<P> In 1805 and early 1806 , the President began to appoint leaders for the expedition . For the scientists , he chose the astronomer / surveyor Thomas Freeman , ( who had recently been with Andrew Ellicott on his survey of the southern boundary of the United States ) and Peter Custis ( the first academically trained naturalist to accompany an expedition , he was still a medical student in Philadelphia . He served as the group 's botanist and ethnographer ) . Captain Richard Sparks was chosen to lead the military troops . As the departure date of the expedition grew closer , more soldiers were recruited until the group numbered twenty - four in all . </P>
<P> In 1805 and early 1806 , the President began to appoint leaders for the expedition . For the scientists , he chose the astronomer / surveyor Thomas Freeman , ( who had recently been with Andrew Ellicott on his survey of the southern boundary of the United States ) and Peter Custis ( the first academically trained naturalist to accompany an expedition , he was still a medical student in Philadelphia . He served as the group 's botanist and ethnographer ) . Captain Richard Sparks was chosen to lead the military troops . As the departure date of the expedition grew closer , more soldiers were recruited until the group numbered twenty - four in all . </P>
who led an expedition to the edge of oklahoma
who led an expedition to the edge of oklahoma
Richard Sparks
Richard Sparks