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John Wesley Powell: Soldier, Explorer & Scientist

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John Wesley Powell: Soldier, Explorer & Scientist John Wesley Powell Soldier Explorer Scientist U. S. Department of the Interior/Geological Survey John Wesley Powell Soldier Explorer Scientist by Mary C. Rabbitt In 1869, John Wesley Powell last unknown part of the continen- times to put his beliefs into development of the region. He had and nine adventure-seeking com- tal United States and brought to practice. a keen and sympathetic interest panions completed the first ex- a climax the era of western Powell's exploration of the Colo- in the Indians who inhabited this ploration of the dangerous and al- exploration. rado River led to the formulation western land and made funda- most uncharted canyons of the Powell was not an adventurer, of some of the fundamental prin- mental contributions to the new Green and Colorado Rivers. By nor did he consider himself just ciples of land sculpture. He went sciences of anthropology and eth- this trip, Powell, a 35-year-old pro- an explorer. He was a scientist, on to develop an understanding nology. His talent for organization fessor of natural history, apparently motivated by a thirst for knowledge of the natural conditions that con- has left its mark on agencies and unhampered by the lack of his and a firm belief that science was trol man and society in the arid programs for the development and right forearm (amputated after the meant to further the progress of lands of the Western States and to conservation of the natural re- Battle of Shiloh), opened up the mankind. He endeavored at all develop guidelines for the orderly sources of the world. John Wesley Powell . was one of the few who believed in evolution by endeavor and who fought for intelligent and scientific planning for the development of society. He believed that progress comes by in- M creasing cooperation among men, and he dreamed of developing a science that would provide the know/edge whereby men could live together in peace and mutual coopera- tion. William T. Pecora, Former Director U. S. Geological Survey August 1969 2 3 John Wesley Powell was born hand, and Powell's interest in exploring the Midwest. At various On May 8, 1861, he enlisted at in 1834 in Mount Morris N.Y., the natural history grew during their times he attended illinois College, Hennepin, Ill., as a private in the son of Joseph Powell, a Methodist numerous junkets to collect speci- Illinois Institute, and Oberlin Col- 20th Illinois Infantry. He was de- minister who had emigrated from mens of plants, animals, birds, and lege. In 1858, he joined the newly scribed as age 27, height 5' 61/2" England 4 years earlier. A restless minerals. formed Illinois State Natural History tall, light complected, gray eyes, man, Joseph Powell gradually When Powell was 12 years old Society, and as curator of conchol- auburn hair, occupationteacher." moved his family west across New the family moved to a farm in ogy, made a fairly complete col- He was elected sergeant-major York State and in 1838 settled in Wisconsin. With his father away lection of the mollusks of Illinois. of the regiment, and when the Jackson, Ohio. There the Powells much of the time, the boy assumed He began teaching at Hennepin, 20th Illinois was mustered into the became embroiled in one of the management of the farm, an ex- Ill., in 1858 and in 1860 became Federal service a month later, most controversial issues of the perience that helped develop physi- superintendent of its schools. Powell was commissioned a second dayabolition. Reverend Powell's cal stamina and moral character. While on a lecture tour in the lieutenant. The regiment was sent vigorous stand against slavery was Though he attended school ir- summer of 1860, Powell realized to Camp Girardeau near St. Louis. met with hostility by many of the regularly, he was determined to that a civil war was inevitable. That Because of his knowledge of en- townspeople. Because his class- pursue his studies in science over I winter, he studied military science gineering, Powell was directed to mates frequently taunted him, the objections of his father who and engineering. A strong aboli- prepare and carry out a plan for young Powell was removed from wished him to become a minister. tionist, John Wesley Powell was the fortification of the camp and public school and was placed un- When he was 18, Powell began one of the first to volunteer when der the tutelage of a neighbor, teaching in a one-room country President Lincoln issued a call for George Crookham, a farmer and school to earn money for college. troops. self-taught scientist. Crookham The next 7 years were spent teach- emphasized learning nature first- ing school, attending college, and 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. 