Captured
Journal 2005 07 28
Captured
It is hard to describe the Lewis and Clark Expedition. It was a trek into land claimed by Spain, France, England and Russia. None had really established a strong enough presence to hold onto it. The Expedition was first a military mission. The men were soldiers. Even those recruited in St. Louis were enlisted as privates. It was certainly a scientific exploration of unknown land. A modern comparison would be the underwater discoveries of Jaques Cousteau and his fellow scientists and divers. It was a humanitarian and anthropological mission also. A significant portion of the Expedition was to be spent toward observing indigenous peoples and establishing peaceful relations with them. And it was in no small form a commercial venture. The primary goal was to determine if a navigable waterway existed joining the Atlantic seaboard to the Pacific coast. Waterways would carry the wealth of the nation to the population centers.
Several civilians were employed for their language and wilderness abilities. The young Shoshone wife of the French interpreter was carrying her newborn son. I’m convinced that the presence of this young mother and her infant was instrumental to the peaceful acceptance of this strange band of armed travelers into lands filled with tribal warfare. How could a mother and baby be part of a war party? Sacagawea is the young mother and her story unfolds here at the confluence of the rivers that Lewis names the Gallatin, the Madison and the Jefferson after the President, Secretary of War and Secretary of Navy.
As the weary men rest and prepare deer skin for clothing and moccasins, Sacagawea tells of a battle on the precise spot where the men are camped. The Shoshone, or Snake, Indians were camped and were spotted by the Minnetares. The Shoshones moved three miles up the Jefferson. Just out of the valley and into the woods to hide. The Minnetares pursued them, attacked, killed four men, four women, a number of boys and made prisoners of all the remaining females and four boys. She was one of the young girls captured in the attack. Later, she was acquired by her French fur trader husband in a business deal. It had been about five years since she was captured.
Lewis notes that he “cannot discover that she shews any immotion of sorrow in recollecting this event, or even joy in being restored to her native country; if she has enough to eat and a few trinkets to wear I believe she would be perfectly content anywhere.”
Much speculation exists about Sacagawea. Some contend she died within ten years of the expeditions end. Others insist she lived a long influential life. We’ll explore that in more detail much later in this exercise. We do know that she proved herself many times over throughout the journey to be a courageous, contributing and valuable member of the party. Her knowledge of native plants aided the men greatly in their diet. All noted her bravery as she risked her life for the good of the mission several times.
Many of the men carried the young boy, Jean Baptiste Charboneau, during the journey. Captain Clark was especially fond of him and the baby was often in his care. He was nicknamed “Pomp”.
Lewis’ observation of her lack of bitterness or joy but simple contentment is what strikes me in today’s journal entry. Husbands reading this will be thinking, “If only my wife could be so easily satisfied.” Wives reading this will be thinking, “Oh that poor girl, someone should have done a better job of protecting her.” I believe the lesson brought to us from the Heaven through the Spirit of God is the same one recorded by another traveler, Saul of Tarsus, later named Paul, as he “proceeded on” with his eyes fixed on Mt. Zion as he preached the Good News that Jesus Christ was the Savior of the world.
“… for I have learned to be content in whatever state I am. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound. In everything and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:11-13)
I have to answer the questions this scripture and journal entry beg for myself. I hope you ask it of yourself. Have we suffered wrong like the young Shoshone girl taken from her mother and given to a strange man as a teenage bride? Am I content to have enough to eat and a few trinkets? Are you? And not just am I content, am I “perfectly content?” Are you? If not, I have to ask myself am I trusting and believing and living in the truth that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me?
Captured
It is hard to describe the Lewis and Clark Expedition. It was a trek into land claimed by Spain, France, England and Russia. None had really established a strong enough presence to hold onto it. The Expedition was first a military mission. The men were soldiers. Even those recruited in St. Louis were enlisted as privates. It was certainly a scientific exploration of unknown land. A modern comparison would be the underwater discoveries of Jaques Cousteau and his fellow scientists and divers. It was a humanitarian and anthropological mission also. A significant portion of the Expedition was to be spent toward observing indigenous peoples and establishing peaceful relations with them. And it was in no small form a commercial venture. The primary goal was to determine if a navigable waterway existed joining the Atlantic seaboard to the Pacific coast. Waterways would carry the wealth of the nation to the population centers.
Several civilians were employed for their language and wilderness abilities. The young Shoshone wife of the French interpreter was carrying her newborn son. I’m convinced that the presence of this young mother and her infant was instrumental to the peaceful acceptance of this strange band of armed travelers into lands filled with tribal warfare. How could a mother and baby be part of a war party? Sacagawea is the young mother and her story unfolds here at the confluence of the rivers that Lewis names the Gallatin, the Madison and the Jefferson after the President, Secretary of War and Secretary of Navy.
As the weary men rest and prepare deer skin for clothing and moccasins, Sacagawea tells of a battle on the precise spot where the men are camped. The Shoshone, or Snake, Indians were camped and were spotted by the Minnetares. The Shoshones moved three miles up the Jefferson. Just out of the valley and into the woods to hide. The Minnetares pursued them, attacked, killed four men, four women, a number of boys and made prisoners of all the remaining females and four boys. She was one of the young girls captured in the attack. Later, she was acquired by her French fur trader husband in a business deal. It had been about five years since she was captured.
Lewis notes that he “cannot discover that she shews any immotion of sorrow in recollecting this event, or even joy in being restored to her native country; if she has enough to eat and a few trinkets to wear I believe she would be perfectly content anywhere.”
Much speculation exists about Sacagawea. Some contend she died within ten years of the expeditions end. Others insist she lived a long influential life. We’ll explore that in more detail much later in this exercise. We do know that she proved herself many times over throughout the journey to be a courageous, contributing and valuable member of the party. Her knowledge of native plants aided the men greatly in their diet. All noted her bravery as she risked her life for the good of the mission several times.
Many of the men carried the young boy, Jean Baptiste Charboneau, during the journey. Captain Clark was especially fond of him and the baby was often in his care. He was nicknamed “Pomp”.
Lewis’ observation of her lack of bitterness or joy but simple contentment is what strikes me in today’s journal entry. Husbands reading this will be thinking, “If only my wife could be so easily satisfied.” Wives reading this will be thinking, “Oh that poor girl, someone should have done a better job of protecting her.” I believe the lesson brought to us from the Heaven through the Spirit of God is the same one recorded by another traveler, Saul of Tarsus, later named Paul, as he “proceeded on” with his eyes fixed on Mt. Zion as he preached the Good News that Jesus Christ was the Savior of the world.
“… for I have learned to be content in whatever state I am. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound. In everything and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:11-13)
I have to answer the questions this scripture and journal entry beg for myself. I hope you ask it of yourself. Have we suffered wrong like the young Shoshone girl taken from her mother and given to a strange man as a teenage bride? Am I content to have enough to eat and a few trinkets? Are you? And not just am I content, am I “perfectly content?” Are you? If not, I have to ask myself am I trusting and believing and living in the truth that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me?
posted by @2007 Dick Cinkovich | 1:52 PM
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