The 19th century American West was a place to dream about and migrate to, but speculation ended after visitors crossed the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers. What lay before them was a vast landscape of brawny rivers, arid plains, jagged mountains and other extreme natural conditions. This formidable environment forced people to quickly adapt, or fail. One man who made extraordinary adjustments to these challenges was Jean Baptiste Charbonneau, the son of frontier couple Sacagawea (Shoshone) and Toussaint Charbonneau (Metis). He also was the adopted son of William Clark, co-leader of the great Lewis and Clark expedition. Contradictions haunted Jean Baptiste Charbonneau, a man of both Anglo and Indian worlds. He was raised in Clark's affluent, powerful domain and spent six years in a European kingdom, but after returning to America he unaccountably chose to live and work in the wilderness. How and why did this educated, courtly man thrive among rugged, violent, unlearned adventurers and omnipresent danger? What were his remarkable, significant historical accomplishments? The text tracks him over two-thirds of the American continent and places him in several major events. Along the way the extraordinary life-long relationship between the Charbonneau family and Clark is fully developed. The author reflects throughout the narrative on the complexities Jean Baptiste and others faced in the American West. Followers of Lewis and Clark, the Charbonneau family and the American West from 1805-1866 will enjoy revelations about Charbonneau's life and times. "History at its Best! This informative and pleasurable read about Charbonneau, the much loved baby "Pomp" on the Corps of Discovery, puts a face on the man that went on to become successful in the charted but yet untamed West in his own right." Maggie Starr "I Enjoyed it! I'm giving it five stars. I liked the book precisely because it skips the minutia and focuses on important historical elements. I also appreciated the author's effort to engage the reader in reasonable supposition about Baptiste's undocumented activities." Mary McDonnell "Overall, the author has done a superb job of researching the life of this larger-than-life historical figure, and has brought us a wonderful account of his exploits and adventures." Dr. David P. Diaz "This is the best book about Jean Baptiste I have read. There is not a lot of wild speculation to fill in the gaps of written record... I find this book a "must read" for anyone interested in the real Jean Baptiste Charbonneau." Chuck Charbonneau "This is the epic story of an extraordinary American, not fully revealed until now." Dr. Larry M. Stewart "Great reading! A thoroughly enjoyable and authentic record of part of our American history. A man's mark that makes this record a deeply memorable one." Alice Cano The book has been purchased by the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, university libraries, museums, historical societies, public libraries, bookstores and scholars. Well-researched and written by Michael Lance Ritter, this book brings Charbonneau to life in an epic tale. -- Persimmon Hill, February, 2006 Text is a thoroughly documented, detailed study of Charbonneau's life. A definitive study providing insight and new developments in Charbonneau's history. Michael Lance Ritter has an M. A. in history with further American West study at the University of California as a Ph.D Fellow. He has lived on the Great Plains, along the Rocky Mountain Front, in the snowy Sierra Nevada and the California gold country. Michael has been an instructor, entrepreneur and investor, and now lives in Santa Rosa, CA. Member: Western Writers of America, Western History Association, Robinson Jeffers Association, Association for the Study of Literature and the Environment, and the Cherokee Nation. From chapter titled INTO THE OPEN WEST He left St. Vrain s Fort with several boats in July 1842, at age 37. Jean Baptiste again was charged with transporting furs and hides down the quicksand-ridden, murky South Platte River to St. Louis. This was virtually the same route he took in 1839 with journalist Smith, although the main river channel meandered differently each year. The journey was underway with speed in mind when it became clear the river s depth was insufficient. Even after transferring the cargo to lower-drafting bullboats, which was an option at the start of the trip, the flotilla ran completely aground. There simply was no water. A large, comfortable camp was set up on an island in the middle of long sandbars, only 50 miles east of Fort St. Vrain. An ocean of golden plains to the north, east and south stretched as far as the eye could see. To the west, behind them, the great wall of the Rocky Mountain front reminded them that they had made a big mistake in trying to outguess the Platte. Remarkably, while everyone was idling in camp, along came John C. Fremont, seemingly out of nowhere, amidst the sounds of horse hooves and cl