On January 27th, 1807, Pike’s expedition, now down to 11 men in total, found what they
presumed was the Red River and built a fort along the shore that would help them survive the
winter. After one month, on February 26th , 1807, Spanish forces located Pike’s expedition team
and arrested them without incident. From the Spanish, Pike learned he was not on the Red River, but on the Rio del Norte which was inside of Spanish controlled Territory (now contr. In Pike’s journal, he expresses a sudden awareness of his mistake and believes the border violation can be solved by explanation. The Spanish took him to Santa Fe and then to Chihuahua before finally releasing him back into the Louisiana Purchase territory in July 180