4 5 The Battle of Shiloh. A drawing from the Matthew Brady collection. few months. On General Grant's town. In November, General Grant orders, Mrs. Powell was given a authorized him to recruit and train pass to be with her husband wher- a company to manage the siege ever he went, thus enabling him guns. to remain in the service where his That same month Grant allowed engineering and artillery knowl- Powell a short leave for a hurried edge was sorely needed. During trip to Detroit to marry his cousin, May and June 1863, Captain Emma Dean, who accompanied Powell's battery participated in him back to camp after the the Siege of Vicksburg, and while ceremony. in the trenches he examined the Powell was made captain of rocks and made a collection of Battery F, 2d Illinois Artillery Volun- fossil shells that was later de- teers at the end of the year. A few posited in the Illinois State Mu- weeks later, he and his battery seum. In late 1863, Powell was were ordered to Pittsburg Land- made an inspector of artillery for ing on the Tennessee River. Dur- the Department of the Army of ing the Battle of Shiloh, on April 6, Tennessee. He served as com- as Powell gave the signal to fire, manding officer of the 17th Army a Minie ball struck his wrist and Corps Artillery Brigade and took plowed into his arm. The wound part in several operations after was so severe that his arm had to the fall of Atlanta, including the be amputated below the elbow. Battle of Nashville. Despite his injury, Powell re- By January 1865, Powell had turned to active service within a risen to the rank of brevet lieu- 6 "Our Works before VicksburgBattery Powell." It is likely that John Wesley Powell is shown erroneously 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). tenant colonel (although he pre- ferred to be called major). With the end of the war at hand and his term of enlistment having expired, Powell asked to be mustered out of service, Frederick S. Dellenbaugh, who was later with Powell on his second Major John Wesley Powell in uniform, expedition down the Colorado about 1863. River, wrote: As a soldier his career was on the abandoned plantations. marked by a thorough study All this time, whenever pos- and mastery not only of the sible, he continued his studies details of military life; but of in natural science. He made military science. Especially a collection of fossils un- was he apt in utilizing mate- earthed in the trenches around rials at hand to accomplish Vicksburg, land and river his endsa trait that was a/so shells from the Mississippi prominent in his civil life. swamps, and a large collec- Bridges he built from cotton tion of mosses while on de- gin houses, mantelets for his tached duty in Illinois. He also guns from gunny sacks and familiarized himself with the old rope, and shields for his geology of regions through sharpshooters from the mold- which armies passed to which boards of old plows found he was attached. 7 After the war, Powell accepted Powell loved to travel; it had a professorship in geology at been one of his main interests Illinois Wesleyan University in before the war. In 1867, he led a Bloomington. His method of teach- party of students to the Rocky ing reflected his training under Mountains to collect specimens George Crookham, and he often for the museum. Funds for the trip took his students into the field to came from various sources, in- collect fossils, minerals, and plants cluding the Museum of Natural and to observe animals in their History$500, the Illinois Indus- natural habitat. The following trial University (later the University year he gave a course of lectures of Illinois)$500, and the Chicago at Illinois State University in nearby Academy of Science$100. In Normal, Ill. The State Legislature return he agreed to supply them provided a small endowment for with specimens of the animals, the museum of the State Natural plants, and any other materials History Society, and Powell was collected. Scientific instruments named curator. were loaned by the Smithsonian A scene of Powell's teaching career. Illinois Wesleyan's first building, 1856. 8 rations for the group from Army posts at Government rates and to obtain free transportation from the railroads. Powell contributed his own salary to help finance the trip. In May and June of 1867, the ex- pedition, which included Mrs. Powell, traveled by train, wagon, and horseback across the plains to Denver and on to a valley known as Bergens Park on the west side of the Rampart Range north of Pikes Peak.
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