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The Lewis and Clark Expedition
A letter from Meriwether Lewis to President James Madison about Lewis’s journey to deliver papers to Washington, 1809.

A letter from Meriwether Lewis to President James Madison about Lewis’s journey to deliver papers to Washington, 1809.

Transcription:

Chickasaw Bluffs, [[object Object]]
September 16th 09

Dear Sir,

I arrived here ^yesterday about [[object Object]] PM very much exhausted from the heat of the climate, but having ^taken medicine feel much better this morning. My apprehension from the heat of the lower country and my fear of the original papers relative to my voyage to the Pacific ocean falling into the hands of the British has induced me to change my route and proceed by land through the state of Tennessee to the city of Washington. I bring with me duplicates of my voucher for public expenditures etc. which

[[object Object]]

when fully explained, or reather [[object Object]] the general view of the circumstances under which they were made I flatter myself that they ^will receive both ^sanction &^ approbation.

Provided my health permits no time shall be lost in reaching Washington, my anxiety to pursue and to fullfill [[object Object]] the duties incident to ^the internal arrangements incident to the government of Louisiana has prevented my writing you more frequently. Inclosed I herewith transmit you a copy of the laws of the territory of Louisiana. I have the honor to be with the most sincere esteem your [[object Object]] and very humble

[[object Object]]

[[object Object]] and very humble Servant.
Meriwether Lewis.

James Madison Esq.
President U States

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Citation Information
Lewis, Meriwether, “Letter from Meriwether Lewis, Chickasaw Bluffs, to James Madison Esqr, September 16, 1809,” Digital Public Library of America, https://dp.la/item/b5da6546ea5351e2800eb3984f32ddab.
Note: These citations are programmatically generated and may be incomplete.
Courtesy of the Missouri History Museum via Missouri Hub.

Tips for Students

For this source, consider:

  • the author's point of view
  • the author's purpose
  • historical context
  • audience

Item 3 of 14 in the Primary Source Set The Lewis and Clark Expedition

Previous ItemNext Item
A photograph of a portrait of Captain Meriwether Lewis, 1918.
A letter from Meriwether Lewis requesting payment for supplies used on the Lewis and Clark expedition, 1806.
A letter from Meriwether Lewis to President James Madison about Lewis’s journey to deliver papers to Washington, 1809.
Meriwether Lewis’s telescope, manufactured in 1795.
A list of presents for Native Americans purchased by Meriwether Lewis in preparation for his expedition, 1803.
A drawing by expedition sergeant Patrick Gass in 1807 of the men building their camps as they traveled.
A map of the Lewis and Clark expedition route overlaid on a map of the US in 1945.
A US dollar coin, minted in 2000, showing Lewis and Clark’s Shoshone guide, Sacagawea.
A 1903 map of the land gained through the Louisiana Purchase.
A picture of a Shoshone women and children, circa 1888-1892.
A photo of Mandan lodge made of sod similar to ones encountered by the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
A portrait of William Clark, circa 1790-1820.
A portrait of Thomas Jefferson, who was president when the Louisiana Territory was purchased and commissioned Lewis and Clark’s expedition.
A photograph of a 1905 sculpture of Sacagawea by Alice Cooper located in Portland, Oregon.

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