Pike's Excursion Through Kansas
The start was made on
the 15th of July, 1806, from Belle Fontaine, on the south bank of the
Missouri, fourteen miles from St. Louis, then the military post of that
city. The party were embarked in two boats, and the Indians marched along
the bank of the river. The mouth of the Osage was reached on the 28th of
July. The exploration ascended the Osage. On the 12th of August it was at
the mouth of Grand River, above the present town of Warsaw, Mo. There the
Indians expressed a desire to strike across the country to their towns,
and avoid the winding and tedious ascent of the river. They were then in
their own country, at no great distance from their towns, and familiar
with the trails of the region. It seems that these Indians had been
captured there at the mouth of the Grand River, a year before, by the
Pottawatomies. Lieutenant Wilkinson, Dr. Robinson, and the interpreter
volunteered to go with the Indians overland. After a march of six days
over the prairies the party arrived at the Osage towns, and the captives
were delivered to their relatives.
The Osage towns were in what is now Vernon County, Mo., on the south side
of the Little Osage River. The tribe was then divided, one division being
the "Big" or "Grand" Osages, and the other the "Little" Osages. The town
of the Big Osages was on the south side of the Little Osage below the
mouth of the Marmaton. About six miles further up was the Little Osage
town. Pike was halted on the 19th of August by a drift across the Little
Osage, and there established Camp Independence, where he remained until
the first of September. The time was spent in visiting the Osage towns,
and in consultation with the Indian chiefs. Pike made a census of the
Osage tribe, finding that the Big Osages had 214 lodges, 502 warriors, 852
women, and 341 children—a total of 1,695 souls. The Little Osages numbered
824, all told.
At the Osage towns one stage of Pike's itinerary ended, and another stage
began. He was obliged to abandon his boats, one of which he sold for $100
in merchandise. He experienced trouble in securing horses to carry his
baggage, for he was to set out overland to visit the great Pawnee town on
the Republican. The gratitude of the Osages for the return of their
captive people rapidly waned. Finally, on the first of September,
arrangements were completed, and the journey to the Pawnee town commenced.
Circumstances were not favorable, however, and the difficulties of the
situation are well described in Pike's Journal:
Sept. 1st, Struck our tents early in the morning, and commenced loading
our horses. We now discovered that an Indian had stolen a large black
horse which Cheveux Blanche had presented to Lieutenant Wilkinson. I
mounted a horse to pursue him; but the interpreter sent to town, and the
chief's wife sent another in its place. We left the place about twelve
o'clock with 15 loaded horses, our party consisting of two lieutenants,
one doctor, two sergeants, one corporal, 15 privates, two interpreters,
three Pawnees, and four chiefs of the Grand Osage, amounting in all to 30
warriors and one woman. We crossed the Grand Osage fork and a prairie N.
80º W. five miles to the fork of the Little Osage. Joined by Sans Oreillc
and seven Little Osage, all of whom I equipped for the march. Distance
eight miles.
Sept. 2d. Marched at six o'clock. Halted at ten o'clock and two o'clock on
the side of the creek [Little Osage river], our route having been all the
time on its borders. Whilst there I was informed by a young Indian that
Mr. Chouteau had arrived at the towns. I conceived it proper for me to
return. which I did, accompanied by Baroney, first to the Little Village;
whence we were accompanied by Wind to the Big Village, where we remained
all night at the lodge of Cheveux Blanche. Mr. Chouteau gave us all the
news, after which I scrawled a letter to the general and my friends.
Sept. 3rd. Rose early, and went to the Little Village to breakfast. After
giving my letters to Mr. Henry, and arranging my affairs, we proceeded,
and overtook our party at two o'clock. They had left their first camp
about four miles. Our horses being much fatigued, we concluded to remain
all night. Sent out our red and white hunters, all of whom only killed two
turkeys. Distance four miles.
