Jean Baptiste Charbinneau, son of Sacagwea and Touissant Charbonneau, is proclaimed America's youngest explorer. He was born on the expedition at Fort Mandan on February 11 in 1805. Lewis recorded his birth saying, “About five Oclock this evening one of the wives of Charbonneau was delivered of a fine boy. It is worthy of remark that this was the first child this woman had boarn, and as common in such cases her labour was tedious and the pain violent.” Lewis assisted with the birth giving Scagawea a "rattle snake potion" to induce labor. The child was nicknamed "Pomp" or "Pompy" throughout the expedition by Clark for his pompous "little dancing boy" antics. Baptiste officially joined the expedition when they departed from Fort Mandan on April 7 in 1805 to the Rocky Mountains. During the spring of 1806, the newborn experience serious illnesses that included a high fever and a swollen neck and throat. Historians today believed he suffered from the mumps or tonsillitis and possibly teething during the delay the team experienced on Lolo Trial through the Bitterrroot Mountains due to deep snow. With the help of another potion designed by the captains, the boy recovered in two and a half weeks. On July 25 in 1806, Clark named an unusual free standing sandstone formation on the south shore of the Yellowstone River "Pompy's Tower" after the now one and a half year old. Clark also carved the date, his own name, and his birthdate into the structure. It remains to be the only lasting physical evidence of the expedition. Prior to parting with Sacagawea when the team arrived at the Hinasta-Mandan villages, Clark offered to raise and educate Baptiste on August 17. It was decided that the young infant would stay with his parents and return to Clark later.
In April of 1811, Sacagawea and Charbonneau brought Baptiste to Clark where he would commence his education. After completing his schooling, Baptiste returned to the frontier lifestyle. In 1823 at eighteen years old, he met Prince Paul Wilhelm of Wuertembergn, Germany. He was fascinated with Baptiste's exploring experiences and exposed him to the sophisticated, aristocratic environment of the German court. Enjoying six years of a royal lifestyle, Baptiste became fluent in four languages. He returned to America in 1829 where he once again trapped, hunted, and explored, scouting west from New Mexico to california for Mormon Battalion from 1846 to 1847. He was appointed Alcalde of San Luis Rey Mission, much like a magistrate, before resigning his official duties due to the mistreatment to his native people. He entered the California gold rush without success and became a hotel clerk in Auburn California in 1861. He left Auburn in 1866 with friends in hopes of becoming rich in gold in Montana. Baptiste dies at age 61 of pneumonia. On March 14 of 1973 his gravesite in Jordan Valley hamlet of Danner, Oregon entered the national Register of Historical Places.
In April of 1811, Sacagawea and Charbonneau brought Baptiste to Clark where he would commence his education. After completing his schooling, Baptiste returned to the frontier lifestyle. In 1823 at eighteen years old, he met Prince Paul Wilhelm of Wuertembergn, Germany. He was fascinated with Baptiste's exploring experiences and exposed him to the sophisticated, aristocratic environment of the German court. Enjoying six years of a royal lifestyle, Baptiste became fluent in four languages. He returned to America in 1829 where he once again trapped, hunted, and explored, scouting west from New Mexico to california for Mormon Battalion from 1846 to 1847. He was appointed Alcalde of San Luis Rey Mission, much like a magistrate, before resigning his official duties due to the mistreatment to his native people. He entered the California gold rush without success and became a hotel clerk in Auburn California in 1861. He left Auburn in 1866 with friends in hopes of becoming rich in gold in Montana. Baptiste dies at age 61 of pneumonia. On March 14 of 1973 his gravesite in Jordan Valley hamlet of Danner, Oregon entered the national Register of Historical Places.