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John Wesley Soldier Explorer Powell Scientist JOHN WESLEY SOLDIER EXPLORER POWELL SCIENTIST UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR ( 200) GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Un3 I A J•ct.vot:M Attt: C.4 , I ••745-.\•5-4 N1Y ^Fsfir ;1 JOHN WESLEY POWELL SOLDIER EXPLORER SCIENTIST ne hundred years ago John Wesley Powell and nine Powell was not an adventurer, made fundamental contributions to adventure-seeking companions completed the first explo­ nor did he consider himself just an the sciences of anthropology and ration of the dangerous and almost uncharted canyons explorer. He was a scientist, moti­ ethnology, then in their infancy. He of the Green and Colorado Rivers. By this trip, Powell, vated by a thirst for knowledge and had a talent for organization that a 35-year old teacher of natural history, apparently un­ a firm belief that science was meant has left its mark even to this day hampered by the lack of his right forearm ( amputated after to further the progress of the human on agencies and programs for the the Battle of Shiloh) opened up a large unknown part of con­ race. He was also a man of action development and conservation of tinental United States and brought to a climax the era of western who endeavored at all times to put the natural resources of the world. exploration. his beliefs into practice. On this hundredth anniversary His exploration of the Colorado of the exploration of the Colorado River led to the formulation of River, the Department of the In­ some of the fundamental principles terior joins with the Smithsonian of land sculpture. He went on to Institution and the National Geo­ develop an understanding of the graphic Society to commemorate natural conditions that control man not only hi, explorations and his and society in the arid lands of the fundamental contributions to science Western States and to develop guide­ but to honor a man of vision whose lines for the orderly development ideas have changed the face of the of the region. He had a keen and land and, when reexamined today, sympathetic interest in the Indians still have a freshness and applica­ who inhabited this western land and bility that is startling. "John Wesley Powell . was one of the few who believed in evolution by endeavor and who fought for intelligent and scientific planning for the devel­ opment of society. He believed that progress comes by increasing cooperation among men, and he dreamed of developing a science that would pro­ vide the knowledge whereby men could live to­ gether in peace and mutual cooperation. It is to rekindle this spirit that the year 1969 is designated the John Wesley Powell Centennial Year." William T. Pecora, Director U.S. Geological Survey 2 ohn Wesley Powell was life-long interest in the land. Though On a lecture tour during the Second Lieutenant. The regiment born in western New York in he attended school irregularly, he summer of 1860, the young teacher was sent to Camp Girardeau near 1834, the son of a Method­ was determined to go to college to realized that war between the North St. Louis and Powell, because of his ist preacher who had come study science despite the objections and the South was inevitable. That knowledge of engineering, was di­ from England four years of his father who wished him to winter he prepared himself for serv­ rected to prepare and later to carry earlier.if In 1838 the Powells moved become a minister. ice by studying military science and out a plan for the fortification of the camp and town. In November to Jackson, Ohio, where they lived At 18 he began teaching in a engineering. When President Lincoln for eight years. The boy was for a one-room country school, and for issued a call for troops, John Wesley General Grant authorized Powell to time tutored by George Crookham, the next seven years alternated be­ Powell was among the first to vol­ recruit and train a company to man­ successful farmer and self-taught tween teaching school, attending unteer. age the siege guns. scientist, who was one of their neigh­ college, and exploring the Midwest. On May 8, 1861, he enlisted at That same month, November bors. Powell accompanied his tutor He was at one time or another a Hennepin, Illinois, as a private in 1861, General Grant allowed him on numerous junkets to collect spe­ student at Illinois College, Illinois the Twentieth Illinois Infantry. He a short leave for a hurried trip to cimens of plants, animals, birds, and Institute, and Oberlin College. In Detroit to marry his cousin, Emma minerals, which spurred his interest was described as "age 27, height 1858, he joined the newly formed Dean, who accompanied him back in natural history. When Powell was Illinois State Natural History So­ 5' 61/2 " tall, light complected, gray to camp after the ceremony. 