Sept. 4th. When about to march in the morning one of our horses was
missing; we left Sans Oreille, with the two Pawnees, to search for him,
and proceeded till about nine o'clock; stopped until twelve o'clock, and
then marched. In about half an hour I was overtaken and informed that Sans
Oreille had not been able to find our horse; on which we encamped, and
sent two horses back for the load. One of the Indians, being jealous of
his wife, sent her back to the village. After making the necessary notes,
Dr. Robinson and myself took our horses and followed the course of a
little stream until we arrived at the Grand river, which was distant about
six miles. We here found a most delightful basin of water, of 25 paces'
diameter and about 100 in circumference, in which we bathed; found it deep
and delightfully pleasant. Nature scarcely ever formed a more beautiful
place for a farm. We returned to camp about dusk, when I was informed that
some of the Indians had been dreaming and wished to return. Killed one
deer, one turkey, one raccoon. Distance [made by the main party] 13 miles.
Sept. 5th. In the morning our Little Osage all came to a determination to
return, and, much to my surprise, Sans Oreille among the rest. I had given
an order on the chiefs for the lost horse to be delivered to Sans
Oreille's wife, previously to my knowing that he was going back; but took
from him his gun, and the guns from all the others also.
In about five miles we struck a beautiful hill, which bears south on the
prairies; its elevation I suppose to be 100 feet. From its summit the view
is sublime to the east and southeast. We waited on this hill to breakfast,
and had to send two miles for water. Killed a deer on the rise, which was
soon roasting before the fire. Here another Indian wished to return and
take his horse with him; which, as we had so few, I could not allow, for
he had already received a gun for the use of his horse. I told him he
might return, but his horse would go to the Pawnees.
We marched, leaving the Osage trace, which we had hitherto followed, and
crossed the hills to a creek that was almost dry. Descended it to the main
[Little Osage] river, where we dined [vicinity of Harding]. The
discontented Indian came up, and put on an air of satisfaction and
content.
We again marched about six miles further, and encamped at the head of a
small creek, about a half a mile from the water. Distance 19 miles
[approaching Xenia, Bourbon Co., Kas.].
On the 6th of September Pike reached a point in Allen County, Kansas, and
camped on the head of Elm Creek, near the present town of LaHarpe. He
arrived at the Neosho, which he called White River, early on the 8th, and
crossed it somewhere between Iola and Neosho Falls. On the 7th he marched
twelve miles and camped on Eagle Creek near the cast line of Lyon County.
The head branches of the Verdigris were crossed on the 10th and 11th, the
camp on the night of the 11th being on a tributary of the Cottonwood. The
12th brought the party to hunting-grounds of the Kansas Indians, on the
Upper Cottonwood, and six buffaloes were killed. The Indians of the party
said they would destroy all the game they could, being enemies of the
Kansas. Large herds of buffalo were encountered on the 14th, in what is
now Marion County. Pike would permit the slaughter of only enough of them
to furnish food for his party, thinking the laws of morality against the
wanton destruction of those noble game animals. On the 15th the expedition
crossed the divide to the waters of the Smoky Hill, not far from the
present Tampa, in Marion County. The Osage Indian objected to going into
camp at one o'clock. From the manner in which the buffalo ran he supposed
they were being chased by the Kansas Indians, of whom, it seems, he was
afraid. The Smoky Hill was reached on the 17th, and crossed, at nine
o'clock, at or near the town of Bridgeport, in Saline County. Pike
expected the Pawnees to meet him on the 18th, but they did not come. The
party made twenty-five miles and camped on Covert Creek, near the present
town of Minneapolis. They remained here until the 21st, reading the Bible
and Pope's Essays, and tattooing their arms with characters to remind them
of their experiences in life. They were constantly expecting to see the
Pawnees, under direction of Dr. Robinson, but they did not appear until
the 24th. On the 25th Pike led his party up to the Republican Pawnee town.
In his journey he had traversed Bourbon, Allen, Woodson, Coffey, Lyon,
Chase, Marion, McPherson, Saline, Ottawa, Cloud, and Republic counties.
