The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1851-06-09

While Lewis and Clarke proceeded up the Mis- |
souri,, and thence to the Pacific, Mr.. Jefferson en-
trusted to General Wilkinson the selection of the
officer to explore the sources of the Mississippi.
General Wilkinson was at the time Cap,ain-gen-
era Of the vast territory known as Louisiana. He
selected Lieutenant Zebulon Pike. He had under
his command Sergeant Corporal, and seventeen
Privates, composing the party. He had no Subal-
tern Officer, and no Surgeon. 1t was paltry out
f, for such an important expedition. He left St
Louis, August 9, 1905 in keel-boat, seventy eet
long, and with four months provisions. Trappers
and hunters doubtless had assembled the river pre-
viously; but there were no accounts published nor
any chart of this unknown river. He reached the
source, N he supposed, on February l, 1906
Thus, he performing his tour. in the depths OF
winter, in latitude forty degrees north. Inc
exposure and hardships suffered by the party nave
been equalled, only, by the party under colohel
Fremont Since that period a more perfect ex-
poration has led to the discovery Of other sources
The head waters of the river consist of labyrinth
If lakes. In these remote regions, he met several
Indian traders belonging to the British Compa-
MES. from whom he received the utmost hosp-
talitv. After short stay, he commenced his jour
new home, and arrived at st. Louis the Both Of
i, April, 1906.
So well pleased was General Wilkinson with
his labors, that he Immediately ordered him
other arduous tour. The second expedition EN-
braced the exploration of the Of the Great
Usage, the Arkansas and the Red Rivers. He
, left st. Louis on July Is. This region was at that
time as little known as the interior of Africa. The
only travellers had been French traders, who care
) fully kept their information to themselves. He
| J.ka. r;y to thsir and
published charts of them, and of the Mississippi,
3 which were made from direct observation. He
s inadvertently crossed the boundary and found him
self in the Spanish Territory. This originated
II from his crossing the head waters Of Red River
and taking the Rio Grande for that river. He was
Immediately waited on by superior body of Span
ish soldiers, and escorted under honorable surve-
lance, down the Valley of the Rio Grande to Chi
huahua thence by San Antonio to Natchitoches
which place he reached on July l, 1907. His
: party consisted of two Lieuenants, Surgeon,
Sergeant, two Corporals, and sixteen Privates A
comparison Of his tour with the observations oil
gentlemen lately from the Valley ofthe Rio Grande
proves that but little change has occurred in the
condition of the country since that time. Pike and
n his party encountered difficulties in this expedition
for want Of food and hardshps quite equal to thos
e which attended his first adventure. The publica
s ton of his Journal was at most opportune time
n just when the excitement Of the Burr expedition
N and trial was at its height.
e He was promoted to Captaincy in 1909, an
ct shortly after was made LeutenantC Colonel OF tn
e. Fourth Regiment, which acquired so much glory
the battle of Tippecanoe, though he had not joine
e. it at the time. At the approach of the war, !
al became Colonel, and, in 1916, was appointed Br
d eadier- General He killed at the taking
p. Yorktown, by the explosion of a magazine.
x. He was man of superior education to eth
MS Lewis or Clarke. In his youth, his indomitab
lis perseverance and capacity of endurance, recall
of the character of Fremont, whose more extensi'
he explorations were made with ample means. II
er early death doubtless retarded the immediate col
10 tinuance of expeditions to the Western coast OF Il
Continent.