Proposed trail would honor War of 1812 hero who served at Sackets Harbor

Jan. 29—SACKETS HARBOR — The president of the Pike National Historic Trail Association paid a visit to this historic village on Monday to share his vision for the path that would honor an American military hero and expedition leader who is buried at the Sackets Harbor Military Cemetery.

The nonprofit Pike National Historic Trail Association was created in 2007 to promote and preserve the legacy of Zebulon Montgomery Pike, who was killed in the Battle of York (present-day Toronto) in 1813. His body was then brought back to Sackets Harbor.

Prior to the War of 1812, Pike was a well-traveled explorer of the American West as an army captain, commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson. He explored the southern portions of the Louisiana territory. He climbed in rank steadily until being promoted to brigadier general after fighting at the Battle of Tippecanoe in 1811 during Tecumseh's War, a conflict between the U.S. and Tecumseh's Confederacy, led by the Shawnee leader Tecumseh in the Indiana Territory.

With the War of 1812 underway, Pike was assigned to lead a campaign north from Sackets Harbor to Canada.

"Pike led the easy capture of York after landing his 1,600 regulars across the Lake Ontario against a much smaller combined British force," according to American Battlefield Trust. "Though the garrison was easily captured, retreating British soldiers set fire to its buildings, resulting in a terrific explosion as the flames reached the powder magazine. The explosion wounded 222 soldiers, and killed an additional 38, with Pike among one of the dead."

Pike later died aboard his ship. His body was supposedly returned to Sackets Harbor in a barrel of spirits.

Harv Hisgen is president of the Pike National Historic Trail Association. He lives in Conifer, Colorado, with his wife, Bonnie. On Monday, they met with Constance Barone, director of the Sackets Harbor Battlefield State Historic Site, where the trail would connect.

From Sackets, the trail would head east to Plattsburgh.

"Our main mission is to let the public know about General Zebulon Montgomery Pike," he said.

The trail, which would be on public highways, would honor Pike's explorations. In 1805-1806, Pike explored the source of the Mississippi newly acquired from France in 1803. He led an expedition to present-day Missouri, Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota. His second expedition was to the American southwest and parts of New Spain (Mexico) in 1806-1807. The Pike National Historic Trail would wind its way through the areas those expeditions visited. It totals 4,123 miles. Adding canoe trips and surveying would bring that total to 9,000 miles.

Hisgen said that Pike discovered and explored the headwaters of five major western rivers: the Mississippi, Arkansas, South Platte, Osage and Cottonwood. Pike's Peak in Colorado is named after him.

The trail association is requesting that each state that Pike passed through designate the Pike Trail in their state. Hisgen is also seeking approval on the local level: the towns and counties the trail would pass through. He brought with him a proposed resolution he planned to share with Sackets Harbor and Jefferson County officials.

Asked if there was a timeline for the trail, Hisgen said, "I've got 200 counties where I'm trying to get Pike Day when Pike was there. I have a number of people helping me. We're going to take it piece by piece."

"Harv will be getting in touch with the county and village," Barone said. "He's going to be proposing this. This is his actual physical visit today."

The trail would head east on Route 104 and Route 3 to Sackets Harbor.

Barone showed the Hisgens around the key historical points on the battlefield and also highlights of the village on Monday. They also visited the burial site of Pike at the Military Cemetery. Barone thinks the trail and related Pike Day would be good for the battlefield. "It's always great to be put on the map and certainly Sackets Harbor is recognized as one of the top War of 1812 sites in the country."

Barone said that as the trail plan proceeds, she plans to reach out to organizations like the William G. Pomeroy Foundation and Seaway Trail for signage possibilities.

As for proposed Pike Day in Sackets Harbor, Barone had a day in mind: April 27, (1813), when he was killed at York while leading the attack on British troops.

"Militarily, he was a bright young leader," Barone said. "He was recognized for his skills. He probably would have been one of our best leaders in the War of 1812 had he not been killed at York."

Hisgen has experience in trail management. He served as vice president for the American Discovery Trail Society and chaired the Santa Fe Trail Association/American Discovery Trail Society Alliance. He taught chemistry and physics for 33 years in Illinois.

Perhaps due to that scientific background, Hisgen noted an upcoming cosmic connection involving Pike and two locations. Sackets Harbor will be in the path of totality in the upcoming total eclipse on April 8. Pike was in Durango province, Mexico, in 1807, exploring. That area will also be in the April 8 path of totality.

For more info on the trail and on the life of Pike, go to zebulonpike.org.