The account of his reception there is very interesting:
When we arrived within about three miles of the village, we were requested
to remain, as the ceremony of receiving the Osage into the towns was to be
performed here. There was a small circular spot, clear of grass, before
which the Osage sat down. We were a small distance in advance of the
Indians. The Pawnees then advanced within a mile of us, halted, divided
into two troops, and came on each flank at full charge, making all the
gestures and performing the maneuvers of a real war charge. They then
encircled us around, and the chief advanced in the center and gave us his
hand; his name was Caracterish. He was accompanied by his two sons and a
chief by the name of Iskatappe. The Osage were still seated; but Belle
Oiseau then rose, came forward with a pipe, and presented it to the chief,
who took a whiff or two from it. We then proceeded; the chief, Lieutenant
Wilkinson, and myself in front; my sergeant, on a white horse, next with
the colors; then our horses and baggage, escorted by our men, with the
Pawnees on each side, running races, etc. When we arrived on the hill over
the town we were again halted, and the Osage seated in a row; when each
Pawnee who intended so to do presented them with a horse and gave a pipe
to smoke to the Osage to whom he had made the present. In this manner were
eight horses given. Lieutenant Wilkinson then proceeded with the party to
the [Republican] river above the town, and encamped. I went up to our camp
in the evening, having a young Pawnee with me loaded with corn for my men.
Distance 12 miles. As the chief had invited us to his lodge to eat, we
thought it proper for one to go. At the lodge he gave me many particulars,
which were interesting to us, relative to the late visit of the Spaniards.
The sale of Louisiana by France
to the United States was not pleasing to Spain. The westward inclination
of the American people was well known to the Spaniards. The western
borders of Louisiana were indefinite—at least, not agreed upon. The
activity of the Government of the United States in the exploration of the
wilderness empire caused apprehension in Mexico. In that province measures
designed to discourage expeditions from the American settlements were
taken. As Pike expresses it: "In the year 1806 our affairs with Spain
began to wear a scrious aspect." The details of Pike's expedition were
carried to Mexico, and a force was organized and sent out to check it and
counteract its influence on the Plains tribes. The Spanish force arrived
at the Republican Pawnee village ahead of Pike, who adequately describes
the objects and movements of it. That this situation may be plain, the
statement of Pike is given at length:
I will attempt to give some memoranda of this expedition, which was the
most important ever carried on from the province of New Mexico, and in
fact the only one directed N. E. (except that mentioned by the Abbe Raynal
in his History of the Indes) to the Pawnees—of which see a more particular
account hereafter. In the year 1806 our affairs with Spain began to wear a
very serious aspect, and the troops of the two governments almost came to
actual hostilities on the frontiers of Texas and the Orleans territory. At
this time, when matters bore every appearance of coming to a crisis, I was
fitting out for my expedition from St. Louis, where some of the Spanish
emissaries in that country transmitted the information to Majar, Merior,
[sic] and the Spanish council at that place, who immediately forwarded the
information to the then commandant of Nacogdoches, Captain Schastian
Rodreriques [sic], who forwarded it to Colonel [Don Antonio] Cordero, by
whom it was transmitted to [General Don Nimesio Salcedo, at Chihuahua,]
the seat of government. This information was personally communicated to
me, as an instance of the rapid means they possessed of transmitting
information relative to the occurrences transacting on our frontiers. The
expedition was then determined on, and had three objects in view:
1st. To descend the Red river, in order, if he met our expedition, to
intercept and turn us back; or, should Major Sparks and Mr. [Thomas]
Freeman have missed the party from Nacogdoches, under the command of
Captain Viana, to oblige them to return and not penetrate further into the
country, or make them prisoners of war.
2d. To explore and examine all the internal parts of the country from the
frontiers of the province of New Mexico to the Missouri between the La
Platte [sentence unfinished].
3d. To visit the Tetaus, Pawnee republic, Grand Pawnees, Pawnee Mahaws,
and Kans. To the head chief of each of those nations the commanding
officer bore flags, a commission, grand medal, and four mules; and with
all of them he had to renew the chains of ancient amity which was said to
have existed between their father, his most Catholic majesty, and his
children the red people.
