The Expeditions of Zebulon Montgomery Pike, Volume II (of 3)

to Allencaster. (Orig

NSLA

, March

i

ain to your Excellency any circumstance which might appear extraordinary; but on my arrival here I am informed by your Excellency that it is necessary for myself and troops to pass by Chihuahua in the province of Biscay, more than 200 leagues out of my route. I have demanded of your Excellency to know if we are to be considered as prisoners of war. You inform me that you do not consider us in that light. Not to embarrass your Excellency with

Sir,

d] Z.

Allencaster to Pike.

NSLA

, March

nment, in this province, which is under my charge, he was required personally to appear, which he voluntarily did; and, complying with the orders of the commanding-general of these internal provinces, I bade the said lieutenant

unition, being actuated by proper consideration, a

regoing contents

achin Rl. A

e to Allencaster. (

dez, March

i

ission from the general for that purpose. On our arrival on the Rio del Norte, then supposed to be Red river, he left the party in order to come to Santa Fe, with a view of obtaining information as to trade, and collecting some debts due to persons in the Illinois. On my being informed of his embarrassments, I conceived it would be adding to them to acknowledge his having accompanied a military party to the frontiers

e reclaimed by the United States as a citizen, agreeably to our treaties wit

came out with your invitation to enter the province; but will omit it, and only request that my sergeant and party may be o

war may one day enable me to show the gentlemen of the Spanish army with whom I have had the honor of forming an acqu

incere

d] Z.

to Salcedo. (Orig.

, April 4

i

days far from their friends and relations, with scarcely a dawn of hope remaining of ever again being blessed with a view of their native homes. It is scarcely necessary to add that I allude to the unfortunate companions of [Captain Philip] Nolan, who, having entered the territories of his Catholic Majesty in a clandestine manner, equally in violation of the treaties between the two governments, the laws of the United States, and those of Spain, could not be reclaimed or noti

my particular attention; yet I will here mention to your Excellency a circumstance which may appear, if known, in an unfavorable light, viz.: About 15 days past I was informed Fero was in town, and that he desired to see me. I was extremely mortified at receiving the information, as I conce

anner I intercede for Fero. If it is out of the power of the general to grant them leave to return to the United States, I beg to know if there be any objection to my taking letters to their fathers, wives, etc. I should not have addressed this letter to the general, had I not c

m,

h consid

e, obedien

d] Z.

xcell

Nimesio

, Pike to Salcedo. (

ril 6th, 1806

i

f passing through some hundred leagues of foreign territory, with the distressed situation of my troops, have induced me to apply to your Excellency for a necessary supply of money. Any arrang

es of myself and troops is $1,000, for which I will giv

or to assure y

igh res

r obedien

d] Z.

xcell

al Sa

lcedo to Pike. (Or

NSLA

, April 7

e necessary for the accommodation of the troops of the United States of America which you have under your charge, or whatsoever other sum you choose to demand, and that the government

rve you m

Nimesio

1st Li

omery

do to Wilkinson. (Ori

NSLA

, April 8

llen

certain debts]; that, having received information that his debtors had directed their steps to said province [of New Mexico], he had concluded to follow them, in company with 15 other persons, who went for the purpose of hunting on the rivers of Arcs,[V'-3] Arkansaw, and Colorado (Re

Montgomery Pike, first lieutenant of the infantry of the United States, with eight men of the said infantry; who, on being given to understand that he must be conducted to said town, consented to accompany them. It was then settled that two of his [Pike's] men should remain on the spot with half of his Catholic Majesty's detachment, to wait for six others [of Pike's men] who had not yet arrived; while

in the same manner as he had done to the governor of Santa Fe, the papers relative to his mission, the

e documents contain evident, unequivocal proofs that an offense of magnitude has been committed against his Majesty, and that every individual of this party ought to have been considered as prisoners on the very spot. Notwithstanding such substantial and well-grounded motives as would have warranted such a measure, also wishing to give the widest latitude to the subsisting system of harmony and good understanding, and, above all

t obedient, humble, respectful, and faithful servant,

ed] S

James Wi

cate, Valasco and Walker to P

NSLA

vinces of New Spain, [were taken] as belonging to a voyage which he executed from St. Louis up [of] the Illinois to the population [settlements] of New Mexico, to visit the Indian nations,

l Wilkinson to Pike,

the same to Pike

same to the same off

same to Pike, date

nt Wilkinson to his fat

same to the same,

to General Wilkins

Wilkinson to Lieutenant

the United States from trading with the Indian nations without

Agent for the Indians, to General

on the voyage from New Mexico

[draught] of the Miss

t Ballenger to General

utenant Wilkinson t

rtain Baptist Lamie [note44, p. 388] found among t

ch contain notes on the harangues and manifestoes w

ike to the Indian Winapicane,

ted between the Mississippi and Santa Fe, with a descrip

Lieutenant Pike, from January, 1807, to the 2d March of

s to the secretary of war and General Wilkinson, and various obse

h a diary with rhumbs, distances, and worked observations and meteorological tables

t-generalship of the internal provinces of New Spain, and Juan Pedro Wal

e undersigned, [he] opened [it] himself, and took out different books and papers; when, having separated with his own hands, under our cognizance, all that appeared to be, or that he said was, private, or had no connection with the voyage, [he] delivered the

Francisco

edro W

imbecile attempt to show that all my actions were voluntary, and that in

to Salcedo. (Orig.

