Receipt for Wine and Kegs Purchased by Meriwether Lewis for the Expedition to the West

View the full document here: https://docsteach.org/document/receipt-wine-kegs/

Description

In a secret message to Congress dated January 18, 1803, President Thomas Jefferson 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

Philad. June 1 st 1803

Israel Whelan Esq for Cap. Lewis —

B[illegible] of David Jackson

30 Gallons Strong Sp. Wine @ 233 1 / 3 $70
6 Iron Bound Kegs 1.20 7.20

$77.20

Duplicate,
Received the above articles

[signed] Meriwether Lewis
Capt. 1 st US Regt. Infty.

Citation

This primary source comes from the Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General.

National Archives Identifier: 300351

Full Citation: Receipt for Wine and Kegs Purchased by Meriwether Lewis for the Expedition to the West; 6/1/1803; 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://docsteach.org/document/receipt-wine-kegs/, January 14, 2026]

Rights: Public Domain, Free of Known Copyright Restrictions. Learn more on our privacy and legal page.