Toussaint Charbonneau Archives - Lewis & Clark Research Database

Mandan Corn and Beans; Chief Negotiations Begin

Mon, 04 May 2026 16:46:21 +0000

the party went at dressing themselves deer Skins &C. the na-
tives brought us corn and beans &C. they brought us a break-
fast of boild siniblins & beans &C. the 2 village of Mandans gave
us Considerable of corn and more than we would take away.
Cap* Clark went over and tryed to perswade Some of the chief of
that village to go down with us but they could not find any one
willing to go with us. the chiefs of the 1st village wished us to
1 “a little below the enterance of Shabonos Creek.” Clark.
2 The camp was “at the entrance of Myry river.” Clark. Ordway’s
“long distance” is estimated by Clark at eighty-six miles. The M. R. C. map
agrees closely with Clark’s statement, showing the length of the day’s journey
as a little over eighty miles.
390 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS [Aug. 16
Stay 1 or 2 days longer with them we gave the Swivvel to the
Big Belleys or Grousevauntars.1

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Colter Released to Trap with Dixon and Hancock

Mon, 04 May 2026 16:46:21 +0000

leave of our officers to go back with Mr Dixon a trapping, which
permission was granted him so our officers Settled with him and
fitted him out with powder lead and a great number of articles
which compleated him for a trapping voiage of two years which
they are determined to Stay untill they make a fortune, &C. &C.
we lashed together Some of our canoes and Colter Mr Dixon &
Handcock parted with us in their Small canoe2 the natives
visits us in great numbers, about 4 oC. P. M. dropped down to
the 1st village of Mandans where we took on board Mr Jessom his
1 The swivel was presented with “a good deel of ceremony” to Le Borgne,
or the One Eyed with a view to attaching him more strongly to the United
States government. In presenting the gun Clark told the chief “to remem-
ber,” when he fired it, “the words of his great father which we had given him,
this gun had announced the words of his great father to all the nations which we
had seen.”
2 “The example of this man shows how easily men may4 be weaned from
the habits of civilized life to the ruder but scarcely less fascinating manners
of the woods. This hunter has been now absent for many years from the
frontiers, and might naturally be presumed to have some anxiety, or some
curiosity at least, to return to his friends and his country; yet, just at the
moment when he is approaching the frontiers, he is tempted by a hunting
scheme to give up those delightful prospects, and go back without the least
reluctance to the solitude of the woods.” Biddle, III, 1182. Colter remained
on the upper Missouri, in the midst of perils and hardships, until the spring of
1810. He was the first white explorer of Yellowstone Park. For an account
of his adventurous career see Wheeler, I, 98-105, and Chittenden, American
Fur Trade, II, 713-23.
In addition to Colter Hie parly left behind at the Mandan villages, Charbon-
neau. Sacajawea, and their baby. The latter, “a butifull promising child”
of nineteen months, Clark offered to lake and rear. The parents were willing,
but the fact that the baby was Dot yel weaned led to the decision to keep him
with his mother for another year, when Charbonneau was to bring him to St.
Louis for Clark to rear “in such manner as I thought proper.” This arrange-1
ment was never carried out, however, and the youthful Charbonneau spent
his life among the savages.
1806] SERGEANT ORDWAY’S JOURNAL 391
his wife and two children the big white the head chief of Sd vil-
lage his wife or one of his wives. I understand he has two wives,
he has only one child and takes that with him took their bag-
gage on board and the chief putting his arm round all the head
mens necks of his nation who Set on Shore and a number crying
and appeared Sorry to part with him he took his leave of them
however and we Set out and procd on the wind a head Campd
on S. S.1

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Lewis Calls Volunteers for Marias River Exploration

Mon, 04 May 2026 16:46:14 +0000

men went out a hunting, about 10 A. M. Collins Came in had
killed one deer. Cap* Lewis Called for 6 vollunteers to go with
him on a route up the River Marreah [Marias River] as he in-
tends going that way.2 they immediately tourned out our
1 On the south side of Lolo Creek, a short distance above its mouth.
2 Lewis and Clark had planned to divide the exploring party into several
groups in order that more might be accomplished in the way of exploring the
country than could be done by a single party. The following summary of
their plans is taken from the journal entry of Lewis for July 1, 1806. Lewis
himself was to go with a small party, including the “2 Invaleeds” mentioned
below, by the most direct route to the Great Falls of the Missouri; while three
of his men remained here to prepare carriages and the other necessary equip-
ment for transporting the canoes and baggage around the falls, Lewis with the
remainder of the party was to make an exploring excursion up Marias River.
Clark was to conduct the remainder of the party to the head of Jefferson River,
where the canoes had been left the preceding autumn. With these Sergeant
Ordway and nine men were to descend the river and join the men left by Lewis
at the falls of the Missouri. Clark himself with the ten men remaining was to
cross from Three Forks to the nearest point on the Yellowstone; from here
Sergeant Pryor and two men were to conduct the horses by land to the Mandan,
and thence to the British post on the Assiniboine with a letter to Henry, the
trader, while Clark, York, Charbonneau, Sacajawea and her child, and five
of the men were to descend the Yellowstone in a canoe. At its mouth they
372 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS [July 3
guides wished to leave us here but Cap* Lewis prevailed with
them to go 2 days march with him and put him on the road to
the falls of the Missourie then they intend to return to their
nation. 2 Invalleeds is going to the falls to Stay their untill the
party comes down with the canoes, and one man to make geers
for the 4 horses which is to be left their to draw the canoes past
the portage.

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Eleven Buffalo Killed; Clark Surveys the Great Falls

