On November 30, 1803, Spain formally transferred the Louisiana Territory to France in New Orleans...On December 20, 1803, New Orleans and the rest of the Louisiana Territory was transferred to the United States. The new governor of the territory was William C.C. Claiburne.
But navigation of the Mississippi River was closed for the winter by then and word did not reach St. Louis.
On March 9, 1804, Adam Stoddard, the lt.-governor of Upper Louisiana and Meriwether Lewis arrived in St. Louis by boat. The Spanish flag was lowered that day and the French flag hoisted to fly for 24 hours.. The next morning, March 10, 1804, the U.S. flag was raised and the ceremony was complete.
The events of these two days are referred to as the Three Flags ceremony or the Ceremony of the Three Flags, which Charles Gratiot witnessed.
This is why the Lewis and Clark Expedition did not begin in 1803.
--Brock-Perry
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2012 marks the 200th anniversary of America's "Forgotten War," the War of 1812 that took place over three years, 1812 to 1815.
Battle of New Orleans.
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