Many stories were told around the campfires that involved one or some of these former Corps of Discovery men. As many as 14 members of the Expedition went back to the frontier after their return to St. Louis. Most of those found adventure in the Rocky Mountains of Montana and Idaho as trappers, but a few became involved in other, related activities. Seven of the trappers were killed as they plied the waters of the mountain streams for the ever-so-desirable beaver pelts. Captain Clark became a partner in a fur trading venture, but he never returned to the Rockies. But one we hear little about probably did the most of any of them.
Toussaint Charbonneau was living in the lands of the Mandans when he was hired as an interpreter for the Lewis and Clark Expedition. When the Expedition returned to that area on their way back to St. Louis in 1806, he took his family and remained at their frontier home.
For most of the remainder of his life he stayed on the frontier working as interpreter, scout, liaison for the US to various tribes, trapper or trader. His name is found in many diaries and reports. The events of 1823 are typical of his work and travels, but it is made more colorful because one of the other players, Hugh Glass (think of the movie Revenant).
In early1823, a large group of trappers lead by Ashley headed up the Missouri and on to the Yellowstone. They were intercepted by the Arikaras who killed 14 of the trappers and chased the rest back downriver. The army sent out a regiment of 240 men, who were joined by 120 trappers, to punish the Indians. Among the group of trappers was Toussaint Charbonneau. The campaign was a failure.
With that job ended, Charbonneau went to work for a French trader at Fort Kiowa. He was to go up the Missouri with five others to trade with the Mandans. While the party was making its preparations for the trip, Hugh Glass stumbled into the fort having survived a grizzly attack then “crawling” 350 miles alone across the prairie to the fort.
After a few days’ recuperation, Glass joined the traders going to the Mandans making it a party of seven. A six-week journey brought them almost to Mandan country. Charbonneau got out of the pirogue they were traveling in to go by land, saying it was less dangerous than by water. He made his way to Tilton’s Fort, another French trading post. There he learned the Arikaras had attacked and killed all five of the men in the pirogue.
Hugh Glass must have taken Charbonneau’s lead and chose to go by land also. Shortly after Charbonneau made it to Tilton’s Fort, two Mandans found Glass and brought him to Tilton’s Fort.
Toussaint Charbonneau was living in the lands of the Mandans when he was hired as an interpreter for the Lewis and Clark Expedition. When the Expedition returned to that area on their way back to St. Louis in 1806, he took his family and remained at their frontier home.
For most of the remainder of his life he stayed on the frontier working as interpreter, scout, liaison for the US to various tribes, trapper or trader. His name is found in many diaries and reports. The events of 1823 are typical of his work and travels, but it is made more colorful because one of the other players, Hugh Glass (think of the movie Revenant).
In early1823, a large group of trappers lead by Ashley headed up the Missouri and on to the Yellowstone. They were intercepted by the Arikaras who killed 14 of the trappers and chased the rest back downriver. The army sent out a regiment of 240 men, who were joined by 120 trappers, to punish the Indians. Among the group of trappers was Toussaint Charbonneau. The campaign was a failure.
With that job ended, Charbonneau went to work for a French trader at Fort Kiowa. He was to go up the Missouri with five others to trade with the Mandans. While the party was making its preparations for the trip, Hugh Glass stumbled into the fort having survived a grizzly attack then “crawling” 350 miles alone across the prairie to the fort.
After a few days’ recuperation, Glass joined the traders going to the Mandans making it a party of seven. A six-week journey brought them almost to Mandan country. Charbonneau got out of the pirogue they were traveling in to go by land, saying it was less dangerous than by water. He made his way to Tilton’s Fort, another French trading post. There he learned the Arikaras had attacked and killed all five of the men in the pirogue.
Hugh Glass must have taken Charbonneau’s lead and chose to go by land also. Shortly after Charbonneau made it to Tilton’s Fort, two Mandans found Glass and brought him to Tilton’s Fort.
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