Mon, 04 May 2026 16:45:24 +0000

the wind continues high from the west off the mountains. 4 men
Sent across the river to hunt, a light Sprinkling of rain about
noon, we are now waiting the arival of Cap* Clark, late in the
afternoon 2 of the hunters came in and informed us that they had
got 11 buffalow killed & the most of them fat. the other 2 Stayed
1 Modern Sun River. It rises in the Rocky Mountains near the continental
divide and flows in an easterly direction to its junction with the Missouri just
above the city of Great Falls. Sun River was discovered by Lewis on June
14, in the course of his advance excursion up the Missouri. Previous informa-
tion concerning it had been received from the Indians at Fort Mandan, how-
ever, and Medicine River was the name by which they knew it.
234 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS [June 20
to butcher, all hands in Camp turned out for the meat, &
brought about the half of what was fat 3 men Stayed all night to
dress the remainder, verry large gangs all around the place within
Shot of the butchers &. C. a light Sprinkling of rain, late in the
evening Cap* Clark and party returned to Camp they informed
us that they traversed & measured the River and falls, as they
went up. measured all the Small or little falls which were common
& of different hites. the highest catteract or falls is 87 feet per-
pinticular. the next highest 47 feet 8 Inch the next or 3rd about
30 or upwards, a nomber of Small ones & a continued rapid the
whole way for 17 miles to where we can take water again, those
large falls all have a mist which rises about 200 yards from the
Shoot, about a mile above the falls of 47 feet 8 Inches, the largest
fountan or Spring falls in that we ever Saw before and it is the
oppinion of Cap1 Clark that it is the largest Spring in america
known, this water boils up from under the rocks near the River
& falls immediately in to the river 8 feet & keeps its colour for
| a mile, which is verry clear and of a blueish cast &. C.1 two
of Cap* Clarks party was attacted by a large White bear on an
Island near where they had camped one night, one of them A.
Willard like to have been caught, the other [was] chased in the
water after Willard made his ascape towards camp. Cap4 Clark
and 3 others went to their assistance, the bear ratreated. night
came on the bushes thick. So they did not kill him, they Saw
but little timber, the country up the medicine River above the
falls is level with low banks, they Saw a chain of Mountains to
the West Some of which perticular those to the N. W. and S. W.
are covered with Snow, and appear to be verry high, they turned
back in order to look out the levelest way for the portage. Cap4
Clark lost a part of his notes which could not be found. Cap*
Clark Saw a rattle Snake out in the plains a long distance from
timber or water, they Saw verry large innumerable quantyties of
buffalow while they were gone, they killed 7 buffalow & Saved as
much of the meat as possable. killed a beaver also, they Saw
buffalow attempt to Swim the River above the falls. Some of
which was sucked over and seen no more, great numbers of those
animels are lost in these falls which is the cause of our Seeing So
many below for a long distance washed up on Shore. Some make
the Shore above the falls half dronded.
1 For further information about this fountain see post, Ordway’s entry for
June 27 and 238, note 1.
1805] SERGEANT ORDWAY’S JOURNAL 235
June 21st Friday 1805. a fine cool morning, the wind from the
S. W. off the mountains and hard. Cap* Lewis with the men
excep* a fiew took a part of the baggage & a canoe up a hill on to
the plain above a mile in advance. Several men employed in
Shaveing & graneing Elk hides for the Iron boat as it is called,
the remainder of the meat which was dressed last night was
brought in this morning & the men returned Some of them had
killed 2 or 3 deer & a buffalow calf and a Small Elk. we Saw
thousands of buffalow on the high lands the calfs verry numerous
among them they come in gangs to the river to drink &. C.
June 22nd Saturday 1805. a clear pleasant morning, the wind as
usal the party all raised eairly the 2 Captains with all but 3
of the party1 set out with more baggage to take the canoe and
loading we took on the plains yesterday up to the upper end of
the portage to where we can take water again with the canoes.
Cap* Lewis and 3 more of the party who went took their baggage
all in order to Stay at the upper Camp to prepare whatever may
be necessary for the Iron boat, &. C. large gangs of buffalow
all around the lower camp to day. one gang swam the river near
the camp Cap* Clarks Servant York killed one of them, a light
Sprinkling of rain, the country in general is verry high land, no
timber back a little Scatering along the Shore on the points &.
C. high bluffs & clifts along the Shores. Some pine in the drift
wood along the Shores, we are a little South of the Mandans
but have had cold weather as yet. it must of course be a healthy
country, we all enjoy good health as yet. our Interpreter wounded
a cabberee or antilope this evening.
June 23rd Sunday 1805. a cloudy morning, the wind from
East, a light Sprinkling of rain, in the afternoon one of the
hunters came to the lower camp from the medicine River, he
informed us that George Shannon left them the Same day they
Stearted from this, & they could not account where he went. The
other 2 hunters had killed 16 buffalow and 5 deer but no Elk.
1 From Lewis we learn that Ordway, Goodrich, Charbonneau, York, and
Sacajawea were left behind in the camp. The last two Ordway’s statement
ignores. His journal for today deals with events in the camp, of which he had
charge. Until the reunion of the party after the portage shall have been accom-
plished full knowledge of its doings can be gained only by a comparison of the
several journals that have come down to us. In general it may be said that
Lewis devoted himself mainly to work on the iron boat, while Clark attended
chiefly to the transportation of the outfit across the portage.
236 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS [June 24
they had dryed considerable of the buffalow meat at their Camp.1
in the evening Cap1 Clark & party returned to the lower Camp,
they informed us that they had Some difficulty, the truck
wheels, or some part of them broke several times &.C. the tongue
broke near the upper Camp & they were obledged to leave it and
formed the Camp about 3 miles above the Medicine River. Cap*
Clark Straightened the road considerable from that he went on
yesterday, they took 2 canoes up the hill from the creek this
evening, the men mended their mockisons with double Soles to
Save their feet from the prickley pear (which abound in the
plains) and the hard ground [which] in many places is so hard as to
hurt our feet verry much, the emence numbers of buffalow after
the last rain has trod the flat places in Such a manner as to
leave them uneaven, and dryed as hard as frozen Ground, the
men all much fatigued this evening &.2 the distance Staked out
for the portage is 18| miles from the lower Camp or lower rapid.
June 24th Monday 1805. a cloudy morning, all hands rose
eairly. had hailed the remaining canoe out of the water to dry.
we divided the baggage in to 3 percels, one of which the party
took on their backs and one waggon with truck wheels, to the
canoes 3 miles in advance [and] loaded and proceeded on with 2
canoes being in 2 parties, put the baggage in to the canoes &
went on verry well to the creek called willow creek.3 one of the
waggon tongues broke which detained us a Short time, then pro-
ceeded on towards evening when we got within about three miles
of the upper Camp, a volent Shower arose from the N. W. hard
thunder caught us in a verry hard rain So that in a fiew minutes
1 Shannon, Drewyer, and Reuben Fields had been sent on June 19 to Medi-
cine River to hunt. From then until June 23, the captains did not hear “a
sentence” from them. On the latter date Lewis, having gained the camp at
the upper end of the portage, set out in search of the hunters. Five miles up
Medicine River he found Shannon alone; the latter had parted from his com-
panions at the Great Falls at noon of June 19, and had not seen them since,
having busied himself in hunting on Medicine River “as he had been directed.”
The anxiety of Fields and Drewyer, whose report to Clark, Ordway notes, was
probably due in large part to Shannon’s habit of gelling lost.
•From Lewis We get this picture of their hardships: “at every halt these poor
fellows tumble down and are so much fatiegued that many of them are asleep in
an instant; in short their fatiegues are incredible; some are limping from the
soreness of their feet, others faint and unable to stand for a few minutes, with
heat and faticgue, yet no one complains, all go with cheerfullncss.”
i Modern Box Elder Creek, which the party met with about midway of
the portage. It enters the Missouri about four miles above the mouth of Belt
Creek.
1805] SERGEANT ORDWAY’S JOURNAL 237
the ground was covered with water. So that we got a hearly a
hearty drink of water in the holes & puddles &.C. the rain con-
tinued about half an hour, at dusk we arived at the upper Camp
all wet and much fatigued. Cap1 Lewis revived us with a dram,
we found Shannon their who had been up the medicine River
hunting, he had killed 3 buffalow 8 Deer several antelopes but
no Elk. the wind was considerable assistance to us in the course
of the day, as we were drawing the canoes the wind being Suffi-
cently hard at times to move the canoe on the Trucks, this is
Saleing on dry land in everry Sence of the word.1

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Musselshell Mouth Passed; Frost and Ice Return

