05/19/2015
Speaking of Pike’s Journals, he set out on his second expedition, his Southwest Expedition in 1806, the same year Lewis and Clark returned from their northern trip. Right about this time of year, mid-May, he has just returned from his first expedition up the Mississippi and will soon, on short notice, be shoving off on his second trip, This time to the Southwest.
“Pike, published his report on his trip in 1810 and it contained nearly 500 pages including the appendix. Pike’s tome was a daunting read, and it was not without its critics, who, interestingly, included the books own publisher.” (These are the words Mark Gardner in his introduction to the book The Southwestern Journals of Zebulon Pike 1806 -1807 and published in the bicentennial year of Pike’s trip) Gardner continues by saying in a footnote to Pikes preface to the volume, John Conrad, a junior member of the publishing firm of C. & A. Conrad & Company, Philadelphia admitted that “he had very much doubts whether any book ever went to press under so many disadvantages is the one that presented to the public. Some of those disadvantages must be obvious to every man who reads the work.”
A reviewer for Analectic Magazine published in Philadelphia, acknowledged that while Pike’s book was ”highly useful” as a topographical survey, “it can scarcely be accounted an amusing production, or interesting to those readers who are perpetually on the search for the pathetic and the marvelous. ”
Another reviewer however, found much about the work to recommend. Although “ a mere journal of recurrences,” they presented a variety of interesting situations and engage deeply the attention of the reader. The narration, though simple, bears the original impression of the spot; and carries with it that most desirable qualities in a traveller, an inmate air of truth. While they interest our feelings in the toils and dangers of Mr. Pike and his companions, they lead us through variety of country, people, and of manners; and the narrative thus produces the romantick (sic) and interesting effect.
Despite the mixed reviews, Pikes book reached a relatively large audience, which included European readers as well. A London edition appeared in 1811 followed by translations into French (1812), Dutch (1813), and German (1813). Although Pike and his men would not receive double pay and grants of land has had members of the Lewis and Clark expedition (an expedition, Pike pointed out, that received a much larger appropriation of funds than his own), Pike would see several promotions in rank, first, that of captain, coming shortly after he had embarked upon Southwestern ventures in 1806. Pike received the rank of major in 1808, lieutenant colonel the following year, full colonel in 1812, and finally brigadier general in 1813, His heroes death at the age of 34 during the war of 1812 guaranteed a him chapter in many a book devoted to American biography on military defense published in the first half of the 19th century.
Since then, a number of books including interpretations of his journals have been written. Why don’t you take a look at some of them?
