William Baldwin. Botanists of Philadelphia. 

 119-125. 1899. 



Thwaites, R. G. Edwin James's account of an expedition from Pitts- 

 burgh to the Rocky Mountains, performed in the years 1819, 1820, by 

 order of the Hon. J. C. Calhoun, Secretary of War, under the com- 

 mand of Maj. S. H. Long, of the U. S. Top. Engineers. Early Western 

 Travels 1748-1846. 14: 39. 1904. 



Spaulding, Perley. A biographical history of botany at St. Louis, 

 Missouri. Pop. Sci. Month. 1908: 495-497. 



ii Parry, C. C. Dr. Edwin James. Amer. Jour. Sci. and Arts. n. 33: 

 428-430. 1862. 



Thwaites, R. G. Edwin James's account of an expedition from Pitts- 

 burgh to the Rocky Mountains, performed in the years 1819, 1820, by 

 order of the Hon. J. C. Calhoun, Secretary of War, under the com- 



