^^^'-^^■^^^ 
 
m MEMOmAJA 
 Mary J. L. Mc Donald 
 
Kit CARSON'S 
 LIPE AND ADVENTURES, 
 
 FROM FACTS NARRATED BY HIMSELF, 
 
 EMBRACINa EVENTS IN THE LIFE-TIME OF AMERICA'S 
 
 Greatest Hunter, Trapper, Scout and Guide, 
 
 INCLUDING 
 
 VIVID ACCOUNTS OF THE EVERY DAT LIFE, INNER CHARACTER, AND 
 PECULIAR CUSTOMS OF ALL 
 
 INDIAN TRIBES OF THE FAll WEST. 
 
 ALSO, AN ACCURATE 
 
 DESCRIPTION 'OF THE COUNTRY, 
 
 ITS CONDITION, PROSPECTS, AND RESOURCES; ITS CLIMATE AND SCENERY; ITS 
 
 MOUNTAINS, RIVERS, VALLEYS, DESERTS AND PLAINS, AND NATURAL WONDERS. 
 
 TOGETHER AVITH A FULL AND COMPLETE HISTORY OF THE 
 
 MODOC INDIANS AND THE MODOC WAR. 
 
 DEW ITT 0. PETEES, 
 
 BREVET LT.-COLONEL AHD SURGEON U. S. A, 
 
 HARTFORD, CONN.: 
 I3TJSTI1S', GM L M A ISr & CO. 
 
 QUEEN CITY PUBLISEIING CO., CINCINNATI; M. A. PARKER & CO., CHICAGO, 
 ILL. ; FRANCIS DEWING & CO., SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. 
 
 1873. 
 

 \H' 
 
 ,\1,V 
 
 Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1873, by 
 
 DUSTIN, OILMAN & CO., 
 In the Office oi*4he Librafrtan,of:(2oiigress, at Washington. 
 
 .\ 
 
 V\^v^ ^.l 
 
TO THOSE NOBLE MEN, 
 
 WHO WERE THE COMPANIONS OF 
 
 Kit iSarsatX; 
 
 , IN THE WILD SCENES OF THE CHASE, 
 ON THE WAR PATH, 
 UPON THE FIELD OF BATTLE, 
 AND DUBING THE TERRIBLE HARDSHIPS 
 
 OF THE 
 
 LONG, DANGEROUS AND WEARY EXPLORATIONS, 
 IN A NEW AND DESOLATE COUNTRY, 
 
 THIS BOOK 
 BY THE AUTHOR. 
 
 978460 
 
Taos, New Mexico. 
 
 This is to certify, that my friend, De Witt C. Peters, 
 Brevet Lieutenant -Colonel and Surgeon, United States 
 Army, is the only person I ever authorized to write my 
 life. 
 
 Brigadier G-eneral U. S. Vols. 
 
Fernandez de Taos, New M.'xico. 
 
 We, the undersigned, citizens of the Ten. .^, .: New 
 Mexico, were acquainted with Mr. Christopher CajIson, Jn\ost 
 from the time of his first arrival in the country. W.' \vf ro 
 his companions both in the mountains and as private citizens. 
 Wa are also acquainted with the fact, that for months, diirl;ii>; 
 his leisure hours, he was engaged dictating his life. Thifc '^ 
 to our certain knowledge, the only authentic biography of hin 
 self and his travels, that has ever been written. We heartily 
 recommend this book to the reading community for perusal, 
 as it presents a life out of tlie usual routine of business, and 
 is checkered with adventures wliich have tried this bold and 
 darmg man. We are cognizant of the details of the book, 
 and vouch for their accuracy. 
 
 Yery respectfully, 
 
 
THE AUTHOR'S PREFACE, 
 
 The pages here presented to the public form a book of 
 facts. They unfold for the student, as does no other work 
 yet extant, the great interior wilderness of the Territories be- 
 longing to the United States. The scenic views, though 
 plainly colored and wrought by the hand of an unpretending 
 artist, inasmuch as they portray a part of the North American 
 continent which is unsurpassed by any other country on the 
 face of the earth, will not fail to interest the American pub- 
 lic. In addition to this, the reader is introduced to an inti- 
 mate acquaintance w^ith the Indian races of the countries 
 which lie east and west of the Rocky Mountains. The savage 
 warrior and hunter is presented, stripped of all the deco- 
 rations with which writers of fiction have dressed him. He 
 is seen in his ferocity and gentleness, in his rascality and 
 nobility, in his boyhood, manhood, and old age, and in his 
 wisdom and ignorance. The attentive reader will learn of 
 his approximations to truth, his bundle of superstitions, his 
 acts at home and on the war-path, his success while follow- 
 ing the buffalo, and engaging the wild Rocky Mountain bear, 
 that terror of the western wilderness. He will also behold 
 him carrying devastation to the homes of the New Mexican 
 settlers, and freely spilling their best blood to satiate a savage 
 revenge. He will see him attacking and massacring parties 
 of white men traveling across tlie prairies, and trace him in 
 his savage wars with the early settlers and frontiersmen. 
 
 In order to acquire these important data^ that they might 
 be added to the pages of American history and form a reli- 
 
viii THE author's preface. 
 
 able record, it was necessary that some brave, bold and deter- 
 mined man should become an actor on the scenes and among 
 the races described. Such an actor has been Christopher Car- 
 son, the Nestor of the Rocky Mountains ; and, it is the expe- 
 rience, as well as the acts of his stirring life, which the fol- 
 lowing pages present. 
 
 In olden times there existed, in the Rocky Mountains, a 
 race famiharly known by the name of " Trappers and Hunt- 
 ers." They arc now almost extinct. Their history has not 
 yet been written. Pen paintings, drawn from the imagina- 
 tion, founded upon distant views of their exploits and adven- 
 tures, have occasionally served, as do legends, to " adorn a 
 tale." The volume now offered to the public, gives their 
 history as related by one whose name, as a trapper and hunter 
 of the " Far West," stood second to none ; by a man who, 
 for fifteen years, saw not the face of a white woman, or slept 
 under a roof; who, during those long years, with his rifle 
 alone, killed thousands upon thousands of buffalo, deer, ante- 
 lope, bears and elk, wild turkeys, prairie chickens, etc., etc., 
 in numbers beyond calculation. On account of their origi- 
 nality, daring and interest, the real facts concerning this race 
 of trappers and hunters, will be handed down to posterity as 
 matters belonging to history. 
 
 As is the case with the Indian, the race of the " Simon 
 Pure Trapper " is nearly run. The advance of civilization, 
 keeping up its untiring march to the westward, is daily en- 
 croaching upon their wild haunts, and bringing the day close 
 at hand when warrior and trapper will depart forever to their 
 " Happy Hunting Grounds." 
 
 With the extinction of the great fur companies, the trap- 
 pers of " Olden Time," disbanded and separated. 
 
 The greatest number of these men, to be found at the pres- 
 ent day, reside in the Territory of New Mexico, wliich, in the 
 time of tlieir ])rosi)erity, was the country where they located 
 their liead-(iuarters.' In this Territory, Christopher Carson 
 resided. His name, in the Rocky Mountains, has been famil- 
 iarly known for nearly lialf a eentury ; and, from its associa- 
 
THE AUTHOR S TREFACE. IX 
 
 tion with the names of great explorers and military men, is 
 now spread throiigliont the civilized world. It has been gen- 
 erally conceded, and the concession has become strengthened 
 by time, that no small share of the benefits derived from these 
 explorations and campaigns, as well as the safety of the com- 
 mands themselves, was due to the sagacity, skill, experience, 
 advice and labor, of Christopher Carson. 
 
 His sober habits, strict honor, and great regard for truth, 
 endeared him to all who called him friend ; and, among such, 
 may be enumerated names belonging to some of the most dis- 
 tinguished men, whose deeds are recorded on the pages of 
 American histor3^ His past life was a mj^stery which this 
 book will unveil. Instead of Kit Carson as by imagination — 
 a bold braggart, and reckless, improvident hero of the rifle — 
 he will appear a retired man, and one who was very reserved 
 in his intercourse wdth others. 
 
 It is years since the writer of this work first met Christo- 
 pher Carson. It needed neither a second introduction, nor 
 the assistance of a friendly panegyric, to enable him to dis- 
 cover in Christopher Carson those traits of manhood, which 
 are esteemed by the great and good to be distinguishing' 
 ornaments of character. This acquaintance ripened into 
 a friendship of the purest stamp, and to the time of his 
 death, the writer was the intimate friend and companion of 
 Carson, at his home, in the wild scenes of the chase, on the 
 war trail, and upon the field of battle. For a long period, in 
 common with hundreds, and, we might with truth add, thou- 
 sands, the writer desired to see Christopher Carson's wonderful 
 career made public for the world of readers ; but, while this 
 idea was germinating in his brain, he did not, for an instant, 
 flatter himself that the pleasant task would ever be assigned to 
 him. Finally, however, at the urgent solicitation of many 
 personal friends, Christopher Carson dictated the facts upon 
 which this book is written. They were placed in the writer's 
 hands, with instructions to add to them such information as 
 had fallen under his observation, during a long and intimate 
 acquaintance with Kit Carson, and during extensive travels- 
 
X THE AUTBOK S PREFACE. 
 
 over a large part of the wide expanse of country, which has 
 been Carson's theatre for action. 
 
 Owing to unfortunate circumstances, however, the work 
 has been kept out of the market, until the urgent demands 
 of the hundreds of admirers of the world-renowned " Kit," 
 for an authentic history of his life and adventures, has encour- 
 aged the author to place the work before the public in its 
 present form. 
 
 The book is a book of solid truth ; therefore, the faults in 
 the style, arrangement and composition, become affairs of 
 minor consideration. For this reason, the writer makes no 
 apologies to embarrass the critics. 
 
 Christopher Carson, physically, was small in stature, but 
 of compact frame-work. He had a large and finely developed 
 head, a twinkling gray eye, and hair of a sandy color, which 
 he wore coml)ed back a la Franklin mode. His education 
 having been much neglected in his youth, he was deficient in 
 theoretical learning. By natural abihties, however, he greatly 
 compensated for this defect. He spoke the French and Span- 
 ish languages fluently, besides being a perfect master of sev- 
 eral Indian dialects. In Indian customs, their manners, habits, 
 and the groundwork of their conduct, no man on the Ameri- 
 can continent was better skilled. 
 
 The writer, while on a foreign tour, once had the opportu- 
 nitv and pleasure of hearing Gordon Cumming, and other 
 hunters of less note, discourse on their hunting exploits ; fur- 
 thermore, in our own country, while seated around camp- 
 fires and in log-houses, he has listened to the adventures of 
 ancient and modern Nimrods in the chase. Besides these 
 facts, lie lias botli seen and read much of hunting exploits; 
 but no hunter ever filled his fancy so perfectly as did Christo- 
 pher Carson, a man who was always (piick to act and never 
 known to boast. Although he has passed to the Hajypy 
 ITnntinif Grounds of eternity, his name will always stand 
 bright in the annals of history, as one that has contributed in 
 no small degree to the success of some of the greatest and 
 most successful exploring expeditions known to the world. 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Carson's Birthplace — His Emigration to Missouri — Early Prospects 
 — Is an Apprentice — Stories of tlie llocky Mountains — He Enlists 
 to go there — Adventures on the Prairies — Broader is Wounded — 
 Carson's Nerve put to the Test — Rude Amputation — Safe Arrival 
 at Santa Fe — Goes to Taos and Learns the Spanish Language — 
 Early Vicissitudes — Disappointment and Attempt to return to Mis- 
 souri — Wants a Woolen Shirt — Is Employed as an Interpreter, 
 Teamster, etc., 19 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 The News of the Defeat of Mr. Young's Trapping Party by the Indi- 
 ans reaches Taos — Young raises a Party to Chastise the Indians — 
 Kit Carson becomes a Conspicuous Member of the Expedition — 
 The Indians are found on Salt River — The Fight — Trapping Ex- 
 ploits — A new Country — Trials and Vicissitudes — Sacramento Val- 
 ley — California and its Roman CathoHc Missions in 1829 — Another 
 Indian Fight — Sale of Furs — Indian Depredations — Kit Carson and 
 Twelve Trappers engage with the Indians in a Battle — Return to 
 the Camp with recovered Property, 36 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 The Return from California to New Mexico — San Fernando and the 
 Peublo of Los Angelos — Description of these Peublos — Passports 
 demanded at Los Angelos — Trouble with the Mexican Authorities 
 — Kit Carson sent on with the Pack Animals — One Trapper Shoots 
 Another — The Mexicans Become Frightened — Indians come into 
 Camp with their Weapons Concealed — Cool Reception by Kit Car- 
 son — Paying off Old Scores — Recovering Stolen Property — Arrival 
 at Santa Fe and Taos — Money reaHzed soon parted with — Carson 
 joins another Expedition — The Rivers trapped on — Four Men Killed 
 by Blackfeet Indians — Kit Carson joins Gaunt's Party — The Parks 
 — Winter Quarters — Crow Indian Depredations — Kit Carson and 
 his Party in Pursuit — The Fight — Winter on the Arkansas — An- 
 other Expedition — Two Deserters — Kit Carson sent in Pursuit — 
 The Fate of the Runaways — Adventures with Indians — Hair- 
 breadth Escape made by Kit Carson, 48 
 
Xll CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 Kit Carson and two Companions plan a Hunt for themselves — The 
 Great Success met with — Return to Taos — Sale of the Beaver 
 Fur — Kit Carson joins Captain Lee and goes on a Trading Expe- 
 dition — Winter Quarters — Kit Carson is sent in Pursuit of a Thief 
 '—Overtakes and is obliged to Shoot the Runaway — Property Re- 
 covered — The Return to the Camp — The Sale of Goods — Kit Car- 
 son joins Fitzpatrick and Party — Kit Carson organizes a Huuting 
 Party — His Encounter with two Grizzly Bears — The Summer Ren- 
 dezvous — Kit Carson joins fifty Trappers and goes to the Country 
 of the Blackteet Indians — Annoyances received from these Indians 
 — Winter Quarters in 1832 — Horses Stolen — Kit Carson and eleven 
 Men in Pursuit — A Parley — A Fight — Kit Carson severely 
 AVounded — His great Sufferings and Fortitude — His Convales- 
 cence — The Retreat — A New Expedition — A Braggadocio — Kit 
 Carson Fights a Duel and Wounds his Man — Duels in the Rocky 
 Mountains in Olden Times, 77 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 The Fall Hunt — IMcCoy of the Hudson's Bay Company organizes a 
 Trapping Party which Kit Carson joins — The Hunt — Scarcity of 
 Beaver on Humboldt River — The Party is divided — Kit Carson 
 with a majority of the Men goes to Fort Hall — Hardships and Pri- 
 vations met with — Bleeding Mules and Drinking the warm Blood to 
 keep from Starving — Bntfalo Hunt — All their Animals Stolen in the 
 Night by a Party of lilackfeet Indians — Arrival of McCoy from 
 Fort Walla Walla — The Rendezvous — Kit Carson joins a Strong 
 Band — The Small-Pox among the Blackfeet Indians — The Crow 
 Indians on good terms with the AVhites — Intense Cold — Immense 
 Herds of Buffalo — Danger of their Goring the Horses to Death — 
 The Spring Hunt — The Blackfeet Indian Ydlage Overtaken — A 
 desperate Fight with these Indians — The Rendezvous — Sir "Wil- 
 liam Stuart and a favorite INIissionary — Kit Carson goes on a 
 Trading Expedition to the Navajo Indians — The Return — He ac- 
 cepts the post of Hunter of the Trading Post at Brown's Hole, 117 
 
 CHAPTER VL 
 
 Bridger and Carson trapping on the Black Hills — The Main Camp— 
 Tiie Rendezvous — Winter (Quarters on the Yellow Stone— Carson 
 with forty nu'u in a Desperate Fight with the Blackfeet Indians — A 
 Council — Sentinel I'osted — One Thousand Warriors come to Pun- 
 ish the Trappers — The War Dance — The Courage of the Savages 
 deserts them — Winter (Quarters — The Spring Hunt — Another Figlit 
 witli the Blackfeet — Continued Annoyances — The Trappers aban- 
 don the Country — Scenery on the Columbia — The Rocky Moun- 
 tains and Ali)S Comjjared — Other 'I'rapping Expeditions — Beaver 
 becoming Scarce — Prices of Fur R(.'duc-ed — Kit Carson and the 
 Trappers give up tlieir A'ocation — The ./ourney to Bent's Fort — 
 ^Mitchell the Mountaineer — His Eccentricities, 143 
 
CONTENTS. Xlll 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 Kit Carson is employed as Hunter to Bent's Fort — His Career for 
 Eight Years — Messrs. Bent and St. Vrain — The Commencement of 
 his Acquaintance with John C. Fremont on a Steamboat — Is em- 
 ployed as a Guide by the Great Explorer— The Journey— Arrival 
 at Fort Laramie — Indian Difficulties— The Business of the Expedi- 
 tion Completed — Return to Fort Laramie — Kit Carson goes to 
 Taos and is Mnrried — He is employed as Hunter to a Train of 
 Wagons bound for the States — Meeting with Captain Cook and 
 four Companies of U. S. Dragoons on Walnut Creek — Mexicans 
 in Trouble— Kit Carson carries a Letter for Them to Santa Fe — * 
 Indians on the Route — His safe Arrival — Amijos' Advance Guard 
 Massacred by the Texans — The one Survivor — The Retreat — Kit 
 Carson returns to Bent's Fort— His Adventures with the Utahs 
 and Narrow Escape from Death — The Texans Disarm od — The Ex- 
 press Ride Performed, 167 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 Kit Carson visits Fremont's Camp — Goes on the Second Exploring 
 Expedition — The Necessary Arrangements — Trip to Salt Lake — 
 Explorations There — Carson is dispatched to Fort Hall for Sup- 
 plies — Their Operations at Salt Lake— The Great Island — The 
 Journey to the Columbia River in Oregon — Incidents on the 
 Route — Klamath Lake — The Journey to California — The Trials 
 and Privations met with while crossing the Sierra Nevada Moun- 
 tains — Mr. Preuss is Lost but Finds the Party again — Arrival at 
 Sutter's Fort in a Destitute Condition — Two of the Party become 
 Deranged — The Route on the Return Trip — Mexicans come into 
 their Camp asking Aid and Protection — Indian Depredations — 
 Carson and Godey start on a Daring Adventure — The Pursuit — 
 The Thieves Overtaken — These Two White Men attack Thirty In- 
 dians — The Victory — Horses Retaken — The Return to Camp — 
 One of their Companions Killed — The Journey Continued — Ar- 
 rival at Bent's Fort — The " Fourth of July" Dinner, .... 200 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 Kit Carson concludes to become a Farmer — He is joined in the En- 
 terprise by a Friend — They build a Ranch on the Cimeron River 
 — Descriptions of Mexican Customs and Country — Fremont once 
 more at Bent's Fort — Express sent for Kit Carson to join the Ex- 
 pedition as Guide— The Ranch sold, and the Departure — The 
 Third Expedition and its Explorations — Difficulties with the Mex- 
 ican-Californians — General Castro's Orders to leave the Country — 
 Determination to Fight— Fremont goes to Lawson's Fort — Fre- 
 mont and his INIen encounter a Thousand Indians— The Battle 
 and the Victory— The news that War had been declared between 
 the United States and Mexico reaches Fremont — Lieutenant Gil- 
 lespie Rescued from the Indians — Three of the Party Killed in 
 the Night by Indians — The Savages Repulsed — The Burial of 
 Comrades, 228 
 
XIV CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 PAOX. 
 
 Fremont en route for California— His Men are Anxious to Punish the 
 Klamath Indians — Kit Carson, in command of Ten Men, is sent on 
 ahead to Reconnoitre — He discovers the main Village of these In- 
 dians—The Attack and the Victory— Beautiful Lodges— The Tro- 
 phies mostly Destroyed — Fremont saves Kit Carson's Life — The 
 Journey resumed — The Sacramento Valley — An Indian Ambus- 
 cade — One Savage defies the Party — Kit Carson shoots him — The 
 Klamath Indians still on the War Path — Another Lesson given to 
 them — A Thief is Shot — Arrival at Lawson's Trading Post — A 
 period of Inactivity — A Detachment sent to capture Sonoma — 
 Prisoners taken — The Mexicans come to punish the Americans — 
 Their Courage deserts them — The Retreat — The Pursuit — Fre- 
 mont goes to Sutter's Fort and establishes a Military Post — Mon- 
 terey is Taken by the American Squadron — Fremont marches 
 there — Further Operations — The Taking of Los Angelos, . . . 261 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 Kit Carson is sent Overland as Bearer of Dispatches to Washington — 
 The Preparation and the Start — The Journey — Privations and Suf- 
 ferings — Meeting with General Kearney — The General takes Car- 
 sou as his Guide and Sends on his Dispatches by Fitzpatrick — The 
 March — Arrival at Warner's Ranch — Mexicans on the Road — Prep- 
 arations tor a Battle — The Battle — Disastrous Consequences — Kit 
 Carson and Lieutenant Beale Otter to Run the Lines of the Mexi- 
 can Sentinels and Carry Information to San Diego of Kearney's 
 Critical Position — The Daring Undertaking — The Sufferings they 
 Encountered — Their Arrival — Re-intorcements Sent Out — Lieuten- 
 ant Beale is Delirious from the Privations he has Undergone — 
 General Kearney and his Command Finally Reach and Join the 
 other American Forces in California, 278 
 
 CHAPTER Xn. 
 
 A Command of Six Hundred Men is sent against Los Angelos — 
 The Mexican Army Evacuates the Town — Its Capture — Rumors 
 of an Attack to be ^lade on Fremont's Command — The Mexicans 
 Surrender — The Winter Quarters — Kit Carson is ordered to Carry 
 Dispatches Overland to Washington — Lieutenant Beale Accompa- 
 nies him — A Night Attack Made by the Indians — Arrival in the 
 United States — Kit Carson's Introduction to Colonel Benton and 
 Mrs. Fremont — Hospitality offered to him at Washington — Kit 
 Carson receives the Ajjpointment of Lieutenant in the Ritie Corps 
 of the United States Army from President Polk — He is ordered 
 to Carry Dispatches to California — Tlie Journey — A Brush with 
 the Canianciie Indians — Arrival at Santa Fe — More Trouble with 
 Hostile Indians— Arrival at Los Angelos — Dispatches Delivered — 
 Kit Carson is Assigned to do Duty with the Dragoons — Is ordered 
 to Guarl Tajon Pass — The NVintiT Sj)ent there — Is Ordered again 
 to Carry Dispatches to Washington — The Journey and its Adven- 
 tures — The Return to New Mexico, 300 
 
CONTENTS. XV 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 Kit Carson at his Home— The Apache Indians become Hostile— An 
 Expedition Sent Against^ them— It is not Successful— Another is 
 Organized, with which Kit Carson goes as Guide — Two Indian 
 Chiefs Captured — Other Incidents of the Trip — Colonel Beall At- 
 tempts to force the Indians to give up Mexican Captives — Two 
 Thousand Savages on the Arkansas River — The Visit to them — xut 
 Carson Emigrates and Builds a Ranch at Rayado — Description of 
 the Valley — The Massacre of a Santa Fe Merchant — His Wife is 
 made Prisoner — The Expedition Sent to Rescue her — The Indians 
 Overtaken — Bad Counsel and ^Management — The Commanding 
 Officer Wounded — Mrs. White's Body Found — Severe Snow Storm 
 on the Plains — One Man Frozen to Death — Kit Carson Returns to 
 Rayado— The Occupation of a Farmer Resumed — The Apaches 
 Steal from the Settlers nearly all of their Animals — Kit Carson 
 with thirteen others in Pursuit — The Surprise — A Running Fight 
 —The Animals Recovered— A gallant Sergeant and his Fate— Kit 
 Carson and Goodel go on a Trading Expedition to meet Cali- 
 fornia Emigrants at Fort Laramie — Humorous Adventures — The 
 Dangers that beset the Road to New Mexico— Hair-breadth Es- 
 cape — Arrival at Taos, 326 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 Kit Carson reaches Home — Himself and Neighbors Robbed by the 
 Apaches— Major Grier goes in Pursuit of, and Recaptures the 
 Stolen Stock — A Plot organized by White Men to Murder two 
 Santa Fe Traders for their Money — The Disclosure — Kit Carson 
 goes to the Rescue of the Traders— The Camp of United States 
 Recruits — Captain Ewell with twenty Men joins Kit Carson — The 
 Arrest of Fox — Gratitude Expressed by the Traders — Money Of- 
 fered but Refused — The Prisoner taken to Taos and Incarcerated — 
 Kit Carson receives a Magnificent Pair of Revolvers as a Present 
 from the grateful Traders — The Return to Rayado — A Trading 
 Expedition to the United States — The Return Journey — An En- 
 counter with the Cheyenne Indians — A State of Suspense — The 
 Deliverance from Danger by a Message sent by a Mexican Runner 
 — The arrival at Rayado, 366 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 Kit Carson's last Trapping Expedition— He Embarks in a Specula- 
 tion — His Trip to California with a large Flock of Sheep — The 
 Methods Employed by Mexicans in driving Herds, and their Dex- 
 terity — Kit Carson goes to San Francisco — Its wonderful Growth 
 — Maxwell joins Kit Carson at Sacramento City — The Lucky 
 Speculation — The Return Trip to New Mexico and its Adventures 
 — The Mormon Delegate to Congress informs Kit Carson of his 
 Appointment as Indian Agent — Kit Carson enters upon the Duties 
 of his Office — Bell's Fight with the Apaches on Red River — Kit 
 Carson's Interview with the same Indians — High-handed Measures 
 on the Part of the Apaches — Davidson's Desperate Fight with them 
 
XVI CONTENTS. 
 
 — The Soldiers Defeated with Severe Loss — Davidson's Bravery is 
 Unjustly Questioned — Kit Carson's Opinion of it — The Apaches 
 Elated by their Victory — Their Imitations of the Actions of Mili- 
 tary Men, 394 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 A fresh Campaii^n set on foot — Colonel Cook in Command — Kit Car- 
 son goes as^Guide — The Apaches and Utahs leagued together — The 
 Roughness of the Country and the Privations to which the Com- 
 mand was exposed — Tlie Indians Overhauled — A Running Fight — 
 The Advantages gained — The Chase resumed — The Apaches resort 
 to their old Tricks — Colonel Cook is obliged to Return to Abiquiu 
 — A Utah taken Prisoner through Misiake — Kit Carson goes to 
 Taos and has a Conference with the Chiefs of the Utah Nation — 
 Cook's second Scout — He is caught in a furious Snow-storm and 
 is obliged to Return to Rio Colorado — Major Brooks and Re-inforce- 
 ments come to the Rescue — Major Brooks on the Lookout, but fails 
 to find the Indians — Carlton's Expedition — Kit Carson goes with 
 it as Guide — Tlie x\dveDtures met with — Kit Carson's Prophecy 
 comes true — The Muache Band of Utahs summoned by Kit Carson 
 to a Grand Council — Troubles brewing among these Indians — 
 The Small-Pox carries off their Head Men, Ml 
 
 CHAPTER XVn. 
 
 The Commencement of a Formidable Indian War — High-handed 
 IMeasures on the Part of the Indians — The Governor of New Mex- 
 ico raises Five Hundred Mexican Volunteers and places them under 
 the Command of Colonel St. Vrain — Colonel Fauntleroy placed in 
 Command of all the Forces — Kit Carson is chosen as Chief Guide 
 — The Campaign Commenced — The Trail Found — The Indians are 
 mot and the lirst Fight and its Consequences — An Excitement in 
 Camp — The Indians again Overtaken — The Return to Fort Massa- 
 chusetts — Intense Cold Weather experienced — The Second Cam- 
 paign — Coloiu'l Fauntleroy Surprises the IMain Camp of the Enemy 
 — The Scalp Dance Broken Up — Terrible Slaughter of the Indians 
 — The (ireat Amount of Plunder Taken and Destroyed — Another 
 Small Party of Indians Surprised and Routed — St. Vrain equally 
 Fortunate in his Cam{)aign — The Indians Sue for Peace — The Coun- 
 cil iicld and Treaties signed — Kit Carson opposes the making of 
 them — The poor Protection Indian Treaties usually afford to Set- 
 tlers — Kit Carson's House at Taos and his Indian Friends — His 
 Attachment for his Family put to the Test — Cowardice of a Mex- 
 ican—Kit Carson's Friends as they looked upon him — His Influ- 
 ence over Indians, 472 
 
 CHAPTER XVni. 
 
 Carson not allowed to Remain Idle — His Position in our late Civil 
 War — He is Xi-eded on an important Field of Army Operations — 
 His Love for the Union — His Promise to Stand by the Old Flag — 
 His Fulfillment of the Promise — Is Appointed Colonel of the First 
 
CONTENTS. XVli 
 
 PAOB. 
 
 New Mexico Volunteers — His Friendship -with General Canby — 
 Lieiitenant-Colouel Pfiefer — Valuable Service afjainst the Caman- 
 ches, Arrapahoes and Cheyennes — Overpowered and Defeated — 
 Fearful Loss — A Brilliant Campaign against the Navajoes — In- 
 creased Fame — The War Department sound his Praises in Flatter- 
 ing Terms — Brigadier General of Volunteers — Detailed for Re- 
 sponsible Duty — Appointed Peace Commissioner to the Sioux — A 
 Delicate Mission — The Indian Policy of our Government — A Refor- 
 mation Movement — A Wise and Humane Policy — Kit Carson's 
 Opinion as to what Should be Done — His Wonderful Success in 
 Treating with the Savages — Beloved and Feared — The Visit of In- 
 dian Chiefs to Washington — The Effects of Civilization — Recep- 
 tions and Speeches of Buffalo Good and Little Raven — The Indian 
 Question, and What Has Been Done, and What Must Be Done, to 
 Secure Lasting Peace — The Death of General Kit Carson, at Fort 
 Lyon, Colorado — His Death Hastened by the Loss of his Wife — 
 A Man of Striking Virtues — Kit Carson as a Free Mason — Ma- 
 sonic Signs among the Indians, 548 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 The Modocs at Home — Their Habits and Customs — Life Among the 
 Lava Beds — Continual Warfare Between the Modocs and Klamaths 
 — Scraps of Modoc History — Unfriendly to the Whites— A Division 
 of the Tribe— Captain Jack the Ruling Turbulent Spirit — Refusing 
 to go upon the Reservation — Determined to Shed Blood — Schon"^ 
 
 chin and Captain Jack — The Efforts of the Peace Commission A 
 
 Peaceable Settlement Desired — General Canby and the Indians — 
 His Kindness Toward Them — Provisions, Calico, and Tobacco — 
 Treachery of the Modocs — Going Out for a Talk — Murder of Gen- 
 eral Canby and Dr. Thomas — Description of the Murderers— Scar- 
 Faced Charley, Bogus Charley, Schack Nasty Jim and Ellen's 
 Man Captured— Indignation of the Troops— Mourning the Loss of 
 a Brave Man— General Canby ; His Noble, Heroic Life and Deeds 
 — Capture of Captain Jack — Trial of the Murderers — Finis, . . 568 
 
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 1. Portrait of Kit Carson, (From a photograph taken 
 
 shortly before his death,) Frontispiece. 
 
 2. Fori rait of the Author, Facing Frontispiece. 
 
 8. Shoshonee Falls, 57 
 
 4. Fight with Grizzly Bears, 91 
 
 5. The Summer Rendezvous 103 
 
 6. Punishing the Braggadocio, 113 
 
 7. Upper Falls, Yellow Stone River, 119 
 
 8. Yellow Stone Lake, • 119 
 
 9. A Blackfeet Warrior, 129 
 
 10. The Death Shot, 137 
 
 11. An Indian AVar Dance, 147 
 
 12. Basin on Columbia River, 155 
 
 13. Kit and his Favorite Horse, "Apache," 170 
 
 14. Buffalo Hunt, 175 
 
 15. A Perilous Passage Down the Platte, 193 
 
 16. Lake Klamath, 205 
 
 17. Mexican Cart, 235 
 
 18. Peublo at Taos, 235 
 
 19. Mount Shasta, 253 
 
 20. Fight in Lava Beds, 265 
 
 21. Fremont Saves Carson's Life, 271 
 
 22. Camanche Horsemanship, 315 
 
 23. A Terrific Snow Storm, 347 
 
 24. Lo ! THE Poor Indian, 379 
 
 25. A Prairie on Fire, 419 
 
 26. Fort Massachusetts in 1855, 485 
 
 27. Thrilling Adventure with Apache, 503 
 
 28. Indian Scalp Dance 509 
 
 29. An Indian Village on the Move, 513 
 
 80. Carson's Home at Taos, 537 
 
 81. Among the Navajoes 550 
 
 82. Captain Jack, 589 
 
 83. Modoc Warriors, 695 
 
 34. Stronghold of the Modocs, 601 
 
LIFE OF 
 
 KIT CAESOE". 
 
 CHAPTER I. ■ 
 
 Carson's Birthplace — His Emigration to Missouri— Early 'Prospects— Is* 
 an Apprentice — Stories of the Kocky Mountains — He Enlists to go 
 there — Adventures on the Prairies — Broader is Wounded — Carson's 
 Nerve put to the Test — Rude Amputation — Safe Arrival at Santa Fe — 
 Goes to Taos and learns the Spanish Language — Early Vicissitudes — 
 Disappointment and Attempt to return to Missouri — Wants a Woolen 
 Shirt — Is Employed as an Interpreter, Teamster, etc. 
 
 It is now a well-established fact, that no State in the 
 American Union has given birth to so many distin- 
 guished pioneers and explorers of its boundless Terri- 
 tories, as the commonwealth of Kentucky. An author, 
 whose task is to tell of a hero, his bravery, endurance, 
 privations, integrity, self-denial and deeds of daring, 
 carries the morale with which to gain at once for these 
 characteristics the assent of the reader, by the simple 
 assertion, "My hero was born a Kentuckian." In- 
 deed, in America, to be a native of the State of Ken- 
 tucky, is to inherit all the attributes of a brave man, a 
 safe counselor and a true friend. It is, at least, cer- 
 tain that this State, whether the fact is due to its in- 
 land and salubrious climate, or to its habits of physical 
 training, has added many a hero unto humanity. 
 
20 EMIGRATION TO MISSOURI. 
 
 Christopher Carson, by his countrymen familiarly 
 called " Kit Carson," was born in the County of Madi- 
 son, State of Kentucky, on the 24th day of December, 
 1809. The Carson family were among the first set- 
 tlers of Kentucky, and became owners of fine farms. 
 Besides being an industrious and skillful farmer, the 
 father of Kit Carson was a celebrated hunter. When 
 the Indians of Kentucky became quieted down, put- 
 ting an end to the calls upon his courage and skill as 
 a woodsma^i,r he settled into a simple, respectable 
 farmer. - 'This monotonous life did not suit his dispo- 
 sition j^ and^fis the tide of emigration into the wilds 
 of Missouri was then commencing, where both game 
 and the red man still roamed, he resolved to migrate 
 in that direction. It was only one year after the birth 
 of his son Christopher, that Mr. Carson sold his estate 
 in Kentucky and established himself, with his large 
 family, in that part of the State of Missouri now known 
 as Howard County. At this time Howard County, Mis- 
 souri, was a wilderness, on the remote American fron- 
 tier. At his new home, the father was in his element. 
 His reputation of carrying an unerring rifle and always 
 enacting the deeds of a brave man, was not long in fol- 
 lowing him into this wilderness. Mr. Carson's only 
 assistant, on his first arrival in Howard County, was 
 his eldest son, Moses Carson, who was afterwards set- 
 tled in the State of California, where he resided twenty- 
 five years before the great California gold discovery 
 was made. 
 
 For two or three years after arriving at their new 
 home, the Carson family, with a few neighbors, lived in 
 a picketed log fort ; and when they were engaged in 
 agricultural pursuits, working their farms, and so forth. 
 
A LIFE OF DANGER. 21 
 
 it was necessary to plough, sow and reap under guard, 
 men being stationed at the sides and extremities of 
 their fields to prevent the working party from being 
 surprised and massacred by wild and hostile savages 
 who infested the country. At this time the small-pox, 
 that disease which has proved such a terrible scourge 
 to the Indian, had but seldom visited him.* 
 
 The incidents which enliven and add interest to the 
 historic page, have proved of spontaneous and vigor- 
 ous growth in the new settlements of America. Nearly 
 every book which deals with the early planting and 
 progress of the American colonists and pioneers, con- 
 tains full, and frequently glowing, descriptions of ex- 
 ploits in the forest; strifes of the hunter; fights with 
 the savages ; fearful and terrible surprises of lurking 
 warriors^ as they arouse the brave settler and his fam- 
 
 ♦Tliis (liseaj^ has probably "been the v/orst enemy with which the red man of America 
 has had to contciul. By terrible experience he lias become lauiiliarized with its ravages, 
 and has resorted to the most desj erate remedies for its cure. Among many tribes, the 
 afflicted are obliged to form camps by themselves; and, thus left alone, they die by scores. 
 One of their favorite remedies, when the scourge first makes its appearance, is to i)lunge 
 into the nearest river, by which they think to purify themselves. This course, however, 
 in reality, tends to shorten their exist»iice. When the small pox rages among the Abnrig- 
 ines, a most unenviable jiosition is bed by their '• IVledicine Man." He is obliged to give 
 a strict account of himself; an«!, if so unfortunate as to lose a chief, or otlier great jierson- 
 age. is sure to pay the penalty by parting with his own life The duties of the " Medicine 
 Man " among the Indians are so mixed up with witchcraft and jugglery, so tilled with the 
 preteni-e of savage qua(;kery, so completely rude and unfounded as to i)rinciple, tliat it is 
 impossible to define the practice for any useful end. About tive years since, a young gen- 
 tleman of scientific habits, who was attached to an exfiloring party, acci<ienfally became 
 Bei>arated from his conii)anions. In his wanderings he lell in wiih a band of hostile Sioux 
 Indians, wlio would quickly have disi)atched liim, h;n] he not succeeded ininiediately in 
 convincing them of his wonderful powers. It so hapfiened that this genileinan was well 
 informe<l in the theory of vaccination, and it strutk liiin that by impressing on the sav- 
 ages his skill, he might extricate himself. By the aid of signs, .a lancet and .M>me virtis. he 
 set himself to work, and soon saw that he had gained a reputation which saved him 
 his scalp. He first vaccinated his own arm. after which all of the Indians present soliciteil 
 liis magic touch, to save them from the loathsome disease. The result was, that lie found 
 lie ha<l enlisted himself in an active practice. After a few davs, the Indians were de- 
 lighted with the results, and hepan to look upon their prisoner as possessed of super- 
 human knowledge. They feared to do him injury, and finally resolveil to let him go; of 
 which privilege it is almost unnecessary to say, he was delighted to avail himself, and 
 was not long in finding his friends. 
 
22 EARLY PROSrECTS. 
 
 ily from their midnight dreams by the wild, death- 
 announcing war-whoop ; hair-breadth escapes from the 
 larger kinds of game, boldly bearded in their lair ; the 
 manly courage which never yields, but surmounts every 
 obstacle presented by the unbroken and boundless for- 
 est; all these are subjects and facts which have already 
 so many counterparts in book-thought, accessible to the 
 general reader, that their details may be safely omitted 
 during the boyhood days of young Carson. It is bet- 
 ter, therefore, to pass over the youthful period of his 
 eventful life, until he began to ripen into manhood. 
 
 Kit Carson, at fifteen years of age, was no ordinary 
 person. He had at this early age earned, and well 
 earned, a reputation, on the basis of which the prediction 
 was ventured in his behalf, that he would not fail to 
 make and leave a mark upon the hearts of his country- 
 men. Those who knew him at the age of fifteen hesi- 
 tated not to say, " Kit Carson is the boy who will grow 
 into a man of influence and renown." 
 
 The chief points of his character which elicited this 
 prediction were thus early clearly marked. Some of his 
 traits were kindness and good qualities of heart, deter- 
 mined perseverance, indomitable will, unflinching cour- 
 age, great quickness and shrewdness of perception, and 
 promptitude in execution. The predictions uttered by 
 the hardy rangers of the forest concerning a boy like 
 Carson are seldom at fault ; and Kit was one who, by 
 many a youthful feat worthy the muscle of riper years, 
 had endeared himself to their honest love. It was among 
 such men and for such reason that Kit Carson, thus 
 early in life, had won the influence and rewards of a 
 general favorite. 
 
 His frame was slight, below the medium stature, 
 
APPRENTICED TO A HARNESS-MAKER. 23 
 
 closely knit together, and endowed with extraordinary 
 elasticity. He had, even thei), stood the test of much 
 hard nsagc. What the body lacked in strength was 
 more than compensated for by his indomitable will ; 
 consequently, at this early age, he was considered 
 capable of performing a frontier man's work, both in 
 tilling the soil and handling the rifle. 
 
 It was at this period of his eventful life that his father, 
 acting partially under the advice of friends, determined 
 that his son Kit should learn a trade. A few miles from 
 Kit's forest home there lived a Mr. David Workman, a 
 saddler. To him he was apprenticed. With Mr. Work- 
 man young Carson remained two yedrs, enjoying both 
 the conlidence and respect of his employer ; but, mourn- 
 ing over the awl, the hide of new leather, the buckle 
 and strap, for the glorious shade of the mighty forest, 
 the wild battle w^ith buffalo and bear, the crack of the 
 unerring rifle, pointed at the trembling deer. Saddlery 
 is an honorable employment ; but saddlery never made 
 a greater mistake than when it strove to hitch to its. 
 traces the bold impulse, the wild yearning, the sinewy 
 muscle of Kit Carson. Harness-making was so irksome' 
 to his ardent temperament and brave heart, that he 
 resolved to take advantage of the first favorable oppor- 
 tunity and quit it forever. W^ith him, to resolve was to 
 act. During the latter part of his stay with Mr. Work- 
 man, many stories of adventures in the Rocky Moun- 
 tains reached the ear of the youthful Kentuckian in his 
 Missouri home. The almost miraculous hyioer^hole which 
 flavored the narratives were not lonf]c in awakenino; in 
 his breast a strong desire to share in such stirring events. 
 The venturesome mind at last became inspired. He 
 determined to go ; and, giving his restless spirit full 
 
24 ENLISTS FOR THE EOCKY MOUNTAmS. 
 
 sway, in 1826, joined a party bound for his boyish 
 fancy-pictures of the Elysian Fields. The leader of this 
 expedition required no second request from young Car- 
 son before enrolling his name on the company list. The 
 hardy woodsman saw stamped upon the frank and open 
 countenance of the boy who stood before him those 
 sterling qualities which have since made his name a 
 household word. These formed a passport which, on 
 the spot, awakened the respect and unlocked the hearts 
 of those whose companionship he sought. 
 
 The work of preparation was now commenced by the 
 different parties to the expedition. All of the arrange- 
 ments having been finally completed, the bold and hardy 
 band soon started upon their journey. Their route lay 
 over the vast and then unexplored territory, bounded 
 by the Rocky Mountains on the one side and the Mis- 
 souri Eiver on the other. Before them lay, stretched 
 out in almost never-ending space, those great prairies, 
 the half of which are still almost unknown to the white 
 man. Crossing the plains in 1826 was an entirely dif- 
 ferent feat from wbat it is at this day. Then, the grand- 
 est scheme of modern enterprise and skill — the Union 
 Pacific Railroad — had not been dreamed of The oases 
 of the American Sahara were not yet acquainted with 
 the white man's foot. The herds of buffaloes, the droves 
 of wild horses, knew not the crack of the white man's 
 rifle. They had fled only at the approach of the native 
 Indian warrior and the yearly fires of the prairie. It 
 was a difficult task to find a man who had gazed on the 
 lofty peaks of the mountain ranges which formed a ser- 
 pentine division of the vast American Territories, or who 
 had drank the waters at the camping-places on the 
 prairies. The traveler at that day was, in every force 
 
DANGEROUS TRAVELING. 25 
 
 of meaning which the word extends, literally, an ex- 
 plorer, whose chosen object was the task of a hero. 
 The Indians themselves could give no information of the 
 route bevond the confined limits of their huntino'-rano'es. 
 The path which this pioneer party entered was existent 
 only in the imagination of the book-making geographer, 
 about as accurate and useful from its detail as the route 
 of Haron Munchausen to the icelands of the North Pole 
 on the back of his eagle. The whole expanse of the 
 rolling prairie, to those brave hearts, was one boundless 
 uncertainty. This language may possibly be pro- 
 nounced redundant. It may be in phrase ; it is not in 
 fact. The carpet-knight, the holiday ranger, the book- 
 worm explorer, knows but little of the herculean work 
 which has furnished for the world a practical knowledge 
 of the western half of the North American continent. 
 We shall see in the progress of this work whether the 
 adventures of Kit Carson entitle him to a place in the 
 heart of the American nation on the same shelf with 
 his compeers. 
 
 In that day, the fierce red-man chief scoured the 
 broad prairies, a petty king in his tribe, a ruler of his 
 wild domain. Bold, haughty, cautious, wily, unrelent- 
 ing, revengeful, he led his impassioned warriors in the 
 chase and to battle. Even to-day the lurking Indian 
 foeman is no mean adversary to be laughed and brushed 
 out of the way, notwithstanding disease, war, assassina- 
 tion and necessary chastisement have united rapidly to 
 decimate his race, thereby graduallj^ lessening its power. 
 Fifty years ago the rolling plains were alive with them, 
 and their numbers alone made them formidable. It is 
 not strange that the untutored savages of the j)rnirie, 
 like those of their race who hailed with unG:overnable 
 
26 TRUE INDIAN CHARACTER. 
 
 curiosity the landing of the Pilgrims on Plymouth 
 Rock, should have been attracted by the wonderful 
 inventions of the white-man intruder. A very short 
 period of time served to turn this ungovernable curi- 
 osity into troublesome thieving. Knowing no law but 
 their wild traditionary rules, they wrested from the ad- 
 venturous pioneer his rifle, knife, axe, wagon, harness, 
 horse, powder, ball, flint, watch, compass, cooking uten- 
 sils, and so forth. The result was, sanguinary engage- 
 ments ensued, w^hich led to bitter hostility between the 
 two races. Doubtless the opinion may be controverted, 
 but it nevertheless shall be hazarded, that, until the 
 weaker party shall be exterminated by the stronger, 
 the wild war-whoop, with its keen-edged knife and 
 death-dealing rifle accompaniments, will continue, from 
 time to time, to palsy the nerve, and arouse the cour- 
 age of the pioneer white man. The Indian, in his at- 
 tack, no longer showers cloth-yard arrows upon his foe. 
 He has learned to kill his adversary with the voice of 
 thunder and the unseen bullet. 
 
 The bold traveler, whose pathway lies over those 
 great high-roads which lead to the Pacific must still 
 watch for the red man's ambush by day, and by night 
 sleep under the protecting vigilance of the faithful, 
 quick-sighted sentinel. The savage never forgives his 
 own or his ancestor's foe. Every generation of them 
 learns from tradition, the trials and exploits of its 
 tribe. From earliest boyhood these form the burden 
 of their education in history; and, on performing the 
 feat of courage or strength which admits them to 
 the councils of the braves, their nation's wrongs are 
 uppermost in their thoughts, causing them to thirst 
 for a revenge which sooner or later gives them a 
 
THE huntek's "hounds." 27 
 
 grave, making themselves, in turn, an object of re- 
 ven2:e. 
 
 It lias already appeared that when Kit Carson en-* 
 tered upon his first expedition, game was to be had in 
 abundance. His route lay across the western wilds to 
 Santa Fe. All this distance the bulk of provisions, con- 
 sisting of a small quantity of flour and bacon, had to 
 be transported by himself and his companions. These 
 articles were kept as a reserve, and were looked upon 
 as luxuries ; for that man w^as estimated to be a very 
 poor shot who could not obtain, with his rifle, all the 
 animal food he required for his individual sustenance. 
 These hunters, however, well understood the laws which 
 govern and the advantages which follow division of la- 
 bor. Everything was so arranged, both for this and 
 subsequent expeditions, by which a regular hunter 
 was appointed, and each man assigned some particu- 
 lar duty according to his capacity. These appoint- 
 ments were usually made by the leader of the party, 
 w^hose supervision was acknowledged by general con- 
 sent on account of his known experience and capa- 
 bility. This plan was the more necessary in order to 
 avoid confusion. 
 
 The caravan had hardly launched out on its long 
 and tedious tramp, when an accident occurred which 
 came very near proving serious in its results. For sev- 
 eral days the men had been greatly annoyed by wolves 
 who appeared more than usually ravenous and bold. 
 There are two species of these animals found on the 
 western prairie. One is small, called the Jackal ; the 
 other much larger. The latter, or larger species, nre 
 found of various colors, but more frequently grey. The 
 color, however, varies with the season, and often from 
 
28 AN UNPLEASANT SERENADE. 
 
 other causes. Many of their habits are strikingly sim- 
 ilar to those of the domestic dog, with the simple dif- 
 ference that the wolf is nnrecLaimed from his wild 
 state. The connecting link between the prairie wolf 
 and the domestic dog, is the cur found among the Indi- 
 ans. The Indian cur, by a casual observer, could be 
 easily mistaken for a prairie wolf. Near the Rocky 
 Mountains, and in them, these animals are found of 
 immense size ; but, being cowardly, they are not dan- 
 gerous. The first night a person sleeps on a prairie 
 is ever afterwards vividly impressed upon his mem- 
 ory. The serenade of the wolves, with which he is 
 honored, is apt to be distinctly remembered. It is far 
 from agreeable, and seldom fails to awaken unpleas- 
 ant forebodings concerning the future ; and, the idea 
 that these fellows may be soon cleaning his bones is 
 not very genial to the fancy. To the wolf, the grave- 
 yard is anything but consecrated ground ; and, if a 
 person is very chary of his cadaver, he had better not 
 leave it on the Western Plains. The wolf is quite 
 choice in his viands whenever the opportunity ofll^rs, 
 and will, at any time, leave the carcass of an Indian 
 for that of a white man. Old frontiersmen, speaking 
 of the wolves, usually style them as " their dogs ;" and, 
 after a night when these animals have kept up an in- 
 cessant barking, they will express wonder by asking 
 what has been disturbing " their hounds." The flesh 
 of the mountain wolf, when cooked, has something of 
 the suiell and taste of mutton, but it is very rank. 
 
 In order to frighten the wolves, the teamsters would 
 occasionally shoot them. One of the members of the 
 expedition, named Broader, was obliged to take a fresh 
 rifle from a waii-ou. In taking; the <2:un out, the hammer 
 
A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT. 29 
 
 of the lock caught against some projecting object, which 
 caused it to be partially set. Having become freed, 
 however, before it was fully set, it came down and fired 
 the gun. The contents of the barrel were sent through 
 the man's arm. No member of the expedition was 
 conversant with surgical knowledge. Here was an 
 occasion to shake the nerves of any feeling man ; and, 
 beneath the rough exterior of the western ranger, there 
 runs as deep a stream of true humanity as can be found 
 anywhere on the American continent. Every sugges- 
 tion was offered and every effort was put forth which 
 heart feeling chained to anxiety and the terrible neces- 
 sity, could of!er. Every remedy which promised a good 
 result was duly weighed ; and, if pronounced worthy of 
 trial, it was adopted. The sufferer had kind, though 
 rough nurses ; but the absence of scientific skill, under 
 such emergency, proved a sad want for the unfortunate 
 man. Notwithstanding their united efforts, Broader's 
 arm grew alarmingly worse. It soon became manifest 
 to all that he must part with his arm, or lose his life ; — 
 perhaps both. At this critical period a consultation 
 w^as held, in which the suffering patient joined. Due 
 deliberation was extended to all the symptoms. The 
 giving of advice in such a council by men who could 
 only give judgment from an imaginary stand-point, must 
 strike the heart of true sympathy as having been pain- 
 ful in no ordinary degree. After every possible argu- 
 ment had been offered in favor of saving the arm, the 
 final decision of the council was that it must come off. 
 The next difficulty which presented itself was quite as 
 formidable as the expression of a correct judgment. 
 Who should perform the office of surgeon ? w^as the 
 knotty question. Again the consultations became ex- 
 
30 kit's kerve put to the test. 
 
 citing and intensely painful. The members of tlie 
 council, however, took it upon themselves to designate 
 the j^ersons, and chose Carson with two others. These 
 immediately set at w^ork to execute their sad but neces- 
 sary task. The arrangements were all hastily, but care- 
 fully made, and the cutting begun. The instruments 
 used were a razor, an old saw, and, to arrest the hemor- 
 rhage, the king bolt taken from one of the wagons was 
 heated and applied to serve as an actual cautery. The 
 operation, rudely performed, with rude instruments, by 
 unpractised hands, excited to action only by the spur 
 of absolute necessity, proved, nevertheless, entirely 
 successful. Before the caravan arrived at Santa Fe, the 
 patient had so far recovered that he was able to take 
 care of himself. 
 
 Besides this unfortunate affair, nothing worthy of note 
 transpired, beyond the general record of their route, 
 during the remainder of their journey. The latter would 
 be too voluminous for the general reader, and has 
 already served its purpose as an assistant to other ex- 
 ploring parties, both from published account and con- 
 versational directions. The party entered Santa Fe in 
 the month of November. Very soon after. Kit Carson 
 left his companions and proceeded to Fernandez de 
 Taos, a Mexican town, which lies about eighty miles to 
 the north-east of the capital of New Mexico. During 
 the winter that followed his arrival in the territory of 
 New Mexico, Kit lived with an old mountaineer by the 
 name of Kin Cade, who very kindly offered him a home. 
 It was at this period of his life that he commenced 
 studying the Spanish language. His friend Kin Cade 
 became his assistant in this task. At the same time 
 Kit neglected no opportunity to learn all he could 
 
POVERTY AND DISAPPOINTMENT. 31 
 
 about the Rocky Mountains. He little thought, then, 
 that these earth-formed giants were to become his 
 future home, and so gloriously to herald his name 
 throughout the entire civiUzed globe. 
 
 The pinching effects of want now attacked poor Kit. 
 He could obtahi no emplojanent. His expectations in 
 this respect, as well as his earnest efforts, received so 
 little encouragement that he began, finally, to despond. 
 Extreme poverty is a wet damper on the fires of the 
 best genius ; but, as was the case with Kit, it does not 
 effectually put it out. Kit saw with sorrow that he 
 must retrace his steps. To obtain means to carry out 
 his ardent desires, in the spring of 1827 he started on 
 a backward trip to Missouri. Every step he took in 
 this direction was accompanied with such displeasure, 
 that had it not been his best and surest policy, he 
 would have mastered any difficulties of another and 
 better course, had such offered. Four hundred and 
 fifty miles from Santa Fe, being about one-half the 
 distance across the prairies, had been accomplished by 
 the party Kit had joined for this homeward trip. The 
 fording of the Arkansas River had been reached. Here 
 Kit's party met with some traders bound for New Mex- 
 ico. They offered him employment, which he gladly 
 accepted ; and, in their company, retraced his steps 
 back to Santa Fe. But when arrived at Santa Fe, Kit 
 found himself again without money. He was afforded 
 an opportunity to obtain a wardrobe, but to the moun- 
 taineer, such property would be entirely a superfluity. 
 He feels nearly independent on the score of clothing, 
 as he considers that he needs but little raiment, and 
 that little he is always proud to owe to his beloved 
 rifle. This brings to his hand buckskins in plenty, and 
 
32 KIT WANTS A '^WOOLEN SHIRT. 
 
 it 
 
 his own ingenuity is the fashion-plate by which they 
 are manufactured into wearable and comfortable ves- 
 ture. There is one article of clothing, however, for 
 which the frontiersman feels an ardent predilection. 
 It is a woolen shirt. This article, Kit really needed ; 
 and, in equal pace with his necessity, ran his anxiety 
 that something should offer by which to obtain one. 
 The reader may smile at this ; and, so did Kit, as he 
 afterwards recounted the fact in his own inimitable 
 style. But Kit said that to obtain a woolen shirt 
 then, was, to him, no laughing matter. At a moment 
 when he almost despaired of gaining employment, he 
 received an offer to go as a teamster with an expedi- 
 tion bound to El Paso. This opportunity was a chance 
 for success not to be lost, and he closed with the prop- 
 osition. After faithfully performing his engagement, 
 he, however, returned to Santa Fe, where he made a 
 short stay, and then proceeded to Taos. In this town 
 Kit entered into the service of Mr. Ewino; Youno;, who 
 was a trader and trapper. The reader may prepare 
 again for a smile, as he will now learn that Kit became 
 a cook. Mr. Ewing Young had the satisfaction of 
 boasting that the renowned Kit Carson once performed 
 the responsible and arduous duties of a master cook in 
 the culinary department of his establishment ; and 
 that, for these valuable services, labor, care and dili- 
 gence, he gave to Kit, as a qicid pro quo, his board. 
 In this way Kit supported himself in his straitened 
 circumstances until the following spring. 
 
 What was the bright thought which made the bold, 
 the ardent, the energetic Kit Carson accept this menial 
 office ? Surely the brain metal which >vas so brightly 
 polished when he set out from Howard County, Mis- 
 
INTERPRETER AND TEAMSTER. 33 
 
 souri, must have been sadly rusted. Not so ! The 
 hope which buoj'cd up his spirits while he attempted 
 to rival French pastry and English beef with American 
 venison and BufTalo meat on the table of Mr. Ewing 
 Young, was that some trapper, or hunter, would come 
 into Taos, their favorite place of resort ; and, by being 
 ready for an emergency, he would obtain an opportu- 
 nity for gaining a permission to join them. His inten- 
 tion was certainly good, but it lacked the bright crown 
 of good intention — success. In the spring of 1828, 
 much chagrined with his, so far, continued bad luck, 
 and no prospect of gaining his object appearing, he 
 again joined a homeward-bound party and with it, sor- 
 rowfully, started for Missouri. But, as on the former 
 trip homeward, he met on the route a party bound for 
 Santa Fe. That indomitable ingredient in his compo- 
 sition, an iron will, caused him once more to turn his 
 face westward. He joined this party and returned to 
 Santa Fe, in order again to tempt fortune for an oppor- 
 tunity to reach the Rocky Mountains. But during all 
 these changes and counterchanges Kit had not been 
 idle. He had picked up considerable knowledge, and, 
 to his other stock of accomplishments, had added the 
 ability to speak the Spanish language. 
 
 On arriving once more at Santa Fe, he fell in w^ith 
 Col. Tramell, who was at that time a well-known 
 trader. Col. Tramell needed a Spanish interpreter. 
 Kit obtained the post, and set out with him for Chi- 
 huahua, one of the Mexican States. Here again Kit 
 made a change in his employment. In Chihuahua he 
 fell in w^ith Mr. Robert McKnight. To him he hired 
 out as a teamster, and in this capacity went to the cop- 
 per mines which arc found near to the Rio Gila. Amud 
 
34 NO THOUGHT OF DANGER. 
 
 the weary necessities of this humble but honorable 
 calling, Kit's heart was constantly alive with ambition 
 to become a hunter and trapper. He knew that he 
 was expert with the rille, which had been his boyish 
 toy, and felt confident that he could rely upon it as 
 an assistant to gain an honest living. His constant 
 thought at this time was, let him now be engaged in 
 whatever calling chance offered and necessity caused 
 him to accept, the final pursuit of his life would be as 
 a hunter and trapper. Here, then, is presented a 
 fair example of the strife, both inward and outward, 
 through which a young man of courage and ambition 
 must expect to pass before he can win position, influ- 
 ence, and the comforts of life, whatever the scene of 
 his action, or whatever the choice of employment suit- 
 able to his talent and genius. Kit Carson was deter- 
 mined, no matter what might be the obstacles which 
 presented themselves, to be a hunter and trapper. 
 
 The reader will have made a sad mistake if he has 
 concluded, that during the time which has intervened 
 since Kit started from Missouri, he has been roaming 
 in a country where there was less danger than when 
 he was in the picketed fort with his father. Such a 
 supposition would be greatly at fault. The tov/ns in 
 New Mexico, at this early period, were almost entirely 
 at the mercy of the Indians. The Mexicans were nearly 
 destitute of means to defend themselves. Very few of 
 the Anglo-Saxon race had entered this territory, and 
 those who had were, in turn, exposed to the vacillating 
 wills of the pioverhiidly treacherous Mexicans. A man 
 like Kit Carson, however, born and bred in danger, 
 cared but little about this state of affairs. The danujers 
 did not enter into his calculations of chance to over- 
 
ARRIVES AT TAOS. 35 
 
 come the difficulties which beset the pathway which 
 the alluring hopes of his ambition had marked out. 
 Not long afterward he left the copper mines, and once 
 more bent his steps to Taos, in company with a small 
 party. At Taos he found a band of trappers which had 
 been sent out by Mr. Ewing Young. While en route 
 for the River Colorado, in pursuit of game, they had 
 been attacked by a band of Indians. After fighting 
 an entire day, they had been compelled to retreat, 
 and returned to New Mexico. 
 
36 AFTEK THE INDIANS. 
 
 OHAPTEE II. 
 
 The News of the Defeat of Mr. Young's Trapping Party by the Indians 
 reaches Taos — Young raises a Party to Chastise the Indians — Kit Car- 
 son becomes a Conspicuous Member of the Expedition — The Indians 
 are found on Salt River — The Fight — Trapping Exploits — A new 
 Country — Trials and Vicissitudes — Sacramento Valley — California 
 and its Roman Catholic Missions in 1829 — Another Indian Fight — 
 Sale of Furs — Indian Depredations — Kit Carson and Twelve Trap- 
 pers engage with the Indians in a Battle — Return to the Camp with 
 recovered Property. 
 
 The news of the attack and defeat of his men by the 
 Indians was brought to Mr. Ewing Young at Taos by a 
 member of the unfortunate expedition. On learning 
 the causes which brought this unpleasant termination 
 to his enterprise, Mr. Young raised a party of forty men, 
 consisting of Americans, Canadians, and Frenchmen, 
 and put himself at its head. Kit Carson was received 
 into the party, and soon became one of its most prom- 
 inent and efficient aids. Mr. Young's object was two- 
 fold — first, to chastise the Indians ; and, second, to make 
 all he could out of the expedition by employing the men 
 in their calHng as trappers. Under the Mexican laws, 
 licenses were required from the Government to all 
 Mexicans wdio set out on trapping expeditions. These 
 were not granted to citizens of the United States. This 
 was not the mere will of governmental officials *. the 
 Mexican statutory law prohibited the granting of 
 licenses to citizens of the United States. This law was, 
 
kit's first INDIAN FIGHT. 37 
 
 however, often made a dead letter by Americans, for 
 they frequently but stealthily evaded it. In order, 
 therefore, to hoodwink the Mexican authorities, Mr. 
 Young had to resort to various expedients. His prep- 
 arations were so carefully and secretly made, that the 
 real business he had in contemplation did not transpire, 
 or even a suspicion gain currency as to his intended 
 whereabouts. 
 
 In April, 1829, the party set out, eager to bring about 
 results equal to their anticipations. At first, to avoid 
 the curiosity and inquiring disposition of the Mexicans, 
 they traveled northward, as if their destination was into 
 the territory of the United States. Hints had been suf- 
 ficiently freely bestowed upon the Mexicans to lead 
 them to believe that such w^as the destination of the 
 party. After journeying fifty miles in this direction, and 
 feeling themselves free from the scrutiny of the Mexican 
 authorities, they changed their course to the south-w^est> 
 and traveled through the country occupied by the 
 Navajoes, an interesting and dangerous race of Indians, 
 over which, at a later da}^. Kit Carson achieved the 
 greatest victory ever known in Indian warfare. On 
 their route, the company passed through Zuni, a Peublo 
 town ; thence they traveled to the head of Salt Kiver, 
 one of the tributaries of the Rio Gila. Here they dis- 
 covered the band of Indians who had attacked and 
 defeated the former parly. As soon as the Indians dis- 
 covered the party of trappers, they became eager for 
 the affray. The usual preliminaries for such fights 
 were, therefore, quickly made on both sides. Young 
 directed the greater part of his men to lie in ambush, 
 for he felt confident that the Indians did not know his 
 strength. The bands of savages who covered the hills 
 
38 THE RED-SKINS DEFEATED. 
 
 round about mistook the halt necessary to complete the 
 ambush for cowardice and fear on the part of the whites. 
 At this their courage arose to such a degree that they 
 made a bold charge against, as they supposed, the small 
 party of white men who were visible. They were allowed 
 to advance w^ell into the trap, until, by the position of 
 the trappers in ambush, they came under a cross-fire. 
 At the word of command, a general volley w^as fired 
 into the advance column. Fifteen warriors fell dead, 
 and many others w^ere wounded. The Indians became 
 panic-stricken, and the trappers immediately following 
 up their advantage, advanced from cover. The war- 
 riors did not rally for a second attack, but fled in every 
 direction, leaving Young, with his party, masters of the 
 field. Strange as it has ever seemed, to the inquiring 
 mind, in those days and for many succeeding years, 
 companies of wdiite men from fifty to sixty in number 
 could wage successful war against whole tribes of In- 
 dians, who could easily muster a thousand fighting 
 men. A reason often given for this is, that the trappers 
 of the western wdlds are invariably "dead shots" with 
 the rifle and well versed in Indian strategy. On the 
 other hand, the red men were, comparatively speaking, 
 poorly armed, and could not travel together for any 
 length of time in large parties, because they depended 
 for food chiefly upon hunting. Had there existed no 
 other cause, the means of obtaining provision being 
 limited, must have compelled them to separate. Very 
 frequently whole tribes are reduced to depend upon 
 daily hunts. The bravery of the Indians is of a dif- 
 ferent stamp from that which is exhibited by the whites, 
 especially where the white man is a Simon-pure western 
 trapper. The white man on the prairie or in the moun- 
 
OFF FOR CALIFORNIA. 39 
 
 tains knows but too well that, if attacked by Indians, 
 he must conquer or die. It was, and is, seldom that a 
 company out on an expedition has any place of refuge 
 to which it may retreat. Here is the principal reason 
 why the trapper is so seldom defeated. He cannot 
 afford to lose his life to a certainty, and consequently 
 will not allow a defeat. 
 
