Primary sourceLetter20 August 1806

William Clark's Letter to Toussaint Charbonneau

William Clark · 20 August 1806

A letter from William Clark to Sacagawea's husband, acknowledging her service and offering to raise her son.

Clark's letter directly discusses Sacagawea's unrewarded service and her son's future.

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Handwritten manuscript page in brown ink on aged paper, numbered 7 in the top right corner, with many words struck through and revised. The text describes travel to the forks of Jefferson's river, meeting Captain Lewis, and dealings with Shoshone natives and a mountain crossing. — William Clark, letter to Toussaint Charbonneau, August 20, 1806. Missouri Historical Society, St. Louis.

About this source

What it is

This is a handwritten letter from William Clark to Toussaint Charbonneau, written on August 20, 1806, after the Lewis and Clark Expedition ended. It is held by the Missouri Historical Society in St. Louis.

Why it matters

In the letter, Clark admits that Charbonneau's wife — Sacagawea — deserved a greater reward than the expedition could give her, revealing both her valuable service and the fact that she was never properly compensated. Clark also offers to raise and educate her son, Jean-Baptiste, showing the close bond formed during the journey.

Look closer

Why might Clark feel Sacagawea deserved more than she received?
What does this letter suggest about how women's labor was valued at the time?
What does Clark's offer to raise her son tell us about their relationship?

This letter is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Sacajawea on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.