PIKE COUNTY. 475 



Stout boat, with provisions for four months. The narrative of 

 this expedition has been given to the public, and evinces on 

 the part of Pike an invincible fortitude amidst perils, and a 

 cheerful endurance amidst privations. After eight months' 

 absence he returned, and shortly afterwards was appointed by 

 Gen. Wilkinson to command an expedition to explore the 

 interior of Louisiana. This expedition was accompanied by 

 hardships to which the former bore no comparison. Cold, 

 hunger, and every privation, were willingly suffered to fulfil 

 the objects of the expedition ; and he arrived at Natchitoches 

 on the 1st July, 1807. Upon his return. Congress was pleased 

 to signify to him their sense of his zeal, perseverance, and 

 intelligence. He then was appointed Captain, shortly after 

 Major, and in 1810 a Colonel of Infantry. During the inter- 

 vals of military duty he published an account of his two 

 expeditions ; and although this work is far from being fault- 

 less, it is nevertheless a very sprightly and highly interesting 

 narrative. Upon the declaration of war. Colonel Pike was 

 stationed with his regiment upon the northern frontier ; and 

 at the beginning of the campaign, in 1813, was appointed a 

 Brigadier General in the army of the United States. The 

 eyes of the country were directed to the man whom they 

 regarded as the chosen champion who was to redeem their 

 reputation from that disgrace with which it had been stained 

 by a long series of disasters. In the expedition against York, 

 he was selected as the commander. On the 25th of April, he 

 sailed from Sackett's Harbour in the squadron of Commodore 

 Chauncey. On the day before the expedition, he thus writes to 

 his father : — " I embark to-morrow in the fleet at Sackett's 

 Harbour, at the head of a column of 1500 choice troops on a 

 secret expedition. If success attends my steps, honour and 

 glory await my name ; if defeat, still shall it be said we died 

 like brave men, and conferred honour even in death on the 

 American name. Should I be the happy mortal destined to 

 turn the scale of war, will you not rejoice, oh my father ? 

 May heaven be propitious, and smile upon the cause of my 

 country ! But, if we are destined to fall, may my fall be like 

 Wolfe's — to sleep in the arms of victory." These words 

 were prophetic. After the whole force had landed. Gen. 