 After this fight. Young's party trapped down the 
 Salt River to San Francisco River, and thence on up to 
 the head of the latter stream. The Indians failed not 
 to hover on their pathway, and to make nightly at- 
 tacks upon their party. Frequently they would crawl 
 into camp and steal a trap, or kill a mule or a horse, 
 and do whatever other damage they could secretly. 
 At the head of the San Francisco River the company 
 was divided. It was so arranged, that one party was 
 to proceed to the valley of the Sacramento in Califor- 
 nia. Of this detachment Kit Carson w^as a member. 
 The other party had orders to return to New Mexico 
 for the purpose of procuring traps to replace those 
 stolen. This latter party was also commissioned to 
 take and dispose of the stock of beaver already on 
 hand. The party bound for California was eighteen 
 in number. Of this party Mr. Young took command. 
 Previous to setting out, a few days were devoted to 
 hunting. They only succeeded, however, in killing 
 three deer. The meat of these animals they prepared 
 to take with them, as they were about to journey into 
 a country never before explored. The skins of the 
 three deer were converted into tanks for carrying wa- 
 ter. They had learned from some friendly Indians that 
 the country over which they had to pass en route was 
 destitute of water. The red men told them addition- 
 
40 SCEXTIXG WATER FROM AFAR. 
 
 ally that the valley (meaning the Sacramento) was 
 beautiful, and that the streams were full of beaver. 
 All of this information the trappers found was true. 
 For four days they traveled over a barren country, 
 where not one drop of water could be found. At each 
 night's camping-place, small allowances of water from 
 the tanks was distributed by the commander to each 
 man and animal. A guard was then stationed over 
 the remainder to prevent any accident from depriving 
 the company of this now precious article of sustenance. 
 At the close of the fourth day, however, they again 
 found water. The instinct exhibited by the pack 
 mules on this occasion Avas truly remarkable. Long 
 before any member of the party thought that water 
 was so near, the mules, with unerring certainty, had 
 smelt it, and each one, according to his remaining 
 strength, had hurried on to partake of it. The result 
 was, that when the first mule had reached the water, 
 the remainder were scattered along upon the trail for 
 a great distance. The company encamped here, and 
 remained two days to recruit. 
 
 The journey was renewed on the third day, the route 
 being still over a similar kind of country, necessitating 
 both man and' l^east to submit to similar privations as 
 to water. In four days more they came in sight of the 
 great Canon of the Colorado, which failed not to awaken 
 a thrill of delight in every member of the party. Just 
 before reaching the Canon they met a party of Mohave 
 Indians, of whom they purchased an old mare. She 
 was killed and eaten by the party with great gusto. 
 The party remained three days on the banks of the 
 Colorado recruiting their strength. While remaining 
 here, another party of Mohave Indians visited them, 
 
LOSING A IlIVER. 41 
 
 from whom they procured a small quantity of corn and 
 beans. Leaving the Colorado, they recommenced their 
 journey and traveled south-west. In three days they 
 arrived at a stream which rises in the coast range, runs 
 north-east and is lost in the sands of the Great Basin. 
 About two years previous to their arrival here, three 
 trappers by the names of Smith, Sublett, and Jackson, 
 with a large party of men, had a desperate fight in 
 this neighborhood with hostile Indians. They, also, 
 had learned from friendly Indians of the wonders of 
 the Sacramento Valley, and were en route to explore 
 it when attacked. Four only out of their entire com- 
 pany escaped with their lives. These succeeded in 
 making their way to the nearest Mexican settlements, 
 which they reached in a state of complete destitution, 
 after many hardships. Young and his party followed 
 the dry bed of this river for several days before they 
 came to any visible w^ater. It may be interesting to 
 some of our readers to know that there are many of 
 these curious rivers in western America, which, for 
 miles disappear from the surface of the earth, and, 
 probably, run through the quicksand beneath, as they 
 re-appear again. The outline of the river usually exists 
 between the place of its disappearance and the place 
 where the water ai>ain comes to the surface of the 
 earth. By digging a few feet into the, sand within the 
 outline the water is generally obtained. It takes but 
 a short time, however, for the hole thus made to fill 
 up again. On quitting this river, the party journeyed 
 to the westward, and in four days, came to the Mission 
 of San Gabriel. Here they found one Roman Catholic 
 priest, fifteen Mexican soldiers, and about one thousand 
 Indians. Belonging to this little colony were eighty 
 
42 ROMAN" CATHOLIC MISSIONS. 
 
 thousand head of cattle, fine fields and vineyards. Lit- 
 erally the work and life of the Jewish patriarchs were 
 here being reenacted. 
 
 "A shepherd on the mighty plain he watched his roving store." 
 
 To the half-starved followers of Mr. Young, this Mis- 
 sion appeared to be a ^* Paradise of Earth." They re- 
 mained here, however, but one day. Having nothing 
 else to trade, they parted with their butcher-knives, 
 receiving for four of them one fat ox. It would all ap- 
 pear a fabulous tale, were we to incorporate into this 
 narrative a history, or even a slight description of the 
 immensity of the herds of horses and cattle which once 
 roamed over the plains and valleys of California and 
 New Mexico. It is but a few years since that some 
 wealthy Mexicans owned herds in these parts of Amer- 
 ica which they numbered by tens of thousands. They 
 were, however, almost valueless for want of a market; 
 and, until the tide of emigration poured in, developing 
 the resources of the country by its demand for pro- 
 visions and labor, horses and cattle were sold for a 
 mere trifle. In one day's march from San Gabriel, 
 Young and his party arrived at another Eoman Catho- 
 lic Mission, called San Fernando. This establishment 
 was on a much smaller scale than the first. Young 
 and his hardy followers, however, stopping only for a 
 few hours, pushed on for the Sacramento River, which 
 proved to be distant only a few days' march. Their 
 course from San Fernando w\as north-cast. The last 
 l)art of their journey led through a delightful tract of 
 country, wdiere water, grass and game existed in abund- 
 ance, seemingly a foretaste of the success which aw^aited 
 
KIT DISTINGUISHES HIMSELF. 43 
 
 their further advance. Selecting an eligible camping 
 site, Young here rested his party for some time. "When 
 they were fully recruited, the party started for tlie 
 San Joaquin, and commenced trapping down the river. 
 What gave the men great surprise, they discovered 
 unmistakable signs of another trapping party. In a 
 short time it appeared that they were close to a 
 party belonging to the Hudson's Bay Company, com- 
 manded by Peter Ogden. Young's men however, con- 
 tinued setting their traps on the San Joaquin and its 
 tributaries. The two parties were near each other for 
 some time, and as deer, elk, and antelope existed by 
 thousands around them, which it was no trouble to kill 
 in any numbers desirable, they fiired well. On again 
 reaching the Sacramento River, the two parties sepa- 
 rated. Mr. Ogden, with his party, set out for the 
 Columbia River, while Mr. Young's party encamped 
 where they were for the remainder of the summer. 
 As the season for trapping had passed they employed 
 their time in hunting and preparing meat for future 
 necessity. 
 
 It was here that Kit Carson soon distinguished him- 
 self as a superior hunter, which reputation he main- 
 tained ever after, no matter who were his antagonists. 
 Not but that Kit may have had his equals ; but that it 
 was next to an impossibility to fmd his superior. At 
 all events, the world gave Kit Carson the title of "Nes- 
 tor of the Rocky Mountains," for his reputation as a 
 hunter alone ; and as his biographer, we take pleasure 
 in recording the facts by which tbe title was earned 
 and maintained. Let the reader possess himself of the 
 facts, as they shall appear divested of any and every 
 picture which fancy or partiality may accidentally 
 
44 FIGnT WITH TUE INDIANS. 
 
 cause us to paint, and even then Kit Carson will not 
 lose the title. On the contrary, it will become the 
 more indelibly stamped upon his memory. 
 
 During the sojourn of the trappers on the Sacra- 
 mento, an event occurred which exhibited the readi- 
 ness with which these men responded to calls upon 
 them for aid in a just cause. A few of the Indians 
 belonging to the Mission of the San Rafael, after com- 
 mitting some excesses, deserted from those to whom 
 they had pretended friendship. The priest having 
 charge of the Mission sent a strong force to search for 
 the fugitives. They were found secreted in an Indian 
 village, the inhabitants of which were not on friendly 
 terms with the priest's party. A demand was made 
 that the deserters should be given up, which being re- 
 fused, a fight ensued, and the priest's party was de- 
 feated. Assistance was now asked from the trappers. 
 The request was complied with by Carson and eleven 
 of his companions, who volunteered for the occasion. 
 Thus reinforced, the vanquished party returned and 
 resumed the fight, but with a far different result. The 
 Indian village was captured, and one-third of its in- 
 habitants killed. The day following a second demand 
 to deliver up the deserters was complied with. Carson 
 and his companions then left the priest's party and re- 
 joined their camp. A short time after this affair had 
 happened, Mr. Young carried the furs he had on hand 
 to the Mission of San Rlifacl, where he was so fortu- 
 ' nate as to find a captain of a trading schooner to 
 whom he succeeded in disposing of the entire stock. 
 With the money accruing from the sale, he pvu'chased 
 horses and then rejoined his company. 
 
 A circumstance occurred a few days after Mr. Young's 
 
AFTER THE HORSE THIEVES. 45 
 
 return, Avliich proved to be a good Avarning to the party 
 for their future vigihince. During one dark night, 
 some Indians, eluding the ^vatch of the sentinels, suc- 
 ceeded in entering the camp and moving off sixty 
 horses. As soon as the robbery Avas discovered, which 
 had been the more easily accomplished because the 
 trappers, not apprehending danger, had allowed the 
 animals to take care of themselves, Mr. Young directed 
 Kit Carson to take twelve men with the remainimr 
 
 o 
 
 horses, fourteen in number, and pursue the thieves. 
 Carson, in obedience to his orders, immediately started 
 for the Sierra Nevada Mountains, following the trail 
 of the Indians. After traveling one hundred miles he 
 came up w^ith the robbers, and discovered them in the 
 act of feasting upon horse-flesh, six of their own ani- 
 mals having been killed to supply the viands. Doubt- 
 less stolen fruit made the feast all the sweeter to the 
 savages, but Kit determined to mingle a little of the 
 bitter as a condiment to the roasted flesh. Gatherino; 
 his men well together, and approaching very close to 
 the foe without being discovered, he gave the order to 
 charge. His men needed no second command. They 
 fell upon the feasting savages like a thunderbolt, scat- 
 tering them right and left without mercy. Eight of 
 the warriors were killed in the short conflict which en- 
 sued. The remainder were allowed ta escape. With 
 some difliculty they next succeeded in recovering all 
 their horses, except the six which had been killed. 
 With their horses, and three children taken prisoners, 
 they returned to camp. It is unnecessary to add that, 
 to men thus isolated in the wilderness. Kit and his 
 party were hailed with joyful greetings when their 
 complete success became known. To them their horses 
 
46 GROWING POPULARITY. 
 
 were like the good ship to the hardy sailors on the 
 mighty ocean. The joyful reaction which followed 
 such complete success was in ratio to the fears which 
 the continuing suspense had excited. 
 
 Kit Carson, though at that day a youth in years and 
 experience when compared with the other members of 
 the party of which he was then an associate, had risen 
 rapidly in the estimation of all, and had excited the 
 admiration and enlisted in his behalf the confidence of 
 the entire band. When called upon to add his counsel 
 and advice to the general fund of knowledge offered by 
 the trappers concerning any doubtful or difficult enter- 
 prise, his masterly foresight and shrewdness, as well as 
 clearness in attendin<!: to details, alone fji-ave him willing^ 
 auditors. But it was the retired manner and modest 
 deportment, which he invariably wore, that won for him 
 the love of his associates. Such characteristics failed 
 not to surprise, in no ordinary degree, those who could 
 boast a long life-time of experience in Indian countries. 
 Kit Carson's powers of quickly conceiving thoughts, on 
 difficult emergencies, which pointed out the safest and 
 best plans of action, "just the things that ought to be 
 done," and his bravery, which, in his youth, sometimes 
 amounted to rashness, were the component parts of his 
 ability which thus caused his companions to follow his 
 leadership. His courage, promptitude, willingness, self- 
 reliance, caution, sympathy, and care for the wounded, 
 marked him at once as the master-mind and safest coun- 
 sellor. His first trapping expedition gained him so 
 much credit that, from the time it was concluded, he 
 found no difficulty in joining any band of trappers, no 
 matter how select the party. In this respect the 
 mountaineers resemble sea-faring men, who invariably 
 
A YOUTHFUL HERO. 47 
 
 dislike new and untried hands, because such are so apt 
 to give more trouble than assistance. Green hands, 
 thereibre, are treated with indifFerence when they apply 
 to be admitted as members on a contemplated hunt. 
 The reader will here see one dithculty which had to be 
 overcome b}^ Carson, and which kept him so long in 
 want of employment. From this time Kit carried a 
 riiie and worked from an experience which commanded 
 admiration, respect, and esteem wherever he went, and 
 with whatever party he became connected. Like the 
 great Napoleon, when he joined the army for his first 
 campaign, he was a hero in spite of his youth among 
 men grown gray with experience. 
 
48 KN EOUTE FOB NEW MEXICO. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 The Return from California to New Mexico — San Fernando and the Peublo 
 of Los Angelos — Description of these Peublos — Passports demanded 
 at Los Angelos — Trouble with the Mexican Authorities — Kit Carson 
 sent on with the Pack Animals — Oue Trapper shoots another — The 
 Mexicans become frightened — Indians come into Camp with their 
 Weapons concealed — Cool Reception by Kit Carson — Paying off old 
 Scores — Recovering Stolen Property — Arrival at Santa Fe and Taos — 
 Money realized soon parted with — Carson joins another Expedition — 
 The Rivers trapped on — Four Men Killed by Blackfeet Indians — Kit 
 Carson joins Gaunt's Party — The Parks — Winter Quarters — Crow 
 Indian Depredations — Kit Carson and his Party in Pursuit — The 
 Fight — Winter on the Arkansas — Another Expedition — Two Desert- 
 ers — Kit Carson sent in Pursuit — The Fate of the Runaways — Adven- 
 tures with Indians — Hair-breadth Escape made by Kit Carson. 
 
 In September, Mr. Young, having accomplished all 
 that he had intended, informed his men that he was 
 going to New Mexico. The homeward route was 
 through most of the country over which they had pre- 
 viously traveled. The preparations for the journey 
 having been completed, the party started, touching on 
 the way at the Mission of San Fernando, and thence 
 through to the Peublo of Los Angelos. Scattered over 
 various parts of the dominion of Old Mexico are these 
 Peublos, or Indian villages, called so because they are 
 inhabited by Indians who bear that name. These are 
 the true descendants of the ancient Aztecs, who were 
 once the subjects of the Montezumas. They are usually 
 a quiet and industrious race, and are most devout in 
 their religious worship, according to the principles, 
 
FIGHTING AGAINST FIRE-WATER. 49 
 
 forms, and ceremonies of the Roman Catholic Church. 
 They have not failed to inherit the superstition of their 
 forefathers. Notwithstanding the changes which time, 
 with its cohorts of emigration, hooks, religious teach- 
 ings, association with other races, mechanics, science 
 and art, in greater or less degree, has introduced into 
 their country, and accomplished under their eyes, they 
 still believe that some day their great chief will return 
 to them ; accordingly, in each and every one of their 
 towns, they keep a watch-fire burning, in order, on his 
 advent, to let him know where his children live. 
 
 At Los Angelos, the Mexican authorities came to the 
 trappers and demanded their passports. On finding 
 that such articles of paper authority did not form any 
 part of a trappers outfit, they determined to arrest 
 them. Fear, however, prevented their determinationi 
 from assuming any very formidable action. Former 
 experience in a similar matter of official duty had taught 
 those Mexicans that the American trappers were men: 
 of a peculiarly resolute nature. Fair and legitimate 
 means were, therefore, laid aside, and a foul policy 
 adopted. They commenced supplying them with " fire- 
 water," thus attacking them in a weak point. When 
 they should become fully inebriated, they considered 
 the matter of their arrest both easy and certain. 
 
 Mr. Young, seeing the intentions of the authorities, 
 and their underhanded method of carrying them out, 
 determined to thwart them. He directed Carson to 
 take three men, the loose animals, and the camp equi- 
 page, and move on, with the instructions, that if he did 
 not soon join him, to push on ; that if he did not event- 
 ually overtake him, to report in New Mexico that the 
 main party had been massacred. Young succeeded in 
 
50 SHOOTING WITHOUT PROVOCATION". 
 
 collecting his men as best he could, for they were yet 
 sufficiently sober to retain a little of their reason. The 
 treacherous Mexicans, however, continued annoying 
 the commander of the trappers by gratuitously offering 
 the men all the liquor they desired. One by one, the 
 trappers were allowing themselves to be easily con- 
 quered, as the effects of the liquor began to be more 
 active. They would soon have fallen a complete prey 
 to their enemies had not a most singular circumstance 
 put the Mexicans to flight. One of the trappers, named 
 James Higgins, without any provocation and without 
 any excuse, except that he was intoxicated, shot a man 
 named James Lawrence, inflicting a slight wound. Such 
 conduct so terrified the Mexicans that they took sudden 
 and precipitous leave. This happened, very fortunately, 
 before the party arrived at the mission of San Gabriel, 
 where they would all have been arrested, and perhaps 
 killed, by the Mexicans, aided by parties and re-inforce- 
 ments at the mission. 
 
 About dark. Young, by urging his half-drunken men 
 into a forced march, succeeded in overtaking Carson. 
 At the first supply of water, they went into camp. A 
 night of sleep soon set the brains of Young's trappers 
 once more to rights. The next day the party, most 
 of them sufliciently ashamed of their drunken debauch, 
 commenced with vigor the homeward march. They 
 continued nine days almost upon their former track, 
 when outward bound. On the ninth da}^ they once 
 more stood on the banks of the Colorado River. 
 
 While encamped on this stream, a band of five hun- 
 dred Indians made their appearance and entered the 
 camp. The rascals professed the greatest friendsiiip 
 for the trappers, but their actions not fully measuring 
 
AN UNPLEASANT SITUATION. 51 
 
 their Avords, the white men looked to Carson for advice. 
 He had discovered that beneath their articles of dress 
 their weapons were very carefully concealed ; and 
 from this circumstance it became quite clearly appar- 
 ent the Indians intended to massacre the entire party. 
 Here Carson's boldness proved, as it had before, and 
 did many a time afterwards, the safety of himself and 
 friends or associates. At the time the Indians entered 
 the camp, Carson, with only a few of the party, occu- 
 pied it ; the rest were out visiting their traps, which 
 it was their general custom to set whenever they ar- 
 rived at a suitable stream.. Kit having thus become 
 satisfied concerning the design of the savages, and 
 feeling that the salvation of the entire party rested 
 upon his courage and wisdom, made up his mind that 
 boldness was the wisest policy he could adopt. He 
 found present among the warriors one who could 
 speak the Spanish language. Through him he ordered 
 the red men " to leave the camp. In the event of 
 their not doing so immediately, he and his friends 
 v/ould, without further parley, commence hostilities, 
 and would be sure each in killing his man, although 
 they might all in the end lose their own lives." 
 
 The Indians had been accustomed to act about as 
 they chose with such small parties of Mexicans as they 
 chanced to meet, and consequently were taken com- 
 pletely by surprise at Kit's unusual boldness. Seeing 
 that they w^ould inevitably lose several of their braves 
 if they made any hostile demonstration, they chose the 
 discreet part of best policy, and departed. As a g en- 
 eral rule, no matter what the profit or urgent necessity 
 which chance offers, these Indians will not hazard a 
 contest when, to a certainty, they must expect their 
 
52 PAYING OLD SCORES. 
 
 own killed will equal the number of scalps which they 
 can obtain. This rule, and doubtless some fearfulness 
 on the part of the Indians, saved the lives of the en- 
 tire band. 
 
 As has already appeared, the trappers were on the 
 banks of the Colorado at the time this affair happened. 
 They continued their work on it, descending the south 
 side until they reached tide water, when they changed 
 their camp on to the Gila, and continued trapping up 
 this river as far as the mouth of the San Pedro. Near 
 the outlet of this river, they discovered a large herd of 
 horses and mules ; on a closer examination, they found 
 that they were in the possession of a band of Indians 
 who had formerly given them some of their gratuitous 
 hostilities. Not having forgotten their former troubles 
 with these people, they determined to pay them off in 
 their own coin by depriving them of the herd. A short 
 search sufficed to discover the Indian camp. Without 
 waiting an instant, they put their horses to their speed 
 and charged in among the huts. The Indians were so 
 completely taken by surprise, that they became panic- 
 struck and fled in every direction. They, however, 
 rallied somewhat, and a running light commenced 
 which lasted some time, but which did not change 
 matters in favor of the Indians. The entire herd fell 
 into the possession of the trappers. 
 
 On the same evening, after the men had wrapped 
 themselves up in their blankets and laid down for a 
 sleep, and while enjoying their slumbers, a noise 
 reached their ears which sounded very much like dis- 
 tant thunder; but a close application of the sense of 
 hearing showed plainly that an enemy was near at hand. 
 Springing, up with rifle in hand — for generally in the 
 
RECOVERING STOLEX PROPERTY. 53 
 
 mountains a man's gun rests in the same blanket with 
 himself on all sleeping occasions — they sallied forth to 
 reconnoitre, and discovered a few warriors driving 
 along a band of at least two hundred horses. The 
 trappers comprehended instantly that the warriors 
 had been to the Mexican settlements in Sonora on a 
 thieving expedition, and that the horses had changed 
 hands with only one party to the bargain. The oppor- 
 tunity to instill a lesson on the savage marauders was 
 too good to be lost. 
 
 They saluted the thieves with a volley from their 
 rifles, wdiich, with the bullet-whizzing about their 
 heads and bodies, so astonished them, that they 
 seemed almost immediately to forget their stolen 
 property, and to think only of a precipitous flight. 
 In a few moments the whites found themselves mas- 
 ters of the field, and also of the property. To return 
 the animals to their owners was an impossibility ; Mr. 
 Young, therefore, selected as many of the best horses 
 as he needed for himself and men, and game being very 
 scarce, killed two and dried most of the meat for future 
 use, turning the remainder loose. Such either became 
 wild mustangs or fell again into the clutches of the In- 
 dians. The company then renewed their trapping, and 
 continued it up the Gila to a point opposite the copper 
 mines of New Mexico. Here they left the river and 
 proceeded to the copper mines, where they found Mr. 
 Robert McKnight engaged in trading with the neigh- 
 boring Indian tribes. These mines were not then, and 
 ever since have not been, worked. The holes which 
 had many years before been made by the miners — but 
 who they were, is unknown — formed a safe hiding- 
 place for their skins. The stock of beaver was, there- 
 
54 THE DESERTED MIXES. 
 
 fore, placed under the care of Mr. McKnight. Young 
 and his men then renewed their march, and in due 
 time arrived safely at Santa F6. Here they purchased 
 licenses to trade with the Indians w^ho lived about the 
 copper mines. With these licenses as protection pa- 
 pers, they returned to where the skins were concealed. 
 Having once moio recovered their fur, they returned 
 with it to Santa Fe. The deserted mines of New Mex- 
 ico show incontrovertible signs of having been success- 
 fully and extensively worked, at some remote period, 
 for various kinds of metals. They have proved a 
 knotty historical problem to many an investigating 
 mind ; for their authentic history has fallen, and prob- 
 ably Avill ever remain in oblivion. It may have been 
 that about a century ago the Spaniards, with Indian 
 assistants, worked them ; and the savages becoming 
 hostile to their employers, in some sudden fit of frenzy 
 may have massacred the Spaniards. There is a legen- 
 dary story circulating, similar to the traditions of the 
 Indians, giving this explanation. The more probable 
 hypothesis, however, is that the Indians themselves, 
 many centuries in the past, w^ere versed to some extent 
 in the art of mining, and carried on the business in 
 these mines; but from indolence, or, to them, useless- 
 ness of the metals, the work w\as abandoned, and their 
 descendants fixiled to obtain the knowledge which their 
 ancestors possessed. These mines, and those wdiich ex- 
 ist nearer to the large towns, will some day render 
 New Mexico a profitable and rich field for the learned 
 antiquary. 
 
 The ruse which Mr. Young found absolutely neces- 
 sary to employ, in order to blind the Mexican author- 
 ities, succeeded so well, that when the fur arrived at 
 
TIME. bo 
 
 Santa Fe, every one considered the trappers bad made 
 a very good trade. The amount of beaver thus brought 
 in amounted to two tliousand pounds. The market 
 price was twelve dollars per pound. The proceeds, 
 therefore, of the entire trip, were nearly twenty-four 
 thousand dollars. The division of this handsome sum 
 gave to each man several hundred dollars. It was 
 during the month of April, 1830, that Mr. Young's 
 party again reached the tOAvn of Taos. Here they dis- 
 banded, having completed their enterprise. Like as 
 Jack, when he returns from his battles with old ocean, 
 having a pocket well lined with hard earnings, fails 
 not to plunge into excess, with the determination to 
 make up for the pleasure lost by years of toil, the brave 
 mountaineers courted merry-making. From their own 
 accounts, they passed a short time gloriously. This 
 similarity of disposition between trappers and sailors, 
 in regard to pleasure's syren cup and its consequent 
 draft upon their treasures, causing them to forget the 
 risk of life and limb and the expense of their valuable 
 time, is most remarkable. These hardy trappers, like 
 reliable old salts, proved to be as true to the bowl as 
 they had been to their steel ; for, most of the party, in 
 a very brief space of time, were penniless and ready to 
 be fitted out for another expedition. Young Kit, at 
 this period of his life, imitated the example set by his 
 elders, for he wished to be considered by them as an 
 equal and a friend. He, however, passed through this 
 terrible ordeal, which most frequently ruins its votary, 
 and eventually came out brighter, clearer and more no- 
 ble for the conscience-polish which he received. He 
 contracted no bad habits, but learned the usefulness and 
 happiness of resisting temptation, and became so well 
 
56 MURDERED BY BLACKFEET. 
 
 schooled that he was able, by the caution and advice 
 of wisdom founded on experience, to prevent many 
 a promising and skillful hand from grasping ruin in 
 the same vortex. 
 
 The scenes of pleasure lasted until the fall of 1830. 
 Kit then joined his second trapping expedition. This 
 band had been formed for the purpose of trapping the 
 principal streams of the Rocky Mountains. Mr. Fitz- 
 patrick, a trapper well known and respected by the 
 mountaineers, had charge of the party. He was, at 
 that time, well acquainted by experience with the 
 Rocky Mountains, and has, since then, gained an envi- 
 able fame as an Indian agent. The new party traveled 
 north and commenced operations on the Pkitte River, 
 w^hich they followed down stream to one of its tribu- 
 taries, the Sweet Water River. From here they worked 
 on until they reached the Green River. Hence they 
 journeyed to Jackson's Hole, which is a fork of the 
 Great Columbia River. After making a short stay at 
 this point they started for the Salmon River. Here 
 they were joined by a band of their own party, who 
 had left Taos some days in advance of the main body, 
 and for whom they were then hunting. The whole 
 party, as now organized, remained where they were 
 throughout the winter of 1830 and 1831, employed in 
 killing only the amount of game necessary lor their 
 sustenance. An unfortunate affair here happened to 
 them. Four of their men, while hunting buflalo, were 
 attacked and killed by a party of Blackfeet Indians. 
 No other incident occurred during the winter to 
 change the everyday routine. 
 
 In April, 1831, they recommenced trapping, shaping 
 their course for Snake River. Nothing can equal the 
 
MAGNIFICENT SCENERY. 59 
 
 magnificence and grandeur of the country throuo-h 
 which they were now traveling. Shoslionee Falls, 
 situated on Shoshonee or Snake River, are in many 
 respects vastly more beautiful and attractive than 
 Niagara. The torrent is less, and its crescent-sunnnit 
 appears less than a thousand feet wide ; but the de- 
 scent is more than one-third greater, being over two 
 hundred feet; while above the brink, grand and im- 
 posing monuments of lava rise hundreds of feet on 
 each bank, supplying an element of grandeur which 
 the monarch of cataracts does not possess. The fall 
 itself is of the purest white, interspersed with myriads 
 of sparkling, glassy drops — a cataract of snow with an 
 avalanche of jewels. '• Mocking and belittering all hu- 
 man splendor. Nature is here in her lace and pearls, — 
 her robe of diamonds and tiara of rainbow." Carson 
 often spoke of these falls as being the grandest of any 
 he had ever seen. 
 
 From Snake River, they worked down to Bear 
 River, which is the principal stream that empties into 
 Great Salt Lake. Thence they returned to Green 
 River, where they found some trappers under the com- 
 mand of Mr. Sinclair, who left New Mexico soon after 
 Mr. Fitzpatrick's party, and had wintered on the Bear 
 River. Among many other facts, they learned fioni 
 this party that Captain Gaunt, who was an old moun- 
 taineer, well known to most of the whites present, had 
 passed the winter on the Laramie River, and that he 
 was then wuth his men in the South Park. Kit Carson 
 and four of his companions determined to join him. 
 For this purpose they started, and, after ten days of 
 steady travel, found his party. 
 
 There are many of these Parks in the Rocky Moun- 
 
60 BEAUTIFUL PARKS. 
 
 tains, and they are a distinctive and remarkable feature 
 of this mountain centre of Colorado. As their names 
 imply, they are fair, natural examples of the manufac- 
 tured parks of civilization. In some things, Nature has 
 lavished upon them charms and beauties which no 
 human skill can imitate. Most of these Parks are, of 
 course, petite — little wide valleys around the heads of 
 single streams, or the conjunctions of several, or the 
 homes of lonely lakes ; but there are four great 
 ones, that mark the phenomenon and give the name. 
 These are North Park, Middle Park, South Park, and 
 San Luis Park, varying in size from twenty by fifty 
 miles, to one hundred by two hundred, or, say, from 
 Rhode Island to Massachusetts. These Parks are 
 favorite haunts of the deer, antelope, and elk, while the 
 streams which run through them are well stocked with 
 otter and beaver. 
 
 Kit and his companions were graciously received by 
 Gaunt ; and with him they trapped the streams in the 
 vicinity of the North Park and the plains of Laramie to 
 the south fork of the Platte. Having finished here, they 
 left for the Arkansas, remaining there while their cap- 
 tain went to Taos to dispose of their stock of furs and 
 to make such purchases of necessaries as the men re- 
 quired. Gaunt returned after an absence of two months, 
 when trapping operations were resumed on the Arkansas 
 River, which they trapped until it froze over. The 
 party then went into winter (quarters. 
 
 The ])usinessof trapping for beaver is no child's play. 
 A perhon imaccustomed to it may possibly look ui)on it 
 as no very difHcult task. A single trial is usually sulli- 
 cient to satisfy the iniinitiated on this point ; for, the 
 beaver, above all other wild animals of America, is en- 
 
INDIANS VS. BEAVER. 61 
 
 (IowxmI with an extraordinary amount of instinct. His 
 handiwork and habits sutiiciently attest this. 
 
 There are bands of Indians Hving in the north-west- 
 ern part of America who really believe that the beaver 
 has almost as much intelligence as an Indian, holdinfr 
 and maintaining that all the diflercnce that exists be- 
 tween a beaver and an Indian is, that the latter has 
 been endowed by the Great Spirit with power and 
 capabilities to catch the former, i^ome of the stories 
 which old mountaineers occasionally inflict upon an in- 
 quisitive traveler are somewhat startling; nevertheless, 
 what this amphibious animal really performs is truly 
 astounding, and oftentimes the truth fails to gain cre- 
 dence. 
 
 During the winter the trappers had many very 
 pleasant times, for they had little work beyond the 
 task of making themselves comfortable. The snow 
 fell to a great depth, which proved rather hard for 
 their animals. By dint of cutting down cotton-wood 
 trees and gathering the bark and branches for fodder, 
 they managed to prevent them from dying of starva- 
 tion. The bufliilo existed about there in great abun- 
 dance ; and, early in the winter, they had taken the 
 precaution to kill and prepare a large supply of this 
 kind of game, while it was in good condition. As the 
 season advanced, therefore, the trappers found them- 
 selves living quite sumptuously. 
 
 In the month of January, the daily routine of their 
 lives was rather unpleasantly disturbed. A party of 
 fifty Crow Indians made an unfriendly visit to their 
 camp on one very dark night. They succeeded in 
 stealing nine of their loose animals, with which they 
 escaped unperceived. Early the next morning, the 
 
62 CROW INDIAN DEPREDATIONS. 
 
 sigiis of the Indians were discovered. Kit Carson, 
 with twelve of his companions, immediately saddled 
 their horses and started in pursuit. It was very diffi- 
 cult to follow the trail of the Indians, from the fact 
 that many herds of buffalo had crossed and repeatedly 
 recrossed it during the night, making the tracks very 
 indistinct. Having traveled forty miles, their horses, 
 which were very poor in flesh, became fatigued, caus- 
 ing them to think of making a halt. After due con- 
 sultation, it was agreed that they had best go into 
 camp. With this object in view, they traveled towards 
 some timber which was near by. On arriving at the 
 woods, the advance of the party, to their surprise and 
 not less to their satisfaction, discovered the smoke of 
 their enemies' fires. The distance between the parties 
 was inconsiderable ; but, in order that their move- 
 ments might be made unobserved, the trappers re- 
 treated to a secluded spot where they awaited the 
 night, judging it best to take the party by surprise. 
 Their first care was to secure and provide for their 
 animals. The second was to prepare their arms. As 
 soon as it w^ould do for them to move, they started, 
 eager for the strife. It was judged best first to make 
 a half circuit and then approach the Indians from the 
 direction they themselves were traveling, as from this 
 source, they wisely judged the red men would be less 
 apprehensive of an attack. Their movements were 
 made slowly and with great care, in order not to 
 alarm the savages. Having obtained a position close 
 enough to observe the strength of their enemies, they 
 stopped to reconnoitre. The men then crept for a 
 long distance on their hands and knees, until finally 
 they obtained a full view of the Indians, which show^ed 
 
AFTER THE THIEVES. 63 
 
 them that the savages had erected two rough forts and 
 that they were now divided into two parties. A dance 
 was in progress in honor of the robbery so recently 
 perpetrated, which proved, conclusively, that they 
 were without even a suspicion of danger. Just out- 
 side one of the forts, the nine stolen animals ^vere se- 
 curely tied. This sight did not tend to allay the wrath 
 of the trappers. They resolved that, come what might, 
 the attempt to regain their property and punish the In- 
 dians should be made notw-ithstandinff their strem^^th. 
 To insure success in spite of their weakness, they de- 
 termined to conceal themselves and wait quietly until 
 the Indians had lain down for sleep. During this time 
 of suspense the trappers were subjected to great suf- 
 fering, for the weather was intensely cold, and they 
 possessed but a scanty allow\ance of clothing fit for 
 such work. But as there is an end to all things, there 
 w^as an end to the dance and other festivities, and the 
 savages sought their rest. At last the time for action 
 arrived. Kit Carson and five of his companions com- 
 menced crawling tow^irds the stolen horses, which, on 
 reaching, were easilj^ set free by cutting their halters. 
 They then threw snow-balls at them, and by this 
 means drove them away without disturbing the sleep- 
 ing Indians. The trappers who acted as a reserve 
 party soon after joined Kit and his companions ; and, 
 after retreating some distance in order to be out of the 
 hearing of the enemy, they held a council to obtain 
 the views of each member of the i)arty as to their 
 next step. It appeared that a difference of opinion 
 existed ; some of the men Avere in flivor of returning, 
 having recovered their property and sustained no dam- 
 age. The remainder, those who had lost no animals, 
 
G4 THE MINORITY RULES. 
 
 wanted satisfaction for the trouble and hardship they 
 had undergone while in pursuit of the thieves. Kit 
 Carson and two others composed this latter party, and 
 thus were determined to punish the thieves, let the 
 consequences of the attempt be ever so fatal. The 
 more peaceful party, seeing this earnestness, could not 
 do otherwise than lend their aid in the fight, and 
 cheerfully did so. 
 
 There always existed such a feeling of brotherly love 
 among the old trappers of the Iiocky Mountains, that 
 the hour of peril was never the hour for separation or 
 desertion. This instance affords a fair example how 
 the minority coidd easily rule the majority when the 
 minority held to the side of danger. The whole band 
 were now unanimous in favor of the attack. 
 
 Kit Carson, who had from the first acted ns captain, 
 ordered three men to take the recovered animals back 
 to v»hcre they had secured their saddle-horses. Then, 
 with his comrades, he marched directly for the Indian 
 camp. A dog belonging to the enemy first gave the 
 alarm of approaching danger to the Indians, but not 
 until Kit and his party were within a few paces of the 
 first fort. As soon as the occupants of the fort heard 
 the noise they sprang to their feet, and thus became 
 fair UKU ks for the unerring rifles of the trappers. The 
 whites did not throw away a single shot; every ball 
 struck a warrior in some vital spot. Those who sur- 
 vived retreated to the fort occupied by their friends, 
 and, ns soon as possible, commenced returning the fire ; 
 but without execution, as the trappers, on discharging 
 their first volley, had well concealed themselves behind 
 trees, from whence they were shooting only when sure 
 of an object. It was now nearly daybreak, and, as the 
 
A DESPERATE FIGHT. G 
 
 savages discovered the weakness of the attacking party, 
 they resolved to charge, feeling sure of success. They 
 did so ; but the Avhite men, who were expert fighters in 
 this kind of warfare, quietly waited until the Indians 
 were fully exposed. They then fired and killed five 
 warriors. The remainder immediately retreated into 
 the fort. 
 
 After considerable deliberation, the Indians decided 
 once more to make a sortie. On they came, and this 
 time with such determination that the trappers could 
 not withstand the assault, but were compelled to retreat. 
 They disputed, however, every inch of ground over 
 wdiich they tiod, as they fell back from one tree to 
 another, continually making their bullets tell with ter- 
 rible effect on their foes. The three men who had been 
 sent back with the horses had joined their comrades 
 soon after they had commenced retreating. They had 
 heard the incessant firing and had become convinced 
 that the fight was hotly contested and that their ser- 
 vices were required. On their joining, the whole party 
 resolved to make one more stand, and as soon as the 
 Indiana saw this, they wavered and finally drew off. 
 Both sides had now, seemingly, had enough of fight- 
 ing, and hostilities soon after entirely ceased, the 
 savages marching back and leaving the whites masters 
 of the field. Several of the trappers were slightly, but 
 none dangerously, wounded. The Indians had paid 
 dearly, in numbers killed, for their rascality. Finding 
 the coast clear, Carson and his men set oat and soon 
 rejoined their comrades on the Arkansas River. In the 
 Spring, {ifter having cached their fur, the whole band 
 departed for Laramie Eiver on another expedition. 
 
 While on the south fork of the Platte, two of the 
 
66 THIEVING DESERTERS. 
 
 party deserted, taking with them three of their best 
 animals. Suspecting their design, Gaunt sent Kit Car- 
 son and another man in pursuit of the fugitives, who 
 had one day the start. As was suspected, the two de- 
 serters had gone to the camp where the beaver fur was 
 concealed and buried. They had succeeded in digging 
 it up and stealing about three hundred pounds of this 
 valuable property, belonging to the company in general, 
 share and share alike. Carson and his companion failed 
 entirely in their efforts to find the two men. Doubt- 
 less they never lived to enjoy their ill-gotten wealth ; 
 for, notwithstanding careful search was made, the men 
 were never heard from afterwards. It is probable that 
 they were killed by Indians, a fate which they, at least, 
 richly merited. 
 
 This old camp, the reader will please bear in mind, 
 was on the Arkansas River. Kit Carson and his com- 
 rade, after finding that the two deserters had thus suc- 
 ceeded in stealing the fur which had been buried by 
 the company, made every further effort which lay in 
 their power to recover it. As has also been seen, they 
 were unsuccessful. It now remained for them to deter- 
 mine their future course. The country was so infested 
 with hostile Indians that it made their position, thus 
 alone, very precarious. To regain their commander's 
 company was almost impracticable ; at least, without a 
 more important object to make the risk necessary, it 
 was a foolhardy attempt. Time in learning the loss 
 was of no great importance either to their leader or 
 their party. Sooner or later this, as a matter of course, 
 would be fully shown. Kit and his comrade, there- 
 fore, determined to remain where they were, in the old 
 camp ; and, to this end, immediately arranged every- 
 
A PERILOUS POSITION. 67 
 
 thing so that they could make a successful defence in 
 case they should be attacked by the savages. They 
 did not dare to venture out far from their fortifications ; 
 but this was no great trial to them, as game existed 
 in great plenty and came very near their rude fort. 
 While one slept, the other stood on guard. It was their 
 intention to await the return of their party ; but, at the 
 expiration of one month, they were quite happily re- 
 lieved from their perilous position. Mr. Blackwell, 
 Mr. G aunt's partner, arrived from the United States. 
 He was accompanied by fifteen men, and brought with 
 him a complete outfit for the entire band. Kit and his 
 comrade had been expecting and were anxiously look- 
 ing for this party. They were also made quite happy 
 in obtaining the articles of outfit which would render 
 their wild life more agreeable and easy. Shortly after 
 this arrival, four men from the trapping party came 
 into camp and brought the news as to the whereabouts 
 of Gaunt and his men. They were overjoyed at find- 
 ing Kit and his comrade, as they said that they had 
 hunted for them in all directions, and, finally, had given 
 up all hopes of ever seeing them again. The whole 
 party now began the march to join Gaunt at the Ballo 
 Salado.'^' 
 
 These springs form the head waters of the south 
 fork of the River Platte. When four days' journey 
 had been accomplished, and while they were partaking 
 of their breakfiist in the camp, an alarm of Indians was 
 given by one of the men. He had accidentally discov- 
 ered the red-skin rascals as they were prowling about 
 the camp. A rush was immediately made by the trap- 
 pers, with rifles in hand, to save their horses. Shots 
 
 * Salt Springs. 
 
68 TOO POLITE TO STAY. 
 
 were fired and one Indian fell. The rest of the band 
 made off as emjoty-handed as they came, with one ex- 
 ception. One brave had succeeded in capturing and 
 mounting a horse before the white men could reach 
 him. Notwithstanding; he had a dead brother Ivino;; on 
 the ground, he appeared to be altogether too polite 
 to make the trappers a longer visit ; at least, without 
 a proper introduction. On the contrary, he galloped 
 off, seemingly quite proud of his trophy. Had it not 
 been that the trappers had taken the precaution to 
 hobble their horses before turning them out to 
 graze, they would have lost them all in this at- 
 tempted stampede. 
 
 These stampedes are a sonrce of great profit to the 
 Indians of the Plains. It is by this means they de- 
 prive the caravans of their animals. , The Camanches 
 are particularly expert and daring in this kind of rob- 
 bery. They even train horses to run from one given 
 point to another in expectancy of caravans. When a 
 camp is made which is nearly in range, they turn their 
 trained animals loose, who at once fly across the plain, 
 penetrating and passing through the camp of their vic- 
 tims. All of the picketed animals will endeavor to fol- 
 low, and usually succeed in following the trained horses. 
 Such are invariably led into the haunts of the thieves, 
 who easily secure them. Young horses and mules are 
 easily frightened ; and, in the havoc wliicli generally 
 ensues, oftentimes great injury is done to the runaways 
 themselves. The sight of a stampede on a grand scale 
 requires steady nerves to witness without tremor; and, 
 woe to the footman who cannot get out, of the way 
 when the frightened animals come along. At times, 
 when the herd is very large, the horses scatter over 
 
TERRORS OF A STAMPEDE. 69 
 
 the open country and are irrecoverably lost; and, such 
 as do not become wild, fall a prey to the ravenous 
 wolves. Such, most frequently, is the fate of stam- 
 peded horses which have been bred in the States, not 
 being trained by a prairie-life experience to take care 
 of themselves. Instead of bravely stopping and fight- 
 ing off the wolves, they run. The whole pack are sure 
 to leave the bolder animals and make for the runaAvays, 
 which they seldom fail to overtake and dispatch. Some 
 years since, one of these stampedes occurred on the 
 plains of a band of horses, in which there were several 
 hundred valuable animals. It was attended with very 
 heavy loss to the owners. Through the courage and 
 great exertions of those who had the animals in charge, 
 many were recovered, but none without having sus- 
 tained more or less injury. 
 
 A favorite policy of the Indian horse thieves is to 
 creep into camp, cut loose one animal and thoroughly 
 frii!:hten him. This animal seldom fails to friditen 
 the remainder, when away they all go, with long ropes 
 and picket pins dangling after them. The latter some- 
 times act like harpoons, being thrown with such impe- 
 tus as to strike and instantly kill a valuable steed 
 from among the brother runaways. At other times, 
 the limbs of the running horses get entangled in the 
 ropes, when they are suddenly thrown. Such seldom 
 escape without broken legs or severe contusions, which 
 are often incurable. The necessity of traveling on, at 
 any rate, renders it an impossibility to imdertake the 
 cure, when it might be practicable under other cir- 
 cumstances. 
 
 The day of the attempted stampede, the party trav- 
 eled fifty miles, and thought themselves well clear of 
 
70 RECONCILED TO RATTLESNAKES. 
 
 their treacherous enemy, as there were no visible signs 
 of their presence. The experience of the day, how- 
 ever, had admonished them to be on their guard against 
 surprise. To make things sure as to their animals, 
 they fastened them to stakes driven in the earth, suf- 
 ficient rope being given them for grazing. The place 
 selected for their camp was a beautiful spot, being on 
 a small stream which empties into the Arkansas, the 
 water of which is sparkling and clear. There are 
 many of these charming little brooks which, emptying 
 into, form this river. To the general traveler, how- 
 ever, they present one great drawback as eligible 
 camping sites. Their banks are usually pretty thickly 
 lined with rattlesnakes. The mountaineer is quite w^ell 
 accustomed and reconciled to this venomous reptile, as 
 they abound in nearly every section of his hunting and 
 trapping grounds. Not so, however, with the mere vis- 
 itor of, or casual traveler over, the Western Territories. 
 To them his rattlesnakeshij^ is a formidable personage. 
 The rattlesnake rarely moves after sunset. The night 
 air is generally too chilling for him. In the day- 
 time they are a noble enemy, always warning their 
 antagonists of their hostile intentions by springing 
 their rattles, thus giving a person warning of his 
 danger. By these two wise provisions of the Creator, 
 the power of this otherwise terrible reptile is so lim- 
 ited or restrained, that the trapper rarely gives him a 
 thought unless he comes in direct contact. Although 
 they are so numerous, it very seldom happens that 
 cither the Indian or the trapper is bitten by them. 
 
 The party had not been long at rest before tlieir sus- 
 picions were aroused that hostile Indians were near 
 them. A faithful dog belonging to the camp kept up 
 
ATTACKED BY INDIANS. 71 
 
 a furious barking, much more lustily than when wolves 
 annoyed him. An extra guard was therefore imme- 
 diately posted, when the remainder of the party lay 
 down ; but, not for sleep. They expected at every 
 moment that their services would be needed to defend 
 the camp. Everything, however, passed as usu&l dur- 
 ing the night; and, with the morning, all suspicion 
 was laid aside. Kit Carson, with three companions, 
 proposed a visit to a fork of a river close by, to look 
 for signs of beaver. They had been informed that 
 these animals were numerous in this particular stream. 
 Carson and the three men had been absent about one 
 hour when the signs of Indians proved to be realities, 
 in the shape of a bold and well-sustained charge upon 
 their camp. The rascals succeeded in running off all 
 of their loose animals. 
 
 Four of the men immediately saddled the fleetest of 
 the remaining horses, and instantly gave chase. After 
 a quick run they came upon the savages, and immedi- 
 ately gave them battle. A sharp skirmish ensued, in 
 which one of the warriors w^as killed, when the remain- 
 der fled, leaving the property once more in the hands 
 of its rightful owners. The men, however, did not 
 come off entirely safe. One of them received a very 
 severe wound, which eventually gave him considerable 
 difficulty, but from the effects of which he Anally re- 
 covered. 
 
 Kit and his companions, in the meantime, in order 
 to reach their destination, found it necessary, unless 
 they should take a long and circuitous route, to cross 
 one of those lofty peaks for which the Eocky Mountains 
 are so famous. The ascent was, however, commenced 
 and successfully accomplished ; but, not without labor 
 
72 UNSUCCESSFUL TRAPPING. 
 
 and an occasional resting-place being sought for breath- 
 ing their animals. In due time, they reached the desired 
 stream ; but the beaver signs did not appear. Finding 
 their errand had proved entirely useless, they started 
 to return into camp. Experience had taught them 
 that the longest way round was, in this case, the 
 quickest w^ay home. Taking, therefore, a circuitous 
 route, they avoided recrossing the lofty mountain 
 peak already alluded to. As they were riding care- 
 lessly homeward, beguiling the time with anecdote and 
 remark upon their future prospects, or the scenery 
 around them, with an occasional sight at some kind of 
 game, what should appear ahead of them but four In- 
 dian warriors, remarkably well mounted, painted and 
 decked with feathers, showing, conclusively, that they 
 were out upon the war-path As soon as Kit and his 
 companions saw the warriors, and without one word as 
 to their proper and best action being interchanged, 
 they simultaneously put spurs to their horses and 
 dashed at the Indians in order quickly to bring them 
 within range of their rifles. The paqe became a hot 
 one; but, as suddenly as the charge had been com- 
 menced, so suddenly the trappers found that they had, 
 this time, "caught a Tartar;" for, as they dashed on, 
 sixty warriors, fully armed and splendidly mounted, 
 came into view from beneath a hill where they were 
 awaiting in ambush. 
 
 There was but one course for the trappers to take, 
 and that was to run the gauntlet, which they did in gal- 
 lant style, although twenty yards would have frequently 
 measured the distance between them and the hostile 
 savages. The bullets from the rifles of the Indians 
 flew about their ears thick and fast, for a heavy fire was 
 
RUNNING THE GAUNTLET. 73 
 
 Opened upon them, as they passed, and incessantly kept 
 up until they were out of their reach. The trappers 
 did not return a shot. It would not have been accord- 
 ing to their custom. There is no one thing Simon- 
 pure trappers consider to be a greater folly than firing 
 their rifles on such an occasion as is here described. 
 There is nothing they so much dread as being left on 
 foot with an empty gun and no time to load, when per- 
 haps a single shot might change defeat into victory, 
 sure captivity into freedom, or a dead companion into a 
 laughing, jolly and lovable helpmate, ready for setting 
 a trap or to engage in the next bloody skirmish. This 
 must inevitably happen if, after the rider has hred, o 
 among the score or so of p:issing bullets, one of them, 
 perchance, took a peculiar fancy for a vital organ of 
 his horse. The mortally wounded animal would Inake 
 no account of dismounting his master and leaving him 
 to the tender mercies of the refined savages. In every 
 close and unequal contest, such as above detailed, they 
 only think of the surest and speediest method of escape, 
 leaving revenge to be obtained on some more fitting 
 and flivorable occasion. For some unaccountable rea- 
 son the savages did not give chase. 
 
 As soon as Carson and his comrades had got out of 
 the reach of the Indians, they began to recall the sus- 
 picions concerning signs of Indians which their faithful 
 dog had aroused. Fears for the safety of their com- 
 panions arose accordingly. Therefore, giving spurs to 
 their horses, they pushed on with vigor to know the 
 worst. The facts that awaited them at camp concern- 
 ing the attack by the Indians, stealing and rescue of the 
 horses, gave them, therefore, but little surprise. They 
 had already surmised the reason why the Indians had 
 
74 AWAITING AN OPPORTUNITY. 
 
 thus set a trap for them. Having been watching the 
 camp during the nighty and finding the white men fully 
 on the alert and carefully guarding against any sur- 
 prise, they had quietly waited until suspicion of their 
 proximity had been entirely laid aside. The departure 
 of Carson and his companions from camp was doubtless 
 seen by the savages, and afforded them a clear proof 
 that the white men had forgotten their fears. As Kit's 
 departure with the men weakened the camp party, the 
 Indians had gathered together sufficient courage to 
 make a bold charge for the coveted plunder. The final 
 result, however, which led to their losing the stolen 
 property, and the life of one of their braves, had caused 
 them to think of an attack upon Kit's party, thus ob- 
 taining by its massacre, revenge for their dead com- 
 panion ; and the horses which Kit and his comrades 
 rode would have been a consolation for their failure 
 to retain the horses obtained at the camp. The attack 
 was skillfully planned, and would undoubtedly have 
 succeeded but for the unexpected daring and prompti- 
 tude displayed by Kit and his comrades. The Indians 
 had not looked for the bold charge upon their advance 
 party, but, on the contrary, they had been prepared for 
 a chase and fight in the opposite direction. Had such a 
 skirmish taken place, nothing beyond an absolute miracle, 
 or change of the laws of nature, could have saved the 
 little band. Kit and his friends had reason, therefore, 
 to be very thankful for their safety. They all felt that 
 they had retained their scalps by a very close shave. 
 To use the expressive language of Carson, employed in 
 narrating the event: "The red-skins made a good at- 
 tempt, but, thank God, fiiiled." 
 
 Two of the trappers had received, in this affiray, 
 
A LITTER FOR THE WOUNDED. 75 
 
 wounds wliicli proved to be of n, serious nature, mucli 
 more so than they or their companions thought on the 
 first examination given them. In consequence, the 
 whole party was obhged to halt and again go into 
 camp, having accomplished but a very short remove 
 from their savage foes. It became necessary to main- 
 tain a strong and careful guard during the succeeding 
 night, notwithstanding the labors of the past day and 
 night had been more than usually arduous. However, 
 they succeeded in passing the night without further 
 molestation. The next morning it was found necessary 
 to make a litter for one of the wounded men, whose 
 condition had grown to be much worse. 
 
 The method which the mountaineers adopt for making 
 a litter, they have taken from the Indians, and is as 
 follows : Take two strong poles, six feet of which, at 
 either extremity, is allowed for shafts, or handles, while 
 the patient lies in the intermediate space on a buffalo 
 robe, or strong sacking, whichever is most convenient. 
 Two mules or horses of the same size are then selected ; 
 and, to saddles upon each of the animals, the poles, at 
 their extremities, are fastened. Another and simpler 
 plan, but one not so comfortable to the patient, is to 
 take the two poles as before and attach them strongly 
 to a saddle on but one animal, while the two ends are 
 allowed to drag upon the ground. Directly in the rear 
 of the horse the patient's bed is affixed. If the poles 
 are long they will act as springs, especially when the 
 wood used is of a kind which has considerable elas- 
 ticity. 
 
 Having arranged everything to the satisfaction and 
 comfort of the wounded men, the party commenced 
 their march, and in four days reached Gaunt's camp, 
 
76 UNFAVORABLE BUSINESS PROSPECTS. 
 
 where they rested until the wounded men had nearly 
 recovered. This simple fact shows the careful and 
 sympathizing care which the mountaineers of the West 
 ever exhibit towards each other in distress. It speaks 
 more than would volumes of mere praise, concerning 
 their character for true manhood. 
 
 When the wounded men had so far recovered that 
 they could safely proceed, the whole party, now quite 
 strong in its numerical power, as well as skill and 
 mountaineer experience, departed for, and, in due time, 
 arrived at the Middle Park. The coveted beaver, 
 however, were scarce there, for other trappers had pre- 
 ceded them, and, to employ trapping phrase, "had 
 caught all the fur in those streams that could be taken 
 that season." This was an unpleasant condition for 
 their business prospects; but, as the old adage hath it, 
 " what could not be cured was quietly endured." Catch- 
 ing beaver is not always a matter of choice. The bea- 
 ver themselves have considerable to say on the subject. 
 
KIT HUNTS ON UIS OWN ACCOUNT. ,1 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Kit Carson and two Companions plan a Hunt for themselves — Tlie Great 
 Success met with — Return to Taos — Sale of the Beaver Fur — Kit 
 Carson joins Captain Lee and goes on a Trading Expedition — Winter 
 Quarters — Kit Carson is sent in Pursuit of a Thief— Overtakes and is 
 obliged to Shoot the Runaway — Property Recovered — The Return to 
 the Camp — The Sale of Goods — Kit Carson joins Fitzpatrick and 
 Party — Kit Carson organizes a Hunting Party — His Encounter with 
 two Grizzly Bears — The Summer Rendezvous — Kit C;irson joins fifty 
 Trappers and goes to the Country of the Blackleet Indians — Annoy- 
 ances received from these Indians — Winter Quarters in 18:i2 — Hor.^es 
 Stolen — Kit Carson and eleven ^len in Pursuit — A Parley — A Fight — 
 Kit Carson severely Wounded — His great Sufferings and Fortitude — 
 His Convalescence — The Retreat — A New Expedition — A Braggado- 
 cio — Kit Carson Fights a Dael and Wounds his Man — Duels in the 
 Rocky Mountains in Olden Times. 
 
 The fortunes of Gaunt's party in not finding game 
 continued to grow darker and darker as they traveled 
 from stream to stream. The men began to grow dis- 
 heartened at this succession of failures. Kit Carson, 
 finally, became so tired of going empty-handed, that he 
 resolved to try a hunt upon his own account. On 
 stating his intentions to the party, two of his old com- 
 panions offered to join him. These were gladly accepted 
 by Kit ; and, had they not been deterred by the con- 
 sideration that their dangers would be greatly aug- 
 mented if they worked with so small a party, others 
 would most willingly have joined his company. With 
 the good wishes, therefore, of Gaunt and his entire band. 
 
78 SPLENDID SUCCESS. 
 
 Kit and his two brave comrades boldly and confidently 
 commenced their march. 
 
 The plan Kit adopted was to confine his operations 
 exclusively to the mountain streams, and not to venture 
 out upon the prairie. By taking this course he hoped 
 to avoid much of the danger to be apprehended from 
 Indians. 
 
 For several months they followed the business of 
 trapping without being in any way annoyed by the 
 red-skins. Their success was abundant. At the end of 
 the season they had gathered together a splendid stock 
 of beaver fur, and began to think of a homeward trip. 
 Having made everything ready, they finally started for 
 Taos. True, their party was small, and the risks they 
 ran of attacks from hostile and covetous Indians were 
 imminent ; but fortune or Providence favored them, and 
 there was finally a satisfactory end to their anxieties, 
 for, after a quick march over the plains, they arrived 
 safely at Taos. Beaver fur was, at the time of their 
 arrival, in great demand, and prices ruled correspond- 
 ingly high. Kit and his comrades obtained the benefit 
 of this state of the market, and disposed of their fine 
 stock to great advantage. 
 
 The money realized, so far as Kit's two comrades were 
 concerned, was soon expended in fleeting pleasures and 
 a new outfit for the next trapping expedition which 
 might offer. Kit's former experience had been suflQ- 
 cient on this score, and he had become impressed with 
 the highly important fact that there existed a much 
 wiser course to be pursued. With his characteristic 
 consistency, Kit acted upon this conviction and wisely 
 saved his hard earnings. 
 
 While remaining at Taos, Kit Carson met with Cap- 
 
GOING INTO WINTER QUARTERS. 79 
 
 tain Lee, formerly of the United States Army, but at 
 this time a partner of Bent and St. Vrain, two names 
 as familiarly known to the mountaineers as the house- 
 hold words of their boyhood days. 
 
 Captain Lee was purchasing goods for the purpose of 
 trading with and supplying the trappers. lie desired 
 Kit Carson to join in his enterprise, and made him an 
 offer, which was accepted. 
 
 In the latter part of October, 1832, w^ith their goods 
 well packed and properly fitted for the rough transporta- 
 tion w hich they must necessarily be subjected to, they 
 set out to find the trappers. They traveled for some 
 distance on a route w^ell known as the " Old Spanish 
 Trail," w^hich was nothing more than a mule-path lead- 
 ing from New^ Mexico to California. 
 
 Having arrived safely at White Eiver, they continued 
 their march dow^n stream, following the windings of the 
 river until they came to Green Eiver. Green Eiver 
 they forded, and then struck across the country for the 
 Winty Eiver, which is a branch of the Green Eiver. 
 
 Here they found Mr. Eobidoux, who had a party of 
 twenty men in his employ, and who was engaged both 
 in trapping and trading, according as opportunity pre- 
 sented itself. Soon after these parties met, snow began 
 to fall, indicating the approach of the cold season. A 
 mutual understanding having been arrived at, the two 
 parties joined together, and began to establish w^inter 
 quarters suitable for the whole. 
 
 They selected a site for their permanent camp on 
 the Winty Eiver, at its mouth, wdiere the men made 
 themselves as comfortable as possible under such cir- 
 cumstances. They w^ere provided with skin lodges, so 
 common among the Indians of America, and which, ac- 
 
80 MISPLACED CONFIDEJ^CE. 
 
 cording to Kit's mountaineering experience, are xery 
 comfortable substitutes for houses. 
 
 During the winter Mr. Robidoux lost six of his most 
 valuable and high-priced horses, in the following man- 
 ner. Attached to the camp there was a California In- 
 dian who was employed by Mr. Robidoux, a keen and 
 shrewd savage ; and one, whose acquaintance with the 
 trappers had enabled him to gain the confidence of Mr. 
 Robidoux. He was also an expert with the rifle, and 
 possessed undoubted courage with great bodily strength 
 and activity. These qualifications made him a trouble- 
 some customer in a skirmish. 
 
 This Indian's education on the score of property 
 rights had not been as well attended to as the meth- 
 ods of attack and defence in the chase and on the war- 
 path. By some, not strange, personal argument, he 
 concluded to appropriate the six valuable horses above 
 mentioned, in the law wordy vocabulary of civilization, 
 " to his own use, benefit and behoof, without asking the 
 consent, good-will, approbation, permission and personal 
 directions of the said owner, to Avit, Mr. Robidoux." 
 
 As these horses were worth, even at that remote 
 spot on the great American Continent, the just and full 
 sum of two hundred dollars each, making a roiuid sum 
 total of twelve hundred dollars, Mr. Robidoux was not 
 content to pocket the loss, or, much less, to allow the 
 rascal to enjoy ill-gotten wealth on the principle that 
 ^' stolen fruit is sweet." He determined if j^ossible to 
 show him that some stolen fruit is bitter. 
 
 Knowing Kit Carson's reputation for skill and his 
 fearless disposition, as soon as he had discovered his 
 loss, he came and requested him to pursue the Indian. 
 Kit Carson was a man who never worked without orders 
 
CARSON AFTER THE ROBBER. 81 
 
 except when he was leader. He therefore informed Cap- 
 tain Lee of Mr. Robidoux's request, and asked permis- 
 sion to serve his friend. This, as ta matter of course, 
 was readily granted by Captain Lee, when Kit instantly 
 made Iiis preparations for the adventure. He was very 
 soon on horseback, Avell armed and well prepared for 
 hard and close work. 
 
