Letter
Lewis’s Letter to Jefferson Announcing the Expedition’s Return
Lewis's letter to President Jefferson, written from St. Louis on the day of the expedition's return, announcing the successful completion of their journey to the Pacific and back. The letter provided the first summary of the expedition's accomplishments and was published in newspapers across the country.
Writing from St. Louis, Lewis summarized the expedition’s key findings: “In obedience to your orders we have penetrated the Continent of North America to the Pacific Ocean.” He described the route, the Native nations encountered, and the prospects for American commerce in the West. Lewis reported that the all-water route to the Pacific that Jefferson hoped for did not exist — the Rocky Mountains proved to be a formidable barrier requiring an overland portage. The letter was widely reprinted and made Lewis and Clark national celebrities overnight.
