Sacagawea – Leading Lewis & Clark
Sacagawea, a name whispered with reverence in the annals of American history, stands as a testament to courage, resilience, and the invaluable contributions of Native American women. Born around 1788 into the Lemhi band of the Shoshone tribe in the territory that is now Idaho, her life’s trajectory took an unforeseen turn that would ultimately intertwine her destiny with the famed Lewis and Clark Expedition. Sacagawea‘s story is one of both personal hardship and extraordinary achievement, forever etching her name in the narrative of westward expansion.
The Shoshone, a nomadic people, thrived in the rugged landscapes of the American West. Their lives were intimately connected to the natural world, relying on hunting, gathering, and a deep understanding of the land for survival. Young Sacagawea undoubtedly learned the skills necessary for Shoshone life: tracking animals, identifying edible plants, and navigating the challenging terrain. This upbringing would later prove to be instrumental in the success of the Lewis and Clark expedition. The tranquility of her childhood, however, was shattered by the brutal realities of intertribal warfare.
At approximately ten years old, Sacagawea‘s life was irrevocably altered. A raiding party of Hidatsa warriors attacked the Shoshone village. This raid resulted in the tragic loss of four Shoshone warriors, along with the capture of several women and children, including young Sacagawea. The Hidatsa, a powerful tribe residing in the Missouri River Valley, near present-day Washburn, North Dakota, were known for their agricultural skills and their extensive trade networks.
Taken to the Hidatsa village, Sacagawea faced the daunting task of adapting to a new culture, language, and way of life. Though forcibly removed from her people, she demonstrated remarkable adaptability, quickly learning the Hidatsa language and assimilating into their society. Her capture marked a profound loss of identity, yet it also equipped her with linguistic skills that would later prove critical to the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
Sometime after her capture, Sacagawea was sold to Toussaint Charbonneau, a French-Canadian fur trapper. Charbonneau, a figure of some controversy in historical accounts, was known for his multilingual abilities and his extensive knowledge of the Missouri River region. He took Sacagawea as one of his wives, a common practice among fur traders of the time. This union, born out of the circumstances of her captivity, would indirectly lead to her involvement in one of the most significant explorations in American history.
The winter of 1804 found the Lewis and Clark Expedition encamped near the Hidatsa villages in present-day North Dakota. The expedition, commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson, aimed to explore the vast, uncharted territories of the Louisiana Purchase, find a navigable water route to the Pacific Ocean, and establish diplomatic relations with the Native American tribes inhabiting the region. The expedition’s leaders, Captain Meriwether Lewis and Second Lieutenant William Clark, recognized the need for skilled interpreters and guides to navigate the unfamiliar landscapes and communicate with the various tribes they would encounter.
During their stay near the Hidatsa villages, Lewis and Clark interviewed several trappers in search of individuals who could assist the expedition. When they discovered that Charbonneau’s wife, Sacagawea, spoke the Shoshone language, they quickly realized the potential value of their services. Knowing they would need to acquire horses from the Shoshone tribes at the headwaters of the Missouri River to cross the Rocky Mountains, they hired Charbonneau as an interpreter, with Sacagawea playing an even more vital role than they initially anticipated.
By the time Charbonneau and Sacagawea joined the expedition at Fort Mandan, Sacagawea was pregnant. Despite her condition, the expedition welcomed her, recognizing the significance of her language skills and the symbolic importance of having a woman accompany the group. William Clark noted in his journal that "A woman with a party of men is a token of peace," highlighting the expedition’s awareness of the potential impact of Sacagawea‘s presence on their interactions with Native American tribes.
In February 1805, shortly after joining the expedition, Sacagawea gave birth to her first child, a son named Jean Baptiste Charbonneau. Affectionately nicknamed "Pompey" by Clark, the infant became a symbol of hope and resilience for the expedition members. Carrying the baby on a cradleboard strapped to her back, Sacagawea embarked on the arduous journey up the Missouri River in April 1805, becoming an integral part of the "Corps of Discovery."
The journey was fraught with challenges: navigating treacherous rapids, enduring harsh weather conditions, and facing the constant threat of the unknown. Sacagawea, despite her young age and the responsibility of caring for her infant son, proved to be an invaluable asset to the expedition. In May 1805, she demonstrated remarkable quick thinking and bravery when she rescued several items that had fallen out of a capsized boat, including Lewis and Clark’s journals, without which our historical knowledge of this expedition would be limited. In recognition of her heroism, the Corps Commanders named the Sacagawea River in her honor, a testament to her growing importance to the expedition.
As the expedition ventured further into the uncharted territories, they approached the lands inhabited by the Shoshone people. The success of the expedition now hinged on establishing peaceful relations with the Shoshone and acquiring horses to carry supplies across the formidable Rocky Mountains. Sacagawea‘s knowledge of the Shoshone language, culture, and customs became indispensable.
Recognizing familiar landmarks, Sacagawea guided the expedition towards the Shoshone villages. When the expedition finally encountered the Shoshone in August 1805, Sacagawea played a crucial role in facilitating communication between the expedition leaders and her people. In a remarkable twist of fate, Sacagawea discovered that the Shoshone band was led by her older brother, Cameahwait, who had become chief after their father’s death. This emotional reunion helped to pave the way for peaceful negotiations and the acquisition of the much-needed horses.
Sacagawea continued with the expedition to the Pacific Ocean, providing invaluable assistance as a guide, interpreter, and symbol of peace. In 1806, as the expedition began its return journey eastward, Sacagawea once again proved to be an invaluable guide, recalling trails from her childhood, one of which would later become known as Bozeman Pass in Montana.
The expedition returned to the Hidatsa-Mandan villages in August 1806, where Charbonneau and Sacagawea parted ways with Lewis and Clark. Charbonneau was compensated for his services with $500.33 and 320 acres of land.
In 1809, Charbonneau, Sacagawea, and their son, Jean Baptiste, traveled to St. Louis, Missouri, at the invitation of William Clark. Clark had grown fond of young Pompey and hoped to provide him with educational opportunities. Charbonneau and Sacagawea soon left St. Louis, leaving Jean Baptiste in Clark’s care, where he was enrolled in the St. Louis Academy boarding school.
Around 1811, Sacagawea gave birth to a daughter, Lizette. Tragically, history records that Sacagawea died on December 22, 1812, at Fort Manuel, a Missouri Fur Company trading post in present-day South Dakota, of "putrid fever." She was only about 24 years old.
However, Eastern Shoshone oral traditions tell a different story, claiming that Sacagawea rejoined her people in 1871 on their Wind River reservation in Wyoming, where she was known as Porivo, or Lost Woman. According to this account, she lived a long life, dying at nearly 100 years of age in 1884 and was buried in what is now called Sacajawea Cemetery near Fort Washakie, Wyoming.
Regardless of the precise details of her death, Sacagawea‘s legacy as a vital member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition remains secure. In August 1813, William Clark legally adopted Sacagawea‘s two children, Jean Baptiste and Lizette. Jean Baptiste Charbonneau lived a long and adventurous life, traveling to Europe and later becoming a guide with John Fremont and other mountain men. He died in 1866 at age 61 on the trail to a gold strike in Montana. It is believed that Lizette did not survive childhood, as there is no later record of her in Clark’s papers.
Toussaint Charbonneau continued his life as a mountain man, working for the American Fur Company and accompanying Prince Maximillian’s expedition in 1833. He had at least five different Native American wives over the years and died at Fort Mandan in 1843. Sacagawea‘s impact transcended her brief life, leaving an indelible mark on American history and inspiring generations with her courage, resilience, and invaluable contributions to the Lewis and Clark Expedition.