Pike Expedition Zebulon Pike

pikes peak, central colorado

after pike returned first expedition, general wilkinson ordered him mount second expedition, time explore, map, , find headwaters of arkansas , red rivers. additional objectives of exploratory expedition southwestern part of louisiana territory evaluate natural resources , establish friendly relations native americans.

beginning july 15, 1806, pike led became known pike expedition . general wilkinson s son james served 1 of lieutenants, although seems wilkinson planned spanish controlled mexico capture him , men.

in november 1806, pike , team sighted , tried climb summit of peak later named after him (pikes peak). made far mt. rosa, located southeast of pikes peak, before giving ascent in waist-deep snow. had gone 2 days without food.

they continued south, searching red river s headwaters, , built fort shelter during winter. however, had crossed border, whether through confusion or deliberation. spanish authorities captured pike , of party in northern new mexico (now part of southern colorado) on february 26, 1807.

pike , men taken santa fe capital of chihuahua province, , presented commandant general salcedo, governor of state. pike treated , invited formal social dinners, still not quite given treatment of visiting dignitary, , men kept prisoner. salcedo housed pike juan pedro walker, cartographer acted interpreter. walker transcribed , translated pike s confiscated documents, including journal. mexican authorities feared spread of both democracy , protestant christian sects might undermine rule.

during time, pike had access various maps of southwest , learned mexico s discontent spanish rule. spain filed official protests united states pike s expedition, since nations not @ war (and spain rebelling against napoleon s brother, fighting england in peninsular war), commandant salcedo released military men. spanish escorted pike , of men north, releasing them @ louisiana border on july 1, 1807. however, of pike s soldiers held years in mexico.

the red river, later separated oklahoma territory texas, next explored ill-fated expedition of 1815, named colonel died; 2 sick men returned, 1 of whom died thereafter. ended in spanish territory.