First Clasl1es witle the United States
knowledge of the country is found, however, in the departure of Dr. Robinson on February 6 from Pike's camp to go to Santa Fe. His arrival in the capital of New Mexico brought the Spaniards immediately to the camp. But let us follow the Spanish expedition sent by the harrassed com- mandant general, Salcedo, to pursue the intruders. At almost the very time that Pike was making preparations for his daring exploration, Captain Facundo Melgares, an experienced and able officer who had seen service in Europe and fought Apaches in America, started from Chi- huahua with a company of 100 dragoons. His instructions were to proceed to Santa Fe, where he was to be reenforced by 500 militia, and then to continue his march to the headwaters of Red River. He was to follow this stream until he met Pike and his men. If they refused to obey the order to return to the United States, they were to be taken into custody and brought to Chihuahua for examination. The expedition that left Santa Fe under Captain Melgares was an imposing array. The 600 men carried full equipment. There were two extra mounts and a mule for each soldier. They were supplied with provisions and ammunition for a six months' campaign. As they made their way to the headwaters of Red River, there were 2,075 beasts of burden in the long supply train following the soldiers. They first went down Red River approximately 230 leagues (about 500 miles) but. finding no trace of the intruders, turned northeast to the Arkansas. where they left 240 men with their tired and lame horses, and pro- ceeded to the country of the Pawnees, where they arrived more than 1'vo months before Pike. This explains the attitude of the chief toward Pike when he put in his appearance. On their long march they had driYen out or taken prisoner all American traders found among the various Indian nations they visited. Both the men and the horses were tired and worn out, for they had made more than 1,200 miles through difficult and almost unknown territory. Captain Melgares decided to return from the Pawnee village, and by October was back in Santa Fe again. Here he disbanded the militia, and decided to wait for news of the trespassers. 1 i: Let us return to Pike and his men on the upper Rio Grande. On February 16, 1807, ten days after Dr. Robinson had left Pike's camp, a dragoon and an Indian guide visited the Americans. Ten more days passed before fifty dragoons and fifty militia, commanded by Igna~io
l!IP!ke, E~-jloratorJ Trav1l1, 181-183.
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