Highlands Ranch High School - Mr. Sedivy
Highlands Ranch, Colorado
- Colorado History -
Americans from the East 1800 - 1820
The Expedition of Zebulon Pike
To quote Chevy Chase from the movie Vacation:
"We're hopelessly lost but making great
This sums up the travels of Lieutenant Zebulon Pike.
Zebulon Pike reached the rank of Brigadier General
before being killed in the War of 1812.
The Expedition of Zebulon Montgomery Pike
Following the Lewis Clark Expedition, a second expedition was
sent to map the southern part of the Louisiana Purchase. Pike was
to lead this expedition and was sent by General Wilkinson who had
served in the Revolution. At the time, Wilkinson was the highest-ranking
officer in the US army.
Left: General James Wilkinson. Right: Sketch of the
sail-equipped keel boat
that took Pike and his men on the first leg of their journey up the
It is said that Wilkinson was a paid Spanish spy. But he didn't
keep records, so there would be no evidence against him. It looks
like Wilkinson was trying to set off a war with Spain. He was in partnership
with former Vice President Burr, trying to start a new country.
Aaron Burr graduated
from the College of New Jersey (now Princeton) at age 16. He served
in the Army during the Revolution and later in the US Senate.
In 1800 he tied in electoral votes for the presidency with Thomas
Jefferson. The decision reverted to the House of Representatives.
On the 36th ballot, they named Jefferson president and Burr vice
president. In 1804, Alexander Hamilton published insulting remarks
about Burr when Aaron was seeking the governorship of New York.
Their fateful duel followed. Then, Burr began to plot with Wilkinson.
Wilkinson gave Pike official and secret orders. There was no evidence
to implicate Pike in any involvement as a spy.
Pike had 18 enlisted men, Wilkinson, an interpreter, and Dr. Robinson
the "mystery man." This was the first official US presence in Colorado.
Pike's orders were to explore the Red and Arkansas Rivers. If he saw
Spanish troops, he was to prevent conflict. His first assignment was
to take some Osage Indians home. Pike made treaties with Indians along
the way and put up the US flag.
Some of the men returned east to return treaties. Pike stopped in
Pueblo, Fountain Creek, and the Arkansas River. He and a few men tried
to climb a blue hill because they could map a lot of territory from
the top. "I'll be back in a few hours." Six days later he returned.
And, they never made it to the top. Later, this blue hill will be
named "Pikes Peak."
An early sketch of Pikes Peak. It was scaled by three
other explorers just 14 years
after Pike said it couldn't be done.
Pikes Peak was usually the first landmark seen by the
new settlers as they made their way across the praire.
Are We There Yet?
Pike and his men got to the Royal Gorge, but couldn't map it any further.
He found the Red River, then realized he was going in circles for
five days. Pike then takes them into the San De Cristo in the dead
of winter. He gets lost again. The men start losing toes to frost
bite. Pike told them, "Stay here. I'll be back." Two weeks later,
Pike returned and said, "I found the Red River." But, it was the Rio
Pike was then in search of the Red River. He spent the next two months
lost. Pike built a fort deep into Spanish territory and flew the US
Reconstruction of the original Pike's Stockade (erected
in 1807) in the San Luis Valley.
Monument commemorating the location of the original
The Spanish Cavalry
The Spanish cavalry questioned Pike and found out that he didn't know
where he was. The Spanish rescued the troops Pike had left in the
The expedition of Zebulon Pike in pink-red.
(Top right, horizontal center, loop, vertical left, horizonal across
Click the map for an enlargement
and more detail.
The Spanish took Pike and the rescued men to Santa Fe, then down
to Chiua City. The Viceroy let them go because he didn't want to start
This is how artisit Frederic Remington imagined Pike's
arrival in Santa Fe in 1807
escorted by the Spanish soldiers.
Communications were slow. Finally, they were taken home and released.
Pike gets a tour of the South West from the Spanish on the way. He
sneaks home maps and guns. Zebulon Pike died in 1812.
Adams Onis Treaty - 1819
By this time, the Spanish were very weak. Spain gave up Oregon and
Florida. The treaty established Spain's boundary of LouRed River up
the Arkansas River to the 42nd parallel. This boundary split Colorado.
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- Colorado History In Depth
Lecture Notes, Reading, and Information:
| The Cheyenne Migration
to Colorado |
| The Gratlan Affair, Massacre, Fort Laramie
The Cheyenne Social Club
| A Cheyenne War Story: Wolf Road, the Runner
| Cheyenne Traditions and Beliefs, Sacred
| Horses, Warriors, War Pipe, Sweatlodge
| Cheyenne War Parties and Battle Tactics
| The Scalp Dance and Other Cheyenne Dances
| The Sante Fe Trail and Fort Union |
| Sumner - Ninth Military Department / The
First Fort Union |
| Early Arrivals to Fort Union, Daily Life
at Fort Union |
| Captain Grover - The New Fort Union, the
Confederate Threat |
| Fort Union Arsenal, William Shoemaker,
End of Fort Union |
Americans from the East
| Thomas Jefferson, the Louisiana Purchase
| The Expedition of Zebulon Pike |
| Pikes Peak or Bust / Colorado Gold Rush
Colorado's Role in the US Civil
| The Civil War, Fort Wise / Fort Lyon
| Mace's Hole, Colonel Canby, F.C.V.R.
| Fort Weld |
| The Pet Lambs, John Chivington |
| General Henry Sibly, Battle of Valverde,
Fort Union |
Cripple Creek District Labor Strikes
| The Western Federation of Miners / State
| The 1893 - 1894 Strike | The
Strike of 1903 - 1904 |
| The Mine Owners Association |
| Crimes and Military Rule in the Cripple
Creek District |
| Marshall Law in Cripple Creek District
/ End of the Strike |
Early Cripple Creek District
| Photos, Fire, and Life in Cripple Creek
| Other Colorful Towns in the Cripple Creek
Gillett - Colorado's Only Bullfight, Victor, Independence |
| A Guide to the Miners' Gritty Lingo
More Colorado History
| Bent's Fort Photos, Personalities, Plans,
and More |
| What Was Easter Like at Bent's Fort?
| Colorado Trivia,
Miscellaneous Old Photos,
Western Personalities, Forts, and More |
| Lullabies for Jittery Cows - Cowboy Ballads
| Heraldry of the Branding Iron |
Aims to Clear Infamous Cannibal, Alferd Packer |
| Lead Gives Alferd
Packer's Story More Weight |
Colorado Love Stories: Baby Doe Tabor & More
| Colorado Pioneer Women: Elizabeth Byers
| Early Denver Jokes / The History of April
Fools' Day |
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