 There chanced, near by to the camp, to be an Indian 
 villa o:e beloncrino* to the Utah tribe. The whites were 
 on friendly terms with the inhabitants of this village, 
 which determined Carson to seek out from among their 
 warriors, one active and intelligent brave, and get him 
 to join in the chase. This was the more easily accom- 
 plished, as Carson's reputation for skill, courage and 
 experience was already well known in this tribe. He, 
 himself, had made a large circle of acquaintarxes among 
 the braves, and many of them had become strongly at- 
 tached to him, for it is a fact well known, that the 
 American Indian warrior, as a general rule, is as true 
 and unchangeable in his friendships as he is intense 
 in his hatred. With this in view, Carson, putting 
 his horse to his speed, started for the Utah village. 
 On making his errand known to such of the braves as 
 enioyed his confidence, he found no difficultv in enorag:- 
 ing a well-known warrior, and one on whom he knew 
 he could rely, to accompany him. The wily savage 
 was soon ready for the march, when Kit gave the word 
 to start. Both men were splendidly mounted, and their 
 pace was that of no sluggard. The high-conditioned 
 animals which they rode seemed to catch the eager 
 spirit of their masters, and entering into it, bent them- 
 selves to their work with determination accordingly. 
 To discover the trail of the deserter, and to study its 
 
82 AN UNPLEASANT PREDICAMENT. 
 
 various characteristics, a science of no mean or useless 
 order in the matter of a Avoodman's education, required 
 the two men to slacken their pace for a short time. 
 The tracks made by the stolen animals, however, w^ere 
 well marked, and, to such j^racticed eyes, afforded a 
 certain indication as to their route. Again jDutting 
 their horses to their speed, w^ith compressed lips and 
 eyes directed to the trail before them, Carson and the 
 Indian w^arrior dashed on, feeling confident that, if the 
 rascal escaped with his ill-gotten booty, the sin would 
 not be laid upon their shoulders. The trail led down 
 the Green Kiver. This fact made Carson conclude 
 that California was the destination aimed at in the 
 deserter's calculations. Kit and his Indian brave had 
 accomplished about one hundred miles, having not once 
 lost sight of the trail, when, most unfortunately for Kit, 
 the horse of the Indian was suddenly taken sick and his 
 strength gave out completely. The Indian could go no 
 further except on foot, and this mode of travel he was 
 unwilling to adopt, refusing absolutely Carson's request 
 made to him to do so. This was an unpleasant predic- 
 ament, especially as the rascal who formed the chase was 
 a dangerous antagonist, even to an experienced fighter 
 and in an honest cause. Goaded on by the fear of pun- 
 ishment for theft, Carson well knew that he would re- 
 quire all of his own address to purchase success; for the 
 rascal would not fail to make a most desperate resistance. 
 But Kit Carson's courage arose, as the difficulties of the 
 adventure seemed to multiply. With a farewell word 
 to his Indian companion, he put spurs to his horse and 
 entered boldly upon the trail alone, being determined 
 to run every hazard, w^hich the unhappy accident to 
 the Indian's horse seemed to require at his hands. The 
 
A DESPERATE ENCOUNTER. 83 
 
 spectacle here presented to the reader is one which ex- 
 hibits Kit Carson in his true character, both as a faith- 
 ful and earnest friend, and a determined and dangerous 
 adversary. Such was his character. A life of most 
 singular events never found him false to his friend or 
 his manhood. While he was not rash in judgment, he 
 was consummately skillful, quick and brave. Onward 
 he dashed, never for an instant taking his eagle eye 
 from the tracks which formed his compass. Think not 
 that such tracks are easily traced. None but a prac- 
 ticed and ready eye can follow them to any advanta- 
 geous end. To trace them even at a snail's pace, for an 
 unpracticed eye, is like the child putting pen and ink 
 to paper through his first copy-book of penmanship. 
 Many and many an awful blot and horribly crooked 
 line will doubtless carry the simile fully and strikingly 
 to the mind. But the result which crowned Kit's 
 efforts showed conclusively that, notwithstanding he 
 had followed the trail for over one hundred and thirty 
 miles, he had made no blots or crooked lines. At the 
 distance of thirty miles from the place where he parted 
 with his Indian companion. Kit discovered the chase. 
 His pace now became tremendous. The wily savage 
 had descried him almost the same instant that he was 
 discovered by Kit, and instantly prepared for a desper- 
 ate encounter. With this object in view the savage 
 turned to seek a cover from whence he could fire upon 
 his adversary and reload long before he should himself 
 become exposed to a shot. The rascal's plan was good 
 enough, but he was too slow in its execution to overcome 
 Kit's activity. Kit had unslung his rifle as soon as he 
 saw his enemy. Anticipating the object of the savage, 
 he instantly covered him with his rifle. His horse was 
 
84 caeson's skill with the rifle. 
 
 now at full speed and he was rapidly nearing the In- 
 dian. At the moment he discovered that the In- 
 dian had reached his cover, and before he could 
 take advantage of it, without relaxing his horse's 
 speed, he fired. The ball from Carson's rifle Avas so 
 well directed that the Indian, as it struck him, gave one 
 bound and then fell dead in his tracks. At the same 
 instant the rascal's rifle went off with a sharp report, 
 sendincc a bullet whizzino; at some distance from the 
 line of Carson's approach. The fact of the Indian's 
 rifle being fired at all is a sufficient explanation of what 
 was his intent, had his career not been so suddenly cut 
 short, thereby preventing its fulfillment. 
 
 The words of an old trapper are here very much to 
 the point. The author was, on a fitting occasion, c[ues- 
 tioning him in regard to Kit Carson's capabilities with 
 the rifle. Said he: "If a man has a serious quarrel 
 with Kit Carson, he had better not let him get the 
 first sight over his rifle; for, if he succeeds in this, his 
 adversary is as good as dead. 
 
 An intimate acquaintance and tried friendship with 
 Kit Carson has, since then, repeatedly furnished occa- 
 sions which have confirmed this trapper's statement, 
 although, in the first instance, a person would find it no 
 easy task to render an altercation necessary, for Kit 
 Carson always held his passions fully under control, and, 
 besides, they were of a very conciliatory type. No man 
 would sooner shun a difficulty when justice, honor, and 
 necessity did not warrant strife. 
 
 The work of collecting the horses was soon accom- 
 plished, when Carson immediately commenced his jour- 
 ney back to the camp. This he reached in safety, after 
 overcoming a few minor difficulties caused by his 
 
WONDROUS STORY-TELLING. 85 
 
 charge, and had the satisfaction of returning the six 
 horses to Mr. Robidoux in as good condition as they 
 were the night on which they were stolen, and also of 
 informincc him that there was one rascal less in the 
 world to prey upon honest people. 
 
 This event served to interrupt the monotony and 
 routine of winter camp duty, affording a basis for many 
 a long yarn during the evening hours around the camp 
 fires. These trappers, especially whenever a green- 
 eyed bundle of curiosity chances to seek their company, 
 can spin yarns most wondrous. The habits of the 
 beaver and their remarkable instinct form a fit subject 
 for their active imagination. It would doubtless add 
 very much to the interest of these pages if we could set 
 down a few of these anecdotes and tales for the general 
 reader, but the task would be hopeless as to its ac- 
 complishment. To give them life and reaUty, they re- 
 quire all the surroundings of time, place, and occasion ; 
 there should be the dark night ; the wild, whistling 
 wind ; the shaking tent with its covering of skins ; the 
 roasted venison, bear's meat, or horse-flesh ; the rifles 
 standing in the corners ; the lamp of bear's grease — in 
 fine, all the similitude of camp life. Then the wild 
 stories of bear fightings, beaver intelligence, Indian 
 deviltry, and hair-breadth escapes, become intensely 
 real. The auditor hangs upon each word which falls 
 from the lips of the supposed sage orator with 
 eager earnestness, while curiosity never becomes 
 satisfied. 
 
 " Ah ! Jones, that is a whopper." 
 
 " Sure as I live, but the beaver slept every night 
 with the trapper ; and in the day time, if he left the 
 tent, the beaver would fall to work and make a dam 
 
86 RATHER TOO KNOWING. 
 
 across the floor of the tent, using the chist, skins, arms, 
 and everything." 
 
 "Oh! Jones!" 
 
 " But, I tell you it is true. Tame a beaver once, and 
 you'll find I'se tellin' a plain statement as true as ever 
 a Padre made." 
 
 " Padre ! who'd believe a Mexican priest ? Mr. Jones, 
 that tame beaver of your'n must have been born in the 
 States, where he hadn't trees and mud to build dams 
 with, and had to resort to furnitur." 
 
 "That beaver," responded Jones, " was as near like a 
 human bein' as any man present." 
 
 '^ How do you make that out, Mr. Jones?" 
 
 " Why, one day his master died. Well, they tried 
 all they could to console the beaver, but it 'twant no 
 use. He wouldn't be consoled. All he did was to git 
 an ole shoe belonging to his master, an' if he didn't 
 haul that ere shoe around day after day wherever he 
 went. Well, the beaver 'gan to grow thin, and one 
 night they found he was a dyin', jest from starvin' him- 
 self to death and a huggin' the ole shoe." 
 
 " Oh ! Jones," said the greenhorn, *^you don't expect 
 I'll swallow all that yarn?" 
 
 But Mr. Jones and all of the other trappers present 
 preserved an imperturbable dignity of mien, as if the 
 very reference to the animal mentioned demanded from 
 them all due reverence. 
 
 " Well, but that was not doing as a human being 
 would do. I never seen a man carry an old shoe around 
 till he died from starvin'." 
 
 "That is neither here nor there," continued Mr. 
 Jones. " It was when the trapper first made the bea- 
 ver's acquaintance that he showed he knew as much as 
 
HABITS OF THE BEAVER. 87 
 
 a human critter. At that time he had one wife and 
 lived with her all alone in a hole, side o' the dam. They 
 had two sons and a darter. The darter the old beaver 
 had married to a fine-lookin' young beaver who lived 
 t'other side the dam." 
 
 The whistle which the neophyte here gave seemed to 
 give great dissatisfaction to all of the trappers present. 
 One of them quietly asked him — 
 
 " Is that the way, youngster, you'se bin eddicated in 
 perliteniss of manners ? If it is, I know a beaver who 
 kin larn you sumthin'. In the fust place, if a young 
 beaver ever kums into the presence of the ole uns, 
 especially if she's — that is, the ole uns — a female bea- 
 ver, the young un 'mediately fetches his right fore paw 
 tip to his forehead, jest behind the right eyebrow, an' 
 makes a reverintial bow of cerimony in salute. I'se 
 seen that ar' oftener than you've put one leg ahead of 
 t'other yit, young un." 
 
 The trappers present all confirmed the truth of this 
 statement by a solemn nod of assent to the query, 
 "Ain't that true, gentlemen?" which, at least, served 
 to prevent unceremonious whistling. 
 
 It is thus that we might go on and fill page after page 
 with this picture-talk of the trappers. Some of their 
 yarns are pretty tightly strained, but most of them con- 
 tain a capital hit and are usually founded on the facts. 
 It is a well authenticated fact that the beaver has but 
 one mate, and that they live together a loving couple, 
 as if husband and wife. As to their liaisons, coquetry, 
 flirting, and so forth, doubtless the society in some parts 
 of the human family will bear a faithful resemblance in 
 these respects also. As an example of industry, the 
 world will look in vain for a better one than is afforded 
 
88 SUMMER ON LARAMIE RIYER. 
 
 by the little beaver of the Western Rivers. Look at 
 them patiently felling the tallest trees ; and, so nicely 
 adjusting their fall and calculating their height, that 
 they strike the opposite bank of their stream, gaining 
 a fixed and permanent lodgment. It is thus that these 
 wonderful little creatures will often erect dams across 
 wide rivers and effectually stop the rushing torrents. 
 
 As has appeared, after collecting the six horses, Kit 
 Carson returned with them safely into camp. A few 
 days subsequent to this occurrence, a band of trappers 
 belonging to another party en route, entered the camp. 
 These men reported that Fitzpatrick and Bridger were 
 encamped on Snake River, distant about fifteen days' 
 j\)urney. This was too good news for Captain Lee and 
 Kit to warrant their remaining any longer idle. They 
 doubted not but that they should be able to dispose of 
 their goods to these parties. With this object in view, 
 they prepared for the march and started. Their jour- 
 ney, although perilous and laborious, was successfully 
 accomplished. Messrs. Fitzpatrick and Bridger re- 
 ceived and entertained them very hospitably, and pur- 
 chased their entire stock, paying therefor in beaver fur. 
 Kit Carson then joined Fitzpatrick's band, but remained 
 with it only one m(^nth. His reason for separating 
 from it was, that there were too many congregated 
 together either to accomplish much or to make the 
 general result profitable in the distribution. He ac- 
 cordingly arranged an enterprise upon his own account, 
 and, from his well-established reputation, found more 
 men than he wanted ready to join him. From those 
 who applied he selected but three. These were men of 
 the best material, and no man could judge a trapper's 
 qualifications better than Kit Carson. 
 
WONDERFUL SAGACITY. 89 
 
 With his three men he immediately set out for the 
 Laramie River. On this stream and its tributaries he 
 spent the simmier. Perhaps our readers will look for a 
 full description of the course which the American trap- 
 per pursues in order to catch beaver. It is very simple 
 in its detail, but difficult and tedious in its application. 
 The trap is the common steel trap made in the usual 
 form 5 if there is any difference, it is larger and more 
 powerful. It is set in the haunts of the beaver with a 
 j)articular kind of bait^ known chiefly among trappers. 
 It is a singular fact, that, frecjuently, old beavers will 
 be discovered springing the traps by the aid of a stick. 
 If discovered at his work, he seems to enjoy hugely the 
 vexation of the trappers, which they sometimes exhibit. 
 An old trapper, however, especially if he be a French- 
 man or Mexican, feels so much pride in the matter, that 
 he will cover up his vexation under assumed politeness, 
 as if the beaver could understand and appreciate his 
 lang^uao-e. 
 
 But to escape from these pleasing digressions. Kit 
 Carson and his men concluded their summer's work 
 with nnusual success. Their exertions had been 
 crowned with rewards which surpassed their fondest 
 anticipations. As the wintry months were again fast 
 coming on. Kit and his men determined to rejoin 
 Bridger's command. The return trip was, therefore, 
 commenced and duly prosecuted. Late one afternoon, 
 just after the little party had gone into camp, Kit, 
 having lingered somewhat behind, suddenly rode into 
 the camp ground and leaped from his horse, giving it 
 in care of. one of the men. With his rifle, he then 
 started in j)ursuit of game for su2:)per. He walked on 
 
 * Animalium patris testiculum. 
 
90 ADVENTURE WITH GEIZZLY BEARS. 
 
 about one mile from the camp, and there came upon 
 the fresh tracks of some elk. Following up the trail, 
 he discovered the game grazing on the side of a hill. 
 In the neighborhood of the animals there were some 
 low and craggy pine trees. Moving along with great 
 care, he finally gained the cover of the trees, which 
 brought him in close proximity to the elk, and within 
 certain range of his rifle. This care w^as the more 
 necessary, as his party had been without meat diet for 
 some time, and began to be greatly in need thereof. 
 These ever wary animals saw, or scented him ; or, at 
 any rate, became conscious of approaching danger from 
 some cause, before he could reach the spot from which 
 he desired to take his aim. They had commenced 
 moving, and, in another instant, would have bounded 
 away, out of all reach of his rifle. His eye and piece, 
 however, were too quick for them, for, bringing his 
 piece into position, and without dwelling upon his aim, 
 he sped a bullet after the largest and fattest of the 
 noble game before him. He had wisely allowed for the 
 first leap, for his shot caught the nimble animal in mid- 
 air and brought him to the earth, writhing in his death 
 agony with a fearful wound through the heart and 
 lungs, from which there was no escape. One quiver 
 ran through the frame of the beautiful animal, when 
 he breathed his last. The echoing sound of the rifle- 
 shot had hardly died away, to which the true hunter 
 ever listens with unfeigned pleasure as the sweetest of 
 music on his ear, whenever he has seen that his game 
 is surely within his grasp, the last faint melody was 
 broken in upon and completely lost in a terrific roar 
 from the woods directly behind him. Instantly turning 
 his head to note the source of this sound, the meaning 
 
Two huge and terribly angry grizzly bears were bounding towards him, their eyes 
 Hashing fiery passion, their pearly teeth glittering with eagerness to mangle his tiesh, 
 and their monstrous forearms, hung with sharp, bony claws, ready and anxious to hug 
 his body in a close and most loving embrace. — Page 93. 
 
NO TIME TO COGITATE. 93 
 
 and cause of which he well knew by his experienced 
 woodman's ear, educated until its nicety was truly won- 
 derful, he saw two huge and terribly angry grizzly 
 bears. As his eye first rested upon these unwelcome 
 guests, they were bounding towards him, their eyes 
 flashing fiery passion, their pearly te.eth glittering with 
 eagerness to mangle his flesh, and their monstrous fore- 
 arms, hung with sharp, bony claws, ready and anxious 
 to hug his body in a close and most loving embrace. 
 There was not much time for Kit to scratch his head 
 and cogitate. In fact, one instant spent in thought 
 then would have proved his death-warrant without hope 
 of a reprieve. Messrs. Bruin evidently considered their 
 domain most unjustly intruded upon. The gentle elk 
 and deer, mayhap, were their dancing boys and girls ; 
 and, like many a petty king in savage land, they may 
 have dined late, and w^ere now enjoying a scenic treat 
 of their ballet troupe. At all events. Kit required no 
 second thought to perceive that the monarchs of the 
 American forest were unappeasably angry, and were 
 fast nearing him with mighty stride. Dropping his 
 rifle, the little leaden bullet of which would now have 
 been worth to him its weight in gold if it could, by 
 some magic wand, have been transferred from the heart 
 of the elk back into its breech, he bounded from his 
 position in close imitation of the elk, but with better 
 success. The trees ! he hcptd and prayed, as he fairly 
 flew over the ground with the bears hot in chase, for 
 one quick grasp at a sturdy sapling. By good fortune, 
 or special Providence, his hope, or prayer, was answered. 
 Grasping a lower limb, he swung his body up into the 
 first tier of branches just as passing Bruin brushed 
 against one of his legs. Bears climb trees, and Kit 
 
94 TICKLING THEIR NOSES. 
 
 Carson was not ignorant of the fact. Instantly draw- 
 ing his keen-edged hunting knife, he cut away for dear 
 life at a thick, short branch. The knife and his energy 
 conquered the cutting just as Messrs. Bruin had gathered 
 themselves up for an ascent, a proceeding on their part 
 to which Mr. Carson would not give assent. Mr. Carson 
 was well acquainted with the Messrs. Bruin's pride in, 
 and extreme consideration for, their noses. A few 
 sharp raps made with the severed branch upon the 
 noses of the ascending bears, while they fairly made 
 them to howl with pain and rage, caused them hastily 
 to beat a retreat. This scene of ascending, getting 
 their noses tickled, and again descending, howling with 
 pain and rage, now kept Mr. Carson and Messrs. Bruin 
 actively busy for some time. The huge monsters and 
 monarchs of the mountains were determined not to give 
 it up so. Such a full and fair chase, and to be beaten 
 by a simple white man on their own domain ! This 
 evidently galled their sensitive natures. It is true the 
 roaring of the bears in his rear had stimulated Mr. 
 Carson in the race, so much so that he undoubtedly ran 
 at the top of his speed ; and, being naturally, as well as 
 by long practice, very fleet of foot, he had managed to 
 outstrip his pursuers in the race. It is true he had 
 made short work of climbing the tree, and here again 
 had very innocently beaten the bears at their own 
 game, and one in which they took great pride. It is 
 more than probable that the bears were in too good 
 condition to run well. Had it been early spring time 
 they would doubtless have been much lower in flesh. 
 That was Uicir own fault too; they should have known 
 that racing time cannot be made on high condition. 
 After leaving their hibernating quarters they should 
 
KIT VICTORIOUS. 95 
 
 have been less given to a sumptuous habit at the 
 table. 
 
 Affairs were, however, by no manner of means set- 
 tled. They had the daring trespasser on their domain 
 treed, and almost within their reach ; and, indeed, to 
 keep out of the way of their uncomely claws. Kit was 
 obliged to gather himself uj) in the smallest possible 
 space and cling to the topmost boughs. The bears 
 now allowed themselves a short respite for breathing, 
 during which they gave vent to their wrath by many 
 shrill screeches. Then they renewed their endeavors 
 to force the hunter from his resting place. Mounted 
 on their hind paws, they would reach for him ; but, the 
 blows with the stick, applied freely to their noses, 
 would make them desist. In vain did they exhaust 
 every means to force the man to descend ; he was not 
 to be driven or coaxed. The hard knocks they had 
 sustained upon their noses had now aroused them 
 almost to madness. Together they made one desperate 
 effort to tear Kit from the tree. As in all their previ- 
 ous attempts, they were foiled, and their ardor damp- 
 ened and cooled by the drumming operations upon 
 their noses, which this time was so freely and strongly 
 applied upon one of them as to make him lachrymate 
 and cry out with pain. One at a time they departed; 
 but it was not until they had been out of sight and 
 hearing for some time that Kit considered it safe to 
 venture down from the tree, when he hastened to re- 
 gain and immediately to reload his rifle. 
 
 Thus ended an adventure in which Kit Carson con- 
 sidered that he failed to lose life and limb by the nar- 
 rowest miss that ever occurred to him. Although he 
 had killed much more than his quantum of this kind of 
 
96 THE GRIZZLY BEAR. 
 
 game, and had gained what is a practical advantage to 
 every western hunter, to wit : a knowledge of all their 
 abilities with which they enforced sway, Kit Carson 
 regarded this adventure in the light of a warning. It 
 was a warning, too, which he never allowed himself to 
 forget ; consequently, whenever he hunted afterward, 
 he watched as closely for signs of Mr. Bruin as he did 
 for the game he sought ; it would, therefore, have been 
 a difficult matter for the bears again to surprise him. 
 Some of the most desperate battles on record between 
 hunters and wild animals are narrated of encounters 
 with the bear tribe. 
 
 Several years ago, a Mexican by the name of Arma- 
 dor Sanchez, well known in the Eocky Mountains as a 
 brave and skillful hunter, had a fight w^ith a bear 
 which lasted several hours. This terrible battle ended 
 by both the combatants being laid prostrate upon the 
 ground, so completely exhausted as to be utterly un- 
 able to reach each other from the want of j)hysical 
 strength. In this condition they spent one night; 
 and, on the following morning, when the brave Mexi- 
 can hunter had recovered sufficiently to be able to 
 creep to his antagonist, he found him dead. This 
 close conflict grew out of the hunter's noble daring in 
 endeavoring to save the life of a Mexican boy, whom, 
 at the instant the hunter attacked the beast, the bear 
 was about to tear into pieces. At one time the bear 
 had the youth in his terrible clutches in such a manner 
 that it was impossible for him to plant a shot in any 
 vital organ. But nothing daunted, with his rifle and 
 revolver, he lodged several bullets in other parts of the 
 fierce monster. Still the savage animal clung to the 
 unfortunate boy, endeavoring to tear him to pieces, 
 
A TERRIBLE CONFLICT. 97 
 
 and horribly mangling liim in every part of his 
 body. The noble hunter could resist no longer, 
 and dropping his pistols and rifle, he drew his sheath- 
 knife and slung-shot, and, after winding his blanket 
 around his left arm to protect it, rushed in and com- 
 pelled the animal to turn upon him. Wounds were 
 freely given and returned ; but, the wary Mexican 
 fought with such dexterity and determination, that 
 the bear finally became so mad with pain and rage 
 that by a tremendous effort, with one blow of his 
 jDOwerful paw, he knocked the brave hunter headlong 
 upon the ground, where he lay some time before re- 
 covering his breath. Instead of following up this ad- 
 vantage, the brute, doubtless being deceived because 
 the man did not move, commenced examining and 
 licking; his own bleedino; wounds. But the brave 
 hunter had now got his spirit so completely up, that 
 he determined to conquer his antagonist or die. Early 
 in the fight, by a blow from his slung-shot, he suc- 
 ceeded in breaking the bear's lower jaw. This had 
 greatly disabled the animal, and doubtless was the 
 successful wound wdiich eventually gave Sanchez the 
 victory. AYhen he felt himself sufficiently rested, he 
 renewed the fight; and, by adopting various manoeu- 
 vres, in which he was greatly assisted by some adja- 
 cent trees, succeeded in putting in several telling 
 blows with his knife. Again the animal became 
 aroused to madness unendurable, and, gathering him- 
 self up for a final effort, succeeded in planting a terri- 
 ble blow on the hunter's head, which once more 
 brought him to the ground. From this blow and 
 the previous loss of blood, the brave man fainted en- 
 tirely away. How long he remained in this state he 
 
98 A FORMIDABLE ENEMY. 
 
 could not tell ; but, on becoming again conscious, he 
 found that the victory was on his side, for the bear 
 had already breathed his last. Tiie poor boy, notwith- 
 standing his wounds, as soon as the battle was de- 
 cided, and, as he supposed, at the cost of his friend's 
 life, started for a neighboring fort, and, reaching it the 
 following morning, reported the affair. A party of 
 men well armed immediately marched to the rescue. 
 They found the brave hunter in a most pitiful condi- 
 tion, with his flesh terribly mangled, his clothes torn 
 into ribbons, and his back and shoulders one mass of 
 lacerated wounds. His reason had already become 
 unseated. In his native language he would call out to 
 his now visionary foe, " If 3^ou are a brave man, come 
 on." Although the most delicate care and assistance 
 was rendered to Sanchez, it was many weeks before he 
 was able to resume his occupation ; and, even then, he 
 owed his life to the wonderfid recuperative powers of 
 his healthy and iron constitution. Had the fact been 
 otherwise, he could not have survived his injuries. One 
 more brave heart must have yielded its last drop of he- 
 roic blood in defence of youthful weakness. This pic- 
 ture, because it does not exaggerate the facts, we leave 
 with regret, for it is a pleasure to contemplate such 
 nobility of character, whatever be the name which de- 
 clares the governmental allegiance to the hero. 
 
 It is not going beyond the bounds of truth to assert 
 that the grizzly bear of the Rocky Mountains is as 
 formidable an enemy as the hunter is called upon to 
 meet, wherever the hunting-ground and whatever the 
 animal which opponents to our assertion may set up. 
 When caught out on the open prairie, where he can 
 be attacked on horseback and lassoed, the chances 
 
THE KING OF BEASTS. 99 
 
 are against the bear; but, in a broken country, woe 
 to his assaihants, unless life is saved by some trick ; or, 
 happy fortune ; a lucky shot ; a telling blow, like 
 Sanchez's with his slung-shot; or, the fanciful drum- 
 ming, such as was Kit's, on the noses of his antagonists; 
 or, some other equally singular and unlooked-for ex- 
 pedient. The weight of one of these monsters often 
 runs as high as fifteen hundred pounds, and their 
 fore paws, which they can manage with the greatest 
 dexterity, frequently measure fourteen inches. The 
 courage, sagacity and skill invariably evinced by 
 this species of bear, when engaged in a fight, is not 
 equaled by any other wild animal on the face of the 
 globe, not excepting the lion. 
 
 ^ye take pleasure in here giving further publicity to 
 the careful research and plain truths which have ema- 
 nated from the pen of that distinguished and success- 
 ful traveler. Dr. Livingstone. The new ideas which 
 appear in his pages in regard to the courage of the 
 " King of Beasts," have served, in a measure, to cor- 
 rect the general impression, and to bring down from its 
 high-stilted hyperbole the courage, sagacity, and terrible 
 power of the lion, which, he states, are overrated. We 
 do not desire to contradict published statements any 
 farther than our own personal knowledge extends ; 
 hence, we give our authority for our statements in re- 
 gard to the lion, very well satisfied ourself with Dr. 
 Livingstone's love of truth and earnest candor. So 
 much for the lion. Our statements in regard to the 
 Rocky Mountain grizzly bear rest upon our own knowl- 
 edge and investigation, gathered in his own haunts and 
 on his own wild domain, and, as such, are given upon 
 our own responsibility. Because brave American woods- 
 
100 INDIANS HUNTING GRIZZLY BEARS. 
 
 men can readily conquer the monarch of the American 
 forest; and because the chicken-hearted Afric son, or 
 dweller, trembles before the steady glare of the Afric 
 King of Beasts, ergo his beardship must, in popular 
 opinion, play subordinate to his lionship. For the sake 
 of truth, we should like to see the Spanish arena once 
 open for a fighting encounter between a Kocky Moun- 
 tain bear and an African lion, full and native-grown 
 specimens of each. The bull-fights all good men abhor ; 
 but such a battle w^ould serve to set at rest a fast-grow- 
 ing doubt among naturalists, and, so far, would prove 
 available to science and the cause of truth. We would 
 readily stake a purse on the bear. 
 
 With the Indians of the West, who live mostly by 
 hunting, among whom nine out of ten would, single- 
 handed, readily face a score of native lion spearsmen, 
 and, we verily believe, put them to flight, a man is 
 considered a great brave who, alone, will undertake to 
 kill a grizzly bear. If he succeeds, which is very rarely 
 the case, his fortune in his tribe is made, once and for 
 all. The reputation he gains will cling to and follow 
 him into his grave, and form one of the chief burdens 
 of the tradition which bears his name to posterity. The 
 Indians usually hunt and attack him in large parties, 
 and, when the contest becomes really earnest, it re- 
 quires a most immoderate amount of ^^elling, and fierce 
 cry for the onset, to keep their bravery up in fighting 
 trim. The victory is seldom gained without the sac- 
 rifice of several lives. The mounted hunter almost in- 
 variably finds it a difficult task to bring his charger 
 even within shooting range of this kind of game. On 
 an untrained or young horse the accomplishment of this 
 feat is next to an impossibility, for instinct seems to 
 
ARRIVAL OF BRIDGEr's PARTY. 101 
 
 teach thorn the true character of the gaijieyeVen tliQut^l;! 
 they approach it for the first time. '„ . /•".•.. :':' "•." '•''' 
 
 The author once saw thirty brave and determined 
 men in pursuit of an old grizzly bear and her two cubs, 
 near the head waters of the Arkansas River. In vain 
 they urged their horses to the chase. Not a single steed 
 in the entire band could be induced to run for the g-ame. 
 The old bear was quite thin, and her young nearly half 
 grown, and were very fleet of foot. The chase lasted 
 for about three miles, but not a man present was able 
 to obtain a shot, because their riding animals were so 
 completely frightened as to be almost unmanageable ; 
 consequently, the bears made good their escape. The 
 last that was seen of them was their dim outlines as 
 they traveled leisurely up a deep ravine. 
 
 Darkness closed in about Kit Cjrson before he could 
 reach his camp ; and, indeed, the sky was so cloudy 
 that it was with great difficulty he found his way to it. 
 The idea of sending out a pack animal for the elk was 
 out of the question ; therefore, the whole party went 
 supperless, to bed. In the morning they breakfasted 
 upon a beaver found in one of their traps, for they well 
 knew that, long before daylight, the prowling wolves 
 had feasted upon the elk ; hence, they resigned it with- 
 out a visit. The flavor of the meat of the beaver is not 
 very palatable, and the trappers rarely use it ; never 
 when they can do better. Not so with its tail. To 
 this they are very partial, and, when properly boiled, 
 it is, indeed, a great delicacy. 
 
 Believing that Bridger would visit this place, Kit 
 
 ordered his men to make a permanent camp. Kit's 
 
 sagacity was not at fault in this hypothesis, for, in 
 
 fifteen days, this famous old mountaineer made his apr 
 
 7 
 
102 THE SUMMER RENDEZYOUS. 
 
 pearnnae, accbrnpanied by his whole band. The two 
 parties once more consolidated and started for the 
 summer rendezvous, which was appointed to be held 
 on the Green River. 
 
 Upon their arrival at this place, they found congre- 
 gated, all the principal trappers of the Eocky Moun- 
 tains. They were divided into two camps, and num- 
 bered about two hundred men. The objects which 
 brought them thus together were, the disposal of their 
 fur and the purchase of supplies. 
 
 When all the parties had reported their arrival, the 
 trading commenced and was conducted upon a basis 
 which gave general satisfaction. The most exorbitant 
 and fabulous prices ruled for such articles as the moun- 
 taineers required. Sugar and coffee brought two dollars 
 the pint ; powder, the same ; and ordinary blankets were 
 sold at fifteen and twenty-five dollars each. 
 
 Coffee, sugar, and even flour, were luxuries not every 
 day indulged in by the hardy mountaineers. They 
 seldom partook of such dainties ; not more frequently 
 than two or three times in the year, and then, merely 
 as rare treats. Their standard food was game, and wild 
 vegetables when in their season. 
 
 This meeting of the trappers continued in progress 
 during two months. It was then dissolved ; and, once 
 more the bold mountaineers formed into bands of a size 
 convenient for trapping, and started out to engage in 
 the fall hunt. Kit Carson joined a party of fifty men 
 which was bound for the country occupied by the Black- 
 feet Indians, and which lies on and adjacent to the head 
 waters of the Missouri Eiver. The party met with very 
 poor success in catching beaver, but had their fill of 
 annoyances from the tribe of savages already referred 
 
ON THE BIG SNAKE lilVER. 105 
 
 to. Finally the state of afHiirs between the trappers and 
 the Indians became so desperate, that a white man could 
 not leave his camp and go a distance of a single mile 
 alone without being fired uj^on, so completely and untir- 
 ingly was their camp surrounded and watched by this 
 wily and dangerous tribe of Indians. 
 
 This state of affairs led them to the determination to 
 quit the country, as the trapping season was far ad- 
 vanced. AVith this line of policy they began the march ; 
 and, in the month of November, 1832, arrived on the 
 banks of the Big Snake River, where they established 
 winter quarters and remained until the subsequent 
 February. 
 
 During these winter months, the quiet monotony of 
 their life was unexpectedly broken in upon by a band 
 of their old enemies, the Blackfeet Indians. Taking 
 advantage of an unusually dark night, they entered 
 the camp and succeeded in running off eighteen of their 
 horses. In consideration of their leniency displayed 
 towards them when they were engaged in trapping in 
 their own country, then merely acting on the defensive, 
 this act on the part of the savages appeared to the trap- 
 pers to be more than they ought peaceably to bear. 
 Such appeared to be the general opinion, and it was 
 determined that a party sliould be sent out to recover 
 the property and inllict a chastisement upon the hostile 
 savages which they would not soon forget. Kit Carson 
 with eleven men to accompany him was selected for 
 this delicate but highly important service. Having 
 prepired everything for the route, the party started, 
 and after fifty miles of sharp riding through the snow, 
 came up with the savages. The progress of the Indians 
 had been, fortunately, considerably retarded by the 
 
106 THE COUNCIL WITH BLACKFEET. 
 
 necessity of breaking a path through the deep snow, 
 which had but very recently fallen. The trappers in- 
 stantly made an attempt to recover their animals, which 
 were found grazing on the side of a hill, the Indians 
 having previously come to a halt. In doing this, shots 
 were exchanged by both parties without effect. The 
 savages had on snow shoes, which gave them considera- 
 ble advantage over the trappers. After some manoeu- 
 vring, the Indians asked for a parley which was grant- 
 ed. On these occasions, it is customary for one man 
 from each party to advance to a spot about half-way 
 between the contending parties and there have a talk. 
 The rascals, through their representative, informed the 
 trappers through their representative, that they had 
 supposed that they had been committing a robbery 
 upon the Snake Indians ; and, that they did not desire 
 to steal from the white men. 
 
 The trappers, believing these tales to be false, con- 
 sidered this a mere ruse on the part of the Indians to 
 make them unwary of passing events. However, they 
 put the very natural query to them, why, if they were 
 so friendly disposed, they did not follow out their usual 
 custom ; and, on seeing them approach, lay down their 
 arms and advance to meet their white brothers, so that 
 they might have a smoke together and talk over their 
 difficulties and thus amicably settle matters. 
 
 Their replies to this query contained nothing but 
 evasions. Finally, how^ever, it having been mutually 
 agreed upon, both parties disarmed and marched to 
 the place where their representatives were talking. 
 The Calumet was then prepared, lighted and handed 
 around to each person present, it being puffed once or 
 twice by every one of the savages and every one of the 
 
CARSON SEVERELY WOUNDED. 107 
 
 whites. The council then commenced. The head men 
 among the savages led off by making several lengthy 
 and unmeaning speeches. In their replies, the trappers 
 came directly to the point, and said they could hear 
 no overtures for peace, until their property was re- 
 stored to them. Tlie Indians, hearing this demand 
 several times repeated, began to presume upon their 
 streno-th, assuming* an overbearinix demeanor. After 
 considerable talk among themselves, they sent out and 
 brought in five of the poorest horses, declaring that it 
 was the only number they could return. The trappers 
 upon hearing this, ran for their arms ; when the Indians 
 instantly started for theirs. The fight was renewed 
 by both parties. Kit Carson, in the rush made for 
 the rifles, and one of his companions named Markhead, 
 succeeded in getting hold of their weapons first ; and 
 consequently, they formed the advance in the return 
 to the contest. They selected for their antagonists, 
 two Indians who were close together ; but who were 
 partially concealed behind separate trees. As Kit was 
 on the point of raising his rifle to fire, he saw by a quick 
 side glance at Markhead, that he was working at the 
 lock of his gun w^ithout paying attention to his adver- 
 sary, who was aiming at him with, almost, a certainty 
 of killing him. Kit instantly changed the direction of 
 his rifle and fired, sending a bullet through the heart 
 of Markhead's adversary ; but, in thus saving the life 
 of his friend, he was obliged, for the instant, to neglect 
 his own adversary. A quick glance showed him the 
 fellow sighting over his rifle and that the mouth of the 
 Indian's gun covered his breast. Upon the instant he 
 endeavored to dodge the bullet, but he was unsuccess- 
 ful in doing so completely. It struck him in such a way 
 
108 FORTITUDE AND RESIGNATION. 
 
 that, first cutting the skin of his neck and glancing, it 
 passed through his left shoulder. The head of the bone 
 of the arm in the shoulder was shattered ; but, fortu- 
 nately, the main artery of the arm escaped injury. Not- 
 withstanding his wound Kit immediately endeavored to 
 reload his rifle. In this effort he was unsuccessful, for 
 his left arm hung powerless by his side. He was 
 obliged, therefore, to remain a mere spectator during 
 the remainder of the fight ; when, being overcome by 
 the loss of blood and the consequent fast increasing 
 weakness, he threw himself upon the ground. The 
 fight continued to be hotly contested by both the trap- 
 pers and Indians until, gradually, the firing ceased, 
 when the trappers drew off and went into camp. They 
 did not dare to light any fires, as they would inevitably 
 bring the Indians upon them. With nothing but their 
 saddle-blankets to protect them from the bitter cold, 
 even the safe and sound members of the party suffered 
 severely. Kit's condition failed not to arouse the 
 heartfelt sympathy of his friends, for there was not 
 one among them who would not have readily risked 
 life and limb to save Kit's. But his condition was 
 most critical ; at the least, he was in a most unenviable 
 condition. His wounds bled profusely, and the blood, 
 as it oozed out, froze to the rude dressings. This, un- 
 doubtedly, in the final result, was beneficial to him, as 
 the cold acted as a partial check upon the hemorrhage. 
 It was, however, none the less painful to endure. He 
 bore his agonizing sufferings without a single murmur, 
 exhibiting in patient fortitude and resignation the same 
 brave spirit and dauntless courage Avhich distinguished 
 him in every action. Not once did a single complaint 
 escape from his lips. Had he received this w^ound 
 
ox THE GREEN AND SNAKE RIVERS. 109 
 
 within the pales of civilization, with its concomitant 
 constitution, he might never have recovered the use of 
 his arm. In the pure air, and with a constitution in the 
 best possible trim, after all danger from hemorrhage 
 had passed, his chances to recover were favorable ; and 
 finally resulted in giving him, once more, the full use 
 of his arm. 
 
 That night the trappers held a council. It was de- 
 cided that, although the result of the fight had been 
 that they had given the Indians a sound thrashing, there 
 having been several braves killed, while they had suf- 
 fered only in one wounded, they were, nevertheless, not 
 then strong enough to pursue the savages farther. They 
 adopted, therefore, the policy of returning to the camp 
 and reporting their progress. 
 
 On their arrival, a council was immediately called and 
 their adventures duly rehearsed. The result was, that 
 a second party was immediately organized, comprising 
 thirty men. Under the command of Bridger, this party 
 followed the trail for some days, but returned to camp 
 without finding the savages. They, after their late 
 engagement, had made their way as fast as possible into 
 distant parts. A short time after this the weather 
 moderated, and it was time for the spring hunt. 
 
 This was now commenced, and continued quite active 
 for several weeks on the Green and Snake Rivers. The 
 success of the trappers was far beyond their most san- 
 guine expectations. Beaver fur seemed absolutely to 
 rain down upon them. The season having passed, they 
 went into summer rendezvous on the banks of the 
 Green River. This was brought about by the arrival 
 of the traders with their supplies. The whole force of 
 trappers, therefore, again rested until the first week of 
 
110 AN AFFAIR OF HONOR. 
 
 September, when tliey again broke up their camp for 
 the fall hunt. 
 
 Some time previous to this last-named event, Kit 
 Carson, having recovered from the effects of his Avounds, 
 was very reluctantly drawn into an '^ affair of honor." 
 The circumstances of this occurrence we give in detail, 
 for two reasons. It was an event in Carson's life, and, 
 therefore, is required at our hands ; but it serves to 
 exhibit the manner of the duello among these western 
 mountaineers, which throws around the circumstance 
 the importance of an example in their manners and 
 customs. By itself, so far as Kit Carson was concerned, 
 it was of very little importance, serving but little, in 
 his opinion, to adorn the story of his life. 
 
 Among the men congregated at the rendezvous, there 
 was a Captain Shunan, a powerful Frenchman. The 
 Captain was exceedingly overbearing in his intercourse 
 with all around him. Upon the slightest pretext, he 
 was sure to endeavor to involve some of the trappers 
 in a quarrel. The result was that he w^as heartily 
 despised by all, although, for the sake of peace, he was 
 allowed to go unmolested. One day his conduct w^as 
 particularly offensive to the entire command, for, after 
 having had two fist fights with a couple of weak and 
 inoffensive men, he commenced boasting that he could 
 easily flog all the Frenchmen present, and, as to the 
 Americans, he said that " he could cut a stick and 
 switch them." Such actions and manners at last at- 
 tracted Kit Carson's notice, and caused him to be greatly 
 annoyed. He thought the matter over, and concluded 
 that if Captain Shunan was allowed to gather many 
 more such detestable laurels, he would soon become 
 even more bold and troublesome. As no other member 
 
FACING A BULLY. Ill 
 
 of the company seemed disposed to put a check upon 
 such unmanly behavior, he quietly determined to make 
 the affair his own. 
 
 An opportunity soon presented itself A number of 
 the company had congregated together and were en- 
 gaged in conversation, when Captain Shunan began 
 anew his bullying language, this time a little more 
 boisterous than usual. Kit Carson, advancing into the 
 centre of the company, and placing himself in front of 
 the Captain, thus addressed him : 
 
 " Shunan, before you stands the humblest specimen 
 of an American in this band of trappers, among whom 
 there are, to my certain knowledge, men who could 
 easily chastise you, but, being peaceably disposed, they 
 keep aloof from you. At any rate, I assume the re- 
 sponsibility of ordering you to cease your threats, or I 
 will be under the necessity of killing you.." 
 
 To this Captain Shunan did not reply ; but, im- 
 mediately after Kit Carson had closed his remarks, 
 he turned upon his heel and walked directly for his 
 lodge. 
 
 Kit Carson was too well versed in trapper rules not 
 to read the meaning of this action. He, therefore, 
 walked off also, but in the direction of his own lodge. 
 In a brief space of time both men appeared before the 
 camp, each mounted on their respective horses. The 
 affair had drawn together the wdiole band, and there 
 were many witnesses of the facts here recorded. 
 
 Captain Shunan was armed w^ith his rifle. Kit Car- 
 son had taken merely a single-barrel dragoon pistol, 
 which happened to be the first weapon that had fallen 
 in his way, because of his hurry to be on the ground. 
 The two men now rode rapidly towards one another, 
 
112 PUNISHING A BRAGGADOCIO. 
 
 until their horses' heads almost touched, when both 
 horsemen reined up, and Kit Carson addressed Captain 
 Shunan as follows : 
 
 "Am I the person you are looking for ? " 
 
 Captain Shunan replied, " No ! " 
 
 It was apparent that this reply of Captain Shunan 
 was a falsehood ; for, while giving it utterance, he 
 raised his rifle in the act of shooting, bringing it to his 
 shoulder and covering his antagonist. Before, how- 
 ever, Captain Shunan could discharge his gun, the ball 
 from Kit Carson's pistol shattered his fore-arm, causing 
 the rifle to tilt upwards, which changed the direction 
 of its contents in such a way that Kit Carson received 
 a wound in his scalp, while the powder severely burnt 
 his face. 
 
 It was the universal opinion of the spectators of this 
 unhappy scene that both parties fired nearly at the 
 same instant. The facts of the case show very plainly, 
 first, that Captain Shunan's intent w^as to kill his an- 
 tagonist. Why did he aim at Kit Carson's breast? 
 Second, that Kit Carson's shot was delivered perhaps 
 a second or two in advance of Captain Shunan's; third, 
 that Kit Carson did not desire to kill his antagonist, 
 but merely to save his own life by disabling his ad- 
 versary. The fact that his shot struck first and hit 
 Captain Shunan's right arm is suflicient proof of this. 
 When Kit Carson's well-known and indisputable skill 
 with all kinds of fire-arms is taken into the account, 
 and that, notwithstanding this skill, he hit his adver- 
 sary in one of only two places (his right or left arms) 
 which would have rendered his aim with the rifle un- 
 certain, the statement that Kit Carson did not intend 
 to kill his adversary becomes an incontrovertible fact. 
 
Before, however. Captain Sliunan could discharge his gun, th*; bailrvctn k'i* Caison's 
 pistol shattered his forearm. — Page 112. 
 
ORDER AND PEACE IX THE CAMP. 115 
 
 Last, had Kit Carson not gained a second in advance in 
 the firing, he wouhl have lost his own life, inevitahly; 
 and, the emphatic ^^ No ! " the lie of his antagonist, 
 would have heen crowned with success. Such plain 
 deception seldom is allowed to triumph by an all-wise 
 Providence. 
 
 In judging Kit Carson in this matter, the reader will 
 commit an uno-enerous error if he fails to allow to be 
 placed, in the balance of judgment, the stirring deeds 
 and daily hair-breadth risks Kit Carson, during so 
 many years of his eventful life, w^as constantly called 
 upon to take a part in and undergo. We take leave 
 of this unfortunate scene in his life, feeling confident a 
 just public opinion will see in it no cause to pluck from 
 the brow of Kit Carson any of the laurels which it has 
 been called upon to place there. As a man of truth, 
 honor, virtue, and reverence for the laws of his coun- 
 try. Kit Carson had few^ equals and no superior among 
 Americans. It needed not this incident to establish his 
 courage ; that had long been proven to be undoubted. 
 Nor did the result elate his feelings in the least. He 
 met his companions without a smile, and invariably 
 expressed his regrets that he felt it to be his duty, for 
 the good order and peace of the camp, to interfere in 
 the matter. On the other hand, when he espoused the 
 cause of the majority in maintaining the right, he 
 was not a man to be easily thw^arted. When the affair 
 was ended, Kit was congratulated, and received the 
 thanks of nearly every individual present; for, each 
 felt that a load of most vexatious and troublesome 
 responsibiUty had been taken from his shoulders. The 
 good fellowship immediately introduced into the camp 
 was also a circumstance of mark. 
 
116 SETTLING DIFFICULTIES. 
 
 The wounded man was carried to his quarters and 
 every attention shown him in the power of his com- 
 panions. His punishment had the effect completely 
 to subdue him. 
 
 These duels among the old trappers of the Rocky 
 Mountains were not very unfrequent occurrences. 
 Men, situated as they were, beyond the reach of the 
 mighty arm of the law, find it absolutely necessary to 
 legislate for themselves. It is not within our province to 
 advocate either the right or wrong of dueling ; for, with 
 the best of reasoning, there will always exist a differ- 
 ence of opinion on the subject. In the case of these 
 mountaineers, when any serious offence was given, the 
 man receiving the injury to body or fame, held the 
 right of demanding satisfaction. The interests of the 
 entire band required an immediate settlement of difl&- 
 culties, so that their future plans could be carried out 
 in concert. In their dealings with each other they 
 were strictly honorable ; and when by any mischance a 
 rogue crept into their ranks, if detected in any rascal- 
 ity, he was summarily and severely dealt with. Their 
 duels were serious events ; for, oftentimes both men 
 were killed. In fact the case could hardly be other- 
 wise. They were men of unflinching courage, and 
 their weapons were generally rifles, which, from long 
 practice, they held with a certain and deadly aim. 
 
 i 
 
THE FALL HUNT. 117 
 
 CHAPTEE V. 
 
 The Fall Hunt — McCoy of the Hudson's Bay Company organizes a Trap- 
 ping Party which Kit Carson joins — The Hunt — Scarcity of Beaver on 
 Humboldt River — The Party is divided — Kit Carson with a majority 
 of the Men goes to Fort Hall — Hardships and Privations met with — - 
 Bleeding Mules and drinking the warm blood to keep from starving — 
 Buffalo Hunt — All their Animals Stolen in the Night by a Party of 
 Blackfeet Indians — Arrival of McCoy from Fort Walla Walla — The 
 Rendezvous — Kit Carson joins a strong Band — The Small-Pox among 
 the Blackfeet Indians — The Crow Indians on good terms with the 
 Whites — Intense Cold — Immense Herds of Buffalo — Danger of their 
 Goring the Horses to Death — The Spring Hunt — The Blackfeet Indian 
 Village overtaken — A desperate Fight with these Indians — The Ren- 
 dezvous — Sir William Stuart and a favorite Missionary — Kit Carson 
 goes on a Trading Expedition to the Navajo Indians — The Return — 
 He accepts the post of Hunter of the Trading Post at Brown's Hole. 
 
 Arrangements for the fall hunt were now in active 
 progress among the trappers. Though the reader may 
 find some similarity of fact and idea as we progress 
 in this part of the Life of Kit Carson, the interest 
 which hangs about it, nevertheless, will not, or should 
 not be dampened, because this pen-painting of his long 
 and active experience is a better and more faithful 
 exhibit of those qualifications, knowledge, and skill 
 which afterwards made him first the guide and then 
 the bosom friend of the illustrious Fremont, than any 
 assertions, whether authenticated by published record, 
 whether rested upon statement on knowledge, informa- 
 tion, and belief of acquaintances and friends, or, whether 
 
118 * WINTERING ON THE BIG SNAKE RIVER. 
 
 facts taken from the thousand allusions to his exploits, 
 which have, from time to time, flooded the press of the 
 United States. 
 
 The company of trappers which had been so for- 
 tunate as to secure the services of Kit Carson, for facts 
 seem now to warrant us in employing this language of 
 just praise, set out for the Yellow Stone River, which 
 stream they safely reached, and on which they set their 
 traps. Dame Fortune here seemed to be in an unpleas- 
 ant mood. Crossing the country from the Yellow Stone 
 to the Big Horn River, they again courted the old lady's 
 smile with stoical patience, but with no better results. 
 They next extended their efforts to the three forks of 
 the Missouri River ; also, to the Big Snake River. The 
 fickle old lady proved scornful on all these streams, 
 and finally, on the latter stream and its tributaries they 
 wintered. 
 
 In this section of the country they fell in with Mr. 
 Thomas McCoy, a trader who was in the employ of the 
 Hudson's Bay Company. In his trading operations 
 Mr. McCoy had been unsuccessful, and had concluded 
 to organize a trapping expedition. The inducements 
 which he held out led Kit Carson and five of his com- 
 panions to become members of his party. With him 
 they traveled to Mary's River,* from whence reports 
 had circulated that beaver existed in great abundance. 
 The party struck upon this stream high up, and slowly 
 followed it down to where it is lost in the Great Basin. 
 Their success here was not satisfactory ; consequently, 
 the pnrty returned to the Big Snake River. By 
 McCoy's direction, the party tarried upon this river for 
 
 * We give the name wliirh was applied to this river at the date of the facta related in 
 the text. It id now called the Iluiubjldt River. 
 
UPPER FALLS, YELLOWSTONE RIVER. 
 
 YELLOWSTONK LAKE. 
 
DRINKING mule's BLOOD. 121 
 
 some time, ^vllen it was divided. McCoy and a small 
 escort started for Fort Walla Walla. Kit Carson and 
 the majority of the men took up their line of march for 
 Fort Hall. While en route, the latter division was sub- 
 jected to the greatest privations imaginable. Among 
 the worst of these was hungerj as their trail led through 
 a barren region of country. For a short time they 
 managed to subsist upon a small supply of nutritious 
 roots, which had been provided in advance. This source 
 finally gave out, Avhen their aifairs assumed a most 
 desperate attitude. To keep from starving, they bled 
 their mules, and drank the warm red blood with avidity, 
 so acutely had the days of fasting sharpened their ap- 
 petites. This operation, however, could not be repeated 
 without endangering the lives of their animals. These 
 also were on a short allowance of food, for the grass was 
 very poor and scanty. The whole party had become 
 frightfully reduced in strength, and began to think it 
 necessary to kill some of their animals, wdiich at this 
 time they could but ill spare. In this terrible condition 
 they met with a band of Indians, who proved to be of a 
 friendly disposition. The party was then only about 
 four days' journey from Fort Hall. Most unhappily, 
 the Indians themselves possessed but a scanty supply 
 of provisions, and no more than their immediate wants 
 required. It was not without considerable manoeuver- 
 ing and talk, during which all the skill and Indian expe- 
 rience possessed by Kit Carson were brought into active 
 requisition, that the savages were prevailed upon to trade 
 with the trappers. By the trade, the half-famished men 
 obtained a fat horse, which was immediately killed, and 
 on which they regaled with as much relish as the epicure 
 in the settlements enjoys his "joint of roast beef." 
 
122 HORSE-FLESH OR STARVATION. 
 
 To a man not accustomed to this kind of meat, mule- 
 flesh and horse-flesh would not be likely to prove over 
 tempting or appropriate viands. Let him feel the pangs 
 of hunger very sharply, and his ideas of lusciousness 
 and propriety in respect to food will rapidly change. 
 The civilized world has condemned the practice as be- 
 longing to barbarians. A mountaineer, not being quite 
 so fastidious, scouts these ideas, considering them fool- 
 ish prejudices of people who have never been forced by 
 necessity to test the wisdom of their condemnation. 
 Let the epicurean sages have their choice, eat horse- 
 flesh or starve, and, they confidently maintain, horse- 
 flesh Avould gradually grow to be considered a dainty, 
 the rarer over beef in proportion to its greater cost. 
 
 The trappers of the western prairies, who wander 
 thousands of miles over barren as well as fertile 
 lands, where game cannot exist from stern necessity, 
 are compelled to submit to all kinds of vicissitudes ; 
 but, with buoyant spirits, they conquer results, which 
 a faint heart and yielding courage would behold almost 
 in their grasp but fail to reach. 
 
 An emergency calls forth skill and great energies ; 
 and, in an luiexplored country where, as in the case 
 here recorded, everything living suddenly disappears, 
 it is then that the wits of a trapper save his life when 
 an ordinary traveler would lie down and die. 
 
 Kit Carson and his men at last succeeded in reaching 
 Fort Hall. They were kindly received and amply pro- 
 vided for by the whites who then occupied it as a trad- 
 ing post. Here they rapidly recruited their strength, 
 and in the course of a few days felt able to start out 
 upon a buffalo hunt. Reports had come in that large 
 numbers of buflixlo existed in close proximity to the 
 
SOJOURN AT FORT HALL. 123 
 
 Fort. Kit Carson and his men were not the kuid who 
 live upon the bounty of others when game can be had 
 in return for the necessary effort to find. They were 
 also not the men to hoard their stock of provisions 
 whenever they met parties in distress. The hrst query 
 which different bands of trappers offer to each other on 
 meeting in the wilderness, is, "Does game exist in 
 plenty," or " is game plenty in such and such sections 
 of country?" This takes precedence over the com- 
 monplace question, ^' What's the news ? " Oftentimes, 
 when venturing into distant and unexplored districts 
 of territory, they were obliged to take their chances of 
 finding sustenance ; but, they hardly ever neglected 
 an opportunity to infonii themselves on the subject : 
 on the contrary, they often sacrificed both time and 
 profits in order to secure correct details. Any other 
 course would have been fool-hardy rashness, just fit 
 for parties of over-bold inexperience to take the con- 
 sequences of 
 
 Hunting the buffalo is a manly and interesting sport;, 
 and, as Kit Carson on this occasion engaged in it with 
 successful results, it might be interesting to the general, 
 reader, and, in this j)h^ce, the unity of the narrative 
 seems to require a complete and practical description: 
 of the manner of taking the buffalo. We have, how- 
 ever, deferred this part of our duty to an occasion 
 when Kit Carson had his friend John C. Fremont upon 
 his first buffalo hunt. We shall then permit the bold 
 Explorer to tell the story of a buffalo hunt in our 
 behalf 
 
 During their sojourn at Fort Hall, the hardy trappers 
 were not idle. Besides the calls upon them by the 
 hunt, they set to work with great industry, repairing. 
 
124 JUDGED NOT BY HIS COAT. 
 
 their saddles, clothing, and moccasins. With the aid 
 of a few buckskins, procured from Indians, and a few 
 rude tools, they soon accomplished wonders. 
 
 To give the reader an appropriate view of the genius 
 to conquer obstacles displayed by the mountaineers, he 
 must picture one of them just starting upon a long 
 journey over the prairies and through the mountains. 
 His wagon and harness trappings, if he chances to be 
 possessed of worldly effects sufficient to warrant him in 
 purchasing a first-class outfit, present a neat and trim 
 appearance. Follow him to the point of his destina- 
 tion, and there the reader will discover, perhaps, a 
 hundredth j)^i't of the original vehicle and trappings. 
 While en route, the bold and self-reliant man has met 
 with a hundred accidents. He has been repeatedly 
 called upon to mend and patch both wagon and har- 
 ness, besides his own clothing. Though he now pre- 
 sents a dilapidated appearance, he is none the less a 
 man ; and, if his name is known as a regular trapper 
 and mountaineer, he is immediately a welcomed and 
 honored guest. If the broadcloth of a prince covered 
 his back, spotless, scientifically shaped and foreign 
 w^oven, his reception would not be more heartfelt and 
 sincerely cordial. It is amusing to see the rawhide 
 patches of harness, wagon and clothing, now become 
 dry and hard as oak. To have dispensed with the use 
 of buckskin on his route, would have been like cutting 
 off the right arm of the gallant pioneer. Buckskin and 
 the western wilds of America are almost synonymous 
 terms ; at least, the one suggests the other, and there- 
 fore they arc of the same brotherhood. The traveler 
 in these regions of this day fiils not to learn and ap- 
 preciate its value. It has not only furnished material 
 
CURING BUFFALO MEAT. 125 
 
 for clothing, but has been used to repair ahnost every 
 article in daily use. Even the camp and tea-kettle, as 
 well as the frying, milk and saucepan, bedstead and 
 hammock, chair and table, all have had their buckskin 
 appendage, as fast as any of them have become injured 
 or broken. 
 
 Everything being in readiness, Carson set out with 
 his followers for their hunting-grounds. Their pace 
 was one of so much rapidit}^, that after one day's march 
 they discovered signs of the buffalo. On the following 
 morning immense herds w^ere in sight. A suitable 
 place for a camp was soon selected, and everything 
 which could impede their work well stowed away. 
 The best marksmen were selected for hunters, and the 
 remainder of the party detailed to take care of the 
 meat as fast as the hunters should bring it in. Poles 
 were planted on the open prairies, and from one to the 
 other ropes of hide were stretched. Upon these ropes 
 strips of the buffalo meat were hung for curing, wdiich 
 consists of merely drying it in the sun's rays. After it 
 is sufficiently dried, it is taken down and bound up in 
 bundles. During the time of hunting and curing, the 
 trappers feasted upon the delicacies of the game, which 
 consist of the tongue, liver and peculiar fat which is 
 found along the back of the buffalo. Their past suffer- 
 ings from hunger had made them so determined in the 
 work of procuring game, that in a few days they pos- 
 sessed meat sufficient to load down all their pack ani- 
 mals. They now thought about returning to Fort Ilall. 
 Their pace, however, rendered so by their weighty 
 game, was very slow. Their old enemies, the Black- 
 feet Indians, had discovered them while engaged in this 
 hunt. They followed them on the march to the Fort, 
 
126 DEPRIVED OF THEIR ANIMALS. 
 
 the trappers being wholly unaware of their presence ; 
 in. fact, the idea of hostile Indians had not troubled 
 their thoughts. 
 
 Two or three nights after they arrived at the Fort, 
 takino; advantao-e of a dark evenino;, the Indians de- 
 prived them of all their animals. This was the result 
 of carelessness on the part of one of the men, which, 
 under the circumstances, was excusable. The party 
 had encamped just without the pickets of the Fort, but 
 had taken the precaution to secure their horses and 
 mules while they slept, by placing them in the corral 
 belonging to the station. A sentinel was put upon 
 duty over the corral, in order to make everything 
 doubly secure. In the latter part of the night, nearly 
 at daybreak, the sentinel saw two persons advance and 
 deliberately let down the bars leading into the yard and 
 drive out the animals. He mistook these men for two 
 of his companions who were authorized to take the 
 herd out to graze. Concluding, therefore, without 
 going to them, that he was relieved, he sought his 
 resting-place and was soon fast asleep. In the morn- 
 ing, anxious inquiries were made for the horses and 
 mules, when a very short investigation revealed the 
 truth of matters. It was, undoubtedly, very fortunate 
 for the sentinel that he fell into the error alluded to. 
 It w^as very apparent that the two advanced Indians 
 who let down the bars were backed up by a strong 
 party. The signs of Indians, discovered afterwards, 
 proved this beyond a doubt. Their reserve party were 
 posted where the least resistance on the part of the 
 sentinel would have been followed by his quick and 
 certain death. This successful theft was, no doubt, 
 considered by the Indians a cause for great rejoicing. 
 
THE BLACKFEET INDIANS. 127 
 
 It may have formed the basis of promoting the brave 
 who phmned and directed it, as the animals had been 
 obtained without the loss of a man or even the receiv- 
 ing of a wound. The parties living at the Fort were 
 equally as poorly oif for horses and mules as were now 
 the trappers. The same Indians had recently performed 
 the same trick upon them. The loss was most severely 
 felt by the trappers, inasmuch as they had not a single 
 animal left upon which to give chase. Nothing re- 
 mained for them to enact, except a stoical indifference 
 over their loss, and await the return of McCoy, who had 
 agreed, after finishing his business at Fort Walla Walla, 
 to rejoin them at Fort Hall. 
 
 This tribe of Indians, the Blackfeet, whose meddle- 
 some dispositions have so frequently brought them in 
 contact with Kit Carson in such and dissimilar affairs, 
 occupied the country on the Yellow Stone River and 
 about the head waters of the Missouri. There were 
 other tribes in close proximity, the most important of 
 which was the tribe called the Crows. When Kit Carson 
 first entered upon his wild career, the Blackfeet Indians 
 numbered nearly thirty thousand souls. They were 
 greatly reduced in numbers within the next six or 
 seven years, between 1832 and 1839. In the last- 
 named year, in consequence of the ravages of the small- 
 pox, heretofore alluded to, and which prevailed the 
 year previous, they had lost at least fifty per cent. 
 They have now dwindled down to a few thousands. 
 They are one of the finest races of the American 
 Aborigines. Powerful in frame and development ; well 
 trained in horsemanship, although in this they are sur- 
 passed by the Camanches ; capable of great endurance ; 
 and usually well fitted as to arms, dress, horse trappings, 
 
128 A THIEVING HOKDE OF SAVAGES. 
 
 et ccEtera, they generally prove knotty customers as 
 enemies. We ought not to pass by this notice of the 
 Blackfeet Indians without calling the attention of the in- 
 quisitive reader to a remarkable proof which is afforded 
 by the whole intercourse of these western trappers with 
 the Blackfeet Indians, as thus detailed by Kit Carson, of 
 an assertion hazarded some years ago, by Charles De 
 Wolf Brown ell, in his admirable work upon the Indian 
 races ol North and South America. On pages 531-2, 
 Mr. Brownell comes to the defence of the Crow tribe 
 of Indians, which, up to that time, had been character- 
 ized as a " lawless, thieving horde of savages." "But," 
 says Mr. Brownell, " those best acquainted with their 
 character and disposition, speak of them as honest and 
 trust\Yorthy." The adventures of Kit Carson among 
 both the Crow and the Blackfeet Indians, we think, 
 demonstrate pretty conclusively which of these contig- 
 uous tribes are the horse stealers. The Crows, it will 
 be remembered, were more particularly inhabitants of 
 the mountainous regions. The Blackfeet have ever 
 been their sworn and inplacable foes. Their burials of 
 the hatchet have been few and far between, and never 
 in deep soil. It is not, therefore, to be wondered at 
 that the Blackfeet reputation should extend to the 
 Crows ; but, although circumstances exist which con- 
 demn the latter, they are few in number compared 
 with tlie sins laid by the traders and trappers at the 
 tent-doors of the former. 
 
 After the lapse of one month McCoy made his ap- 
 pearance and, most opportunely, brought an extra 
 supply of animals. The camp was soon struck and 
 the whole band started for the rendezvous, which had 
 been appointed to convene at the mouth of Horse 
 
A BLACKFEET WARRIOR. 
 
SMALL-POX AMONG THE IXDIAKS. 131 
 
 Creek on the Green River. They reached this pLice 
 after several days of hard travel. As usual, trading 
 operations did not commence until all the regular 
 bands of trappers had arrived and reported. They 
 Avere then commenced and continued through a period 
 of twenty days. Here Kit Carson left the company 
 under McCoy, and joined a company under the man- 
 agement of a Mr. Fontenelle, Avhich numbered one 
 hundred men. This party went to and traj^ped on the 
 Yellow Stone Eiver. On commencing operations, the 
 party was divided into fifty trappers and fifty keepers. 
 The duties of the former were to take the beaver and 
 provide game for food ; the latter, to guard their prop- 
 erty and cook. The trappers were now in the midst 
 of their sworn foes, the Blackfeet Indians. They felt 
 themselves sufficiently strong and were desirous of 
 paying off old scores. They therefore traj^ped where 
 they pleased, being determined to dispute the right of 
 possession to the country if attacked. They were not, 
 however, molested. A good reason appeared for this, 
 soon after, brought by some friendly Indians belong- 
 ing to the Crow Tribe. They informed the whites that 
 the small-pox was making terrible havoc with the Black- 
 feet Indians. Thousands were dying, and fears were en- 
 tertained that the whole tribe would be cut off. In order 
 to attend to their sick they had secluded themselves. 
 The trapping season being nearly over, as the streams 
 began to freeze, the party commenced looking out for 
 a camping site. 
 