12 years old the family moved to a ciety, and, as curator of conchology, eyes, auburn hair, occupation— farm in Wisconsin. Because his made a fairly complete collection of teacher." He was elected Sergeant- father was away from home much the mollusks of Illinois. He began Major of the regiment and, when of the time, the management of the teaching at Hennepin, Illinois in the Twentieth Illinois was mustered farm fell to the boy, an experience 1858, and in 1860 became superin­ into the Federal service a month that perhaps accounts in part for his tendent of its schools. later, Powell was commissioned a A typical farm of the 1800's, similar to that on which John Wesley Powell was born. Emma Dean Powell (nee Harriet Emma Dean) wife of Major John Wesley Powell. 5 The Battle of Shiloh. A drawing from the Matthew Brady collection. Powell was made captain of Battery F, Second Illinois Artillery volunteers at the end of the year. his right arm from then on. During A few weeks later Powell and May and June 1863 Captain his battery were ordered to Pitts­ Powell's battery took part in the burgh Landing on the Tennessee siege of Vicksburg and, while in the River. During the Battle of Shiloh, trenches, he examined the rocks and on April 6 as Powell raised his arm made a collection of fossil shells that to give the signal to fire, a Minieball was later deposited in the Illinois struck his wrist and plowed into his State Museum. In late 1863 and in arm, almost to the elbow. The wound 1'864 Powell was made an inspector was so severe his arm was amputated of artillery for the Department and below the elbow. Army of Tennessee. He served as After several months, despite commanding officer of the Seven­ his injury, Powell returned to active teenth Army Corps artillery brigade service. Mrs. Powell, on General and took part in several operations Grant's orders, was given a pass to after the fall of Atlanta including be with her husband. She served as the battle of Nashville. 6 In January 1865, as the end of the war was clearly approaching and his term of enlistment had expired, Powell (who had been commis­ sioned Major and later a Brevet Lieutenant Colonel although he pre­ ferred to be called Major) asked to be mustered out of service. Frederick S. Dellenbaugh, who later was with Powell on his second expedition down the Colorado, wrote: Major John Wesley Powell in uniform. ca 1863. "Our Works before Vicksburg—Battery Powell." It is likely that John Wesley Powell, erroneously appeared in this illustration. Although Powell had lost his arm in the battle of Shiloh (April 6-7, 1862), he is shown uninjured at the Siege of Vicksburg (May- July 1863). "As a soldier his career was marked by a thorough study and mastery not only of the details of military life; hut of military science. Especially was he apt in utilizing materials at hand to accomplish Iris ends—a trait that was also prominent in his civil life. Bridges he built from cotton gin houses, mantelets for his guns from gunny sacks and old rope, and shields for his sharpshooters from the moldboards of old plows found on the abandoned plantations. All this time, whenever possi­ ble, he continued his studies in natural science. He made a collection of fossils unearthed in the trenches around Vicks­ burg, land and river shells from the Mississippi swamps, and a large collection of mosses while on detached duty in Illinois. He also familarized himself with the geology of regions through which armies passed to which he was attached." :S76-373 0 - 70 - 7 After the war Powell was Powell loved to travel; it had offered a professorship in geology been one of his main interests before at Illinois Wesleyan University at the war. In 1867 he led a party of Bloomington, at a salary of $1000 a students to the Rocky Mountains to year. He taught a wide range of sub­ collect specimens for the museum. jects and often took his students Funds for the trip came from vari­ into the fields to collect fossils, min­ ous sources. The Museum of Nat­ erals, and plants, and to observe ural History allocated $500 to help animals in their natural habitat. The pay for the field expenses. Powell following year he gave a course of made arrangements to procure ra­ lectures at Illinois State University tions for his party from army posts in nearby Normal, Illinois. The State at government rates and to obtain Legislature had provided a small free transportation from the rail­ endowment for the museum of the roads. The Illinois Industrial Uni­ State Natural History Society, and versity (later the University of Illi­ he was named curator.
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