To Meriwether Lewis, esquire, Captain of the 1st regiment of infantry of the United States of America.
Your situation as Secretary of the President of the United States has made you acquainted with the objects of my confidential message of Jan. 18th, 1803.
To the legislature, you have seen the act they passed which
Though expressed in general terms, was meant to sanction those objects and you are appointed to carry them into execution.
Instruments for ascertaining by celestial observations the geography of the country thro' which you will pass, have been already provided.
With ammunition, medicine, surgical instruments & provision you will have prepared with such aids as the Secretary at War
can yield in his department.
And from him also you will receive authority to engage among our troops, by voluntary agreement, the number of attendants above mentioned,
over whom you, as their commanding officer are invested with all the powers the laws give in such a case.
As your movements while within the limits of the U.S. will be better directed by occasional communications, adapted to circumstances as they arise,
they will not be noticed here. What follows will respect your proceedings after your departure from the U.S.
Oh, and keep an eye on Clark. He's a bit of an idiot.
Look, Clark, It's a Sacagawea. What the heck is a sack of Julia?
Hola...
