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Our Catliolic Heritage in Texas
susp1c1on. Relations with Spain had been strained almost to the breaking point, because fantastic claims were still being advanced and pressed in regard to the western limits of Louisiana. Although the instructions were issued in the summer of 1805, it was not until September 1, 1806, that Pike and his party, consisting of two Indian interpreters, a doctor-the notorious Doctor Robinson-two ser- geants, one corporal, fifteen privates, three Pawnees, four chiefs of the Grand Osage, and twenty-six warriors, set out from the country of the latter, ostensibly for the headwaters of the Arkansas and Red rivers. All through the summer Pike, who was essentially a soldier and a natural-born leader and explorer, had made careful preparations for the undertaking. But news of the proposed expedition did not escape the watchful Spanish agents, for they had already reported the plans to the Spanish commander at St. Louis. He immediately relayed the information to Sebastian Rodriguez at Nacogdoches. He, in turn, advised Governor Cordero, and this official notified Commandant General Salcedo at Chihuahua. Thus, Pike and his men had hardly started preparing for the expedition before the Spaniards sent a scouting party to intercept and arrest them. By September 25, 1806, Pike and his men had reached the village of the Pawnees on the La Platte River. Here he learned from the Indians that an expedition had been sent against him. The chief was inclined to prevent Pike and his men from continuing, and the party, delayed by the reluctance of the Indians to sell them horses, was obliged to stay in the village until October 6. After resuming their march, they reached the Arkansas on November 1, and saw a herd of wild horses for the first time. When these animals noticed the strangers, they thundered across the plains "like a charge of cavalry," making the earth tremble, says Pike. By February 5 the party had established a camp and built a stockade on the north bank of the western branch of the Rio Grande, about five miles above the point where it flows into the Rio Grande, just below Culebra River, and not more than fifty miles north of Taos. 131 It is difficult to believe that Pike did not know that he was on the Rio Grande at this time. When discovered by the Spaniards shortly after- wards, he feigned complete ignorance of the fact. Confirmation of his
lJlThe summary thus far presented is taken from Pike, Zebulon M., Ex,Plorator~ travels tlzrougk tlze western territo,;es of Nortk America, 1-231.
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