Louisiana Purchase Significant Dates

Treaty was signed April 30, 1803
Jun 20th Jefferson wrote a letter to Lewis to "explore the Missouri River...
Announced to the American people on July 4th by Thomas Jefferson.
Ratified by the Senate Oct. 20th
Oct. 31 Congress made temporary provisions for local civil government to continue
New Orleans was turned over by France on Dec. 20th
March 10, 1804 formal ceremony for the transfer of ownership was held in St. Louis
Oct. 1, 1804 the territory was organized as "Territory of Orleans"

Louisiana Territory

is purchased in 1803 from France for $15 million. That purchase doubled the size of the United States if not more than doubled, especially if you include the two Canadian provinces (Alberta & Saskatchewan).

Wikipedia has a brief overview.

ON page 273 in The American Register ©1809 There are excerpts from Mr. PIke's Journal. About his travels up the Mississippi River.

In the same year, 1809 another journal was published. The Travels of Capts. Lewis & Clarke

Both of these sources give a good account of the area near the time of the purchase.

Cane Ridge Revival

This meeting house was originally built a few years before the 19th century, 1791. Today it is housed within another structure built to protect it from the elements.

The Scots-Irish Presbyterians came and settled in Kentucky after the advice of their guide, Daniel Boone.

I encourage you to check out their website to get a feel for the history there. The Revival that took place in 1801 military personal estimated to have reached 20,000 to 30,000 persons of all ages and backgrounds. The same site three years later, 1804 was the birth place of Springfield Presbytery.

I also have another link here of person's visit to this historic location The Xenohistorian Weblog. This blog has several pictures of the building.

Burr & Hamilton Duel

July 11, 1804

In the early morning hours, Burr & Hamilton sat down in separate boats in Manhattan and rowed across the Hudson river to Heights of Weehawken, NJ. This location had long been a popular dueling ground. Both men agreed on the location because dueling had been outlawed in NY.

Burr reached the site first with his second, William P. Van Ness. Ness started clearing the underbrush for the duel. The weapons arrived separately to prevent them being used on the river. Burr & Ness arrived at 6:30 AM, Hamiliton, his second, Judge Nathaniel Pendleton and Dr. David Hosack arrived a few minutes before seven.

Lots were cast to choose position. Two shots was the preferred arrangement. Hamilton fired first into the air. Burr fired back and hit Hamiliton in the lower abdomen. Hamilton died the following day.

Burr fled to South Carolina but soon returned to Washington. His political career apparently over he went out west and became involved with a filibuster to establish the Louisiana territory as it's own empire. Burr was charged with treason and later acquitted. Years later he returned to NY was tried and acquitted for his role in the duel. He died in NY and never apologized to the Hamilton family.

1804 Dexter Silver Dollar

The Dexter Silver Dollar, 1804 was not minted in 1804. The US Mint did mint silver dollars in 1804 but they were dated 1803, rather than make a new mold. Dexter purchased his coin in 1885 from the Chapman Brothers Auction then sued for authenticity. The US Mint settled the matter. Yes, they had minted the coins in 1834 but only a few. 15 specimens are known. They were gifts.

Dexter had a painting commissioned to celebrate his authentic coin. He also punched a small "D" in one of the clouds on the back of the coin, forever marking it as his.

In a recent auction, 1989, the coin sold for $990,000.