1839 Aug 26 - Joshua Pilcher to Commissioner of Indian Affairs

From: Joshua Pilcher, Superintendent of Indian Affairs
Dated: 26 Aug 1839
Letter Addressed to: Commissioner of Indian Affairs

Son of Joshua and Nancy, removed to Lexington in 1793 where he worked as a hatter for Hiram Shaw. During the War of 1812 went to Nashville, later arriving in St. Louis about 1814. A fur trader, he joined up with Manuel Lisa in the Missouri Fur Company, later became an Indian agent and succeeded William Clark as Superintendent of Indian Affairs.

John C. Luttig is believed to have been a native of Germany who immigrated to Baltimore where he was a merchant. By 1809, his name appears in the St. Louis records. He began working for the Missouri Fur Company as a clerk, as well as for Clark in matter pertaining to government as well as personal. He moved to the White River settlements in present Arkansas where Clark, as governor, appointement him justice of the peace. He died 19 Jul 1815. His journal records the death of Sheheke and Sacagawea at Fort Manuel in 1812.

Toussaint Charbonneau was born near Montreal, Quebec and was employed with the North West Company of fur traders, he encountered the established settlement of Mandan and Hidatsa tribes on the upper Missouri River, and settled amongst these tribes, and purchased Sacagawea and "Otter Woman" from the Hidatsa who had captured them - and made them his wives. Sacagawea became pregnant with their first child in 1804, the same year Lewis and Clark came to the area and built Fort Mandan. He worked as a free agent as a trapper, laborer, and interpreter of the Hidatsa language, though it was actually Sacagawea whose services would be of value, as Charbonneau was not very highly considered. After the expedition, however, Clark set him and his family up in St. Louis and having taken an affection for their son Jean Baptiste, provided for his education. After leaving the boy in Clark's care, he and Sacagawea left St. Louis and went to Fort Manuel where he was working for the Missouri Fur Company. He also worked for the Upper Missouri Agency's Indian Bureau as a translator, (as noted in Pilcher's letters) making from $300 to $400 per year, but he was not well-liked and it seems his position was given him by Clark as shortly after he died, the government "dispensed with his services."

Superinted,y of Indian Affs.
St. Louis, Augt. 26, 1839

Sir:

On the 21st inst. Toussaint Charbonneau, the late Mandan Interpreter, arrived here from the Mandan villages, a distance of 1600 miles, and came into the office, tottering under the infirmities of 80 winters, without a dollar to support him, to ask what appeared to me to be nothing more the just, and I accordingly have paid his salary as Interpreter for the Mandan sub-agency, for the 1st & 2nd quarters of this year, with the understanding that his services are no longer required. This man has been a faithful servant of the Government though in a humble capacity. He figured conspicuously in the expedition of Lewis and Clark to the Pacific, and rendered much service. For the last fifteen years, he has been employed as the Government interpreter at the Mandans, and never received notice of the intention of the Department to dispense with his services, until some time in July, in consequence of the remote situation of the post. Under these circumstances I thought, and still think it but right that he should be paid, and believe it will meet your sanction, to be charged, (as there has been no allottment for that sub-agency), to the contingent account of the District.

I am,
Sir,
Your mo. ob. St.
Joshua Pilcher, Super. In. Affs.

Source: Luttig, John, Clerk of Missouri Fur Company, Journal of a Fur-Trading Expedition on the Upper Missouri 1812-1813, ed. by Stella M. Drumm, St. Louis, MO Historical Society, 1920.

Letter Index

Brief Biographical Sketch of Joshua Pilcher

Joshua Pilcher - Hatter, Fur Trader & Superintendent of Indian Affairs