While the Lewis and Clark Expedition disbands in St. Louis, another expedition leader—Zebulon Pike—is told to by a Pawnee chief to return to the United States. Despite a threat of armed conflict, Pike is undeterred.
Pawnee Scouts
by William Henry Jackson (c. 1870)
Colorized from a reprint of the original Public Domain image.
In the latter half of the 19th century when the Pawnee People were at war with the Cheyenne and Sioux, several warriors worked as scouts for the United States Army.[1]“Pawnee Scouts”, Wikipedia, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pawnee_Scouts.
The Pawnee Threat
Paid a visit to town, and had a very long conversation with the chief, who urged every thing in his power to induce us to turn back. Finally, he very candidly told us that the Spaniards wished to have gone further into our country, but he induced them to give up on the idea—that they had listened to him and he wished us to do the same . . . and that we must proceed no further, or he must stop us by force of arms.
—Zebulon Pike[2]Donald Jackson, The Journals of Zebulon Montgomery Pike (Norman, Oklahoma: University of Oklahoma Press, 1966), 1:329.
Pike’s Reply
My reply was, “that I had been sent out by our great father to explore the western country. . . . he must know that the young warriors of his great American father were not women to be turned back by words . . . but we were men, well armed, and would sell our lives at a dear rate to his nation—that we knew our great father would send our young warriors there to gather our bones and revenge our deaths on his people. . . .” I then left his lodge and returned to camp in considerable perturbation of mind.
—Zebulon Pike[3]Journals, 1:329–30.
Notes
| ↑1 | “Pawnee Scouts”, Wikipedia, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pawnee_Scouts. |
|---|---|
| ↑2 | Donald Jackson, The Journals of Zebulon Montgomery Pike (Norman, Oklahoma: University of Oklahoma Press, 1966), 1:329. |
| ↑3 | Journals, 1:329–30. |
Experience the Lewis and Clark Trail
The Lewis and Clark Trail Experience—our sister site at lewisandclark.travel—connects the world to people and places on the Lewis and Clark Trail.
Discover More
- The Lewis and Clark Expedition: Day by Day by Gary E. Moulton (University of Nebraska Press, 2018). The story in prose, 14 May 1804–23 September 1806.
- The Lewis and Clark Journals: An American Epic of Discovery (abridged) by Gary E. Moulton (University of Nebraska Press, 2003). Selected journal excerpts, 14 May 1804–23 September 1806.
- The Lewis and Clark Journals. by Gary E. Moulton (University of Nebraska Press, 1983–2001). The complete story in 13 volumes.
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