Step 2: How to handle a mutineer

John Newman "asked forgivness ... and beged that I would permit him to continue ... through the voyage." Lewis, Spring, 1805

he expedition spent their first winter (1803-1804) at Camp DuBois, near the confluence of the DuBois, Missouri and Mississippi rivers. During that winter and in the early months of travel up the Missouri River, the two captains struggled to develop a team of hard-working, disciplined men. It was not always easy.

On October 13th, Lewis wrote " ... the court martial convened this day for the trial of John Newman charged with 'having uttered repeated expressions of a highly criminal and mutinous nature ... " Newman pleaded not guilty to the charges. The jury of nine of his peers found Newman guilty of mutiny.

He was sentenced to 75 lashes and was "discarded from the permanent party." Clark and Lewis relieved Newman of his weapons, and assigned him to the red "pirogue," a small boat where he was designated a laboring hand.

The winter of 1804-1805, John Newman was a hard worker, determined to reinstate himself as a member of the expedition. He worked willingly and cheerfully, and in every way, conducted himself as he should. According to Lewis, he "exerted himself on every occasion to become usefull."

If you were the captain, what would you do?

A. Reinstate John Newman as a member of the expedition, knowing he had worked hard all winter to prove he had the qualifications necessary for the trip.
B. Send John Newman back to St. Louis because you could not risk another mutinous incident.
C. Order John Newman to remain at Fort Mandan as its sole occupant.