Quotes By Zebulon Pike

The Pawnee chief had left the village the day after the doctor arrived, with 50 or 60 horses and many people, and had taken his course to the north of our route.

I differ materially from Capt. Lewis, in my account of the numbers, manners, and morals of the Sioux.

There had so lately been a large force of Spanish cavalry at the village, which had made a great impression on the minds of the young men, as to their power, consequence, which my appearance with 20 infantry was by no means calculated to remove.

Why cannot we correct the baneful passions, without weakening the good?

Give immediate instruction to all your posts in said territory, under your direction, at no time and on no pretence to hoist, or suffer be hoisted, the English flag.

I cannot consent to be led three or four hundred leagues out of my route, without its being by force of arms.

He was a man, he always performed his promises.

The Spanish troops returned and we could yet discover the grass beaten down in the direction which they went.

The village had a mill near it, situated on the little creek, which made very good flour. The population consisted of civilized Indians, but much mixed blood.

Strict justice would demand total confiscation of your property, personal imprisonment and fines.

May Heaven be propitious, and smile on the cause of my country.

American agents... are the only persons authorized to hold councils of a political nature.

Smoke the pipe of peace, bury the tomahawk, and become one nation.

It was the wish of the Americans that their red brethren should remain peacefully round their own fires, and not embroil themselves in any disputes between the white people.

In my proper character, I am an officer of the United States Army.

You have already disarmed my men without my knowledge, are their arms to be returned or not?

A discontented young fellow, filled with self pride; he certainly should have considered it an honor to be sent on so respectable an embassy as he was.

At the lodge the chief gave me many particulars which were relative to the late visit of the Spaniards.

With the dreary season in which we travelled part of the route; with our minds much more actively employed in forming resources for our preservation from famine.

Your former Fathers the Spaniards have now no further Authority over you.

On no further occasion present a flag or medal to an Indian.

The toute ensemble was such as to make polished society blush, when compared with these savages.

I was informed... that some... were dreaming and wished to return.

Among various demands and charges I gave them, was, that the said flag should be delivered to me, and one of the United States' flags be received and hoisted in its place.

Owing to the difficulty of obtaining horses, Mr. Henry returns from this place. In descending the Mississippi I will request him to pay his respects to you.

A young man who is here speaks the Panis language, and in many other respects, is preferable.

The preparations for my new voyage prevented the possiblity of my paying that attention to the correction of my errors, that I should otherwise have done.

Should I be the happy mortal destined to turn the scale of war, will you not rejoice, O my father?

They were conspiring to desert us in the night and steal some of our horses... we engaged a spy.

If we go to Chihuahua we must be considered as prisoners of war?