I'm sure you've all heard of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. You know of the main characters; Meriwether Lewis, William Clark, Sacagawea. But, the lesser known figures of the expedition aren't as known or talked about. Today we talk about Patrick Gass, a member of the expedition who would out live all the others.
Gass, who came from Scots-Irish stock, was a vital, and popular member of the expedition. When Sgt. Charles Floyd passed away (stunningly, the only fatality on the entire expedition that lasted over two years and had near 40 members), it was Gass who was chosen to take over his post. Gass was carpenter whose work was invaluable. The parts of the trip that caused the expedition to travel overland, the various hauling devices to carry gear and supplies were constructed chiefly by Patrick Gass. The best known example was when the expedition had to portage around the Great Falls of the Missouri River. Following the expedition, it was actually Gass's journal that was the first to be published (all of the officers were required to keep a daily journal detailing the Expedition's events).
Gass kept up his military service following the expedition. He fought in the War of 1812, which lost him an eye. My favorite post-expedition story regarding Gass comes at the outbreak of the Civil War. Gass was ninetey-one years old and still volunteered to fight for the union. His desire to fight was apparently so strong, he had to be forcibly removed while trying to sign up. Gass would ultimately live until the age of ninety-eight, passing away in 1870 in West Virginia, the last surviving member of the Corps of Discovery.
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