The story of the kidnapping and slavery of Sacajawea and her marriage to Charbonneau make difficult reading.
Tim Woodward interviewed members of Sacajawea's birth tribe. I found a site from the Sacajawea Interpretive, Cultural, & Educational Center. One is the correct spelling/pronunciation of her name and another question is at what age and where did she die? My search for accurate information about these questions and others about Sacajawea led me to the descendants of her tribe of origin, the Lemhi Shoshoni. There are many questions surrounding Sacajawea's story that have been controversial. This description of Charbonneau makes it clear he was considered a sort of "necessary evil". Monsieur Charbonneau is not noted for his popularity with the rest of the Corps or his abilities as a member of the appears that the only contribution of real value he provided was the interpreting services of his wife, Sacajawea. Between them, they possessed the skills needed to face the challenges of their incredible journey. They had served in the military together and were an ideal team.
Lewis then chose his Co-Captain, William Clark. President Jefferson chose his secretary Meriwether Lewis as the ideal candidate to captain the Corps. O n the Monticello web site r ead about Thomas Jefferson's part in funding and planning the Corp's work. Also, he expected the Corps to catalog the flora and fauna they encountered. He wanted to find a water route to the Pacific Ocean and map the topography. He was dedicated to exploration of the vast territory west of the Mississippi River and learning about the Native Americans who resided there. The Lewis and Clark "Corps of Discovery", as it eventually came to be called, was conceived by Thomas Jefferson. Discover details of all the Corps members from this PBS site and this Discovering Lewis & Clark site.