 Frontier Fighters! The Fighters! Inspiring chapters of heroism and valor in the winning of the American West. When America concluded the Louisiana Purchase, no one knew precisely where the dividing line ran between the newly acquired territory and the Spanish provinces. So to avoid a possible boundary dispute, Lieutenant Zebulon Montgomery Pike, ambitious, patriotic, courageous, was ordered into the Southwest to secure definite information. Pike's command was insignificant. It consisted of but 20 men, two lieutenants, a civilian surgeon, Dr. Johnson, a sergeant, and 16 privates. Pike left St. Louis on July 15th, 1806. Late that fall, near Red Cloud in Webster County, Nebraska... Sergeant! Here, sir. Notice anything peculiar about this trail? Yes, sir. There's a cavalry on this road. Put soldiers, too. Recent. Military, eh? Yes, sir. Spanish. Here's a piece of leather, one the men found. Two miles back. Give it to me. Here, sir. Sergeant, how many would you judge are in the party? About a hundred-fourths and 400-foot. Dr. Johnson? Yes, Lieutenant. Are there Spanish troops in this vicinity? Five hundred. What do you propose to do? Engage them, of course. Drive them out. But 21 Americans against 500 invaders? This is your first assignment to an American Army detachment. You have much to learn, Doctor. Much to learn. Forward! But Pike did not meet the invaders. Instead, gone August 12th. You there under that war bonnet. What tribe is this? We are Ponies. Who is chief of this village? Me. Thunderbird. Those strange banners of red and gold. Whence come they? Presents from Spanish chief of south. Thunderbird? This land is now governed by the great white chief of the east. I have so heard. He is my chief. I obey him. You, in turn, obey me. If I allow you to keep the red and gold gift banners, will you plant my chief's banner of red, white, and blue among them? Yes. Sergeant, the detachment flag. Here it is, sir. Accept this banner, Thunderbird, and mark well that you plant it higher than the banners of red and gold. And keep it there. Weary, ragged, starving, low in spirits, but high in resolve. Pike's detachment is camped on the south bank of the Arkansas River, near what is now Pueblo, Colorado. Look, Dr. Johnson, in the sky to my right. You mean that small blue cloud? That's no cloud, doctor. For my chart, I find that's an undiscovered mountain peak, and I propose to climb to its top, with the skins of wild animals laced to their bleeding feet and their regimentals in rags. Pike and his officers begin their perilous climb toward the summit of the peak, more than 14,000 feet above sea level. This is madness, Pike. Why waste your strength? You'll need it later. You, doctors, why must soldiers always be pastored by medical men? You'll find out when we reach the top of this peak if we ever reach the top. We'll reach it. Never fear. Pike never reached the top of the peak, which was later to be named in his honor. After crawling up the sheer walls but a few miles, Pike suffering intensely from privation, hunger and exposure to the elements was on the verge of complete collapse. On Dr. Johnson's strict orders, Pike returned to camp. Winter, bitter Rocky Mountain winter, without shelter in deep snow, without food. January 19th, the expedition had not tasted food for four terrible days. How are the men, doctor? Well, four will die in a few hours, Lieutenant, unless they have nourishment. Doctor, I'm going hunting for buffalo. There's no buffalo in these mountains. Place your ears to the ground like I'm doing. You're right, Lieutenant. There they come, over that ridge. You're right, Sergeant. You're, Lieutenant. Every man lie low. I'll pick off as many as I can as they pass by. They're not meat for a few days at least. Let's go, Sergeant, for some buffalo steaks and some warm skins to keep those men from freezing to death. Leaving behind those of his soldiers too exhausted to travel, Pike, with Dr. Johnson, one lieutenant, and nine enlisted men broke out of the mountains. After incredible hardships and suffering almost beyond human endurance, Pike's slender command arrived at the Rio Grande at its junction with the Conejo. In a little fort, Pike, an invader himself now in a foreign land, summons Dr. Johnson. You sent for me, Lieutenant Pike? I have a little commercial matter which I want to have you adjust in Santa Fe. But, sir, I'm a doctor, not a bill collector. Dr. Johnson, you're going to Santa Fe to straighten up this money matter. You're also going to collect information for the army. Shall I keep notes? Naturally, but guard them well. We're going to have action down this way soon, and then the army is going to need all the information it can lay its hands on. February 26th, 1807. Pike's detachment of nine