Jefferson National Expansion Memorial - Private John Shields (U.S. National Park Service)

Sketch copyright by Michael Haynes.

P.S. Despite all the trouble I caused at Wood River, the captains took me along with the permanent party. They couldn't have made the trip without me. My skills as a blacksmith, gunsmith and carpenter enabled the group to continue despite many hardships. Capt. Lewis asked that Congress pay me a bonus for my services to the Corps. After the expedition I trapped in Missouri for a time with Daniel Boone (a relative of mine), then settled in Indiana, where I died in 1809.