New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-11-30

would have been useful to them, II was none
the less valuable tc the United States. The
Young lieutenant now a captain, had carried out
the instructions OF his general to the letter at
the cost of much suffering on his own part ana
among his men, II the Spaniards had been less
watchful, he would have given the international
boundary question a totally new aspect Inc
Spanish authorities had left themselves no
ground for protest. Pike. for good part Of
his Journey followed the trail OF Spanish force
numbering several hundred men. the commander
Of which had been holding councils with the Ind
ian chiefs In regions that unquestionaby be-
longed TO the United States He made no pre-
tence Of an in geography. while Pike
maintained from first last that he mstook
the Rio del Norte for a certain Red River. which
unfortunately never existed. BY yielding TO
force much greater than his own Pike easily
won the chance of making what equivalent
to a military reconnaissance into the heart OF
New-Spain. He found already, at date forty
years before the Mexican War that there were
plenty Of people north of the Rio Grande who
lived in daily expectation Of victorious invasion
by the United States. He estimated correctly
as events showed. the value Of the soldery
which the United States would have to subdue
On his return to the United States he carried
back information which furnished the basis Of all
future research. Yet he was not gratefully re-
ceived. His demand for recompense from the
Government for his services was refused or
ignored DIR. Coues remarks that the treatment
by Congress of private claims Is matter for
which rule can be given.
But it must be remembered that Pike fell be-
tween two factions He avoided attaching him
self to Wilkinson. and he resented first, the
charges against that general. and. second, the
imputation that, even If those charges were true.
they affected his own reputation as soldier and a
patriot. He was bound by gratitude. as well
discipline 10 speak well of Wilkinson. But the
factional apimosites of the time were heated. He
could not speak well of Wilkinson and obtain at
the same time the good offices of the men who
surrounded jefferson. 1t came out in the trial Of
Wilkinson that the general was wholly respons-
ible for Pixies Southwestern expedition. though
he claimed that the Government assented TO il.
In the House OF Representatives 1t was limited, in
a way to make Pike angry. that his Western tour
was founded views entirely unknown to the
Government, and connected with the nefarious
plans of Aaron Burr and his associates" In the
temper evoked by these insinuatons he wrote to
the Secretary OF War, General Dearborn: 81 feel
1t duty to myself, my family and my profession
to request Of you testimonial which may shut
the mouth Of calumny and strike dumb the voice
of SANDER" He got tie testimonial cool. care
fully worded letter n which high compliment
was qualified by the remark that two exploring
expeditions which he had performed were not
previously ordered by the President of the United
States" The acknowledgment that they were
known to the President and to the War Depart
ment was put in such a form to leave 1t In
doubt whether they had been approved in the
first place not. He was assured now. how
ever, Of the esteem of both President Jefferson
and Secretary Dearborn. He was made to feel
keenly the difference between explorers sent out
by the President and explorers who had not
awaited his approval by seeing Lewis and Clark
gratiied with appropriation while he waited
and urged his request in vain
But he not man who could be utterly
neglected His rise in the Army was rapid. At
the outbreak Of the War of 1912 he colonel
of the 18th United States Infantry, and in the
only battle which he ever fought he was brga-
dier-general waiting for mis- promotion to be
confirmed. The eccentricity of which he
capable showed itself in his famous plan of arm
ing the rank Of his regiment with shortened
muskets and long pixies. People who never heard
Of the Mississippi and Arkansas expeditions are
doubtless familiar with pixies regiment Of
pixies" The men honored Pike alive or dead, but
he had no sooner fallen than they armed them
selves with captured British muskets. Pixies
career ended suddenly and brilliantly as that
Of the man whom a soldier he envied most.
His battle OF York within the limits of the mod
Toronto. stubbornly fought than
the battle Of Quebec. He was fatally hurt by the
explosion Of a magazine. Military history"
adds Dr. Coues. hardly furnishes a closer parallel
than that between the death Of Pike before York
and of Wolfe before Quebec. Each led the as
sault each conquered; each fell in the arms Of
victory; each is said to have pillowed his head on
the stricken colors of the defenders" 1t is a
task well done to restore the writings of such a
man-writings which happen in Pixies to be
of special importance-to the general knowledge
of his countrymen.