You'd think that Sacajawea would have wanted to stay with her people. After helping Lewis and Clark buy the horses they needed, she continued on with the expedition. Cameahwait sketched a map of the area to the west for them to follow. He also provided them with "Old Toby," a guide to lead them to the lands of the Nez Perce. From here the party traveled by boat. "Old Toby" returned to his people.
Lewis and Clark's journals describe Sacajawea as "helpful" "uncomplaining" and "cheerful." There is only one incident recorded of a complaint. The expedition was wintering on the Columbia River. Natives of the area reported a beached whale thirty five miles from the fort. Sacajawea complained that the journey to the "great water" had been long. She thought it was unfair that she wouldn't get to see the monstrous fish. Clark must have had some sympathy for her. After all, she'd never complained before. He took two canoes and a small party to find the whale. When they arrived, there was nothing left but the skeleton. The party was able to buy thirty-five pounds of blubber from the Natives.
In the spring of 1806, the expedition headed home. Sacajawea knew the area and helped them arrive safely. That summer, they reached Fort Mandan. Sacajawea and Charbonneau remained there. She received no payment for her services. Charbonneau received both land and cash.
In August 1806, Clark wrote to Charbonneau, inviting him to come to St. Louis or to send Jean Baptiste there to attend school. Charbonneau and Sacajawea traveled to the city. The couple lived there almost five years. In March 1811, Charbonneau sold his land in St. Louis and returned to the Dakotas. Sacajawea went with him. Jean Baptiste remained in St. Louis with Clark, who had become very fond of him.
Six years after Sacajawea trekked across the country with Lewis and Clark, she gave birth to a daughter. Little is known of this girl.
There is very little recorded on the life of Sacajawea after the birth of her daughter. There are two references to her and no proof of either. The first comes from the records of John C. Luttig, a clerk at Fort Manuel, South Dakota.
This evening the wife of Charbonneau, a Snake squaw, died of putrid fever. She was good and the best woman at the fort, aged about 25 years. She left a fine infant daughter.
Accounts show that in March 1913, Luttig took an infant girl to St. Louis. In August, he applied to become the guardian of both the girl and Jean Baptiste. He called the baby, "Sacajawea's Lizette." Both applications have his name crossed out. It was replaced by that of Clark. There is no further mention of the girl. Jean Baptiste remained with Clark until he was eighteen. At that time, he sailed for Europe.
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