The Expeditions of Zebulon Montgomery Pike, Volume 1 (of 3): To Headwaters of the Mississippi River Through Louisiana Territory, and in New Spain, During the Years 1805-6-7. — John Shaqi
The Expeditions of Zebulon Montgomery Pike, Volume 1 (of 3): To Headwaters of the Mississippi River Through Louisiana Territory, and in New Spain, During the Years 1805-6-7.Pike, Zebulon Montgomery
History
The Expeditions of Zebulon Montgomery Pike, Volume 1 (of 3): To Headwaters of the Mississippi River Through Louisiana Territory, and in New Spain, During the Years 1805-6-7.
Pike, Zebulon Montgomery
Mississippi River -- Description and travel; New Mexico -- Description and travel; Pike, Zebulon Montgomery, 1779-1813 -- Travel -- West (U.S.); West (U.S.) -- Description and travel; West (U.S.) -- Discovery and exploration; West (U.S.) -- History -- To 1848
As I promised on my arrival in the United States, to give
their friends an account of their situation, I could
conceive no more certain and expeditious a method than
through the medium of your Herald, and therefore wish you
to give this communication publicity; and hope the Editors
of the Gazettes of the states in which the friends of those
unfortunate young men may belong, will republish it, that
their connections may receive the melancholy assurances of
some being in existence, and that others are beyond the
power of tyranny and oppression.
I am, &c.,
[Signed] Z. M. PIKE.
In a late involuntary tour which I made through part of his
Catholic majesty's dominions of New Spain, whilst at St.
Affe [Santa Fé], the capitol of N. Mexico and Chihuahua, I
met with a number of the poor unfortunate companions of the
deceased Nolan. One of whom gave me the following cursory
statement of their treatment, &c. since their being taken,
and on their joint application, I addressed a letter to his
excellency Nemeio [_sic_] Salcedo, in their favor, of which
an extract is subjoined, with the verbal reply of the
general.
"We crossed the Mississippi on the 1st day of November,
1800, at the Walnut hills [Nogales], and in January
following arrived at the river Brassus [Brazos], in the
provinces of Texus, and proceeded to build pens [for the
capture of mustangs]. In March, 1801, we began to run wild
horses, and having caught several hundreds of them we
selected the handsomest and let the ballance go. On the 22
of March, we were attacked at break of day, by sixty
regular troops, and two hundred and forty militia and
Indians, with one field piece. Our commander, (Nolan) being
killed, we capitulated in the evening, on the assurance
that Nolan was killed, who only was to blame, we should be
conducted to Naggadoches [Nacogdoches], from whence there
was no doubt, we would have permission to return to our
country, as soon as the circumstances were stated to the
governor of St. Antonio. We remained there under promises
and daily expectations of being released until July, when
we were all put in heavy irons.
"In August we were marched, in irons, to St. Antonio
[Texas]; and in December through the province of Coqquella
[Coahuila] and [New] Biscay, into the vice-royalty of
Mexico, to the city of St. Louis Potosi, where we remained
fourteen months, ironed, and in close confinement. In
February, 1803, we were dispatched to Chihuahua, where
after some time, our irons were struck off. From which to
the present time, we have experienced various treatment,
sometimes enjoying the liberty of the town, sometimes the
barracks, and for three months in irons and close
confinement.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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