1To Thomas Jefferson from Meriwether Lewis, 15 July 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
I arrived here at 2 O’Clock, and learning that the mail closed at 5 this evening hasten to make this communication, tho’ it can only contain the mere information of my arrival. No occurrence has taken place on my journey heither sufficiently interesting to be worthy of relation: the weather has been warm and dry; the roads in consequence extreemly dusty, yet I feel myself much benefitted by...
2To Thomas Jefferson from Meriwether Lewis, 22 July 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of the 11th. & 15th. Inst. were duly recieved, the former on the 18th. inst., the latter on this day. For my pocketbook I thank you: the dirk could not well come by post, nor is it of any moment to me, the knives that were made at Harper’s ferry will answer my purposes equally as well and perhaps better; it can therefore be taken care of untill my return: the bridle is of no consequence...
3To Thomas Jefferson from Meriwether Lewis, 26 July 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
I have recieved as yet no answer from Mr. Clark; in the event of Mr. Clark’s declining to accompany me Lieut Hooke of this place has engaged to do so, if permitted; and I think from his disposition and qualifications that I might safely calculate on being as ably assisted by him in the execution of the objects of my mission, as I could wish, or would be, by any other officer in the Army. Lieut...
4To Thomas Jefferson from Meriwether Lewis, 8 September 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
It was not untill 7 O’Clock on the morning of the 31st. Utmo. that my boat was completed, she was instantly loaded, and at 10. A.M. on the same day I left Pittsburgh, where I had been moste shamefully detained by the unpardonable negligence of my boat-builder. On my arrival at Pittsburgh, my calculation was that the boat would be in readiness by the 5th. of August; this term however elapsed...
5To Thomas Jefferson from Meriwether Lewis, 13 September 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
I arrived here at 7. P.M. and shall pursue my journey early tomorrow. This place is one hundred miles distant from Wheeling, from whence in descending the water is reather more abundant than it is between that place and Pittsburgh, insomuch that I have been enabled to get on without the necessity of employing oxen or horses to drag my boat over the ripples except in two instances; tho’ I was...
6To Thomas Jefferson from Meriwether Lewis, 3 October 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
I reached this place on the 28th. Ult.; it being necessary to take in a further supply of provisions here, and finding my men much fatiegued with the labour to which they have been subjected in descending the river, I determined to recruit them by giving them a short respite of a few days; having now obtained the distance of five hundred miles: on the evening of the 1st. inst. I again...