Letter
Clark’s Letter to Brother Jonathan Announcing Return
William Clark's personal letter to his brother Jonathan Clark, written on the day of the expedition's return to St. Louis, providing a frank and personal account of the journey. Unlike Lewis's formal letter to Jefferson, Clark's letter to his brother offered candid observations about the hardships endured and the personal relationships formed during the expedition.
Clark wrote to Jonathan from St. Louis on September 23, 1806, the day of their triumphant return. His letter provided personal details about the journey that he would not have included in official correspondence, including observations about individual expedition members, the physical toll of the journey, and his plans for the future. Clark’s correspondence with his family provides important context for understanding the personal side of the expedition.
