A Cycle of the West · Chapter
I: Ashley’s Hundred explained
The chapter introduces the hundred men who answered William Ashley's call in the spring of 1822, lured by tales of wealth and the allure of the unknown.
What happens
The chapter introduces the hundred men who answered William Ashley's call in the spring of 1822, lured by tales of wealth and the allure of the unknown. It reflects on their youth and the fleeting nature of their lives, many lost to the westward expansion, and sets the stage for the stories of three notable men whose names endure.
Themes in this chapter
Heroic Individualism and Epic Scale
The chapter celebrates the adventurous spirit of Ashley's Hundred, comparing them to legendary heroes like Jason and his crew.
Manifest Destiny and Westward Expansion
The westward journey of these men is framed as part of a larger, inevitable expansion across the continent.
Characters to notice
- William H. Ashley
General Ashley who called for a hundred men to join his expedition in 1822.
Key passages
“One hundred strong they flocked to Ashley’s call That spring of eighteen hundred twenty-two; For tales of wealth, out-legending Peru, Came wind-blown from Missouri’s distant springs, And that old sireny of unknown things Bewitched them, and they could not linger more.”
A hundred men eagerly joined Ashley's expedition in the spring of 1822, drawn by stories of riches surpassing those of Peru, carried by the wind from the Missouri's headwaters, and enchanted by the timeless allure of the unknown.
Describes the motivation and composition of Ashley's Hundred.
“Their names are written deep across the land In pass and trail and river, like a rune.”
The names of these men are permanently etched into the geography of the land, through mountain passes, trails, and rivers, as if carved like ancient symbols.
Emphasizes the lasting impact of these explorers on the American landscape.