In 1806; U.S. Army General James Wilkinson assigned Lieutenant Zebulon Montgomery Pike to explore the headwaters of the Arkansas and Red rivers. From St. Louis; the lieutenant's modest party traveled across the Great Plains to the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. Throughout the journey; Pike maintained a journal; describing terrain; Indians; hardships; and the group's daily activities. In present-day southern Colorado's San Luis Valley; Pike and his men were captured by the Spanish and taken to Santa Fe; where many of his papers were confiscated by Spanish authorities; not to be uncovered until the early twentieth century.Pike was taken south by the Spanish to Chihuahua; Mexico. Along the route; he was a keen observer of Spanish settlements; military strength; commerce; natural resources; Indian tribes; and more. Finally; the Spanish governor had Pike and his party escorted through Texas; to Natchitoches; Louisiana; where they arrived on July 1; 1807. This valuable and long-out-of-print edition of Pike's Southwestern journals is being reissued on the bicentennial of the journey. Editors Hart and Hulbert provide extensive commentary to the journals; as well as significant essays on Pike's papers and the purpose of his famed expedition.
#1521768 in Books University of Missouri 1997-10-30Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.25 x 1.10 x 6.13l; 1.41 #File Name: 0826211356272 pages
Review
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Slavery and its impact on the Founder of our NationBy Sheila TillmanThis was an excellent text; rivaling the great "Founding Brothers - The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis. It addresses the fundamental question I have always had; how could slavery continue (thrive) in a "free" nation? I have been reading a lot about the Founding Fathers with the central purpose of answering this very question. This book "George Washington Slavery" includes many quotes and letters from the general that specifically addresses the slavery issue. It uses Washington and his contemporaries own letters to paint a story of our most famous founding father and his viewpoint on Blacks and slavery.It begins by discussing how Washington obtained his large slave population through his marriage with Martha. It tells us that Washington was your typical (although meticulous) plantation owner. The Mount Vernon Estate was the most envied in the land. This was due to not only Washington's management but also slave labor. You get a strong since of how important slavery was to the every day needs of our most esteemed founding father.However; Washington changed his views about Blacks during the Revolutionary War when he initiated enlisting Blacks into the Army (in the North not the South). Unfortunately; this was only done as a last resort after British Lord Cornwallis had announced that Black slaves could seek freedom if they took up arms with the British. It was then that Washington; faced with a mounting slave force with weapons; decided it was a smart strategy to allow Blacks to serve for the colonies.What was most disappointing about Washington is that he was well aware of several Blacks with courage; intelligence and character. This book tells us about the Black poetess Phyllis Wheatley who was highly regarded for her literature (Washington once wrote her and he did addressed her with respect). There were several slaves that fought valiantly in the Revolutionary War and won recognition from Washington and other generals. He was always known to be fair on the battlefield with both his White and Black soldiers. There are several notably slaves such as his own Billy Lee that stood side by side with Washington through even his military battles. Frenchman Marquis de Lafayette often wrote Washington about the abolition of slavery? In fact; Lafayette wrote Washington about the large-scale emancipation of slaves in the French colony of Cayenne; the capital city of what is now known as Guiana. Therefore; Washington not only had first hand knowledge that Blacks were capable individuals; but also that slavery could and had been abolished in another part of the world. Washington still was willing to sit idle while hundreds of thousands were destined to a life of bondage.At one time the Washington estate housed over 400 slaves (including children). They catered to the every needs of the Washingtons. Martha Washington had personally eleven slaves to perform her cooking; cleaning; sewing; etc. This book was full of letters by the Washington's regarding their slaves. It indicated that the Washingtons were fair and reasonable with their slave labor. In fact; the only time George revolted punitively was in regard to runaways.The last will and testament of George Washington was to free his slaves. This is good; but in my opinion is not enough to remove the stain of slavery in his life. Even though he was fair to his slaves; he could have set in motion (or at least continued the existing momentum) emancipation in this country. The original impression I had before was that Whites during our revolutionary time lived in an environment where slavery was an unchallenged institution. This book and others indicate that there was a growing abolition movement in this country that began at the nations' founding.I get the impression from Washington and the other Founding Fathers that they realized slavery was wrong. Of course it would have been hard to move towards abolition. It is always difficult to give up status and an economic advantage. Power and privilege are always difficult to give up. And even if Washington could give up the Presidency of the United States he could not find himself to give up the comforts of slavery while he was living. This was a question about power and the need to feel superior to others. Emancipation would have been challenged by his fellow southern plantation owners. Of course it would have been challenged and certainly unpopular; but many ideas are challenged. The Founders including Washington could have provided freedom for slaves after they reach an appropriate age. This was a strategy employed by the northern states. He could have been more outspoken and introduced a plan to gradually rid the country of this egregious sin. The question is whether this is worth fighting for. There are many examples where Washington put his life on the line for ideas he felt were worth the fight. Was the fight was worth it? Fighting a war against the world's largest Army was hard and many thought suicidal. But you fight for things that you believe in and ideas that are worth it. That was one of the themes of the revolution. In Washington's opinion (and most other key leaders of our nation at that time); the plight; hopes; dreams; viewpoints; feelings and freedom of Blacks were not worth the fight.3 of 9 people found the following review helpful. Very riveting version of history not found in usual classes.By Walt Randle (mxvb19a@prodigy.com)This was a very well research historical view of George Washington that is not presented in normal history classes. While it is known that he owned slaves; this book provides a gateway to allow the reader to step back through time to get a true sense of what it was like to be "owned" by General Washington.The photocopies of actual hand written letters about recapturing his runaway slaves shows him to be a vindictive person who had no conflict over being a staunch freedom fighter while owning slaves at the same time. Duh!While some apologists for him say that he was a benevolent owner; the fact remains that his "employees" worked over 12 hours each day; seven days a week with neither a salary nor a 401k.The book also points out a very clever concealment of the "fugutive slave law" in the constitution. (Section 2 article 4) that George spearheaded.After reading this work one can see that his slave plantation was every bit as horrific as anything to be found in Treblenka; Bergen-Belsen or Dauchau.7 of 11 people found the following review helpful. Hindsight is indeed 20/20.By Dennis PhillipsMr. Hirschfeld has put a lot of time and research into this work and has turned out a good look at Washington the slave owner. He like the writers of recent attacks on T. Jefferson however forget to tell the whole story. Early in the 21st century it is easy to look back and see what an evil slavery was. The fact that we weren't raised being told that slavery was not only acceptable but a positive good makes our viewpoint much eaiser. Washington like Jefferson was raised by people who told him slavery was indeed a good thing. The society he grew up in and probably even his ministers told him the same thing. Hirschfeld's work is lacking in that he doesn't point out that by ever beginning to see the wrongs of the slave system Washington had shown a great deal of moral growth. Otherwise this is a fine book that examines an area of Washington's life that does deserve attention.
