35-xx-xx ep04John C Fremont

Frontier fighters, following the immortal trailblazers into the wilderness of early Western America. Among these pathfinders, none has a more secure place in history than John Charles Fremont, scientist, soldier, and explorer.

In 1841, Fremont, then a junior lieutenant in the Army, married Jesse Benton, a senator's daughter. Isn't it glorious? What's glorious? The weather, the spring flowers, or you, my love? Neither. You silly goose. I mean, I've been married, of course.

Darling, I have something to tell you. Not as dressing, I hope, John dear. Depends on how you look at it. You're a soldier's bride, remember, so keep that pretty chin up. I'll be brave. Tell me.

The Secretary of War has issued orders that are to explore the western country between the Missouri River and the Rocky Mountains. But you've only just returned from one expedition. I'll speak to father. He's a senator, you know.

Do you know good? The purpose of this expedition is more than exploration. It has an international aspect. International? Yes. Time to aid the immigrant movement to Oregon. And in so doing, Succumben probable British control of that territory.

When Fremont returned to Washington from his first Western exploration, he was immediately ordered to return to the Rockies to make a more thorough and a more scientific survey of the interior wilderness and to coordinate his maps with those of the Pacific slope.

May 29th, 1843. Some of Fremont's company of adventurers are examining a squat brass cylinder in one of the mule carts in the little town of Kansas on the Missouri frontier. It's Patrick, your amount man who's seen everything, but did you ever see the legalesce?

Well, I'll sworn Talbot, what is it? I ain't got no idea. Hmm, I never saw anything like it before. Here comes Maxwell, let's see if he knows what it is. Maxwell, what do you see in this card here?