Mon, 04 May 2026 16:45:22 +0000

as usal. one of the hunters or trapers caught a large beaver last
night, about nine o. Clock A.M. we passed the mouth of a large
Creek on the S. Side & a handsom bottom of C. wood timber, pro-
ceeded on passed pitch pine & ceeder hills on each Side of the
River, the river narrow and crooked at 11 oClock we arived
at the mouth of Shell River on the Lard Side and formed a Camp
for the present, the large Creek which we passed about 4 miles
1 Named Wiser’s Creek for one of the members of the expedition. It is
modern Fourchette Creek, according to Coues. It is shown on the M. R. C.
map in Valley County, twenty-five miles below the mouth of Musselshell
River.
2 In Valley County, seven miles below the mouth of Musselshell River.
1805] SERGEANT ORDWAY’S JOURNAL 215
below on the Lard Side we Call Blowing fly Creek1 from the
emence quantities of those insect which geather on our meat in
Such nombers that we are obledged to brush them off what we
eate Mussel Shell River falls in on Lard Side 2270 miles2 up
[It] contains a greater perportion of water than River[s] of its
Size below. Cap* Clark measured it and found it to be 110
yards wide, the water of a greenish yallow coulour and appears
to be navagable for Small crafts, the natives Inform us that this
river heads in the 1st rocky mountains & passes through a broken
Country, its head at no great distance from the Yallow Stone
river3 the Country about this river as described yesterday, our
Captains took the Meridian altitude and found the Latd to be
47° 024″ the Missourie at the mouth of Shell River is 222 yds
wide with a Small current, the Missourie water is not So muddy
as below but retains nearly the usal colour, and the Sands prin-
cipily confined to the points. Cap* Clark killed two Deer and
Elk. the hunters killed Several Elk and Several Deer, mearly
for the Skins to make Leagins [two or three words illegible] &. C.
Some men was Sent out in the Direction the Country generally
verry broken Some level plains up the Shell river, the bottoms
of the Shell River is well timberd as also a Small river4 which
falls into that river on the upper Side 5 miles ab° its mouth the
hills on the Lard Side contain Scattering Pine and ceeder but of
no great value. Small & Scrubby, (came 7 miles to day)
May 21Bt Tuesday 1805. a butiful morning, wind from the
west, river falling a little, we Set out at an eairly hour and pro-
ceeded on in the usal way by the assistance of the chord prin-
cipally, but little use use for the oars & less with the poles, as the
bottom as the bottom are muddy, we See no great bodies of
pure Sand the bars & points are rich mud mixed with fine Sand.
Cap* Clark walked on Shore Stard Side the river makes a great
bend to the South in a Northerly direction is a rich vallie [which]
contain[s] Some Short grass, and prickly pears without timber
the Country on the South Side of the Missourie is high Soil and
1 Modern Squaw Creek, in Dawson County.
2 According to the M. R. C. map the mouth of Musselshell River is 2,076
miles above the mouth of the Missouri.
3 Musselshell River rises in the Little Belt Mountains in Meagher County.
It flows first eastwardly and then almost due north to the Missouri, forming,
in the latter portion of its course the boundary, first between Musselshell and
Rosebud, and finally between Fergus and Dawson counties.
* The explorers named this stream Sacajawea, or Bird Woman’s River.
With less gallantry the present generation calls it Crooked Creek.
216 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS [May 22
mineral appearence as usal Some Scatering pine & R. ceeder on
the hills. The wind which [blew] moderately all the fore part of
the day increased and about dusk Shifted to the N. W. and blew
high & Stormed all night Several loose articles were blown over-
board, our Camp which was on a Sand bar on the Stard Side at the
lower point of an Island1 we were obledged to move under the
hills the dust & Sand blew in clouds, the bends of the river are
Short and points covered with cotton wood under grooths wild
rose bush. Cap* Clark killed 2 Elk to day. Several deer killed
and a buffaloe cow. we Came 20 miles to day.
May 22nd Wednesday 1805. the wind continued to blow so
violently hard we did not think it prudent to Set out untill
it luled a little about 11 oClock we Set out the cold. passed
a Small Island in the bend of the river to the Lard Side, and pro-
ceeded on at 5 miles higher passed a Isld in a bend to the Stard
Side. & a creek a Short distance above on the Stard. Side Cap4
Lewis walked on Shore and killed a deer in the fore part of the
day, after dinner Cap* Clark walked out a fiew miles to view the
Country, which he found verry rich Soil produceing but little
vigitation of any kind except the prickly pairs but little grass
& that verry bad. a great deal of Scatering pine on the Lard
Side & Some fiew on the Stard Side, the mineral production as
described yesterday or in the proceeding days, the game not
So a bundant as below the river continues about the Same
width, a fiew Sand bars, and current more regular. River falls
about an Inch a day, we Camped on the Stard Side eairlier than
we intended on account of Saveing the oil of a yallow bear which
the party killed late this afternoon. Came 16£ miles to day.
Many of the creeks which appear to have no water near their
mouths have Streams of running water high up which rise &
waste in the Sand or gravel the water of those creeks are so
much impregnated with the Salt Substance that it cannot be
drank with pleasantness.
May 23rd Thursday 1805. a Severe frost last night, the Thur-
momiter Stood at the freezing point this morning wind s. w.
the water freezes on the ore Ice on the edge of the river, we Set
out at an eairly hour and passed the mouth of a Creek at 1 mile
1 Which they named Windy Island. By the explorers’ measurements it
was twenty miles above Musselshell River. It should be noted that Lewis
and Clark’s measurements in this portion of their route differ materially from
tln.se of the M. R. G. map. The distance from Musselshell to Judith River,
winch they give as 181. J miles, the latter represents as only 120 miles.
1805] SERGEANT ORDWAY’S JOURNAL 217
on the Stard Side which heads in a mountain N. W. of its mouth
10 miles the country on each Side is as passed yesterday, passed
2 Small creeks Stard & 2 on the Lard Side to day. a Mountain1
which appears to be 60 or 70 miles long bearing E. & W. is about
25 miles distant from this river on the Stard Side. Northerly of
us passed an Island. Cap* Clark walked on Shore and killed 4
Deer one Elk & a beaver, in the evening we killed a large fat
brown or yallow bear, which we unfortunately lost in the River
after being Shot [it] took the water & was carried under a drift
passed in course of this day three Islands two of them covered
with tall timber & a 3rd with willows the after part of this day
was warm & the Musquetoes troublesome Saw but fiew buffalow
a nomber of Elk & Deer & 5 bear & 2 antilopes to day. the river
begining to rise, & current more rapid than yesterday in many
places we Saw Spruce on the hills Sides Camped on Stard Side
Came 27 miles to day.
May 24th Friday 1805. a cold night the water in the Small
vessels froze | of an Inch thick & the Thurmo* Stood this morning
at the freezeing point we Set out at an eairly hour and pro-
ceeded [on] at 9 oClock we had a breeze of wind from the S. E.
which continued all day this Breeze aforded us good Sailing
the River riseing fast current verry rapid passed Several Small
