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
You have already disarmed my men without my knowledge, are their arms to be returned or not?
At the lodge the chief gave me many particulars which were relative to the late visit of the Spaniards.
Owing to the difficulty of obtaining horses, Mr. Henry returns from this place. In descending the Mississippi I will request him to pay his respects to you.
If he was disposed to desert, I should take care to retain his horse; that for himself, he might leave as he pleased, as I only wanted men with us.
They were conspiring to desert us in the night and steal some of our horses... we engaged a spy.
May Heaven be propitious, and smile on the cause of my country.
On no further occasion present a flag or medal to an Indian.
American agents... are the only persons authorized to hold councils of a political nature.
It was the wish of the Americans that their red brethren should remain peacefully round their own fires, and not embroil themselves in any disputes between the white people.
Few Indians only had breech cloths, most being wrapped in buffalo robes, otherwise quite naked.
In my proper character, I am an officer of the United States Army.
I cannot consent to be led three or four hundred leagues out of my route, without its being by force of arms.
Why cannot we correct the baneful passions, without weakening the good?
Strict justice would demand total confiscation of your property, personal imprisonment and fines.