 In conjunction with the main body of the Crow 
 nation they proceeded to a well protected valley, and 
 erected their lodges, making themselves as comfort- 
 able as possible under the circumstances. As the 
 
132 IMMENSE HERDS OF STARYIXG BUFFALOES. 
 
 season advanced, the cold became more severe, until 
 at last, it was more intense than ever before experi- 
 enced by the trappers or Indians. Fuel, however, was 
 abundant, and, excepting the inconvenience of keeping 
 unusually large fires, they suffered but little. Not so 
 with their animals. It was with the greatest difficulty 
 that they preserved them from starvation. By the 
 most unwearied exertions, however, they succeeded in 
 obtaining food enough barely to keep them alive until 
 the weather became more mild and auspicious. At 
 one time the crisis was so imminent, that the trappers 
 were compelled to resort to cotton-wood trees, thawing 
 the bark and small branches, after gathering them, by 
 their fires. This bark was torn from the trees in shreds 
 sufftciently small for the animals to masticate. The 
 Indians of the Eocky Mountains, when suffering from 
 hunger, are often driven to the extremity of eating 
 this material. For miles, not unfrequently, the trav-. 
 eler discovers these trees denuded of their bark, after a 
 party has passed through on their way to find the buf- 
 falo. The rough, outside cuticle is discarded, and the 
 tender texture, next to the body of the tree, is the part 
 selected for food. It will act in staying the appetite, 
 but cannot, for any great length of time, support life. 
 It is dangerous to allow starving animals to eat 
 freely of it; the trappers, therefore, fed it to them 
 but sparingly. 
 
 The intense cold operated to bring upon them 
 another serious annoyance, in the shape of immense 
 herds of starving buflhlo, which, goaded on by the 
 pangs of hunger, would watch for an opportunity to 
 gore the animals and steal their scanty allowance of 
 provender. It was only by building large fires in the 
 
MURDERED BY SIOUX INDIANS. 133 
 
 valleys and constantly standing guard that the trappers 
 succeeded in keeping them olF. 
 
 During the winter, to beguile the time, the whites 
 vied with their Indian allies in many of their sports. 
 As game existed in superabundance, ahvays ready for 
 a loaded rifle, both parties were contented and happy. 
 Time flew away rapidly and soon brought again the 
 sunshine of spring, with the buds and blossoms, gay 
 wild flowers, green herbage and forest verdure. For 
 the purpose of procuring supplies, the trappers dis- 
 patched two messengers to Fort Laramie. They did 
 not return and were never again heard from. The 
 conclusion which gained belief was, that they had 
 been murdered by the Sioux Indians. The party 
 waited as long as they possibly could for the return of 
 their two companions, but, finally were compelled to 
 commence the spring hunt without them. They trap- 
 ped a short time on the Yellow Stone River and then 
 went to the Twenty-Five Yard River. From thence 
 they proceeded to the head waters of the Missouri, and, 
 on the most northern of its forks, remained some time, 
 meeting with considerable success. Here they obtained 
 news of the Blackfeet Indians, which showed that the 
 ravages of the small-pox had been greatly overesti- 
 mated. They were still nearly as strong, and in char- 
 acter, had not at all become subdued. Upon drawling 
 near to the source of this river, they discovered that 
 the main village of these savages, their old foes, was in 
 close proximity. This was pleasing intelligence to the 
 trappers. They had suffered too many unprovoked in- 
 sults at their hands not to desire the avenging of their 
 wrongs and to punish them by way of retaliation. Dur- 
 ing the whole winter, and, in fact, from the time the 
 
134 PLANS FOK THE CAMPAIGN. 
 
 party was first organized, they had anxiously abided 
 their opportunity to meet and punish the rascally 
 Blackfeet warriors. The old scores or sores had been 
 festering too long, and here was a chance to probe 
 them satisfactorily. 
 
 The party cautiously followed upon the trail which 
 led to the Indian encampment until within one day's 
 journey of it. Here they came to a halt. Kit Carson, 
 with ^ve men, was sent in advance to reconnoitre. 
 Upon approaching the Indians, the reconnoitering 
 party discovered them busily engaged driving in their 
 animals to saddle and pack, and making such other 
 preparations necessary to the effecting of a hurried de- 
 campment. Kit and his companions hastened back and 
 reported the results of their observations. A council 
 was immediately held which decided to send out forty- 
 three picked men to give battle ; and, for the com- 
 mander of this party. Kit Carson was unanimously 
 elected. The fifty-five men left behind under Mr. Fon- 
 tenelle had the onerous duty of guarding the animals 
 and equipage. It was a part of the programme, also, 
 that the latter force should move on slowly and act as 
 a reserve in case of need. 
 
 Kit Carson and his command were in fine spirits, and 
 lost no time in overhauling the village. In the first 
 charge they killed ten of the bravest warriors. The 
 savages quickly recovered from this blow and com- 
 menced retreating in good order. For three consecu- 
 tive hours they heroically received a series of these 
 furious and deadly assaults without offering much re- 
 sistance. At the end of this time the firing of the 
 mountaineers began to slacken, as their ammunition 
 was running low. These experienced and brave, though 
 
KIT SAVES cotton's LIFE. 135 
 
 rascally Indians, soon surmised the cause of this sudden 
 chanii;e of affairs. Rallying their forces, they turned 
 Tipon their assailants in right good earnest, and a des- 
 perate hand-to-hand engagement ensued. The white 
 men now had an opportunity to use their small arms, 
 which told with such terrible elTect upon their foes 
 that they were soon driven back again. They, how- 
 ever, rallied once more and charged so manfully that 
 the trappers were forced to retreat. In this latter en- 
 gagement a horse belonging to a mountaineer by the 
 name of Cotton, fell, throwing his rider and holding him 
 on the ground by his weight. This happened as he 
 w^as passing a point of rocks. Six of the warriors, see- 
 ing the accident, instantly hurried forward to take Cot- 
 ton's scalp. But Kit Carson's eagle eye w^as watching 
 every part of the battle-field, and discovered, in time 
 to be of service, the danger to wdiich his friend was 
 exposed. Although some distance off, Kit sprang from 
 his saddle, and with the leap of an antelope, and the 
 rallying cry for his men, w^as on the ground, ready to 
 make a certain shot. His aim and the crack of his rifle 
 almost belonged to the same instant of time. It w^as 
 none the less sure. The foremost w^arrior, a powerful 
 savage, wdiose fingers evidently itched for the scalp of 
 the mountaineer, fell, shot through the heart. By this 
 time others had followed the bold example of their 
 leader, when the five remaining warriors, seeing the 
 imminent danger w^hicli threatened them, turned to 
 run back into their band. But two of them, however, 
 reached a place of safety. The remainder, caught in 
 their fleet career by the unerring and death-dealing 
 bullets of the mountaineers, measured their lengths 
 upon the battle-ground, stricken with wounds which de- 
 
136 AN EXCITING SKIRMISH. 
 
 manded and received from them their last wild war- 
 whoop. 
 
 When Kit Carson fired, his horse, being under no 
 restraint, became frightened and dashed away, leaving 
 his brave rider on foot. Kit, however, instantly com- 
 prehended his position. The fallen horseman had suc- 
 ceeded in extricating himself, but not without difficulty, 
 for the ground was very uneven. He had received a 
 few pretty severe contusions, but was, notwithstanding 
 these, worth a dozen Indians yet, and failed not to show 
 the fact. Seeing Cotton thus all right. Kit Carson 
 made his way to one of his companions, and, as the 
 fighting had, apparently by mutual consent, ceased for 
 a few moments, mounted up behind him, and thus re- 
 joined the main body of his men. The runaway horse, 
 after quite a chase, was soon captured by a trapper and 
 returned to his captain. A period of inactivity now 
 reigned over the battle-field, each j)arty apparently 
 waiting for the other to again open the ball. During 
 this resting spell, the reserve division of the trappers 
 came in sight, having been anxiously expected for some 
 time. The Indians showed no fear at this addition to 
 the number of their adversaries. On the contrarj^, 
 being no doubt carried away by their recent success 
 in making a stand, they commenced posting themselves 
 among the rocks about one hundred and fifty yards dis- 
 tant from the position taken np by the trappers. The 
 arrival of the reserve was a great relief to the advance, 
 because they were tired of fighting without ammuni- 
 tion. Having well filled their ammunition pouches 
 they once more became eager for the affray. Every- 
 thing being in readiness, with a cheer, they started on 
 foot to attack and dislodge the enemy. In a few mo- 
 
... -^^^^^'^ 
 
 .-^^4 
 
 
 Although some distance oflf, Kit sprang from his saddle, and, with the leap of an 
 antLloj)c, and the rallying cry for his men, was on the ground, ready to made a cer- 
 tain shot. Ilis aim and the crack of his rifle almost belonged to the same instant of 
 time.— Page 135. 
 
FIGHTING AMONG THE ROCKS. 139 
 
 ments Avas coinnicnccd the severest skirmish of the 
 day. It became so exciting that frequently a trapper 
 Avould occupy one side, and a stalwart warrior the 
 other, of some large rock, each intent upon the life oi 
 his adversary. In such cases it required the closest 
 watch Fuhicss and the utmost dexterity to kill or dis- 
 lodge the bold savage. The power of powder in the 
 hands of skillftd men soon began to assert its superior- 
 ity in the battle, and when once the Indians commenced 
 to waver, it was all over with them. Their first wa- 
 vering soon broke into a complete rout, when they ran 
 for their lives. As they scattered in every direction, 
 the pursuit which followed was short. In this battle 
 the trappers considered that they had thoroughly set- 
 tled all outstanding accounts with the Blackfeet In- 
 dians, for they had killed a large number of their war- 
 riors and wounded many more. On their side three 
 men only were killed and a few severely wounded. 
 
 Fontenelle and his men camped for a few days in the 
 vicinity of the scene of their late engagement, burying 
 their dead and repairing damages. They then resumed 
 the business of trapping, traversing the Blackfeet coun- 
 try whenever they chose, without fear of molestation. 
 The success in their late engagement seemed to follow 
 them in their business, for their stock of fur accumu- 
 lated rapidly. 
 
 While they were encamped upon Green River, an 
 express rider, sent by the traders, came into camp and 
 informed the party that the rendezvous would be held 
 on Mud River. With a large stock of beaver, the party 
 started for that place, arriving in eight days. 
 
 Besides the usual traders and trappers, the party met 
 at this rendezvous some missionaries and a distinguished 
 
140 "old father de smidt.'' 
 
 English nobleman, Sir William Stuart. Of this latter 
 gentleman. Kit Carson says : " For the goodness of his 
 heart and numerous rare qualities of mind, he will 
 always be remembered by those of the mountaineers 
 who had the honor of his acquaintance." 
 
 Among the missionaries was '' Old Father De Smidt," 
 as he afterwards came to be familiarly called. Perhaps 
 there never was a ^^erson in the wilds of America who 
 became so universally beloved, both by the w^hite and 
 red man. While in the mountains, he acted with un- 
 tiring zeal for the good of all with whom he came in 
 contact. Wherever duty called him, there he was sure 
 to be found, no matter what the obstacles or dangers 
 spread upon the path. He worked during a long series 
 of years in these dangerous localities, and accomplished 
 much good. When, at last, he returned to civilization, 
 he left an indelible name behind him. For years he 
 w^as a leading literary and religious man in St. Louis, 
 Mo., and, at the time of his death, which took place 
 only a short time ago, was beloved and resjDCcted by 
 all that knew him. 
 
 In twenty days after the camp at the rendezvous was 
 formed, it broke up again into small parties. Kit Car- 
 son, with seven companions, went to Brown's Hole. 
 This was a trading post. Here they found two traders 
 who were contemplating getting up a business expedi- 
 tion to the Navajoe Indians. This tribe exhibits more 
 traces of white blood than any other of the wild races 
 in North America. They are brave, and fond of own- 
 ing large possessions. These consist chiefly of immense 
 herds of fine horses and sheep. In this respect they 
 are not unlike the ancient inhabitants of the earth, 
 who " watched their roving store" on Syrian soil and 
 
AMONG THE NAVAJOES. 141 
 
 the contiguous countries. The parties who desired to 
 trade with them usually carried a stock of trinkets and 
 articles of use, for which they received horses, mules, 
 blankets, and lariets.*" 
 
 Navajoe blankets are very celebrated in the far west 
 of America, and especially in Old Mexico, where they 
 are in great demand and command high prices. Many 
 of these articles are really beautiful, and, from their 
 fine texture, together with the great amount of labor 
 spent in their manufacture, are expensive, even when 
 purchased of the Indians. The art of weaving these 
 blankets has been long known to the Navajoe Indians, 
 and all the female children belonorino* to the nation are 
 taught the art during their earliest years. It is only 
 after much practice, however, that they become expert. 
 
 Kit Carson joined the two traders, whose names were 
 Thompson and Sinclair, and made the trip with them 
 which they had planned. They realized very hand- 
 somely from it, bringing back a large drove of very 
 fine mules. The animals were driven to the Fort, on 
 the South Fork of the Platte, where they were disposed 
 of at fair prices. Having received his share of the 
 profits, Kit returned again to Brown's Hole. The sea- 
 son was too far gone for him to think of joining another 
 trapping expedition that fall. He therefore began to 
 look about for some suitable employment for the 
 winter. As soon as it became known that his services 
 were open for an engagement, several offers were made 
 him, all of which he rejected. The reader will doubt- 
 less see a contrast between the Kit Carson renowned 
 as a trapper and hunter, and the Kit Carson who, at 
 
 * A lariet is a beantifiilly made rope, manufactured from liides, and used for picketing 
 horses out upou the prairies. They are worth, iii New Mexico, about two dollars each. 
 
142 HUNTER TO THE FORT. 
 
 Taos, only a few years before, was glad to hire out as 
 a cook, in order to gain his daily sustenance. For some 
 time, strono; inducements of hio-h wao^es had been held 
 out to him by the occupants of the Fort, in order to 
 prevail upon him to accept the responsible and ardu- 
 ous office of Hunter to the Fort. The task of supply- 
 ing, by the aid of the rifle, all the flesh twenty men 
 would naturally consume during an entire winter, 
 formed the duty required and expected from this ofii- 
 cer. The inducements were so tempting, the task so 
 congenial with his feelings, and withal, the urgent per- 
 suasions of the men so pressing, that Kit Carson finally 
 accepted the offer and entered upon his duties. He 
 soon showed the company that he knew his business, 
 and could perform it with an ease and certainty which 
 failed not to elicit universal esteem and commendation. 
 When the time arrived for him to resign the office in 
 the spring, he left behind him golden opinions of his 
 skill as a marksman. 
 
ANOXnEK TRAPPING EXPEDITION. 143 
 
 OHAPTEE YI. 
 
 Bridger and Carson trapping on the Black Hills — The Main Camp — The 
 Rendezvous — Winter Quarters on the Yellow Stone — Carson with 
 forty men in a desperate light with the Blackfeet Indians — A Council 
 — Sentinel posted — One Thousand Warriors come to punish the 
 Trappers — The War Dance — The Courage of the Savages deserts 
 them — Winter Quarters — The Spring Hunt — Another Fight with the 
 Blackfeet — Continued Annoyances — The Trappers abandon the Coun- 
 try — Scenery on the Columbia — The Rocky Mountains and Alps 
 compared — Other Trapping Expeditions — Beaver becoming scarce — 
 Prices of Fur reduced — Kit Carson and the Trappers give up their 
 Vocation — The Journey to Bent's Fort — Mitchell the Mountaineer — 
 His Eccentricities. 
 
 Ix the spring, Kit Carson joined Bridger. With 
 four companions they went to the Black Hills to hunt. 
 In the streams adjacent to that country, the beaver ex- 
 isted in large numbers, and their success in trapping 
 was excellent. 
 
 Soon after arriving, however, the party broke up. 
 Kit Carson and a trapper named Owens made a hunt 
 by themselves, and were very fortunate in obtaining a 
 large stock of the fur. After which they joined the 
 main camp of the trappers on Green Kiver. When 
 the summer was pretty well advanced, the camp was 
 broken up and all its occupants started for the rendez- 
 vous, this year held on the Popoayhi, a branch of the 
 Wind Eiver. 
 
 In the fall, most of the trappers went to the country 
 which lies in the immediate neighborhood of the Yel- 
 9 
 
144 AGAIN AFTER THE EED -SKINS. 
 
 low Stone River. Having trapped all the streams 
 there, they went into winter quarters on that stream. 
 
 Nothing was heard of their sworn enemies, the Black- 
 feet Indians, nntil about the middle of the winter. A 
 party who were out hunting suddenly came upon some 
 signs which, looking suspicious, attracted their attention. 
 To these signs they gave a close investigation, and fully 
 made up their minds that they were close to the strong- 
 hold of their foes. Without waiting to follow up the 
 signs, they immediately retraced their steps and in- 
 formed their party in camp of their conviction that 
 trouble was brewing. A command of fortj^ men was 
 instantly detailed to seek out the Indians and give 
 them battle Kit Carson was once more called upon 
 to lead the brave trappers in this expedition, and 
 everything was left to his direction and good judg- 
 ment. Soon after commencing their march, the com- 
 pany fell in with a scouting party of the enemy in the 
 vicinity of the spot where the fresh signs had been dis- 
 covered. To this party the trappers gave chase, wisely 
 concluding they would run for their main body. The 
 result satisfied their anticipations. In a short time they 
 found themselves opposed to a strong band of Indians, 
 when a regular fight was instantly commenced. After 
 quite a spirited contest, the Indians gave way and re- 
 treated, but in good order, to an island in the Yellow 
 Stone River, where they had previously erected strong 
 barricades. Night put a stop to the scenes of the day, 
 and further action was deferred until the next morning. 
 As soon as the light would again warrant it, the trap- 
 pers plunged into the stream and made for the island, 
 being determined to dislodge the Indians. To their 
 great dismay the brave savages had already retreated, 
 
RED WITH FRESU BLOOD. 145 
 
 liaving quietly given them the slip during the night. 
 The result of the battle the day before was now made 
 apparent. It was evident that not much powder had 
 been wasted in the action. The snow within the forti- 
 fication was red with fresh blood, and from the place a 
 bloody trail led to a hole in the ice of the stream where 
 a large number of lifeless bodies had been sunk. There 
 was nothing now to be done except to return to camp. 
 Upon their arrival a council was convened to devise 
 measures and plans for their future conduct. It was 
 quite evident to all that the campaign had but just com- 
 menced. It was the general impression that the main 
 village of the Blackfeet tribe had been located within 
 a few miles. When, therefore, the news of their recent 
 severe loss should be carried there by the survivors in 
 the battle, active measures would be set on foot to seek 
 revenge. It was the decision of the council that the 
 trappers should act chiefly on the defensive. Measures 
 were immediately set on foot to guard against surprise. 
 To make everything doubly secure, none but the most 
 trusty and well-tried men were detailed to perform sen- 
 tinel duty. Near their camp there was a very lofty hill 
 which commanded a fine view of the surrounding coun- 
 try. Upon this eminence they posted a sentinel through- 
 out the day-time. Their arrangements having been all 
 determined upon and plans laid, the execution of them, 
 to men so well skilled in frontier life, occupied but little 
 time. Notwithstanding this celerity in their movements, 
 they had been none too quick. Soon after their prepa- 
 rations were fully made, the sentinel on the hill gave his 
 signal indicating the approach of the Indians, showing 
 that their precaution^ in this respect had been a wise 
 one. The order was immediately given to erect strong 
 
146 AN INDIAN WAR -DANCE. 
 
 breastworks. This task was so successfully accomplished 
 that, in a few hours, they had prepared a little fortress 
 which, covered with their unerring rifles, was impreg- 
 nable against any force the Indians could bring against 
 it. The advance party of the savages soon appeared in 
 sight, but when they discovered the strength of the trap- 
 pers, they halted and awaited, distant about half a mile 
 from the breastwork, the arrival of the rest of the band. 
 It was three days before the whole force of the Indians 
 had arrived. They mustered about one thousand war- 
 riors. It was a sight which few white men of the 
 American nation have looked upon. Arrayed in their 
 fantastic war costume and bedaubed with paint, armed 
 with lances, bows and arrows, rifles, tomahawks, knives, 
 etc., some mounted and some on foot, they presented a 
 wild and fearful scene of barbaric strength and fancy. 
 Soon after their last company had reported, the fright- 
 ful w^ar-dance, peculiar to the American savages, was 
 enacted in sight of the trappers' position. The battle 
 songs and shouts which accompanied the dance reached 
 the 'ears of the whites with fearful distinctness. Any 
 other than hearts of oak with courage of steel would 
 have quailed before this terrible display of savage en- 
 mity and ferocity. This dance, to men so well skilled 
 in the ways of the Indian warrior, was a sure signal that 
 the next day would be certain to have a fearful his- 
 tory for one party or the other, and doubtless for both. 
 The odds, most assuredly, were apparently greatly in 
 favor of the savage host and against the little band of 
 hardy mountaineers. 
 
 The following day the expectations of the trappers 
 were realized. The Indians, at the first dawn of day, 
 approached the breastwork, eager for the battle. They 
 
a:-; INDIAN WAR DANCE 
 
AFIIAID TO FACE THE DANGER. 149 
 
 were evidently very much astonished at beholding the 
 invincibility of the trappers' position. It was what 
 they had not calculated upon, and seemed to cast a 
 perfect damper upon their courage. After firing a few 
 shots, which did no harm, and seeing that nothing could 
 be accomplished except by a charge, they commenced 
 a retreat. The trappers, though only sixty strong, 
 were filled with disappointment and chagrin at the 
 course taken by their wary foes. They began to shout 
 to their enemies in derisive terms, hoping the taunts 
 would exasperate and draw them into an attack. Noth- 
 ing, however, would tempt them to face tlie danger, 
 for they withdrew to a spot about one mile from the 
 little fort and sat down in council. The speeches ap- 
 peared to be generally opposed to risking an assault, 
 for, after the council was dissolved, the Indians divided 
 into two nearly equal parties and immediatelj^ marched 
 off. One band took the direction of the Crow country, 
 and the other shaped their course in the direction from 
 whence they came. 
 
 The trappers remained at their little fort during the 
 winter, and were not again disturbed by the Indians. 
 Early in the following spring, they set their traps on 
 one of the tributaries of the Missouri River, and finished 
 the hunt on the head of Lewis' Fork. They then de- 
 parted for the rendezvous which was held on Green 
 River, near the mouth of Horse Creek, remaining there 
 until the month of August, and until the meeting was 
 dissolved. 
 
 Kit Carson, on the breaking up of the camp at the 
 rendezvous, accompanied by five other trappers, w^ent 
 to Fort Hall, and joined a party attached to the " North- 
 west Fur Company." "With this band he trajiped to 
 
150 MEETING OF OLD FRIENDS. 
 
 the head of Salmon Eiver. Thence they went to 
 Malacle Eiver, trapping down it to where it empties 
 into the Big Snake Eiver. They continued on up this 
 latter river, and then, after trapping on Goose Creek 
 and Eaft Eiver, returned to Fort Hall. Their stock of 
 fur was quite extensive on their arrival here, and, an 
 opportunity offering to dispose of it, they sold out at a 
 fair valuation. After recruiting their strength at the 
 Fort for one month. Kit Carson, accompanied by most 
 of the trappers, set out to join Bridger, who was still in 
 the country of the Blackfeet Indians. Upon striking 
 the Missouri Eiver, signs of trappers were discovered, in- 
 dicating that, whoever the party or parties might be, 
 they were now above the place where Kit and his party 
 then were. With fourteen companions. Kit started in 
 advance of the main party to overtake, and report who 
 these men were. Towards evening of the same day, 
 the advance party came up with the trappers, and found 
 that they were under the charge of Joseph Gale and in 
 the employ of Captain Wyatt. 
 
 Gale informed Carson that his command had recently 
 been engaged in a closely contested fight with the 
 Blackfeet Indians; that several of his party had been 
 wounded, and one, by the name of Eichard Owens, was 
 at first thought to be mortally so, but eventually he 
 had begun to recover and now was doing well. 
 
 Kit and his men remained one night with Gale. On 
 the following day his party commenced setting their 
 traps, intending to proceed up the river at a slow pnce, 
 in order to allow the main party to overtake them. 
 The men sent out to set their traps had not gone from 
 the camp over tAvo miles before they w^ere fired upon 
 by a party of Blackfeet Indians and compelled to re- 
 
UNEARTHLY YELLS, AND DESPERATE COURAGE. 151 
 
 treat. They did so, succeeding in joining their com- 
 rades without the loss of a single man. The pursuit 
 had been close and well sustained by the savages ; 
 hence, it became necessary to take instant measures in 
 order to insure the safety of the advance. Kit Carson, 
 who was the commander of the party, after quietly 
 surveying the scene, gave orders for the men, with 
 their animals, to conceal themselves, as best they could 
 in the brush. His orders had been issued but just in 
 time, for the concealment was barely attained, when 
 the Indians were upon them. They were received 
 with a well-directed volley from the rifles of the little 
 party, which brought down several of the fierce assail- 
 ants. They recoiled and retreated for a moment. The 
 moment was golden to the few white men. Like men 
 who were fighting for their lives, but who were cool 
 in danger, they made no mistakes in reloading their 
 rifles. They were but just ready, however, for the sec- 
 ond charge. This time the savages came on with un- 
 earthly yells and desperate courage, seemingly well 
 satisfied that before them stood the men whose faithful 
 rifle-talk they had heard before. Kit warned his men 
 to keep cool and fire as if shooting game, a warning 
 which was entirely unnecessary, for the result was that 
 the savages were again driven back with a brave bleed- 
 ing or dying for nearly every shot fired. It was very 
 fortunate that Kit had chosen this position, for the en- 
 gagement lasted nearly the entire day. The loss on 
 the part of the Indians was very severe. They did 
 everything in their power to force Kit and his party 
 from their cover, but without avail. Every time they 
 attempted to charge into the thicket the same deadly 
 volley was poured in with never-failing aim, which in- 
 
152 DRIVEN OUT OF THE COUNTRY. 
 
 variably caused the savages to beat a hasty retreat. 
 Before the next attack the trappers were ready for them 
 with reloaded rifles. At last, as if driven to despera- 
 tion, the Indians set the thicket on fire, hoping to burn 
 out their foes. Most jDrovidentially, in this also they 
 were foiled. After consuming the outer shrubbery, the 
 fire died out. This was the last act attempted by the 
 savages. Seeing the ill success of their effort to dis- 
 lodge the trappers by fire, they departed. They may 
 have been hurried in this leave-taking somewhat by 
 news brought in by their spies of the near apjDroach 
 of the main body of the trappers, which had arrived at 
 a point about six miles distant from the battle-ground. 
 They had been prevented from hearing the reports of 
 fire-arms, by adverse winds, and knew nothing of the 
 fight until informed by the trappers engaged in it. 
 When sufficient time had elapsed for the Indians to 
 be well out of sight, Kit Carson and his companions 
 left their cover and soon found their way into the 
 camp of their friends. 
 
 Gale was so continually annoyed by these Indians 
 that he joined the other trappers and together they 
 concluded to leave their country. Their combined 
 forces, though able to cope with them so far as defen- 
 sive measures were necessary, was utterly powerless to 
 overawe them. This made it next to an impossibility 
 for them to continue in their country with a hope of 
 success in business. For the purpose of getting rid of 
 them they moved off, some distance, to a small creek 
 where beaver were plenty. Trouble followed them, 
 however. The first day of their arrival, one of the 
 party was killed by the Blackfeet Indians within a short 
 distance only, of the camp. During the remainder of 
 
no. 
 
 ^^THE RIYEE OF THE WEST. 15 
 
 the stay made by the party on this stream, the rascals 
 hovered around and worried them to such a degree that 
 a trapper coukl not leave the camp without falling into 
 an ambuscade and being forced to fight his way back 
 again. 
 
 It became evident to all interested that, so long as 
 such a state of affairs existed, they could not employ 
 their time with just hope of advantage. After a short 
 council, it was decided to abandon this region of the 
 country and go to a branch of Columbia Eiver, near 
 Flat Head Lake. 
 
 Of the many beautiful rivers on which Carson trap- 
 ped, none could equal in scenery the Columbia. It is 
 ^' The Eiyer of the West." 
 
 As described by Kichardson : " Clear, blue, glassy, 
 dotted with little islands of greenest foliage, and broken 
 by dangerous rapids, the Columbia is unrivaled upon 
 our continent in grandeur and magnitude. The Hud- 
 son no more compares with it than does the Arkansas 
 with the Hudson." " Beside it rise grand, abrupt moun- 
 tains, deeply wooded with firs, crowned with stupen- 
 dous rocks, carpeted by yellow moss, girdled with 
 strands of snowy cloud, and streaked with water-falls 
 of perfect whiteness.' After several narrow escapes 
 from the troublesome Blackfeet, our party accomplished 
 the journey, and commenced the business of trapping. 
 
 Proceeding up the river, on the fourth day, they 
 came, suddenly, upon a large village of Flathead and 
 Pondrai Indians, who were encamped upon its banks. 
 These Indians were friendly to the whites. A chief of 
 the Flatheads and several of his people joined the 
 trappers, and went with them to the Big Snake Kiver, 
 where they established their winter quarters. The 
 
154 MOUNTAINS OF SNOW. 
 
 winter passed away so quietly that not a single incident 
 occurred beyond the usual routine, which the imagina- 
 tion of the reader can easily supply. It was quite cold 
 that season, and the snow fell to a great depth. Every- 
 thing, however, was arranged as best conduced to com- 
 fort, and the trappers found a pleasant and congenial 
 exercise in hunting to supply their daily wants. 
 
 The winter seasons in the Kocky Mountains are usu- 
 ally fearful and severe. There, snow-storms form moun- 
 tains for themselves, filling up the passes for weeks, 
 even those which are low being impracticable either for 
 man or beast. As a set-ofF to all this, the scenery is 
 most grand, provided the beholder is well housed. If 
 the case is otherwise, and he be doomed to combat these 
 terrible storms, his situation is most critical. During 
 the summer months, the lofty peaks of this mighty chain 
 of mountains, like those of the Alps, are covered with 
 white caps of snow. As time, the bright sun, and the 
 south wind wear out these old-lady head-gearings, no 
 matter what be the part of the year, whether the cold 
 days of January or the hot days of August, the snow- 
 storms are faithful in replenishing them. It affords a 
 contrast of the elements of the grandest conception to 
 stand hi the shade of some wavy verdure of the valley, 
 wiping off the unbidden perspiration from the brow, and, 
 at the same instant, look upon a darkly threatening 
 storm-cloud powdering the heads of the hoary monster 
 mountains from its freight of flaky snow. So far, these 
 American giant mountains are unsurpassed by their 
 Alpine neighbors of Europe. Not so in the glaciers. 
 Throughout the great range, there are none of those 
 beautiful glaciers to be found that can compare with 
 those possessed by their comj)eers in Europe. 
 
THE ALPS OF AMERICA. 157 
 
 To the traveler whose taste has led him to wander 
 along the " Great backbones/' or vertebra), of the two 
 hemispheres, preparing the mind to draw truthful con- 
 trast, his pleasantest reveries will find him drawing 
 comparisons between them. He is never tired, for the 
 subject he cannot exhaust. When, supposing that his 
 conclusions are at last made, and that the Alps have 
 won the highest place in favor, some forgotten scene 
 from America will assume the form and shape of a vivid 
 recollection, rife with scenic grandeur and sublimity, 
 restoring the Eocky chain to its counterpoise ; then an 
 hour of peril and fearful toil will come to memory, and, 
 until the same mental process shall bring them again 
 to an equilibrium, the far-flimed Alps will descend in 
 the balance. Each have their attractions, each their 
 grandeur, each their sublimity, each their w^onderful, 
 awful silence, each their long and glorious landscape 
 views, while, to each, the general contour is the same. 
 In the point of altitude, the Eocky chain, as is well 
 known to science, has the advantage ; but, in historical 
 science and lore, the famous Alps stand preeminent. 
 True, it is from ignorance that we are led to concede 
 this, because no man can give to the world the reminis- 
 cences of the Eocky Mountains. Their history, since 
 the first red man entered them, must forever rest in 
 oblivion. In scenery, these mountains of the Western 
 Continent again carry off the palm, for they strike the 
 observer as being more bold, wild, and picturesque 
 than their formidable rivals. To the foot-worn traveler, 
 who has journeyed thirty or forty days upon the level 
 prairies, seeing nothing to break the monotony of a sea 
 of earth, the dark outlines of the Eocky Mountains, 
 gradually coming into the view, never fail to prove a 
 
158 MAGNIFICENT SCENERY. 
 
 refreshing sight both to the physical and mental eye. 
 They appear as if descending from the heavens to the 
 surface of the earth, perpendicularly, as though in- 
 tended to present a perfect barrier over which no Hving 
 thing should pass. This view never fails to engross the 
 earnest attention of the traveler, and hours of gazing 
 only serve to enwrap the mind in deeper and more 
 fixed contemplation. Is there not here presented a 
 field such as no other part of this globe can furnish, in 
 which the explorer, the geologist, the botanist may sow 
 and reap a rich harvest for his enterprise ? To the 
 hunter, the real lover of, and dependent upon the chase, 
 there can be no comparison between the mighty Alps 
 and the huge Eocky Mountain Barrier of the American 
 Prairies. The one is destitute of animal life, while the 
 other bears a teeming population of the choicest game 
 known to the swift-leaden messenger of the white man's 
 rifle. He who wishes to behold in the same gaze beautiful 
 valleys, highly cultivated by a romantic and interest- 
 ing race, in rich contrast with wonderfully moulded 
 masses of earth and stone, covered with a medley of 
 green foliage and white snow, let him go the Alps. 
 
 In the following spring, Kit Carson, accompanied by 
 only one trapper, started out to hunt the streams in 
 the vicinity of Big Snake River. The Utah nation of 
 Indians inhabited this country, and with them Kit Car- 
 son stood on friendly footing. The business of trap- 
 ping was therefore carried on w^ithout fear of molesta- 
 tion. The labors of the two w^ere crowned with great 
 success. 
 
 Loaded with a full cargo of fur, they soon after set 
 out for Robidoux's Fort, which they reached in safety, 
 selling out their stock to good advantage. 
 
"here comes parson WILLIAMS." 159 
 
 Kit Carson made only a short stop at this Fort. As 
 soon as his fur was disposed of, he immediately organ- 
 ized a small party consisting of five trappers and made 
 a journey to Grand River. After thoroughly trapping 
 this river, he established himself at Brown's Hole on 
 Green River for the winter. Early in the spring he 
 returned with the same party to the country of the 
 Utahs and hunted there for some time. He then 
 went to the middle Park, where they finished their 
 trapping operations and returned to Robidoux's Fort. 
 Here Kit met many of his old friends and associates, 
 and among them William Williams, better known as 
 " Parson Williams " and " Old Bill Williams." It will 
 not be out of place to give a short history of this re- 
 markable man. 
 
 William Williams was a most celebrated character in 
 the Rocky Mountains, where he lived for many years. 
 At one time he was a Methodist preacher in the State 
 of Missouri, which he frequently boasted of in after life. 
 Whenever relating this part of his eventful career, he 
 nsed to say that he was so well known in his circuit, 
 that the chickens recognized him as he came riding 
 past the farm-houses. The old chanticleers would crow, 
 " Here comes Parson Williams ! One of us must be 
 made ready for dinner." Upon quitting the States, he 
 traveled extensively among the various tribes of wild 
 Indians throughout the far West and adopted their man- 
 ners and customs. Whenever he grew weary of one 
 nation, he would go to another. To the Missionaries, 
 he was often very useful. He possessed the faculty of 
 easily acquiring languages, and could readily translate 
 most of the Bible into several Indian dialects. His 
 own conduct, however, was frequently in strange con- 
 
160 AN INSANE GUIDE. 
 
 trast with the precepts of that Holy Book. He next 
 turns up as a hunter and trapper ; when, in this capac- 
 ity, he became more celebrated for his wild and daring 
 adventures, than before he had been for his mild pre- 
 cepts. By many of his companions, he was looked 
 upon as a man who was partially insane. Williams 
 proved to be a perfect enigma and terror to the Mexi- 
 cans, who thought him possessed of an evil spirit. He 
 once settled for a short time in their midst and became 
 a trader. Soon after he had established himself, he 
 had a quarrel with some of his customers about his 
 charges. He appeared to be instantly disgusted with 
 the Mexicans, for he threw his small stock of goods 
 into the street of the town where he lived, seized his 
 rifle and started again for the mountains. His knowl- 
 edge of the country over which he had wandered, was 
 very extensive ; but, when Colonel Fremont put it to 
 the test, he came very near sacrificing his life to his 
 guidance. This was probably owing to the failing of 
 Williams' intellect ; for, when he joined the great ex- 
 plorer, he was past the meridian of life. After be- 
 queathing his name to several mountains, rivers and 
 passes, which were undoubtedly discovered by him, he 
 was slain by the red men while trading with them. 
 
 At Robidoux's Fort, Carson again found a purchaser 
 for his fur; but, the prices at which he was obliged to 
 sell them, did not at all please him. Within a few 
 years, the value of beaver fur had greatly deteriorated. 
 This was caused by the slow demand which had gradu- 
 ally ruled at the great emporiums of Europe and 
 America. The skill of the manufacturer had substi- 
 tuted a material for the making of hats which, while 
 it was cheaper, pleased the great race of hat-wearers. 
 
Cr -:^r'iS;^ A'-i-. 
 
 
 KIT AND HTS FAVORITE HORSE "APACHE.' 
 
AN INDIAN SIGN OF MOURNING. IGl 
 
 The beaver itself was becoming scarce, owing to their 
 beino' so dilii!:entlv hunted. It was evident to Kit Car- 
 son and many of his mountaineer companions that 
 their occupation was gradually becoming less profita- 
 ble, and that it would soon drive them into other em- 
 ployments. Acting upon this impression,. Kit Carson, 
 accompanied by "Old Bill Williams," William New, 
 Mitchell and Fredericks, a Frenchman, started for Bent's 
 Fort, which was then located on the Arkansas River, 
 near a large forest of cotton-wood trees, and which is, 
 even at this day, known as the " Big Timbers." The 
 party struck the river at a point about one hundred 
 miles above the Fort, where, in later years, was built a 
 settlement called St. Charles, and which for many years 
 was subjected to various kinds of annoyances from In- 
 dians. On one occasion it was attacked by the hos- 
 tile Utahs and Apaches, who killed and carried off as 
 prisoners a total of sixteen settlers. Among the slain 
 was a Canadian who fought so skillfully and desper- 
 ately before he was dispatched, that he killed three of 
 his assailants. When his body was found, it was liter- 
 ally pierced through and through with lance and ar- 
 row wounds, while the hand with which he had caught 
 hold of some of these weapons, was nearly cut to 
 pieces. Around his corpse, there were a dozen horses' 
 tails which had been cut from the horses which w^ere 
 owned by the dead warriors, and left there, as a sign 
 of mourning, by the Indians. 
 
 On reaching the river, two of the party, Mitchell and 
 New, concluded to tarry awhile in order to gratify their 
 humor for hunting. But Kit Carson, with the remain- 
 der of the mountaineers, continued on their course, and 
 in three days' time were safely lodged within the walls 
 
162 AN ECCENTRIC MOUNTAINEER. 
 
 of the Fort. One week subsequently Mitchell and New 
 followed their companions to the Fort, but in a sad 
 plight. They had not suspected danger, and, conse- 
 quently had failed to guard against it. They had been 
 surrounded by Indians and deprived of everything they 
 possessed except their naked bodies. In this denuded 
 state they arrived at the Fort. They were kindly re- 
 ceived and provided for by its noble-hearted proprie- 
 tors, and for some time enjoyed a respite from all their 
 troubles. 
 
 This mountaineer Mitchell, full of eccentricities of 
 character, has seen the ups and downs of a frontiers- 
 man during a long and eventful life. He once joined 
 the Camanche nation and became one of their braves. 
 
 In this capacity he won great renown by the efl&cient 
 and active part he took in several engagements between 
 the tribe of his adoption and their enemies. His real 
 object in turning Indian was to discover the locality of 
 a gold mine which was said to have an existence in 
 some of the mountains of northern Texas. Having 
 convinced himself that the story of the gold mine, like 
 many of the tales and traditions which gain currency 
 in Indian countries, was entirely without foundation, 
 Mitchell, with some plausible excuse, bid his red 
 friends good-by and sought out his old comrades, the 
 trappers, to whom he ever afterwards proved faithful. 
 Some years since, Mitchell paid a trading visit to the 
 States. On his route it became necessary that he should 
 pass over the Kansas Territory, just at a time when po- 
 litical difficulties there were exciting the people to the 
 highest pitch of anxiety. The consequence was, that 
 his views upon the all-absorbing questions at issue 
 were frequently asked for by members of both parties. 
 
DISGUSTED WITH THE WHITES. 1G3 
 
 To all these queries he invariably replied, professing 
 his ignorance of everything that appertained thereto. 
 This caused him to be regarded as a dangerous man, 
 and one not to be trusted. He was accordingly treated 
 with indifference and silent reserve. This, to a moun- 
 taineer, who, during a long period of years, had met 
 every '* pale face " as a brother, was insupportable usage. 
 In all haste he finished his business, relinquished his con- 
 templated journey through the States, and started to 
 return to his home in New Mexico. While upon the 
 road, he accidentally fell in with a friend, and, in reply 
 to the question, Where have you been ? said : 
 
 "After a lapse of many years, I thought I should like 
 to see the whites again, so I was going to the States. 
 But the sample I have seen in Kansas is enough to dis- 
 gust a man with their character. They do nothing but 
 get up war-parties against one another ; and I would 
 much rather be in an Indian country than in civilized 
 Kansas." Mitchell is full of dry humor and commands 
 the faculty of telling a good story, which makes him a 
 pleasant traveling companion. 
 
 Since the time when Kit Carson first joined a trap- 
 ping expedition, up to the time of his arrival at Bent's 
 Fort, a period of eight long years, he had known no 
 rest from arduous toil. Not even when, to the reader, 
 he was apparently idle, buried in the deep snows of the 
 Rocky Mountains and awaiting the return of Spring, 
 has he rested from toil. Even then his daily life has 
 been given up to bodily fatigue and danger, frequently 
 in scenes which, although of thrilling interest, are too 
 lengthy for this narrative. It has been our purpose 
 thus fiir to present Kit Carson undergoing his novitiate. 
 
 We regard, and we think a world will eventually re- 
 
 10 
 
164 TEAKS OF STlIimXG, PEACTICAL LIFE. 
 
 gard, this extraordinary man as one raised up by Prov- 
 idence to fulfill a destiny of His all-wise decree. It is 
 premature for us, at this stage of our work to advance 
 the argument upon which this conclusion, so irresistibly 
 to our mind, is deduced. We have yet before us an 
 array of historical fact and incident to relate, without 
 parallel in the history of nations, and in which Kit 
 Carson played no insignificant part. For these eight 
 years of stirring, practical life. Kit Carson, relying upon 
 his beloved rifle for his sustenance and protection, had 
 penetrated every part of the interior of the North 
 American Continent, setting his traps upon every river 
 of note which rises within this interior, and tracing them 
 from the little springs which originate them to the wide 
 mouths from which they pour their surcharged waters 
 into the mighty viaducts or drains of the vast prairies, 
 and the mighty leviathan ranges of the Rocky Moun- 
 tains. In this time he had wandered over a wild terri- 
 tory equal in its dimensions to nearly all of the em- 
 pires, kingdoms and principalities of Europe combined. 
 His journeys, as it has already appeared, were made 
 sometimes on foot and sometimes on horseback. By 
 themselves, his travels will be called no trivial under- 
 takings. Each fresh adventure led him into regions 
 where but seldom, and more frequently never, had a 
 white man trod the soil. He was, therefore, now an 
 explorer in every sense of that distinguishing word, 
 with the single exception that he had not produced the 
 results which the early culture and advantages of a 
 scientific and classical education might have brought 
 about. But the history of the world furnishes few ex- 
 amples, if indeed any, where the physical training, prac- 
 tical skill and knowledge of a country, as possessed 
 
GOD IN NATURE^ GOD IN EVENTS. 1G5 
 
 by Kit Carson, have been united vith scholastic lore. 
 At all events, in the wisdom of that special Prov- 
 idence which was intending the gold mines of Cali- 
 fornia to be consecrated to the advancement of Ameri- 
 can civilization, with its religious freedom, personal 
 liberties and sacred literature, the novitiate of Kit Car- 
 son was decreed to be wholly of a practical nature. But 
 while Kit Carson, with his rifle, was thus reared up in 
 character, courage and experience, the same All-wise 
 hand was directing the pathway of a mind, equal to 
 accomplish His call, through all the labyrinths of Sci- 
 ence, History and the Arts, endowing that mind with 
 a keenness of intellectual grasp in strange contrast 
 with the practical skill of its future guide. Those who 
 see no God in nature, no God in events, may batter 
 away at this proposition. The record of Kit Carson's 
 future tasks will prove it to be an invincible stronghold 
 of theory. 
 
 Kit Carson's mind had now become w^ell stored with 
 facts and localities which w^ere destined to be made 
 known to the world through his connections with oth- 
 ers. It is not detracting from the merits of any one to 
 assert that, without frontiersmen like Kit Carson, the 
 numerous scientific expeditions which have been sent 
 out by the United States Government to explore the 
 far West, would have returned but sorry and meagre 
 records for their employers. After reading some of 
 the many printed accounts which parties of a more re- 
 cent date have gathered from their experience, while 
 making their way overland to the Pacific, and also the 
 sad fiite of some brave men, with noble hearts, who 
 have fallen a sacrifice upon the altar of science under 
 the fatal blows of hostile savages, attributable, no 
 
166 THE HAEDSHIPS OF LIFE. 
 
 doubt, in some measure, to bad advice, we can thus 
 more easily form a correct judgment of the hardships 
 which Kit Carson was called upon to endure, and the 
 wisdom or skill which he had displayed in surmounting 
 every obstacle on his wild and solitary pathway. The 
 hardships which fell to the lot of the " trappers of olden 
 time " also stand out in bolder relief Out of the whole 
 catalogue of labors, from w^hich man, to gain an honest 
 livelihood, has selected, there is not one profession 
 which presents so many formidable obstacles as that 
 under consideration ; yet, it was with difficulty that 
 the mountaineers could wean themselves from their 
 calling, even when forced by stem necessity. 
 
HUNTER TO THE FORT. 167 
 
 OHAPTEE VII. 
 
 Kit Carson is employed as Hunter to Bent's Fort — Ilis career for Eight 
 Years — Messrs. Bent and St. Vrain — The Commencement of his Ac- 
 quaintance with John C. Fremont on a Steamboat — Is employed as a 
 Guide by the Great Explorer — The Journey — Arrival at Fort Lara- 
 mie — Indian Difficulties The business of the Expedition completed 
 
 — Return to Fort Laramie — Kit Carson goes to Taos and is married 
 — He is employed as Hunter to a Train of Wagons bound for the 
 States — Meeting with Captain Cook and four companies of U. S. 
 Dragoons on Walnut Creek — INIexicans in Trouble — Kit Carson car^ 
 ries a letter for them to Santa Fe — Indians on the route — His safe 
 Arrival — Amijos' advance Guard massacred by the Texans — The one 
 Survivor — The Retreat — Kit Carson returns to Bent's Fort — His Ad- 
 ventures with the Utahs and narrow escape from Death — The Tex- 
 ans disarmed — The Express Ride performed. 
 
 It has already appeared that Kit Carson was now at 
 Bent's Fort ; also, that his occupation as a trapper of 
 beaver had become unprofitable. His services were, 
 however, immediately put into requisition by Messrs. 
 Bent and St. Vrain, the proprietors of what was called 
 Bent's Fort, which was a trading-post kept by those 
 gentlemen. The position which he accepted was that 
 of hunter to the Fort. This office he filled from that 
 time with the most undeviating fidelity and prompti- 
 tude for eight consecutive years. During all of this 
 long period not a single word of disagreement passed 
 between him and his employers, which fact shows better 
 than mere words that his duty was faithfully and satis- 
 factorily performed. It is but seldom that such a fact 
 
168 "moxarcii of the prairies." 
 
 can be stated of any employee, no matter what the 
 service. Here, however, was an example in which the 
 nature of the employment would, of itself, at times 
 present cause for discord, such as scarcity of game, bad 
 luck, and men hungry in consequence. But Kit Car- 
 son was too skillful in his profession to allow such 
 reasons to mar his fortunes. With the effort the game 
 always was at hand, for it was not his custom to return 
 from his hunts empty-handed. 
 
 Of course. Kit Carson's duties were to supply the 
 traders and their men with all the animal food they 
 wanted, an easy task when game was plenty ; but it 
 would often happen that bands of Indians, which were 
 always loitering about the trading-post, would precede 
 him in the chase, thereby rendering his labors often- 
 times very difficult. From sunrise to sunset, and not 
 nnfrequently during the night, he wandered over the 
 prairies and mountains within his range in search of 
 food, for the maintenance, sometimes, of forty men who 
 composed the garrison of the Fort, and who were 
 dependent on the skill of their hunter ; but rarely did 
 he fail them. He knew, for hundreds of miles about 
 him, the most eligible places to seek for game. During 
 the eight years referred to, thousands of buffilo, elk, 
 antelope, and deer fell at the crack of Kit Carson's 
 rifle. Each day so added to his reputation that it is 
 not to be wondered at, considering the practice of his 
 previous life, that he became unrivaled as a hunter. 
 His name spread rapidly over the Western Continent 
 until, with the rifle, he was the acknowledged "Monarch 
 of the Prairies." The wild Indians, accustomed to 
 measure a man's greatness by tbe deeds which he is 
 capable of performing with powder and lead, were com- 
 
AN HONORED GUEST. 171 
 
 pletoly carried away in their admiration of the man. 
 Among the Arrapahoes, Cheyennes, Kiowas, and Caman- 
 ches, Kit Carson was alwaj^s an honored guest when- 
 ever he chose to visit their lodges ; and many a night, 
 while seated at their watch-fires, he has narrated to 
 them the exciting scenes of the day's adventures, to 
 which they have listened with eager attention and un- 
 restrained delight. When arrayed in his rough hunt- 
 ing costume, and mounted upon his favorite charger 
 "Apache," a splendid animal, Kit Carson was a picture 
 to behold. The buffiilo were his favorite game, and 
 well were they worthy of such a noble adversary. In 
 the eyes of a sportsman, the buffalo is a glorious prey. 
 To hunt them is oftentimes attended with great danger; 
 and, while thus engaged, many a skillful man has 
 yielded up his life for his temerity. 
 
 The American bison or buffalo seems to demand at 
 our hands a short episode from the narrative of Kit 
 Carson's life. This animal has several traits of charac- 
 ter peculiarly his own. If alarmed, he starts off almost 
 instantly and always runs against the wind, his sense of 
 smell appearing to be better than his eyesight. What 
 is a most remarkable fact, a herd of buffalo, when graz- 
 ing, alwaj^s post and maintain a line of sentinels to 
 warn the main body of the approach of danger. When 
 a strange object comes within sight or smelling distance, 
 these sentinels immediately give the alarm by tossing 
 up their heads and tails and bellowing furiously. The 
 whole herd instantly heed the warning and are soon in 
 motion. Buflalo run with forelegs stiff, which fact, 
 together with their ugly-looking humps and the low- 
 ness of their heads, gives a rocking swing to their gait. 
 If a herd, when in full motion, have to cross a road on 
 
172 HUNTING THE BUFFALO. 
 
 which wagons are traveling, they change their course 
 but little ; and, it sometimes happens, that large bands 
 will pass within a stone's throw of a caravan. During 
 the early days of the Union Pacific Rail Road it was a 
 common thing to shoot buffalo from the trains. At 
 night the bands are quite systematic in forming their 
 camps. In the center are placed the cows and calves ; 
 while, to guard against the wolves, large numbers of 
 which always follow them, they station on their out- 
 posts, the old bulls. The age to which a buffalo may at- 
 tain is not known ; but, it is certain that they are gen- 
 erally long-lived when not prematurely cut off. When 
 their powers of life begin to fade, they fall an easy prey 
 to the small, carnivorous animals of the plains. The 
 attempt has been made to domesticate and render them 
 useful for agricultural purposes. Hitherto such efforts 
 have invariably failed. When restrained of their free- 
 dom, they are reduced to mere objects of curiosity. 
 
 In hunting buffalo the most important matter for the 
 attention of the hunter is to provide himself with a 
 suitable horse. The best that can be selected is a 
 trained Mexican or Indian pony. Their familiarity 
 with the game and the prairies, over which the hunter 
 must ride at full speed, renders these horses quite safe. 
 On the other hand a green horse is sure to be terribly 
 frightened when called upon to flice these ugly-looking 
 animals, and the rider will find he has his hands full 
 to manage him without thinking of his game. One 
 great danger to be apprehended is the being led into 
 a prairie-dog town. Here a horse needs experience to 
 carry his rider through with safety. Upon reaching 
 the herd, the hunter dashes in at the cows, which are 
 easily recognized by the fineness of their robes and 
 
EXCITING SPORT. 173 
 
 their smaller forms. The white man hunter, of all 
 weapons, prefers a revolver ; but the red man uses 
 the lance, and bow and arrows, which he handles with 
 remarkable dexterity. The place of election to make 
 the deadly wound is just behind the fore shoulder, 
 where the long, shaggy mane of the hump is intersect- 
 ed by the short hair of the body. The death-wound 
 being given, the blood gushes out in torrents, and the 
 victim, after a few bounds, falls on her knees with her 
 head bunting into the ground. If, by chance, a vital 
 organ is not reached, the pain of the w^ound makes the 
 stricken animal desperately courageous. She turns 
 upon her pursuer with terrible earnestness, ready to 
 destroy him. It is now that the horse is to be de- 
 pended upon. If well trained, he will instantly wheel 
 and place himself and rider out of harm's way ; but, 
 woe to both horse and hunter if this is not done. The 
 lives of both are in imminent danger. In case the 
 buffalo is killed, the hunter rides up, dismounts and 
 makes his lariet fast to the horns of his game. He 
 next proceeds to cut up the meat and prepare it for 
 his pack animals which he should have near by. By 
 their aid he easily carries it into camp. 
 
 It would doubtless afford many a page of exciting 
 interest could w^e carry the reader through all the va- 
 ried scenes of the chase in which Kit Carson has been 
 the principal actor. To transmit to our narrative a 
 choice fight with tlie fierce old grizzly bear ; or, per- 
 chance, a fine old buffalo bull turning on his destroyer 
 with savage ferocity ; or, a wounded panther, with its 
 inevitable accompaniment in the shape of a hand-to- 
 hand encounter for dear life, each of such could not 
 fail in giving interest to the o-eneral reader. We are 
 
174 KIT CARSON MARRIED. 
 
 forced, against our own conviction of the duty we owe 
 the public as Kit Carson's chosen biographer, to pass 
 by all such acts of his personal daring and triumph, be- 
 cause of his own unwillingness to relate them for pub- 
 lication. Notwithstanding our urgent requests, backed 
 up by the advice and interference of friends, Kit Car- 
 son was inflexibly opposed to relating such acts of him- 
 self He was even more willing to speak of his failures, 
 though such were few, rather than of his victories in 
 the chase. While the description of these adventures 
 could not fail to furnish useful and interesting data, 
 most unfortunately, Kit Carson considered that they 
 were uninteresting minutiae wdiich pertained to the 
 every-day business of his life, and no persuasion could 
 induce him to enter upon their relation. Not so when 
 he was entertaining some of the brave chiefs of the 
 Indian nations, whose friendship he had won by his 
 brave deeds. If they were his guests, or he himself 
 theirs, then their delight to hear kindled a pride in his 
 breast to relate. He knew that he would not by them 
 be called a boaster. 
 
 Before quitting the Mountains, Kit Carson married 
 an Indian girl, to whom he was most devotedly at- 
 tached. By this wife he had one child, a daughter. 
 Soon after the birth of this child, his wife died. His 
 daughter he watched over with the greatest solicitude. 
 When she reached a suitable age, he sent her to St. 
 Louis for the purpose of giving her the advantages of 
 a liberal education. Indeed, most of Kit Carson's hard 
 earnings, gained while he was a hunter on the Arkan- 
 sas, were devoted to the advancement of his child. On 
 arrivini!: at maturitv she married, and with her hus- 
 band settled in California. 
 
BUFFALO HUNT.-Fagi£ 173. 
 
INDIAN CUSTOMS. 177 
 
 The libertine custom of indulging in a plurality of 
 wives, as adopted by many of the mountaineers, never 
 received the sanction, in thought, word or action, of 
 Kit Carson. Ilis moral character may well be held up 
 as an example to men whose pretensions to virtuous 
 life are greater. Although he was continually sur- 
 rounded by licentiousness, he proved true to her who 
 had first gained his affections. For this honoring of 
 virtue he is indebted, in a measure, to the sway which 
 he held over the western Indian races. While their 
 chiefs are seldom men of virtuous act or intent, they 
 are high in their appreciation of, and just in their re- 
 wards to those whose lives are patterns of honor and 
 chastity. One of their ancient customs, well authen- 
 ticated, was to honor the virtuous women of their 
 tribe with sacred titles, investing them, in their blind 
 belief, with power to call down the favor, in behalf of 
 the people, of their Manitou, or Great Spirit. But 
 every woman who aspired to this honor was required, 
 upon a certain day in the year, to run the gauntlet of 
 braves. This was sometimes a terrible scene. All the 
 warriors of the tribe, arrayed in their fiercest war cos- 
 tume and armed at every point with lance, bow and 
 arraw, knife, tomahawk, etc., were drawn up under 
 command of the principal chief, in single line. At the 
 head of this line was placed a kind of chaplet, or crown, 
 the possession of which by any woman was supposed 
 to confer the power of necromancy or magic, rendering 
 her able to heal diseases and to foretell events. The 
 line having been formed, all of the young maidens of 
 the tribe were drawn up in a body at the further ex- 
 tremity, and any of them who aspired to the possession 
 of the chaplet, was at liberty, having first uncovered 
 
178 HORRIBLE BUTCHERY OF TOUIs^G GIRLS. 
 
 her back and breast as far as her waist, to march before 
 the line of warriors, within ten paces of their front, 
 and, if she lived to reach it, take possession of the 
 crown. On the other hand, it was the duty of any 
 warrior, who knew aught by word or deed against the 
 virtue of the advancing maiden, to kill her upon the 
 spot. If one arrow was shot at her, the whole band 
 instantly poured a flight of arrows into her bare and 
 defenceless bosom until life was extinct. Again, it 
 was the belief of the untutored savage that whatever 
 warrior failed to make his knowledge apparent, if he 
 possessed any, by sending his arrow at the aspirant, 
 would always be an object of revenge by fhe Great 
 Spirit, both here and hereafter ; and, that he would al- 
 ways live in the hereafter, in sight of the Happy Hunt- 
 ing Grounds, but never be allowed to enter them. 
 This latter belief made it a rare thing for young girls 
 to brave the attempt ; but, sometimes, the candidates 
 were numerous, and the horrible butchery of the 
 young girls which took place formed a terrible expose 
 of their lewdness. To kill an innocent girl was equally 
 a matter which would be forever avenged by the Great 
 Spirit. 
 
 The warm friendship which sprang up between Kit 
 Carson and the proprietors of Bent's Fort, under whom 
 he held his situation as Hunter, is a sufficient index of 
 the gentlemanly conduct and amiability of heart evinced 
 towards him on their part. The names of Bent and St. 
 Vrain were known and respected far and near in the 
 mountains, for, in generosity, hospitality, and native 
 worth, they were men of perfect model. 
 
 Mr. Bent was appointed, by the proper authority, the 
 first Civil Governor of New Mexico, after that large 
 
GOVERNOR BEXT, OF NEW MEXICO. 179 
 
 and valuable country was ceded to and came under the 
 jurisdiction of the United States Government. He held 
 this distinguished position, however, only a short time, 
 for, in the year 1847, he was most foully and treacher- 
 ously murdered by the Pueblo Indians and Mexicans. 
 A revolution had broken out among this turbulent 
 people, and, in his endeavors to stem it, Governor Bent 
 was frustrated. At last, being driven to his own house, 
 he barricaded the doors and windows. The rascally 
 rioters, after a severe contest, succeeded in breaking 
 open his doors, and, having gained access to their vic- 
 tim, murdered him in cold blood in the midst of his 
 family. The only crime imputed by the mob against 
 this benevolent and just man was, that he was an 
 American. His untimely death, which was mourned 
 by all the Americans who knew him, cast a settled 
 gloom over the community in which he resided. The 
 Mexicans were afterwards very penitent for the share 
 they took in the committal of this black crime. Although 
 several of the guilty party are still living, they have 
 left the country ; for the mountaineers have not for- 
 gotten the friend whom they esteemed and respected, 
 and will avenge his death if ever the opportunity offers. 
 Cerin St. Vrain, the surviving partner of this cele- 
 brated trading firm, was equally noted. Upon the 
 declaration of war between the United States and 
 Mexico, St. Vrain took an active part on the side of 
 his country, and, from his extensive knowledge of the 
 Mexican character, was enabled to render important 
 services. At the close of the war, he became exten- 
 sively engaged in mercantile pursuits within the New 
 Territory, and, by his untiring industry, amassed a large 
 fortune. He was the first man who discovered and 
 
180 COLONEL ST. TRAIN. 
 
 recognized the superior skill of Kit Carson as a hunter ; 
 and, for his subsequent success in life, Kit Carson was 
 much indebted to him. 
 
 Col. St. Yrain died a few years since at Moro, a New 
 Mexican town eighteen miles from Fort Union, N. M., 
 and in the Rocky Mountains. He died of apoplexy, at 
 the ripe age of three-score years and ten, beloved far 
 and near, and looked upon in the light of a father by 
 all hunters and trappers. He was buried with military 
 honors by the Eighth U. S. Cavalry. St. Yrain was 
 one of the greatest pioneers the West ever saw, and 
 was long the head and front of our great fur com- 
 panies. 
 
 Notwithstanding his rough experience, he was a 
 polished gentleman in his manners and dealings. The 
 writer was for years intimate with him, and attended 
 him in his last sickness, but his modesty w^ould never 
 allow him to speak of his own life and exploits. 
 
 As the reader can now easily compute, sixteen years 
 had elapsed since Kit Carson commenced his exploits in 
 the Rocky Mountains. During this long period, as fre- 
 quently as once every year, he had sat down to a meal 
 consistmg of bread, vegetables, meat, coffee, tea, and 
 sugar. When dining thus sumptuously, he considered 
 himself as greatly favored with luxuries of the rarest 
 grade. Few men can say, with Kit Carson : " During 
 sixteen years my rifle furnished nearly every particle 
 of food upon which I lived." Fewer can say, with 
 equal truth, that " For many consecutive years I never 
 slept under the roof of a house, or gazed upon the face 
 of a white woman." 
 
 It was after such an experience as we have endeavored 
 to paint by the simple tale of his life thus far, that Kit 
 
CARSOJ?" VISITS THE UNITED STATES. 181 
 
 Carson longed once more to look upon and mingle with 
 civilized people. For yonie time before he determined 
 to visit the United States, tliis desire had taken posses- 
 sion of his mind and had been growing stronger. The 
 traders of the Fort were accustomed, yearly, to send 
 into the States a train of wagons, for the purpose of 
 transporting their goods. The opportunity, therefore, 
 presented for Kit Carson to gratify his wish. In the 
 spring of 1842, one of these caravans started, with which 
 Kit Carson traveled as a sujDernumerary. When it 
 arrived within the boundary lines of the State of Mis- 
 souri, he parted from his comjoagnons de voyage and 
 went in quest of his relatives and friends, whom now 
 he had not seen for over sixteen years. The scenes of 
 his boyhood days he found to be magically changed. 
 New faces met him on all sides. The old log-cabin 
 where his father and mother had resided was deserted, 
 and its dilapidated walls were crumbling with decay. 
 The once happy inmates were scattered over the face 
 of the earth, while many of their voices were hushed in 
 death. Kit Carson felt himself a stranger in a strange 
 land — the strong man wept. His soul could not brook 
 either the change or the ways of the people. While he 
 failed not to receive kindness and hospitality, to which 
 his name alone was a sufficient passport among the 
 noble-hearted Missourians ; nevertheless, he had fully 
 allayed his curiosity, and, as soon as possible, bid adieu 
 to these unpleasant recollections. He bent his steps 
 towards St. Louis. In this city he remained ten days ; 
 and, as it was the first time since he had reached man- 
 hood that he had viewed a towm of any magnitude, he 
 was greatly interested. But ten days of sight-seeing 
 wearied him. He resolved to return to his mountain 
 
182 THE MASTER-MIND THE GIANT INTELLECT. 
 
 home, where he could breathe the pure air of heaven, 
 and where manners and customs conformed to his wild 
 life and were more congenial to his tastes. He en- 
 gaged passage upon the first steam-boat which was 
 bound up the Missouri River. 
 
