December 31 Saturday – A.B. Chambers arrived in New Orleans.

December 29 Thursday – A.B. Chambers reached Cairo, Illinois.

December 22 or 23 Friday – The Chambers ran aground five miles south of Commerce, Mo., where the channel flowed between Power’s Island and Goose Island—a notorious trap. It was soon stuck hard with ice piling up around it. Out of wood, the captain ordered Sam and seven others to take a yawl and row up river to fetch a flatboat with wood. Sam’s judgment in directing the craft avoided certain death by any other course [MTL 1: 95n4]. (See this note for the full story as told by Grant Marsh, first mate.)

December 20 Tuesday – A.B. Chambers left for New Orleans.

December 17 Saturday – A.B. Chambers arrived in St. Louis.

December 8 Thursday – A.B. Chambers left for St. Louis.

December 4 Sunday – A.B. Chambers arrived in New Orleans.

November 30 Wednesday – Sam’s 24 th birthday.

November 23 Wednesday – A.B. Chambers left for New Orleans.

November 20 Sunday – A.B. Chambers arrived in St. Louis.