Sgt. Floyd was a beloved man and leader in the Lewis & Clark expedition. His death hit the men hard, but they knew they had to continue on with their mission. But first, they wanted to remember him before they left, and they stopped here on their way home to make sure his burial cedar post was still standing and to honor him. The monument we saw today was close to the spot that was originally chosen on top of the hill overlooking the Missouri River to acknowledge him.
Sgt. Floyd was a non-commissioned officer in the U.S. Army and the quartermaster of the Lewis & Clark expedition. A native of Kentucky, he was one of the first men to join the expedition and the only member of the Corps of Discovery to die during the trip; he was only 21. [When we learn about all that is ahead of the expedition, the fact that only 1 man died is amazing.]
On July 31, Floyd wrote in his diary “I am very sick and has been for Sometime but have Recovered my helth again.” However, this quick recovery was followed by a turn for the worse.
When members of the expedition buried Floyd, they started a century-long process. His grave was marked with a cedar post in 1804, but when the expedition returned to Floyd’s Bluff on its trip down the Missouri in 1806, the grave was half uncovered. The soldiers fixed his grave before moving on.
Flooding in March 1857 sent a large part of the bluff into the river and took part of Floyd’s grave with it. Parts of the skeleton were recovered, and 2 months later Floyd’s remains were reburied 200 yards east of the original grave site.
Interest in Floyd revived when his journal was published in 1894. His grave was emptied again, and his remains were buried in urns under a marble slab on August 20, 1895. The Floyd Memorial Association was formed to create a permanent monument in his honor.
Today the base of the 100-foot high sandstone obelisk is the 4th burial site of Floyd’s remains.
We almost hadn’t come to this monument, but after reading about him in the center, we realized we wanted to come. And we’re so glad we did. Sgt. Floyd was well liked and well respected. His men missed him as they continued on their mission. We were sad to say goodbye to him too.
From this place we’re going to a couple of places in South Dakota that aren’t on our Lewis & Clark trip but were so enjoyable.
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