Islands [and] two large & 2 Small creeks the 1st of these creeks
or small rivers a mile above our Camp is 30 y63 wide and contains
water and appears to take its rise in the North Mountain2 which
is Situated in a Northerly direction ab* 20 miles distant. 1 miles
higher up a creek falls in on the Lard Side opposite a large village
of Barking Squerrells 3 miles Still higher a Small Creek falls in
on the Lard. Side which is 40 yards wide & has running water
this Stream appears to take its rise in the South Mountains which
is Situated in a Southerly direction 30 or 40 miles distant.3
Cap* Clark walked on the high Country, on the Stard Side found
it broken & dry Some pine, Spruce & Dwarf ceeder on the hills
1 Little Rocky Mountains, in Blaine County, Mont.
2 From this circumstance it was named North Mountain Creek. North
Mountain is the Little Rocky Mountains already noted by Ordway, and the
creek is modern Rocky (or Little Rocky Mountain) Creek. Opposite its mouth
is the town of Wilder.
3 The creek is modern Armel, while “South Mountain” is now called Judith
Mountains, in Fergus County. Ordway is in error in locating Armel Creek
three miles above Rocky Creek. Two creeks intervening between these streams
are noted by Lewis. On the M. R. C. map Armel Creek is shown approxi-
mately thirteen miles above Rocky Creek.
218 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS [May 25
Sides, one man went 10 miles out he reported a Simelarity of a
country back. Cap* Clark killed a fat buffalow a Short distance
below the place we dined 2 canoes & 6 men waited & got the
best of the meat, did not joine the party this evening Camped
on the Lard Side on [a] point1 the cotton wood in this point is
begining to put out a Second time the first being killed by the
frost. Came 24^ miles to day.
May 25th Saturday 1805. the 2 canoes left for meat did not
join us untill 8 oClock this morning at which time we Set out.
the morning cool & pleasant wind a head all day from the S. W.
we passed a creek on the Lard. Side about 20 yards wide which
does not run we also passed 7 Islands. Cap* Clark walked on
Shore and killed a female Ibex or big hornd animel of a blackish
colour or dark duskey colour over the body, they have great
resemblance of the deer kind, especally the leggs, but the head
& huffs resemble a Sheep, they are verry active & keep freequently
on the Sides of Steep bluffs & places where wolves & bears cannot
hurt them.2 the Country on each Side is high broken [and]
rocky the rocks are soft Sand Stone and of a dark brown hard
& rough, the hills also contain Coal Coal &. C. the bars in the
river [are] covered with corse gravel the bottom of the river are
Small as we Saw a pole cat to day being the first we have Seen for
a long distance, the air of this country is pure & healthy [and]
the water of the Missourie fine and cool. Came 18 miles to day.
May 26th Sunday 1805. Set out eairly. wind from s. w. the
river nearly closed by the high hills on boath sides, the Country
thro which borders the River is high broken & rockey generally
imbeded with a Soft Sand Stone higher up the hills the Stone are
of a brownish yallow, hard & gritty those Stone wash in to the
River down the brooks and cause the Shore to be rockey for some
distance in the water which we find troublesome to assend. their
is Scarce any bottom under the hills, & but fiew trees to be Seen,
on either Side except a fiew pine on the hills, we passed 2 creeks
on the Starbord Side boath of them had running water in one
of them saw Soft Shell Turtle. Cap* Lewis in his walk killed a
fat Buffalow, which we were in want of the hunters killed 2
Mountain Rams, or big horned animel in the evening late we
1 In Fergus County, 5$ miles above the mouth of Armel Creek.
2 This was the first Rocky Mountain sheep taken by the explorers. Both
Gass and Lewis describe it with much care, due regard being had to their respec-
tive descriptive capacities. Clark embellishes his journal with a rude picture
of the animal.
1805] SERGEANT ORDWAY’S JOURNAL 219
passed a rapid which extended quite across the river, the waves
roled for Some distance below, we ascended it by the assistance
of the chord & poles except one which with Some difficulty got
up the Lard the crafts all crossed on Starbord Side we Saw a
dow Elk & faun, which gave rise to the name of Elk & faun riffle,
bluffs on Labord Side, and jist over the opposite Side is a livel
plain, we Camped a little above in a Small grove of Cotton trees
on the Lard Side.1 we had a flew drops of rain at dark, the Salts
coal & burnt hills Still continue. Game Scarcer, this country
may with propriety be called the Deserts of North america for I
do not conceive any part of it can ever be Sitled as it is deficient
of or in water except this River, & of timber & too Steep to be
tilled, we passed old Indian Camps & lodges in the woody points
everry day, & 2 at our Camp &. C. we Came 22f miles this day.
May 27th Monday 1805. the wind blew hard from the S. W.
which detained us untill about 10 oClock at which time we Set
out & proceeded on. passed a Small necked Island on the Lard
Side immediately above the timber in which we Camped the river
is verry Shoaley and the bad places are verry numerous, at the
mouth of every dreen the rocks is thrown Some distance in the
river which causes the riffles, this day is verry warm, we Saw
only a fiew herds of Big horned animel on the hills, & 2 Elk,
one of which we killed, we Camped at 2 dead top trees on the
Larbord Side, the river is generally about 200 yards wide &
current verry Swift, to day, and has a verry prosperous falls in
all its course it rises a little. Came 14 miles to day.2
May 28th Tuesday 1805. a cloudy morning. Some fiew drops of
rain & Smokey wind from the S. W. we Set out at an eairly
hour, the Shoaley places are verry numerous & Some bad to git
around, we have to make use of the cords & poles, our cords are
1 The M. R. C. map shows a series of rapids beginning near the 2,169 mile
point of the river. Their location corresponds with the point now reached
by the expedition. Camp was in Fergus County at or near the 2,170 mile point.
This afternoon Lewis ascended the hills bordering the river and from the
elevation thus gained enjoyed his first view of the Rocky Mountains. His
first joyful emotion was tempered, he records, by reflections upon the difficulties
“which this snowey barrier would most probably throw in my way to the Pacific,
and the sufferings and hardships of myself and party in thim.”
2 Gass pauses at this point in his journal for some “general observations”
upon the country passed through by the expedition since its departure from
the mouth of River Dubois a year earlier. He concludes with the dolorous
observation that this day’s journey has been through “the most dismal country
I ever beheld.”
220 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS [May 29
all except one made of Elk Skin & Stretch & Some time[s] broke
[break] which indanger the Pirogues or canoe, as it immediately
turns and if any rock Should chance to be below the rapidity of
the water would turn hir over if Should Strike, we observe great
caution at these places. Cap4 Clark walked on Shore, found the
country ruged and as described yesterday, he saw great nombers
of the Big hornned animels, one of which he killed their faun
are nearly half grown, one of the party saw a verry large bear,
we picked up a pole on the Shore which has been made use of by
the natives for a lodge pole & hailed by dogs & it is new & a
certain Sign of the Indians being on the River above a foot ball
