At this point, Patrick Gass had decided to make the Army his career. His intelligence and other merits caused his promotion ton non-commissioned officer. His duties were to recruit new soldiers and arrest deserters.
In 1801, Gass went with a company commanded by Captain Bissell up the Tennessee River and in the Autumn of 1802, Captain Bissel's company, with a battery of artillery, were sent to Kaskaskia, Illinois, They were there in the autumn of 1803 when a call was made for recruits to accompany the expedition of Lewis and Clark.
Captain Lewis himself came to Kaskaskia in search of suitable members of his group. Here, he met one Patrick Gass, and the rest, as they say, was history.
To one of Gass' adventurous and hardy nature, this was a golden opportunity. He instantly volunteered. However, Captain Bissell objected and tried to keep Gass. But the resolute Patrick tracked Lewis down and told him he wanted to go. Over Bissell's objection, Lewis got Gass.
--Brock-Perry
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