The commanding officer also bore positive orders to oblige all parties or
persons, in the above-specified countries, either to retire from them into
the acknowledged territories of the United States, or to make prisoners of
them and conduct them into the province of N. Mexico. Lieutenant Don
Facundo Malgarcs, the officer selected from the five internal provinces to
command the expedition, was a European (his uncle was one of the royal
judges in the kingdom of New Spain), and had distinguished himself in
several long expeditions against the Apaches and other Indian nations with
whom the Spaniards were at war; added to these circumstances, he was a man
of immense fortune, and generous in its disposal, almost to profusion;
possessed a liberal education, high sense of honor, and a disposition
formed for military enterprise. This officer marched from the province of
Biscay with 100 dragoons of the regular service, and at Santa Fe, the
place where the expedition was fitted out, he was joined by 500 of the
mounted militia of that province, armed after the manner described by my
notes on that subject, and completely equipped with ammunition, etc., for
six months; each man leading with them (by order) two horses and one mule,
the whole number of their beasts was 2,075. They descended the Red river
233 leagues; met the grand bands of the Tetaus, and held councils with
them; then struck off N. E., and crossed the country to the Arkansaw,
where Lieutenant Malgares left 240 of his men with the lame and tired
horses, while he proceeded on with the rest to the Pawnce republic. Here
he was met by the chiefs and warriors of the Grand Pawnees; held councils
with the two nations and presented them the flags, medals, etc., which
were destined for them. He did not proceed to the execution of his mission
with the Pawnee Mahaws and Kans, as he represented to me, from the poverty
of their horses and the discontent of his own men; but, as I conceive,
from the suspicion and discontentment which began to arise between the
Spaniards and the Indians; the former wished to revenge the death of
Villineuve and party, while the latter possessed all the suspicions of
conscious villainy deserving punishment. Malgares took with him all the
traders he found there from our country, some of whom, having been sent to
Natchitoches, were in abject poverty at that place on my arrival, and
applied to me for means to return to St. Louis. Lieutenant Malgares
returned to Santa Fe the ?? of October, when his militia was disbanded;
but he remained in the vicinity of that place until we were brought in,
when he, with dragoons, became our escort to the seat of government [in
Chihuahua].
The Pawnees were not cordial in their demeanor toward the Americans. On
the 26th Pike moved his camp to the top of a hill overlooking the Pawnee
town, where he could see what was transpiring there. In the afternoon
twelve Kansas Indians came in, having heard that an American officer was
at the Pawnee village. A council between the Kansas and Osages was set for
the 28th, and the representatives of those tribes present were made to
smoke the pipe of peace. The great council with the Pawnees was held on
the 29th of September. At this meeting there occurred an important
incident, and concerning which much had been said in recent years. Here it
is described in Pike's own words:
Sept. 29th. Held our grand council with the Pawnees, at which were present
not less than 400 warriors, the circumstances of which were extremely
interesting. The notes I took on my grand council held with the Pawnee
nation were seized by the Spanish government, together with all my
speeches to the different nations. But it may be interesting to observe
here, in case they should never be returned, that the Spaniards had left
several of their flags in this village, one of which was unfurled at the
chief's door the day of the grand council; and that 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.
This probably was carrying the pride of nations a little too far, as 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, etc., which my appearance with 20 infantry was by no
means calculated to remove.
After the chiefs had replied to various parts of my discourse, but were
silent as to the flag, I again reiterated the demand for the flag, adding
"that it was impossible for the nation to have two fathers; that they must
either be the children of the Spaniards, or acknowledge their American
father." After a silence of some time an old man rose, went to the door,
took down the Spanish flag, brought it and laid it at my feet; he then
received the American flag, and elevated it on the staff which had lately
borne the standard of his Catholic Majesty. This gave great satisfaction
to the Osage and Kans, both of whom decidedly avow themselves to be under
American protection. Perceiving that every face in the council was clouded
with sorrow, as if some great national calamity were about to befall them,
I took up the contested colors, and told them "that as they had shown
themselves dutiful children in acknowledging their great American father,
I did not wish to embarrass them with the Spaniards, for it was the wish
of the Americans that their red brethren should remain peaceably around
their own fires, and not embroil themselves in any disputes between the
white people; and that for fear the Spaniards might return there in force
again, I returned them their flag, but with an injunction that it should
never be hoisted again during our stay." At this there was a general shout
of applause, and the charge was particularly attended to.
