D I S T I N C T L Y M O N T A N A M A G A Z I N E • S U M M E R 2 0 2 2
54
A defining re-
quirement of the
von Steuben pat-
tern is that the dis-
tance of each row
from the one previ-
ous be indicated in
paces. The latrines
required 300 paces
distance, for ex-
ample. Von Steu-
ben was very con-
cerned with camp
cleanliness, and
because the Corps
of Discovery was
plagued with chronic diarrhea from their liberal consump-
tion of Dr. Rush's Bilious Pills, or "thunderclappers," they
too cared about keeping things clean.
Hall located
a number of
s u g g e s t i v e l y
arranged fire
hearths that dat-
ed from the cor-
rect period. The
team also found
several artifacts
that could be at-
tributed to the
Corps, includ-
ing a blue bead,
melted lead, and
a tombac (metal)
button. Most in-
terestingly, the latrines they uncovered contained a not insig-
nificant amount of mercury, a dead giveaway that the poop in
the pit belonged to non-Native individuals.
MACI MCPHERSON
The Very Name "Lost Trail"
COMMEMORATES THE ONLY TWO TIMES
THE CORPS GOT LOST ON THEIR JOURNEY—
BOTH TIMES, IT HAPPENED IN MONTANA.