& Several other articles are also found to Substantiate this
oppinion. at 1 oClock we had a fiew drops of rain & Some Thunder
which is the first Thunder we have had Since we Set out, from
Fort Mandans, at 10 miles the river the hills begin to widen & the
river Spreads and is crouded with Islands, the bottoms contain
Some Scatering cottonwood the Islands also contain timber,
passed a creek1 of running water on the Stard Side about 35
yards wide, and Camped imediately opposite to a Small Creek2
on Lard Side. Came 21 miles to day.
May 29th Wednesday 1805. in the course of last night we were
alarmed by a Buffalow Swimming across from the opposite Shore
& landed opposite the white perogue in which our Captains Stay.
he crossed the perogue, & went with great forse up the bank to
the fire where the men were Sleeping & was within 18 Inches of
their heads when one man setting up alarmed him and he turned
his course along the range of men as they lay, passing between
4 fires & within a fiew Inches of Several mens heads, it was Sup-
posed if he had trod on a man it would have killed him dead,
the dog flew at him which turned him from running against the
lodge, [in] which the officers layd he passed without doeing more
damage than bend a rifle & breaking hir Stalk & injuring one of
the blunderbusses in the perogue as he passed through, we Set
out this morning at the usal hour and proceeded on. at 2| miles
passed the mouth of a river [blank in Ms.] yards3 wide, discharge-
1 Named Thompson’s Creek, for one of the members of the expedition.
It is modern Birch Creek, in eastern Chouteau County.
– Named Bull Creek by (lie explorers, but now known as Dog Creek. It is
in Fergus County, about two miles below Judith River. •
•One hundred yards. Lewis. Clark named the stream Judith’s River,
in honor of thirteen-year-old Julia Hancock of Pincastle, Va., who 2$ years
later was to become liis wife. Happily the name thus bestowed by the gallant
Captain lias been retained by his white successors in this region.
1805] SERGEANT ORDWAY’S JOURNAL 221
ing a great quantity of water, and containing more wood in its
bottom than the Missourie. this river Cap* Lewis walked up a
Short distance and he Saw an old Indian encampment, we Saw
also great encampments on the Stard Side at the mouth of a small
creek of about 100 lodges, which appeared to be about 5 or 6
weeks past, our Indian woman examined their moccasons &. C.
and told us that they were the Indians which resided below the
rockey Mountains, and to the North of the river that hir nation
made their moccasons, differently, at 65 miles passed a consider-
able rapid at which place the hills approach near the river on both
Sides, leave a narrow bottom on the Starbord Side (ash rapid)1
and continue close all day [with] but little timber, we Saw the
remains of a nomber of buffalow which had been drove down a
steep clift of rocks, from appearence their was upwards of 100
of these animels all picked off in a drove, great nombers of wolves
were about this place & verry gentle Cap* Clark killed one of
them with his Sphere [spear], the hills above ash rapid contain
more rocks & coal, and the more rapid points, we come too for
dinner at or opposite the entrance of a Small River2 which falls
in on the Lard Side, & no timber for Some distance, has a bold
running Stream. Soon after we came too it began to rain, and
blew hard, and as we were in a good harbour a point of wood on
the Stard Side, & no timber for Some distance above, induced the
Captains to Stay all night, they gave each man a dram though
Small [it] was enofe to efect Several of the men3 one of the
hunters killed an Elk in the evening Cap1 Clark killed 2 beaver
on the Side of the bank. Some of the hunters who went out on
the high land, said it Snowed & hailed on the hills.
May 30th Thursday 1805. the rain commenced yesterday even-
ing & continued moderately through the course of the night,
more rain has now fallen than we have experenced Since the 15th
of September last, the rain continued this morning, and the wind
too high for us to proceed, untill ab* 11 oClock at which time we
Set out & proceeded on with great labour we were oblidged
to make use of the tow rope & the banks were So muddy & Slippery
that the men could Scarsely walk notwithstanding [this] we
1 Modern Drowned Man’s Rapid, about three miles above the mouth of
Judith River.
2 Arrow River; it forms the boundary, for a portion of its course, between
Fergus and Chouteau counties.
3 “such is the effects of abstaining for some time from the uce of sperituous
liquors; they were all very merry.” Lewis.
222 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS [May 31
proceeded as well as we could, wind hard from the N. W. in
attempting to assend a rapid our toe cord broke of the white
perogue, they turned without injury, those rapids are Shallow
points & are numerous & diffecult one being at the mouth of
every dreen. Some little rain at times all day. one man ascended
the high country & it was raining & Snowing on those high hills,
the day has proved to be raw and cold back from the river is
tollarably level, no timber of any kind on the hills, & only a fiew
Scatering trees of cottonwillows &. C. we discover in many
places old encampments of large bands of Indians, a fiew weeks
past & appear to be makeing up the River, those Indians we
believe to be the Blackfoot Indians or Manetaws [Minitareel
who Inhabit the Country on the heads of the Saskashoarr [Sas-
katchewan] North of this place & trade alitto [a little] in the Fort
Deprare [De Prairie] establishments.1 we Camped in a hand-
som Grove of cotton trees on the Stard. Side.2 River rise \.
Came 8 miles to day.
May 31st Friday 1805. a Cloudy morning, the canoes all
dispached eairly to collect the meat of 2 buffalow killed last
night, the perogues proceeded on it continued to rain moder-
ately untill about 12 oClock when it ceased & continued cloudy,
the Stones on the edges of the river continue to form very con-
siderable rapids we find them difficult to pass, the tow rope
of the white perogue which we were oblidge to make use of
broke & was in Some danger of turning over, we landed at
12 oClock the cap*8 gave the or refreshed the party with a
dram we are oblidged to undergo great labour and fatigue in
ascending this part of the Missourie as they [we] are compelled
from the rapidity of the current in many places to walk in the
water & on Slippery hill sides on the Sides of rocks &. c. on gravel
& thro Stiff mud, bear footed and we cannot keep on moccasons
from the Stiffness of the mud & decline of the Steepp hill sides3
— the hills and river clifTts of this day exhibit a most romantick
appearence on each Side of the river is a white soft sand Stone
bluffs which rises to about half the hight of the hills, on the top
of this Clift is a black earth, on points in many places this
sand Stone appears like antient ruins Some like elegant build-
1 The North West Company’s fort on the site of Edmonton, Alta.
2 In Chouteau County, eight miles above the mouth of Arrow River.
3 Lewis paints a more vivid picture of the hardships of the men, and con-
eludes: “in short their labour is incredibly painfull and great, yet those faith-
full fellows bear it without a murmur.”
1805] SERGEANT ORDWAY’S JOURNAL 223
ings at a distance, Some like Towers &.C. &.C. in many places
of this days march we observe on either Side of the river extro-
ardanary walls of a black semented stone which appear to be
regularly placed one Stone on the other. Some of those walls