There is information in the account by Lieutenant Wilkinson not found in
the record made by Pike, and it is given:
Early on the morning of the 25th we were joined by a few more savages of
distinction, headed by the brother of Characterish, or White Wolf, chief
of the nation, who was to act as master of the ceremonies to our formal
entry. Preparatory to our march, we had our men equipped as neatly as
circumstances would admit. About mid-day we reached the summit of a lofty
chain of ridges, where we were requested to halt and await the arrival of
the chief, who was a half a mile from us, with 300 horsemen, who were
generally naked, except buffalo robes and breech cloths, and painted with
white, yellow, blue, and black paint. At the word of the chief the
warriors divided, and, pushing on at full speed, flanked us on the right
and left, yelling in a most diabolical manner. The chief advanced in
front, accompanied by Iskatappe, or Rich Man, the second great personage
of the village and his two sons, who were clothed in scarlet cloth. They
approached slowly, and when within 100 yards the three latter halted;
Characterish advanced in great state, and when within a few paces of us
stretched out his hand and cried, "Bon jour." Thus ended the first
ceremony. We moved on about a mile further, and having gained the summit
of a considerable hill, we discovered the village directly at its base. We
here were again halted, and the few Osages who accompanied us were ordered
in front and seated in rank entire. The chief squatted on his hams in
front of them and filled a calumet, which several different Indians took
from him and handed the Osages to smoke. This was called the horse-smoke,
as each person who took the pipe from the chief intended to present the
Osages a horse. Mr. Pike and Dr. Robinson afterward accompanied the chief
to his lodge, and I moved on with the detachment and formed our camp on
the opposite bank of the Republican fork of the Kansas river, on a
commanding hill which had been selected as the most favorable situation
for making observations, though very inconvenient on account of wood and
water, which we had to transport nearly a quarter of a mile.
At a council held some few days after our arrival, Lieutenant Pike
explained to them the difference of their present situation and that of a
few years past; that now they must look up to the president of the United
States as their great father; that he [Pike] had been sent by him
[Jefferson] to assure them of his good wishes, etc.; that he perceived a
Spanish flag flying at the council-lodge door, and was anxious to exchange
one of our great father's for it; and that it was our intention to proceed
further to the westward, to examine this, our newly acquired country. To
this a singular and extraordinary response was given—in fact, an objection
started in direct opposition to our proceeding further west; however, they
gave up the Spanish flag, and we had the pleasure to see the American
standard hoisted in its stead.
At the same council Characterish observed that a large body of Spaniards
had lately been at his village, and that they promised to return and build
a town adjoining his. The Spanish chief, he said, mentioned that he was
not empowered to council with him; that he came merely to break the road
for his master, who would visit him in the spring with a large army; that
he further told him the Americans were a little people, but were
enterprising, and one of those days would stretch themselves even to his
town; that they took the lands of Indians, and would drive off their game;
"and how very truly," said Characterish, "had the Spanish chieftain
spoken!" We demanded to purchase a few horses, which was prohibited, and
the friendly communication which had existed between the town and our camp
was stopped. The conduct of our neighbors assumed a mysterious change; our
guards were several times alarmed, and finally appearances became so
menacing as to make it necessary for us to be on our guard day and night.
It was obvious that the body of Spaniards, who preceded us but a few weeks
in their mission to this village, were the regular cavalry and infantry of
the province of Santa Fee, as they had formed their camps in regular
order; also we were informed they kept regular guards, and that the beats
of their drum were uniform morning and evening. The Spanish leader,
further delivered to Characterish a grand medal, two mules, and a
commission bearing the signature of the governor, civil and military, of
Santa Fee. He also had similar marks of distinction for the Grand Pawnees,
the Pawnee Mahaws, Mahaws Proper, Otos, and Kansas.
This Pawnee village was not one of great age. It was situated in the
Pawnee country, and the regions surrounding it bad doubtless been in
possession of the Pawnee people for a long period of time—perhaps
centuries. And the Republican Pawnees were of recent origin. About the
year 1795 a warrior of the Grand Pawnees, or Pawnees Proper, became
dissatisfied with the administration of affairs in the chief town of his
nation, which was on the south side of the River Platte, about eighty
miles up from the Missouri. He formed a faction in his interest, and the
town was divided. The warrior led his adherents westward and founded the
town and the division of the tribe denominated as the Republican Pawnees.
