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
At the lodge the chief gave me many particulars which were relative to the late visit of the Spaniards.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The Spanish troops returned and we could yet discover the grass beaten down in the direction which they went.
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.
The toute ensemble was such as to make polished society blush, when compared with these savages.
A young man who is here speaks the Panis language, and in many other respects, is preferable.
He was a man, he always performed his promises.
If success attends my steps, honor and glory await my name-if defeat, still shall it be said we died like brave men, and conferred honor, even in death, on the American Name.
I was informed... that some... were dreaming and wished to return.
Why cannot we correct the baneful passions, without weakening the good?
The preparations for my new voyage prevented the possiblity of my paying that attention to the correction of my errors, that I should otherwise have done.