 Another expedition preliminarily named the "Great Excursion" was planned by Jefferson in order to continue the exploration of the Red River.Although Dunbar's failing health prevented him from participating in the expedition, he nevertheless was charged by Jefferson with the task of organizing it, together with Secretary of War Henry Dearborn.Dunbar used his experience from the first Red River expedition to plan this one; among his ideas was to use a boat suited for inland exploration in the trans-Mississippi region.