N3815

Lewis & Clark Expedition - Bicentennial

Fred's Anecdotal Note

Privates Reubin and Joseph Field

The Field brothers were two of the most trusted and valuable men on the expedition. Probable sons of John Field who served under Washington, Reubin (1771) & Joseph (1772) were excellent scouts and skilled hunters. On August 23, 1804, Joseph had the distinction of killing the expedition's first buffalo. That night the Corps dined on buffalo steaks, hump and tongue. It instantly became the Corps' meat of choice!

On July 26,1806, both Fields, Drouillard, and Lewis were on an exploration far from the main party. In dangerous Blackfoot country they met eight braves with whom they smoked and camped. At dawn, a warrior grabbed both brothers' guns and raced away. At the same time, Drouillard shouted, "Damn you! Let go my gun!" and wrestled his rifle from another Indian. As Lewis ran after two other braves trying to steal horses, he wounded one in the belly who in turn fired his old musket at Lewis who later wrote, "Being bear-headed, I felt the wind of his bullet very distinctly. " In the meantime, after a 50-yard chase, Reubin stabbed the fleeing warrior and later recounted that the lndian "drew but one breath and the wind of his breathfollowed the knife and he fell dead."