▁planned ▁the ▁construction ▁of ▁an ▁experimental ▁steam bo at ▁to ▁transport ▁the ▁task ▁force ▁of ▁scient ists ▁as ▁far ▁as ▁possible ▁on ▁the ▁vent ure . ▁N amed ▁the ▁Western ▁Engine er , ▁it ▁was ▁uniqu ely ▁designed ▁to ▁navigate ▁the ▁expected ▁narrow , ▁shall ow , ▁sn ag - l itter ed ▁channels ▁of ▁the ▁Missouri ▁River ▁and ▁its ▁trib ut aries , ▁with ▁a ▁particularly ▁strong ▁engine ▁for ▁increased ▁power ▁against ▁swift ▁curr ents . ▁Another ▁novel ▁feature ▁was ▁a ▁p addle w heel ▁built ▁into ▁the ▁stern ▁to ▁reduce ▁the ▁danger ▁of ▁damage ▁from ▁sn ags . ▁The ▁vessel ▁was ▁launched ▁in ▁Pitts burgh , ▁Pennsylvania ▁in ▁the ▁winter ▁of ▁ 1 8 1 8 – 1 9 , ▁and ▁was ▁probably ▁the ▁first ▁stern - w heel ▁p addle ▁ste amer ▁ever ▁built . ▁ ▁The ▁boat ▁had ▁a ▁ ▁h ull ▁with ▁the ▁weight ▁of ▁the ▁mach in ery ▁carefully ▁distributed ▁to ▁permit ▁increased ▁man eu ver ability ▁in ▁shall ow ▁channels . ▁To ▁protect ▁the ▁vessel ▁from ▁Indian ▁attack , ▁Long ▁installed ▁a ▁bullet proof ▁pil oth ouse , ▁mounted ▁a ▁can non ▁on ▁the ▁bow , ▁placed ▁how itz ers ▁along ▁the ▁side , ▁and ▁armed ▁the ▁crew ▁with ▁rif les ▁and ▁sab res . ▁Nick named ▁" Long ' s ▁Dragon " ▁because ▁it ▁was ▁decor ated ▁as ▁a ▁ser pent ▁in ▁order ▁to ▁d eter ▁and ▁fright en ▁any ▁host ile ▁front ier ▁n atives , ▁it ▁was ▁anything ▁but ▁a ▁typical ▁steam bo