Author
Andrew Fournier
12 Research Articles
After the Expedition: Francois Rivet
Teaser: Francois Rivet had a long life before and after his time with the Corps of Discovery. Marked by joy and sadness, momentous events in the life of Francois Rivet were found in the records of his Catholic parish. After the Expedition – Francois Rivet Born circa 1757 in Montreal, Canada,...
Chain of Communication
Communication on the Lewis and Clark Expedition required a complex chain of translation that at times consisted of five or more people. Each person involved in these translations was vital, especially as there were times when the expedition relied on the aid or goodwill of the Native Americans with...
Faith of the Expedition
The Lewis and Clark Journals revealed much about the expedition and the events surrounding their voyage. However, one entry by Private Joseph Whitehouse revealed something about the men themselves as they started their journey. On a rainy May 20, 1804, Clark gave permission for 20 members of the...
Fort Kaskaskia
Lewis and Clark recruited 11 men from the garrison at Ft. Kaskaskia, which resides in Randolph County, Illinois. According to the Illinois State Museum, archeologists at the Southern Illinois University recently uncovered previously unknown remains of the American Fort Kaskaskia, which is...
French Opinion of American Society in Early 19th Century
The French have been one of America’s strongest allies since the days of the Revolutionary War. Considering the French population in America was quite large by the early 19th century when Lewis and Clark were starting their expedition, it’s only natural that the French — Canadian settlers and...
French Opinion of the American Economy in Early 19th Century
By the early 18th century, the economic relationship between the United States and France, was close enough that France sold the US 530 million acres of land through the Louisiana Purchase. That was one of the reasons that Lewis and Clark were sent West — to explore all the new land purchased from...
George Drouillard
Aside from the Captains, George Drouillard contributed more to the success of the expedition than perhaps any other single member. From his earlier life, to accounts of his vital contributions to the expedition, to his brief lifetime following the return to St Louis, it is possible to follow his...
Jean Baptiste Charbonneau: Son of Sacagawea
Teaser: After the Lewis and Clark Expedition, led a life fraught with adventure. After the expedition and being taken in by Captain Clark, Jean Baptiste Charbonneau traveled to Europe and returned to the U.S. in 1829. Further adventure and admiration awaited his return. Jean Baptiste Charbonneau –...
Joseph Gravelines
Joseph Gravelines is mentioned several times in Clark’s journal. While he had been living with the Arikaras since around 1790 (DeMallie et al.), on October 8, 1804, Clark complemented Gravelines as a ‘man well versed in the language of the nation,’ referring to the Arikaras. Gravelines then briefed...
Joseph LaLiberte: Deserter of the Lewis and Clark Expedition
Teaser: Despite only a brief mention in the Lewis and Clark journals, LaLiberté’s departure from the expedition demonstrates another facet of the challenge that the Corps of Discovery faced during their western trek. Joseph LaLiberté – Deserter One of the more obscure individuals mentioned in the...
Paul Primeau
Teaser: While little is known about Paul Primeau, glimpses of him are found in other records. Interestingly, Primeau’s story continues after his death, and there is considerable confusion regarding his final resting place. Paul Primeau Paul Primeau was mentioned little in the journals of Lewis and...
Ste. Genevieve: A French Colonial Town on the Lewis and Clark Trail
Ste. Genevieve was named for the patron saint of Paris, who lived during the 5th century AD. Interestingly, in the 17th and 18th centuries, around the time that explorers were settling the area, Sainte Genevieve figured largely in the minds of the French. Houck (1908) noted that all the French...
