September 24th Wednesday, 1806

[Clark] I sleped but little last night    however we rose early and Commencd wrighting our letters    Capt. Lewis wrote one to the presidend   and I wrote Govr. Harrison   & my friends in Kentucky   and Sent of George Drewyer with those letters to Kahoka & delivered them to Mr. Hays  &.    we dined with Mr. Chotoux to day, and after dinner went to a Store and purchased Some Clothes, which we gave to a Tayler and derected to be made. Capt Lewis in opening his trunk found all his papers wet, and Some Seeds spoiled

Tidying up after such a great adventure takes some time, and the two captains are doing their best by it.  Writing to old friends and relatives would be about the only way to announce their return. The letter written by Clark to his Kentucky relatives was probably meant for publication and was in fact published and became the first report that went into print.  Actually Lewis wrote the first draft and Clark copied it.  Clark wrote several letters to his brother Jonathan that have been preserved.