 We cannot resist the impulse which here struggles 
 for utterance. Look upon that little steam-boat as it 
 ascends the mighty Missouri, bearing in its bosom the 
 man who was destined to point out the hidden paths of 
 the mighty West ; to mount and record the height of 
 the loftiest peak of the American monster mountain 
 chain ; to unfold the riches of the interior of a great 
 and glorious empire to its possessors, and, finally, to 
 conquer with his good sword, preparing the Avay for its 
 annexation to his country, the richest soil and fairest 
 land on earth, thus adding one more glorious star to the 
 original thirteen of 1776 ; a star, too, of the very first 
 magnitude, whose refulgent brightness shines clear, 
 sparkling, and pure for the Truth of Sacred Writ and 
 American Liberty. On the deck of that little steam- 
 boat the two men — the one the master-mind, the giant 
 intellect, the man of research and scholastic strength, 
 the scientific engineer ; the other, than whom his 
 superior as an American mountaineer was not living — 
 stood, uninterested spectators of each other, and each 
 unconscious why they had been permitted to enter the 
 same cabin. The Christian student of American his- 
 tory cannot pass by this simple circumstance without 
 seeing Heaven's wisdom in such a coincidence — 
 namely, Kit Carson, for the first time in sixteen j^ears, 
 bending his steps to his boyhood home, just as his six- 
 teen years of mountaineer skill and experience were 
 required by one of the master-workmen of American 
 
MEETING OF FREMONT AND CARSON. 18 
 
 Engineering, about to enter upon the exploration of in- 
 land North America. 
 
 Kit Carson wandered over the boat, studying its 
 mechanism, admiring the machinery, which, so like a 
 thing of life, subserved the interests of human life ; 
 watched with quiet reserve the faces and general ap- 
 pearance of his fellow-passengers; occasionally modestly 
 addressed an acquaintance, for some present were known 
 to him ; and, finally singled out from among the stran- 
 gers a man on whose face he thought he discovered the 
 marks of true courage, manhood and nobility of charac- 
 ter. The impression which Kit Carson had thus re- 
 ceived was nothing fleeting. The eagle eye, the fore- 
 head, the form, the movements, the general features, 
 the smile, the quiet dignity of the man, each and all 
 of these attributes of his manhood had been carefully 
 noted by the wary and hardy mountaineer, and had 
 not failed to awaken in his breast a feeling of admi- 
 ration and respect. While on this boat Kit Carson 
 learned the fact that the man whom he had thus studied 
 was Lieut. John C. Fremont of the U. S. corps of topo- 
 graphical engineers ; also, that Lieutenant Fremont had 
 been earnestly seeking Captain Drips, an experienced 
 mountaineer, but that he had been disappointed in 
 finding him. Upon learning this. Kit Carson fell 
 into a deep reverie which lasted some little time, when, 
 having brought it to a conclusion, he approached Lieu- 
 tenant Fremont and modestly introducing himself, said : 
 
 " Sir ! I have been some time in the mountains and 
 think I can guide you to any point there you wish to 
 reach. " 
 
 Lieutenant Fremont's answer indicated his satisfac- 
 tion in making the acquaintance which Kit Carson had 
 11 
 
184 Fremont's first exploring expedition. 
 
 offered him, and that he would make inquiries concern- 
 ing his capabilities of performing the duty for which 
 he offered himself. 
 
 Tlie inquiries which the then lieutenant instituted, 
 or, at least, may be supposed to have instituted, must 
 have been favorable ; for, soon afterwards. Kit Carson 
 was engaged by Colonel Fremont to act as guide to his 
 first exploring expedition, at a salary of one hundred 
 dollars per month. Upon arriving in Kansas the party 
 prepared for a long and dangerous journey which lay 
 before them. The objects of this expedition were to 
 survey the South Pass, and take the altitude of the 
 highest peaks of the Rocky Mountains, besides gather- 
 ing all the collateral information which they could. 
 The party had been chiefly collected in St. Louis. It 
 consisted of twenty-two Creole and Canadian voya- 
 geurs ; Mr. Charles Preuss, a native of Germany, whose 
 education rendered him a master in the art of topo- 
 graphical sketching, and towards whom Colonel Fre- 
 mont has always extended high and just encomium ; 
 Henry Brant, a son of Col. J. H. Brant of St. Louis, 
 nineteen years of age ; young Randolph Benton, a son 
 of Colonel Benton, twelve years of age ; Mr. L. Max- 
 well, a mountaineer engaged as the hunter of the party : 
 and finally, Kit Carson, as guide, making, including 
 the Commander of the Expedition, twenty-eight souls. 
 On the 10th day of June, 1842, the party commenced 
 their march. The daily routine usually observed on 
 the march was as follows: 
 
 At daybreak the camp was aroused, the animals led 
 out and turned loose to graze ; breakfast about six 
 o'clock, immediately after which the line of march was 
 resumed ; at noon there was a halt of one or two hours; 
 
LIFE ON THE PRAIRIES. 185 
 
 the march was then again resumed and kept np until 
 within an hour or so of sunset, when the order was 
 usually given to encamp ; the tents were then pitched, 
 horses hobhled and turned loose to graze, and the 
 cooks prepared supper. At night all the animals were 
 brought in and picketed, carts set for defence and 
 guard mounted. 
 
 The party had only accomplished a few miles of the 
 march when they fell in with the bufllilo. Before we 
 pursue the narrative of Kit Carson's life we must re- 
 deem our promise and allow Colonel Fremont to de- 
 scribe his own impressions in his first Buffalo Hunt, in 
 which Kit Carson and Mr. L. Maxwell were his com- 
 panions and guides. Colonel Fremont says : 
 
 ^•A few miles brought us into the midst of the buf- 
 falo, swarming in immense numbers over the plains, 
 where they had left scarcely a blade of grass standing. 
 Mr. Preuss, who w^as sketching at a little distance in 
 the rear, had at first noted them as large groves of 
 timber. In the sight of such a mass of life, the trav- 
 eler feels a strange emotion of grandeur. We had 
 heard from a distance a dull and confused murmurino*, 
 and, when we came in view of their dark masses, there 
 was not one among us who did not feel his heart beat 
 quicker. It was the early part of the day, when the 
 herds w^ere feeding; and everywhere they were in mo- 
 tion. Here and there a huo-e old bull was rollino- in 
 the grass, and clouds of dust rose in the air from vari- 
 ous parts of the bands, each the scene of some obstinate 
 fight. Indians and buflalo make the poetry and life of 
 the prairie, and our camp was full of their exhilaration. 
 In place of the quiet monotonj^ of the march, relieved 
 only by the cracking of the whip, and an ' avance done! 
 
186 KIT CARSON UNHOESED. 
 
 enfant de garce!' shouts and songs resounded from 
 every part of the line, and our evening camp was 
 always the commencement of a feast, which termina- 
 ted only with our departure on the following morning. 
 At any time of the night might be seen pieces of the 
 most delicate and choicest meat, roasting en appolas, 
 on sticks around the fire, and the guard was never 
 without company. With pleasant weather and no 
 enemy to fear, and abundance of the most excellent 
 meat, and no scarcity of bread or tobacco, they were 
 enjoying the oasis of a voyageur's life. Three cows 
 were killed to-day. Kit Carson had shot one, and was 
 continuing the chase in the midst of another herd, 
 when his horse fell headlong, but sprang up and joined 
 the flying be^nd. Though considerably hurt, he had 
 the good fortune to break no bones ; and Maxwell, 
 who was mounted on a fleet hunter, captured the run- 
 away after a hard chase. He was on the point of 
 shooting him, to avoid the loss of his bridle (a hand- 
 somely mounted Spanish one), when he found that his 
 horse was able to come up with him. Animals are 
 frequently lost in this way ; and it is necessary to keep 
 close watch over them, in the vicinity of the buffalo, in 
 the midst of which they scour off to the plains, and are 
 rarely taken. One of our mules took a sudden freak 
 into his head, and joined a neighboring band to-day. 
 As we arc not in a condition to lose horses, I sent sev- 
 eral men in pursuit, and remained in camp, in the hope 
 of recovering him ; but lost the afternoon to no pur- 
 pose, as we did not see him again. 
 
 "As we were riding quietly along the bank, a grand 
 herd of buflido, some seven or eight hundred in num- 
 ber, came crowding up from the river, where they had 
 
A BUFFALO CnASE. 187 
 
 been to drink, and commenced crossing the plain 
 slowl}^, eating as they went. The wind was favoral)le ; 
 the coohiess of the morning invited to exercise ; the 
 ground was apparently good, and the distance across 
 the prairie (two or three miles) gave us a fine oppor- 
 tunity to charge them before they could get among the 
 river hills. It was too fine a prospect for a chase to be 
 lost ; and, halting for a few moments, the hunters were 
 brought up and saddled, and Kit Carson, Maxwell and 
 I started together. They were now somewhat less 
 than half a mile distant, and we rode easily along until 
 within about three hundred yards, when a sudden agi- 
 tation, a wavering in the band, and a galloping to and 
 fro of some which were scattered along the skirts, gave 
 us the intimation that we were discovered. ^ We started 
 together at a hand gallop, riding steadily abreast of 
 each other, and here the interest of the chase became 
 so engrossingly intense that we were sensible to noth- 
 ing else. We were now closing upon them rapidly, 
 and the front of the mass was already in rapid motion 
 for the hills, and in a few seconds the movement had 
 communicated itself to the whole herd. 
 
 "A crowd of bulls, as usual, brought up the rear, 
 and every now and then some of them faced about, 
 and then dashed on after the band a short distance, 
 and turned and looked again, as if more than half 
 inclined to stand and fight. In a few moments, how- 
 ever, during which we had been quickening our pace, 
 the rout was universal, and we were going over the 
 ground like a hurricane. When at about thirty yards, 
 we gave the usual shout (the hunter's battle cry) and 
 broke into the herd. We entered on the side, the 
 mass giving way in every direction in their heedless 
 
188 DANGEROUS SPORT. 
 
 course. Many of the bulls, less active and less fleet 
 than the cows, paying no attention to the ground, and 
 occupied solely with the hunter, w-ere precipitated to 
 the earth with great force, rolling over and over with 
 the violence of the shock, and hardly distinguishable 
 in the dust. We separated on entering, each singling 
 out his game. 
 
 "My horse was a trained hunter, famous in the West 
 under the name of Proveau, and, with his eyes flashing, 
 and the foam flying from his mouth, sprang on after 
 the cow like a tiger. In a few moments he brought 
 me alongside of her, and, rising in the stirrups, I fired 
 at the distance of a yard, the ball entering at the ter- 
 mination of the long hair, and passing near the heart. 
 She fell headlong at the report of the gun, and check- 
 ing my horse, I looked around for my companions. At 
 a little distance, Kit w^as on the ground, engaged in 
 tying his horse to the horns of a cow which he was 
 preparing to cut up. Among the scattered bands, at 
 some distance below, I caught a glimpse of Maxwell ; 
 and wdiile I was looking, a light wreath of wdiitc smoke 
 curled away from his gun, from which I was too far to 
 hear the report. Nearer, and between me and the hills, 
 tow^ards which they w^ere directing their course, Avas the 
 body of the herd, and giving my horse the rein, we 
 dashed after them. A thick cloud of dust hung upon 
 their rear, which filled my mouth and eyes, and nearly 
 smothered me. In the midst of this I could see noth- 
 infT, find the buflalo were not distino-uishable until 
 within thirty feet. They crowded together more 
 densely still as I came upon them, and rushed along in 
 such a compact body, that I could not obtain an en- 
 trance — the horse almost leaping upon them. In a few 
 
A PRAIRIE-DOG TILLAGE. 189 
 
 moments the moss divided to the right and left, the 
 horns clattering Avith a noise heard above everything 
 else, and my horse darted into the opening. Five or 
 six bulls charo-ed on us as we dashed alonij^ tbe line, 
 but were left far behind, and singlhig out a cow, I gave 
 her my fire, but struck too high. She gave a tremen- 
 dous leap, and scoured on swifter than before. I rehied 
 up my horse, and the band swept on like a torrent, and 
 left the place quiet and clear. Our chase had led us 
 into dangerous ground. A prairie-dog village, so 
 thickly settled that there were three or four holes in 
 every twenty yards square, occupied the whole bottom 
 for nearly two miles in length. Lookhig around, I saw 
 one of the hunters, nearly out of sight, and the long 
 dark line of our caravan crawling along, three or four 
 miles distant." 
 
 The trail which the party left behind them after- 
 wards formed the emigrant road to California via Fort 
 Laramie, Salt Lake, etc. On reaching Fort Laramie, 
 Fremont found a fearful state of affairs existing among 
 the Sioux Indians, through whose country his route 
 lay. An encounter had recently taken place between 
 a war-party belonging to the Sioux nation and a party 
 of trappers and Snake Indians. In the fight the In- 
 dians had been worsted and several of their braves 
 killed. To revenge themselves the Sioux chieftains 
 had collected their warriors ; and, while the nation was 
 encamped to the number of one thousand lodges, they 
 had gone forth to seek and punish their enemies. 
 
 At Fort Laramie the exploring party met several 
 trappers and friendly Indians who used their utmost 
 endeavors to dissuade Colonel Fremont from venturing 
 into such inevitable danger. There was but one opin- 
 
190 READY AND WILLING TO FACE DANGER. 
 
 ion expressed, viz. : that, as sure as he entered upon 
 the journey, the entire party would be massacred. To 
 all these admonitions and warnings Colonel Fremont 
 had but one reply. His government had directed him 
 to perform a certain duty. The obstacles which stood 
 in his way, it was his duty to use every means at his 
 command to surmount ; therefore, in obedience to his 
 instructions, he was determined to continue his march. 
 Finally he said that he would Pvccomplish the object or 
 die in the attempt, being quite sure that if the expedi- 
 tion failed by being cut to pieces, a terrible retribution 
 would be in store for the perpetrators of the act. Kit 
 Carson, his guide, openly avowed that the future looked 
 dark and gloomy, but he was delighted to hear this 
 expression from his commander. He now felt that he 
 had a man after his own heart to depend on, and should 
 danger or inevitable death be in store for them, he was 
 ready and willing to face either with him. In order to 
 be prepared for the worst. Kit Carson felt it his duty, 
 considering the dangers apprehended, to make his will, 
 thereby shov,^ing that if he had to fight he was ready 
 to count it his last battle. Colonel Fremont resumed 
 his journey, and very fortunately arrived at the South 
 Pass of tliQ Rocky Mountains without, in any wa}^ be- 
 ing annoyed with Indians, not even meeting any on 
 the route. 
 
 He had now reached the field where his chief labors 
 were to commence. Without loss of time he set ear- 
 nestly about his work, making and recording such ob- 
 servations as he deemed to be essential, and examining 
 and exploring the country. Having finished this part 
 of his labors, the ascent of the highest peak of the 
 mountains was commenced. The length of the journey 
 
CLIMBING MOUNTAINS. 191 
 
 had jaded the animals. It was very difficult to procure 
 game. The men had undergone such severe hardships 
 that their spirits had hecome almost ^vorn out. The 
 daily fare now was dried buffalo meat. This was about 
 the consistency of a pine stick ; and, in taste, resembled 
 a piece of dried bark. Besides these rather uncomfort- 
 able prospects, the expedition stood in constant fear of 
 an attack by the Indians. It was now in the country 
 of the Blackfeet ; and, only a short distance from the 
 encampment, at the foot of the mountain, there was 
 one of their forts. In the face of all these obstacles, 
 sufficiently formidable to have deterred most com- 
 manders, the mountain party was detailed, being four- 
 teen in number, including Fremont. A man named 
 Bernier was left in command of the camp which had 
 been made by felling forest trees in a space about forty 
 feet in diameter, using the trunks to form a breastwork. 
 The camp was thus concealed by the trees and their 
 foliage. It was well calculated for defence, and a few 
 determined men could have maintained it against 
 almost any Indian force. 
 
 On the 12th day of August the mountain party left 
 the camp. It was fifteen in number. On the 14th of 
 August some of the party reached an elevation at 
 which the barometer stood 19.401. On the 15th some 
 of the party were sent back. Kit Carson had com- 
 mand of this party. The remainder consisted of Col- 
 onel Fremont, Mr. Preuss, Basil Lajeunesse, Clement 
 Lambert, Janesse and Descoteaux. The day previous 
 Kit Carson had alone climbed one of the highest peaks 
 of the main ridge, from which he had a full view of 
 the highest peak, which rose about eight or ten hun- 
 dred feet above him. The arduous labors of the 14th 
 
192 A PERILOUS JOURNEY. 
 
 August had determined the commander to ascend no 
 higher. Instead of carrying out this intention, after 
 Kit Carson with his party had set out, Fremont made 
 one more effort to climb the highest peak, and suc- 
 ceeded. 
 
 This peak was found, by barometrical observation, 
 to be thirteen thousand Jive hundred and seventy feet 
 above the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. It bears the 
 name of the Great Explorer, being called Fremont's 
 Peak. 
 
 The terrible suffering, privation and discouragements 
 to which this brave band were subjected, would have 
 disheartened most men, but to Fremont there was no 
 such word as fail. The attempt to visit Goat Island, 
 by which he very nearly lost many of the most im- 
 portant results of the expedition, is but a fair sample 
 of hardships which they were forced to endure. In 
 an open linen boat, these hardy adventurers run the 
 rapids of the La Platte through three successive cata- 
 racts, and between perpendicular rocks of great hight, 
 which frequently approached each other so closely 
 overhead, as to form a kind of tunnel over the stream, 
 which foamed along at a fearful rate, half choked up 
 with fallen fragments. At one of these rapids the boat 
 was overturned, and it required all their strength and 
 skill to prevent its being staved to pieces on the sharp 
 rock. It was a fearful passage, and one which will 
 never be forgotten by those whose fortune it was to 
 be connected Avitli that expedition.'^' 
 
 The return trip was now commenced, all of the ob- 
 jects of the expedition having been successfully ac- 
 complished. The party again reached Fort Laramie in 
 
 * See Blgelow's Life of Fremont. 
 

 > 
 
 "\v^^^\if\ i\a\^ 
 
 \ib\ 
 
 I XVx 
 
 A PERILOUS PASSAGE DOWN THE PLATTE. 
 
Carson's second marriage. 195 
 
 the month of Septemher, 1842. Kit Carson had served 
 in the double capacity as a hunter and guide. It is 
 sufficient to say of the manner in which he performed 
 his duties, that he -won the friendship of John C. Fre- 
 mont, and ever after occupied a prominent and perma- 
 nent phice in his esteem. At Laramie, Kit Carson's 
 labors were done. There he bid his conmiander good- 
 by, and set out for New Mexico. Fremont returned 
 to the United States in safety. Thus terminated the 
 first of his great explorations. 
 
 Kit Carson's Indian wife had long since been dead. 
 In the month of February, 1843, he married a Mexican 
 lady by the name of Seiiora Josepha Jarimilla. Of 
 this lady it is sufficient to say, that for her many vir- 
 tues and personal beauty she was justly esteemed by 
 a large circle of friends. By this wife Kit Carson had 
 three children, to whom he was devotedly attached. 
 
 In the following April, Kit Carson was employed as 
 hunter to accompany Bent and St. Train's train of 
 wagons, while on their journey to the United States. 
 On arriving at Walnut Creek, which is about two-thirds 
 of the distance across the Plains from Santa Fe, Kit 
 and his comj^anions came upon the encampment of 
 Captain Cook, belonging to the United States Army — 
 who was in command of four companies of United 
 States Dragoons. Captain Cook informed Carson's 
 party that in his rear was traveling a train of wagons 
 belonging to General Armijo, a wealthy Mexican. 
 
 For the purpose of insuring protection to this richly- 
 freighted caravan while passing through an Indian 
 country, the Mexican wagon-master in charge had hired 
 one hundred men. There were rumors, currently re- 
 ported at that time and believed, that a large body of 
 
196 MEXICANS m TROUBLE. 
 
 Texans were waiting on the road to plunder and mur- 
 der this wagon party, and thus retaliate the treatment 
 Armijo had been guilty of in the case of the " famous 
 Muir Prisoners;" but, in order that this should not hap- 
 pen in Territory belonging to the United States, the 
 War Department had ordered Captain Cook and the 
 dragoons to guard the property as far as the fording 
 of the Arkansas River, which was then the boundary 
 line between the two countries. The Mexicans had 
 become alarmed for fear they might be attacked on 
 parting with the United States soldiers; so, on meeting 
 with Kit Carson, who was well known to them, they 
 offered three hundred dollars if he would carry a letter 
 to Armijo, who was then Governor of New Mexico, and 
 lived at Santa Fe. This letter apprised the General 
 of the danger to which his men and property were ex- 
 posed, and asked for assistance to be immediately sent 
 to them. Carson accepted the offer, and in company 
 with Owens, another mountaineer, he set out on his 
 express ride. In the course of a few days he reached 
 Bent's Fort, where his companion concluded not to go 
 on with him. At the Fort, Kit Carson was informed 
 that the Utah Indians, then hostile, were scattered 
 along his intended route. He was not, however, turned 
 from his duty by this danger, but he resumed his jour- 
 ney immediately. At this last-named place his friend, 
 Mr. Bent, kindly furnished him w^ith a fleet and mag- 
 nificent horse, which he led, so that, should he find 
 himself in peril, he might mount this fresh animal and 
 make his escape. 
 
 By watching for signs and being continually on the 
 alert. Kit Carson discovered the Indians and their vil- 
 lage without exposing his own person to view. He im- 
 
FEARFUL MASSACRE BY TEXANS. 197 
 
 mediately secreted himself in an out-of-the-way-place 
 and remained imtil the coming on of darkness ; when 
 he passed safel}^ by the camp of the savages. In the 
 course of a few days he reached Taos and handed his 
 dispatch to the Alcalde of the town to be forwarded to 
 Santa Fo. As had been previously agreed upon, he 
 waited here for an answer with which he was to return. 
 At Taos, Carson was informed that Armijo had already 
 sent out one hundred Mexican soldiers to seek his cara- 
 van, and that the General himself, in command of six 
 hundred more, was soon to follow after. It w^as after- 
 wards learned that this unfortunate band of one hun- 
 dred men went as far as the Arkansas River, but could 
 not find any traces of the train of wagons, it not hav- 
 ing completed that much of its journey -, therefore, 
 they commenced to retrace their steps, but had pro- 
 ceeded only a few miles, when they w^ere suddenly 
 attacked by the Texans, who succeeded in massacring 
 all but one man. This survivor had succeeded in 
 catching, in the heat of the battle, a fully equipped 
 Texan horse w^hich was loose. Mounting him he made 
 off in the direction of Santa Fe ; and, at Cold Springs 
 came upon the camp of Armijo, to whom he reported 
 proceedings. The narration of this sad story so damp- 
 ened the courage of the General and his men as to 
 cause them to make a precipitous retreat. The spot 
 wdiere this slaughter took place has since gone by the 
 name of " battle ground," and many are the bleached 
 human bones that are still to be found there. 
 
 It was during Carson's stay for four days in Taos, 
 that Armijo and his small army had started out in 
 quest of the enemy ; but, before his departure, he had 
 received the letter and directed an answer to be sent. 
 
198 A NOBLE ACT. 
 
 thinking, perhaps, that Kit Carson might reach the 
 train, even if he himself did not. On the answer com- 
 ing into Carson's hands, he selected a Mexican boy to ac- 
 company him and was quickly on the road again. They 
 had left Taos two days' journey behind them, and had 
 reached the Eiver Trinchera (for they w^ere traveling 
 via the Sangero de Chrnsto Pass and Bent's Fort) when 
 they unexpectedly met four Indian warriors. Kit Car- 
 son immediately recognized them as hostile Utahs. 
 As yet the red men were some distance off; and, wdiile 
 Kit and his companion stood meditating what was best 
 to be done, the latter spoke and said to the former : 
 ^'I am a boy and perhaps the Indians w^ill spare my 
 life. At any rate yours is much more valuable than 
 mine, therefore mount the horse you are leading, 
 without delay, and make your escape." Carson at 
 first thought this advice to be good, and w^as about act- 
 ing on it, when it struck his equally generous heart, 
 how cowardly such a course would be — to desert a 
 youth who had in the hour of peril so manfully borne 
 himself Turning to the boy he thanked him and 
 added that " he could not and would not desert him." 
 He said " we must stand our ground together, and if 
 we have to die, let us take with us each his warrior." 
 While this colloquy was going on, the foremost of the 
 Indians came up. He approached Carson with the air 
 of a man sure of an easy victory, and, with a bland 
 smile, prollerod one hand in friendship, while, with the 
 other, he grasped Kit's rifle. A powerfid blow from 
 the fist of the latter released his hold and instantly 
 laid him sprawling upon the ground. The other In- 
 dians, seeing the flite of their companion, hastened to 
 his rescue. When they reached talking distance, Kit, 
 
ARMIJO'S CARAVAN SAFE. 199 
 
 standing with his rifle brought to his shoulder, informed 
 them that, upon the first hostile demonstration they 
 made, he and his companion would fire. The Indians 
 commenced shaking their priming into the pans of 
 their Hint lock guns, and, while doing so, talked loud 
 and threatened to perform a great many things. This 
 was a mere ruse to intimidate Kit and his companion 
 and throw them off their guard. It was, however, well 
 understood, and operated to make them only the more 
 vigilant. This endeavor to draw off Kit's attention 
 was continued in various ways, but, finally seeing the 
 determined posture of their opponent, they grew wxary 
 of the game, and, at last departed. 
 
 The journey was now resumed. After five days of 
 hard traveling, Kit and his companion entered Bent's 
 Fort, without further molestation. Here Kit Carson 
 learned that the Texans had been caught by Captain 
 Cook and his dragoons in United States Territory, and 
 had been disarmed. This had immediately relieved 
 the conductors of the train from all anxiety. They 
 had, consequently, Continued their route, not thinking 
 a stop at Bent's Fort necessary as had been anticipated. 
 General Armijo's letter of instruction was, accordingly, 
 left by Carson with Mr. Bent, who promised to forward 
 it to Santa Fe by the first favorable opportunity. To 
 pursue and overtake the wagons would be nothing but 
 labor thrown away. All danger had disappeared. 
 
200 CAESOK VISITS FEEMOXT'S CAMP. 
 
 CHAPTER YIII. 
 
 Kit Carson visits Fremont's Camp — Goes on the Second Exploring Ex- 
 pedition — The Necessary Arrangements — Trip to Salt Lake — Explo- 
 rations there — Carson is dispatched to Fort Hall for Supplies — Their 
 Operations at Salt Lake — The Great Island — The Journey to the 
 Columbia Kiver in Oregon — Incidents on the Route — Klamath Lake 
 — The Journey to California — The Trials and Privations met with 
 while crossing the Sierra Nevada Mountains — Mr. Preuss is lost but 
 finds the Party again — Arrival at Sutter's Fort in a Destitute Condi- 
 tion — Two of the Party become deranged — The Route on the Return 
 Trip — Mexicans come into their Camp asking Aid and Protection — 
 Indian Depredations — Carson and Godey start on a Daring Adven- 
 ture — The Pursuit — The Thieves overtaken — These Two White Men 
 attack Thirty Indians — The Victory — Horses retaken — The Return 
 to Camp — One of their Companions killed — The Journey continued — 
 Arrival at Bent's Fort — The " Fourth of July" Dinner. 
 
 A FEW days before Kit Carson's arrival at Bent's Fort, 
 Colonel Fremont had passed by and had informed the 
 traders there, that he was bound on another Explor- 
 ing Expedition. Having finished up his business with 
 the Mexicans, Kit thought he would like to see his 
 old commander once again. Accordingly, he started 
 on his trail ; and, after seventy miles of travel, came 
 up with him. The meeting proved to be mutually 
 agreeable. Although Kit Carson had made this visit 
 solely from his desire to again see his old commander, 
 and not with a view of joining his second expedition. 
 Colonel Fremont insisted so strongly upon having Kit 
 accompany him, that he acquiesced in doing so. 
 
ENROLLED FOR SECOND EXPEDITION. 201 
 
 For Colonel Fremont, Kit Carson had the greatest 
 admiration. Tie knew, as well as any man living, his 
 bravery, his talents and the many splendid qualities of 
 his mind and heart. The question will naturally arise, did 
 Kit Carson endorse the political creed upon which Colo- 
 nel Fremont accepted the nomination for the Presidency 
 of the United States ? The best answer, and the one 
 which is true, will be : Kit Carson considered it one of 
 the highest honors and greatest blessings to be a citi- 
 zen of the United States. He was willing to incur any 
 danger for his country's good, even if the sacrifice of 
 his life was the alternative. He spent all his life in 
 the wilds of America, 'svhere new^s w^as always as scarce 
 an article, as luxuries of the table and fireside, and 
 w^here the political strifes of factions and parties w^ere 
 not known. The inference will therefore be plainly 
 apparent, that his curiosity did not lead him to exam- 
 ine very attentively the minute workings of political, 
 machinery. He was not a man to be sw^ayed by friend- 
 ship, from performing any act which the interests of his 
 country seemed to require at his hands. 
 
 Soon after Kit Carson w^as again enrolled under the 
 command of Colonel Fremont, he received orders co re- 
 turn to Bent's Fort and purchase some mules of which, 
 the party stood in need. Mules are valuable animals in 
 new and mountainous countries. They are often the 
 only beast of burden which can be successfully used in 
 crossing the wild moimtains. Being more sure-footed 
 and more able to endure great fatigue than the horse, 
 in such expeditions they become absolutely necessary. 
 While he was absent on this duty; the expedition jour- 
 neyed first to Soda Springs, and thence on to St. Vrain'& 
 
 Fort, which was located on the South Fork of the Platte, 
 12 
 
202 ORDERED TO FORT HALL. 
 
 At this point the expedition was joined by Major Fitz- 
 patrick, with a command of forty men which he had 
 enrolled, under orders, to assist in the exploration. 
 When Kit Carson had rejoined the party, the arrange- 
 ments for the arduous task in view were nearly 
 complete. 
 
 Colonel Fremont divided his forces, sending one 
 division, with most of the camp equipage, on the more 
 direct route. This division was placed under the com- 
 mand of Major Fitzpatrick. The other division, under 
 the command of Colonel Fremont, consisting of a squad 
 of fifteen men and his guide Kit Carson, struck out up 
 Thompson's Fork. The object of this expedition had 
 in view by the government was, to have Colonel Fre- 
 mont connect his explorations of the preceding year 
 with the coast surveys of Commander Wilkes on the 
 Pacific. This would give the data for making a correct 
 map of the interior of the wild lands of the continent. 
 From Thompson's Fork Colonel Fremont's division 
 marched to the Cache la Poudre River, and thence to 
 the plains of Laramie until they came to the North 
 Fork of the Platte. This river they crossed below the 
 North Park, and bent their way to the sweet water, 
 reaching it at a point about fifteen miles below the 
 Devil's Gate. From this point they traveled almost 
 the same road which is now used by emigrants and 
 which leads to Soda Springs on Beaver River. It had 
 been decided by Fremont to go to the Great Salt Lake 
 and accomplish its exploration. He therefore started 
 for that direction ; but, before doing so, ordered Kit 
 Carson to proceed to Fort Hall and obtain such sup- 
 plies as were required. After procuring these necessi- 
 ties. Kit Carson, with one companion and his pack 
 
EXPLORING SALT LAKE, 203 
 
 animals, set out on the return from Fort Hall and 
 eventually found Fremont on the upper end of Salt 
 Lake. Fmm here the party journeyed around to the 
 cast side of the lake, a distance of about twenty miles. 
 At this spot they obtained a good view of the lake 
 and its adjacent scenery. Before him, and in bold 
 relief, stood out everything which the explorer desired 
 to examine, even to one of the several islands which 
 are located in the midst of this wonderful collection of 
 saline w^aters. To this isolated land Fremont was 
 resolved to go. Among the rest of the forethought 
 supplies, there was an India-rubber boat. This was 
 ordered to be made ready for a trip to the island early 
 the following day. 
 
 The next morning, after the India-rubber boat had 
 been put in order, Colonel Fremont started, taking 
 Carson and three others as companions. The dis- 
 tance from the main land to the island is computed 
 to be about three leagues, hence the pull at the oars, 
 for landsmen unaccustomed to such kind of work, 
 was no small task. However a landing upon the 
 island was safely accomplished, the boat made fast 
 and the investigations commenced. After examin- 
 ing most of the island without finding even a spring 
 of water on it, it was determined to ascend the great 
 hill which was the highest elevation on it. The party 
 were not long in reaching the summit, where they 
 found a shelving rock, on which they cut a cross, their 
 names and the date as signs to after visitors, should 
 any such follow in their footsteps, that they had been 
 the first persons who had ever, within the knowledge 
 of man, been on that island. 
 
 The day having been far spent in their labors, orders 
 
204 REACH KLAMATH LAKE. 
 
 were given to camp on the island for the night. On 
 the morrow they departed for the main land. When 
 they had accomplished about one league, being one- 
 third of the distance, the clouds suddenly gathered 
 and threatened a storm. Just as this danger impended, 
 the air which acted in giving buoyancy to the boat, by 
 some accident, began to escape. A man was immedi- 
 ately stationed at the bellows and it required his con- 
 stant aid to supply the portion which steadily escaped. 
 Colonel Fremont then ordered the men to jduII for 
 their lives and try thus to escape the danger of the 
 impending storm. In this instance, as indeed in every 
 hour of peril, an all-seeing Providence guided them 
 in safety to the shore. Soon after they arrived, the 
 storm came on with such force that it caused the water 
 of the lake, according to the natural water-mark, to rise 
 ten feet in one hour. 
 
 The party soon after recommenced their march and 
 proceeded some distance up the Bear Kiver. Crossing 
 it, they went to the Malade and thence on until they 
 reached Fort Hall. Here they met with the division 
 under Fitzpatrick and made a short stay. 
 
 Once more Colonel Fremont started with his small 
 party in advance of his main body. He marched about 
 eight days' journey ahead, Fitzpatrick following up his 
 trail with the larger division. At this time the expe- 
 dition was journeying in the direction of the mouth 
 of the Columbia River. In due time they arrived 
 safely at the river Dalles. Here they made another 
 brief halt. Colonel Fremont left Kit Carson in com- 
 mand of this camp, while he, with a small party, pro- 
 ceeded to Vancouver's Island and purchased some pro- 
 visions. On his return he found that the whole party 
 
ill ||i" 
 ii^i^iimij-i'riiv'lHi''' 
 
ENCOUNTER TERRIBLE SNOW-STORMS. 207 
 
 had become consolidated. The command now jour- 
 neyed to Klamath Lake, in Oregon, a fine sheet of 
 water, th h'ty miles long and twelve wide, bordered 
 by timbered ridges, with an occasional belt of tule. 
 Excellent bunch-grass, with bushes and small trees, 
 abound in the vicinity. The descriptions of all these 
 journeys have already been given to the public in sev- 
 eral forms, all, however, based upon Colonel Fremont's 
 reports made to the United States Government. It 
 would be superfluous, therefore, for us to fill up the 
 pages of the life of Kit Carson with matter already 
 published beyond the occurrences appertaining to him. 
 Having finished the observations upon Klamath Lake, 
 the expedition started for California. The route led 
 through a barren and desolate country, rendering game 
 scarce. As the command drew near to the Sierra Ne- 
 vada Mountains, they were found to be entirely cov- 
 ered with deep snow throughout the entire range of 
 vision. At this time the provisions had commenced 
 giving out. Game was so scarce that it could not be 
 depended on. The propositions which presented them- 
 selves at this crisis were to cross the mountains or take 
 the fearful chance of starving to death. Crossing the 
 mountains, terrible though the alternative, was the 
 choice of all. It was better than inactivity and cer- 
 tain death. On arriving at the mountains the snow 
 was found to be about six feet deep on a level. 
 The first task was to manufacture snow-shoes for the 
 entire party. By the aid of these foot appendages, an 
 advance party was sent on to explore the route and to 
 determine how far a path would have to be broken for 
 the animals. This party reai^hed a spot from whence 
 they could see their way clear, and found that the path 
 
208 FEARFUL SUFFERING. 
 
 for the animals would be three leagues in length. The 
 advance party also saw, in the distance, the green valley 
 of the Sacramento and the coast-range of mountains. 
 Kit Carson was the first man to recognize these, to 
 the snow-bound travelers desirable localities, although 
 it was now seventeen years since he had last gazed upon 
 them. The advance party then returned to their friends 
 in the rear, and reported their proceedings. All were 
 delighted on learning that they had one man among 
 them, who knew where they were. The business of 
 making the road was very laborious. The snow had 
 to be beaten compact with mallets. It was fifteen days 
 before the party succeeded in reaching, with a few of 
 their animals, a place where the heavy work of the 
 route was ended. During this time, many of their 
 mules had starved to death, and the few remaining 
 were driven to such an extreme by want of food, that 
 they devoured one another's tails, the leather on the 
 pack saddles, and, in fact, they would try to eat every- 
 thing they could get into their mouths. The suffer- 
 inf? of the men had been as severe as had ever fallen 
 to the lot of any mountaineer present. Their provis- 
 ions were all used and they were driven to subsist upon 
 the mules as they died from hunger. But commander 
 and all bore these terrible trials in an exemplary 
 manner. 
 
 An incident is related by Colonel Fremont in which 
 Kit Carbon enjoyed a cold bath, which occurred during 
 this terrible march : "This was our most difficult day. 
 We were forced off the ridges by the quantity of snow 
 among the timber, and obliged to take to the mountain- 
 sides, where, occasionally, rocks and a southern expos- 
 ure afforded us a chance to scramble along. But these 
 
FREMONT AND CARSON TAKE AN ICY BATH. 200 
 
 were steep and slippery with snow and ice ; and the 
 tough evergreens of the mountain impeded our way, 
 tore our skins and exhausted our patience. Some of 
 us had the misfortune to wear moccasins \Yith. parjleche 
 soles, so slippery that we could not keep our feet, and 
 generally crawled across the snow beds. Axes and 
 mauls were necessary to-day, to make a road through 
 the snow. Going ahead with Carson to reconnoitre the 
 road, we reached in the afternoon the river which made 
 the outlet of the lake. Carson sprang over, clear across 
 a place where the stream was compressed among the 
 rocks, but the parfleche sole of my moccasins glanced 
 from the icy rock and precipitated me into the river. 
 It was some few seconds before I could recover myself 
 in the current, and Carson thinking me hurt jumped in 
 after me, and we both had an icy bath. We tried to 
 search awhile for my gun, which had been lost in the 
 fall, but the cold drove us out, and making a large fire 
 on the bank, after we had partially dried ourselves, we 
 went back to meet the camp. We afterwards found 
 that the gun had been slung under the ice which lined 
 the banks of the creek." 
 
 It was while undergoing such experience as we have 
 endeavored to narrate that the characters of men show 
 forth in their true light and can be fully analyzed. 
 John C. Fremont never was found wantino; in times 
 such as tried men's hearts. He was worthy of the 
 trust reposed in him. His was no ordinary command. 
 The men he had to deal with, in their line, had no su- 
 periors on the American Continent ; yQi, he proved a 
 match for any one of them, and gained from them the 
 name of being a good mountaineer, an encomium they 
 are not prone to bestow^ lightly. 
 
210 SCENE OF THE FIEST GOLD-MINE. 
 
 The party now commenced descending the moun- 
 tains. On reaching the valley beneath, Fremont, tak- 
 ing Kit Carson and six of the men, pushed on in ad- 
 vance, in order to reach Sutter's Fort, where he would 
 be able to purchase provisions. Fitzpatrick was left in 
 charge of the main party, with orders to make easy 
 marches. The second day after this division was made, 
 Mr. Preuss, Fremont's assistant, accidentally got lost. 
 His friends began making search for him. This failing, 
 they traveled on slowly, fired guns and used every 
 means in their power to let their whereabouts be known 
 to him. After wandering about for four days, to the 
 surprise and joy of his companions, he came into camp. 
 During his absence he had subsisted on acorns and 
 roots, and, as a matter of course, was nearly exhausted, 
 both in body and mind. Three days after Mr. Preuss 
 was restored to them, Fremont, with the advance party, 
 reached Sutter's Fort. He and his party were very 
 hospitably received. They were entertained with the 
 best the post could furnish, by its kind-hearted proprie- 
 tor. Never did men more deserve such treatment. The 
 condition of all was about as miserable as it could well 
 be imagined, for men who retained their hold on life. 
 
 It was at Sutter's Fort, as most of our readers will 
 remember, that the great gold-mines of California first 
 received their kindling spark, the discovery of that 
 precious metal having been made there. While some 
 men were digging a mill-race the alluring deposit 
 first appeared. This event has made the Fort world- 
 renowned. 
 
 At the time we describe Fremont on liis second ex- 
 pedition, nothing whatever was known of the immense 
 fields of treasure over which he and his men daily 
 
FROM WANT TO LUXURY. 211 
 
 walked, although, for many years previous to the dis- 
 covery being made, the mountaineers had trapped all 
 the rivers in that vicinity, and on their banks had 
 herded their animals for months together. They had 
 drank thousands of times from the pure water as it 
 flowed in the river's channel, and, no doubt, frequently 
 their eyes had penetrated through it until they saw 
 the sand beneath in which, perchance, the sparkling 
 specks may have occasionally allured them sufhciently 
 to recall the proverb that " all is not gold that glitters." 
 
 The writer once made inquiry of one of these moun- 
 taineers who had spent two summers in the manner 
 narrated above near and at Sutter's Fort, some twenty 
 years since. He was asked whether he ever saw there 
 anything in the shape of gold which in any way 
 aroused his suspicions ? His reply was : " Never. 
 And had I, it would have been only for a brief space 
 of time, as finally I should have been certain that I 
 was deluded and mistaken, without there had been the 
 Eagle of our country stamped upon it." 
 
 Provisions were immediately obtained at the Fort 
 and carried to Fitzpatrick and his party. Great diffi- 
 culty had now to be encountered to prevent the men 
 from losing their lives by the sudden change from want 
 to comparative luxury. Notwithstanding the utmost 
 care was taken, some of the party lost their reason. 
 The hardships of the journey had proved too much for 
 them. Fitzpatrick and the main body arrived at the 
 Fort in a few days, where they were likewise welcomed 
 by its hospitable and generous proprietor, Captain Sut- 
 ter. His name in California has ever been but another 
 term for kindness and sympathy for the unfortunate. 
 This expedition, in one respect only, can be called un- 
 
212 TWO OF THE PAPtTY BECOME DERANGED. 
 
 fortunate. Yv'lien the terrible sufTerings of the com- 
 mander and his men have been named, the catalogue 
 of misfortune is ended. Its results, grand and glorious, 
 have immortalized the name of every man who as- 
 sisted, in any way, to accomplish it. " I belonged to 
 the several Exploring Expeditions of John C. Fremont" 
 is the key-note to the respect and honiage of the 
 American nation ; the truth would be equally real, if 
 we add, to the whole civilized world. Every heart 
 which beats with admiration for the heroic, or which 
 is capable of appreciating the rich contribulions to the 
 sciences, direct resultants from their terrible sufferings, 
 has thrilled with delight when possessed of the history 
 which records the brilliant achievements of these Ex- 
 ploring Parties. 
 
 The band started from the little town of Kansas on 
 the twenty-ninth day of May, 1843. It returned to 
 the United States in August, 1844. After traveling 
 seventeen hundred miles, it reached, September sixth, 
 Salt Lake. On the fourth day of November it reached 
 Fort Vancouver, on the Columbia River. On the 
 sixth day of March, 1844, it reached Sutter's Fort in 
 the destitute condition already explained. The dis- 
 tance from Fort Hall by the route taken is about two 
 thousand miles. The party remained at Sutter's Fort 
 until the twenty-fourth day of March, or as Kit Carson 
 expresses the time from his memory, the expedition 
 remained at this place about one month. At the expi- 
 ration of this time, the party was sufficiently recruited 
 to be ready for their return journey, which they com- 
 menced in April, 1844. Just previous to their taking 
 leave of Mr. Sutter, two of the company became 
 deranged, owing to the privations and fasting to which 
 
KETURNED TO THE UNITED STATES. 213 
 
 tlicj had been obliged to submit before being nshered 
 into ii land of plenty. They had indulged appetite too 
 freely, and brought on one of those strange revolu- 
 tions in the brain's action Avhich never fails to excite 
 the pity of friend and foe. Ihe first warning which 
 the party had that one of the men was laboring under 
 a disordered intellect occurred in the following man- 
 ner. Early in the morning the man suddenly started 
 from his sleep and began to ask his companions where 
 his riding animal was gone. During this time it was 
 by him, but he did not know it. Unknown to the rest 
 of the party he started off soon after in search of his 
 imaginary animal. As soon as his absence became 
 known to Fremont, he surmised the truth and sent 
 persons in all directions to hunt for him. They 
 searched the neighboring country for many miles and 
 made inquiries of all the friendly Indians they chanced 
 upon, but failed to discover him. Several days of 
 delay was caused by this most unhappy circumstance. 
 Finally, it becoming necessary for the party to depart 
 without him, word was left with Mr. Sutter to continue 
 the hunt. He did so most faithfully ; and, by his ex- 
 ertions, some time after the party had set out on the 
 return trip, the maniac was found and kept at the Fort 
 until he had entirely recovered. He was then, on the 
 first opportunity, provided with a passage to the United 
 States. 
 
 On their homeward-bound journey, the party fol- 
 lowed up the valley of the San Joaquin, crossing over 
 the Sierra Nevada and coast- range of mountains at a 
 point where they join and form a beautiful low pass. 
 They contmued on from here close under the coast 
 range until they struck the Spanish Trail. This they 
 
214 ATTACKED BY HOSTILE SAVAGES. 
 
 followed to the Mohave River. That stream, it will be 
 recollected, was an old friend of Kit Carson's. The 
 reader will recall the many times he had caught 
 beaver out of its waters. They followed the trail up 
 the course of the river to w^here it leaves it. At this 
 point an event occurred which somewhat retarded their 
 progress, relieving the monotony of the route and 
 somewhat changing their plans. 
 
 Soon after the camp had been formed, they were 
 visited by a Mexican man and boy ; the one named 
 Andreas Fuentes, the other Pablo Hernandez. They 
 informed Fremont that they belonged to a party of 
 Mexican traders which had come from New Mexico. 
 They said that six of them, including in this number 
 two women who acted as cooks, had been left by their 
 friends in charge of a band of horses. The rest of the 
 party were absent trafficking. The party of six thus 
 left to watch the horses, consisted of Santiago Giacome, 
 Andreas Fuentes and wife, and Pablo Hernandez, to- 
 gether with his father and mother. They were endeav- 
 oring to find better grazing for their animals. For this 
 purpose they had penetrated the country as far as they 
 dared ; and, at about eighty miles from the camp of 
 Fremont, had resolved to wait for their friends. Fuen- 
 tes and the boy Pablo were on guard over the animals 
 when their camp was attacked by hostile savages. The 
 attacking band was about thirty in number. 
 
 Their principal object was to seize the horses. To 
 effect this the more easily, they saluted the little band 
 with a flight of arrows as they advanced. Fuentes and 
 Pablo now heard Giacome warning them to start the 
 horses and run for it. Both were mounted. They 
 obeved the directions of Giacome, and with the en- 
 
CARSON AND GODEY TO THE KESCUE. 215 
 
 tire band of horses charged boldly into the midst of 
 the Indians, regardless of their weapons. The charge 
 succeeded in breaking their line, through which Fuentes 
 and Pablo boldly dashed after their animals. The In- 
 dians deferred the chase to attend to a more bloody 
 purpose. Having put sixty miles between them and 
 the site of the attack, they left their horses and started 
 in search of their main body. This search led them 
 into Fremont's camp. Fuentes feared that the worst 
 had overtaken his wife. Pablo already looked upon 
 himself as an orphan boy. He doubted not that the 
 bloody savages had murdered both his father and 
 mother. It was a sad picture to witness their grief 
 But Kit Carson could not do so unmoved. The heart 
 of such grief has ever awakened his earnest sympathy. 
 His sympathy, too, has never been of a wordy nature. 
 He volunteered to go with Fuentes and make an at- 
 tempt to deliver the captives, if such they should 
 prove, or to avenge their death, if that became the sad 
 alternative. 
 
 Fuentes had left the horses at a spring of water, well 
 known to Carson. There he had found signs of white 
 men which had led him into Fremont's camp. There 
 was no difficulty for Carson to find the spring. The 
 whole company therefore traveled to the spring, which 
 they reached early the next morning, distant about 
 thirty miles from their last camp. The horses were 
 not to be seen. A short examination of sio^ns soon re- 
 vealed to Carson and Godey that the two Mexicans had 
 been followed by the Indians, and that they had come 
 upon the horses shortly after they had left them. Of 
 course therefore they had captured and driven them off 
 
 Carson and Godey were determined to make one 
 
216 A DON QUIXOTIC ADVENTURE. 
 
 effort to punish the rascals. They started, taking Fu- 
 entes with them, upon the trail of the Indians. The 
 chase was a severe one, as, in the judgment of the 
 mountaineers, the Indians would not make a short trail 
 after acquiring so much booty. The horse which Fu- 
 entes rode, most unfortunately, gave out after a short 
 ride. Ihere was no time to be lost and no means at 
 hand to supply this important deficiency. To turn 
 back to camp would supply it, but that course would 
 also lose them their game. Fuentes, therefore, was re- 
 quested to return to Fremont's camp, and there await 
 the return of Kit Carson and Godey. These two had 
 been the only men in the entire command who had 
 volunteered in this chase. The loss of Fuentes, there- 
 fore, made their task literally a Don Quixotic adventure. 
 Two men against thirty. But Kit Carson was not the 
 man to turn his back upon an adventure as soon as the 
 difficulties began to present themselves. lie well knew 
 that he had one man on whom he could rely. Richard 
 Godey was his tried and trusty friend, his kindred spirit 
 and a noble hearted man. Leaving the Mexican to 
 find his way back to camp, a distance of about twenty 
 miles, they gave him their word that they w^ould finish 
 the business. The following night was very dark, and 
 in order to keep on the right scent Carson and Godey 
 were obliged to lead their horses, and frequently to fol- 
 low the trail by the sense of feeling. It was seldom, 
 however, that they lost the path, and never for more 
 than a few moments at a time. Gradually the signs 
 grew fresher as they advanced, which gave them the 
 assurance that they were rapidly gaining on the pur- 
 suit. Finally, they concluded that only a few hours 
 separated them from the savages. Having accomplished 
 
AMONG THE THIEVING RED-SKINS. 217 
 
 a considerable part of their journey during the night, 
 and finding that both themselves and their horses re- 
 quired rest, they concluded to halt. Having unsaddled 
 their animals and turned them out to graze, they 
 ^vrapped themselves up in their wet blankets and laid 
 down to sleep. The weather, however, was too cold to 
 permit sleeping in comfort without a fire. That they 
 dare not make, fearing it would prove a warning signal 
 to the savages. Having worried through the remainder 
 of this cold and cheerless night, they arose early in the 
 morning and w^ent to the bottom of a deep ravine, 
 where they kindled a small fire and succeeded in warm- 
 ing themselves. At day-break they re-saddled their 
 jaded horses and once more started upon the trail. 
 Just as the sun was rising they discovered the Indians. 
 When first seen, they were encamped two miles in 
 advance, and were enjoying a breakfast on horse-steaks, 
 having already killed five of the stolen animals. Kit 
 Carson and his friend dismounted, and, concealing their 
 horses near by, held a council of war. They decided 
 to crawl in among the herd of stolen animals which 
 were grazing, without guard, at a short distance from 
 the camp of the savages. Upon reaching the horses, 
 they agreed to be guided by circumstances. First 
 divesting themselves of all useless apparel, they com- 
 menced their task. After much cautious labor they 
 gained their point and stood among the animals. As 
 soon, however, as they arrived, one of the young horses 
 of the band became frightened at the grotesque figures 
 cut by the two creeping men, and exhibited his fear by 
 snorting and kicking up his heels. This alarmed the 
 remainder of the horses and caused quite a commotion 
 among them, which had the effect to alarm the savages^ 
 
218 SCALPIXG THE INDIANS. 
 
 who sprang for their arms. With a yell, Carson and 
 Godey instantly turned towards the savages. As soon 
 as they were all fairly in view, the two white men saw 
 that they had thirty warriors before them to deal with. 
 When they had advanced within rifle range. Kit Car- 
 son halted, and, aiming his rifle at the stoutest looking 
 brave, fired. The fierce savage fell with a cry of 
 anguish. Godey had also halted and fired, but he 
 missed his aim. Instantly reloading, he made the 
 second attempt, and this time brought dow^n a warrior. 
 While these events were taking place, the red men 
 were running about in great confusion. Occasionally 
 they returned a few arrows, but they all proved but 
 harmless missiles. The fact was, the Indians were 
 puzzled what to think of the audacity of the two men. 
 Evidently they considered them to be an advance party 
 of some strong force, acting with a view of decoying 
 them into a close fight. Acting upon this, they began 
 to fly in every direction except that from which danger 
 impended. Kit and Godey, as they had calculated, 
 were thus, quite unceremoniously, left masters of the 
 enemy's camp. Besides the recaptured horses, they 
 had two trophies lying upon the ground in the shape 
 of a brace of stalwart warriors. In order to show their 
 companions on their return that they were not given 
 to boasting, they followed the example and practice of 
 the savages, and scalped the two Indians. The com- 
 mon expression now in use is, that they proceeded to 
 " take the hair" of their victims. The performance of 
 this act was a matter of choice, and fell to the lot of 
 Godey, while Kit Carson, with the two rifles, ascended 
 an eminence near at hand, for the double purpose of 
 standing guard over his companion and also to recon- 
 
 i 
 
TERRIBLE TORTURING. 219 
 
 noitro. Godcy commenced his operations on the savage 
 which he himself had shot. Having finished with him, 
 he started for the other Indian hit by Kit Carson. But 
 this fellow, after he had fallen, had crawled quite out 
 of view among some rocks. Being only wounded, he 
 raised up and sent an arrow at Godey as he approached, 
 which pierced his shirt-collar. The Indian had already 
 lost a large amount of blood. His last act so exhausted 
 him that he sank back upon the ground and expired. 
 They next proceeded to collect the horses. Upon 
 counting them, they found the number stated by the 
 Mexican to be correct, with the exception of ^ve killed 
 by the Indians for their feast. The animals were now 
 driven to the spot where their own horses had been left. 
 Here they held another council, and determined to 
 seek out the fate of the remainder of the Mexican, 
 party. They therefore bent their steps towards the 
 late camp of the Mexicans. There they found the 
 bodies of the two men terribly mangled. The savage 
 ferocity of the rascally savages had here had full play 
 as soon as they found that the two who were on guard 
 had broken through their line and escaped with the 
 horses. Their bodies were naked and full of arrows. 
 The women were not to be found. The remains were 
 decently interred by Carson and Godey, and then they 
 set about looking for the women. After a long search 
 they could discover nothing of them, and concluded 
 that they had been reserved for a worse fate. The re- 
 mains of these two poor captives were afterwards found 
 by some of Fremont's men. The Indians, not satisfied 
 with killing them, had staked their naked bodies to the 
 ground. Kit Carson and Godey having now accom- 
 plished, on this errand of mercy, all that lay in the 
 13 
 
220 feemoxt's account of the affair. 
 
 power of man to do, set out to return and soon rejoined 
 their friends, whom they found anxiously waiting for 
 them. Colonel Fremont concludes his account of this 
 affair in the followino- words : 
 
 o 
 
 " Their object accomplished, our men gathered up 
 all the surviving horses, fifteen in number, returned 
 upon their trail, and rejoined us at our camp in the 
 afternoon of the same day. They had rode about one 
 hundred miles in the pursuit and return, and all in 
 thirty hours. The time, j^lace, object, and numbers 
 considered, this expedition of Carson and Godey may 
 be considered among the boldest and most disinterested 
 which the annals of western adventure, so full of dar- 
 ing deeds, can present. Two men, in a savage desert, 
 pursue day and night an unknown body of Indians 
 into the defiles of an unknown mountain — attack them 
 on sight, without counting numbers — and defeat them 
 in an instant — and for what ? To punish the robbers 
 of the desert, and to avenge the wrongs of Mexicans 
 whom they did not know. I repeat : it was Carson 
 and Godey who did this — the former an American, 
 born in Kentucky; the latter a Frenchman by descent, 
 born in St. Louis ; and both trained to western enter- 
 prise from early life." 
 
 The stolen property was restored to the Mexicans 
 without one cent being demanded or received by either 
 Carson or Godey. 
 
 It was not for the love of Indian fighting, as many 
 may suppose, that Kit Carson was moved to take part 
 in such expeditions ; but, when the life of a fellow- 
 creature was exposed to Indian barbarities, no living 
 man was more willing, or more capable of rendering a 
 lasting service than Christopher Carson. A name that, 
 
POOLS OF COAGULATED BLOOD. 221 
 
 wherever it was knov\^n, was ranked among the ^'bravest 
 of the brave." 
 
 Soon after the two volunteers came in, Fremont 
 resumed his journey and continued it without anything 
 transpiring to disturb the equanimity of the party until 
 the}^ reached a point on the Virgin River where the 
 Spanish trail leaves it. It became necessary to change 
 camps here, in order that the animals might take ad- 
 vantage of better grass. As the party were enjoying 
 a day's rest, one of the men, a Canadian by birth, 
 missed his riding mule from the herd. Without in- 
 forming any of his friends of his intentions, he started 
 out in quest of the animal. His absence, at first, was 
 not noticed ; but, soon, inquiries were made for him, 
 and when an unusual length of time had passed with- 
 out his return, Fremont became anxious for his safety. 
 He directed Kit Carson to take three men and go in 
 search of him. On arriving at their last camp, Kit 
 found a Fpot where, undoubtedly, the man had fallen 
 from his horse wounded, as, about the phice, there were 
 pools of coagulated blood. It was now believed that 
 their companion was dead. Kit immediately ordered the 
 party to search for his body, but they could not find it. 
 They then followed the trail of the Canadian's horse, 
 which it was very evident he had caught and mounted 
 before being shot. It led to where the animal had 
 crossed the river. There, all signs disappeared. After 
 a faithful search for the trail, Kit returned to camp, 
 and informed his commander of the result of his day's 
 work. The next morning the search was renewed by 
 all of the company. They discovered Indian signs, 
 yet could not trace them to where the body was. 
 After looking in every conceivable hiding-place in the 
 
222 A FOURTH OF JULY DINNER. 
 
 neighborhood of the signs, they gave up the hunt. 
 Kit Carson was much affected by the loss of this man. 
 He had been his friend. They had been associated 
 in many trapping expeditions, and knew each other 
 most intimately. He felt assured that, if the Cana- 
 dian had not been surprised by an enemy in ambus- 
 cade, he would have killed one or two Indians before 
 he himself fell ; for, besides being a very brave man, 
 he was well versed in Indian mode of warfare, and was 
 considered a fine marksman. 
 
 The party now proceeded on their journey, returning 
 to and keeping on the Spanish Trail, w^hich was not 
 left until they reached the " Yega of Santa Clara." 
 There they struck out across the country to the Utah 
 lake, which, after crossing, they left, and went to the 
 Wintry River, and thence to Green River, Brown's 
 Hole, Little Snake River, and so on to the mouth of 
 St. Yrain's Fork. It was here that they traversed the 
 mountains and came upon Laramie River, below the 
 North Park. They journeyed through this into the 
 Middle Park, and thence traveled to the head waters of 
 the south fork of the Platte. On quitting it. they bent 
 their way to the Arkansas River, coming on to it at a 
 point just below the place where it leaves the Rocky 
 Mountains, and, by keeping on down it, they arrived 
 at Bent's Fort on the 2d of July, 1844. On the follow- 
 ing fourth of July, Mr. Bent gave a dinner in com- 
 memoration of the occasion to Fremont and his party. 
 Although hundreds of miles separated from their 
 countrymen, yet they sat down to as sumptuous a re- 
 past as could be furnished in many towns of the States. 
 
 The exploring party considered their labors finished 
 at this post, as, in accordance with the tastes of many 
 
THE DIGGER INDIAN. 223 
 
 of the party, they were near enough to civHization. 
 The command was dissolved, and Colonel Fremont pro- 
 ceeded on his route to Washington. Kit Carson, about 
 the same time, started for Taos, where he had been for 
 a long time anxiously expected by his family and 
 friends. 
 
 During this expedition, they had met, for the first 
 time, that most abject of human beings, the " Digger." 
 The Digger Indians, inhabiting the Great Basin, are of 
 the very lowest form of humanity. Dispersed in single 
 families, without fire-arms, eating seeds and insects and 
 digging roots (and hence their name), such is the con- 
 dition of the greater part. It seems incredible that a 
 desert so devoid of all nourishment, could have native 
 inhabitants. Yet such is the fact. When the few 
 edible roots that grow in low grounds or marshy places 
 fail them, they subsist by hunting crickets, " hoppers," 
 and field mice. 
 
 Nothing can be more abject than the appearance of 
 the Digger Indian in the fall, as he roams about with- 
 out food, almost naked, and without weapons, save, 
 perhaps, a bow and arrows, with his eyes fixed upon 
 the ground, looking for crickets, with which to appease 
 his ever present appetite. So despicable is he that he 
 has neither friends or enemies, and the neighboring 
 tribes do not condescend to notice his existence, unless 
 he should happen to come in their w^ay, when they 
 would not consider it more than a playful diversion to 
 put an end to his miserable life. It is to be lioped that, 
 with the rapid advance of civilization, this degraded 
 race may be brought into a happier state. 
 
 Colonel Fremont, in his beautiful and instructive 
 description of the country through which this ex]3e- 
 
224 THE GRASSES OF THE PRAIRIES. 
 
 dition passed, refers to the grass on which the buffalo 
 " delight to feed." It is eminently proper that Ave 
 should add a few words for general information con- 
 cerning the grasses of the prairies, as also concerning 
 the timber, flowers, game face of the country, etc., 
 etc., in which the whole life of Kit Carson has been 
 spent. 
 
 On the west side of the Arkansas Eiver, and between 
 that stream and the Eocky Mountains, there are three 
 distinct species of grass found. The first is the short, 
 curly variety, on which the buffalo are said to feed, 
 from which fact it takes its name. The second kind is 
 the Grama grass, which is, I believe, indigenous to only 
 this section of America. Its stalk grows to the height 
 of about one foot. Near its top, it gives off, at right 
 angles, another stem, which is usually from one and a 
 half to three inches in length. From this last-men- 
 tioned stem, hang clusters of seed which are well pro- 
 tected by a suitable covering. It is said, and my own 
 observation confirms the fact, that horses will leave 
 grain, such as corn and oats, to feed on this grass ; and 
 its wonderful nutritious properties cannot be denied. 
 Wild oats are often seen in the mountain valleys. 
 Along the low, swampy lands which skirt the rivers 
 of the plains, there is yet another species of grass 
 which grows oftentimes several feet high, and has 
 a broad blade, similar almost to that of the flag 
 plant. On approaching the mountains the blue-grass 
 is found, which is nearly the same as that usually met 
 with in many of our western States. The bunch grass, 
 as spoken of by Fremont, is the short, curly grass on 
 which the buffalo "delights to feed," and which is still 
 good when dry and apparently dead. It is not con- 
 
FLOWERS, TIMBER, GAME, ETC. 225 
 
 fined to the mountains in New Mexico, but is some- 
 times met with in the valleys, where it grows to an 
 immense heiorht. In the low lands it is useless, heinsr 
 too tough for animals to m.asticate. Strangers, when 
 journeying in these parts, often make the mistake of 
 selecting camps in this tall grass, being deceived by 
 its thrifty appearance ; but one night thus spent will 
 clearly prove its utter worthlessness. 
 
 On the plains there are but few wild flowers ; but, 
 as the traveler approaches the mountains, they greet 
 his eyes in extensive beds and of variegated colors. 
 This wealth and variety of flowers is more magnificent 
 and attractive than anything cultivated. The colors 
 are more deep and delicate than any found in our gar- 
 dens, and though snow and frost may stiffen their blos- 
 soms every morning, the dry air preserves them, and 
 they grow and flower until the September and October 
 winter fliirly freezes them out. As a grazing country 
 the Rocky Mountains and their immediate vicinity can- 
 not be surpassed. The timber found there is poor in 
 quality. It comprises pine, cedar, and cotton-wood, 
 with here and there patches of small and crooked oak 
 bushes. The rivers in the mountains are formed from 
 melting snows, and springs. They come tumbling 
 down through rough gorges and rocky cauons, until 
 they are free in the valleys, where they form bold and 
 beautiful rivers. The brook trout are the fish which 
 mostly inhabit them, and, a singular fact, in many of 
 these streams this kind of fish treat the presence of a 
 man with perfect indifference, which has led me to 
 believe that, in their primitive state, the " shy trout " 
 fear neither man nor beast. The Indians catch them, 
 and it may be that this fish is first frightened by them. 
 
