May 14, 1805
Who would have thought that a 14 year old, Indian girl with a baby would be so valuable to the expedition? It’s too bad she was tied to the incompetent and obnoxious Toussaint Charbonneau. Charbonneau talked his way into the expedition, promising that he was a great boatman, and that his wife could interpret for the Shoshone Indians. Well, he was probably right about his wife, but when it came to boating he was an idiot! Steering the boat on this day in May on the Missouri, west of Yellowstone, Charbonneau flaked when the boat caught wind and turned sideways, filling it with water. Charbonneau LET GO of the rudder! If Cruzatte didn’t threaten to shoot Charbonneau if he didn’t grab the rudder and turn into the current, everything would have been lost. The good news is that Sacagawea was totally calm and in control. She carefully bent over the bow with Pomp on her back, and grabbed important journals and everything within her reach. She impressed Lewis & Clark…..fortunately for Charbonneau.
Who would have thought that a 14 year old, Indian girl with a baby would be so valuable to the expedition? It’s too bad she was tied to the incompetent and obnoxious Toussaint Charbonneau. Charbonneau talked his way into the expedition, promising that he was a great boatman, and that his wife could interpret for the Shoshone Indians. Well, he was probably right about his wife, but when it came to boating he was an idiot! Steering the boat on this day in May on the Missouri, west of Yellowstone, Charbonneau flaked when the boat caught wind and turned sideways, filling it with water. Charbonneau LET GO of the rudder! If Cruzatte didn’t threaten to shoot Charbonneau if he didn’t grab the rudder and turn into the current, everything would have been lost. The good news is that Sacagawea was totally calm and in control. She carefully bent over the bow with Pomp on her back, and grabbed important journals and everything within her reach. She impressed Lewis & Clark…..fortunately for Charbonneau.
Sacagawea and Charbonneau atop a hill
this is a good entry. you describe charbonneau really well.
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