He was ruler of the people and the town for some years, and until the
arrival of a regular chief of the Grand Pawnees, probably from the town
where the secession had occurred. This chief usurped the power of the
warrior who had founded the new town and people. The followers of these
two rulers were arrayed in hostile factions or parties even to the date of
Pike's visit. The village then contained about three hundred warriors, and
a population of fourteen hundred. Why they were called the Republican
Pawnees is not known. They may have been so designated by French traders,
and they may have accepted the name so bestowed. It is not improbable that
some trader, finding himself losing business in the barter at the Grand
Pawnee town on the Platte, induced the warrior to follow him to the
Republican and there set up a town in his interest—where he should have a
monopoly of the trade. The Osages were so divided by the Chouteaus. The
Republican Pawnees maintained friendly relations with their mother town
and their relatives there. Both towns were at war with the Pawnee Picts,
the Great and Little Osages, the Kansas, the Sioux, the Aricarees, and the
Comanches. And both were on terms of amity with the Loups, the Omahas, the
Poncas, the Missouris, and the Iowas. There seems to have been other
Republican Pawnee towns, but the inhabitants therein must have returned to
the mother-village about a year before Pike's visit.
The incident of the flag came to be a matter of pride to the Kansas
people. There is nothing just like it in the history of any other State.
In 1896 the citizens of two townships about the site of this old Indian
Village formed "The Pawnee Republic Historical Society." The exact
location of the village was determined. It was found to be on the south
bank of the Republican River, in Republic County, Kansas, and on land
owned by George Johnson and his wife Elizabeth. They deeded a portion of
it, described as follows, to the State of Kansas, in order that the State
might erect and maintain a suitable monument to mark the spot where the
Spanish flag was hauled down and the American flag hoisted to take its
place on the soil of Kansas:
"Beginning at a point six chains west of the southeast corner of the
northeast quarter of section 3, township 2 south, of range 5 west; thence
west sixteen chains, thence north seven chains, thence east sixteen
chains, thence south seven chains to the place of beginning, containing
eleven and two-tenths acres, more or less, being in the site of Pike's
Pawnee Indian village."
The Pawnee Republic Historical Society appears to have labored under the
impression that the Pike incident was "the first raising of the American
flag on Kansas territory." Of this assumption there is no evidence, and
the probabilities are entirely against it. Lewis and Clark no doubt raised
the first American flag on what is now Kansas soil at the mouth of the
Kansas River, in the limits of Kansas City, Kansas, June 26th, 1804. But
the Legislature appropriated the sum of $3,000 for the erection of a
monument on the tract of land so conveyed. The act was approved February
14, 1901. The corner-stone of the monument was laid with impressive
ceremonies by the Kansas Grand Lodge of Free Masons, under the auspices of
Belleville Lodge No. 129, on the 4th of July, 1901. The monument was
completed, and on the 29th of September, 1901, it was
dedicated—ninety-five years from the day Pike there hoisted the Stars and
Stripes to proclaim the sovereignty of the United States over the soil
which became Kansas.
In the year 1906 there was held a Centennial Celebration of the raising of
the American flag at the Pawnee village by Pike. The ceremonies of this
celebration occupied four days. Those on the 26th of September were
conducted by the Woman's Kansas Day Club. September 27th was historical
Day. On the 28th the ceremonies were in charge of the Grand Army of the
Republic, Department of Kansas, and the public schools of the State
devoted an hour to the subject of "Pike and the Flag." The day of the
anniversary—the 29th—there was an immense gathering of people present. The
principal address was delivered by Governor E. W. Hoch on the subject
"This Country of Ours." There were other speakers, and there were
exercises for the entertainment and amusement of the people. The whole
celebration was largely supervised by George W. Martin, Secretary of the
Kansas State Historical Society. And the Society is charged with the
oversight and care of the monument and grounds for all time.
The Republican Pawnee village was destroyed, many of the inhabitants slain
and the remainder driven north of the Platte, by the Delaware Indians, in
1832. In the account of that tribe details of the battle between the
Delawares and the Pawnees will be found.
