The Glenn-Fowler Expedition to Santa Fe: A Wild West Trade Adventure
Alright, picture this: It’s the early 1820s, the Wild West is still wild, and two guys, Colonel Hugh Glenn and Jacob Fowler, have a crazy idea. They’re gonna pack up a crew, head out to Santa Fe (which is in New Mexico, for those of you who aren’t geography buffs), and see if they can strike up some trade deals. Not just with the local Native American tribes, but also with the Spanish folks who are running the show down there. Sounds like a recipe for adventure, right?
So, in 1821, Glenn and Fowler shake hands on this grand plan. Glenn gets a license from Fort Smith, Arkansas, giving him the green light to trade with the tribes out on the southern plains. They’re also hoping to snag some beaver pelts along the upper Arkansas River – gotta make some money somehow!
Meet the Adventurers
Let’s talk about these guys for a sec:
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Colonel Hugh Glenn: Born in West Virginia back in 1788, Glenn was always looking for a way to make his mark. He tried his hand at banking, business, and even government contracts in Cincinnati, Ohio. But things got a little messy with some financial scandals, and he decided it was time for a change of scenery. He ended up at a trading post near Fort Smith, Arkansas, where he reconnected with an old buddy…
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Jacob Fowler: Born way back in 1764 in Maryland. This guy was a true frontiersman. He’d been a soldier, a scout, and a hunter in the Ohio Valley, fighting in pretty much every major battle against the local tribes back in the day. He even worked as a surveyor for the U.S. Army. Fowler was a bit older than Glenn, but he was always up for a good adventure.
The two had met during the War of 1812 when they served under General Andrew Jackson. After the war, Fowler became Glenn’s business partner. So when Glenn came up with this Santa Fe plan, Fowler was all in! Plus, Fowler kept a daily journal, which is how we know so much about what went down on this crazy expedition.
Hitting the Trail
On September 6, 1821, Fowler, along with his slave Paul, leaves Fort Smith to meet up with Glenn at his trading post. They cross the Arkansas River, make their way to the Neosho River, and eventually reach Glenn’s place on the Verdigris River.
The next few weeks are a flurry of preparations. They put together a team of 20 people, a mix of African Americans, Native Americans, French, and Spanish folks. Fowler’s brother Robert joins the fun, along with Nathaniel Pryor, who had been on the Lewis and Clark expedition. Talk about experience!
Colonel Glenn takes the lead, and on September 21, 1821, they finally hit the trail. They follow the Verdigris River north, camping near present-day Bartlesville, Oklahoma, on October 1st. From there, they head into the Kansas Territory.
Buffalo, Bears, and Beyond
As they push further west, they start seeing tons of bison and antelope. They cross the Walnut River and arrive near where Wichita, Kansas, is today. By mid-October, they’re near Ellinwood, Kansas, and they cross the Pawnee Fork near Larned. They’re really getting out there!
Now, while the hunting is great, things aren’t so smooth when it comes to the local tribes. Glenn had a license to trade, but he’s not having much luck building relationships with the Kiowa and Wichita tribes.
On October 27, they cross the Arkansas River into Spanish territory (what’s now Colorado). They’re the first Anglo-Americans to explore the area around modern-day Pueblo. But tragedy strikes when a grizzly bear wanders into their camp and kills one of their men, Lewis Dawson.
Winter is Coming
As November rolls around, winter starts to set in. Snow and ice make travel tough, and they’re stuck in camp for days at a time. On November 13, they spot the Spanish Peaks in the distance. A week later, they stumble upon a huge encampment of Arapaho, Kiowa, and other Native Americans. They trade with them for horses, which is a huge help.
Santa Fe or Bust!
On January 2, Glenn and a small group leave the main party and head for Taos, New Mexico, with some Spanish guides. When they arrive, they find out that Mexico has just won its independence from Spain! Things are changing fast.
Fowler and the rest of the crew eventually catch up in Taos. Then, they all head to Santa Fe to ask the new Mexican government for permission to trap and hunt. Lucky for them, the Mexicans are eager to boost trade with the United States, so they give the green light. The expedition members start trapping along the Rio Grande and end up with over 1,100 pounds of furs. Not bad!
Homeward Bound
On June 1, 1822, they start their journey back home. By July 15, 1822, Glenn and his men arrive back in St. Louis, Missouri.
The Aftermath
Hugh Glenn eventually returned to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he died on May 28, 1833, at the age of 45. Even though the expedition was successful, it didn’t solve all his financial problems. Jacob Fowler lived to be 85, passing away in Covington, Kentucky, on October 15, 1849.
A Lasting Legacy
So, was the Glenn-Fowler expedition a success? Absolutely! They proved that trade between the United States and Spanish North America was possible. The Mexican government was all for it. Plus, Fowler’s journal gave everyone a detailed look at the southern plains region, something that hadn’t been done since Zebulon Pike’s expedition back in 1806-1807.
Thanks to this profitable trip and William Becknell’s earlier adventures, the Santa Fe Trail was established, opening up a whole new chapter in the history of the American West. Not bad for a couple of guys with a crazy idea!