What Happened to the Supplies of the Lewis and Clark Expedition?

Photo:  A map of St. Louis, circa 1780, believed to be created by Captain Guy Dufossat, a French military engineer assigned to design and build two forts in the Upper Mississippi Valley for Spain, the territory’s new owner.  Archives of Seville, Spain.  

Once the Corps of Discovery safely returned to St. Louis on September 23, 1806, the Captains were very busy. Not only did they have to share their adventures their friends and supporters in the city and attend a grand dinner and ball in their honor, they had to discharge the members of the Corps and organize their travel to the East.

They also held and attended a public auction of the few remaining supplies of the Expedition. This was military property and would have included the operable and broken weapons, as well as powder, lead, powder horns, shot pouches, kettles, axes, and other items. The sales raised a total of $408.62 for the U.S. Army.

Of course, any personal items such as rifles, knives, or other items obtained by individual members along the journey would have remained in the possession of the men.

So it’s likely that somewhere across America items purchased at this auction are still in an attic or basement, or possibly proudly displayed in a home or museum.