The force of Pike at the Pawnee town was made up of two officers, the
surgeon, eighteen soldiers, one interpreter, three Osage warriors, and one
Osage woman. The hostility of the Pawnees increased daily. On the first of
October Pike found it necessary to have a lengthy conference with the
Pawnee Chief. The chief urged him to turn back and make no further advance
towards the Spanish possessions, saying that he had prevented the Spanish
force from continuing its advance towards the American settlements. He
finally said he would stop Pike by force if he did not turn back. But Pike
was firm with the savage chieftain, and declared that he would proceed,
and if attacked he would fight to the death—the answer to be expected of
an American soldier. But he returned to his camp with an anxious mind. It
was with much difficulty that the required number of horses to continue
the expeditions could be obtained from the Pawnees. On the 4th of October
two French traders arrived at the village, bringing intelligence of the
return to St. Louis of the Lewis and Clark expeditions.
Pike prepared to march on the 7th, but found on that morning that two of
his horses had been stolen during the night. One was soon returned, but
the other was not recovered. The expedition marched at two o'clock, going
around the Indian town, with the men under orders for their action if
attacked by the Pawnees. The savages were to be allowed to approach to
within five or six paces, then the men were to fire and charge with the
bayonet and saber. Pike believed he could thus kill one hundred Indians
before his command was exterminated. He rode to the lodge of the chief
with one soldier and the interpreter to demand the return of the stolen
horse, which was not forthcoming. Pike left the Republican Pawnee village
with the hope that he might be sent back at some future day to deal with
the Pawnees with an iron hand.
The expedition followed the Pawnee Trail to the Arkansas River. On the
route Pike found camps lately occupied by the Spanish expedition. The
journal of his journey south is full of interest. To reach the Arkansas he
passed through Jewell, Mitchell, Lincoln, Russell, Ellsworth, and Barton
counties. The river was reached on the 18th of October, at a point near
Great Bend, and the expedition remained in camp until the 28th. From this
point Lieutenant Wilkinson descended the Arkansas in canoes made from the
skins of the buffalo and the elk. Pike went up the Arkansas, marching on
the north bank. On the first of November a herd of wild horses was seen.
An attempt to capture some of the horses was made on the second. This was
probably in Edwards County, near the Kiowa line. The party had crossed to
the south bank of the river on the 30th of October, and the march was on
that bank to the site of the future Pueblo, Colorado. The west boundary
line of Kansas was crossed on the 11th of November. The Kansas counties
traversed to this line, along the Arkansas, are Barton, Pawnee, Edwards,
Kiowa, Ford, Gray, Finney, Kearny, and Hamilton.
On the 23d of November Pike camped on the site of Pueblo, and on the 24th
he erected a small breastwork on the fortification over which our flag was
raised—the first structure erected by Americans in Colorado. After the
erection of the fort he set out with a party to ascend and explore the
mountain now known as Pike's Peak. He supposed that he should arrive at
the foot of the mountain that day, which he, of course, did not do. On the
27th he reached the top of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, the
base from which his "Grand Peak" projects itself into the clouds. The peak
was constantly receding. Standing in the snow waist-deep on the summit of
the main chain, he saw the base of the peak fifteen miles away. His men
were not clothed for such a trip as it would have required to reach the
peak. It was his belief that no human being could have ascended to its
pinnacle. The great mountain had been swimming in sunshine, while clouds
rode the storms contending about its foundations. But now they were
carried up and about the summit, hiding it from the gaze of man, and
wrapping it in a maze of mystery. Pike came down from the height which he
had attained and returned to his camp at Pueblo. He was not the first
white man to see this peak, for it had been long known to the Spaniards.
He did not give it any name beyond the Grand Peak. But his
fellow-Americans called it Pike's Peak—an immortal monument to the
American soldier and explorer.It is not in the province of this work to
follow particularly the route of Lieutenant Pike from his camp at Pueblo.
He penetrated the country claimed by the Spaniards, was captured, and was
carried into Mexico. He was released by the Spanish authorities, returned
to the United States, and arrived at Natchitoches, in what is now Texas,
July 1st, 1807. Here is what he said on his arrival there:
"Language cannot express the gayety of my heart when I once more beheld
the standard of my country waved aloft. 'All hail!' cried I, 'the ever
sacred name of country, in which is embraced that of kindred, friends, and
every other tie which is dear to the soul of man!'"
