EXPLORATIONS FROM A. D. 1800 To A. D. 1832. 21 
Major Long’s expedition, thought it must have been the north fork of the Platte. A com- 
parison of Pike's map with Frémont's makes it evident that it was the source of what Frémont 
calls Grand river, which unites with Green river, and forms the Great Colorado of the west, 
a tributary of the Gulf of California. From this it appears that Lieutenant Pike has the honor 
of being the first American explorer that reached the sources of this large river, and the 
second that crossed the divide between the waters of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. - 
Still searching for the sources of Red river, Lieutenant Pike turned to the south, and 
came upon another stream, which he recognized as the Arkansas. . He was now in great per- 
plexity, so completely had he been deceived as to the sources of Red river. He was in 
the mountains, ‘‘in the most inclement season of the year; not one person clothed for the 
winter, many without blankets, (having been obliged to cut them up for socks, &c.;’’) raw 
buffalo hide made them a miserable substitute for shoes, and at night they lay ‘‘on the snow 
or on the wet ground, one side burning, whilst the other was pierced with cold wind ;" often, 
too, they were near starving; still he would not give up his search, though at a loss where to 
go. Proceeding to the south, up a branch of the Arkansas, some of his men's feet were 
badly frozen that a party was left behind. He finally crossed the ‘‘Great White mountain’’ 
(Sierra Blanca,) near the Sand hills, and found himself on the banks of a stream flowing south, 
which he did not doubt was the long-sought Red river. Here he built a small block-house for 
defence, and sent back for the men he had-left behind. These were ultimately rescued, but 
were cripples for life. While at his fort, waiting the return of his men, he was visited by some 
Spanish officers, one of whom said that the governor of New Mexico, having heard that he had 
lost his way, had sent to offer him whatever he might need, and to conduct him to the head of 
Red river. Lieutenant Pike was astonished to find that he was then on the banks of the 
Rio Grande del Norte, and a trespasser on foreign soil. Willing to make every honorable 
explanation, he accepted their offer to visit the governor of Santa Fé, who, as soon as he was 
in his power, treated him as a prisoner, and he was sent to Governor Salcedo, at Chihua- 
hua. On the pretence of wishing to examine his papers and sketches, Governor Salcedo 
obtained possession of his notes, most of which were never returned, as he considered the 
documents contained proofs *'that an offence of magnitude ’’ had “been committed against his 
Majesty." From this cause his map was, probably, much less complete and perfect than it 
would otherwise have been. Fortunately the journal and a copy of the courses and distances 
were preserved. Lieutenant Pike was otherwise treated with the greatest politeness by the 
Spaniards, and they escorted him safely through Texas to Natchitoches, on Red river. 
Nearly every part of the country traversed by Lieutenant Pike has since been explored by 
parties better provided with instruments, and his determinations are now replaced by others 
more accurate. 
. Red river, the discovery of whose sources was one of the main objects of Major Pike's* 
expedition, was examined in 1806 by a party under Captain Sparks, from the mouth as far up 
as the Spanish border. Here he was met by a Spanish force very much superior to his in 
numbers, and prevented from going further. 
At this time the boundary between Louisiana and New Spain! was not definitely agreed upon, 
® Major Pike became a general during the war of 1812 with Great Britain, and was killed by a stone thrown from a mine 
which his enemies sprung as they abandoned a fort from which his command had just forced them. In the preface to the 
English edition of Lewis & Clarke’s Explorations, a foot-note erroneously states that he was killed by the accidental explosion 
of a magazine in a fort at which he was stationed. 
