Unintended Consequences of Intervention

"Dearborn emphasized the urgency of this mission to Wilkinson. “In addition to the other presents for the family of the old Arikara chief,” he wrote, “you will please send nine muskets for his sons, to be put into the hands of their uncle for them as they become able to use them.” These actions suggested that Dearborn understood Piahito’s power and reputation. They showed the government was realizing, however haltingly, that its efforts to intervene along the Missouri—efforts that were almost entirely the work of Lewis and Clark—were creating unintended consequences. The first delegation had led to the second one and its larger size. It had also led to more violence, warping old rivalries and creating winners and losers. The Sac and Fox killed five Osage on their way to join the first delegation. After that, they’d killed three Americans who were squatting on their land. Other nations were getting angry—inflamed, according to Chouteau, by “jealousy over the preference Captain Lewis showed.” The second delegation would create even more unintended consequences. At least six of its members died under American protection, including Piahito. People liked to say something about the expedition: Only one man died. Jefferson liked to say it himself. But the expedition had launched those delegations, and they had resulted in at least fourteen additional deaths. Now the grief and suspicion generated by those deaths would begin to spread. No one knew where it would end. * * *"

"In 1809, Lewis tried to send Sheheke home a second time. The Arikara remained angry, and Lewis fortified the second escort by linking it to a group of private traders, something Dearborn had done with Pryor’s attempt. Unfortunately, Madison had replaced Jefferson as president, which meant William Eustis had replaced Dearborn as secretary of war. Eustis refused to cover some of Lewis’s expenses for Sheheke, leaving the captain personally responsible. His creditors began to circle, but what bothered Lewis most was that Eustis had questioned his patriotism, his honor."