226 GREAT MINERAL WEALTH. 
 
 In the Eocky Mountains, south of the head waters of 
 the Arkansas, comparatively speaking, there are but 
 few small birds and squirrels. The raven, the crow, 
 the hawk, the owl, and occasionally the eagle, are seen. 
 Wild geese, ducks, and cranes, are common. Pigeons, 
 including the wild dove, are not often seen. The mag- 
 pie is found in abundance. Turkeys and grouse are 
 also in abundance. Wild rabbits and a species of hare 
 are also common. Indeed a man can travel for days 
 in the Rocky Mountains and never hear the musical 
 notes of a bird. In these mountains rattlesnakes are 
 only found in the valleys, where it is warm. In the 
 summer, the deer and elk live in the mountains ; but 
 when cold weather sets in they are driven out of them 
 by the deep snows. The antelope of the plains seek 
 the mountain valleys during the winter. The buffalo 
 migrate south as the season becomes too severe for 
 them. Sometimes they are caught by the storms, and 
 are obliged to winter also in the mountain valleys. The 
 pine trees of the Rocky Mountains bear a small nut, 
 which is called by the Mexicans ^9{?7ow, which, when 
 cooked, are quite pleasant to the taste. There are 
 many small salt lakes in the mountains, and many 
 marshes, where the ground is covered white by the 
 salt deposit. The mineral wealth of the Rocky Moun- 
 tains is very great, and there is no doubt but some 
 day rich veins of gold, silver, and iron ore will be dis- 
 covered there. The geological formation of the coun- 
 try is such as to warrant this belief Nearly every 
 stream carries down in its floods that precious metal, 
 gold, but, in such small quantities, as not to attract 
 the attention of miners. I have found there, on the 
 surface of the earth, small pieces of material resem- 
 
UOT SPRINGS. 227 
 
 bling stone coal, which have probably been thrown up 
 by some volcanic action. Hot and mineral springs are 
 not unfrequently met ^vith. They are places of fre- 
 quent resort by the Indians, who use them for medi- 
 cinal purposes. 
 
228 KIT CAKSON BECOMES A FAKMEK, 
 
 OHAPTEE IX. 
 
 Kit CarsoD concludes to become a Farmer — He is joined in the Enter- 
 prise by a Friend — Tiiey build a Ranche on the Cimeron River — De- 
 scriptions of Mexican Customs and Country — Fremont once more at 
 Bent's Fort — Express sent for Kit Carson to join the Expedition as 
 Guide — The Ranche sold, and the Departure — The Tliird Expedition 
 and its Explorations — Difficulties with the Mexican-Californians — 
 General Castro's Orders to leave the Country — Determination to 
 Fight — Fremont goes to Lawson's Fort — Fremont and his Men en- 
 counter a Tliousand Indians — The Battle and the Victory — The news 
 that War had been declared between the United States and Mexico 
 reaches Fremont — Lieutenant Gillespie rescued from the Indians — 
 Three of the party killed in the Night by Indians — The Savages re- 
 pulsed — The Burial of Comrades. 
 
 In the early spring of 1845, Kit Carson, after weigh- 
 ing the various occupations which presented, decided 
 to become a farmer. One of his mountaineer friends, 
 Mr. Richard Owens, came to the same conclusion. 
 Together they talked over their plans, and concluded 
 that it would be to them, at least, newness of life to 
 be domiciled in their own houses. The two hunters 
 carefully marked out their plans, and then set to work 
 with a will for success to carry them into execution. 
 A very short time enabled them to choose a farming 
 site, because their knowledge of the country enabled 
 them to see all of its desirable localities, as it were, at 
 a glance. They decided to purchase a tract of wild 
 land situated on the little Cimeron River, and improve 
 it. Their arrangements were soon made, tools and 
 
ACTIVE OPERATIONS. 229 
 
 implements, stock and animals, provisions and necessa- 
 ries all procured. With the services of some laborers 
 hired by iheiii, they were soon engaged actively pre- 
 paring their hind for the reception of seed. The spot 
 which they selected was forty-five miles east of Taos. 
 They commenced the enterprise by building some 
 small huts. These afforded both themselves and their 
 Mexican laborers a comfortable lodgment. They sowed 
 a considerable quantity of grain, and prepared timber 
 almost sufficient to build good substantial houses. 
 Tiieir vigorously prosecuted labors began to show evi- 
 dent results, and in the prospect, it was clearly appar- 
 ent that another yearw^ould serve to give them profita- 
 ble reward for their enterprise. 
 
 It seems appropriate at this point, that we should 
 enable the reader to look upon and judge of the farm- 
 ing country and habits of New Mexico ; their markets, 
 and some of the manners and customs of the people 
 who dwell in cities. The town of Taos affords a fair 
 sample of the markets, and as Kit Carson has many 
 times been exhibited to the reader at that place, it is 
 very proper that we should describe it. 
 
 The town of Taos is located in a valley called by the 
 same name. The town consists of a series of villages, 
 wdiich are scattered, and are known to the Mexicans by 
 various names. The main village is called Fernandez de 
 Taos, and is located near the center of the valley on a 
 high plateau of ground. The buildings here, as, indeed, 
 in all the towns of New Mexico, are constructed of 
 adobes, and are one story high, with what is usually 
 known as flat roofs. These houses are huddled together 
 without much regard being paid to streets. The main 
 attraction of the town is the plaza, where all the busi- 
 
230 TAOS, NEW MEXICO. 
 
 ness, such as marketing, etc., is carried on. It is here 
 that the stores are located ; and, on a fete day, or in 
 business hours, it is thronged with Mexicans, Ameri- 
 cans, and Indians. Among these there is a large per- 
 centage of idlers. The houses are mostly covered with 
 a white material, which is either chalk or lime. The 
 church is the largest building in the town, and is a 
 rough specimen of architecture, which is rudely fin- 
 ished within. It has a flat sounding bell, propped up in 
 a sort of a belfry. To make a noise on this, a piece of 
 iron or several stones are used ; and, when an attempt 
 at chiming is made, it is very laughable. The figures 
 representing saints, and even the altar, are a strange 
 compound of imitation. On the respective days set 
 apart by the Catholic Church for worship, marriages 
 and fete services are carried on with a great attempt 
 at pomp, but, under the circumstances, they leave no 
 lasting impression of grandeur, save on the inhabitants 
 who have beheld nothing beyond their own country. 
 The dignitary most respected in these towns is the 
 Padre (or Priest), who is looked upon as sa.cred ; and, 
 when so inclined, this class of men have the power of 
 accomplishing much good, but oftentimes they pervert 
 this power, setting bad examples in their mode of life, 
 and offering wicked counsel. However, under the 
 management of the present bishop, who is a very ex- 
 emplary man, these things are being changed. The old 
 Priests of New Mexico were formerly educated in Old 
 Mexico. Their information was very imperfect, and 
 their minds were contracted down to extreme narrow- 
 ness, from want of observation ; hence, they were the 
 means of retarding the natural progress of the people. 
 It cannot be denied but that the Catholic reli«:ion has 
 
MANNERS AND CUSTOMS. 231 
 
 been the pioneer system in the far West, and that, in 
 the hands of good and pure men, it has done much 
 praiseworthy work, and has set an example which 
 other creeds might and ought to follow. The valley 
 of Taos is bounded on all sides by lofty mountains, 
 which are but continuations of the Rocky chain. The 
 boundaries of this valley are very irregular, both in 
 the course they take and in their altitudes. The val- 
 ley is about thirty miles wide and some fifteen miles 
 long. The ground has the appearance, at first sight, 
 of being a plain ; but, on closer' observation, it is found 
 to contain many ravines, and to bear the appearance 
 of being undulating. To the west side of it rolls the 
 Rio Grande, which cuts, for most of the way, through 
 a deep and impassable (for fording purposes) channel. 
 In the valley there are but few, if any, trees, which 
 fact gives the villages a barren look. The mountains 
 about are covered with timber which is not generally 
 of the first quality for building purposes. The num- 
 ber of people included within the limits of this valley 
 it is difficult to estimate, but about ten thousand would 
 include every living soul. The occupation of the peo- 
 ple is farming. Raising horses, cattle and sheep is car- 
 ried on to a certain extent; but most of the large herds 
 of these animals owned in this town are kept at ranches 
 situated at more distant points, where grass is to be 
 had in abundance, and those retained about the villages 
 are only kept for immediate use. The reason for this 
 is found in the fact that most of this valley is not un- 
 der cultivation, but is covered with sage bushes. It is 
 around the skirts of the mountains that the only valu- 
 able grass is found. The people, as a general thing, 
 are quite poor, but, as they find a ready market through 
 
232 TUE CLIMATE OF NEW MEXICO. 
 
 the military posts for their produce, they manage to 
 realize some money, and thus live quite comfortably, 
 in contrast with their former destitute condition 
 under the government of Old Mexico. Some of the 
 inhabitants mi2:ht be said to be rich, thouo-h but few 
 of this class own ten thousand dollars' worth of prop- 
 erty. It is with great labor that the people of Taos 
 bring their crops to perfection, as it is necessary to irri- 
 gate the soil, unless the season, which is rarely the fact, 
 is favorable in furnishing rains to them. There are no 
 fences to divide one man's possessions from another's ; 
 but, by common law, they furnish shepherds to guard 
 their flocks and cattle and keep them from trespassing. 
 The chmate is very severe during the winter season, 
 but in the summer it is delightful. The health of this 
 community is wonderfully good. Indeed, the only 
 severe diseases they have to contend against are 
 brought on by vices. Excluding small-pox, and the 
 lesser complaints among young children, no epidemics 
 are known. Ihe country is so elevated and inland 
 that the air is dry and salubrious, and the ''dew point" 
 is rarely reached so as to amount to anything. It may 
 be well to add here, that for the consumptive patient, 
 in the early stages of the disease, there is no such cli- 
 mate in the world to visit, as that of New iMexico; but, 
 as a matter of course, he must vary his location with 
 the changes of temperature, being governed by the 
 seasons. The winter in Taos is too severe for him ; 
 then, he must go south, towards, or even to El Paso, 
 where it is congenial to his disease. I prophesy that 
 some day our internal continent will be the " Mecca '* 
 for pilgrims with this disease. 
 
 The dress of the New Mexican is the same as in Old 
 
MEXICAN^ WOMEN. 233 
 
 Mexico. The peasant wears his sombrero and his ever- 
 lasting blanket, which serves him as a coat, and a cov- 
 ering by night. He rarely has but one suit of clothes, 
 which are put on new and worn until they are of no 
 further use. By amalgamating with the Americans, 
 they are gradually changing their style of dress. The 
 buckskin pants, which were characteristically cut and 
 ornamented, are giving way to the ordinary cloth ones 
 of his white companion. It is so with the blanket, which 
 is being shed for the coat ; and, again, this is true with 
 the moccasin, which is being replaced by the leathern 
 shoe. The dress of the female has undergone the 
 same alteration. From almost a state of nudity, they 
 have been raised to a position from which they look 
 upon silk and satin with a '^ connoisseur's eye." When 
 New Mexico was part and parcel of the domain of Old 
 Mexico, Taos was the seat of much smuggling from 
 the United States, and many an apparent pack of grain 
 drawn into the town has been nothing less than pack- 
 ages of domestic goods, the duties upon which, when 
 introduced in the legal way, were enormous; hence 
 the white men engaged in this business, when success- 
 ful, met with ample rewards for their labors. The 
 frontiers were like the olden sea-coasts. The Mexi- 
 cans kept out scores of custom-house officers to guard 
 their frontiers, but the shrewd foreigners, many times, 
 were able to escape them ; at others, they were so 
 fortunate as to find that a bribe would answer as well. 
 An old trick was to have a double bottom to a w^agon, 
 and, in the vacant space thus formed, were stowed val- 
 uable shawls and such light articles as would meet a 
 sure and remunerative sale. Sometimes the goods 
 were brought near the frontiers and there hidden in 
 
234 PUEBLO INDIANS. 
 
 the ground until a favorable opportunity offered to 
 steal them into the country. When there was great 
 danger that these secreted goods would be discovered, 
 the smugglers would so arrange a keg of powder with 
 a loaded pistol pointing at it, with strings running to 
 the shrubbery near by, so as to cause it to explode 
 and kill the searchers should the bushes about be dis- 
 turbed. One old smuggler once fixed things in this 
 manner, but performed his task too well ; for, on going 
 to remove his property, he came very near blowing 
 himself up, as the mine was sprung and he w^as thrown 
 in the air, but miraculously escaped. Many of the 
 adventures of these men would be interesting ; but 
 they are too voluminous to be embodied in our work. 
 The valley of Taos is well watered by mountain streams 
 which flow into the Rio Grande. On one of these 
 creeks and near the mountains, to the east of Fernan- 
 dez de Taos, is located an Indian Pueblo which is very 
 interesting to the traveler. Its houses are built one 
 on top of another until a sort of pyramid is formed. 
 The people enter their respective domiciles through 
 the roofs, which form a kind of steps. At the, foot of 
 this queer building there is a church ; and around, the 
 scenery is very picturesque, as the wdiole is bounded 
 on one side by a gap in the mountains, while on the 
 other is the open valley. This band of Indians at first 
 offered great resistance and fought with much bravery 
 against the United States ; but now they are counted 
 among its most faithful allies, and are great in their 
 admiration of Kit Carson. The farming utensils of 
 the New Mexicans are rude in the extreme ; but the 
 agricultural implements of the Anglo-Saxon are slowly 
 replacing these articles. The old plow, as frequently 
 
A MEXICAN CART 
 
 THE PUEBLO OF TAOS. 
 
I 
 
PRIMITIVE FARMING. 237 
 
 used at the present time by the New Mexicans, is in- 
 deed a curiosity, as it probably was invented in the 
 earliest times. It consists of one piece of timber which 
 is crooked the proper shape by nature ; the end of this 
 is sharpened, and on it is fastened a single piece of iron 
 which has an attempt at a sharp point. The force to 
 propel this farming implement is attached in the usual 
 way, with but few modifications. Oxen are always em- 
 ployed in this labor, and their yoke is fastened after 
 the Egyptian fashion, to their horns instead of hy bows. 
 In breaking up the hard prairies, this plow had a diffi- 
 cult task to perform and was often broken ; but, by the 
 assistance of men employed in clearing obstacles, such 
 as sage bushes, etc., the task was imperfectly gone 
 through with. The Mexican axe is another cm^ious 
 tool, which resembles as much the common pick of our 
 laborers as it does the axe used by American woods- 
 men. The sickle is used in harvesting to this day in 
 these parts, performing the duties of the scythe, the 
 cradle, etc. The most remarkable sight of all is the 
 Mexican cart, the noise of which, when moving, can be 
 heard on a still day at a great distance. The wheels 
 of this vehicle are at least one foot thick, and con- 
 sist of pieces of solid wood which are pegged together 
 and made to approach a circle by the best judgment 
 of the eye, without the aid of measuring. These- 
 wheels are very heavy, and when rolling they go 
 by jerks, owing to their want of proportion, etc. 
 The body of the cart, as are all of its parts, is made 
 of hard wood, and seems to be constructed for weight 
 and strength instead of beauty. The whole affair, 
 when complete, is almost a load by itself; hence, it is 
 
 capable of carrying but a small cargo. The grain that 
 14 
 
238 PRODUCTS OF NEW MEXICO. 
 
 Mexicans of New Mexico grow is corn and wheat, and 
 it is on these crops that they depend for their support. 
 In converting this grain into flour, they either use the 
 old water-mill, which is very primitive in its construc- 
 tion, or else, when these are not near by, they make 
 use of two stones and grind it by hand. Their com- 
 mon diet is a sort of thick gruel made of corn meal, 
 wheat bread, eggs, peas, beans, pumpkins, which lat- 
 ter article they roast, and then break holes into them 
 and with a spoon dip out the contents as they are re- 
 quired ; and, to finish the catalogue, sometimes meat, 
 game and milk. The fruits found in New Mexico are 
 not various, and are mostly confined to apples, peaches, 
 plums and grapes. These latter are truly superior, 
 and are raised in the greatest abundance in the south 
 of the Territor}^, where, also, they manufacture a very 
 pleasant red wine, which goes by the name of El Paso 
 wine. A¥e take the manners and customs of the peo- 
 ple of Taos as a good tyipe to judge of the manners 
 and customs of the New Mexicans, for the town is sec- 
 ond only in size, in this territory, to Santa Fe. The 
 inhabitants of New Mexico, notwithstanding their pov- 
 erty and neglect, owing to their remote locality, are 
 perhaps as happy and contented as any community in 
 the world. They are not over-celebrated for their 
 chastity or virtue ; and, to the disgrace of the white 
 man, they have not been assisted by hhn in these car- 
 dinal principles ; Init, time will work wonders on this 
 score and teach the immoralit}' of such proceedings. 
 Their great source of enjoyment consists in dancing ; 
 and hence the fandango is always looked for as a time 
 when dullcare will be dispelled. A grand fandango is the 
 -event of a New Mexican's life. These afiliirs are gotten 
 
THE GRAND FANDANGO. 239 
 
 up sometimes for charitable purposes, when the money 
 gathered in the sale of refreshments is distributed to 
 the poor ; or else they are started by individuals to 
 make a little money out of In a town the size of 
 Taos, during the winter season, hardly a night passes 
 by without a dance. Written invitations in Spanish 
 are freely circulated about the town in order to entrap 
 the strangers, while the inhabitants are invited by other 
 means. The music consists of a high-strung violin and 
 a species of guitar. This is perambulated about the 
 town. The players perform light dancing tunes and 
 accompany the music with their voices, making up the 
 words as they go along. This music is learned entirely 
 by ear, and is transmitted from one generation to an- 
 other through the means of these fandangos. The 
 vocal music is anything but harmonious to the ear, 
 but some of the airs, when played on the instruments, 
 are rather pleasing, and one, on hearing them, finds 
 himself often humming them afterwards. The powers 
 of music are nowhere better illustrated than amono* 
 these people. Their ready ear quickly catches a new 
 tune, and it is not uncommon to hear, in a Mexican 
 town, a senorita giving vent to a negro melody or a 
 favorite polka which she has heard some American 
 sing or whistle. At Santa Fe there are several noted 
 players on the violin and harp who cannot read a word 
 of music, yet they can play on their respective instru- 
 ments with taste and skill. 
 
 A New Mexican female in preparing herself for these 
 balls, is very particular in making, hy the aid of cos- 
 metics, her complexion as light as possible. She first 
 uses a red berry, which stains her face almost to the 
 color of brick and renders her excessively ugly ; this 
 
240 "the dark-eyed senorita." 
 
 she leaves on several hours, when it is washed off and 
 chalk is applied so freely as to render it easily percepti- 
 ble. In her toilet she is also very particular, as far as 
 the exterior is concerned, and in the fandango the 
 stranger's eyes are taken by storm by the gaudy colors 
 he sees rather than the neatness of the dress. The 
 floor of the dancing-room is usually the mother earth, 
 which is frequently sprinkled with water to keep down 
 the dust. The men are in their every day habiliments, 
 with the addition of any clean thing they may chance to 
 possess ; but, usually they are a motley crowd, a glance 
 at whom at first leaves the impression that they are far 
 from being refined. Except w^hen dancing they cling 
 to their blankets, and at the least pause in the pro- 
 ceedings, they at once draw forth the materials and 
 make their cigarettos. Both men and women indulge 
 in these articles ; and oftentimes when the dance is in 
 full blast, the air of the room is densely charged with 
 the smell of the burning ^9w?zc/ii, a species of tobacco, 
 making it anything but agreeable. The women are 
 seated on benches along the walls of the building, by 
 themselves, while the men congregate in knots together. 
 On the commencement of a figure, the Mexican selects 
 his. partner and notifies her that she is his choice by 
 making a signal to her with his hand, when she takes 
 her position in the dance. The eyes and the latent 
 smile on the face of the '' dark-eyed senorita " shows 
 she is enjoying herself The men exhibit their pleas- 
 ure in a more boisterous manner ; that is, by occasion- 
 ally whooping and cracking jokes. Gambling is carried 
 on imder the same roof; and in this both men and 
 wamen join as long as their money lasts. Then they 
 make room for others who are anxious to try their 
 
THE VICES OF NEW MEXICO. 241 
 
 fortunes. This vice is truly of a national character, 
 and so given to it are these people, that they will part 
 with anything to support their appetite. To their 
 credit it can be said, that the New Mexican women in- 
 dulge but sparingly in alcoholic liquor ; but the men 
 are prone to the intoxicating cup. They often antici- 
 pate the evil effects of drink, and it is not unfrequent to 
 see a New Mexican assuming the airs of a drunken man 
 after two or three mouthfuls of "aqua-diente'' The 
 spirit of the ball is carried on well into the short hours 
 of night, when all parties depart for their homes. Intoxi- 
 cation, that curse to all men, is playing havoc with this 
 innocent amusement of the people, and causing these 
 scenes to terminate in riot, and often bloodshed, espe- 
 cially when the jealousy of the white blood is raised at 
 some imagined insult ; and then, as is always the case, 
 the two races come in fierce contact. It is hoped that 
 by the aid of schools and education these things may 
 be ameliorated, but they cannot be cured. The mis- 
 chief is too deeply rooted. 
 
 We have thus endeavored to give the reader a view 
 of the people among whom Kit Carson had determined 
 to become a farmer. But he was not destined to finish 
 and perfect his plans. 
 
 Near the conclusion of the second exploring expedi- 
 tion, and at the time when Kit Carson took his depart- 
 ure from the party, Colonel Fremont had received a 
 promise from him to the effect that he would johi any 
 party of discovery, for the further exploration of the 
 Kocky Mountains, which he. Colonel Fremont, should 
 command. 
 
 During the active duties of a farmer's life, and just 
 as Kit Carson had brought his new enterprise into 
 
242 CAKSON HAS DISPATCHES FROM FREMONT. 
 
 working order, an expressman from Colonel Fremont ar- 
 rived at his ranche, bearing dispatches to Carson. The 
 purport of these dispatches was to remind Kit Carson 
 of his promise, to inform him of the organization of a 
 third expedition, and to appoint a place where Kit 
 Carson might find his old commander. 
 
 The express found Carson in the midst of so many 
 cares and anxieties concerning his new project, that it 
 became a very difficult matter for him to keep his Avord. 
 But the sacrifice of pecuniary interest was but a slight 
 consideration with Kit, when weighed in the balance 
 against his promise. He knew that his promise had 
 not been either lightly given or received. Colonel Fre- 
 mont, by it, had the first right to his time and energies, 
 and had formed his expectations accordingly ; and Kit 
 lost, therefore, no time in making preparations to satisfy 
 these expectations by reporting himself at the appointed 
 place of meeting, ready for the march. 
 
 But to effect this was attended with no slight diffi- 
 culties. Kit Carson had a large sum invested in his 
 improvements, by Avay of payments for labor, as well 
 as purchases of stock, provision, farming tools, utensils, 
 teams, wagons, seed, and stock in general. The erec- 
 tion of his house, barns, etc., was under an advance 
 which reached far towards completion. But with Kit 
 Carson, his word was worth more than prospective 
 losses which its fulfillment would entail. In company 
 with Mr. Owens, he set himself actively at work to effect 
 a complete sell-out. In four days from the receipt of 
 Fremont's note, Carson, in company with Mr. Owens, 
 started to join the party, having sold house and farm 
 for less than half the sum he had first expended upon 
 it, and put his family under the protection of his friend, 
 
CHARACTERISTIC TROMPTXESS. 243 
 
 Governor Bent, until he should return from a certainly 
 long and dangerous journey. 
 
 Unfortunately, this protection proved insufficient, for, 
 m the infamous Taos Massacre, which soon ensued, 
 Carson's brother-in-law was massacred, and Mrs. Carson 
 only saved her life by flight. 
 
 Carson and Owens took the route for Bent's Fort, 
 and arrived there in the course of a few days. The 
 meeting between Fremont and Carson w^as mutually 
 satisfactory. With his friend, Mr. Owens, he joined 
 the third expedition of Colonel Fremont, which was the 
 last one which he undertook by authority of the United 
 States Government. 
 
 A long tramp was before them. The arrangements 
 preparatory w^ere, therefore, made wdth corresponding 
 care and diligence. The route led up the Arkansas 
 Eiver to the point wdiere that stream leaves the moun- 
 tains ; thence they made a circuit by the Ballo Salado, 
 or Soda Springs, coming back again upon the Arkansas, 
 striking the stream above its great caiion. Thence they 
 journeyed on to the head w^aters of the river. Here 
 they left the Arkansas River and took a direct route 
 for the Piney River, dow^n which latter stream they 
 traveled to a spot within twenty-five miles of its mouth. 
 From this place they continued their explorations of 
 the country to the head of White River. Following 
 down it, they soon reached the mountains. Crossing 
 them, they proceeded to Prevost's Fork. 
 
 At this spot a desperate fight once occurred between 
 a party of trappers and a band of hostile Indians. The 
 trappers were commanded by a man whose name has 
 ever since been applied to the stream. Prevost, 
 although he had a strong party and fought a most 
 
244 EXPLORING GREAT SALT LAKE. 
 
 desperate battle, nevertheless was outnumbered, out- 
 generaled and most completely overpowered. The In- 
 dians succeeded in killing the entire party, including 
 himself, with but four exceptions. These four escaped 
 only Avith the greatest difficulty and prudence. Through 
 them the particulars of the affair became known to the 
 mountaineers. 
 
 Colonel Fremont (we should have mentioned before 
 this that Fremont had been promoted in the corps of 
 Topographical Engineers, from the post of Lieutenant to 
 the rank of Captain by brevet,) now examined the coun- 
 try as far as the south side of the Great Salt Lake, pass- 
 ing on his route a smaller body of water, which, for many 
 years, has been known as Little Utah Lake. The com- 
 mand halted at Great Salt Lake a few days to recruit, 
 preparatory to undertaking the further exploration of 
 the lake, together with one of its largest islands, which 
 would be reached by this southern route. The Indians 
 met with on the journey informed them that on this 
 island there was plenty of fresh water, and game in 
 abundance. On arriving at a suitable place. Colonel 
 Fremont pitched his tents for the main camp. On the 
 following morning, taking Kit Carson and a few chosen 
 men, Colonel Fremont started to explore the island. The 
 reports of the Indians were proven to be true. In addi- 
 tion to plenty of fresh water and game, they discov- 
 ered very good timber growing there. The game, 
 which proved to be antelope, was so abundant that 
 they decided to kill from the herds a quantity suffi- 
 cient for future use. The island w^as about fifteen 
 miles in length by about five in breadth. From the 
 main land to the island they were able to ride their 
 horses, as the water was not deep. Upon the banks 
 
CROSSING THE DESERT. 245 
 
 of the lake they found the salt deposit to vary from 
 the thickness of a wafer to the depth of twelve inches. 
 
 Having made their observations, the small party re- 
 turned to the main camp. On the following day the 
 journey was resumed, the route leading around the 
 south side of the lake, until they reached the last fresh 
 water to be found in that direction. Before them lay 
 a wdde and unknown desert, over which no white man 
 had ever passed. Kit Carson had been at this spot 
 several times in previous years, and had often heard 
 the oldest trappers speak of the impossibility of cross- 
 ing it for man or beast. They had always shrunk from 
 a path apparently endless, which offered appearances 
 of neither grass nor water. Colonel Fremont had de- 
 termined to try the formidable desert, and, if possible, 
 unfold its hidden secrets. His men were equally am- 
 bitious with himself, and were ready to second his 
 efforts without fearing the trials or sufferings w^hich 
 the desert route might exact. 
 
 Colonel Fremont arranged all of his plans commensu- 
 rate with the hardships in expectancy. Early the sub- 
 sequent morning he dispatched Kit Carson, Maxwell 
 and two others as an advance party, to break the road 
 and look for a camping site. AVith his telescope, he 
 then ascended a neighboring mountain to watch the 
 little party of pioneers. In the event that water and 
 grass should be found, Kit Carson's orders were to 
 build a fire, the smoke of which would serve as a sig- 
 nal to Fremont, who would immediately follow up their 
 trail with the whole command. 
 
 For sixty miles Kit Carson with his little party trav- 
 eled over this level, barren and sandy desert, without 
 coming to a drop of water or a blade of grass. At the 
 
246 SIXTY MILES WITHOUT A DROP OF WATER. 
 
 end of this distance they reached the mountains on the 
 west side of the lake, and found both in abundance. 
 The signal of smoke was now made, according to agree- 
 menji. Even at this long distance Fremont discovered 
 it, and immediately set his party in motion. Kit Car- 
 son sent back one of the men to meet the main body, 
 and guide it across the dreary waste. Before the 
 party had accomplished more than half the distance to 
 Kit Carson's advance, night set in, forcing the whole 
 party to encamp without water, grass or fuel. The 
 camp became more necessary because the darkness was 
 so great that they could not follow the trail in a night 
 march. Early the following day the march was re- 
 sumed, and a few hours served once more to reunite 
 the command. They had the misfortune, however, to 
 lose a few of their animals. The place which Kit Car- 
 son had selected for the camp was, to the weary trav- 
 elers, in every respect, equal to an oasis on the Great 
 Sahara. There is no one thing which a traveler on 
 the plains dreads more than being forced to camp with- 
 out water and grass. 
 
 At this resting-place, Colonel Fremont, in order to 
 accomplish as much as possible, divided his forces into 
 two commands. One of them lie gave into the charge 
 of Mr. Talbot, his assistant, and appointed for his guide 
 a mountaineer named Walker. To this party Colonel 
 Fremont gave instructions to shape their course for 
 Mary's River, on striking which they were to follow 
 down the stream to where it is lost in the Great Basin. 
 Colonel Fremont retained with him fifteen men besides 
 his guide. The route which he pursued lay in the 
 country south of Mary's River, forming a large tract 
 of land, which it was very desirable that he should ex- 
 
AN UNEXPECTED SPECTRE. 247 
 
 plore. After finishing this, he was to join Talbot on 
 the lake which is formed by the widening of the Carson 
 Eiver. They had been traveling a week, during which 
 they had seen human beings only on one occasion, and 
 at the close of a hard day's journey, in which they had 
 failed to find water, had turned into a mountain, where 
 some appearances of timber and grass gave promising 
 indications of a good camp. 
 
 They followed up a dry stream bed, until they were 
 nearly two thousand feet above the plain, and towards 
 the summit of the mountain, where they found a spring 
 sufficiently large for the camp wants, with grass abun- 
 dant, and pine wood and cedar to keep up the night 
 fires ; for it was November, and the newly-fallen snow 
 already marked out the higher ridges of the mountains. 
 
 They were surprised to see tracks of a naked foot 
 near the spring, which had been recently cleaned out, 
 but there were no other indications of human life. 
 Supper was over, and they were about the fire, when 
 Carson, who was lying on his back, with his pipe in his 
 mouth, his hands under his head, and his feet to the 
 fire, suddenly exclaimed, half rising and pointing to the 
 other side of the fire — " Good God ! look there!" In 
 the blaze of the fire, peering over her skinny, crooked 
 hand, which shaded her eyes from the glare, so as to 
 enable her to see the men, w^as standing an old woman, 
 apparently eighty years of age, nearly naked, her 
 grizzly hair hanging down over her face and shoulders. 
 She had evidently thought it a camp of her people, and, 
 in the grateful warmth of the fire, had already begun 
 to talk and gesticulate, when her open mouth was sud- 
 denly paralyzed and her face blanched with fright, as 
 she saw the faces of the whites. 
 
248 DESERTED BY HER PEOPLE. 
 
 With a natural instinct she turned to escape, but the 
 men had gathered around her, and she made them com- 
 prehend that she had been brought there and left by 
 her people ; that she was very old and could gather no 
 more seeds, and was no longer good for anything, and 
 that she was going to die when the snows got deep. 
 
 She was greatly alarmed and eager to get away, but, 
 as the hunters had been successful that day, she was 
 plentifully supplied with the meat of mountain sheep, 
 which she ran off with as soon as it was given her. She 
 had not gone twenty steps before it was remembered 
 that she had no fire and probably no means of making 
 one ; and one of the men, seizing a brand, ran after 
 her, but to no purpose ; she had dodged down into the 
 brush, and in the darkness could not be found. 
 
 The country through which Colonel Fremont traveled 
 he found to be well furnished with grass, water, and 
 wood. It is highly picturesque ; but, as its character- 
 istics are so vividly painted in his reports, it is super- 
 fluous to add our attempt to the same task. Having 
 arrived at the lake already mentioned, he there awaited 
 the arrival of Talbot. It was many days before the 
 command was again united. They, however, remained 
 together only one night. Early the following morning 
 they separated once more. This time, Talbot's instruc- 
 tions were, to find a certain pass which would bring 
 him out in the vicinity of the Sierra Nevada Moun- 
 tains, which he was to cross, and then keep on his 
 course for the waters of the San Joaquin. Fremont, 
 with his division, journeyed up the Carson Eiver, and, 
 after traversing the Sierra Nevada Mountains, he arrived 
 safe at Sutter's Fort, without meeting with any inci- 
 dents that were not to be expected on such a trip. 
 
TERRIBLE TRIALS AND SERIOUS LOSSES. 249 
 
 Captain Sutter, with his usual urbanity of manner, 
 kindly received them, and supplied their wants. Of 
 him, Fremont purchased forty head of cattle and a few 
 horses, with which he set out to look for Mr. Talbot. 
 In doing so, he traveled up the valley of the San 
 Joaquin, and forded that river at about where it is 
 ushered forth from the mountains. Mr. Talbot was 
 not to be found in this direction, so the party went to 
 Kings River, and journeyed up it to its head waters. 
 It now happened that the cattle belonging to the party 
 began to grow foot-sore and weary, from travel over 
 rocky trails and through deep snows. It became evi- 
 dent that the looked-for men were not in that quarter ; 
 therefore, Fremont returned to the prairies near by, in 
 the hopes of saving his cattle ; but, when he arrived 
 there, he was destitute of these animals, for they had 
 all given out and died. The party had, previous to this 
 misfortune, killed some of the best of the oxen, and 
 prepared the meat to carry along with them, but in no 
 great quantities, as their riding animals were not 
 strong enough to bear heavy burdens. The command 
 had hardly left the mountains and succeeded in reach- 
 ing the prairies, before they were obliged to submit to 
 further trials and losses. After going into camp one 
 night, the men, tired and worn out by much labor, had 
 lain down to rest. As a guard had been posted they 
 gave themselves but little concern about danger. Their 
 sentinels were not on the lookout as sharply as they 
 might have been. The consequence was, that some 
 hostile Indians crept within their lines and killed two 
 mules, which depredation was not discovered until the 
 next morning. 
 
 Fremont had no animals remaining in condition to 
 
250 EATING WILD HORSES. 
 
 give chase, and therefore had quietly to submit to his 
 loss. He now resolved to give up for the time being 
 his search for Talbot's party, and return to Sutter's 
 Fort, where he could reorganize. While on their road 
 to the Fort, the men came suddenly upon a band of 
 the same Indians who had recently annoyed them. 
 These fellows seemed to invite an engagement, and 
 were gratified by Col. Fremont. In the skirmish that 
 ensued they lost five warriors killed. The rest fled. 
 The party, after undergoing many hardships, finally 
 reached their point of destination. During the latter 
 part of this tramp, game had become so scarce that the 
 men had to shoot whatever came in their way. This 
 time it chanced to be wild horses. When they arrived 
 at the Fort they were on foot, their saddle and pack 
 animals having all given out and broken down. By 
 the kind assistance of Mr. Sutter they were furnished 
 anew. After recruiting a little their own worn-out 
 bodies, they started on their second trip in quest of 
 their companions. They traversed the coast-range 
 and went to San Jos^ to see if they could hear any- 
 thing through the Mexicans and Indians wha resided 
 there, concerning the whereabouts of the missing men; 
 as perchance, some of the hunters or traders among 
 these people might in their travels have met or heard 
 something of them. On making inquiries at San Jose, 
 they were informed that the party was encamped at a 
 well-known place on the San Joaquin. This piece of 
 intelligence immediately decided Fremont to dispatch 
 Carson and two companions to that section of country, 
 while he and the remainder of the men would remain 
 where they were and await his return. Kit Carson 
 performed his mission with his usual promptness and 
 
ORDERED TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY. 251 
 
 soon returned with his charge, when the expedition 
 was once more united under one leader. Owingr to 
 the great trials and privations recently met with, and 
 the inability to procure at Sutter's Fort all that was 
 wanted in the matter of an outfit, therefore it was de- 
 termined upon that the party should proceed next to 
 Monterey, where they knew they could purchase the 
 articles that were actually required. While en route, 
 and when Avithin thirty miles of this last-named town, 
 an impertinent order was received from General Castro, 
 the Mexican commander of the territory. The purport 
 of this order was, that Fremont and his party must im- 
 mediately vacate the country without further notice, 
 or else the gallant general would be obliged to drive 
 them out. It was late in the afternoon when the mes- 
 senger with this document arrived in Fremont's camp, 
 yet he found time the same day to pack up and fall 
 back to a place where he could fortify his position, as 
 he felt confident that this was but an empty excuse 
 which the Mexican general had invented to prevent 
 him from penetrating further into the country. The 
 Americans had hardly got things in proper trim be- 
 fore the Mexican general, at the head of several 
 hundred troops, arrived and established his camp and 
 head-quarters within sight of the former, being deluded 
 with the belief that he would easily intimidate the ex- 
 ploring party. The general commenced firing his can- 
 non and making a great uproar. He had all branches 
 of the service with him, including artillery, infantry and 
 cavalry. In the intention of intimidation, however, he 
 was greatly mistaken, though the difference in num- 
 bers between the two parties was in itself almost deci- 
 sive, should they come to a conflict. Yet the Mexicans 
 
252 NOT EASILY INTIMIDATED. 
 
 had but poorly estimated the mettle contained in the 
 American commander and his forty men. They were 
 ready, one and all, to sell their lives dearly in a cause 
 good as that before them. Unshaken in their purpose, 
 the little band of intrepid men remained in their camp 
 for the period of three days. The Americans who 
 were then living at Monterey, sent several expressmen 
 to their countrymen, warning them of their danger, as 
 they felt that the Mexicans could, without a doubt, 
 completely annihilate them. Fremont's reply was -per- 
 fectly characteristic of the man ; he said he had done 
 nothing to raise the wrath of the Mexicans, who were 
 now treating him disgracefully. He had come to per- 
 form a duty, and could not leave without executing it. 
 In fact, neither himself nor his men would submit to 
 be driven out of the country. At the end of three days, 
 Fremont saw that there was no prospect of General 
 Castro's consummating his threat, and, considering that 
 he had sufficiently shown his willingness to fight if 
 driven to it, he therefore concluded to strike his camp 
 and withdraw to the Sacramento River. The party 
 were not disturbed in their movements, and- on reach- 
 ing this stream, they followed it up until they came to 
 Peter Lawson's Trading Post, where Fremont intended, 
 since he could not go to Monterey without being too 
 rash, to purchase the outfit for the homeward-bound 
 trip. The party remained at this post some ten days, 
 during which time some American settlers in the neigh- 
 borhood came in with the information that one thou- 
 sand Indian warriors were collecting for the avowed 
 purpose of destroying their ranches, probably at the 
 instigation of the Mexicans. The exploring party, and 
 also five white men from the Post, proffered their ser- 
 
ATTACK ON ONE THOUSAND INDIANS. 255 
 
 vices to go to the aid of their countrymen, and shortly 
 afterwards the Avhole command under Fremont moved 
 forward to meet and measure their strength with the 
 savages. The viUage of the Indians was in due time 
 found, when the whites commenced the fight by mak- 
 ing an attack on it. The battle was for awhile stoutly 
 contested ; but finally the red men were completely 
 routed. The number of the killed it was difficult to 
 ascertain ; but Carson was of the opinion that this fight 
 had the tendency of fixing on the minds of this tribe 
 the truth of their inability to cope with Avliite men, the 
 convincing evidence of which w^as that the battle- 
 ground was strewm with their dead. Having more 
 than accomplished his chastisement of the Indians, 
 Fremont with his party returned to Lawson's. 
 
 On finishing his purchases at this post, whose occu- 
 pants had done their utmost to supply his wants and 
 make his stay agreeable, the explorer once more set his 
 command in motion en route for the Columbia River. 
 He traveled up the Sacramento and passed near Mount 
 Shatta, that snow-capped sentinel of the rich Sacra- 
 mento Yalley, raising its head 14,443 feet above the 
 level of the sea, and thence on to Klamath Lake, since 
 made famous by the treachery of a handful of Califor- 
 nia Indians of the Modoc tribe, of which we shall speak 
 further on. While encamped on the head of this col- 
 lection of water, new\s came to the party that war had 
 been declared between the United States and Mexico. 
 This intelligence had been sent to Fremont through 
 Lieutenant Gillespie, of the United States marines, 
 who had with him six men as an escort. After travel- 
 ing three hundred miles over bad trails at a rapid pace, 
 his animals began to succumb to fatigue. The lieutenr 
 15 
 
256 WAR WITH MEXICO. 
 
 ant saw he would fail to accomplish his ends with the 
 whole party together, therefore he selected two of his 
 most reliable men, mounted them on his fleetest horses, 
 and sent them on ahead to bear the dispatches, while 
 he himself would jog on slowly. The expressmen 
 overhauled the exploring party after several days of 
 hard travel and handed to Fremont the communications. 
 As soon as he had read his letters, Fremont made in- 
 quiries in regard to Gillespie, and found that he was in 
 rather a precarious position ; for, should the Klamath 
 Indians take the notion, they would murder him and 
 his men just by the way of pastime. Fremont at once 
 determined to return with all haste and succor Gil- 
 lespie from the imminent peril that surrounded him. 
 With this purpose in view, he selected ten picked men, 
 leaving orders for the rest of the party to follow on his 
 trail, and set out. He had traveled about sixty miles 
 when he met the officer he was in search of comhig on. 
 The meeting was very gratifying to both, but espe- 
 cially so to Fremont, who was fully alive to the dangers 
 through which Gillespie had passed ; for the lieutenant 
 was not sufficiently aware how black-hearted in their 
 villainy and treachery this tribe, through whose coun- 
 try he was passing, were, as he had heretofore never 
 dealt Avith Ihem. A camp was selected near by, and 
 all hands were not long in being snugly seated in it 
 around a good fire, listening to the important news 
 fresh from the civilized world. 
 
 Fremont sat up until about one o'clock reading his 
 letters from the United States. Kit Carson and Owens, 
 wrapped in their saddle-blankets, had picked out their 
 beds near the fire, as the night was cold. On conclud- 
 ing the reading of his correspondence, Fremont turned 
 
MASSACRED BY KLAMATH INDIANS. 257 
 
 in nncl ^vas soon sound asleep. All was quiet for 
 awhile, when Kit Carson heard a noise that awaked 
 him ; the sound was like the stroke of an axe. Rising 
 to his feet, he discovered Indians in the camp. While 
 in the act of reaching for his rifle, he gave the alarm 
 to his slumbering companions ; but two of them were 
 already sleeping their last sleep, for the fatal toma- 
 hawk had been buried in their brains. One of these 
 victims was the brave Lajeunesse, while the other was 
 a full-blooded Delaware Indian. As Kit Carson left the 
 fire, where he was too conspicuous an object, he saw 
 several warriors approaching towards it. There lay 
 near to it four other Delawares, who, on hearing the 
 alarm, sprang to their feet. One of them, by the name 
 of Crane, seized hold of a rifle, which, unfortunately, 
 was not his own, and was not loaded. The poor fellow 
 was not aware of this important fact. He kept trying 
 to fire it while he stood erect, and manfully received 
 five arrows, all of which penetrated his left breast, and 
 either one of which was sufficient to cause his death. 
 At last he fell. On grasping his gun, Kit Carson re- 
 membered that the evening before he had discharged 
 it for the purpose of cleaning it, and while so doing had 
 accidentally broken its cap-tube, and consequently he 
 had not reloaded it. As this flashed across his mind, 
 he threw the rifle down and drew from his belt a single- 
 barreled pistol, with which he made at the warrior 
 who was so safely throwing his arrows into his com- 
 panion. When sufficiently near. Kit Carson flred, but, 
 as the fellow kept dodging about, he only succeeded in 
 cuttinir the string; that held the tomahawk to its red 
 owner's arm. JNIaxwell now shot at this same brave 
 and hit him in the fleshy part of one leg ; and, as he 
 
 17 
 
258 THREE BKAYE MEN KILLED. 
 
 was turning to run, which was the case with most of 
 the Indians by this time, a bullet from the rifle of a 
 mountaineer passed through his heart and arrested his 
 progress. The whites were now fully awakened to 
 their danger, and about ready to commence the fight, 
 but the enemy had scattered. If all the savages had 
 shown the same quickness and coolness as did their 
 foremost warrior, the probability is that the most, if not 
 the whole of the party, would have been massacred. 
 As it was, the attack was well planned but poorly 
 carried out. 
 
 The result of the affair was, that Fremont lost three 
 brave men, and had one other wounded sliglltl3^ It 
 now became evident that the party had fallen into a 
 snare which was intended for Lieutenant Gillespie and 
 his small force, but the coming up of Fremont had 
 caused the assassins to find they had caught a Tartar. 
 
 Fremont and his party apprehended no danger that 
 night ; consequently, they did not post a guard, and as 
 the men were very tired they slept very soundly. Be- 
 fore lying down, several of them had fired off their 
 rifles, and, after cleaning them, they had neglected to 
 reload them. This was the first and last time they were 
 guilty of such a mistake while in an Indian country. 
 
 Of the three men killed, the one by the name of 
 Lajeunesse was the most regretted, for he had been 
 with Fremont on his previous expeditions, and had 
 won the admiration and confidence of his commander 
 and companions. In a small company of men, such as 
 these expeditions were composed of, where every 
 member becomes intimately known and admired by his 
 companions, the loss of one would be greatly felt ; but, 
 when three such were thus suddenly taken, it caused 
 
SAVING LIFE BY DEATH. 259 
 
 a gloom to be cast over the remainder, not easily to be 
 dispelled. The only consolation left to the living was, 
 that they had been instrumental in saving Lieutenant 
 Gillespie and his four companions ; therefore, in sacri- 
 ficing their comrades, they had saved more lives than 
 had been lost. 
 
 There were no more thoughts of sleep in this camp 
 for that eventful night ; but instead, the men selected 
 positions behind neighboring trees and fallen logs, and 
 were ready to receive the enemy should they see fit to 
 visit them again. 
 
 The Indians, however, as Kit Carson predicted, had 
 come to the wise conclusion not to attempt so unsatis- 
 fiictory a business as another attack, for the gray light 
 of the following day came without their re-appearance. 
 Before the sun had fairly risen, Fremont had broken 
 up this camp, which had become odious to the men 
 from its unpleasant associations. With their packs, 
 and with the bodies of their dead companions, the 
 party started to find their rear guard. They had pro- 
 ceeded about ten miles on their journey, when, by 
 unanimous consent, they resolved to halt and inter the 
 remains, which they had wished to carry until they 
 united their forces, so that all could participate in the 
 funeral rites ; but, the woods through which they were 
 traveling were very thick, and already the bodies had 
 become greatly disfigured, on account of their fre- 
 quently striking against the trees, as they were fas- 
 tened on the backs of three animals. 
 
 Slowly and sadly, in that dense forest, hundreds of 
 miles from their nearest countrymen, was this funeral 
 procession formed. A spot was selected on one side of 
 the main trail, at a distance of about one-half mile. 
 
260 A SAD FUNEEAL PROCESSION. 
 
 where a* rude grave was dug, and, wrapped in their 
 blankets, in the same common house, were deposited 
 all that remained of these three brave men. An 
 observer of these obsequies would have seen the lips 
 of daring men, now and then, giving spasmodic twitch- 
 inirs ; eves swimmino; in tears, and a silence and solem- 
 nity that bespoke the truest kind of grief. Among that 
 party, such a one would have been sure to have marked 
 out the countenance of Kit Carson; for, engraven on it 
 were the throes Avhich were troubling his kind heart on 
 being thus obHged to separate from old friends. Not a 
 man left that grave but who resolved, secretly and 
 silently, to make these dastardly Indians suffer for the 
 lives they had thus w^antonly taken. In fact, they felt 
 it an imperative duty they yet owed to their departed 
 comrades, who, if they but stood in their places, would 
 have sworn to be avenged ; hence, the reader must not 
 judge them harshly if they nourished these feelings. 
 
 That very day the two parties met and went into 
 camp together. Plans were concocted to chastise the 
 red men soundly. The next day, on quitting this last 
 resting-place, a squad of fifteen men was left concealed 
 in the neighborhood, in order to watch and act against 
 any Indians who, by chance, might be following them 
 from one camp to another, in hopes of finding some- 
 thing. The main command then moved on slowly, and 
 had advanced but a few miles when they were over- 
 taken by their friends, who came up with two scalps. 
 These were the sum total of their morning's work. 
 The two warriors to whom they had belonged were 
 caught following the trail as scouts of their main body. 
 The unerring rifles of the party in ambush had per- 
 formed their fearful duty. 
 
EN ROUTE FOR CALIFORNIA. 261 
 
 CHAPTEE X. 
 
 Fremont en route for California — His men are anxious to Punish the Kla- 
 math Indians — Kit Carson, in command of Ten Men, is sent on ahead 
 to reconnoitre — lie discovers the main Village of these Indians — The 
 Attack and the Victory — Beautiful Lodges — The Trojjhies mostly de- 
 stroyed — Fremont saves Kit Carson's Life — The Journey resumed — 
 The Sacramento Valley — An Indian Ambuscade — One Savage defies 
 the Party — Kit Carson shoots him — The Klamath Indians still on the 
 "War Path — Another Lesson given to them — A Thief is shot — Arrival 
 at Lawson's Trading Post — A period of Inactivity — A Detachment 
 sent to capture Sonoma — Prisoners taken — The ^lexicans come to 
 punish the Americans — Their Courage deserts them — The Retreat — 
 The Pursuit — Fremont goes to Sutter's Fort and establishes a Military 
 Post — Monterey is taken by the American Squadron — Fremont 
 marches there — Further Operations — The Taking of Los Angelos. 
 
 The news of war having been declared between the 
 United States and Mexico, determined Fremont to re- 
 turn to California; and, in doing so, he decided to 
 enter that country by a new route of his own selection. 
 
 He commenced his journey by traveling around Lake 
 Klamath, and had not proceeded far in that direction 
 before he found himself encamped on a small stream 
 which empties into the lake, nearly opposite to the 
 place where his three men were killed. The distance 
 of each day's progress had been carefully reckoned and 
 noted by the party. Upon their minds there was still 
 resting a sadness, which their leader saw was only to be 
 effaced by a satisfactory revenge, and that they were 
 eager to obtain it before quitting the country. Perhaps, 
 
262 FIGHT WITH KLAMATH INDIANS. 
 
 also, their commanding officer thought it best, while 
 the opportunity offered, for the benefit of his country- 
 men, whom he felt sure would some day possess this 
 territory, to impress these savages with the power and 
 bravery of the white men. Whatever was the object 
 to be gained, it matters not in relating the particulars. 
 The next morning he sent Kit Carson on ahead, with 
 ten chosen men, giving him orders to the effect that if 
 he discovered a large village of Indians, Avhich was the 
 general surmise, without being himself seen, he was to 
 send back Avord, when he (Fremont) would hasten on 
 with re-info rcements, in order to make the assault. If it 
 should happen that the Indians were the first to be ap- 
 prised of his near approach, then, without delay, Carson 
 was to engage them as he thought best. Acting under 
 these instructions. Kit Carson, with his detail of men, 
 set out, and fortunately soon found a fresh trail that 
 led directly to where the savages had established their 
 village. This Indian village numbered fifty lodges; 
 and to each wigwam the mountaineers estimated three 
 braves, as this is the complement of men who live in 
 one of these huts on the prairies and in tlie Kocky 
 Mountains, thus making the force of the Indians to be 
 in the neighborhood of one hundred and fifty. From the 
 commotion noticed in the villa 2:0 it was evident to all 
 present that the tribe had become aware of danger, and 
 that there was no time to be lost in sending back the 
 desired information. Kit Carson, notwithstanding the 
 strength of his enemies, determined to hazard an attack; 
 and, after a brief consultation with his companions, he 
 decided to take advantage of the confusion that was ex- 
 isting among the red men by charging right in among 
 them. If ever there is a time when Indians will stand 
 
 I 
 
BEAUTIFUL LODGES. 263 
 
 their ground, it is Avlien defending their families; there- 
 fore, on this occasion, the Avhite men were warmly re- 
 ceived, but they fought with such a degree of despera- 
 tion as they themselves had never done before. The 
 result was, that the savages became panic-stricken, and 
 soon afterwards fled, leaving everything they possessed 
 behind them. The victors, after pursuing the Indians 
 for some distance, and adding a few more to the list of 
 killed, returned to the village, which they found to be 
 rich in booty. The lodges here taken Kit Carson de- 
 scribes as being the most tasty pieces of handiwork that 
 Indian skill could devise, and surpassed anything of the 
 kind that he had previously looked upon. They were 
 made of the broad leaves of the swamp flag, which were 
 beautifully and intricately woven together. Within the 
 wigwams the party found a very large amount of fish, 
 in different stages of preservation for future use. Wish- 
 ing to do these people as much harm as possible, and 
 thus be even with them for their recent savage cruel- 
 ties on their own party, Kit Carson gave the order to 
 collect everything in the lodges and arrange the arti- 
 cles in such manner that fire would either destroy 
 or completely damage them. Having accomplished 
 this work, the lighted tinder was applied, when the 
 flames leaped high up in the air, forming a fit funeral 
 pyre for their slain companions. Fremont saw the re- 
 flection of the fire, and also the smoke, and at once 
 knew that Kit Carson was engaged with the Indians ; 
 consequently, he pushed on at a very rapid pace to 
 assist him. He arrived too late for what the men 
 called the sport, but, instead, heard the report of his 
 lieutenant and guide, Kit Carson, whose words, to use 
 his (Fremont's) own language, " are synonymous with 
 
264 WATCHING IN THE LAVA-BEDS. 
 
 truth/' The gloom which had prevailed over the 
 party, while the men recounted to their friends the 
 details of the fight, was temporarily dispelled ; and, 
 while thus engaged, the command moved on about 
 two miles from the Indian village. Having here 
 selected a site, they went into camp. After comfort- 
 ably stowing themselves away in this resting-place, 
 another '' war talk " was called, and what was best to 
 be done was canvassed over. After the adjournment 
 of the council, Fremont decided to send back twenty 
 men, under Richard Owens, to the neighborhood of 
 the ruins of the village, there to conceal themselves in 
 the Lava-beds and await the return of the Indians, 
 who, it was thought, might come back to look after 
 their dead. 
 
 The Lava-beds are located in the country along the 
 boundaries of Oregon and California, and near the 
 Klamath River and Lakes. It is cut up by fissures, 
 abysses, lakes, high mountains and caves, and covers 
 an area of one hundred square miles. Here and there 
 are vales bounded by walls more than one thousand 
 feet high, composed of dark lava-like trap or red scoria, 
 the interval between which forms a sort of cono;ealed 
 sea, whose ragged, crested waves, with volcanic ori- 
 fices, seem to have been frozen in the upheaval, and 
 never had time to subside. The miniature vents or 
 chin>fieys, ^vliich had been formed no doubt by the 
 bursting of steam or gases from below, led to subter- 
 ranean galleries or caverns, from fifteen to twenty feet 
 wide and of indefinite length. 
 
 Our party had not been secreted a great while be- 
 fore about fifty savages returned, and, by the moon's 
 light, were quite visible. As had been previously 
 
FREMONT SAVES CARSOn's LIFE. 267 
 
 agreed upon, Avord was sent by a trusty messenger to 
 Fremont, who, with six companions, Kit Carson being 
 of the numljer, liasteuLMl on horseback to join his out- 
 post. For fear of being discovered, Fremont chose a 
 different route from the one taken by Owens, which 
 was quite direct, while that of the former was circuit- 
 ous. On approaching the smouldering remains of the 
 village. Kit Carson discovered only one Indian wander- 
 ing about on the ground. As soon almost as he was 
 seen by the party, they made a dash at him. Kit Carson 
 w\^s in the advance, and on arriving within about ten 
 feet of the warrior, he drew up his horse and brought 
 his rifle to his shoulder to fire, but the gun only snapped, 
 and left its owner in a very j^recarious situation, as 
 the red man had already draw^n the string of his 
 bow to plant an arrow in the body of his adversary. A 
 moment more, and, in all probability, Kit Carson ^vould 
 have been breathing his last. Fremont saw the danger 
 his friend was in, although Kit had tried to avoid the ar- 
 row by throwing himself on one side of his horse. With 
 much forethought, as well as personal exposure, he 
 plunged the rowels of his spurs deep into his riding ani- 
 mal. The noble horse, obeying the impetus thus given 
 by his rider, made a few extra strides, until he reached, 
 knocked down and passed over the Indian, thereby 
 causing his arrow to fly in a different direction from 
 the one intended. Before the savage could regain his 
 feet, a ball from one of the rifles belonging to the party 
 had sent him to his last resting-place. Fremont now 
 learned from Owens, that Avhile the messenger was 
 absent, the rest of the Indians had decamped, and as 
 he had received orders from him to await his coming in 
 case he found the enemy, therefore, he was obliged to 
 
208 A BELOVED COMMANDEK. 
 
 let the rascals quietly depart without firing into them, 
 which was much to his own and his men's displeasure. 
 
 It was now necessary to return without delay to their 
 own camp, and thus anticipate the movements of the 
 Indians, as they might conclude to make an attack in 
 that quarter ; hut, on arriving there, they found every- 
 thing safe; nor were they, during that night, in any way 
 disturbed. Kit Carson was very grateful to Fremont for 
 thus interposing between him and almost certain death ; 
 for it would have been the work of an instant for the 
 Indian warrior, at ten feet distance, to have sent an ar- 
 row into some vital organ. It was such noble gener- 
 osity, bravery, and disinterested exposure in the hour 
 of peril, in order to serve his men, that strongly 
 cemented Fremont to them. Indeed, in all of his ex- 
 peditions, he had such command over his employees, 
 that little or no trouble ever occurred among; them 
 while on their marches, although they had privations 
 and dangers to undergo that would often try men of 
 the most even temper. 
 
 On the day following the one on which his party had 
 encountered and chastised the Klamath Indians, Fre- 
 mont started for the Valley of the Sacramento. The 
 expedition was progressing well, and was four days out 
 from this last camp ; when, as two of the men whose 
 names were Maxwell and Archambeau, were out hunt- 
 ing at a distance of about three miles, on one side of 
 their friends, they were surprised at seeing one Indian, 
 on foot, approaching towards them. 
 
 The hunters, in order to do away with all suspicion, 
 at once halted and laid down their arms, to show the 
 warrior that they were friendly disposed. They 
 thought it was best to have a "talk" with him, and 
 
LOST HIS SCALP BY INDISCRETION. 2G9 
 
 question him in regard to the country they were then in. 
 As he showed no symptoms of fear, but kept coming on, 
 they supposed that he had understood their actions ; 
 therefore, they paid but little attention to him, until 
 they saw him stop. Their curiosity was now excited 
 to know his intentions ; and, as they watched his move- 
 ments, they saw him take some young crows from his 
 quiver, and, after untying the string that held them, he 
 concealed them to his satisfaction in the grass, and 
 again moved forward ; but, while doing so, he was busy 
 arranging his weapons for immediate use. The white 
 men were not astonished at this, for thc}^ concluded 
 that he vras only preparing himself against danger. 
 The Indian slowly advanced to a spot that was within 
 fifteen yards of the hunters, when he again stopped, 
 and commenced shootino^ his arrows at them. At first 
 they dodged about, and made signs for him to desist, 
 as they Avere friends; but, to their admonitions he paid 
 not the least attention. Several of the missiles had 
 come near causing them bodily injury. After a time, 
 forbearance ceased to be a virtue. Raising his rifle, 
 one of the men fired ; when, to use mountaineer par- 
 lance, the Indian " went under." 
 
 What could have been the foolhardy ideas of this 
 warrior that compelled him to take such a course as he 
 did, not one of the party, when they were informed of 
 the adventure, could conjecture ; but a fact it is, that 
 he lost his life and his scalp by his indiscretion. In due 
 time the command reached the Sacramento River, and 
 were proceeding on the trail down that stream, when 
 they came to a point not far from a deep cailon, the 
 sides of which were almost perpendicular and composed 
 of cragged rocks. Fremont decided not to pass through 
 
270 OXE "KLAMATH " DEFIES THE WHOLE PARTY. 
 
 this deep gorge, but instead, to travel around it ; and 
 he did so by crossing the river. It proved afterwards 
 to be a very fortunate chans^e ; for their old enemies, 
 the Klamath Indians, had concealed themselves there, 
 thinking, as a matter of course, that the white men 
 would keep the trail. Seeing that the white men 
 were not coming into the ambuscade laid for them, the 
 Indians became so disappointed that they boldly ven- 
 tured forth from their hiding-places. A few, more 
 daring than the rest, advanced into ojDcn ground, when 
 Carson, Godey, and another member of the party, made 
 a dash at them. They all ran except one warrior, and 
 as the charging party were mounted on mules, they 
 made but poor progress in overtaking them. The one 
 Indian who, apparently, had resolved to make war on 
 his own account, concealed himself behind a rock, 
 strung his bow, putting several arrows in his mouth, 
 and thus awaited the advance of his foes. Kit Carson 
 and Godey soon came within shooting distance, when 
 he began to let fly his arrows, and kept it up so briskly 
 that the men dodged about, without being able to do 
 anything else for some moments. At last, wearying of 
 this dangerous sport, Kit Carson dismounted, and crept 
 around imtil he obtained a good sight at the Indian, 
 when he drew up his rifle, fired, and sent a bullet 
 through his heart. From this dead brave. Kit Carson 
 took a beautifully-wrought bow and quiver, which still 
 contained a large number of arrows, and which he 
 presented, on rejoining the party, to Lieutenant Gil- 
 lespie. It is a pity that such a brave man as this 
 savnge was should have met with such an inglorious 
 death ; but it was his own seeking, for he had attacked 
 the wrong persons. Another twenty-four hours now 
 
^?^iSs 
 
 >- 
 
 
 A moment more and in all i.rubitl>ility Kit C'aix.n would have been breathing his 
 last. Fremont saw the danger his friend was in, although Kit had tried to avoid tho 
 arrow bv throwing himself on one side of his horse. — Page 267. 
 
1 9 
 
COMPULSORY FASTING. 273 
 
 passed by without any further annoyance from the 
 Indians, who, notwithstanding the late forcible instruc- 
 tion they had received, still continued to hover around, 
 and follow after the exploring party. On encamping 
 the next evening, after Kit Carson had killed the 
 Indian, as above described, the party found themselves 
 entirely destitute of anything to eat, although they 
 were very hungry. Game had, all at once, become 
 very scarce, as the hunters whose turn it was to be out 
 that day had returned unsuccessful. Two more men 
 were then sent out, in hopes that by perseverance they 
 might find something. They had not proceeded far 
 before they discovered an Indian watching their camp, 
 as if awaiting a favorable opportunity to make a descent 
 on the animals. Step (one of these hunters) crept im- 
 perceived by the red man until he was within range of 
 his rifle, when he fired, and killed the would-be thief. 
 No other game could be found, so the hunters returned, 
 and the whole party retired to rest supperless, and 
 arose the next morning to fast again. That day, how- 
 ever, they found and killed some game, and for the 
 time being their appetites were once more appeased. 
 Fremont was now on his way to Peter Lawson's Fort, 
 where he arrived safely, after several days of hard 
 traveling. At this place the party rested for about one 
 week ; Ijut the desire to have an active share in the 
 approaching hostilities caused Fremont to delay no 
 longer than was absolutely necessary ; hence, he started 
 and went to a point lower down on the Sacramento, 
 known to the mountaineers under the name of the 
 Buttes. Here a camp was made, and here Fremont 
 had decided to wait positive orders concerning the 
 war; and, until these instructions should arrive, he 
 
274 ATTACK ON SONOMA. 
 
 employed his men in hunting. After several days spent 
 in this way, he began to weary of inactivity. He 
 thought that, in all probability, w\ar had commenced ; 
 and, finally, he decided to take the responsibility of 
 sending a part of his force to surprise Sonoma, a Mexi- 
 can military post that had but a weak garrison. This , 
 the j)arty accomplished to the entire satisfaction of their 
 commander. They captured and made prisoners of 
 war, at this fort, one general and two captains, besides 
 taking several cannon and quite a quantity of small 
 arms. It was about this time that news reached Fre- 
 mont which convinced him that hostilities had already 
 commenced, and that both countries were taking active 
 measures to carry the war on with vigor. He set out 
 immediately, on the receij)t of this information, and 
 joined his detail of men at Sonoma. During his stay at 
 this fort, General Castro sent one of his captains, with 
 a large force of Mexicans, from San Francisco, with 
 orders to drive the Americans out of the country. 
 This command came, and accidentally fell upon and 
 butchered two men whom Fremont had sent out as 
 messengers, to inform all American settlers that So- 
 noma had been taken by him, and that thither they 
 could fly for safety. The gallant Mexican captain, on 
 seeing and hearing that Fremont's forces were anxious 
 to meet him, becoming disheartened, began to retreat, 
 and was pursued by the exploring party. For six days 
 they thus followed the retreating enemy, w^hose courage 
 had evidently deserted them, though they had triple 
 the force of their pursuers. So hot was the chase that 
 the Mexicans deserted many of their animals, which, 
 as a matter of course, fell into the hands of the Ameri- 
 cans. Fremont, on finding that he could not overtake 
 
CAPTURED MEXICANS. 275 
 
 the enemy, returned to Sonoma. The captain, with 
 his Mexican command, as ^vas afterwards learned, did 
 not remain at San Francisco. No doubt he did not like 
 to trust himself within reach of Fremont, for he con- 
 tinued his march until he reached the Pueblo of Los 
 Angelos, where he was rejoined by General Castro, who 
 re-organized the forces and assumed the command him- 
 self. The exploring party had now become a military 
 expedition, and around this nucleus the Americans, 
 then in California, flocked to pour out their vengeance 
 against their country's foes. Having quite a little army 
 at his disposal, Fremont left a strong detachment at 
 Sonoma, and departed with the rest of his command 
 for Sutter's Fort. On arriving there, he placed the 
 fort under military rule, and left his prisoners. General 
 Vallejos and the two captains, who had been captured 
 at Sonoma; also, an American by the name of Lace, who 
 was a brother-in-law to General Yallejos, and whose 
 predilections appeared to lean in favor of the Mexican 
 side. With all his mountain men, including Kit Car- 
 son, Fremont then took up his line of march towards 
 Monterey, for the purpose ofiittacking and taking pos- 
 session of the town ; but this movement had been 
 anticipated by Commodore Sloat and the American 
 squadron. Soon after Fremont's arrival at Monterey 
 (where he was very kindly received by the Commodore 
 and his officers). Commodore Sloat left the country, 
 and the command devolved upon Commodore Stockton. 
 A consultation having been held among the officers, 
 it was the prevailing opinion that it would be impossible 
 to overtake and engage the Mexicans by following 
 them up on land ; therefore Fremont asked for a ship 
 
 to take his force to San Diego, where he could obtain 
 16 
 
276 A DEMORALIZED ENEMY. 
 
 animals and march on to Los Angelos. The United 
 States vessel, Cyane. under the command of Captain 
 Dupont, afterwards Admiral Dupont, was furnished 
 him for this undertaking by Commodore Stockton. In 
 four days' time the party arrived at San Diego, where 
 they landed. They there parted with the ship and the 
 gallant captain, with many pleasant reminiscences of 
 their short voyage. At San Diego, Fremont found 
 himself at the head of about one hundred and fifty 
 men, which w^as not a very strong force to be in an 
 enemy's country with, especially so far from their homes 
 as they were. However, nearly every man w^as a vet- 
 eran in war, and the whole body felt themselves invin- 
 cible, which was a source of great consolation to their 
 leader. From San Diego, parties of the command were 
 sent to scour the neighboring country, in order to bring 
 in a sufficient number of horses to mount the men. 
 This being accomplished, Fremont set out for Los 
 Angelos, where the Governor and General Castro had 
 a force of seven hundred men at their disposal. These 
 officials, wuth their soldiers, on learning the near ap- 
 proach of the Americans, broke up and fled, most of 
 them taking the road to Sonoma, wdiile the balance 
 scattered, not apparently caring w^here they w^ent, as 
 long as they did not come in contact with the Ameri- 
 cans. Fremont marched within about one league of 
 the town, and encamped to await, as had been previ- 
 ously agreed upon, the arrival of Commodore Stockton, 
 who soon joined him at this place with a party of sail- 
 ors and marines, "As fine a body of men," says Kit 
 Carson, "as I ever looked upon." 
 