rise to the hight of 100 feet, they are from about 9 foot to 12
feet deep or thick and are perpinticular. those walls commence
at the waters edge & in some places meet at right angles those
walls appear to continue thier course into the Sand clifts. the
Stone which for those walls are of different Sizes [are] all Square
edged great nombers has fallen from the walls near the river
which causes causes the wall of unequal hite, in the hollars &
gullies I Saw Some Scrubby ceddr. the low walls Strait White &
handsom, like ancient elegant buildings, towards evening the
country becomes lower and the bottoms wider, no timber on the
uplands, except a fiew ceddr & pine on the clifts. a fiew Scatering
cottonwood trees on the points in the river bottoms. The appear-
ence of coal continues. Cap* Lewis walked on Shore & observed a
Species of pine we had never before Seen, with a Shorter leaf than
common & The burr different, he also collected Some of the Stone
of one of the walls which appears to be a Siment of Sun glass black
earth, we Camped on the Stard Side in a Small timberd handsom
bottom above the mouth of a creek1 on the Stard Side, the hunt-
ers killed 2 animels with big horns. 2 ‘buff alow an Elk & a black
taild or mule deer, we Saw a nomber of those big horned animels
on the clifts. but fiew buffalow or Elk, no antilope, a fiew mule
Deer. Saw a fox to day. the river rises a little it is from 150 to
250 yards wide. Came 18 miles to day.2
June 1st Saturday 1805. a Cloudy morning, we Set out at an
eairly hour and proceeded on as usal with the toe rope, the
country appears to be lower and the clifts not so high or common,
a Mountain or a part of the north Mountain about 8 or 10 miles N.
of this place, more cotton trees scatering along the river & Islands
than yesterday, no timber on the high land. The river from 2 to
400 yards wide & current more jentle than yesterday, but fiew
bad rapids points to day. the wild animels not so pleanty as
below we only killed a ram & mule deer to day. we Saw buffalow
at a distance in the plains, perticularly near a lake on the Lard.
Side about 8 eight miles off from the river, we passed Six Islands and
1 Which they named Stonewall Creek. Now called Eagle Creek, in Chouteau
County.
2 The night’s camp was “just above the mouth” of Eagle Creek. Lewis.
224 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS
Camped on the 7th all night.1 all those Islands are Small but con-
tain Some timber on them. The river riseing a little wind to day
from S. W. Some fiew drops of rain in the morning and also in
the evening, flying clouds all day. Saw Several Indians Camps
made of Sticks & Set up on end and do not appear to be long
evacuated. The roses in full bloom we saw yallow berry, red
berry bushes great nombers wild or choke Cherries, prickly pairs
are in the blossom we Saw great nombers of them. Came 23
miles to day.
June 2nd Sunday 1805. we had a hard wind & a little rain last
night, this morning fair, we Set out at an eairly hour, wind from
S. W. Some little rain to day wind hard a head, the Country
much like that of yesterday, as described. Cap* Lewis walked on
Shore, himself and the hunters killed 6 Elk a bear2 and 2 mule
Deer, and 2 buffalow, which was all in good order a beaver also
killed this evening, passed 9 Islands to day. the current Swift but
regular, we Camped on the Larboard Side at the mouth or at
the forks of the river.3 the current & Sizes of them we could not
examine this evening, a fair night. The Captains took Some
Lunr observations, of moon & Stars. Came 18 miles to day.
1 Five miles, according to Coues, above the mouth of Little Sandy Creek.
The distances given by Lewis and Clark in this portion of their route mater-
ially overrun the M. R. C. map measurements.
2 The bear, a grizzly, undertook to do some killing on its own account. It
came “very near catching Drewyer,” and pursued Charbonneau so hotly that
he was forced to secrete himself “very securely” in some bushes until it was
slain. Lewis.
3 At the mouth of Marias River. For the name given it see post, 228,
note 1. On the problem which its discovery presented to Lewis and Clark for
solution see Ordway’s entry for June 3 and post, 226, note 1.
i hi: t’.u.i.s .,.•>„ /-o/< r.uif-: THE FALLS AN!) THE PORTAGE ROUTE Krom the Dublin, 1X17, reprinl of the Biddle History of the Lewis and Clark Expedition CHAPTER VIII From Marias River to the Great Falls, June 3 — July 14, 1805 June 3rd Monday 1805. we formed a Camp on the point in the junction of the two rivers, & two canoes & 3 men were dispached up each river to examine and find if possable which is the most probable branch, the left fork which is the largest we are doubtful of. the Indians do not mention any river falling in on the right in this part of the Missourie Missourie. The Scolding river,1 if their is Such a one Should have fallen in below agreeable to their acct8 men were dispached also in different directions by land, to a mountain covred with Snow to the South. & others up each river, the Captains walked out & assended the hill in the point, they observed a level Country to the foot of the mountains which lye South of this, also a River2 which falls into the Right hand fork about 1| miles above its mouth on the Larboard Side, this little river descharges a great deal of water & contains as much cotton timber in its bottoms as either of the others, they Saw buffalow & antilopes wild Cherries red & yallow berrys, Goose berrys &.C. abound in the river bottoms, prickley pairs on the high plains, the Capts had a meridian altitude and the Latitude produced was 27° 24' 12" North, the after part of the day proved Cloudy. Cap* Clark measured each river & found the one to the Right hand 186 yards wide of water, & the left hand fork 372 yards wide and rapid, the right hand fork falling the other at a Stand, and clear the right fork and the river which fall into it is couloured & a little muddy. Several of the party complain of their feet being Sore by walking in the Sand, & their being cut by the Stones we to be Sure have a hard time of it oblidged to walk on Shore & hawl the rope and fo of their time barefooted, in the evening the parties all returned to Camp had been about 15 1 Milk River; for the name see ante, 209, note 1. 2 "called Rose river." Gass. It is modern Teton River, a considerable stream which rises in Teton County and flows almost due east to its junction with Marias River. 225 226 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS [June 4 miles up each river, but could not determine which would be our most probable branch for our Course &.C. our officers are not Satisfied in their minds which River will be best to for us to take. So they determine to leave the crafts & the most of the men here & go one day & a half up each river with a Small party to find out which will be the most probable River for us to take &.C the hunters killed 4 buffalow 3 Elk 3 beaver & Several Deer our officers Gave Each man a Dram. June 4th Tuesday 1805. Cap' Lewis and 6 men Set out to go up the right hand fork. Cap' Clark & 5 more Set out at the Same time to go up the left hand fork in order to go one day & a halfs march up the River and see if they can find out which will be our best River to proceed on. Some of the men at camp killed 2 faun Elk near the point for their Skins to dress, the day proved Cloudy. 2 men who had been from Camp a hunting returned to- wards evening, had killed one Elk & a Deer & Set traps for beaver, &.C. a fiew drops of rain towards evening & high cold wind from the North.

