The Natural History of the Long Expedition to the Rocky Mountains (1819-1820)

A little over 170 years ago—hardly a moment on the clock of history—one half of the United States was empty of all but Indians and the plants and game on which they subsisted. Indeed, acquiring the Louisiana Territory approximately doubled the size of the United States, adding 800,000 square miles of land that had scarcely been explored or adequately mapped. Americans would be given an in-depth look this rugged and untamed land only when Secretary of War John C. Calhoun and President James Monroe agreed that a military presence at the mouth of the Yellowstone River (near the boundary between North Dakota and Montana) would impress the Indians and serve notice to Canadian trappers and traders that some of their favorite beaver country was now part of the United States. In The Natural History of the Long Expedition to the Rocky Mountains (1819- 1820) , Howard E. Evans offers a colorful history of the expedition of Major Stephen H. Long—the first scientific exploration of the Louisiana Territory to be accompanied by trained naturalists and artists. Made up of twenty-two men—military personnel and "scientific gentlemen"—the Long Expedition struggled on foot and horseback along the Front Range of the Rockies, living off the land, recording rivers and landforms, shooting birds, plucking plants, and catching lizards and insects to preserve for study. They were often thirsty and hungry, sometimes ill, and always tired. But theirs was an experience awarded to only a chosen few: the opportunity to see and record firsthand the pristine lands that so majestically defined the United States. Based primarily on the expedition members' reports and diaries, and often told in the participants' own words, this fascinating chronicle transports readers back to the near-virgin wilderness of 1820. We accompany naturalist Edwin James as he becomes the first man to climb Pike's Peak, and roam with him in his dual role as botanist, collecting a multitude of flora specimens, 140 of which were described by him and others as new. We sit with artist Samuel Seymour as he sketches in vivid detail the panorama of breathtaking peaks and prominent landforms, travel along with Titian Peale as he visits the homes of Native Americans and records with an artist's keen eye and gifted hand the intense beauty of this land's first inhabitants, and go exploring with zoologist Thomas Say as he describes never before seen mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, and insects. Beautifully illustrated with crisp reproductions of Peale and Seymour's art, as well as photographs of the many plants and insects described by James and Say, The Natural History of the Long Expedition to the Rocky Mountains (1819-1820) offers a vivid account of this monumental expedition. The story of the Long Expedition has been told before, but without due recognition of the party's great contributions to natural history. Now, anyone interested in the early history of the American West can witness for themselves how this vast and varied land looked and felt when it was first seen by trained scientists and artists. A little over 170 years ago--hardly a moment on the clock of history--one half of the United States was empty of all but Indians and the plants and game on which they subsisted. Indeed, acquiring the Louisiana Territory approximately doubled the size of the United States, adding 800,000 square miles of land that had scarcely been explored or adequately mapped. Americans would be given an in-depth look this rugged and untamed land only when Secretary of War John C. Calhoun and President James Monroe agreed that a military presence at the mouth of the Yellowstone River (near the boundary between North Dakota and Montana) would impress the Indians and serve notice to Canadian trappers and traders that some of their favorite beaver country was now part of the United States.In The Natural History of the Long Expedition to the Rocky Mountains (1819- 1820), Howard E. Evans offers a colorful history of the expedition of Major Stephen H. Long--the first scientific exploration of the Louisiana Territory to be accompanied by trained naturalists and artists. Made up of twenty-two men--military personnel and "scientific gentlemen"--the Long Expedition struggled on foot and horseback along the Front Range of the Rockies, living off the land, recording rivers and landforms, shooting birds, plucking plants, and catching lizards and insects to preserve for study. They were often thirsty and hungry, sometimes ill, and always tired. But theirs was an experience awarded to only a chosen few: the opportunity to see and record firsthand the pristine lands that so majestically defined the United States.Based primarily on the expedition members' reports and diaries, and often told in the participants' own