LXIV. LXIV
BRATTON'S DISCHARGE PAPER
LXIV. [From photograph of original MS., in Wheeler, On the Trail of Lewis and Clark, pp. 113, 285.]
St Louis October 10th, 1806
To all whom it
may concern
Know ye, that the bearer hereof William Bratton, private in a corps
distined for the discovery of the interior of the continent of North
America, having faithfully discharged his duty in said capacity so long
as his services have been necessary to complete the objects of a Voyage
to the Pacific Ocean, is in virtue of the authority vested in me by the
President of the United States hereby discharged from the military
service of the said States; and as a tribute justly due the merits of the
said Willm. Bratton, I with cheerfullness declare that the ample support
which he gave me under every difficulty, the manly firmness which he
evinced on every necessary occation, and the fortitude with which
he boar the fatugues and painfull sufferings incident to that long Voyage,
entitles him to my highest confidence and sincere thanks; while it
eminently recommends him to the consideration and rispect of his
fellow Citizens
Meriwether Lewis Capt.
Ist. U. S., Regt. Infty.
I certify that the within named Wm. Bratton has received from me all
arrears of pay cloathing and rations due him by the United States from
the date of his enlistment to the present date
October 10th 1806——
Meriwether Lewis Capt.
1st. U. S. Regt. Infty.
