Meriwether Lewis purchased an air gun with his own
money at Harpers Ferry, while purchasing supplies for the
expedition.
The air gun was utilized to impress the Indians that the
Corps would encounter.
Various Journal Entries:
August 3, 1804: " after Capt. Lewis's Shooting the
air gun a fiew Shots (which astonished those nativs)"
October 10, 1804: "after the Council was over we
Shot the air guns which astonished them much".
October 29, 1804: " after the Council was over we
Shot the air gun which appeared to astonish the nativs much".
June 10, 1805: " Shields renewed the main-spring
of my air-gun we have been much indebted to the ingenuity of this
man".
