In the vast expanse of early 19th-century America, the lure of untouched lands and lucrative trade routes beckoned adventurers. Among the most significant was the Glenn-Fowler expedition, a pioneering journey led by Colonel Hugh Glenn and Jacob Fowler from 1821 to 1822. Their audacious goal: to establish trade relations with the indigenous tribes of the southern plains and assess the feasibility of commerce with the Spanish, and later Mexican, settlement of Santa Fe, New Mexico.
The Visionaries Behind the Journey
The expedition was forged from a shared ambition between two men of vastly different backgrounds but a common spirit for the frontier.
Colonel Hugh Glenn: The Entrepreneurial Gambler
Born in 1788, Hugh Glenn’s life was a testament to both ambition and risk. A successful bank director and merchant in Cincinnati, Ohio, he found himself facing financial and legal troubles by 1820. Seeking a new start and a fresh fortune, Glenn relocated to a trading post at the Three Forks in present-day Oklahoma. It was there, amidst the untamed wilderness, that the idea of an overland expedition to Santa Fe took root.
Jacob Fowler: The Seasoned Frontiersman
Jacob Fowler, born in 1764, brought invaluable experience to the venture. A veteran soldier, scout, and hunter from the Ohio Valley, Fowler had fought in major engagements against Ohio’s Confederated tribes and served as a surveyor for the U.S. Army. His friendship with Glenn, cultivated during the War of 1812, and his innate passion for adventure likely spurred him to join. Fowler’s meticulous daily journal provides us with the most detailed account of this historic journey.
Setting Sail on Land: The Journey Begins
In August 1821, Colonel Glenn secured a license from Fort Smith, Arkansas, to trade with various Indian tribes and to trap beaver in the upper tributaries of the Arkansas River. The expedition, comprising a diverse group of 20 men including Jacob Fowler’s brother Robert and even Nathaniel Pryor, a veteran of the Lewis and Clark expedition, departed on September 21, 1821.
Through Prairies and Peril
Their route led them north along the Verdigris River, through the sprawling prairies of present-day Oklahoma and into the Kansas Territory. As they moved westward, they encountered vast herds of bison and antelope. However, the journey was not without its dangers. Encounters with indigenous tribes, such as the Kiowa and Wichita, were often strained, making trade difficult. A tragic incident saw Lewis Dawson, one of the party, killed by a grizzly bear while camped near the Purgatoire River in what is now Colorado.
As winter descended, the expedition faced harsh conditions of snow and ice, often halting travel for days. Yet, they pressed on, eventually encountering large encampments of Arapaho, Kiowa, and other tribes, where they successfully traded for much-needed horses.
A New Era: Arrival in Santa Fe
By early January 1822, Glenn and a small contingent reached Taos, New Mexico. There, they received surprising news: the region was no longer under Spanish rule but had become part of newly independent Mexico following its revolution. Later, Fowler and the rest of the party joined Glenn, and together they traveled to Santa Fe.
The new Mexican government, eager to foster economic ties, readily granted Glenn and his men permission to trap and trade. This decision proved highly profitable, as the expedition collected over 1,100 pounds of furs from trapping along the Rio Grande.
The Legacy of the Expedition
On June 1, 1822, the successful expedition began its return journey, reaching St. Louis, Missouri, by mid-July. While Colonel Hugh Glenn’s personal financial struggles persisted until his death in 1833, Jacob Fowler lived a long life, passing away in Kentucky in 1849 at the age of 85.
Conclusion
The Glenn-Fowler expedition was a resounding success, achieving its primary objective of proving the viability of trade between the United States and the nascent Mexican territories in the Southwest. Fowler’s comprehensive journal provided the first detailed account of the southern plains since Zebulon Pike’s earlier travels. Alongside William Becknell’s concurrent efforts, this expedition played a pivotal role in charting the path for what would become the legendary Santa Fe Trail, forever altering the landscape of American expansion and commerce.
