As an Army captain commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson, Zebulon Montgomery Pike (1779-1813) explored much of the American West. He led two expeditions through the Louisiana Purchase, first in 1805–1806 to reconnoiter the upper northern reaches of the Mississippi River, and then in 1806–1807 to explore the southwest to the edge of the Spanish-colonial settlements of New Mexico and Texas.
Pike’s second expedition crossed the Rocky Mountains into what is now southern Colorado, which led to his capture by the Spanish near Santa Fe. He and his men were sent to Chihuahua in Mexico for interrogation, but were later escorted through Texas and released near American territory in Louisiana.
In 1810, Pike published an account of his expeditions, a book so popular that it was translated into several languages for publication in Europe. As a result, Pike is known all over the world, with many locations named for him, including Pike’s Peak, Colorado.
Pike was promoted to captain during the southwestern expedition and in 1811, fought with the 4th Infantry Regiment at the Battle of Tippecanoe. He was promoted to colonel of the 15th Infantry Regiment in July 1812. He also served as deputy quartermaster-general in New Orleans and Inspector General during the War of 1812.
Pike commanded the advance guard of an American force which was defeated — primarily because of the poor planning and half-hearted effort of his commander, Henry Dearborn — at the first Battle of Lacolle Mills in November 1812.
Zebulon Pike was promoted to Brigadier General in March 1813. Along with General Jacob Brown, Pike left from the newly fortified Sackets Harbor, to command troops in the successful attack on York (now Toronto) on April 27, 1813.
Pike was killed however, along with numerous other American troops, by flying rocks and other debris when the withdrawing British garrison blew up its ammunition magazine as the troops approached Fort York.
Pike’s body was brought by ship back to Sackets Harbor, where his remains were buried first at the Navy Yard (today the Sackets Harbor Battlefield State Historic Site). By 1820 he was reburied in the ‘new’ Madison Barracks cemetery with a monument added in 1885.
He was again reburied in 1909 in the relocated Military Cemetery off Dodge Avenue in Sackets Harbor.
On “Pike Day,” Saturday, April 27, 2024, from 1 pm to 3 pm a self-guided hike or bike tour along the Sackets Harbor Pike Trail will take place.
Participants will travel the 2.5 mile route through the village of Sackets harbor, starting at the historic site’s Union Hotel building, continuing to Pike’s Monument at the Military Cemetery, Fort Pike Park in Madison Barracks, and the historic site’s Navy Yard.
The Sackets Harbor Pike Trail is an extension of the Pike National Historic Trail Association’s tri-national trail honoring Pike.
Pick up a map of the route and free sticker at Union Hotel. For more information contact constance.barone@parks.ny.gov, or call (315) 646-3634.
Sackets Harbor Battlefield State Historic Site is located 504 West Main Street in Sackets Harbor, Jefferson County, NY.
Illustrations, from above: Detail from a portrait of Zebulon Pike by Charles Willson Peale; illustration depicting the death of Zebulon Pike in the aftermath of the explosion during the Battle of York; and the Zebulon Pike Monument in Sackets Harbor, 2023.
