Photo of the Day

Meriwether Lewis writes to President Thomas Jefferson on April 7, 1805, from Fort Mandan, a Native American village on the banks of the Missouri River in present-day North Dakota.

Right: detail of William Clark's map of the Mandan village location on the Missouri River.

“Dear Sir.

Herewith inclosed you will receive an invoice of certain articles, which I have forwarded to you from this place: 67 specimens of earths, salts and minerals; and 60 specimens of plants.

These are accompanyed by their rispective labels expressing the days on which obtained, places where found,

Lewis's Woodpecker is the only known expedition specimen to survive. Lewis recorded the discovery in Montana in July 1805.

and also their virtues and properties when known.

Reconstruction of Fort Mandan.

You will also receive herewith inclosed a part of Capt. Clark’s private journal… to give you the daily detales of our progress, and transactions.

Left: depiction from the US Capitol Building of Lewis and Clark at the Mandan village. Right: an image of the Mandan people.

I have transmitted to the Secretary at War, every information relative to the geography of the country which we possess, together with a view of the Indian nations.

Items Lewis purchased for giving to Native people encoutered on the expedition.

Our baggage is all embarked on board six small canoes and two perogues; we shall set out [early tomorrow morning].

War Department map of western North America prepared in 1803 from all information then available. The map was carried on the expedition as far as Fort Mandan and bears annotations in Lewis’s hand.

We calculate on traveling at the rate of 20 or 25 miles pr. day as far as the falls of the Missouri.

Journal and compass used by the Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery.

Beyond this point, any calculation with rispect to our daily progress, can be little more than bare conjecture.

Travel journal of Joseph Whitehouse, a member of the expedition. Whitehouse served as the chief tailor for the expedition and devised new garments from animal skins during the course of the 28-month expedition.

Should this river not prove navigable where we first meet with it, our present intention is, to continue our march by land down the river untill it becomes so, or to the Pacific Ocean.

Pompey's Pillar, a rock formation near Billings named by William Clark for the infant son of Sacagawea who accompanied the expedition party.

We do not calculate on completeing our voyage within the present year, but expect to reach the Pacific Ocean, and return, as far as the head of the Missouri, or perhaps to this place before winter.

A Native man in a dugout canoe, Idaho.

At this moment, every individual of the party are in good health, and excellent sperits; zealously attatched to the enterprise, and anxious to proceed.

On November 7, 1805, Lewis & Clark's Corps of Discovery reached the Pacific at Cape Disappointment in Oregon.

With such men I have every thing to hope, and but little to fear.”

I’ll see you tomorrow.

— Brenda

The letter has been edited for brevity.