Zebulon Montgomery Pike was one of many one-time significant figures in early United States history who inexplicitly faded from prominence, with the passage of time, This along with his unfortunate connection with the infamous traitor General James Wilkinson, have given Zebulon a well-deserved reputation for pitiable-luck . A direct descendant of Early colonial politician and settler John Pike, Zebulon named after his father an American Revolutionary Major Zebulon Pike SR. , was born during the height of the American Revolutionary war on January 5 1779 in Lamington, New Jersey. As true with modern military families Zebulon grew in a succession of military bases and outposts along what was then the Northwestern frontier of the early United …show more content…
Thankfully, he did not have to wait long almost immediately upon their return, under orders from President Jefferson himself, General Wilkinson ordered Pike and his man out again, this time to explore and map the Arkansas and Red River and to find their respective sources along with making contact with and establishing relationships with yet more native tribes, well stimulatingly scouting the Spanish strength in the region and the boundaries of their shared frontier. Pike left on July 15 1806 with twenty men, many of whom were present for the first expedition (and amongst them one Lieutenant James Wilkinson, his second and command and the son of the Traitor general) various tribal delegations whom met with Jefferson and fifty captured members of the Osage Indian nation, who would be returned to the tribe as a gesture of goodwill in an attempt to help foster relationship . Ironically at the very same time Traveling by Keelboat, Pike and his men made their way across Missouri first, returning the prisoners and parleying with the Osage and Pawnee. Here in part to the return of the Hostages Pike met with more success, informing the natives of the change in governing powers and connecting them to take down the Spanish Flag and change to American Stars and Stripes. Despite the presence of the large body of nearby Spanish Soldiers the Pike party pressed on reaching the Arkansas River. Pike then …show more content…
Enthralled by the Mountains beauty Pike attempted for over a week to reach the mountain's top. Sadly Pike would never step foot on the mountain which bore his name and instead mistakenly only climbed the nearby lesser alp, Mount Miller and was forced to turn back before the onset of a winter they were grossly unequipped for. Once again following the trail of Spanish Solider, Pike headed north along the Arkansas, eventually reaching the Royal Gorge, before attempting to find the Red River, Unfortunately the party made a series of key mistakes and wound up back where they started at the Arkansas, wasting weeks’ worth of time and supplies by traveling in a