Interpreters with Lewis and Clark : the story of Sacagawea and Toussaint Charbonneau

A frank portrayal of Toussaint Charbonneau, a French-Canadian fur trader, who, with his Shoshone Indian wife Sacagawea, joined the Lewis and Clark expedition in 1803. While Sacagawea assumed legendary status as a ""token of peace"", Toussaint has been maligned in fiction and nonfiction alike When Interpreter Toussaint Charbonneau, A French Canadian Fur Trader Living Among The Hidatsas, And His Shoshone Indian Wife, Sacagawea, Joined The Lewis And Clark Expedition In 1803, They Headed Into Country Largely Unknown To Them, As It Was To Thomas Jefferson's Hand-picked Explorers. There Is Little Doubt As To The Importance Of Sacagawea's Presence On The Journey. She Has Become A Near-legendary Figure For Her Role As Interpreter, Guide, And Token Of Peace. Toussaint, However, Has Been Maligned In Both Fiction And Nonfiction Alike - Lewis Himself Called Him A Man Of No Peculiar Merit. W. Dale Nelson Offers A Frank And Honest Portrayal Of Toussaint, Suggesting His Character Has Perhaps Been Judged Too Harshly. He Was Indeed Valuable As An Interpreter And No Doubt Helpful With His Knowledge Of The Indian Tribes The Group Encountered. And With His Experience As A Fur Trader, He Always Seemed To Strike A Better Bargain Than His Companions. During The Expedition Sacagawea Gave Birth To A Son, Jean Baptiste. With Her Death In 1812, Clark Assumed Custody Of Her Son And Toussaint Returned To His Life On The Upper Missouri. Surviving His Wife By Almost Three Decades, Toussaint Worked Under Clark (then Superintendent Of Indian Affairs In St. Louis) As An Interpreter For Government Officials, Explorers, Artists, And Visiting Dignitaries.--jacket. 1. The Meeting -- 2. Winter -- 3. Against The Current -- 4. Over The Top -- 5. Fort Clatsop -- 6. Homeward Bound -- 7. Afterward -- 8. Father And Son -- 9. At Home And Abroad -- 10. The Prince And The Frontiersman -- 11. Glimpses Of Baptiste -- 12. Desolation On The Missouri -- 13. Westward Once More -- 14. John B. Charbonneau. W. Dale Nelson. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 157-168) And Index. When interpreter Toussaint Charbonneau, a French Canadian fur trader living among the Hidatsas, and his Shoshone Indian wife, Sacagawea, joined the Lewis and Clark expedition in 1804, they headed into country largely unknown to them, as it was to Thomas Jefferson's hand-picked explorers. There is little doubt as to the importance of Sacagawea's presence on the journey. She has become a near-legendary figure for her role as interpreter, guide, and token of peace. Toussaint, however, has been maligned in both fiction and nonfiction alikeLewis himself called him a man of no peculiar merit. W. Dale Nelson offers a frank and honest portrayal of Toussaint, suggesting his character has perhaps been judged too harshly. He was indeed valuable as an interpreter and no doubt helpful with his knowledge of the Indian tribes the group encountered. For example, Toussaint proved his worth in negotiations with the Shoshones for much-needed horses, and with his experience as a fur trader, he always seemed to strike a better bargain than his companions. During the expedition Sacagawea gave birth to a son, Jean Baptiste. With her death in 1812, Clark assumed custody of her son and Toussaint returned to his life on the upper Missouri. Surviving his wife by almost three decades, Toussaint worked under Clark (then Superintendent of Indian Affairs in St. Louis) as an interpreter for government officials, explorers, artists, and visiting dignitaries. Jean Baptiste traveled the Rocky Mountains as a mountain man, was a scout during the Mexican American War, and served as mayor and judge for the San Luis Rey Mission. Interpreters with Lewis and Clark......Page 4 Contents......Page 8 List of Illustrations......Page 9 Acknowledgments......Page 10 Introduction......Page 12 CHAPTER ONE The Meeting......Page 16 CHAPTER TWO Winter......Page 27 CHAPTER THREE Against the Current......Page 36 CHAPTER FOUR Over the Top......Page 52 CHAPTER FIVE Fort Clatsop......Page 58 CHAPTER SIX Homeward Bound......Page 66 CHAPTER SEVEN Afterward......Page 79 CHAPTER EIGHT Father and Son......Page 87 CHAPTER NINE At Home and Abroad......Page 91 CHAPTER TEN The Prince and the Frontiersman......Page 96 CHAPTER ELEVEN Glimpses of Baptiste......Page 103 CHAPTER TWELVE Desolation on the Missouri......Page 107 CHAPTER THIRTEEN Westward Once More......Page 117 CHAPTER FOURTEEN John B. Charbonneau......Page 128 Epilogue......Page 134 Notes......Page 144 Bibliography......Page 168 Index......Page 180