Private John Collins
Born: Frederick County, Maryland
Transferred from Fort Massac in Illinois Territory to join the Corps of Discovery Jan. 1 1804
at Camp Dubois.
Clark initially noted Collins in his journal as a "blackguard". At Camp Dubois, Collins
reportedly killed a farmer's pig and passed it off as bear meat. After the expedition began,
Collins and Private Hugh Hall were court-martialed for stealing whiskey while on guard duty.
A fine hunter and excellent marksman, Collins eventually became a good and valuable
member of the expedition.