Today is March 8th, 1804, and I Bernard am preparing for the most amazing expedition. Tomorrow in the very early day, I am to go with Lewis and Clark. We are going to explore the West of America. I do not know when I am coming back or if I will even come back alive. It is a dangerous expedition and I am very scared. I have heard stories of the seven foot beaver. I and he are going to tango. I am to catch this beaver of mine and take him back to the natural world, where I will become famous. People will love me, and I will be the most looked upon man in all of the world. People will bow down to me and I will have servants.
I feel excited and scared at the same time. I am nervous and eager to go to the new world where I have no idea what I will encounter. It will be very different from what I am used to down here in my home town of Chester Ville. I have very little money and I am to hope that this expedition will roll in the dough. If everyone in the expedition dies and I am the only one remaining, then George Washington will give me lots of money and fame.
I have many questions about this expedition. I want to know what is to become of me and my compadres. I would really love to learn and understand the side of the Country that no one has been to yet. The future is what I am most concerned about, and what is to be of our time keeping expedition. The land forms that we will encounter are unpredictable and to say the least outrageous if the rumors are true.
We leave tomorrow on the orders of George Washington. If this is the last time you hear from Bernard, I bid you farewell.
Signed,
Bernard Bosco
April 3rd, 1804
We are now just a few days short of a month into the expedition. We have just seen the almighty Missouri River. It is a great sight. I have never seen such a magical and powerful river. I can already imagine it now, this river will be my salvation. When this expedition is over and I am still alive, I will get a place on this river. I will live here, trade here, transport here, and thrive here. This will be my new home. It is great here, I look down in the water and I can see fish clear as day. There are animals all around the banks of the the river. Down yonder there are deer drinking water from this great river. Beavers swim freely without a worry in the world. Birds sing their hearts out for their nature friends.
I can already see that the rumors that I have heard before I left are not going to be true. This land is going to be beautiful and free. We will soon be going down the river exploring more and more. We will find many things that will be benificial for the world to come. I Bernard will be one of the first to find these such benificial things. I will one day be a guide for this country, because no one person on this earth will know more about this country side then me. I will guide many people through this country and they will be in my gratitude forever. I will be the most known person in the country.
Only one day when I get out of this expedition will this all come true. We are heading off on the river soon so this is all I got to say for the day, and what a glorious day it was.
Signed,
Bernard Bosco 1804