June 25 Saturday – Sam piloted the J.C. Swon, (678 tons) under Captain Isaac H. Jones. Left for New Orleans.
Pilot’s License – Sgt. Fathom & Captain Isaiah Sellers - Running Aground and Heroism – Working the River
July 1 Friday – J.C. Swon arrived in New Orleans
July 3 Sunday – J.C. Swon left for St. Louis.
July 6 Wednesday – Sam wrote to John T. “Tom” Moore from Memphis. Moore was a mud clerk on the Roe when Sam was a cub pilot there. The letter appeared in the Arkansaw Traveler July 14, 1883; the original has not been found and its authenticity is in doubt, though many elements argue for it being Sam’s [MTL 1: 91-2, n2; MTB 156]. Note: this may be the same Tom Moore that presented Sam for Masonic membership.
My Dear John:—
July 9 Saturday – J.C. Swon arrived in St. Louis
July 13 Wednesday – J.C. Swon left for New Orleans.
July 19 Tuesday – J.C. Swon arrived in New Orleans.
July 21 Thursday – J.C. Swon left for St. Louis. A sketch, “Soleather Cultivates His Taste for Music,” appeared in the New Orleans Crescent, signed by “Soleather,” attributed by Branch to Samuel Clemens [Branch, “A Chronological”; MTL 1: 93n2]. (See July 11, 1857 entry for Sam’s comments about the Rufus J. Lackand, and a note on Marleau’s recent research disputing these dates)
July 28 Thursday – J.C. Swon arrived in St. Louis.
August 1 Monday – Sam wrote a piece of fiction intended for newspaper publication titled “The Mysterious Murders in Risse.” It was never published [ET&S 1: 134].
August 2 Tuesday – Sam left St. Louis as pilot of the Edward J. Gray, (823 tons) Bart Bowen, Captain. Here was another majestic boat for Sam to pilot.
August 10 Wednesday – The Edward J. Gray arrived New Orleans.
August 12 Friday – The Edward J. Gray left for St. Louis.
August 19 Friday – The Edward J. Gray arrived St. Louis.
August 24 Wednesday – The Edward J. Gray left for New Orleans.
September 1 Thursday – The Edward J. Gray arrived New Orleans.
September 3 Saturday – The Edward J. Gray left for St. Louis.
September 9 Friday – The Edward J. Gray arrived St. Louis.
September 13 Tuesday – The Edward J. Gray left for New Orleans.
September 21 Wednesday – The Edward J. Gray arrived New Orleans.
September 23 Friday – The Edward J. Gray left for St. Louis.
October 1 Saturday – The Edward J. Gray arrived St. Louis.
October 2 to 25 Tuesday – Sam stayed “at home awhile” in St. Louis until he learned that he was to pilot the A.B. Chambers [MTL 1: 95n4].
October 13? Thursday – Sam wrote to Elizabeth W. Smith (Aunt Betsy b.1794 or 5) from St. Louis. Smith was not really Sam’s aunt, but a friend of his mother. As he explained it in his Autobiography,
October 26 Wednesday – Sam left for St. Louis as the pilot of the A.B. Chambers (410 tons), copilots James C. DeLancey and Will Bowen; Captain George W. Bowman.