 When the two commands had been consolidated, they 
 marched direct for Los Angelos, which they easily cap- 
 
DETAILED FOR IMPORTANT DUTY. 277 
 
 tured, as its would-be defenders had some days before 
 deserted it. In this town the command was quartered 
 for some time ; but, as it is our intention to follow the 
 career of Kit Carson, who, shortly after tlieir arrival, 
 had been detailed for important duty, which placed 
 him in new scenes; hence, we are necessitated to take 
 leave of affairs as they transpired there, and hereafter 
 revert to them casually as they connect with our nar- 
 rative. 
 
278 KIT CAESOiS AS BEAREK OF DISPATCHES. 
 
 OHAPTEE XI. 
 
 Kit Carson is sent Overland as Bearer of Dispatches to "Washington — The 
 Preparation and the Start — The Journey — Privations and Sufferings — 
 Meeting with General Kearney — The General takes Carson as his 
 Guide and sends on his Dispatches by Fitzpatrick — The March — Ar- 
 rival at Warner's Ranche — Mexicans on the Road — Preparations for a 
 Battle — The Battle — Disastrous Consequences — Kit Carson and Lieu- 
 tenant Beale offer to run the lines of the Mexican Sentinels and carry 
 Information to San Diego of Kearney's Critical Position — The Daring 
 Undertaking — The Sufferings they Encountered — Their Arrival — Re- 
 inforcements sent out — Lieutenant Beale is Delirious from the Priva- 
 tions he has undergone — General Kearney and his Command finally 
 reach and join the other American Forces in California. 
 
 On the 15th day of September, 1S46, Kit Carson was 
 placed in the command of fifteen men, with orders to 
 make an overland journey to Washington, as bearer of 
 very important dispatches. 
 
 At the time of which we write there was no steam 
 communications via the two great oceans ; no Union 
 Pacific Railroad to carry one over the plains with all 
 the comforts and luxuries of home ; consequently, the 
 intercourse between our brave countrymen in Califor- 
 nia and the government at Washington was attended 
 with extreme difficulty. Fortunately, Fremont had in 
 Kit Carson just the man to make such a journey 
 through an enemy's country. 
 
 Kit Carson was instructed to use his utmost en- 
 deavors to make the journey in sixty days, which was 
 no small undertaking, when we consider the great dis- 
 
A PARLEY WITH THE APACHES. 279 
 
 tance to be traveled over and the obstacles that lay in 
 his path ; he undertook it, however, with a determina- 
 tion not to be easily frustrated. 
 
 By judicious management and watchfulness, Kit was 
 making good progress, and had reached a point within 
 two days' travel of the Copper Mines in New Mexico 
 without being in any way annoyed. Here he came 
 into full view of a village of Apache Indians, who were 
 then, as they nearly ever since have been, at war with 
 the Americans. He had been discovered by these In- 
 dians, and there was but one true Avay to act, which 
 was not to show the wdiite feather by attempting to 
 evade them. Fremont's dispatch bearer had not the 
 least idea of that ; he was too well schooled in Indian, 
 stratagem to be out-manoeuvred, so he rode on as if 
 nothing had happened until he came to some timber 
 that lay within one hundred yards of their village, when 
 he halted. At first the Indians were disconcerted at the 
 boldness of the whites, and were showing it by hurrying 
 to and fro, either for the purpose of leaving or to be betr 
 ter prepared to offer fight. On arriving near enough 
 so to do. Kit Carson called to the savages and informed 
 them that his party were friends and wished a parley. 
 To this an assent was given, when Kit made them ua- 
 derstand that he and his men were simply travelers, 
 en route for New Mexico ; that they carried the olive 
 branch of peace with them, and had come among them 
 bearing it, in the hopes of being able to exchange their 
 flitigued animals for others that were fresh. With this 
 the Indians were satisfied; therefore, Carson chose a 
 camping-ground for himself and men, and selected the 
 site so that they could best contend against the treach- 
 ery of the red men, should they attempt any. When 
 
280 SHORT OF SUPPLIES. 
 
 the camp was arranged, the Indians were allowed to 
 come in; and, soon after, the trading commenced, which 
 proved to be very successful, for the men obtained very 
 good riding animals in place of their old ones. Their 
 intercourse with this band of Apaches closed early the 
 next day, when both parties bid each other good-by 
 on the most friendly terms. 
 
 A few days more of travel brought Kit Carson and 
 his men to the first Mexican settlement which then 
 stood in their road. Their arrival in the town hap- 
 pened very opportunely, having for the past few 
 days been suffering severely from hunger. They had 
 started from California with but a small stock of dried 
 meat and corn, not being able conveniently to carry 
 more without impeding their progress ; therefore, they 
 were left to depend on their rifles. Game they found 
 to be scarce, and in a short time their meat was ex- 
 pended. Being reduced to the corn, they were, as a 
 matter of necessity, very sparing of it. The maize was 
 parched and for several days they derived their entire 
 subsistence from it, though, on account of the short 
 allowance, they but poorly satiated their appetites. 
 About the time succor apjDcared to them in the shape 
 of this Mexican town, even the maize was nearly used 
 up. They were delighted to reach a place where they 
 would be able to replenish their provisions. It was 
 well known to their commander that, as a dernier re- 
 sort, he could kill and live upon his riding animals, but 
 in so doing, he would cripple his means so much that 
 the business he was on might prove a failure. While 
 so much depended on it, he felt that he ought not to 
 leave any other means untried before resortiug to such 
 ..a procedure. It was true, the Mexicans at that time 
 
MEETING WITH GENERAL KEARNEY. 281 
 
 were at war ; but there were scattered over New Mex- 
 ico, in almost everj' town, former friends of Kit Carson, 
 who woukl, he felt confident, serve him in the hour of 
 triaL At the first ranche they came to, they halted 
 and made a rest of two or three days, while Kit em- 
 ployed himself in purchasing supplies, in which he suc- 
 ceeded beyond even his expectations. 
 
 It was while obeying instructions, in traveling as fast 
 as possible, that one day, the sixth of October, 1846, 
 the party discerned something which, at first, looked 
 like a mere speck moving on the prairies. Watching it 
 with intense anxiety, the little speck increased in size 
 until they saw it emerge, as it were, from the appar- 
 ent junction of the heavens with the earth, and ibrm 
 a visible line. As the front of this column came 
 nearer to view, they discovered that it was a strong 
 detachment of United States troops. The truth was 
 now evident to them all that this was an expedition 
 sent out b}^ Government to operate in California. 
 Spurring on their animals. Kit and his men soon met 
 the advance guard of the soldiers and learned that 
 their commander was General Kearney, who was further 
 back in the lines. On coming to the General, Kit Car- 
 son reported himself, informed him of the business he 
 was on, and also furnished him with all the intelligence 
 in his power in reference to the disposal of the Ameri- 
 can forces in California, besides detailing to him what 
 had already been accomplished in that quarter. 
 
 After due deliberation, General Kearney determined 
 to send Mr. Fitzpatrick on to Washington with the dis- 
 patches, and to order Kit Carson to join him as guide. 
 In fulfilling this duty, he well knew that Kit would be 
 invaluable to him. Acting on this decision, he sent 
 
282 A DREARY OUTLOOK. 
 
 for Kit Carson, and informed him of wliat he wished 
 him to do. Kit Carson replied — " As the General 
 thinks best." The fact was, that Kit well knew he 
 could be of great service to the command, and he was 
 too honest not to confess it, though he was now nearly 
 in reach of his happy home and its loved inmates, from 
 Avhom he had been so long separated and whom he 
 fondly wished to see. In facing about, Kit took upon 
 his shoulders the prospect of encountering fearful 
 dangers ; but he undertook his new duties without 
 allowing a murmur to escape his lips, and without even 
 asking additional pay, though, had he but mentioned 
 it, the General could not have well refused the demand. 
 A noble motive engrossed Kit Carson's mind. He 
 ever labored to win and w^ear the confidence and re- 
 spect of his countrymen, being ambitious to leave a 
 name behind him that would be an honor to his friends 
 and family. 
 
 On the eighteenth day of October, 1846, General 
 Kearney and his command left the Rio Del Norte, in 
 New Mexico. The services of Kit Carson, in directing 
 the route, proved the wisdom of General Kearney in 
 making the change in the bearers of dispatches. So 
 true was Kit Carson's guidance, that the command 
 traveled with so much dispatch as to reach Warner's 
 Kanche, in California, on the third day of December 
 following. From this place it took up a line of march 
 for San Diego. 
 
 While on their march, news was brought in by their 
 spies that a strong command of Mexican Californians 
 had taken up a position on their route, evidently 
 awaiting their advance with the view of attacking 
 them. This occurred on the sixth day of the same 
 
A SKIRMISH WITH THE MEXICANS. 283 
 
 month. General Kearney made no change in his 
 route, but advanced to ^vithin fifteen miles of the 
 enemy's encampment. Here he commanded a halt. 
 A reconnoitering party, consisting of fifteen dragoons, 
 commanded by Lieutenant Hammond, was sent on in 
 advance, to note the position and force of the enemy. 
 He proceeded upon the duty, but was discovered by 
 the Mexicans. Nevertheless, he fortunately succeeded 
 in making his observations previous to being seen. His 
 report to General Kearney, among other facts, stated 
 that these Mexican soldiers had strongly established 
 themselves in an Indian village. 
 
 General Kearney determined, without delay, to at- 
 tack them. Orders w^ere given to resume the march ; 
 and, by one o'clock the next morning, the American 
 soldiers had fastened all their packs on their mules, 
 and were themselves mounted and ready for the com- 
 mand to move. The order came without delay, and 
 the little army was immediately in motion. Fourteen 
 miles of the space which separated the two parties 
 were passed without interruption. When within one 
 mile of the Mexican position, the advance guard of the 
 Americans suddenly came upon a small advance guard 
 of the Mexicans, who were evidently posted to watch 
 their approach and guard the road. As soon as they 
 were discovered, the trumpets of the dragoons sounded, 
 in quick succession, the orders to trot, and to gallop. 
 The Americans were so prompt in making their charge 
 that they came upon the Mexicans, when a sharp 
 skirmish ensued, in which several of the enemy were 
 killed. The remainder of the outpost were driven in, 
 bearing the news of the attack to their friends. Cap- 
 tain Johnson, Kit Carson, and fifteen American soldiers 
 
284 A MIRACULOUS ESCAPE FROM DEATH. 
 
 formed the attacking party in this ^ffair. They had 
 been ordered to secure the loose animals belonging to 
 the enemy. In this they failed, the animals being too 
 strongly guarded, and because, upon the first alarai, 
 they were driven out of harm's way. 
 
 This attack, however, proved to be the commence- 
 ment of a serious fight. Seeing that his orders could 
 not be obeyed in regard to the animals of the enemy, 
 Captain Johnson and his party joined a party under 
 Captain Moore. The force of the latter consisted of 
 twenty-five American volunteers from California, who 
 had attached themselves to General Kearney's com- 
 mand since its arrival in the country. Moore's com- 
 mand also comprised parts of two companies of United 
 States dragoons. Captain Moore had been ordered to 
 make an attack on the centre of the enemy, in order 
 to cut their forces in two, and thereby cause confusion 
 in their ranks. As has been stated, Captain Johnson, 
 with his little force, joined Captain Moore in making 
 this attack. While the charge was in progre:;S^ and 
 when within one hundred yards of the Mexican camp. 
 Kit Carson's horse, occupying a leading position in the 
 column of attack, accidentally fell, and threw his rider 
 with such force as to break the wood part, or stock, of 
 his rifle into several pieces, rendering it useless. His 
 position, for a short time, was precarious. Being fore- 
 most in the charge when the accident happened, the 
 whole troop of horse came galloping over him as he 
 lay upon the ground. His escape was almost a miracle. 
 When the last horseman had passed. Kit arose, and 
 was quite happy to find that he had received only 
 slight contusions, which did not in the least impair his 
 movements or strength of body. Casting a hasty glance 
 
A DESPERATE AND DEADLY CONFLICT. 285 
 
 over the field, he diseovered adead dragoon, not far dis- 
 tant from the spotAvhere he himself had fallen. Instantly 
 running up to the poor fellow, he relieved him of his 
 gun and eartridge-box. Being once more armed, he 
 rushed forward at the top of his speed and plunged 
 into the thickest of the fight, which was then severely 
 contested. Captain Johnson and several of the more 
 advanced soldiers had been killed by the bullets of the 
 enemy, almost at the same instant that Kit Carson's 
 horse had fallen. It is not at all unlikely, therefore, 
 that the accidental falling of his horse had been the 
 means of saving Kit Carson's life. After a desperate 
 and deadly conflict, Moore and his men dislodged the 
 enemy, causing them to retreat. They were followed 
 by the Americans, but, unfortunately for their com- 
 plete success, the large majority of the latter were 
 mounted on mules. These, when the firing commenced, 
 became almost unmanaoreable. But fortv of the entire 
 command of General Kearney were mounted on horses, 
 and these were none the best for cavalry purposes, 
 having been but recently broken to the saddle. They 
 had been captured since the arrival of the American 
 forces in the country, from a party of Mexicans, who 
 were en route to Sonora, by Lieutenant Davidson and 
 twenty-five dragoons, assisted by Kit Carson. By the 
 uncontrollable actions of the stubborn mules, Moore's 
 men became greatly separated and could not act in 
 concert. This rendered the pursuit, so far as the 
 enemy was concerned, nearly harmless. 
 
 The Mexicans, quickly perceiving the condition of 
 their assailants, and comprehending the chances, which 
 the apparent difficulty gave them, at once rallied and 
 turned on their pursuers. The fight was renewed with 
 
286 TERRIBLE SLAUGHTER. 
 
 most determinec] courage. The Mexicans fought with 
 a bravery and success which turned the hitherto, com- 
 paratively speaking, bloodless victory of the Americans, 
 into a terrible slaughter. Every moment saw some 
 brave dragoon yield up his life to the deadly bullets or 
 blows of the exasperated Mexicans. Out of the forty 
 dragoons who were mounted on horses, thirty-six were 
 either killed or severely wounded. Among the names 
 to be added to the sad list already killed, was Captain 
 Moore, " as brave a man," says Kit Carson, " as ever 
 drew breath in any service." As fast as the scattered 
 American soldiers could reach the scene of carnage, 
 they joined in the battle; but, the Mexicans, elated by 
 their success, fought like demons, and seemed to sweep 
 everything before them. 
 
 General Kearney, seeing his officers thus shot down, 
 drawing his sword, placed himself at the head of his 
 remaining forces ; and, though severely wounded, he 
 made a desperate attempt to cause the enemy, once 
 more, to retreat. At this crisis of affairs Lieutenant 
 Davidson arrived on the ground with two mountain 
 howitzers. Before he could get his guns unlimbered 
 and ready to commence firing, nearly every man he had 
 to work them was shot down, being either killed or 
 badly wounded. Following up their success, the Mexi- 
 cans charged right up to the guns, and, with the lasso, 
 unerring in their hands, captured the horses attached 
 to, and, on the instant, made off with one of the guns. 
 On reaching a distance of three hundred yards, they 
 halted and prepared to turn the fire of the howitzer 
 upon the Americans. From some unaccountable rea- 
 son, it would not go off. Lieutenant Davidson did his 
 utmost to prevent the loss of this gun, and after several 
 
CALIFORNIA MEXICANS. 287 
 
 narrow escapes from dangerous lance wounds, as his 
 clothing and saddle sufficiently attested, he was finally 
 stricken down, and nearly gave his life a sacrifice to his 
 heroism. 
 
 After being thus badly cut up, and with not more 
 than one or two officers left who had not been 
 wounded, while the men had been handled with 
 equal severity, the Americans were obliged to take 
 refuge at a point of rocks, which chanced to be near 
 where their advance had been defeated. A rally 
 was made at this place. The Mexicans, however, did 
 not venture to attack them. Both sides were appar- 
 ently weary of fighting for that day. The firing ceased, 
 and soon after night closed over the scene of the battle- 
 field. 
 
 These California Mexicans, previous to the war with 
 the United States, were considered by the mountaineers 
 as the bravest Spanish blood in the Mexican provinces. 
 During the war, they j)roved that they had not been 
 overestimated, as they met their foes, at the com- 
 mencement of hostilities, with a determination to win 
 or sell their lives dearly. The reason of this difference 
 of courage in their favor over their countrymen who 
 inhabited the internal States, is supposed to be owing 
 to their opportunities for intercourse with the bold 
 mariners from different countries who visited them in 
 ships for the purpose of trade. This commerce con- 
 sisted in the transporting into the country of such arti- 
 cles as arms, ammunition, groceries, and dry goods, for 
 which were bartered, hides, tallow, and furs. The cur- 
 rency of California at that time was hides, which were 
 estimated at so many dollars. The raising of cattle and 
 horses was the leading employment of the people, and 
 
288 A RENOWNED TRAVELER. 
 
 occupied most of their time. On the discovery of gold, 
 these affairs underwent a change, and the rapid strides 
 of civilization has left this people far in the minority. 
 The horses of California were celebrated as beins: 
 larger than the ponies of New Mexico, and also for 
 being much fleeter of foot. The California rider, at 
 that time, was looked upon as being unrivaled by 
 those who had witnessed his performances. However, 
 the intercourse between the two countries was very 
 limited among the Mexicans, and it was difficult to find 
 a New Mexican who had seen the Pacific. Their dia- 
 lects were also slightly different, as much so as happens 
 in the dependencies of any other country. It Avas fear 
 of the Indians that put a damper on the travel between 
 these adjoining districts. The society of the man who 
 had had the boldness to make a journey to California 
 from New Mexico was courted, he being considered a re- 
 nowned traveler. His amusing stories of large ships and 
 the men who managed them, and also of the great ex- 
 panse of the ocean, amazed his auditors and made them 
 deeply interested in his conversation and information. 
 It has become a strange sight to look upon whole com- 
 munities of men who have only heard of steamboats, 
 telegraphs, railroads, and other great improvements 
 and inventions of the age, yet there are thousands of 
 men living in the great interior of the North American 
 continent who have only vague ideas of these things ; 
 and many there are who cannot realize them, but be- 
 lieve that they are fabulous stories, and will meet the 
 narrator of them with equal wonders, which they man- 
 ^ ufacture to suit the occasion. To give a specimen : we 
 remember one night to have tried to explain these ad- 
 vancements to an old Mexican of some eighty winters, 
 
THE MAN WnO HAD SEEN "ADAM." 289 
 
 while we were the guest of his house. He Ustened at- 
 tentively, but evidently could comprehend but little that 
 we said. We changed the subject, and began to descri])e 
 to him the great beasts of the forest, such as the lion, 
 the tiger, and the elephant, and soon found that we 
 liad struck the theme which pleased him. In reply, he 
 told us that in his younger days he himself was a fli- 
 mous hunter ; and that, on one occasion, while on the 
 chase, he met Adam, who, he informed us, was the 
 greatest hunter of his age. We were somewhat sur- 
 prised to hear this old man thus annihilate time and 
 space, but not more so than wdien we heard him relate 
 the conversation that passed between himself and 
 Adam. It was both short and sweet. The Mexican 
 demanded of Adam what was the particular game he 
 was seeking in these parts, and the reply was deer. He 
 said that he w ished to kill a few choice bucks, in order 
 to get their skins to clothe I^oe with, and hence he had 
 come to the Rocky Mountains. The flavor of this yarn 
 was so good, I attempted to try the old man on another 
 adventure, by asking him if he ever, by chance, in his 
 travels, met the Uvil One. Immediately he informed 
 me that at one time that gentleman lived in a salt 
 marsh, which is to be found in the valley of Smi Louis, 
 The object of his staying there was to watch a very 
 fine band of horses which he was raising near by. The 
 Indians and Mexicans one day determined to deprive 
 Satan of his stock, and arranged things accordingly ; 
 but, on coming upon the horses, they were surprised 
 to find that they could not overtake them, and that the 
 horses ran directly into the swamp and vanished by 
 easily sinking out of sight. While looking for a path 
 that led into this marsh, they were all at once scared 
 
200 FABULOUS STORIES^ 
 
 nearly out of their senses b}^ seeing the devil raise 
 himself up in the midst of the bog. The sequel was, 
 that the Mexicans and their Indian friends retreated 
 as fast as possible, and never stopped until they had 
 reached a place of safety. My companions became 
 vexed to think any man could perpetrate such a story 
 on travelers, who considered they knew a thing or two, 
 and commenced quizzing the old gentleman by asking 
 him what the Indians knew of Satan ; but the old Mex- 
 ican evaded the answer by taking down the little 
 wooden cross which hung on the wall of the room and 
 expressed the desire to confirm the truth of his story 
 b}^ swearing to it ; this, of course, was said to be en- 
 tirely unnecessary. From it we had learned the lesson 
 never to try to impress on the minds of the ignorant 
 too weighty matters. This is true w^ith the Indian 
 also ; for, he is incredulous of anything beyond the 
 grasp of his own mind, which fact is illustrated by the 
 following incident. An American had some business 
 to transact with a certain band of Indians, who were 
 celebrated as being very treacherous. Being a bold 
 man, he thought he would beard the lions in their 
 den, and accordingly traveled alone to where the band 
 was located ; but, instead of being received with open 
 arms, as he expected, he was made a prisoner, and 
 so held until it could be decided what was to be done 
 with him. At last, a council was formed, before which 
 he was to be tried. The first question asked by the 
 head chief was, " How do your white people get 
 gunpowder?" The reply was instantaneous: "We 
 sow it in a peculiar soil and it grows up like 
 wheat." This was responded to by a grunt from the 
 examiner. A pause ensued, when the chief looked 
 
 i 
 
KICKED OUT OF THE COUNTRY. 291 
 
 the captive full in the eyes, and thus addressed him : 
 " Know you, young man, that the Great Spirit came into 
 our camp this morning, and after resting a short time 
 he took yonder large hill and placed it on the top of its 
 fellow, and after leaving it there two hours, he returned 
 it to its former site. He then bid his Indian children 
 good-by. Young man, your tongue is split : one fork 
 is for telling lies, and the other is for telling truths." 
 This was enough to convince the white man that he had 
 made a mistake, and that if he had attempted to pre- 
 sume on too much knowledge, his scalp might soon be 
 dangling on some lodge-pole. The Indians admired the 
 brave and manly course he had pursued in coming to 
 them single-handed, and this, with the importance of 
 the business he came on, saved his life. 
 
 The California Mexicans were so remote from their 
 capital, that, although they acknowledged their alle- 
 giance to the general government, yet they were accus- 
 tomed, in many things, to act with great independence. 
 Whenever a governor was sent to them who would not 
 conform to their rules and regulations, or made himself 
 in the least obnoxious, he was immediately placed on 
 board ship, with orders to take himself out of the coun- 
 try as fast as possible, which he never failed to obey, 
 in order to save his life. Attempts were made by the 
 home department to make them suffer for these disobe- 
 diences of the general laws, but, in all of these contests, 
 the Californians came out victorious, and hence they 
 believed they were beyond the power of being van- 
 quished. They were taught differently by the Ameri- 
 cans. 
 
 These few cursory remarks will serve to show the 
 
 reader that General Kearney had no despicable foe to- 
 17 
 
292 KIT CARSON IN COMMAND. 
 
 overcome and subdue. His care now was to attend to 
 the wounded. There was no rest for his command that 
 night, as, during the hours of darkness, his men were 
 busy interring their dead and looking after the wants 
 of the sufferers. A sharp lookout, also, was kept on 
 the movements of the enemy, who were continually re- 
 ceiving re-inforcements. A council of war was held in 
 the American camp, when General Kearney, after 
 taking the advice of his remaining officers, decided to 
 move on early in the morning, with the hope of meet- 
 ing re-inforcements. He had dispatched three men as 
 bearers of dispatches to Commodore Stockton at San 
 Diego before the battle ; but, whether they had been 
 successful or not in reaching the Commodore, the 
 General did not know. Just before the late fight, they 
 had returned to within sight of their friends, when 
 they were taken prisoners by the Mexicans. The 
 order of the march on the following day was as fol- 
 lows: Kit Carson, with a command of twenty-five men, 
 proceeded in the advance, while the remainder of the 
 now very much crippled band of soldiers followed 
 after on the trail made by their guide. Steadily and 
 compactly these brave men moved forward, being con- 
 tinually in expectancy of a charge from the enemy, 
 who would show themselves, from time to time, on the 
 neighboring hills, and then again, for a time, disappear. 
 During the previous day, a Mexican lieutenant had his 
 horse shot from under him, and he himself had been 
 taken prisoner. On a favorable opportunity occurring, 
 General Kearney ordered the '^halt" to be sounded, 
 when, through a flag of truce, he asked a parley. It 
 being granted, he succeeded in making an exchange of 
 the Lieutenant for one of his expressmen. He gained 
 
A HARD FOUGHT BATTLE. 293 
 
 nothing by this, for the man stated that he and his 
 companions had found it impossible to reach their point 
 of destination, and hence they had turned back. Tlie 
 manoeuvring on the part of the Mexicans, which we 
 have alhided to as consisting of making temporary 
 stiinds on the hills, and then chjmging their positions as 
 the Americans drew near to them, continued for the 
 greater part of the day. Finall}^ as General Kearney 
 and his men were approaching the water, where they 
 intended to camp, and were not over five hundred 
 yards from it, down came the Mexicans, divided into 
 two separate commands, for the purpose of making a 
 charge. They were at first warmly received by the 
 Americans, who, after a time, were obliged to give way 
 to superior numbers ; but, in doing so, they retreated 
 in good order to a hill about two hundred yards to 
 their left. Here they halted, and determined to de- 
 cide the battle ; but the wary Mexicans, on seeing the 
 strength of the position taken by their foes, declined to 
 attack them, and drew off to a neighboring height, 
 from which they commenced and maintained a deadly 
 fire on the Americans. Captains Emery and Turner, 
 with all the available dragoons, were sent to dislodge 
 them. This they did in splendid style, after a sharp 
 encounter, and, when their companions saw them take 
 possession of this position. General Kearney, with all 
 his wounded and luggage-trains, joined them there. 
 Here a permanent resting-place, for the time being, 
 was made. In fact, the men had no other choice, as 
 they were now pretty effectually used up from fighting, 
 severe loss, and fatigue. The Americans found on this 
 hill, water barely sufficient for their own use, and were 
 oblio-ed to exclude the idea of sharino; it with their 
 
294 A DANGEROUS EXPEDITION. 
 
 animals. Although within sight of abundance of this 
 much-needed article, yet they did not dare to drive the 
 latter to it, for they were too weak to defend them from 
 the assaults of the enemy. The situation of General 
 Kearney's force was now critical in the extreme, as, be- 
 sides the dangers that surrounded him, the men were 
 reduced to living on their mules. That afternoon, 
 another council of war was called, at which desperate 
 efforts to be made for immediate relief were discussed. 
 When every spark of hope had almost died within them, 
 and when they were in a dilemma as to what still re- 
 mained for them to do. Kit Carson was found to act as 
 the reader has previously seen him act to parties almost 
 similarly situated — the right man in the right place. 
 Rising to his feet, he addressed a few simple words to 
 those present, saying that he was willing to make the 
 attempt of creeping through the Mexican lines. Should 
 he succeed, he pledged his word that he could carry in- 
 formation to Commodore Stockton at San Diego, and 
 thus bring them succor. No sooner had he made this 
 proposition than he was seconded by Lieutenant Beale, 
 then of the United States Navy, who, equally as brave 
 and daring as Kit Carson, volunteered his services in 
 the undertaking. 
 
 This gentleman, from the time he first turned lands- 
 man up to the present date, has been adding fresh 
 laurels to his fame. His career in exploring new 
 routes across the great western girdle of prairies and 
 mountains is so well known, through his valuable and 
 interesting reports, as not to require recapitulation at 
 our hands. His life has been one series of rare adven- 
 tures, while to the scientific world, he has proved a 
 valuable acquisition. To the United States Govern- 
 
RUNNING THE ENEMY's LINES. 295 
 
 ment his services were inestimable, and, as an explorer, 
 he has but few equals. 
 
 When JefF. Davis was Secretary of War, acting under 
 orders Lieutenant Beale brought over some camels to 
 Texas, but they proved a failure. We believe Lieu- 
 tenant Beale is now the owner of a large and success- 
 ful ranche in California. 
 
 General Kearney at once accepted the noble and 
 generous offers of these two men, knowing that if he 
 waited until the following day and then attempted to 
 leave the hill, the consequences would be most disas- 
 trous ; for, in so doing, a sanguinary battle must cer- 
 tainly ensue, w^ith the chances greatly against him. 
 Having made the few preparations necessary. Kit Car- 
 son and Lieutenant Beale waited the setting in of night, 
 under the cover of which they had both resolved to 
 succeed in the performance of their mission or die in the 
 attempt. Having got well under way, and while stealth- 
 ily crawling over the rocks and brush, they found their 
 shoes would often, even with the greatest preventive 
 care being taken, strike against the various impedi- 
 ments to their progress and make sounds which might 
 lead to their detection. To avoid this they took them 
 off and pushed them under their belts. Slowly, but 
 surely, they evaded the vigilant guard of the Mexican 
 sentinels, who they found to be mounted and three rows 
 deep, evidently being determined not to be eluded. So 
 near would they often come to these Mexican sentinels, 
 that but a few yards would measure the distance between 
 them and their enemies, yet, with brave hearts they crept 
 along over the ground foot by foot; they were almost 
 safe beyond these barriers, when all their hopes came 
 near being dashed to pieces. This alarm was caused 
 
296 AGONIZING SUSPENSE. 
 
 by one of the sentinels riding up near to where they 
 were, dismounting from his horse and lighting, by his 
 flint and steel, his cigarette. On seeing this. Kit Car- 
 son, who was just ahead of Lieutenant Beale, pushed 
 back his foot and kicked softly his companion, as a sig- 
 nal for him to lie flat on the ground as he (Carson) was 
 doing. The Mexican was some time, being apparently 
 very much at his leisure, in lighting his cigaretto ; and, 
 during these moments of suspense, so quietly did Kit Car- 
 son and his companion lie on the ground, that Carson said, 
 and always after affirmed, that he could distinctly hear 
 Lieutenant Beale's heart pulsate. Who can describe 
 the agony of mind to which these brave hearts were 
 subjected during this severe trial. Everything — the 
 lives of their friends as well as their own — so hung on 
 chance, that they shuddered; not at the thought of 
 dying, but for fear they would fail in accomplishing 
 what was dearer to them than life, the rescue of the 
 brave men whose lives huno: on their success. After 
 quite a long time, the Mexican, as if guided by the 
 hand of Providence, mounted his horse and made off' in 
 a contrary direction from the one where these bold ad- 
 venturers were biding their time to accept either good, 
 if possible, or evil, if necessary, from the wheel of for- 
 tune. For a distance of about two miles. Kit Carson 
 and Lieutenant Beale thus worked along on their hands 
 and knees. Continually, during this time, Kit Carson's 
 eagle eye was penetrating through the darkness, ever 
 on the alert to discover whatever obstacle might pre- 
 sent itself on which was stamped the least appearance 
 of danger. Having passed the last visible image in 
 the shape of a sentinel and left the lines behind them 
 at a suitable distance, both men regained their feet, 
 
TERRIBLE SUFFERING. 297 
 
 and once more breathed freely. Their first thought 
 was to look for their shoes, but, alas, they were gone. 
 In the excitement of the journey, they had not given 
 them a thought since depositing them beneath their 
 belts. Hardly a word had hitherto passed between 
 these two companions in danger, but now they spoke 
 hurriedly and congratulated each other on the success 
 that so far had attended them, and thanked God in 
 their hearts that He had so mercifully aided them. 
 There was no time for delay, as they w^ere by no 
 means yet free from danger, though they thought that 
 the worst was over. Kit Carson was familiar with the 
 country, and well knew the necessity of avoiding, for 
 fear of being discovered, all the well trodden trails and 
 roads w^hich lead to San Diego, everyone of which was 
 closely watched by the enemy. He chose a circuitous 
 route, over rocks, hills and wild lands. The soil was 
 lined with the prickly pear, the thorns of which were 
 penetrating, at almost every step, deep into their bare 
 feet, which, owing to the darkness and thickness of the 
 plants, they could not avoid. The town of San Diego 
 was located many miles in a straight line from the 
 point from w^ience they had started, but, by the round- 
 about route they were obliged to travel, this distance 
 was much lengthened. All the following day they 
 continued their tramp and made as much progress as 
 possible. Their mental excitement kept them in good 
 spirits, though, from previous fatigue, the want of food 
 during this time, and by the rapid pace at which they 
 were traveling, they were putting their physical powers 
 to their full test. Another night closed in around them, 
 yet " ONWARD " was their watchword, for they thought 
 not of rest while those behind them were in such im- 
 
298 THEIR TRIALS ENDED. 
 
 minent peril. Kit Carson's only compass was his eye, 
 which served him so well that soon the dark outlines of 
 the houses of San Diego could just be discerned. Both 
 men were ready to leap with joy. They were challenged 
 by the American sentinels about the town, and answered 
 in pure English, " Friends," which same English was un- 
 mistakable proof to the guard from whence they came. 
 On stating their important business, they were con- 
 ducted into the presence of Commodore Stockton, to 
 whom they related what we have tried to describe. 
 Commodore Stockton, with his usual promptitude, imme- 
 diately detailed a command of about one hundred and 
 seventy men to make forced marches in order to reach 
 and relieve their besieged countrymen. With as much 
 dispatch as possible, this force set out, taking with 
 them a piece of heavy ordnance, which, for want of 
 animals, the men themselves were obliged to draw, by 
 attaching ropes to it. Kit Carson did not return with 
 them, for it was considered that he had seen service 
 enough for the present; besides, his feet were badly 
 swollen and inflamed from the rough usage they had 
 recently been obliged to submit to. He graphically 
 described the position of General Kearney, so that the 
 relief party could have no difficulty in finding him. 
 He remained to recruit in San Diego ; though, had the 
 Commodore expressed the least wish to have Kit Car- 
 son return, every man who knows him can bear wit- 
 ness with me that he would have been the last person 
 to object, so long as there was life in his body. Unused 
 then to such hardships and mental excitements on land, 
 as was his more experienced companion. Lieutenant 
 Beale, from the trials of the service performed, became 
 partially deranged; and for treatment, was sent on 
 
LIEUTENANT BEALE DERANGED. 299 
 
 board the frigate Congress, which ship lay in the har- 
 bor, being one of the vessels attached to the Commo- 
 dore's fleet. Two long years elapsed before the gallant 
 Lieutenant fully recovered from the effects of this 
 adventure, which, for the bravery and imselfishness 
 evinced in its planning, and the boldness with which 
 it was carried out, without mentioning the good results 
 it produced, was not excelled by any one feat performed 
 during the Mexican War. Beftter than all, had these 
 two men known previously the poor rewards w hich were 
 afterwards to be bestowed upon them by their govern- 
 ment for this heroic deed, I hesitate not in saying, that 
 it w^ould have had no effect in changing their purpose. 
 The re-inforcements sent out to meet General Kearney, 
 by traveling both by day and night, soon reached and 
 released him, without coming in contact with the enemy. 
 They kept a bright lookout and w^ere early apprised, 
 through their spies, of w^iat was transpiring among the 
 Americans; hence, as the naval brigade drew near, they 
 retreated. The road being now clear. General Kear- 
 ney, with his soldiers and marines, marched on to San 
 Diego, where his wounded men were comfortably 
 housed and received the attentions of skillful surgeons. 
 
300 THE CAPTUEE OF LOS ANGELOS. 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 A Command of Six Hundred Men is sent against Los Angelos — The 
 Mexican Army evacuates the Town — Its Capture — Rumors of an 
 Attack to be made on Fremont's Command — The Mexicans surrender 
 — The Winter Quarters — Kit Carson is ordered to carry Dispatches 
 overland to Washington — Lieutenant Beale accompanies him — A Night 
 Attack made by the Indians — Arrival in the United States — Kit Car- 
 son's Introduction to Colonel Benton and Mrs. Fremont — Hospitality 
 offered to him at Washington — Kit Carson receives the Appointment 
 of Lieutenant in the Rifle Corps of the United States Army from 
 President Polk — He is ordered to Carry Dispatches to California — The 
 Journey — A Brush with the Camanche Indians — Arrival at Santa Fe 
 — More Trouble with Hostile Indians — Arrival at Los Angelos — Dis- 
 patches delivered — Kit Carson is Assigned to do Duty with the Dra- 
 goons—Is ordered to Guard Tajon Pass — The Winter spent there- 
 Is ordered again to Carry Dispatches to Washington — The Journey 
 and its Adventures — The Return to New Mexico. 
 
 One month elapsed before the forces of the United 
 States that were concentrated at San Diego were en- 
 tirely recruited, and in fine trim for taking the field 
 again. At the exjDiration of this time, a command of 
 six hundred men was detailed for the purpose of captur- 
 ing Los Angelos. The commanding officers of this 
 force were General Kearney and Commodore Stockton. 
 At Los Angelos was assembled the main strength of the 
 Mexicans then in California ; the number of their fight- 
 ins: men was about seven hundred. Towards this town 
 the Americans took up their line of march, and, in the 
 course of a few days, they arrived within fifteen miles 
 of it. The Mexican forces had taken a strong position 
 
IN WINTER QUARTEIiS. 301 
 
 on a hill, near by which they had pitched their tents 
 and strongly fortified their camp. Between the Ameri- 
 cans' and the enemy's camp ran a small river. It was 
 decided to postpone the attack until the following day. 
 Early the next morning, General Kearney ordered two 
 pieces of artillery to be brought to bear upon the 
 Mexican position. The guns were so well and success- 
 fully served, that the Mexicans were forced to break 
 up their camp. As soon as this state of things became 
 apparent, General Kearney and Commodore Stockton 
 crossed the river and marched on the town. On enter- 
 ing Los Angelos, they found that it had been evacuated 
 by the Mexicans, and that only a few stragglers re- 
 mained in or near the place. From some of these they 
 learned that the retreating army had gone to attack 
 Colonel Fremont, who, with a force of four hundred 
 Americans collected in Monterey, was also on the maich 
 for Los Angelos. It turned out afterwards that the 
 Mexicans succeeded in finding Colonel Fremont, but, 
 for unknown reasons, failed to give him battle, as they 
 had boasted they would ; but, instead, they gave him 
 the preference over the other American commanders 
 by surrendering to him. Colonel Fremont continued 
 his journey, and finally reached Los Angelos, where he 
 and all the officers and men heretofore spoken of as 
 engaged in this campaign, rested for the winter, and 
 managed to pass the time very agreeably, considering 
 their remote position. Carson, who had, for a great 
 length of time, been rendering valuable services to 
 Kearney, rejoined Fremont, when that officer arrived 
 in town, and once more enrolled himself on his old 
 commander's muster roll. 
 
 We have said that the cold and dreary winter days 
 
302 THE GREEN-EYED MONSTER. 
 
 were passed at Los Angelos as agreeably and happily 
 as the circumstances of the case would permit. This is 
 only true to a certain extent. It was at Los Angelos, 
 and during this winter, that the seeds of discord were 
 first sown between the rival commanders, and the j)lot 
 carefully laid, which finally led to Colonel Fremont's 
 court-martial. Rank, with its green-eyed monster, 
 jealousy, which is ever watching with a restless and 
 caustic determination to snatch from the subaltern his 
 hard-earned laurels, was actively at work during these 
 winter months. By the programme, cut and dried, the 
 ambitious young soldier, who was nobly breasting the 
 conflicts against the enemies of his country, was to be 
 summarily put down, and his career quickly guillotined. 
 These ungenerous plans had their birth and were care- 
 fully fostered at Los Angelos ; but, the wise decrees of 
 the American people, ever just in the cause of truth, 
 although tardy, came at last to the rescue, and stamped 
 the course with its approval and complete endorsement 
 which had led the bold Explorer to unfurl the standard 
 of his country over the modern El Dorado. In this view 
 the course of the Mexican forces at Los Angelos, in sur- 
 rendering their swords to Colonel Fremont, becomes 
 significant. A brave though fallen enemy, seldom fails 
 to admire a heroic, chivalrous and discreet victor. The 
 choice here plainly indicated between Colonel Fremont 
 and General Kearney, we repeat, is sufficiently signifi- 
 cant. In Colonel Fremont the fallen chieftains of the 
 brave Californian-Mexicans discerned all the qualities 
 which make up true nobility of character. Many of 
 the men under him were well known to the Mexicans 
 as being upright, honorable and generous. For many 
 years they had lived among them. Hence we discover 
 
POPULARITY OF FREMONT. 303 
 
 the reason of their preference in laying down their 
 arms in their presence. 
 
 Kit Carson took no active part in these unhappy dif- 
 ferences, but, his simple action in leaving General 
 Kearney's command and reenlisting under his old 
 commander shows phiinly, to a discerning public, that 
 he could not be alienated from his friend by acts of 
 injustice. It also spoke more significantly than words 
 that he adjudged his friend to have performed in be- 
 half of his country meritorious actions and great ser- 
 vice. Such was Kit Carson's view ; and no man was 
 capable of forming a better judgment in the premises 
 than he. As an occupant of an inferior rank, he then 
 kept his counsel to himself, until the time at last ar- 
 rived w^hen he could fully and appropriately express 
 his opinion, though that opinion he Avas well aware had 
 been rendered entirely unnecessary by the honorable 
 mention since attached to the name of Fremont, by the 
 highest officer in the American service, by the recom- 
 mendation to the President of the officers of the court 
 to commute the sentence, and by the President of the 
 United States in appointing, unsolicited, the court-mar- 
 tialed Conqueror of California to the high and important 
 trust of commissioner to run the boundary line between 
 the United States and Mexico, and fnially by the spon- 
 taneous outburst of enthusiasm which greeted the name 
 of John C. Fremont, from around the firesides of the 
 American people, when his name was placed at the 
 head of one of the great political parties of the nation. 
 
 It is not for or ao;ainst reu:ulations that these remarks 
 are directed. The transactions with which they deal 
 have not been forgotten. They are recorded as his- 
 torical facts, and, as such, are always open for investi- 
 
304 CARSON AND LIEUTENANT BEALE. 
 
 gdtion or deductions. In the month of March, 1847, 
 Kit Carson was ordered to carry important dispatches 
 to the War Department at Washington. Lieutenant 
 Beale, who was still a great invalid, was permitted to 
 accompany him. In order to show the regard which 
 Kit Carson entertained for this brave officer, and also 
 to portray to the reader the goodness of heart which 
 has ever been the actuating impulse in all of Kit Car- 
 son's actions, we will give his own w^ords in relating 
 this part of his adventures : " Lieutenant Beale went 
 with me as bearer of dispatches intended for the Navy 
 Department. During the first twenty days of our 
 journey, he was so weak that I had to lift him on and 
 off his ridino; animal. I did not think for some time 
 that he could live ; but I bestowed as much care and 
 attention on him as any one could have done under the 
 circumstances. Before the flxtiiruino- and dani^erous 
 part of our route was passed over, he had so far re- 
 covered as to be able to take care of himself For my 
 attention (which was only my duty) to my friend, I 
 was doubly repaid by the kindness shown to me by his 
 family while I staid in Washington, which was more 
 than I had any reason for expecting, and which will 
 never be forgotten by me." On the river Gila, Kit 
 Carson's party was attacked by Indians during the 
 night, while they were encamped. These savages 
 threw a good round number of arrows into the midst 
 of his men, which, however, did no damage, as, early 
 in the commencement of the assault, he had directed 
 them to hold up before them their pack-saddles, behind 
 which they could pretty securely conceal themselves 
 while lying upon the ground. He also directed the 
 men not to talk, lest they should indicate their posi- 
 
KIT CARSON IN" WASniNGTON". 305 
 
 tions. It was very dark, and the Indians, from the 
 above precautions being taken, were frustrated in their 
 pLans. Ilis men lay very still ; and, having previously 
 received the order so to do, they awaited the near ap- 
 proach of the red men, when they were to use their 
 rifles as clubs. The reason which made this Latter 
 command best was, because no man could see to shoot ; 
 hence, Avere they to fire at random, they would only 
 expend their ammunition, a loss they were in no situa- 
 tion to sustain. However, the Indians became weary 
 of their shooting after a few hours, and did not hazard 
 a close attack, but went away to parts unknown. 
 
 Kit Carson and Lieutenant Beale arrived at Wash- 
 ington in the following June, having accomplished their 
 journey overland, a distance of nearly 4,000 miles, in 
 about three months, a record which shows that they 
 had not been idle while on the route. With the ex- 
 ception of the Indian attack sustained on the Gila, they 
 were not again annoyed by the red men, although over 
 the vast tract of wild territory which they had traversed 
 there roam thousands of savages who often, for the 
 slightest pretext, and frequently without any reason 
 whatever, will murder the unsuspecting traveler, as it 
 chances to please them. Hence, to accomplish this 
 journey, it was not only necessary to know the direc- 
 tion to shape their course, but also to be familiar with 
 the haunts and habits of these various tribes, in order 
 to avoid them. All of this knowledge Kit Carson, the 
 mainspring of this little party, was well possessed of, 
 and, as a matter of business, guided himself and men 
 in a direct and safe course. 
 
 The hardships and privations of this trip were trivial 
 affairs when compared to most of Kit Carson's previous 
 
306 WATCHFULNESS IN TIME OF DANGER. 
 
 adventures, and not considered by him as worthy of 
 mention. Indeed, Kit Carson was so hardened in all 
 kinds of vicissitudes, that a man, in his eyes, must have 
 stood on the brink of death, before he had seen much real 
 suffering ; but, probably, if the reader had been one of 
 the members of this party, he would, unless equally 
 experienced in Western frontier life, have considered 
 that he had seen something of the world, and the rough 
 side of it at that. 
 
 It requires no small amount of courage and deter- 
 mination to start out with but a handful of men to 
 perform the difficult and dangerous task of threading 
 the American continent from tide to tide, even at the 
 present epoch ; but, twenty-five years ago, there were 
 few men living who had ever performed or were able 
 to perform the feat at all, much less with the certainty 
 and speed which lay within the power and experience 
 possessed by Kit Carson. In describing these trips, 
 while dictating this book, he spoke of them as lightly 
 as a man would after making a journey of a few 
 hundred miles in a railroad car. He seemed to have 
 acted with the idea that this duty was expected of him, 
 and it required but the official orders to send him 
 bounding over the country, without regard to obstacles 
 or dangers. His final object was his destination, which, 
 on reaching, he was ready to quit at a moment's w^arn- 
 ing, with as much sang froid as a Kussian courier pos- 
 sesses when doing his master's bidding ; yet, so cautious 
 was he when traveling, that, at first, to a new com- 
 panion, he often appeared to be wanting in courage. 
 Not a bush, a tree, a rock, or any other hiding-place on 
 his path, escaped his notice. Towards the heavens, in 
 search of smoke ascending from, or crows, as they hover 
 
A GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT. 307 
 
 about Indian encampments which are deserted, or for 
 ravens, and back again to the earth, on the lookout 
 for moccasin or horse-tracks, his eyes were continually 
 turnino;. There was a nervous action about the man 
 that showed him ever alive to meet and be ready for 
 any emergency. These traits were sure to instill con- 
 fidence in his followers. 
 
 On starting from Los Angelos, Kit Carson took but 
 a few rations of provisions wdtli him, as he could not 
 burden the few animals he had, too heavily ; hence, he 
 was compelled to depend on the rifle and the chances 
 of meeting with game. This, of course, is always an 
 uncertain mode of supporting life, and, consequently, 
 it not unfrequently happened that the party were out 
 of food and went fasting; yet, not a murmur was heard. 
 On they sped, in the hopes of reaching their homes and 
 firesides, where kind friends w^ere awaiting them, and 
 where their cares and troubles would be buried in the 
 past, and appear like dreams. In the breast of the 
 leader of this expedition there was throbbing a heart 
 that was anxious to do its duty Avell, for he w^as ap- 
 proaching, not his fiimily circle, but instead, the fire- 
 side of strangers to whom he was only known by name. 
 Yet, in the common cause of his country's honor, he 
 recognized in every American with whom he came in 
 contact his true friend, and therefore he, also, was very 
 happy as he neared Washington. There he looked 
 confidently forward to hear the words: "AYell done, 
 thou good and faithful servant." At St. Louis, Kit 
 Carson had the honor of an introduction to the Hon. 
 Thomas H. Benton, who was greatly interested in him, 
 and who kindly invited him to make his house in 
 
 Washington his home during his stay there. Of this 
 18 
 
308 CARSON MEETS MRS. FREMONT. 
 
 invitation Kit Carson availed himself, and afterward 
 considered that he was very fortunate in doing so, for 
 the best of everything was heaped upon him, while he 
 enjoyed the satisfaction of meeting and conversing with 
 the great men of his country. 
 
 Mrs. John C. Fremont, daughter of Colonel Benton, 
 and wife of the distinguished explorer, was in attend- 
 ance at the railroad depot when the train of cars in 
 which Kit Carson was traveling arrived in Washington. 
 It was quite late in the evening when he reached the 
 terminus of his journey; yet, notwithstanding this. Kit 
 had hardly landed on the platform of the depot, before 
 he was addressed by a lady who said that she knew 
 him from her husband's descriptions of him, and that 
 he must accept the hospitalities of her father's house. 
 
 The distinguished father-in-law of John C. Fremont 
 became, from the time of their first meeting in St. 
 Louis, the warm friend and patron of Kit Carson ; 
 and, up to the time of his death, he had no cause to 
 change his first impressions of him. There was not a 
 friendly favor within his power which w^ould not have 
 been freely given, had it been asked. It is one thing 
 to make a friend, but another to keep him ; and those 
 who knew the true character of Mr. Benton are cog- 
 nizant of the fact that he was not easily won ; but, 
 when gained, that he was true as steel, as is beauti- 
 fully illustrated by the able and devoted manner in 
 which he stood by Gen. Andrew Jack.son. 
 
 It is indeed a valuable possession to know that one 
 has friends who cannot be bought by wealth or other 
 sordid attractions ; men who can discern, through 
 the rough garb of the working as well as thinking 
 man, those noble qualities which place them on a par. 
 
RECEPTION IX WASIIIXGTOX. 309 
 
 This acquisition Kit Carson held. He easily made a 
 friend, and never deserted him ; hence, those ^vith 
 whom he came in contact, who were worthy of this 
 name, were enrolled on his side ; and he seldom had 
 occasion to call a man his enemy. Kit Carson was so 
 embarrassed and overcome by the expressions of kind- 
 ness and hospitality which greeted his first arrival at 
 Washington, that he could hardly essay a reply; and 
 yet, he w\as almost too happy at the opportunity pre- 
 sented of accepting Mrs. Fremont's invitation. If 
 there was anything wanted to cement Carson more 
 firmly in his friendship and admiration for Colonel Fre- 
 mont, it was thus to know his accomplished and gifted 
 lady. The situation of Jessie Fremont has often been 
 comparable with that of the noble-hearted Lady Frank- 
 lin. Again and again has she been compelled to part 
 from her husband when he started out to battle in the 
 cause of science, and in the words of the poet, she seem- 
 ingly said : 
 
 ** Go, wondrous creature ! mount where science guides ; 
 Go, measure earth, weigh air, and state the tides." 
 
 Kit Carson remained some time in Washington ; but 
 had it not been for the many tokens of kindness which 
 he there received, he would have grown weary of 
 the restraints of civilization. As it was, he continually 
 longed to be once more in the mountains and prairies. 
 His desire, in time, was granted ; for, having received 
 the appointment of lieutenant in the ritle corps of the 
 United States army from President Polk, he was or- 
 dered, as bearer of dispatches, to return across the 
 continent from whence he had but recently come. 
 Lieutenant Beale had intended to return with him, but 
 
310 RETUr.X TO XEW MEXICO. 
 
 did not eventually proceed any further than St. Louis. 
 There he became too ill to continue on the journey. 
 After arriving at Fort Leavenworth, Kit Carson was 
 furnished with an escort of fifty men, who w^ere volun- 
 teers in the war which was then being carried on against 
 Mexico. With his usual promptness and dispatch, Kit 
 Carson was soon under way crossing the plains. At 
 Leavenworth he had learned that the Comanche In- 
 dians were at war with the whites. As he knew them 
 to be a numerous and treacherous tribe, he had taken 
 this strong escort in order to give them battle, if they 
 should be anxious for it. However, he arrived at a 
 place called the "Point of Rocks," w4iich is not far from 
 the Rocky Mountains, and on their east side, without 
 discovering any signs of these Indians. At this place 
 they made their appearance. 
 
 The " Point of Rocks" appear to have been a favorite 
 place of resort for the Indians of the plains. It is noto- 
 rious as being one of the most dangerous places for the 
 traveler in all the fir West. It is a series of continu- 
 ous hills, which project out on the prairies in bold re- 
 lief. They end abruptly in a mass of rocks, out of 
 which gushes a cold and refreshing spring, which is the 
 main attraction about the place. The road winds about 
 near this point, and, therefore, it was a chosen spot for 
 the Indians to lurk, in order to catch the unwary pil- 
 grim. Several encounters with the savages have taken 
 place here, which has caused it to be pointed out as 
 the scene of bloody tragedies, thereby making it quite 
 historical. The Indians themselves have made this 
 spot the stage on which has ])cen enacted several des- 
 perate battles. In making the journey to Santa Fe, 
 when these rocks arc passed, the traveler counts his 
 
SKIRMISH WITH COMAXCIIES. 311 
 
 march as being drawn to a close. Government troops 
 on the lookout for Indians on the plains, rarely fail, 
 when they come from New Mexico, to give this place a 
 visit. 
 
 Kit Carson had arrived at the place with his escort, 
 and was about establishing his camp. His men were 
 under orders to keep a vigilant watch for Indians, while 
 Kit Carson's restless eye was searching the country in 
 every direction to discover their signs. About three 
 hundred yards distant he discovered white men, and 
 found there was encamped a company of United States 
 volunteers, under the command of Lieutenant Mulony. 
 With this company was a large train of wagons bound 
 for New Mexico. Kit Carson ordered his men to go 
 into camp. The night passed by without any signs of 
 the Indians; but, early in the morning of the subse- 
 quent day, as Lieutenant Mulony's men were leading 
 out their animals to picket them in fresh grass, the 
 savages suddenly made their appearance and began an 
 attack upon the picketing party, capturing all their 
 cattle and twenty-six horses. Mulony's men had left 
 their rifles in camp, and, therefore, in order to escape be- 
 ing killed, they retreated to their wagons. The cattle in 
 the confusion wdiich ensued, turned and came towards 
 Kit Carson's camp. He and his men, who w^ere in- 
 stantly on the alert, made an unexpected charge upon 
 the Indians and recaptured the oxen. During the 
 skirmish which ensued, two of his men dismounted, in 
 order to be more certain of a deliberate aim, but, in so 
 doing, they accidentally let their own horses go loose, 
 and lost them, as they ran away w^ith those that were 
 being stampeded by the red men. 
 
 In this affair three of the volunteers were wounded. 
 
312 DISAPPOINTED BUFFALO nU^^TERS. 
 
 With the two horses lost by Kit Carson's men, twenty- 
 eight riding animals, belonging to the United States 
 government, were stolen by this band of Comanches. 
 But, had it not been for Kit Carson and his men, Lieu- 
 tenant Mulony would have lost his cattle likewise. 
 
 Young oxen, when stampeded, are sometimes lost 
 by the Indians. When not killed by wolves they 
 usually join w^ith the herds of buffalo and soon become 
 wdld. In this state, they are represented as being quite 
 fleet of foot. More generally they flill a prey to the 
 wolves, and, sometimes, again into the hands of the 
 savages. A party was crossing the plains in the year 
 1854; the advance of the party sent back word that 
 the first buffalo was in sight. Many arnateur hunters 
 eagerly volunteered for the chase, and soon quite a 
 squad of men were traveling at a good round gallop 
 towards the supposed game. On approaching the 
 game, it was found to be an old lame ox, which had 
 been turned out by some caravan to die. The disap- 
 pointment which prevailed in this crowd of neophyte 
 hunters, on discovering this mistake, can be better im- 
 agined than described. The poor ox, apparently, had 
 no idea of giving up the ghost quite yet. He was in 
 good health and spirits, and showed signs of being 
 pleased to see a white man again. The little birds of 
 the prairies had used him as a perch. This office he 
 appeared quite accustomed to perform, for he did not 
 disturb the flock that was then occupying his back. 
 How he had escaped the wolves is a miracle. 
 
 From signs discovered after the Indians had de- 
 camped, it became evident that several of the thieves 
 had been mortally wounded ; but, being tied on their 
 horses, they were carried out of sight before they died. 
 
COMANCHE HOllSEMANSniP. 313 
 
 This is a fair sample of many of the Indian fights which 
 have occurred, and are yet not mifrequent, on the 
 prairies ; the object of the savages is to phnider, there- 
 fore an luiii-uarded moment is selected for their attacks. 
 In this instance, by the time the ^vhites had got their 
 fire-arms and men ready to commence the contest, the 
 Indians had perpetrated their intended assault and 
 were off. 
 
 The Comanches are excelled by no men in the world 
 in their horsemanship, not excepting the flimous Cos- 
 sacks of Europe. The level prairies are beautiful fields 
 for them to act on. It is in a skirmish similar to the 
 one we have endeavored to describe, that they put 
 these qualifications to the test. The arena where 
 these scenes are enacted is a very undesirable place 
 for a mere spectator. Kit Carson and party resumed 
 their march the same- day, and arrived safely at Santa 
 Fe, without meeting wnth any other adventures. At 
 this town he left his escort of fifty volunteers, and 
 hired sixteen other men with which to perform the 
 remainder of his journey. This was in obedience to 
 the orders he had received at Fort Leavenworth. Pur- 
 suing his route on Muddy Creek, a tributary of Virgin 
 River, he came upon a village of some three hundred 
 Indians, so suddenly, as his route twisted about among 
 the hills, that he had to make a bold matter of it, and 
 go into camp, for the purpose of having a " talk." Kit 
 Carson had learned some time before that these very 
 red men had massacred seven Americans. For this 
 reason he determined not to trust them, even if they 
 professed friendship. The Indians wished to come into 
 his camp, but this privilege he would by no means 
 grant to them. He posted his men and selected a 
 
314 A CASE REQUiniXG XEKTE. 
 
 place so that he himself could talk, and at the same 
 time let them see that if the least hostile demonstration 
 was made by their side, it would be answered by a volley 
 of bullets from the rifles of the white men. Kit Carson 
 haranerued them and informed them that he knew of 
 the murders they had committed on his people during 
 the past year. He told them that they bore a treach- 
 erous character and could not be treated as friends, 
 and wound up his discourse by adding, that he would 
 not allow himself to be deceived, for he knew that 
 their only object in gaining admission into his camp 
 was to repeat their bloody acts. He now gave them 
 a limited period of time in which to be off, at the ex- 
 piration of which, several lounged about, apparently 
 doubting his words. He now gave the order to tire. 
 In consequence, a few shots were aimed at them, which 
 killed one and wounded three or four others. This had 
 the tendency to hurry the movements of the remain- 
 der, w^ho retired from the dangerous proximity to his 
 camp. This was a case which required some nerve 
 and great experience in the commander of the little 
 party. Nothing but the personal courage and prompt- 
 ness of Kit Carson saved his command. The success 
 of fifteen men against three hundred Indians in this 
 manner, is chiefly due to their commander. 
 
 The party proceeded on their journey, but soon were 
 troubled for food. Having used up all the game they 
 coidd find, they were obliged to kill two mules, on 
 which they lived until they arrived at Los Angelos. 
 Kit Carson, finding that the officers to whom he was 
 ordered to deliver his dispatches were at Monterey, 
 journeyed thither, and liaving reached that town in 
 safety, gave the documents to Colonel Mason, then of 
 
LIEUTENANT IN UNITED STATES ARMY. 317 
 
 the First Ecgiinent of United States dragoons, who 
 was in connnand. Obeying orders, Kit Carson, now an 
 acting lieutenant in tlie United States army, returned 
 to Los Angelos and was assigned to duty in the com- 
 pany of United States dragoons commanded by Captain 
 Smith. Kit was allowed little time to recruit, but his 
 restless disposition did not ask, nor his habits require 
 it ; consequently, he remained at Los Angelos only a 
 short period. With a command of twenty-five dragoons, 
 he was ordered to proceed to Tajon Pass, the main outlet 
 through which hostile Indians went out of California, 
 bearing the proceeds of their incursions, such as cattle, 
 horses, sheep and captives. Kit Carson's duty in this 
 place Avas to intercept the Indians and examine their 
 papers and cargoes. He spent the winter in doing 
 much good in this service. In the spring, he was again 
 ordered to proceed overland to Washington, with dis- 
 patches. An escort being furnished him, he was soon 
 under way, and had reached Grand River without en- 
 countering any serious difficulty. At this place an 
 accident happened to his party while crossing the river 
 on rafts. 
 
 During the early part of summer, the fording of 
 streams which have their source in the Rocky Moun- 
 tains is no safe or easy task. When the sun and the 
 warm south winds begin to melt the immense piles of 
 snow and ice in the mountains, the water comes tumblino* 
 down in torrents ; and, having overflowed the rivers' 
 banks, floods the adjacent country. By this means, 
 new gullies and ravines are continually forming, which, 
 when the melting process ceases, are converted into 
 dry beds. With this rush of angry water, large rocks 
 and masses of earth are swept from their natural seat, 
 
318 DANGEROUS MOUNTAIN STREAMS. 
 
 leaving a wreck behind tliat is fearfully grand to be- 
 hold. The roaring of these torrents, as they come leap- 
 ing past and over every obstacle, resembles a low, 
 rumblhig thunder, which is reechoed through the deep 
 forests and canons. Sometimes travelers are compelled 
 to wait weeks before these rivers fall sufficiently to 
 allow a safe transit. Heavy rains have the same effect 
 to enlarge them ; and, in one instance, a body of sol- 
 diers, while crossing the plains, were overtaken by 
 these rains, which fell with such rapidity and in such 
 quantity as to make the level prairies almost one sheet 
 of water, while every ravine was converted into a river, 
 swift and deep. To cross these, the men were obliged 
 to use their best exertions with very poor means to 
 guard against loss; and, even with the best care, one 
 man was drowned, while several mules shared the same 
 fate. 
 
