President Jefferson worked closely with Meriwether Lewis to ensure that he was well prepared—to anticipate what the party would need in the way of arms, food, medicines, camping gear, scientific instruments, and presents for the Indians. They planned well. While the expedition ran out of such luxuries as whiskey, tobacco, and salt, they never ran out of rifles and powder, needed both for self-defense and food supply; and they never ran out of ink and paper, needed to record their findings.
National Archives, Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General.