A Child to be Raised as His Own

Journal 2005 02 11
A Child to be Raised as His Own

Great joy in Fort Mandan today! The youngest member of the Expedition is added to its number. Jean Baptiste Charbonneau, infant son of Toussant Charbonneau, translator hired by the Corps. We know his mother by first name only, Sacajawea. She was sixteen. While no mention is made of the reason for choosing his name. It is interesting to note that Jean Baptiste LePage was to later enlist and become part of the party at Fort Mandan. Is Charbonneau naming his son after his friend? History didn’t record it, but it certainly seems possible.

Snake rattle was used to quicken the birth by another of the Frenchmen present. Lewis writes that he has no faith in the “rattle of snake” as a medicine. Sacajawea had a long and difficult delivery. All is well with mother and child.

If we don’t get to it later it is good to note here that the young man who would traverse the frontier as an infant would live a rich life as a frontiersman. Captain Clark was smitten with the young man and at age six the Charbonneau’s accepted Captain Clark’s offer to raise him as his own son. The Charbonneau’s sent their son to grow in the ways of the much-admired William Clark. As a young man, Jean Baptiste would spend six years in Europe as the protégé of Prince Paul of Wurrtemburg. Upon his return to the United States he lived as a mountain man, fur trader and guide to many famous explorers and soldiers. He later settled in California. He died in 1866 in Oregon while traveling to Montana.

Clark called the young boy “Pomp” or “Pompy” and “Pompy’s Pillar”, or “Pompey’s Tower” stands named by Clark for this youngest of explorers.

Now my imagination adds to the richness of the record. When we see paintings depicting scenes of the Expedition we see Sacajawea carrying the baby. My guess is that this infant boy spent endless hours with many of the soldiers as they traversed the great distances and difficult passages. Most of the soldiers were young, not parents and most probably brothers of younger boys. Many must have enjoyed the company and the blessing of the baby in their care. Clark would marry, but not for a few years. I can imagine him carrying this small boy in one arm speaking to him in a narrative of wonder as every footstep reveals new wonders to these brave young men.

We speak of destiny to our children and young men and women. We have the complete record of Jean Baptiste Charbonneau’s life. Could we speak to our children with the wisdom of their destiny revealed if we had the full history of their lives? Have we asked the Lord to give us this kind of revelation regarding the destiny and lives of our children and young people? Do we believe that God would take each of our children to “raise as His own”? Do we trust Him to do that very same thing? Is God able to recite a complete narrative of their lives? If so, why wouldn’t we trust Him with them? Today, let us endeavor to give our children to God to be “raised as His own”. At the same time, let us remember that we have been given over to that same charge. To be raised as His own.