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"My Dogg"

© Meg Greene Malvasi

Meriwether Lewis was unhappy. He was stuck in Pittsburgh during an uncomfortably hot August, and had grown weary of arguing with the boatbuilder he had hired. The man had promised to construct a specially designed keelboat for the "Corps of Discovery" to use on their westward journey. But the boatbuilder had fallen behind schedule and had not yet completed the project. Worse, there was no one else for hundreds of miles who could take over the job. In 1803, Pittsburgh was the largest city west of the Allegheny mountains. Lewis thus had no choice but to wait for the man to finish.

Realizing he needed to do something to ease his frustration, Lewis went off to spend time by himself. Historians remain unsure about exactly where he went, but they do know that shortly after departing he happened upon Seaman, who would become an unlikely but valuable member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. For twenty dollars, Lewis acquired Seaman, a large black "dogg of the newfoundland breed."

Lewis could not have made a finer choice. Newfoundlands are known for their size, strength, swimming abilities, and great intelligence. As their name suggests, the dogs originated in Newfoundland, an area in Canada, where they were used on ships and by fishermen. Seaman proved more than able to meet the challenge of what lay ahead. Lewis described his new companion as "very active, strong and docile." Seaman quickly became a valued member of the expedition, leading many of the members to refer to him as "our dog."

We know a great deal about Seaman, because he is mentioned repeatedly throughout the journals Lewis and Clark kept during their expedition. Seaman's first adventure took place on September 11, 1803, shortly after the Corps of Discovery left on their journey. Spotting some squirrels Seaman began to bark and jumped into the water. He caught a squirrel and brought it back to Lewis. Seaman then jumped back into the water and retrieved several more. That night the crew dined on fried squirrel, courtesy of Seaman!

Meriwether Lewis wasn't alone in realizing Seaman's worth. On several occasions, the Indians the expedition encountered were so taken with the big black dog that they offered to trade everything from beaver skins to beads for him. Lewis always refused, noting in his journal that he "prised [Seaman] much . . . there was no bargain" as he could not bear the thought of parting with him.

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