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Clark Kills Antelope Beside Four-Foot Ice Banks

Mon, 04 May 2026 16:45:18 +0000

off eairly as usal. proceeded on the wind gentle from S. E.
passed a Sand beach on the N. S. covered with Ice and Snow
heaps it lay 4 feet thick where the it [ice] was drove in. When the
river broke up. Cap* Clark walked on Shore on S. S. came to us
at breakfast had killed a antilope or Goat, we Saw a gang of
buffaloe on a Side hill on the S. S. also a gang of Elk near them.
See one Elk in a bottom near where we breakfasted, one of the
1 According to Clark, 3^ miles above Sunday Island. This name, given by
the explorers from the day of the week on which they reached the island, is
still retained on the M. R. C. map. The camp was in Mountrail County, a
little above the mouth of Indian Creek, and about midway between Shell Creek
and Little Knife River.
2 Probably modern Indian Creek of the M. R. C. map. Coues, who con-
ceived a violent dislike for Charbonneau, could find “nothing on present maps
witli which to identify it.”
3 The “while ones” were, of course, grizzlies. This is a notable event
in the history of the expedition for it marks the first encounter with this dreaded
beast. Only two days earlier Lewis had recorded the anxiety of the party to
meet some of llieni, their tracks having been seen in great abundance. This
“anxiety.” which the bears returned with interest, was soon amply satisfied,
and before many weeks we shall find the explorers quite content to leave the
grizzly to his own devices.
* So named because Clark saw, near its mouth, a pen designed ;is a trap to
catch antelopes. It is modern Little Knife Rivetf, in Mountrail County.
1 In McKenzie County, eight miles above the mouth of Little Knife River.
1805] SERGEANT ORDWAY’S JOURNAL 197
party by the name of John Colter caught a verry large fat beaver
in a Steel trap last night, proceeded on. The trees are puting
out Green, the Grass begin to Grow in the bottoms & plains
which look beautiful, we Sailed Some with a Southerly blowey
wind, the river crooked So that we could not Sail much of the
time. Saw Some Scatering Sizeable Stone on the Sides of the
hills, halted about 7. oClock to dine at a bottom covered
with c. w. timber on the N. S. proceeded on passed Several
bottoms and plains on each Side of the river, came 17 miles
as the courses was taken but by water the way we came it was
about 26. Camped at at a point called Grand point on the South
Side.1 Saw different gangs of Elk S. S.

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Corn Shelling and Account of One-Eyed Chief Le Borgne

Mon, 04 May 2026 16:45:14 +0000

ployed hailing corn, the wind high from the East, looklikely for rain.
1 The principal man among the visitors was Le Borgne, or One Eyed. He
was a man of gigantic size, and enjoyed a reputation for villainy comparable
to his physical stature. For tales of his misdeeds see Early Western Travels,
V, 161-62, and Coues, I, 244.
2 Clark’s journal en tries for March 11 and 12 give the particulars of the disagree-
ment with Charbonneau. Having “every reason to believe” that he had been
corrupted by the traders of the North West Company, the captains gave him
until the following day to determine whether he would go with the expedition
on the terms which had been verbally agreed upon. Charbonneau chose to de-
mand new and, as the captains thought, inadmissible terms, and they accord-
ingly suffered him “to be off with the engagement.”
1805J SERGEANT ORDWAY’S JOURNAL 187

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Lower Mandan Chief Brings Meat to Winter Quarters

Mon, 04 May 2026 16:44:55 +0000

frost, froze Some last night, we continued our buildings as usal.
the chief of the lower village of the Mandens brought us Some
chiefs to Washington. President Jefferson sent him back with a commission
to teach the Arikara agriculture, and to “make every enquirey” after Lewis
and Clark’s party. Clark, Sept. 12, 1806.
1 The Frenchman was Charbonneau, who served the expedition as inter-
preter from its departure from Fort Mandan in the spring of 180.”) until its
return to this vicinity in August, 1806. One of his wives, here alluded to,
was the noted Sacajawea, the heroine of the Lewis and Clark expedition. Thus
modestly does she make her entry into our story. But her modesty was equaled
by her greatness of soul; again and again in the further course of the expedition
we shall find evidences of the truth of this statement.
1804] SERGEANT ORDWAY’S JOURNAL 165
buffalow meat1 which we were in want [of] as our hunters has
not arived yet. we unloaded the pearogue in order to fetch Stone.

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Jean Baptiste Charbonneau: Son of Sacagawea

Andrew M — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 18:47:19 +0000

Striking out with his mother Sacagawea and the Corps of Discovery, Jean Baptiste Charbonneau played a unique role in the Lewis and Clark expedition. Having a child along with the expedition served as a form of diplomacy, as potentially hostile Native Americans welcomed the expedition upon realizing the corps had a child in tow (Anderson). Adopted by Clark shortly after the expedition, Jean Baptiste was educated in St. Louis. Charbonneau left for Germany in 1823 to work for Prince Paul of Wurttemberg. Charbonneau became a polyglot, adding English, French, Spanish, and German to several native languages that he spoke (Colby). Charbonneau returned to the U.S. in 1829 (Courchane) and entered the service of the American Fur Company (Historical Society, Utah State).

There is scant evidence of Charbonneau’s whereabouts in the years following his return from Europe. According to Reading, Charbonneau evidently helped find some lost horses for an employee of the American Fur Company. By the fall of 1830, he and his party became lost around American Falls, ID. He set out to find water and spent 11 days trying to relocate his party, only to find that they had been rescued by a Hudson Bay Company employee that came upon them (Historical Society, Utah State). Later, he helped Joseph Meek deliver a dispatch to St. Louis. According to Nathaniel Wyeth, Charbonneau was with Jim Bridger in 1832 (Reading). Jim Bridger was a noted mountain man, trapper, Army scout, and later owner of the Rocky Mountain Fur Company. Later that year, Charbonneau traveled to Blackfoot country to trap beaver. William Smith wrote that a “Mr. Shabenare” traveled down the Platte River carrying pelts to St. Louis in 1839-40 (Reading). From 1842 to 1845, Charbonneau served at Bent’s Fort in St. Louis (Reading).

R. B. Sage, a 19th century American writer and journalist, commented on the man Charbonneau. He wrote that Charbonneau “proved to be a gentleman of superior information.” Commenting on his intelligence and multilingualism, Sage continued:

His mind, also, was well stored with choice reading, and enriched by extensive travel and observation. Having visited most of the important places, both in England, France, and Germany, he knew how to turn his experience to good advantage. There was a quaint humor and shrewdness in his conversation, so garbed with intelligence and perspicuity, that he at once insinuated himself into the good graces of listeners, and commanded their admiration and respect (Historical Society, Utah State).

One notable assignment was as a guide for the Mormon Battalion, in 1846, during the Mexican-American War. President Polk then instructed Secretary of War William Marcy to prepare the orders for the formation of a battalion of volunteers from among the Mormons in Iowa. The President hoped to “attach them to our country and prevent them from taking part against us” (Polk). The battalion set out in July of that year.

In August 1846, the battalion mustered under the command of Lieutenant Colonel James Allen. However, Allen would not go with the battalion, for he passed away from congestive fever on August 31, 1846 (Missouri Republican). Lieutenant Colonel Cooke later assumed command of the march in New Mexico. Shortly thereafter, Jean Baptiste Charbonneau joined the battalion as a guide on their journey to San Diego, California. On December 9, 1846, the Mormon Battalion crossed the San Pedro River in what is now Cochise County, Arizona.

Several days later, the Mormon Battalion arrived at another spot along the San Pedro River. Charbonneau would have been with the battalion during the only battle that the Mormon Battalion faced. During one event on December 12, 1846, the marchers came upon a herd of wild bulls. Sergeant Tyler described the events, which later came to be known as the Battle of the Bulls:

One small lead mule in a team was thrown on the horns of a bull over its mate on the near side, and the near mule, now on the off side and next to the bull, was gored. . .. One or two pack-mules were also killed. The end-gates of one or two wagons were stove in, and the sick, who were riding in them, were of course frightened. Some of the men climbed upon the wheels of the wagons and poured deadly fire into the enemy’s ranks. Some threw themselves down and allowed the beasts to run over them; others fired and dodged behind mezquit [sic] brush to re-load their guns, while the beasts kept them dodging to keep out of the way. Others, still, climbed up in small trees, there being now and then one available.

