Understanding primary sources: Pike's predicaments.From the start, it seemed that explorer Zebulon Pike Zebulon Montgomery Pike Jr. (January 5, 1779 – April 27, 1813) was an American soldier and explorer for whom Pikes Peak in Colorado is named. His Pike expedition, often compared to the Lewis and Clark Expedition, mapped much of the southern portion of the Louisiana Purchase. was cursed with Adj. 1. cursed with - burdened with; "stuck with the tab" stuck with cursed, curst - deserving a curse; sometimes used as an intensifier; "villagers shun the area believing it to be cursed"; "cursed with four daughter"; "not a cursed drop"; "his cursed bad luck. (See "Hike With Pike," pp. 12-13.) He also made some questionable decisions, which added to the many difficulties he and his men faced. Read the following excerpts from Pike's journal, then answer the questions. FATEFUL fate·ful adj. 1. Vitally affecting subsequent events; being of great consequence; momentous: a fateful decision to counterattack. 2. Controlled by or as if by fate; predetermined. 3. DECISION Since Pike had expected to complete his journey before winter set in, he and his men did not have clothing or supplies needed for exploring in the winter. Yet on November 11, he decided to press on, hoping to accomplish all the objectives set forth in his military orders. November 11--Finding the impossibility of performing the voyage in the time proposed. I determined to spare no pains to accomplish every object, even should it oblige me to spend another winter in the desert [Pike's name for the Great Plains]. CAUGHT IN THE MOUNTAINS Some historians have said that Pike's decision to continue was a bad one. He should have stopped, built shelters, and waited out the winter. Pike and his men were caught in the Rocky Mountains Rocky Mountains, major mountain system of W North America and easternmost belt of the North American cordillera, extending more than 3,000 mi (4,800 km) from central N.Mex. to NW Alaska; Mt. Elbert (14,431 ft/4,399 m) in Colorado is the highest peak. in winter, without food and warm winter clothing. As Pike wrote on Christmas Day, 1806: December 25--Here 800 miles from the frontiers of our country, in the most inclement in·clem·ent adj. 1. Stormy: inclement weather. 2. Showing no clemency; unmerciful. in·clem season of the year; not one person clothed clothe tr.v. clothed or clad , cloth·ing, clothes 1. To put clothes on; dress. 2. To provide clothes for. 3. To cover as if with clothing. for the winter, many without blankets (having been obliged o·blige v. o·bliged, o·blig·ing, o·blig·es v.tr. 1. To constrain by physical, legal, social, or moral means. 2. to cut them up for socks, etc.), and now laying down at night on the snow or wet ground; one side burning while the other was pierced with the cold wind: this was in part the situation of the party whilst some were endeavoring to make a miserable substitute of raw buffalo hide for shoes. QUESTIONS 1. What was Zebulon Pike's fateful decision?-- 2. On what date did he make that decision?-- 3. Why do some historians criticize Pike's choice?-- 4. What did Pike call the Great Plains?-- 5. Why didn't Pike's men have any blankets?-- 6. How did some men on the expedition cope with the lack of shoes?-- 7. Based on its context, what does inclement mean?-- 8. What do you think Pike considered "the frontiers of our country"?-- 9. At one point, Pike realized that he had led his men in a circle. Would you count that as bad luck or bad judgment? Explain.-- 10. Some historians have argued that Pike worried more about his reputation than about the health of his men. What phrase in these excerpts might support that view?-- ANSWER 1. whether to continue the exploration during the winter 2. November 11, 1806 3. They say that he should have stopped for the winter and built shelters, sparing his men a mountain passage without food and warm winter clothing. 4. the desert 5. They had been forced to cut up their blankets for socks and other uses. 6. They made a "miserable substitute of raw buffalo hide." 7. stormy 8. the settled lands of the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. , east of the Mississippi River Mississippi River River, central U.S. It rises at Lake Itasca in Minnesota and flows south, meeting its major tributaries, the Missouri and the Ohio rivers, about halfway along its journey to the Gulf of Mexico. 9. Bad judgment [reasons will vary]. 10. "I determined to spare no pains to accomplish every object." |
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