words, this fascinating chronicle transports readers back to the near-virgin wilderness of 1820. We accompany naturalist Edwin James as he becomes the first man to climb Pike's Peak, and roam with him in his dual role as botanist, collecting a multitude of flora specimens, 140 of which were described by him and others as new. We sit with artist Samuel Seymour as he sketches in vivid detail the panorama of breathtaking peaks and prominent landforms, travel along with Titian Peale as he visits the homes of Native Americans and records with an artist's keen eye and gifted hand the intense beauty of this land's first inhabitants, and go exploring with zoologist Thomas Say as he describes never before seen mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, and insects. Beautifully illustrated with crisp reproductions of Peale and Seymour's art, as well as photographs of the many plants and insects described by James and Say, The Natural History of the Long Expedition to the Rocky Mountains (1819-1820) offers a vivid account of this monumental expedition.The story of the Long Expedition has been told before, but without due recognition of the party's great contributions to natural history. Now, anyone interested in the early history of the American West can witness for themselves how this vast and varied land looked and felt when it was first seen by trained scientists and artists. A Little Over 170 Years Ago - Hardly A Moment On The Clock Of History - One Half Of The United States Was Empty Of All But Indians And The Plants And Game On Which They Subsisted. Indeed, Acquiring The Louisiana Territory Approximately Doubled The Size Of The United Sates, Adding 800,000 Square Miles Of Land That Had Scarcely Been Explored Or Adequately Mapped. In The Natural History Of The Long Expedition To The Rocky Mountains (1819-1820), Howard E. Evans Offers A. Colorful History Of The Expedition Of Major Stephen H. Long - The First Scientific Exploration Of The Louisiana Territory To Be Accomplished By Trained Naturalists And Artists. Based Primarily On The Expedition Members' Reports And Diaries, And Often Told In The Participants' Own Words, This Fascinating Chronicle Transports Readers Back To The Near-virgin Wilderness Of 1820. We Accompany Naturalist Edwin James As He Becomes The First Man To Climb Pike's Peak, And Roam. With Him In His Role As Botanist, Collecting A Multitude Of Plant Specimens, 140 Of Which Were Described By Him And Others As New. We Sit With Artist Samuel Seymour As He Sketches In Vivid Detail The Panorama Of Breathtaking Peaks And Prominent Landforms, Travel Along With Titian Peale As He Visits The Homes Of Native Americans And Records With An Artist's Keen Eye And Gifted Hand The Striking Features Of This Land's First Inhabitants, And Go Exploring With Zoologist. Thomas Say As He Describes Indigenous Mammals, Birds, Amphibians, Reptiles, And Insects. 1. Setting The Stage -- 2. Cast Of Characters -- 3. Down The Ohio -- 4. Up The Missouri -- 5. Overwintering At Engineer -- 6. New Plans And A New Cast Of Characters -- 7. To The Rockies -- 8. Exploring The Front Range -- 9. Down The Arkansas -- 10. The Search For The Red River -- 11. Epilogue. Howard Ensign Evans. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [251]-254) And Index. CONTENTS......Page 6 PREFACE......Page 8 1 SETTING THE STAGE......Page 16 2 CAST OF CHARACTERS......Page 30 3 DOWN THE OHIO......Page 38 4 UP THE MISSOURI......Page 56 5 OVERWINTERING AT ENGINEER CANTONMENT......Page 81 6 NEW PLANS AND A NEW CAST OF CHARACTERS......Page 96 7 TO THE ROCKIES......Page 107 8 EXPLORING THE FRONT RANGE......Page 135 9 DOWN THE ARKANSAS......Page 170 10 THE SEARCH FOR THE RED RIVER......Page 197 11 EPIILOGUE......Page 226 Appendix I: ANIMALS (OTHER THAN INSECTS) DESCRIBED BY THOMAS SAY IN THE ACCOUNT OF THE LONG EXPEDITION, 1819—1820......Page 247 Appendix II: INSECTS DESCRIBED BY THOMAS SAY FROM SPECIMENS COLLECTED ON THE LONG EXPEDITION, 1819—1820......Page 251 Appendix III: PLANTS NEWLY DISCOVERED AND DESCRIBED FROM THE LONG EXPEDITION, 1820......Page 257 BIBLIOGRAPHY......Page 264 A......Page 268 B......Page 269 C......Page 270 E......Page 271 H......Page 272 J......Page 273 L......Page 274 M......Page 275 P......Page 276 S......Page 278 W......Page 280 Z......Page 281 Using the personal and scientific journals of members of the Long Expedition, sent in 1820 to explore the western lands acquired by Thomas Jefferson in 1803, recounts the story of the 16-month trek, describing the personalities involved, their route, the politics of their journey, and their discoveries. Acquiring the Louisiana Territory almost doubled the size of the USA, adding 800,000 square miles of land scarcely explored or mapped. This text offers a history of the 1819 expedition - the first scientific exploration of the territory to be accompanied by trained naturalists and artists.