, April 1

i

apers would be considered as a sacred deposit until my arrival at this p

tion of the official papers would be taken. You must be conscious, Sir, that it was in my power to have secreted or destroyed every trace of my voyage and plans previous to my arrival at Chihuahua; but, resting satisfied that no rupture had taken place between hi

would be their mutual interests, founded on justice and the honor and dignity of the nation, in forming the line of demarcation. This was the view of the United States government in the expedition which I had the honor to comma

be pleased to examine them with particular care. You will find that there are letters from General Wilkinson, as well as his son, to me; also, from the latter to his father and mother; and others which, being by no means of a political nature, or at least not relative to the relations existing

, nature, etc., of the said papers, and the reasons for their seizure and detention, in order that my government may be enabled to make the proper application to the Spanish court for an explanation. My reason for applying to your Excellency so early on this subject is that, on the arrival of m

elieve me to be, with the highes

obedient

d] Z.

sio Salcedo, Commanding-general of the Int

e to Wilkinson. (Ori

, April 2

ar Ge

t may ever come to hand, or at least, previous to my arrival at the territories of the United States, owing to the various circumstances which are not to be communicated in a letter. I was detained in the mountains of Mexico [i. e., present State of Colorado] until the month of January, and in February found my

the navigable part of the Red river, whence I could immediately descend to Nachitoches. Although dubious of the faith of the invitation, and in a situation where I could have defended myself as long as my provision lasted, or until I might probably have escaped in the night; yet, knowing the pacific intentions of our government, and the particular instructions of my general as to my conduct

N. Salcedo, for further orders. This being so different from what I had been taught to expect, I demanded of Governor Allencaster, in a written communication, to know if I were to consider myself and party as prisoners of w

to the friendship and politeness of all the Spanish officers, and

pointment of one of the commissioners, as I make bold to assert that, with respect to the arrangements necessary, and knowledge of the country through which the line must pass, I am better instructed than any other officer of my age in our service; and, if joined to a colleague of profound astronomica

the Federal City; and if the latter, permitting me to pass by Louisiana, in order to visit and arrange the affairs of my family, to whom I be

y; and the doctor's and mine to James [Lieutenant Wilki

ing the confidence of my heart in the paternal and soldierly

sentiment

nd high co

Gen

ient humb

d] Z.

xcell

l Wilk

cedo to Pike. (Orig.

NSLA

, April 2

tory, and a certificate respecting each of them accompanying it, to you, and in the office, the 17th current, for the purpose therein expressed, the judgment on which remains for the decision of the king, my lord, and shall be reported in the secret archives of this captain-generalcy. Meditating that you have indicated, in your official su

rve you m

Nimesio

e, 1st Lieuten

my papers, April 1st, 1807. [Orig.

kinson to Pike. (Ori

ns, May 2

r S

ed sending you, with your party, to our frontier post. I lament that you should lose your papers, but shall rely much on your memory. Although it was unfortunate that you should have headed Red

our and Lieutenant Wilkinson's enterprise was a premeditated co-operation with [Aaron] Burr. Being on the wing for Richmond, in Virginia, to confront the arch-traitor and his host of advocates, I have not leisure to commune with you as amply as I could desire. Let it then suffice for me to say to you, that of the information you

ta [Washita] and thence to the Arkansaw, or you may descend to Fort Adams, and proceed thence to St. Louis by the most convenient route. Colonel Cushing, whom I leave in command of the district, has my orders in your favor, and will give you every indulgence; but as an expedition is now in motion up the Arkansaw, to explore it to its source and further northwest, it is highly important that you should, either in person or by two or three confidential men, send forward to the Arkansaw every information which you may deem essential to the success of the enterprise. A Mr. Freemen [Thomas Freeman], under the chief direction of Mr. [William] Dunbar of Natchez, has control of

and will do you ample justice. I offer you leave to go immediately to your family, because I apprehend it will be most desirable; yet, if you possess in your information aught which yo

e injunctions of this hasty letter, and

fri

James W

Pike, U.

