Powder Horns

Photo: Library of Congress 

In addition to carrying a rifle, each hunter on the Lewis and Clark expedition would have also carried a powder horn for the weapon’s gunpowder.

Powder horns were usually made from the horn of a cow or ox, which were lightweight, durable and, if sealed properly, watertight. The owner of each horn would have engraved his name on the side, and possibly an image, a map, his hometown’s name, or a fort where he served.

Captain Lewis purchased approximately 30 powder horns for the Expedition, although it’s likely many of the men would have brought and used their own.