ragged privates stands at attention at the entrance to Pike's tiny fort as the Spaniards ride up to a halt. Welcome to the United States, sir. You and your gallant dragoon. How droll! The United States, indeed. But you are in the United States. That's the Red River, and the Red River is in American territory. In your sight is not the Red River, but the Rio Grande. And I, Don Batalamio Fernandes, place you and your legal scarecrow army under military arrest. Arrest? Yes, your sword, sir. This is an outrage. But I'm outnumbered fifty to one. So here's my sword. Don't cut yourself with it. I shaved myself with it this morning. Pike and his scarecrow's were marched to Santa Fe, where the commander was at once taken before Governor Alan Caster, who invited the invading American officer to dinner. How do you like our Spanish food, Senor Pike? Fine, Your Excellency. A trifle hop, perhaps, but filling, especially these beans. Yes. Senor Pike, your armed invasion is a serious offense against Spain. A grave offense. What do you propose to do with me? Feed me? And then hang me? What a queer sense of humor you Americanos have. Certainly not. Splendid. I prefer shooting. More military. I am neither going to hang you nor shoot you. Tomorrow I am sending you and your men to Chihuahua, where Henry Cercedo will dispose of your case. Yeah. Henry will certainly dispose of your case. Still guarded by Don Fernandes and his dragoons, Pike and his men were marched into the valley of the Rio Grande. The Americans were treated with every courtesy, but Pike's scarecrow's were not in a receptive mood. Every mile, it seemed, brought them nearer their doom. It is siesta time, near Atrisco. Nice country, Lieutenant. But how can one enjoy it going to one's own funeral? There'll be no funerals, Lieutenant. What do you mean? But they intended to shoot us. Santa Fe had plenty of walls to stand us against. But there's long march to Chihuahua. Lieutenant, this maneuver has a deep political significance. Eventually, we'll all be released. So keep your eyes and ears open, and remember everything you see and hear. I anticipated everything that has occurred so far. Then you purposely allowed yourself to be captured? Of course. To get some first-hand knowledge of the people, their aims, and anything else of value. What's the difference of a war between our country and theirs? Don Fernández was relieved by Don Fasunda Meljárez, the same officer who penetrated Nebraska and presented the four knees with the red and gold banners of Spain. Meljárez's hospitality exceeded that of Fernández. The prisoners were suspicious of the display, all but Pike. He foresaw his destiny. A few weeks later in Chihuahua, headquarters of General Salcedo... The prisoner, Pike, Excellency. Is called him in. This way, prisoner. General Salcedo, I stand to your command. Well spoken, senior lieutenant. Pray be seated. Thank you, Excellency. How do you like our jail, senior Pike? As jail go, not bad. You may erase it from your memory. Our execution then will take place at once. Execution? That's hurt. I'm sending you and your men home tomorrow. Then why march this way down here to Chihuahua? Entertain us like kings on the way, then march us back. Orderly. See, Excellency. Outside, floors the door. Senior Pike. As one soldier to another. Have I your word? You have my word, Excellency. Senior Pike, Mexico is preparing to throw out the yoke of Spanish tyranny. We count on our northern New World brothers to help us. We troops and brave officers like yourself. Your compliments honor me, Your Excellency. Oh, when we invite your country's participation in our war of liberation from Spain, I trust you will remember and repeat to your superiors that we are a civilized people and not savages as our detractors have painted us. Am I understood? Yes, Your Excellency. Then you will cooperate when the hour strikes. Your Excellency, I am an American officer, a soldier. When the time comes that my nation shall join hands with yours in the conflict that you so eloquently predict, I will obey my president's orders and none other. Again well spoken, Senior Pike. Now a toast to the presidentry of the United States. To the king of Spain. To be sure, to the king of Spain. And to the president of the United States. The commercial, political, and military information Lieutenant Pike brought back to the United States was of immense value. And to this gallant and fearless officer's reports can be traced directly the beginning of the satafay trade which proved so rich for early western American enterprise. The ashes of their campfires have long since grown cold. Time has obliterated their trails, but the great deeds of the frontier fighters will never fade from the glorious pages of American history.