Illinois Valley news., January 07, 2004, Page 14, Image 14

Page 14
George Drouillard,
The Expedition’s
Interpreter
To students of the
Lewis and Clark expedition
George Drouillard was one
of the most important mem-
bers of the group. Lewis
praised his skills noting he
was a, “man of much merit;
he has been peculiarly use-
ful from his common lan-
guage of gesticulation [sign
language], and his uncom-
mon skill as a hunter and
woodsmen…deserve the
highest commendation.”
Drouillard signed on the
voyage at Ft. Massac, Illi-
nois for $25 dollars per
month when a private’s pay
netted only five dollars. His
father was a French-
Canadian, who served for
the United States in the
Revolutionary War, and his
mother a Shawnee Indian.
At Camp Dubois he served
a messenger and hunter.
Drouillard’s special
talent for sign language be-
came useful when the Corps
met the Otoe’s and Missouri
Indians where Ft. Atkisson,
Nebraska is located today.
On orders from the
captains Drouillard hunted
two deserters from the
group, but returned with
only one. His skills were in
much demand during the
winter at Ft. Mandan where
he interpreted among sev-
eral tribes in the area for
grain and trade goods.
Perhaps the interpreter’s
most critical moment for
Lewis & Clark occurred at
Lemhi Pass in August of
1805.
The Corps desperately
needed horses to cross the
mountains to the Pacific
Ocean. He was a member
of a small band with Lewis
who stumbled onto the Sho-
shone Chief Cameahwait.
With Drouillard acting
as the go between, Lewis
convinced the chief to trade
the expedition horses to
continue westward journey,
as well as critical informa-
tion about the routes
through central Idaho.
On the return trip
Drouillard continued to help
feed the men with his hunt-
ing skills. His final job for
the two captains was to mail
the first letters from the ex-
pedition, following their
return, to President Jeffer-
son at the Cahokia, Illinois
post office.
Drouillard continued to
return upriver and became
active in the developing fur
trade business. He signed
on as field representative for
Manuel Lisa’s fur company.
Once again he was
called upon to track a de-
serter and this time Drouil-
lard killed the man who re-
fused to return. The inter-
preter was eventually tried
for murder and acquitted.
In 1809 Drouillard re-
turned to the mountains to
trap fur for the final time.
Hi partners discovered his
mutilated body near his
traps. He had been sur-
rounded and killed many of
his enemy before they over-
whelmed him.
George Drouillard, in-
terpreter, hunter and fur
trapper was hastily buried in
an unmarked grave.
Dave Hinze is a profes-
sional historian and tour
guide. He leads tours and
presents at conferences on
Lewis & Clark, and other
topics pertaining to early
American history, for the
American History Education
Association. For informa-
tion about this series or one
of AHEA’s many history
tours you can contact Hinze
at 1-800-298-1861 or
AHEA2004@yahoo.com
Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, OR Wednesday, January 7, 2004