Brother Amos Cox was thrown about ten feet into the air, while a gore from three or four inches in length and about two or three in depth was cut in the inside of his thigh near its junction with the body. Sanderson sewed up the wound. Cox was an invalid for a long time, but finally recovered (Porter).

After guiding the Mormon Battalion to their destination in San Diego, California, Charbonneau held a number of jobs. For a short time in 1847 to 1848, he was mayor of San Luis Rey, north of San Diego. Because he refused to enforce the same harsh policies toward Native Americans than his predecessors did, Charbonneau grew frustrated and resigned his position (Historical Society, Utah State). In 1866, he joined the rush to mine gold in Montana. However, he died en route and was buried at Inskip Station, Oregon. Jean Baptiste Charbonneau, through a life of adventure during westward expansion across North America, left an indelible mark on American history.

References

Anderson, Irving W. “Sacajawea, Sacagawea, Sakakawea?.” South Dakota History 8.4 (1978): 303-311.
Colby, Susan M. Sacagawea’s Child: The Life and Times of Jean-Baptiste (Pomp) Charbonneau. University of Oklahoma Press, 2014.
Courchane, Chalk. “Toussaint Charbonneau in the Pacific North in 1805.” Retrieved from http://www.oregonpioneers.com/bios/ToussaintCharbonneau.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwj4-rrtjlP3AhX2KEQIHdPKABcQFnoECAQQAQ&usg=AOvVaw3j3dzoY1_yayzV3-_1u3Fi
Daily Missouri Republican (Saint Louis, Mo.: 1837) Daily Missouri Republican. St. Louis, Mo.: Charles & Paschall, 1837-1869. Vol. 15, no. 1168 (Mar. 14, 1837)-v. 47, no. 13 (Jan. 14, 1869).
Polk, James Knox. The diary of James K. Polk during his presidency, 1845 to 1849. Vol. 6. Kraus Reprint, 1910.
Porter, Larry C. “The Church and the Mexican-American War.” Nineteenth Century Saints at War, edited by Robert C. Freeman, Religious Studies Center, BYU, 2006, 41-76.
Reading, June. “Jean Baptiste Charbonneau.” The Journal of San Diego History. vol. 11, no. 2, (1965). Retrieved from https://sandiegohistory.org/journal/1965/march/charbonneau/
Ritter, Michael Lance. Jean Baptiste Charbonneau, Man of Two Worlds. CreateSpace Publishing, 2004.
Sorensen, Stephen B. (2008) “History May Be Searched in Vain: A Military History of the Mormon Battalion by Sherman L. Fleek,” BYU Studies Quarterly, vol. 47, no. 2, article 12, 161-66. (Book review by Sherman Fleek)
Historical Society, Utah State. Jean Baptiste Charbonneau. February 11, 1805 – May 16, 1866. Number 428. Idaho Commission for Libraries: Boise, ID. (2008). Retrieved from https://utah-primoprod.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/primo-explore/fulldisplay?docid =digcoll_icl_ 39p16293coll3%2F5562&context=L&vid=MWDL&lang=en_US& search_scope=mw &adaptor=Local%20Search%20Engine&tab=default_tab&query=any ,contains,Jean%20Baptiste%20Charbonneau&offset=0

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Chain of Communication

admin — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 18:47:16 +0000

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 whom they were speaking in order to continue with their journey. The large number of languages and people involved in this process meant that simple introductions and an explanation of the expedition’s purpose could take hours, much less any trade of goods or information (Vinikas).

Neither Lewis nor Clark spoke languages other than English, and so they were reliant on the members of their expedition who did in order to communicate with the Native peoples. It is possible that, as a result, some of the intentions and nuances that accompanied their phrasing was not translated along with the words. For example, both men addressed the Native Americans that they spoke with as “Children”, though those Native Americans were adults and often leaders in their own right. This way of referring to the people they encountered has a patronizing tone that may not have been conveyed through the multiple languages necessary for conversation (Vinikas).

Following English, the next language in the chain of translation was usually French. Though some members of the expedition, such as French Shawnee tracker George Drouillard, also spoke some Native American languages or sign language. This sign language was a common language that allowed communication between differing peoples and communities. There are some regional variations of this sign language, but ultimately it facilitated interactions between peoples with separate spoken languages (Davis). At times, using this sign language, members of the expedition were able to communicate directly to the people, however, that was not usually the case (Skarsten). So, the captains would speak English to one of the French-speaking members of the expedition, often Drouillard or Francois Labiche, a French Omaha trader from Fort Kaskaskia among a few others (Francois). Depending on the Tribe they were engaging these men would then relay the message in French to Toussaint Charbonneau, a French-Canadian fur trader who was brought along on the expedition primarily for his valuable place in this chain of communication (Toussaint).

After being told Lewis or Clark’s words in French from one of the other men, Charbonneau would translate them into Hidatsa for his wife, Sacagawea. She was Lemhi Shoshone, and the expedition’s trade with her people during the journey proved to be invaluable. This was especially true when the expedition bargained with the Shoshones for horses (Francois). After listening to her husband’s Hidatsa, she would speak to the Shoshones in her native Shoshone. Once they had replied to her, she would relay that message back to Charbonneau and the words would travel back down the chain of translation in the other direction. This tedious process would continue until an agreement had been reached.

At one point in the expedition, the chain of communication stretched even farther, adding yet one more person, and the language needed to speak to them. While traveling with their Shoshone guide over the mountains in late 1805, the party met the Salish, or Flatheads, people with whom their guide was able to communicate. These people were called Flatheads despite the fact that they did not practice the flattening of children’s skulls as was common to other Columbia River tribes. So, after Sacagawea spoke to their guide in Shoshone, he would speak to the Salish and receive a reply to pass back (Francois).

Despite the complicated nature of this chain of translation, and the number of hours required for the most basic of conversations, it was clearly successful. In their journals both Lewis and Clark praised the valuable skills of their translators and referred to the vital goods and information obtained from their interactions with various Tribal Nations. The fact that these translators were able to successfully make their intentions known, ask questions, and even conduct trade across not only the many languages needed to speak between themselves, but the numerous dialects of the peoples they encountered was truly impressive (Vinikas). Without the knowledge and input of each person involved in this lengthy chain of translation, it is possible that the expedition would have failed to reach its goal.

Sources

Vinikas, Vincent. The Historian, vol. 67, no. 1, Wiley, 2005, pp. 127–28, .

Davis, J. (2017). Native American signed languages. Oxford Handbooks Online.

Skarsten, M. O. George Drouillard: Hunter and Interpreter for Lewis and Clark and Fur Trader, 1807-1810. University of Nebraska Press, 2005. 

“Francois Labiche.” Discovering Lewis and Clark, Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation, .

“Toussaint Charbonneau.” Discovering Lewis and Clark, Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation, .

U.S. Department of the Interior. (n.d.). Salish. National Parks Service. Retrieved January 31, 2022, from

Tags: French Language and the Lewis and Clark Expedition, Lewis and Clark, Meriwether Lewis, William Clark, Lewis and Clark Trail, Charbonneau, Sacagawea, Sacajawea, Drouillard, Labiche, language,

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