the various Native American tribes they encountered was very
important to Lewis and Clark. That's why they hired interpreters,
such as Toussaint Charbonneau, to accompany the Corps of Discovery.
Necessary evil? Obnoxious blowhard? Danger to himself and others?
descriptions have all at one time or another been used to describe
Toussaint Charbonneau's role with the Corps of Discovery. Hired
at Fort Mandan during the winter of 1805, Charbonneau served as
one of the expedition's two main interpreters. Meriwether
Lewis wrote that he was "a man of no peculiar merit."
This opinion rarely changed for the better during the voyage.
relief. Lewis wrote disgustedly that Charbonneau was "perhaps
the most timid waterman in the world." On top of that,
he couldn't swima real disadvantage for a 2,000-mile river
journey. Corps members made sport of him because, as a French-Canadian,
he often did things differently from his American counterparts.
evil. Lewis and Clark needed an interpreter, but Charbonneau
had something far more important to offer the expeditionthe
interpreting skills of Sacagawea,
one of his two Shoshone wives. The captains knew they would
eventually reach Sacagawea's people, who lived at the headwaters
of the Missouri at the Rocky Mountains. Her interpretation skills
would be vital. For that tradeoff the captains took on Charbonneau.
They never were impressed with his interpretation skills.
blowhard. The Mandans and Hidatsas, with whom Charbonneau
had lived, had little respect for him. They mocked his bragging
and gave him insulting nicknames, such as "Chief of Little
Village" and "Forest Bear." When the captains
invited Charbonneau to join the Corps, they told him he would
have the same duties as the enlisted men, including standing
regular guard. Charbonneau flat out refused and offered his
own terms, which Lewis recorded: "[L]et our Situation be
what it may he will not agree to work or Stand a guard....[In
addition] If miffed with any man he wishes to return when he
pleases, also have the disposial of as much provisions as he
Chuses to Carry." The captains showed him and his wives
the door to the fort. Four days later he returned sheepishly
to ask the captains to reconsider if he agreed to take on the
duties of the regular enlisted men. Though the reasons for his
change of mind were not chronicled, many historians believe
Sacagawea, who wanted to return to her people, laid down the
law with her husband.
to himself and others. Letting Charbonneau take his turn
at the helm of the boats twice nearly turned disastrous. On
April 13, 1805, just a few days after leaving Fort Mandan, Charbonneau
was at the helm of one of the pirogues. He panicked when a sudden
wind rocked the boat, turned it the wrong way, and nearly capsized
it before George Droulliard righted
it. A month later, it took Pierre Cruzatte's
threatening to shoot him if he didn't regain his composure and
grab the rudder after he again nearly capsized the boat. This
time the boat filled with water, and were it not for Sacagawea's
calmly diving into the Missouri and retrieving important papers
that had floated out of the boat, many critical items would
have been lost.
the expedition returned, Charbonneau took Sacagawea and their
new son, Jean Baptiste, back to the Mandan and Hidatsa villages,
where they lived until late 1809. The three then returned to St.
Louis and Charbonneau claimed the 320 acres he had received for
his part in the journey.
was not in his blood, so a year later he and Sacagawea sold their
land to Clark for $100 to head back up
the Missouri. They left Jean Baptiste to Clark's care, who would
see that he received an education. Charbonneau joined the Missouri
Fur Company and was stationed at Fort Manuel in South Dakota when
Sacagawea is believed to have died in 1812 while giving birth
to their second child, Lisette. Charbonneau formally entrusted
the children to Clark as their guardian the next year.
spent much of his later years interpreting, often being appointed
by Clark. He is believed to have died at the age of 80 somewhere
along the Missouri as he returned from St. Louis.
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