"Indian Presents" Purchased by Meriwether Lewis
1803
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This document lists "Indian Presents" purchased by Lewis in preparation for the expedition to the West. In a secret message to Congress on January 18, 1803, President Thomas Jefferson had asked for $2,500 to explore lands west to the Pacific. Jefferson worked closely with Lewis, co-commander of the expedition, to ensure that he was well-prepared to anticipate the party's needs. While the party ran out of such luxuries as whiskey, tobacco, and salt, they had plenty of rifles, powder, paper, and ink.
Transcript
Indian Presents12 Pipe Tomahawks | 8 3/4 | | | x 18 |
6 ½ lbs Strips Sheet Iron | 6 1/2 | | | 1 | 62
1 ps. red flannel 47 ½ yd | 12 3/4 | 5 | 12 | 0 | x 14 | 94
11 ps. Handkerchiefs ass[orted] | 13 | 22 | 8 | 9 | x 59 | 83
1 doz. Ivory combs | 3 oz | 1 | 5 | 8 | 9 | x 59 | 83
½ Catty Ind[ian] S. Silk | 7 oz | 1 | 8 | 1 ½ | x 3 | 33
21 lb Tread ass[orted] | 21 lb | 8 | 13 | 9 | x 23 | 17
1 ps. Scarlet cloth 22 yds | 28 ¾ | 21 | 18 | 9 | x 58 | 50
5 ½ doz fan: Hos | | 7 | 1 | 6 | x 18 | 87
6 gro: Binding | | 4 | 8 | 5 | x 11 | 79
2 card beads | 26 ½ | 1 | 8 | 5 | x 11 | 79
4 doz: butcher knives | | 2 | 0 | 0 | x 5 | 33
12 doz: Pocket Looking Glasses | 12 1/2 | | | | x 5 | 19
15 Doz: Pewter [ditto marks] | 3 3/8 | | | | x 3 | 99
5 doz: Burning [ditto marks] | | | | x 12 | |
2 doz. Nonesopretty| ¾ | | | | x 2 | 74
2 doz. Red Striped tapers | 1 ½ | | | | x 2 | 74
72 pr: striped silk ribbon | 3 ¼ | | | | x 39 | 60
3 lb: red beads | 3 | | | | x 2 | 01
6 papers Small Bells | 1 ¼ | | | | x 4 | 02
1 box with 100 larger [ditto marks] | 1 3/16 | | | | x 2 | 25
73 Bassahes Beads ass[orted] | 20 | | | | x 41 | |
3 1/2 doz: Tinsel Beads ass[orted] | 20 | | | | x 41 | |
1 Thread | | | | |
1 doz: Needle cases | 5 ½ oz | | | | | 30
2 ¾ Doz Lockets | 3 oz | | | | x 3 | 56
8 ½ red beads | 8 ½ | | | | x 25 | 50
2 doz: earrings | | | | | x 1 | |
8 brass kettles | 20 | 4 | 0 | 0 | x 10 | 67
12 lb Brass Strips | 12 lb | 2 | 11 | 0 | x 6 | 80
500 broaches | | | | | x 62 | 07
72 rings | 1 ½ | | | | x 6 | 00
2 corn mills | 52 ¾ | | | | x 20 | 00
15 doz: scissors | 17 ¼ | | | | x 4/8 | 97
| | | | |Confirmed | 496 | 82
| | | | | add | | 53
| | | | | |507 | 35
This primary source comes from the Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General.
National Archives Identifier: 300353
Full Citation: List of Indian Presents Purchased by Meriwether Lewis in Preparation for the Expedition to the West; 1803; Lewis and Clark Expedition; Consolidated Correspondence Files, 1794 - 1890; Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General, Record Group 92; National Archives Building, Washington, DC. [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/indian-presents, April 27, 2025]Activities that use this document
- Lewis & Clark's Expedition to the Complex West
Created by the National Archives Education Team
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