Last updated: July 19, 2024
Person
Private Jean-Baptiste Lepage
Quick Facts
Significance:
Private on the Lewis and Clark Expedition
Place of Birth:
Kaskaskia, Illinois
Date of Birth:
August 20th, 1761
Place of Death:
Unknown
Date of Death:
1809
Place of Burial:
Unknown
Cemetery Name:
Unknown
"one of our men Baptiest who came down this river in a canoe informs me that it is not navagable, he was 45 days descending." - Clark, April 12th, 1805
Jean-Baptiste Lepage had been in the right place at the right time. When the Lewis and Clark Expedition was up in modern day North Dakota creating their winter encampment, Fort Mandan, he was in the region living amongst the Mandan people. He had experience exploring the northern part of the continent and no doubt knew some of the languages as well. The expedition just so happened to be looking for a new member after John Newman was dishonorably discharged for talks of mutiny and given 75 lashes.
He was hired on for his hunting experience, boatsman skills, and the knowledge he already possessed of many of the rivers and streams the expedition was already planning to go down.
On the Expedition
Lepage makes his knowledge immediately useful to the expedition. After they had set out from Fort Mandan he aids in the mapping of the area. On April 12th, 1805, Clark, Lewis, and Lepage talk on the location of Turtle Mountain, now Killdeer Mountain. Lepage lets them know that the river made it all the way to the base of the northwest side of the mountain. He then aids with giving information about the Little Missouri river and the course it would take.Weeks later, on June 4th, 1805, Lewis would take Lepage up a northern river branch to scout and see if it was the Missouri or not. All throughout Montana in 1805 Lewis would continue to take Lepage with him for mapping and scouting parties.
Come September 20th, 1805, Lewis would write about a very unfortunate event. Writing that "here I larnt that one of the Packhorses with his load was missing and immediately dispatched Baptiest Lapage who had charge of him, to surch for him. he returned at 3 OC. without the horse. The load of the horse was of considerable value consisting of merchandize and all my stock of winter cloathing." A great loss that, perhaps, he was to make up for in the future when he was sent to find other lost horses.
Throughout most of the rest of the expedition Lepage was found as a hunter and trapper alongside the expeditions top one, George Drouillard, where they made a formiddable hunting duo. During their time at Fort Clatsop the pair were written about weekly having been saving the crew from starvation by hunting elk and trapping beaver. On one of these expeditions, January 14th, 1806, they even get the honor of traveling alongside one of the Clatsop leaders, Coboway, as Lewis writes "Drewyer and Baptiest La Paage returned this morning in a large Canoe with Comowooll and six Clatsops."
He was, on occasion, trusted to perform trade as well. On May 30th, 1806, Lewis writes "Lapage and Charbono set out to the indian vilages early this morning for the purpose of trading with them for roots;" showing the trust the captains had in his negotiation skill.
After the Expedition
As his service started late, Lepage was awarded $111.50 for his time on the expedition. However he would never receive this pay.Already having a place to call home and not needing more land, Lepage would sell his land warrant to John Ordway.
There is evidence to support that Lepage was with Maneuel Lisa on a trapping expedition up into Montana wher ehe likely died in 1809. Still in debt to Manuel Lisa, Lisa would be named as an executor of his estate. He left behind a wife, four sons, and a daughter.
Resources:
Morris, Larry E. The Fate of the Corps. Yale University Press, 2004. Print.Moulton, Gary. The Journals of the Lewis & Clark Expedition: August 30, 1803 - August 2, 1804 . University of Nebraska Press, 1986. Print.
Moulton, Gary. Journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. University of Nebraska Press. Web.