Charles Floyd died on August 20, 1804, after becoming violently ill the day before (likely peritonitis caused by a ruptured appendix)
William Clark wrote:
"we Came to make a warm bath for Sergt. Floyd hopeing it would brace him a little, before we could get him in the bath he expired, with a great deel of composure, haveing Said to me before his death that he was going away and wished me to write a letter -- we tool
"Buried him to the top of a high round hill over looking the river & Countre for a great distance Situated just below a Small river without name to which we name & call Floyds river, the Bluffs Sergts. Floyds Buff -- we buried him with all the honors of War, and fixed a Ceeder post at his head with his name and title & Day of the month and year"
"Capt Lewis read the funeral Service over him after paying everry respect to the Body of the desceased man (who had at All times given us proofs of his impatiality Sincurity to ourselves and good will to serve the Countrey) we returned to the Boat & proceeded to the Mouth of the little river 30 yd. wide & camped a butifull evening."
Again, William Clark had some interesting spelling.
Sergeant Floyd would be the only member of the Corps of Discovery to die on the expedition, which was surprising considering the great unknown they were going through.
--Cooter
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