Zebulon Pike
Zebulon Pike
Zebulon Montgomery Pikewas an American brigadier general and explorer for whom Pikes Peak in Colorado was renamed. As a U.S. Army officer he led two expeditions, first to reconnoiter the upper reaches of the Mississippi River in 1805-06 and then in 1806-07 to explore the Southwest to the fringes of the northern Spanish-colonial settlements. Pike's expeditions coincided with other Jeffersonian expeditions including the Lewis and Clark Expeditionand the Thomas Freeman and Peter Custis expedition. The second Pike Expedition crossed the...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionExplorer
Date of Birth5 January 1779
CityLamberton, NJ
CountryUnited States of America
A young man who is here speaks the Panis language, and in many other respects, is preferable.
The toute ensemble was such as to make polished society blush, when compared with these savages.
The Pawnee chief had left the village the day after the doctor arrived, with 50 or 60 horses and many people, and had taken his course to the north of our route.
I differ materially from Capt. Lewis, in my account of the numbers, manners, and morals of the Sioux.
The Spanish troops returned and we could yet discover the grass beaten down in the direction which they went.
Give immediate instruction to all your posts in said territory, under your direction, at no time and on no pretence to hoist, or suffer be hoisted, the English flag.
There had so lately been a large force of Spanish cavalry at the village, which had made a great impression on the minds of the young men, as to their power, consequence, which my appearance with 20 infantry was by no means calculated to remove.
The village had a mill near it, situated on the little creek, which made very good flour. The population consisted of civilized Indians, but much mixed blood.
With the dreary season in which we travelled part of the route; with our minds much more actively employed in forming resources for our preservation from famine.
If we go to Chihuahua we must be considered as prisoners of war?
Among various demands and charges I gave them, was, that the said flag should be delivered to me, and one of the United States' flags be received and hoisted in its place.
We were obliged to keep ourselves on our guard against our own companions and fellow-travellers, men of a nation highly favored by the United States.
Each Pawnee presented them with a horse, gave a pipe to smoke to the Osage to whom he had made the present. In this manner were eight horses given.
A discontented young fellow, filled with self pride; he certainly should have considered it an honor to be sent on so respectable an embassy as he was.