e to Wilkinson. (Ori

es, July

Gen

r of the 20th of May now lies before me, in which I recognize the sentiments of my general and friend, an

e 20th of April, dated at Chihuahua, went through a pe

or Allencaster, for a more particular communication; it changed afterward to extreme politeness. Being under no restrictions previous to arriving at Santa Fe, I had secreted all my papers which I conceived i

nd informed me that he had come for me to visit the governor, and brought these two men to take up my trunk. I immediately perceived I was outgeneraled. On my arrival at the governor's house, his Excellency demanded if I had the key. My reply was in the affirmative; when he observed, "It is well"; my trunk should be a sacred deposit in the charge of the officer who would escort me to Chihuahua, for which place I marched after dinner, under the escort of Lieutenant Don Facundo Malgares and 65 men. His character I beg leave to introduce to the attention of your Excellency as that of a European possessing all the high sense of honor

e purport of each, which truth obliged me to declare; had I been disposed to equivocate, Ensign Walker, of his Catholic Majesty's service, who stood present and assisted in

ep than the general would venture to take, to seize on the papers. But when I had finished the proposed sketch and presented it, and found a still further delay, I addressed the general on the subject. After a few days, some were returned, but I was officially informed that the remaining papers had been seized, but would be kept in the secret cabinet of that captain-generalship until the pleasure of his Catholic Majesty should be known. At the same time I was presented with a certificate specifying the number and contents of those detained, and adding that they were assorted by my own han

minute as the one seized on, which was plotted daily by the eye and angular observations. Thus the only essential papers lost were my astronomical observations and meteorological tables, and a book containing remarks on minerals, plants, etc., with the manners, population, customs, etc., of the savages. But the results of the former were in part communicated, and probably my journal may supply part of the balance, while

phical situations, political sentiments and dispositions of the people of every class, manners, arts, resources, riches, revenues, situation, value, and productions of their mines, etc.; also, the annual revenues paid to Bonaparte. Had we possessed as great a knowledge of the Spanish language when we

ediately under my orders, I expect many other communications of importance from many individuals who promised to forward them by him. But I presume the general has found himself in error; as I perceive by

the absolute necessity I was under to write on small pieces in the Spanish country; also, from being injured in the gun-barrels, some of which I filed off three times to take out the papers. These circumstances make it necessary, in the first place, to take a rough copy as they stand; then it will be necessary to assort the matter, as military, political, moral, mercantile, meteorological, agricultural, etc., all now forming an undigested mass. Then, Sir, the combining each, the plotting, etc., would take up a time of considerable extent for one man; and to make duplicates after they are in order could not be done in three mon

ld they not be retarded more than 20 days, when I shall proceed immediately to St. Louis, and thence through Kentucky, Virginia, etc., to the Federal City, making no unnecessary delay, and during the whole of the route prosecuting my business at every leisure moment. When at Washington, I flatter myself with your assistance and advice. As I propose taking courses, distances, etc., hence to St. Lo

roney, if alive, is with my sergeant; he has proved a noble fellow in his line, and I beg liberty to recommend him to some appointment near the Kans, should any offer. I must further add the following anecdote of my men, in whose breasts lay the whole secret of my papers, and whom I frequently, when in the Spanish territories, was obliged to punish severely for

s, counselor in difficulties, and one to whose chemical, botanical, and mineralogical knowledge the expedition is greatly indebted-in short, Sir, he is a young gentleman of talents, honor,

also all my letters written him during the expedition, as they contain information I wish to refer to, and the copies were seized. Dr. [Joh

rted those of my men who were with me all the time in the Spanish country. Being separated from my baggage and never permitted to have it join me, and having been presented to the commandant-general in a blanket cappot,[V'-10] I was under the necessity

e or four years I will with ease make myself sufficiently master of the latter, Italian, and Portuguese, to read them all, and speak and write Spanish.

n revered and respected by every class. At St. Antonio Colonel Cordero informed me of the truth of the statement [i. e., falsity of those reports], which took a load from my breast and made me comparatively happy; I hope ere long the villainy will be unmasked, and malignity and slander hide their heads. The before mentioned gentleman sent you by me a box of Spanish chocolate, which I shall forward to Colonel Cush

he profession of arms and the paths of military glory, I would long since have resigned my sword for the rural

t the effusions of my heart on its contents are such that I could not limit them to a more

Gen

respect

edient

Z. M. Pik

l Wilk

e to Salcedo. (Orig.

es, August

i

etween your Excellency and myself. But as you have now had time fully to reconsider the business, it may not appear in the same light that it did when I had the honor to address you before. Your Excellency may be induced to conceive that the measure of seizing my notes, plans, meteorological and astronomical observations, etc., for parts of the Mississippi, Missouri, Osage, Kans, and Arkansaw ri

nduce you to conceive it proper, and but an act of justice, to deliver up the papers seized at Chihuahua; and hope your

the remaining part of that object into execution, after discovering my mistake of the Rio del Norte for the Red river, had I been permitted by the governor of New Mexico. Instead of which, I was hurried through the country to Chihuahua, without having time given for the absent part of my party and baggage to join me; by which means I was obliged to appear in a garb and manner entirely incompatible with the rank I have the honor to hold, and in some degree an indignity [was thus offered] to the country whose commission I bear

tion they might be intimidated to make a declaration to justify the conduct observed toward us. This I am conscious must have failed; but I am at an entire loss to conceive why they should have

rst place where we changed our escorts, as I neither conceived it just that I should pay for an involuntary tour I had taken through your territories, nor was I prepared to do it; but as your officers were responsible, and ga

officers in general on my route, but in particular from Colonels Cordero and Herrara, Captains Barelo and Viana, and

sent my high respects to your lady, and my

m,

t profound c

edient

Z. M. Pik

xcell

nor S