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Expeditions of Fowler and James to Santa Fe, 1821

General Thomas James

Following Pike’s return from Santa Fe, interest surged for further exploration. In 1821, expeditions led by Major Jacob Fowler and General Thomas James departed towards Santa Fe after witnessing the impact of previous travelers’ accounts. Fowler’s party advanced from Fort Smith, while James’s group left St. Louis with a keel boat, trading goods with local tribes. Both parties faced significant challenges but eventually reached Santa Fe, paving the way for continued American trade in the region, culminating in further expeditions and encounters with the Comanche.

Establishment of Fort Smith in 1817

Quapaw Cession Map

In 1817, a military post was established at Belle Point, now Fort Smith, Arkansas, to protect white settlers and the Cherokee from Osage hostilities. Major William Bradford led the detachment tasked with this, supported by Major Stephen H. Long, who surveyed the area. The post was strategically located at the junction of the Poteau and Arkansas rivers, facilitating navigation and trade. Subsequent treaties with the Osage and other tribes led to significant land cessions, shaping early relations and territorial boundaries in the region.