 This accident crippled the resources of Kit Carson's 
 party very much, and caused them afterwards great 
 suffering. The accident occurred something after the 
 following manner. One division of the men, with their 
 leader as a companion, had constructed a float of logs, 
 on which tliey had crossed the stream in safety ; but 
 the second branch of the party, under charge of Lieu- 
 tenant Brewerton, then of the United States army, and 
 who was traveling in company with Kit Carson, were 
 not so successful with their raft ; for, no sooner did 
 they get it into the swift current than it became 
 unmanageable, and, finally, precipitated its contents, 
 wnong which were included several of the men and 
 their luggage, into the water. The wrecked men, with 
 great difficulty, saved their lives by swimming to the 
 shore from which they had started. The day was far 
 
WRECKED IN GRAND RIVER. 319 
 
 spent, and no attempt to succor them could be made 
 that evening ; so, in their semi-state of nudity, and 
 without the means of making a fire, they passed a 
 miserably cold night ; but, early the next morning, one 
 of their friends recrossed and carried them an axe, by 
 the aid of which a new raft was made, on wdiich they 
 embarked a second time, and were soon safe with their 
 companions. Among the very useful articles that were 
 lost by this mishap, there were several saddles and six 
 valuable rilles. What made this loss peculiarly un- 
 pleasant was, that they could not be replaced until the 
 party could reach the settlements. The owners of the 
 saddles were now in a sad plight, for, neither to the 
 rider or his horse is it a very pleasant prospect to 
 make a long journey without these useful articles. 
 After repairing their damages as best they could, they 
 struck out afresh. Settinp^ aside bungler and the suffer- 
 ing experienced from exposure to cold, they were not 
 again incommoded in any w ay until they had come to 
 the vicinity of the Mexican tow^ns. Here they met 
 several hundred Utah and Apache Indians. These 
 red-skins showed some w\arlike symptoms which Kit 
 Carson did not in the least flmcy ; but, to make the 
 best of his situation, he ordered his men to post them- 
 selves in a neighboring thicket and be ready to act on 
 the defensive. Kit Carson then informed the Indians 
 that they must keep at a proper distance, or otherwise 
 he would direct his men to fire into them. He told 
 them that if they were disposed to be friendly, wdiich 
 they professed to be, towards the wdiite men, they 
 could show it by leaving and not annoying his party, 
 wdio, being nearly naked and in a destitute condition, 
 could give them nothing. Evidently the savages saw 
 
320 kit's love for nis family. 
 
 this was true, and so did not hazard a fight, but de- 
 parted. Kit Carson traveled that night ten miles 
 further. It was late in the day when he again ven- 
 tured on the trail, but this distance was all that his 
 animals could accomplish without food and rest, for 
 they were flxtigued and poor. His object in thus 
 resuming his march was to separate himself and men 
 as far as he could from the Indians, fearing that they 
 might change their minds and conclude to attack him. 
 Being too weak, his party was in no condition for an 
 engagement. At the end of this distance, he for- 
 tunately met with a party of volunteers, who had been 
 out in search of these very savages, in order that they 
 might punish them for some rascality they had been 
 recently guilty of The next day Kit Carson reached 
 Taos, where he allowed himself a short respite for the 
 purpose of recruiting, and also to have the pleasure of 
 a visit to his family and friends. These were privileges 
 which, during his life in the mountains, had been seldom 
 granted to him, though his feelings of attachment for 
 relatives and intimate acquaintances are not exceeded 
 by those of any living man. Indeed, his love for his 
 children is imbounded. \Ye have several times heard 
 him assert, that if there was any one thing that could 
 make him a coward, it would be the thoughts of his 
 little ones. When his party had sufficiently recruited, 
 Kit Carson left Taos and proceeded to Santa Fe. At 
 this time^ Colonel Newby, of the Illinois Volunteers, 
 was in command of the United States forces stationed 
 there. This gentleman informed Kit Carson that his 
 appointment as lieutenant, made by President Polk, 
 was not confirmed by the United States Senate. Many 
 of Kit's friends, on hearing this, came to him and ad- 
 
KIT AS A MAX OF IIONOII. 321 
 
 vised him not to carry the dispatches any further, but, 
 instead, they counseled him to deliver them to the 
 commanding officer of the post he was at, advising him 
 that he was doing duty as an officer in the army and 
 3'et was not recognized by Government. The language 
 nsed by Kit Carson on this occasion, in reply to his 
 friends, is so much to his credit and is so like the man, 
 that everv American citizen ouf]:ht to know it. It w'as 
 as follows: "I w^as intrusted with these dispatches, 
 having been chosen in California, from whence I come, 
 as the most competent person to take them through 
 safely. I would try to fulfill this duty, even if I knew 
 it would cost me my life. It matters not to me, while 
 I am performing this service for my country, whether 
 I hold the rank of a lieutenant in the United States 
 army, or am known merely as an experienced moun- 
 taineer. I have gained some little honor and credit 
 for the manner in which I have always conducted my- 
 self when detailed on any special and important busi- 
 ness, and I would on no account now wish to forfeit the 
 good opinion formed of me by a majority of my country- 
 men because the United States Senate did not deem it 
 proper to confer on me an appointment which I never 
 solicited, and one which, had I been confirmed, I would 
 have resiii^ncd at the termination of the w^ir." 
 
 The reason why the wishes of the President were 
 not carried out by Congress in this instance, we know 
 not ; but, certain it is, that the lucky aspirant who 
 eventually received this office at the hands of the same 
 United States, had no credentials to present that could, 
 as far as merit was concerned, compare with those held 
 by Christopher Carson. It is fair to infer, that Kit 
 Carson had but few friends at court, though it cannot 
 
322 HOW KIT TAKES DISAPPOIXTMEXTS. 
 
 for one moment be supposed that his name was not 
 well known at Washington, when for five long j^ears he 
 had been the right-hand man of John C. Fremont in 
 his explorations. The privations and the hardships 
 which that commander and his guide willingly submit- 
 ted to during those j^ears, it is impossible to describe 
 through reports. The whole newspaper press of the 
 United States, together with several volumes of well- 
 written books, have attempted it, but all have failed in 
 giving a true picture of the reality. These things 
 availed nothing when brought in contact with political 
 moves ; and Kit Carson was doomed to go by the board. 
 He had, however, met, during his eventful life, with too 
 many disappointments to be much chagrined at this, 
 and we find him, soon afterwards, making inquiries in 
 relation to the state of feeling among the Indians who 
 inhabited the country through which he had to pass. 
 
 The appointment of civilians to the responsible du- 
 ties of a command in the United States army has, of 
 late years, become, in many instances, very unfortu- 
 nate. Perhaps it is this that has taught our legislators 
 a lesson. But there is a truth which lies above this 
 difficulty. The severe ordeal necessary to be gone 
 through with at West Point, in order to make military 
 men of the proper standard, has very naturally raised 
 a jealousy between these two classes of men. This is 
 very healthy for the country, as it stimulates each to 
 noble exertions. In order to make the army less se- 
 cluded, it is necessary to appoint a certain percentage 
 of men from the walks of private life, and therefore 
 the most meritorious should be selected. West Point 
 men, as a bodj^, are a great credit to our country; and, 
 as <a scientific corps, they cannot be surpassed ; but the 
 
KIT AGAIN" ON THE MARCH. 323 
 
 fact is incontrovertible that many, if not most of the 
 leading otTicers of the United States army, are self- 
 educated, and have risen to their exalted positions by 
 mitiring industry and distinguished services. For fron- 
 tier work, men, to be capable of taking command, are 
 required to have great experience in Indian strategy, 
 and to become accustomed to endure privations and vi- 
 cissitudes. These cannot be taught by schools or books. 
 For these positions, those are best fitted who have been 
 trained to the mountains from earliest bovhood, and 
 where is the man in North America who has battled in 
 this service longer or more successfully than Christo- 
 pher Carson ? But Kit Carson could see no reason why 
 the votes of the United States Senators, refusing to 
 confirm the President's efibrt to reward him for his ser- 
 vices to his country, should cause him for one moment 
 to swerve from his duty. He pocketed at once his dis- 
 appointment, and went to work. Colonel Newby in- 
 formed him that the Camanches had of late been very 
 hostile, and that they were then roaming in war par- 
 ties, numbering from two to three hundred, scattered 
 along the old Santa Fe road, on which their depreda- 
 tions had, so far, been mostly committed. On learn- 
 ing this, Kit Carson determined to make a trail of 
 his own, and endeavor thus to avoid them. He re- 
 duced the number of his escort to ten trusty followers. 
 With them, he returned to Taos, and after a halt there 
 of two days, once more was on the march. At first, he 
 traveled to the northward, until he reached a tract of 
 country which these Indians seldom visited ; then, 
 changing his route by compass, he struck the Bijoux 
 River, which is a tributary of the Platte River, and fol- 
 lowed it down stream. At about twenty-five miles 
 
324 KIT SETS OUT FOR WASniNGTOX. 
 
 from the moutli of the Bijoux, he quit that stream, and 
 struck out diagonally across the prairies, and soon 
 reached the Platte itself, down which he journeyed 
 to Fort Kearney. Here he again changed his course 
 for the Eepublican Fork. On leaving this last-named 
 stream, he traveled direct to Fort Leavenworth, finally 
 reaching that post with his men and animals in fine 
 condition, for the journey had been as pleasant as could 
 have been expected. Here he left his escort, and set 
 out alone for Washington. After reaching the land of 
 railroads and steamboats, he was but a few days in 
 bringing the latter part of his journey to an end. 
 Handing his dispatches to the proper authorities, Kit 
 Carson turned right about and made his way to New 
 Mexico, where he arrived in the month of October, 
 1848. 
 
 It will be seen, by following on a map the route 
 which Kit Carson planned on this occasion, that it was 
 very circuitous, and led him a great distance out of his 
 way. Indeed he was, at times, far beyond the roam- 
 ing grounds of the Camanches, but this was necessary. 
 He was not, however, free from danger, but was 
 obliged to be on the lookout for their allies, the 
 Kiowas, who are usually at war whenever the Caman- 
 che nation is. His trail led him through a country 
 which is celebrated as abounding in game, and also in 
 being well watered ; and last, but not least, the desid- 
 eratum of findmg grass of a good quality, wdienever he 
 desired it, was proved a valuable assistant on the march. 
 It may be well to mention here, that one of the most 
 curious of the phenomena of the plains, to the inex- 
 perienced traveler, are those mirages which, on every 
 clear day, are sure to meet and delude his eyes. So 
 
A GRAND SIGHT. 325 
 
 wonderful are these deceptions, that often the vision 
 leads one to believe he is beholding, in the distance, 
 a beautiful city which is located on the banks of some 
 attractive lake. The outlines of the palaces, the spires 
 of cathedrals, and even the lesser buildings themselves, 
 all surrounded with trees, bearing luxuriant and green 
 foliage, together form an imaginary picture which 
 throw^s into the background any of the realities which 
 are the work of man. The shading is oftentimes very 
 captivating, and on it the traveler can be entertained 
 for hours, until a change in the rays of light or inter- 
 vening clouds, or else by approaching the delusion 
 itself, the magic scene fades away. A mirage and a 
 prairie on fire, seen by night, the one a dehision, the 
 other a fearful reality, are two of the grandest sights 
 to be seen in the far West ; we might add, on the 
 American continent. 
 
 19 
 
326 DOMESTIC LIFE. 
 
 OHAPTEE XIII. 
 
 Kit Carson at his Home — The Apache Indians become Hostile — An Ex- 
 pedition sent against them — It is not Successful — Another is organ- 
 ized, with which Kit Carson goes as Guide — Two Indian Chiefs 
 captured — Other Incidents of the Trip — Colonel Beall attempts to force 
 the Indians to give up Mexican Captives — Two Thousand Savages on 
 the Arkansas River — The Visit to them — Kit Carson emigrates and 
 builds a Ranche at Rayado — Description of the Valley — The Massa- 
 cre of a Santa Fe Merchant — His AVife is made Prisoner — The Expe- 
 dition sent to rescue her — The Indians overtaken — Bad Counsel and 
 Management — The Commanding Officer "Wounded — Mrs. White's 
 Body found — Severe Snow Storm on the Plains — One Man frozen to 
 Death — Kit Carson returns to Rayado — The Occupation of a Farmer 
 resumed — The Apaches steal from the Settlers nearly all of their Ani- 
 mals — Kit Carson with thirteen others in Pursuit — The Surprise — A 
 running Fight — The Animals recovered — A gallant Sergeant and his 
 Fate — Kit Carson and Goodel go on a Trading Expedition to meet 
 California Emigrants at Fort Laramie — Humorous Adventures — The 
 Dangers that beset the Road to New Mexico — Hair-breadth Escape — 
 Arrival at Taos. 
 
 Being comfortably housed in liis own pleasant home 
 at Taos, Kit Carson made np his mind to treat himself 
 to a more lengthy stay there than he had for some 
 time enjoyed. While he was quietly enjoying the 
 pleasures of home, active operations were transpiring 
 about him, for the neighboring Indians had dug up the 
 tomahawk and buried the calumet, and were holding in 
 defiance the United States forces, wdiich had been sta- 
 tioned in New Mexico to protect its inhabitants. Col- 
 onel Beall was at that time commanding officer of the 
 district, and had established his head-quarters at Taos. 
 
DESCRIPTION OF THE APACUES. 327 
 
 The colonGl, soon «after assuming the command, being 
 a resolute man, saw that there was but one Avay to 
 deal with these Indians, and that was to bring them to 
 a strict account, and make them amenable for their 
 many crimes. This tribe of Apaches has given the 
 government of the United States almost as much 
 trouble as have the Seminoles in Florida, and I hesi- 
 tate not in saying, that before they are exterminated, 
 which is the only sure plan of making a peace with 
 them, they will have surpassed their red brethren of the 
 swamps of the South in the number and enormity of 
 their crimes. Before New Mexico came under the ju- 
 risdiction of the United States, the Apaches, for many 
 years, had committed all kinds of heinous offences 
 against the Mexicans ; and, for a period of ten years 
 after that event, these same savages w^ere continually 
 on the war path, notwithstanding military expeditions, 
 one after another, were organized and sent out against 
 them. Their mountain retreats are almost inaccessible 
 to white men, while the Indians, apparently, play about 
 in them like rabbits. The amount of physical endur- 
 ance and the length of the journeys these red men can 
 make, appear very astonishing to one not accustomed 
 to them. The Apaches, as an Indian race, are not 
 wanting in bravery, the best evidence of which state- 
 ment is, that nearly all their warriors die in hattle. 
 Their country is the healthiest in America. Besides 
 waging war against the whites and Mexicans, they 
 have their differences to settle with their neighboring 
 tribes, with whom they are punctilious in vindicating 
 their national honor. Colonel Beall commenced his 
 operations against these Indians by dispatching a jun- 
 ior officer, backed by a strong force, with orders to 
 
328 A SAVAGE V;AU CHIEF. 
 
 pursue, overtake, and chastise them. This expedition 
 started ; but, on coming to the mountains, the guides 
 reported that there was too much snow on them for 
 the command to pass through in safety ; so the under- 
 taking was given up, and the men were marched back 
 to Taos. 
 
 The most famous war chief of the Apaches, during 
 these troubles, was called by the Mexicans Chico Ve- 
 lasques, and his name, for many years, w^as a terror to 
 the surrounding country. His savage brutality knew 
 no bounds, and he was truly in his element, only when 
 he w^as tearing the bloody scalp from his half-lifeless 
 victim. He was the sworn enemy of the Americans 
 and Mexicans, and his hunting- knife was rarely clean 
 of human blood, until his cruel life, by the wise decrees 
 of an all-seeing Providence, was suddenly cut short. 
 He fought against his disease (small-pox) with that 
 rashness that had been his ruling spirit' through life, 
 and thus ingloriously terminated his days. The pride 
 of this man was to strut through the Mexican towns 
 and gloat over his many crimes. To the gazing crowd, 
 he would point out the trophies of his murders, which 
 he never failed to have about him. To his fringed 
 leggins were attached the phalanges (or finger bones) 
 of those victims whom he had killed with his own 
 hands. On the one side, he proclaimed to his auditors, 
 were the fingers of the Mexicans, while on the other, 
 were the same tokens from the Americans; and it gave 
 him great delight, ironically, to dwell upon the latter 
 name. With whip in hand, he struck out right and 
 left when anything displeased him. He met, one day, 
 more than his match, in the person of the famous Mex- 
 ican hunter, Armador Sanchez, of whom we have pre- 
 
A BOLD INDIAN CHIEF. 329 
 
 vioiisly spoken. The circumstances of this rencounter 
 were as follows : The bold Indian, with but few follow- 
 ers, was on a visit of pleasure to the Mexican town of 
 Culebro. He had agreed to a temporary peace, to suit 
 his convenience and ends ; and, taking advantage of 
 it, he made his appearance in the settlements, to lord 
 it over the peaceable inhabitants. After indulging in 
 a little fire-water, his wicked propensities could be con- 
 trolled no longer, and broke forth in minor cruelties. 
 At last he found himself in the house belonging to San- 
 chez, who was quietly conversing with his aged father, 
 for w^hom he had great veneration, and also with his 
 son. The Indian peremptorily demanded that some 
 whiskey should be given him. He was informed by 
 Sanchez that he did not keep the article. A second 
 demand was now made, with the threat that if it was 
 not forthcoming immediately, he would whip the per- 
 son who refused him. This had the effect of brinirino: 
 Sanchez to his feet, when the following colloquy in 
 Spanish, between him and the Indian, transpired : 
 " Chico Velasques, you have long been accustomed to 
 treat our people almost as you please. You have rob- 
 bed and murdered us at your will, notwithstanding we 
 have given you no cause thus to act. Had you asked 
 for bread, I would have given it to you, for the door 
 of my house is always open to the friendly red man ; 
 but, as for whiskey, you can have none from my hands. 
 Raise that whip but once to strike me, and I will dash 
 your brains out with this mass of lead." Suiting liis 
 actions to his words, Sanchez drew forth from the pocket 
 of his hunting-shirt a slung shot that weighed nearly 
 four ounces, which he always carried to dispatch his 
 game with when it was in the last agonies of deatL 
 
330 DEFEATED. 
 
 With uplifted hand, the Indian hesitated ; for, he knew 
 the character of the man who stood before him, as they 
 had hunted together during many moons gone by, on 
 the same mountains and on the same trail. At last, 
 using his own savage dialect, in order that his words 
 could not be understood by others about him, the sav- 
 age answered the Mexican hunter by saying, " that by 
 chance they might some day meet again;" a threat 
 which fell harmlessly at the feet of Sanchez. As he 
 took his departure, the chief added, in Spanish, "I will' 
 tell these things to Kit Carson," as if further attempt- 
 insr to intimidate the hunter ; but Sanchez knew that 
 his own and Carson's opinions were the same in regard 
 to this man; therefore he smiled at the rascal's knavery. 
 Chico Velasques was followed in his chieftainship by 
 Blanco, who did his utmost to walk in the footsteps of 
 his illustrious predecessor ; but, he was not so cunning, 
 and was less successful in his encounters with the 
 Americans and Mexicans, and therefore had not that in- 
 fluence with his tribe which the former possessed. Still, 
 he performed his quantum of mischief, and yet lives to 
 play his part in the great drama of Indian life. An 
 Apache Indian is rather small in stature, but everything 
 about him denotes symmetry and strength. His limbs 
 are almost straight, and their muscles are as hard as 
 iron. The elasticity of his movements, when in the 
 least excited, shows a high degree of physical training. 
 His coal-black eye exhibits an amount of treachery 
 rarely seen elsewhere, proving the truth of the Chinese 
 adage, that " the tongue may deceive, but the eye can 
 never play the rogue." 
 
 But to return to the narrative. The commanding 
 officer of the party sent out against these Indians, on 
 
COLONEL BEALL TAKES COMMAND. 331 
 
 arriving again at Taos, reported to Colonel Beall that 
 the reason he had returned was because, at the present 
 time, it was impracticable to cross the mountains. 
 That brave and experienced officer replied, " that there 
 was no such word as impracticable in the soldier's vo- 
 cabulary, and that nothing ought to be impossible for the 
 First Regiment of United States Dragoons to accom- 
 plish." Suiting his actions to his words, Colonel Beall 
 reorganized the command, took charge of it himself, and 
 employed Kit Carson as his guide. When everything 
 was in proper trim, this expedition set out, and after 
 surmounting many obstacles and privations, finally 
 accomplished the feat of crossing the snow-clad moun- 
 tains, and after a long and fruitless search for the In- 
 dians, the men were obliged to turn about, because 
 their stock of provisions was running low. As the 
 command emerged through the "Sangre de Christo 
 PassJ' on their return route, they came suddenly into 
 view of a village of Apaches. As soon as the Indians 
 were discovered the charge was sounded, but the animals 
 of the dragoons were too much jaded to obey the sum- 
 mons with the celerity wished for by their riders ; the 
 result was that, besides a considerable amount of plun- 
 der, only two persons were taken, but they, fortunately, 
 proved to be no less than two important chiefs. In or- 
 der to impress these Indians with the fairness and lib-- 
 erality which his government wished to show to the 
 red men, after a long talk, in which the colonel exacted 
 promises of good behavior, he let the prisoners go. 
 They departed, to forget as quickly as possible all their 
 vows and promises; for, seemingly, they will act in no 
 other way than as their own savage instinct teaches. 
 After this affiiir. Colonel Beall made a direct march for. 
 
332 INDIANS STEALING CHILDREN. 
 
 Tax)s, where he remained for some time, attending to 
 the ordinary duties of his garrison. 
 
 In the treaty between the United States and New 
 Mexico, entered into at the close of the Mexican War, 
 a clause was inserted binding the former to turn over to 
 the latter all the Mexican captives then held by the In- 
 dians who inhabited territory belonging to the first named 
 government. The carrying out of this provision of the 
 treaty involved the United States government in a 
 large and constant bill of expense. This w^as, undoubt- 
 edly, unavoidable, for even had the clause not been in- 
 serted in the treaty, the maintenance of about the same 
 frontier military forces w^ould have been necessary. It 
 would have proved a difficult matter to carry out this 
 treaty to the letter. 
 
 If it had been so carried out to the letter, the Ca- 
 manches would have been great sufferers, for at least one- 
 third of the blood that now runs in their veins is Mexi- 
 can. During the last half century, and perhaps longer, 
 they have been accustomed to make annual visits into 
 the Mexican settlements of Old Mexico. The object 
 of these hostile incursions has ever been to load them- 
 selves with plunder. They steal all the horses that 
 fall in their way, and also take for captives as many 
 young children as they can lay hands on. The latter 
 are brought up in true Indian style, and, having cast off 
 all remembrance of their former habits and friends, they 
 gradually l)ccome the wild men of the plains. The fe- 
 male captives, on arriving at the suitable age, are married 
 to the young warriors of the tribe, and thus i\\o true In- 
 • dian stock, becoming amalgamated with the Mexico- 
 , Spanish blood, is fiist becoming degenerated. The 
 xea^son, therefore, why the fulfillment of this treaty 
 
INDIANS IN COUNCIL. 333 
 
 would have militated strongly against the Camunche 
 Indians especially, is clearly apparent. 
 
 In the following February, Colonel Beall learned 
 that on the Arkansas River there were congregated a 
 large body of Indians, who had quite a number of Mexi- 
 cans in bondage. He felt it to be his duty to visit 
 these savages and endeavor to have them deliver up 
 all such captives, using peaceable means to accomplish 
 this result in the first instance ; and, should they fail, 
 he made up his mind to resort to more forcible and 
 potent arguments. With this determination, and with 
 two companies of dragoons to back him and Kit Car- 
 son as his guide, he set out on his mission. In due 
 time he reached the Arkansas, and there found congre- 
 gated four tribes of Indians, who numbered in the vicin- 
 ity of two thousand souls. Their object in thus coming 
 together was to have a grand council and lay out plans 
 for the future, and also to meet their accent. This agrent 
 informed the colonel that, considering the present state 
 of ill feeling existing among these Indians towards the 
 whites, it woul4 be useless to make the demand for the 
 prisoners ; and as to using force, it would almost cer- 
 tainh^ prove a failure, when such a large number of 
 well armed warriors were arrayed against him. It re- 
 quired a great deal of persuasion to bring the colonel 
 around to this mode of thinking ; but, at last he yielded 
 to the advice of his friends and concluded to make no 
 demonstration against the Indians at the present time, 
 concluding, as his anger cooled, that it was the wisest 
 policy to await a more favorable opportunity, when a 
 treaty could be made with them, in which there could 
 be an article inserted that would stipulate for the res- 
 toration of the captives. 
 
334 THE VALLEY OF RAYADO. 
 
 In parting with these red men without accomplishing 
 the main object for which they came, both officers and 
 men felt that their laboi^s had not been entirely thrown 
 away. Their presence must have left lasting impres- 
 sions on the minds of the saviages, in showing them 
 that they no longer had poorly clad and poorly armed 
 Mexican soldiers to deal with. 
 
 On arriving again in Taos. Kit Carson returned to 
 his home to ruminate over what was best for him to 
 take up as a business for the future. He revolved in 
 his thoughts his past career, and, in the end. finished 
 the mental study by resolving to give up his roaming 
 life, as he rightly considered that now was the time, if 
 ever, that he should be making a substantial home for 
 himself and family, before old age crept upon and dis- 
 abled him from the undertaking. About the time that 
 he was in this frame of mind, his old mountaineer 
 friend, Maxwell, was about going to a pretty little val- 
 ley, called by the Mexicans Bayrj.do. Maxwell pro- 
 posed to Kit Carson to join him in the enterprise of 
 building a ranche on the site which he had selected. 
 This offer the latter gladly accepted. Eayado would 
 have, long before, been settled by the Mexicans, had 
 they not been deterred by its exposure, and consequent 
 inviting position for Indian depredations. The valley 
 is about fifty miles east from Taos, and, for its scenery, 
 cannot be surpassed by anything of the kind in America. 
 Standing at the head of it on a blunt bluflf. you look 
 down and out on the prairies, and nothing can be more 
 enchanting than the view that is thus presented. On 
 each side there are lofty hills, which, when green with 
 grass and foliage, add a magic beauty to the scene. 
 Through the valley, as if it had been intended for its 
 
KIT CARSON' AT HOME. 33o 
 
 dividing line, runs a broad mountain stream, the banks 
 of which are now metamorphosed into beautiful fields. 
 
 We stop here to undeceive the reading public con- 
 cerning an idea which has gained currency by the ex- 
 traordinarv ima urinative writinors of novelists. These 
 trashy fictions represent the western plains, or prairies, 
 as flower-beds. In this, a great mistake has become 
 prevalent. A traveler often pursues his way over them 
 for many days without seeing anything to interrupt 
 the continuity of green grass except it be the beautiful 
 road over which he is journeying. Xear the slopes of 
 the mountains and on the river banks the remark will 
 apply. There, fields of wild flowers are often foimd 
 orrowinor in orreat luxuriance. 
 
 The settlement was soon after commenced by Kit 
 Carson and Maxwell, and, as now completed, is really 
 a beautiful spot. It is located about midway down the 
 vallev. Amonor its several houses there were two which 
 were more conspicuous than the rest. In the finest of 
 these two, the owner of which took great pains and 
 spent much valuable time with its construction, lived 
 Maxwell, whose honest pride was being the master of 
 a model farm. In the residence next most to be ad- 
 mired in Rayado, Kit Carson sometimes sojourned. 
 
 The mansion which belonged to Maxwell would be 
 an ornament to any coimtry. At one time it was used 
 as a garrison for American troops, and on it the soldiers 
 made many improvements. It was built one story 
 high, in the shape of a hollow square, and of the size 
 of an ordinary block in a city. Around the whole ran 
 a fine veranda. With it5 lofty ceilings, large and aiiy 
 rooms, and its fine yard in the centre of the square, 
 which was well stored with its fowls, pigeons, and other 
 
336 LORDS OF THE MANOR. 
 
 pet animals, with appropriate kennels ; with antlers of 
 noble buck and elk ; haras of venison, buffalo meat, wild 
 turkevs, etc., and near by a fine vegetable garden ; 
 altogether, it presented a picture of sumptuous living 
 rarely seen within the pale of civilization. Maxwell 
 counted his steeds and cattle by hundreds, while his 
 flocks of sheep were enumerated by thousands. Near by 
 stood Kit Carson's ranche, which, though more modest, 
 yet, w^hen the hunter occupied it, in dead game and 
 comfort, it fully rivaled its compeer. Around these 
 two hunters lived a handful of Mexican friends, who 
 were either engaged in agricultural pursuits for them- 
 selves, or else in the employ of the " lords of the 
 manor," Carson and Maxwell. 
 
 In this his residence at Rayado, Kit Carson w^as only 
 kept from spending his whole time by business for 
 wdiich his tastes were more suited. Soon after the 
 commencement of the settlement, and while he was 
 engaged in his vocation as farmer, news reached him 
 that the Apaches had been committing a most wicked 
 murder, the details of which are horrible in the ex- 
 treme. A merchant by the name of White, who was 
 engaged in business at Santa Fe, had been into the 
 United States for the purpose of purchasing goods. 
 With his train of wagons and his small escort of men, 
 traveled his private carriage, in which there were, as 
 passengers, his accomplished but unfortunate lady and 
 her only child. On arriving at a point where he 
 anticipated no further danger, Mr. White started on 
 ahead of his caravan, in order that he might reach 
 Santa Fe as soon as possible, and thus relieve his family 
 from the privations of camp life. He had proceeded 
 but a few miles when he was attacked by some Indians 
 
TERRIBLE MASSACRE BY APACHES. 337 
 
 \vlio had concealed themselves in the rocks on either 
 .side of the road. The savages, as the carriage neared 
 their hiding-place, fired with such accuracy of aim 
 that they killed, by their first volley, all of the men 
 who were with the carriage before they were aware of 
 the danger which surrounded them. Mrs. White and 
 her child were reserved for a worse fate. They were 
 carried off into captivity. The child proved to be a 
 source of annoyance to the blood-thirsty savages, and 
 its angel spirit was released from earth by their cruel 
 ferocity. Before the eyes of its captive mother the 
 fiital tomahawk was raised, and by one dastard blow 
 its keen edge was made to mingle with its brains. The 
 horrid work failed not to bring the bitter woes and 
 anguish of despair to the breast of the unhappy mother. 
 It was then thrown into Ked River, which w^as the 
 stream nearest to the scene of the bloody tragedy. 
 
 Red River and its great canon has always been to the 
 Apache Indians a favorite haunt of refuge, either wdien 
 pursued, or after the committal of some terrible crime. 
 There are several streams in the West called by this 
 name. The one here referred to is the Red River of 
 the plains, and is one of the upper tributaries of the 
 Arkansas River. In olden times it w^ent by the name 
 of the Canadian River. Several sharp conflicts have 
 occurred on this stream between the Apache Indians 
 and parties of United States troops. It has also formed 
 the stage of many an Indian tragedy in conflicts be- 
 tween the mountain Indians and the Indians of the 
 plains. Quite recently attempts have been made by 
 whites to use its banks for grazing purposes, but 
 every enterprise which has been set on foot to estab- 
 lish ranches in its vicinity, have been warmly contested 
 
 
 
338 WATKINS LEROUX. 
 
 by the Comanches, who have killed several persons 
 who have dared to essay such attempt. 
 
 The intelligence of this terrible butchery having 
 been carried to New Mexico, a command was organ- 
 ized in hot haste, which had for its object the immedi- 
 ate rescue of Mrs. White from her bondage, worse 
 than death. Two men went with this party as guides, 
 named Leroux and Fisher. Watkins Leroux was an 
 old and famous trapper and mountaineer, whose repu- 
 tation and skill as a guide in the far West, was second 
 only to Kit Carson's. A few of his warm partisans, 
 who were ever very warm in their praise of their 
 friend, at one time considered him superior even to 
 Kit Carson ; but, when the skill of the two men came 
 to be tried in the same cause, the palm was yielded to 
 Kit Carson. Leroux guided several parties over new 
 routes with meritorious success. His knowledge of 
 Indian character was nearly equal to that possessed 
 by Kit Carson, and he was endowed with a wonderful 
 amount of forethought and prudence; but, in an Indian 
 fight, or on any great emergency, his faculties appeared 
 to be less active, and his judgment less certain, than 
 those exhibited by the great Nestor of the Rocky 
 Mountains. It is a well-understood maxim, that 
 there are more or less narrow-minded persons who 
 are ready and eager to pull down any and every rising 
 man; and, for this purpose, such must choose a cham- 
 pion. Kit Carson's association with Colonel Fremont 
 had won him so great renown, as a mountaineer and 
 guide, that an opposition party was formed to detract 
 from his merits and capabilities. Leroux, owing to his 
 popularity, was chosen for the leader of this party, and 
 whenever the name of Kit Carson was mentioned, the 
 
A COMMOX BUOTHERIIOOD. 339 
 
 friends of Leronx always saw fit to compare tlie deeds 
 of the two men together. This strife, of course, could 
 not be lasting, aud now is almost forgotten. It is a 
 just tribute of praise due to both of these brave men, 
 to say that they did not sanction, by word or deed, 
 either party to the controversy. They could but ap- 
 preciate each other, and as friends, ever felt elated, the 
 one at the success of the other, and vice versa. They 
 mutually considered that every fresh laurel of glory 
 added a measure-full of honor and renown to their 
 common brotherhood of mountaineers, among whom 
 the good reputation of their cloth was as dear as it 
 was among the knights attached to the orders of chiv- 
 alry. Their ranches were located in the same valley, 
 and in the same town, where, having lived together 
 as fast friends in life, found their last resting-places 
 in the same grave-yard. Few men can say aught 
 against the character of Watkins Leroux, but in this 
 estimate of his actions, we are only reviving what has 
 already been given to the public. 
 
 With Leroux and Fisher employed as guides, the ex- 
 pedition for the rescue of Mrs. White set out on its 
 route, and, on its journey, passed by Eayado. Kit 
 Carson immediately proffered his services for the ex- 
 pedition. They were accepted, but, much to the sur- 
 prise of many of the party, instead of being at once 
 placed in the position which his great experience de- 
 manded, he was assigned to an inferior position under 
 the command of Leroux. Kit Carson, however, was 
 too good a soldier to exhibit the conduct wdiich the lit- 
 tle buzzing talkers so anxiously looked for from their 
 supposed kindling of his jealousy, and quietly took 
 the post assigned him, eager to lend a helping hand, 
 
340 A MISTAKE IN JUDGMENT. 
 
 which mlo^ht even thus be instrumental in savino; a 
 valuable life. It is proper, however, that we should 
 add, that this slight upon his reputation and experi- 
 ence wounded his feelings. But, especially, as the life 
 in jeopardy belonged to a woman, he would not, and 
 did not, think of allowing his actions to partake of his 
 feelings. We have reason to believe that this slight, 
 at least on the part of the commanding officer of the 
 expedition, was not intentional. That gentleman was 
 an honorable man, and would not have committed an 
 act which he considered would have resulted otherwise 
 than for the best ; and, in appointing Leroux his chief 
 counselor, he had selected a good man, but, one whom 
 he afterwards learned, to his sorrow, was every way the 
 subordinate of Kit Carson in managing Indian affairs. 
 
 A few years subsequent to the transpiring of this 
 murder and the skirmish which succeeded it, we trav- 
 eled near to the spot under the same officer who had 
 the command of the above expedition. He reverted 
 to the affair with much feeling, and from his actions 
 and rem^jrks, we could plainly see that his sympathies 
 had been, perhaps, too greatly enlisted in behalf of his 
 unfortunate countrywoman, and that his better judg- 
 ment had been overcome by giving w^ay to the urgent 
 advice of others. If it had been a battle where either 
 scientific attainments or manly courage could have suc- 
 ceeded, he would, doubtless, have been himself, and 
 carried everything through with success. This is no 
 mere assertion, for his long and well tried military ca- 
 reer warrants us in this belief. We have the greatest re- 
 spect for this gentleman, and consider him a very able 
 man ; but, as a biographer, we are called upon to nar- 
 rate the facts as they come to us. If he had succeeded, 
 
STIMULATING SIGNS. 341 
 
 everything would have been considered as well done; 
 but he failed, and the cause of his failure is plain. 
 
 The party being thus constituted, and no delay hav- 
 ing been occasioned by any unforeseen accident, the 
 party arrived in good season at the place where the 
 cold-blooded murder had been consummated. Around 
 the spot, there were strewn, in great confusion, boxes, 
 trunks, pieces of harness, and many other things, which 
 had belonged to the unfortunate party, and which the 
 villains did not fancy and carry away with them. The 
 path taken by these Indians was soon found, and on it, 
 the command traveled in full chase for twelve days, 
 without seeing the outline of a savage. Carson de- 
 scribes this as being the most difficult trail to follow he 
 remembers ever to have undertaken, for the rascally 
 Apaches, on breaking uj) their camps, would divide into 
 parties of two and three, and then scatter over the vast 
 expanse of the prairies to meet again at some preconr 
 certed place, where they knew water could be had. In 
 several of these camps the pursuers found remnants of 
 dress and other articles, that were known to have be- 
 longed to Mrs. White. By these signs, they were led 
 to believe that she still lived. Althouo^h these thino-s 
 would have been trifles on ordinary occasions, yet, at 
 the present time, they were the cause of stimulating 
 the white men to their utmost exertions; and, as they 
 grew fresher, the excitement among the party in* 
 creased. At last the camp, and even the persons of 
 the savages, became visible to the foremost of the pur- 
 suers ; and, among the first to get a glimpse of them 
 was Kit Carson. At the time the discovery was made, 
 Kit Carson was considerably in advance of most of the 
 men. Turning to those near him, he shouted to have 
 
 20 
 
342 CULPABLE BLUNDERING. 
 
 the command come on as fast as possible, for tie saw at 
 once that there was no time to be lost in consultation 
 as to the best mode of assaulting the Indians. They, 
 already, were in commotion, and were making hurried 
 preparations to decamp. Riding on at full speed for 
 some distance, Kit Carson again turned his head and 
 saw, to his dismay, that he was not followed ; but in- 
 stead, the command had halted. The cause of this 
 curious order being given at such a precarious mo- 
 ment, was, as he afterwards learned, brought about by 
 the advice of the chief guide, who told the command- 
 ing olTicer that the Indians v/ished to have a parley. 
 On seeing what was transpiring behind him, Kit Car- 
 son had no alternative but to rein up his horse also ; 
 for, to ride on alone into the midst of the savages, would 
 have been unjustifiable rashness, and might, perhaps, 
 have destroyed the plans his superior officers were con- 
 cocting. So, he stood paralyzed and confounded at the 
 inactivity of his companions. Just about this time, a 
 bullet fired from the Indian camp, struck the command- 
 ing officer in the breast, and bent him forward. Those 
 around him, for a little while, supposed that he had re- 
 ceived a mortal wound. Still, he retained his seat in 
 the saddle, but could not speak. Thus again was pre- 
 cious time lost, as the party, during this time, were vir- 
 tually without a leader, and did not seem to be inclined 
 to make one. Fortunately for this officer, just before 
 he received the shot, he had taken off his thick 
 buckskin gauntlets and crowded them into a breast 
 pocket. The ball had struck this bundle ; and, as its 
 force was somewhat expended by the distance it had 
 come, it was unable to more than penetrate the mass 
 .and contuse the soft parts of the chest. 
 
MURDER OF MRS. WniTE. 343 
 
 This accident assisted in preventing this well known 
 military man from inflicting such a blow on these sav- 
 ages, that they would have been long in recovering 
 from it. He had undoubtedly seen, soon after he had 
 halted, that Kit Carson was right in recommending a 
 charge ; for, as quick as he recovered sufficiently from 
 his injury to be able to speak, he commanded the men 
 to make the attack, and leave him to himself. Unfor- 
 tunately, the time had passed to accomplish the de- 
 sired effect when this order was given, for, on arriving 
 among the lodges, the men found only one warrior. He? 
 as a matter of course, was slain. The body of Mrs. 
 White was also found in camp. Life was extinct, though 
 her soul had but just flown to heaven. There was 
 still warmth in the corpse when the men first discov- 
 ered it. An arrow had pierced her breast. Evidently 
 she had been conscious that friends were near, and was 
 trying to make her escape when the missile of death 
 produced the fatal wound. 
 
 Much has been written and said about this sad affair, 
 and much unjust calumny has been heaped upon the 
 head of the leader of the expedition; therefore, the 
 opinion of Kit Carson, in reference to the matter, may 
 not be out of place ; hence, we give it word for word. 
 " I am certain," said Carson, " that if the Indians had 
 been charged immediately on our arrival, Mrs. White 
 would have been saved. At first, the savages were 
 much confused at our approach, and I do not hesitate 
 to say that she saw us as quick as any one of the red- 
 skins did. for it undoubtedly was the all-absorbing topic 
 of her mind that her rescue would be attempted by 
 her friends and countrymen. On seeing us coming, she 
 had attempted to run towards us, when she was shot 
 
344 BRUTALITY, HARDSmrS AND VICISSITUDES. 
 
 down. Had she been liberated, she could not have long 
 survived the brutality, hardships and vicissitudes she 
 had experienced. Words cannot describe the bitter 
 cup that she had been obliged to drink during her cap- 
 tivity. It was the will of Providence, that, having 
 suffered like a martyr on earth, she should be taken to 
 himself before we arrived to where her remains lay ; 
 upon coming upon which, we shed tears at thus being 
 defeated in what had been our cherished hopes, even 
 had it cost some of us our own lives." 
 
 By this language it can be readily seen that Kit Car- 
 son regretted the failure of this attempt made to rescue 
 Mrs. White as deeply as any one, either in the expedi- 
 tion, or among her friends at the home from which she 
 had so recently, in health and happiness, been torn. 
 " Yet I cannot," said Kit Carson, " blame the command- 
 ing officer, or the other guide, for the action they took 
 in the affair. They evidently did as they thought best, 
 but I have no doubt that they now can see, that if my 
 advice had been taken, the life of Mrs. White might 
 have been spared for at least a short period." This 
 expedition was far from being a failure, for the Indians 
 lost all their provisions, camp equipage and a few ani- 
 mals. Many of these savages ran away, leaving behind 
 them everything they possessed in the w^orld, except 
 the scanty amount of clothing they had on. 
 
 For six miles they were pursued over the level prai- 
 ries, when another brave w^as killed, several w^ounded 
 and three children taken prisoners. The horses belong- 
 ing to the expedition broke down, one by one, until at 
 last, the chase had to be given over, after wdiich the 
 Indians made short work in getting out of sight. 
 Among the trinkets and baggage found in the captured 
 
A TERIlIiac SNOW-STORH 
 
c t<-c «" 
 
 I 
 
A TERRIBLE SNOW-STORM. 345 
 
 camp, there was a novel which described Kit Carson as 
 a great hero who was able to slay Indians by scores. 
 This book was shown to Kit and was the first of the 
 kind he had ever seen. After glancing at it he made 
 the remark, " that perhaps Mrs. White, to whom it be- 
 longed, knowing he lived not very far off, had prayed 
 to have him make his appearance and assist in freeing 
 her. He wished that it might have been so, but con- 
 soled himself by thinking that he had performed his 
 duty." While on their route back to Taos, the com- 
 mand was overtaken by a terrible snow-storm which 
 was accompanied by a high wind ; as there were no 
 hills to break its force, it amounted almost to a tornado. 
 The snow was driven with such force into the men's 
 faces that they became nearly blind, and were bewil- 
 dered as to the course they should travel. During its 
 continuance, they wandered about on the prairies. 
 Finally they were so fortunate that at last they reached 
 a clump of timber in the neighborhood of Las Vegas 
 in New Mexico ; but, during the tramp, one man had 
 been frozen to death and others had come near to 
 perishing. 
 
 After arriving in the settlements, the party learned 
 from some friendly Indians, that the Apaches had suf- 
 fered severely by being exposed to this same storm, 
 and the report was that many of them had since died 
 in consequence thereof. From this, it would appear as 
 if an all-seeing power had protected the whites, while 
 it had dealt out a fearful judgment upon these wicked 
 savaQ-es, who have more than vao-ue ideas of the sin of 
 murdering, in cold blood, innocent people, sages and 
 philanthropists flir distant and safe in great cities to the 
 contrary notwithstanding. There are no set of men 
 
346 INDIA>' LAWYERS. 
 
 in the world who can draw the line between right and 
 wrong based on its first principle, and taught to them 
 by the great lessons of nature, as can many tribes of 
 Indians. Among themselves, and especially among 
 their individual bands, in regard to all crimes, the In- 
 dian has his moral code of laws which, in many re- 
 spects, is not surpassed by those of his pale-faced 
 brother. They have their civil chief, who is responsi- 
 ble for the peace and good order of the camp ; and, 
 before him, are tried, by the lawyers of the tribC; all 
 cases worthy of notice. If the parties are found guilty, 
 the offender or offenders are smiimarily dealt with — 
 therefore, " with his untutored mind," in his intercourse 
 with white men, the Indian is not altogether excusable 
 in committing; crime. 
 
 There are many people who believe that the Indians, 
 as a race, have been greatly sinned against, and to sus- 
 tain their views, have called in the assistance of flowery- 
 written romances and the high-sounding language of 
 prose and poetry. Much of this novelty and interest 
 rubs off by coming in contact with the savage as he 
 really exists. Admiration often changes, in this case, 
 into distrust and even enmity. It is natural that this 
 should be so, for mere book education biases the mind 
 always, either for or against, and therefore it is not 
 strang;e that in the far West we should often meet 
 with men who unhesitatingly declare that the red man, 
 if capable, is unwilling to entertain in his character 
 even one redeeming trait ; but, on investigating their 
 individual case, we find that they are but superficial 
 observers, who are prone to find fault with everything 
 that does not exactly suit their tastes. It is necessary 
 to spend a whole life with Indians, in order to judge 
 
TEE NOBLE EED MAN AS HE IS. 349 
 
 them without prejudice. The Great Spirit has en- 
 dowed his red children with reason, the same in qual- 
 ity as possessed by any other race, but their habits, 
 mode of life and experience is of such a kind, that, 
 when taken as a whole, they are truly original. Look- 
 ing upon this class of people, either in the light of an 
 enthusiast or as a detractor, cannot be otherwise than 
 wrong ; for, as is usually the case, the truth lies be- 
 tween the extremes. 
 
 To be caught in one of these winter storms on the 
 plains is a very serious affair ; and one only needs to 
 have been through a fearful gale on the seas to render 
 him dubious of which to choose. To the fliint heart, 
 death seems inevitable in either case ; and, to such a 
 one, a choice between a watery grave or a bed of snow, 
 when hunger and cold are his attendants, while life is 
 gradually ebbing out, is a question in which the con- 
 trast appears small. During many of the winter 
 months, a life on the prairies becomes a necessity to 
 the frontiersman, and not a pleasure. The force and 
 power of the winds on the level earth of the far West 
 are beyond human imagination. The snow-storms 
 there, at the proper period of the year, are terrific in 
 their grandeur. The quantity of the snow^ that flills is 
 not so much a matter of notice as the force with which it 
 comes, being almost blinding in its effects and requiring 
 all the physical powers of both man and beast to meet 
 and contend against it. It but seldom happens, dur- 
 ing one of these seasons, that the roads are so blocked 
 up by snow that human ingenuity cannot evercome the 
 obstacle ; for the wind drifts the snow, rendering the 
 path clear at intervals which vary in their area. The 
 poor mail-parties were the ones who experienced this 
 
350 DANGEROUS TRAVELING. 
 
 undesirable life ; and, in their attempts to make their 
 journeys, they were often driven near to death's door, 
 although every precaution was taken to make the 
 transit safe. The mules of these parties were well 
 protected with India rubber coverings which were 
 lined with blankets, and, so snugly w^ere they made to 
 fit every available part of the animal, that it seemed 
 almost impossible for cold to touch them. Corn and 
 fodder, to a limited extent, was transported; but, even 
 with these precautions, the mules now and then suc- 
 cumbed to the cold. The man covered his body with 
 warm clothing, and carried with him furs and robes 
 enough to be seemingly able to defy the storms. He 
 could provide himself only with a scanty amount of 
 fuel, for his means of conveyance were very contracted. 
 When overtaken by the storms, which may last several 
 days, he was rendered almost powerless, and was at 
 the tender mercies of the gale ; for he could not 
 make fires, and without them he might perish. This 
 was not true of every trip made across the plains 
 during the winter, for, like on the ocean, the pas- 
 sage was frequently gone through with the encoun- 
 tering of but little real suffering. One thing in favor 
 of making the journey at this season of the year was, 
 the probability of not seeing an Indian. They usually, 
 during the cold months, stow themselves away in their, 
 comparatively speaking, warm mountain retreats. In 
 crossing the plains, small parties found the item of 
 meeting Indians to be of considerable importance, as, 
 even in the time of peace, they were very exacting 
 and troublesome, demanding that provisions should be 
 given them, by way of toll. To refuse was apt to 
 bring down their ire, when they would usually help 
 
QUESTIONABLE RECOMMENDATIONS. 351 
 
 themselves to whatever suited their fancy They are 
 very partial to sugar, Avhich, when they cannot say 
 the word in English, they call " Shoog." If not under- 
 stood, they make their wants known by the Indian sign 
 of touching with the index finger the tip of the tongue, 
 thereby indicating the sweetness of the article. Many 
 of them come armed with a piece of paper, which testi- 
 monial of good behavior they have obtained from their 
 agent or forced from some traveler. As they cannot 
 read, it makes but little difference what is the sense 
 of the writing, so long as it is hond fide penmanship. 
 I once saw one of these documents which the owner 
 prized very highly, but, had he known the purport of 
 this paper, he would have sighed for the scalp of his 
 kind friend who wrote it. The language was as follows: 
 " Crossing of the Arkansas," etc. " The bearer, Young 
 Anielojje, is a good Indian and wall not take anythnig 
 out of his reach. This is to w^arn traders and travelers 
 to beware of his race, breed, seed, and generation." It 
 was signed evidently with a fictitious name, and an- 
 swered the purpose for which it was intended, w4iich 
 was to get rid of an ugly customer and to put strangers 
 on their guard against the man who carried it. 
 
 On arriving at Taos, Kit Carson left this party and 
 proceeded to Rayado, where he w^as, soon after, actively 
 engaged in farming pursuits. 
 
 During the subsequent winter, a detachment of ten 
 dragoons, under the command of Sergeant Holbrook, 
 was stationed at Eayado to protect the little settle- 
 ment. In order that their animals might have the 
 benefit of the good grass which was to be found in the 
 mountains at a place where but little snow fell, the 
 settlers established there a herder's ranche, posting two 
 
352 AN EXCITING CHASE. 
 
 men there to look after and guard the property. The 
 cold months were passed in peace and quiet, but, in the 
 spring, the marauding Apaches came, and, after wound- 
 ing both of the herders, stole all the gentle animals, 
 including both horses and mules. One of the w^ounded 
 men made his way to Rayado, notwithstanding his in- 
 juries, and gave information of what had happened to 
 himself and companion. On learning these facts. Kit 
 Carson, the dragoons, and three of the settlers immedi- 
 ately proceeded to the ranch. They arrived there 
 just as the shades of night began to fall. Nothing 
 could be attempted until the dawn of another day, 
 consequently a camp was ordered and duly arranged. 
 As the first faint beam of light gilded anew the moun- 
 tain tops, the party were up and moving. They soon 
 found the trail made by the thieves, and commenced a 
 sharp pursuit. The pace at which they traveled became 
 so rapid, that, at the distance of only tw^enty-five miles 
 from the spot where they first struck the trail, Indians 
 were discovered moving on the prairie a long way in 
 advance. There remained nothing but an open chase. 
 Orders were issued to accelerate even the hitherto 
 rapid march. Each man resumed his exertions to put 
 his horse to his best speed. The chase was growing 
 intensely exciting when four of the animals belong- 
 ing to the pursuers gave out, ridden down. Their 
 riders were the most unhappy of any of the party 
 at this circumstance, for it j^recluded even the chances 
 of engaging in the expected affray. Leaving the 
 four men behind, the remainder of the party pushed 
 on in the pursuit, and every bound made by their 
 horses brought them nearer to their foes. After 
 several hours of this hard riding, they came near 
 
A RUNNING FIGHT. 353 
 
 enough to the warriors to count their numbers. Their 
 force consisted of twenty well armed and equipped 
 Indians. They showed no fear of the party pursuing 
 them, but cUnig to their stolen property with such per- 
 tinacity that they allowed themselves to be overtaken. 
 A running fight was immediately commenced, which 
 became most exciting as well as dangerous to the par- 
 ticipants, but all the more exciting because thus danger- 
 ous. The Indians were all skillful horsemen, and fought 
 with great dexterity. Their animals being compara- 
 tively fresh, in this respect they had the advantage. 
 Notwithstanding this fact, the pursuing party adminis- 
 tered to them a severe lesson. Five of the rascally 
 Indians were killed and several wounded, wdiile all of 
 the stolen animals, with the exception of four, were 
 overtaken and recaptured. The whole of this pursuit, 
 and the running fight which terminated so successfidly, 
 was accomplished under the advice of Kit Carson. 
 Each man in the pursuing party felt that the simple 
 fact that Kit Carson's eagle eye and experienced hand 
 watched and guided their movements, was a guaranty 
 of certain and ample success. Hence, the labor of the 
 long chase and the demands upon their personal skill, 
 activity, and courage, made by the necessities of the 
 fight, were all met with that kind of readiness and 
 determination which seldom fails to make the soldier 
 invincible. Every man in that party knew well that 
 an Indian chase, with Kit Carson for a leader, meant 
 fight and win success or die. 
 
 In referring to this adventure. Kit Carson, when 
 speaking of the gallant men who accompanied him, 
 said : ^^ They all proved themselves to be men of the 
 very best matcriah" 
 
354 A DESPERATE CONFLICT. 
 
 Unfortunately, two of this gallant party have since 
 fallen by the hands of these same Apache warriors- 
 One of these was Sergeant Holbrook, a brave man, a 
 skillful soldier and a noble friend. He was one who 
 adorned his profession of arms and who was an honor 
 to the country whose uniform he wore. He was killed 
 at the well known battle of Ceneguilla, while bravely 
 fighting against overwhelming odds. This battle was 
 fought in New Mexico in the year 1854. In it, a com- 
 pany of United States dragoons were worsted and cut 
 to pieces by a greatly superior force of these Indians, 
 who succeeded in drawing them into an ambuscade. 
 
 The other person referred to as having been since 
 killed by this tribe of Apaches was a brave and expe- 
 rienced trajjper, well known throughout the range of 
 Indian depredations as a fearless and dangerous adver- 
 sary. His name was William New. He was literally 
 murdered at Ray ado by these Apaches. This occurred 
 only a few months after he had formed one of the party 
 to pursue and recover the animals stolen from their 
 ranch. When he was attacked. New was engaged till- 
 ing the soil on his own farm. The rascally Indians sur- 
 rounded him before he became aware of their presence. 
 Having an empty rifle with him, he succeeded, for some 
 time, in keeping his assailants at bay, by pretending 
 that the piece w^as loaded and pointing it at the fore- 
 most warrior as if he intended to fire it. The savages, 
 however, finally discovered the truth and immediately 
 made a rush upon him. A most desperate fight ensued, 
 for William New, even thus defenceless, was not one 
 who would yield up his life without a struggle. He 
 made almost superhuman efforts to effect his escape, 
 using the rille as a club ; wound after wound was given 
 
DEATH OF A BRAVE MOUNTAINEER. 355 
 
 him In rapid succession in return for the desperate 
 blows which he dealt wdth the rifle. His efTorts, how- 
 ever, proved futile. Gradually the red blood was gath- 
 ered from his body and drank up by the soil to which 
 he looked for the sustenance of himself and family, un- 
 til finally, he sank upon the ground fainting from its 
 loss, literally covered from head to foot with frightful 
 wounds. Thus died one more of the sparse race of 
 original mountaineers, now fast passing aw^ay, bravely 
 meeting the fate that has hitherto usually awaited this 
 band of fearless men. 
 
 We again turn to the adventures of Kit Carson. On 
 the fifth day of May, 1850, accompanied by an old 
 mountaineer named Timothy Goodel, he started with 
 fifty head of mules and horses for Fort Laramie. This 
 fort is distant from Rayado, over five hundred miles. 
 The object w hich the two men had in view was to trade 
 their animals with the emigrants who were, at that time, 
 thronging the overland route to California. The jour- 
 ney was safely accomplished, Kit Carson and Goodel 
 arriving at the fort, w^th their animals all in good con- 
 dition, sometime in the following June. They remained 
 here about one month, disposing of their animals ct 
 good bargains. 
 
 A few rather amusing anecdotes have had their rise 
 connected with this visit which Kit Carson made to 
 Fort Laramie. Among several other incidents the fol- 
 lowing is somewhat laughable, and seems to us w^orth 
 relatino;. Amono; the line of emis^rants then on the 
 road, the report was circulated for some distance back 
 that the famous Kit Carson was at the fort. The re- 
 sult was that every man, woman and child, as fast as 
 they arrived at the fort, were eager to gratify their cu- 
 
356 KIT CARSON LIONIZED. 
 
 riosity by a sight of the man whose name and exploits 
 had already been the theme of many a conversation 
 among them. If ever Yankee, or American (which is 
 the more appropriate term, we will not attempt to de- 
 cide) inquisitiveness was exhibited, it certainly could 
 be then seen at Fort Laramie. The large majority of 
 those who were thus anxious to see the fiimous guide, 
 were led astray by the descriptions which they had 
 heard and read, and picked out some powerfully built 
 trader who chanced to present himself, especially if the 
 man was tastefully dressed in a hunting shirt, with buck- 
 skin leggins, and whose appearance indicated ferocity. 
 Of this kind of personages there were quite a number 
 present at the fort. Usually they would accost the 
 man whom they had thus selected. Sometimes, if their 
 address was appropriate and the humor of the person 
 accosted so inclined, they would get put right, but more 
 frequently they were left to enjoy and cherish their 
 mistake, or were made the subject of a joke. Among 
 the rest there came along quite a rough looking indi- 
 vidual fresh from the canebrakes of Arkansas. He, 
 also, was seeking to place his eyes upon Kit Carson. 
 Accidentally, or intentionally, it matters not for the 
 story, he was directed to the place where the hondjide 
 Kit Carson stood. His powerful frame and determined 
 looks, as he put his inquiries, made those inquired of, 
 apparently, cautious how they perpetrated a joke upon 
 the Arkansas man. At last, standing face to face with 
 Kit Carson, he thus interrogated him. " I say, stran- 
 ger, are you Kit Carson ? " Being modestly answered 
 in the affirmative, he stood a moment, apparently quite 
 taken aback at beholding the short, compact and mild- 
 looking man that stood before him. Evidently his heau 
 
ASSUMED MEEKNESS. 357 
 
 ideal of the great mountaineer did not compare with 
 the man whom he thus faced. This momentary liesi- 
 tation resulted in the conviction that he was being de- 
 ceived. The conviction, at hast, took form in words. 
 Eolling an immense quid of his beloved Indian weed 
 from one cheek to its brother, he said, " Look 'ere, 
 stranger, you can't come that over me, any how. You 
 ain't the kind of Kit Carson I am looking for." 
 
 Tliis was too much for Kit Carson to hear without 
 treating the person addressed to his heau ideal of Kit 
 Carson ; so, suppressing a laugh, and assuming a very 
 meek expression of countenance, as if he was afraid to 
 impose upon the Arkansas man, he quietly pointed to 
 a powerfully-built trader, who chanced to be passing 
 near by, dressed in true prairie style. The Arkansas 
 emigrant followed around after the trader until, seem- 
 ingly, he was perfectly satisfied that he had, at last, 
 found the famous person of whom he had heard so 
 many wonderful stories narrated. After gazing at the 
 man for some time he departed, no doubt with one more 
 perfect description of what sort of personage Kit Car- 
 son was. 
 
 From the time Kit Carson's name began to be 
 heralded throughout the world up to the time of his 
 death, impostors presented themselves in various cities, 
 and, acting on the credulity of the people, palmed 
 themselves off as the individual of whom we write ; 
 but, from the perusal of this work, it can be seen how 
 seldom the real Kit Carson has enjoyed the luxuries of 
 civilized life. It is in this way many persons have 
 gathered wrong impressions concerning Kit Carson. 
 
 Some years ago a stranger one day presented him- 
 self in the quiet town of Taos, and, being a fellow of 
 
358 A MAN OF IMPORTANCE. 
 
 words, he soon let everybody there know his business, 
 both past and present. In one of the principal stores 
 of the town there happened to be congregated a small 
 party of friends, among whom was Kit Carson. They 
 were talking of the important affairs of their section 
 of country, when this strange individual entered. His 
 familiarity with all things soon gave him an introduc- 
 tion, and, after a short conversation, a wag present was 
 tempted, by the fellow's boasting, to quiz him. Ad- 
 dressing the traveler, he asked : " What part of the 
 world, pray sir, do you come from?" 
 
 The answer was prompt. 
 
 "I kum from the Cheyenne Nation. I've been 
 living with them Injins for several years. Indeed, I 
 consider myself more of an Injin than a w^hite man." 
 
 The conversation then turned upon other matters. 
 The fellow made some remarks which led the party to 
 believe that he was entirely unacquainted with the Chey- 
 enne Indians, or any other Indians. When he was appar- 
 ently off of his guard, the wag resumed his questioning. 
 
 " I presume, stranger, you accompany the Cheyennes 
 when they go out on war parties, as you say that you 
 have turned warrior." 
 
 The reply was : 
 
 " When they go out 'gainst t'other Injins, I do ; but 
 when they hunt white men's hair, I am allowed to stay 
 behind. This was one of the stip'lations when I took 
 a squaw and jined the tribe." 
 
 " Oh, ho ! til at is the way you manage ! " exclaimed 
 the wag. 
 
 " Yes ! and I've bin the means of saving some scalps 
 fur my race, too, for the Injins believe in me, they do," 
 continued the fellow. 
 
 i 
 
BAREFACED FALSEHOODS. 359 
 
 The wag resumed — 
 
 " Perhaps, stranger, you have heard of Kit Carson. 
 It is said he is on the prairies somewhere, either dead 
 or alive." 
 
 The fellow answered : 
 
 " You've got me ! Know Kit Carson ! I reckon I 
 do. It is strange that you should ask me that, when 
 Kit was the very last man I laid eyes on as I left our 
 trihe." 
 
 Here the fellow lowered his voice and said, as if ex- 
 emplifying sympathy : 
 
 " Poor Kit was in a very bad way one hour before 
 we parted. The fact is, you know, he'd bin playin' the 
 papers (meaning gambling) and had lost everything. 
 However, I made him happy by giving him my gun 
 and powder-horn. With them, you know, he will git 
 along anywhere ! " 
 
 All hands, except Kit Carson, joined in the laugh at 
 the fellow's impudence. Kit Carson's patience was ex- 
 hausted in listening to the barefaced falsehoods which 
 the man was uttering, so, with some excuse, he left the 
 party. The fellow was unapprised of the farce which 
 he had been acting, and, shortly after, left the town^ 
 believing that he had acquitted himself as became a 
 hero. 
 
 By way of episode, and while story-telling keeps its 
 hold on our pen, we may as well relate a short anec- 
 dote, which, though it does not form any close connec- 
 tion with this part of the narrative, seems to illustrate 
 the practical jokes which are sometimes played off by 
 the western men upon those who have yet to undergo 
 their novitiate. 
 
 A German accidentally wandered out to and located 
 
 21 
 
360 PECULIAR RATTLESNAKE ADVENTURE. 
 
 himself in company with others on or near the Green- 
 horn River, which is one of the tributaries of the Ar- 
 kansas. Their business was trading with the Mormons, 
 many of whom at that time traveled to Salt Lake, by 
 what is known as the Arkansas River route. In so do- 
 ing, they came near the vicinity of the site selected for 
 trading purposes. In the commencement, the German 
 was very inexperienced in matters that pertained to 
 trading with these emigrants, and, as a matter of 
 course, in an Indian country, met with many singular 
 adventures. It so happened that this man was ex- 
 ceedingly afraid of rattlesnakes, and those he was asso- 
 ciated with, by way of amusement, delighted in aug- 
 menting his fears by telling him Avonderful stories of 
 what feats the reptile had been known to perform. On 
 the first trip which he made to the camp of some Mor- 
 mons located about nine miles off, his ride took him 
 through a perfect hot-bed of these snakes., Behind his 
 saddle, on the horse's back which he rode, he had tied 
 a bag of rice which he intended to barter. The Ger- 
 man not being used to riding, was a poor horseman, 
 while unfortunately, his steed was a spirited animal, 
 and at once, on his mounting, started off on a trot. 
 The string of the bag of rice became loosened by the 
 severe jolting, and its contents came tumbling on the 
 ground in great quantities, but afterwards, as the stock 
 on hand decreased, this was lessened. The German, 
 who had his hands full to keep his seat in the saddle, 
 heard the rattling noise behind him, but dared not look 
 around for fear of being thrown off from his horse. He 
 supposed he was chased by a ferocious snake, and, at 
 once, thought only of escape; therefore, seizing the 
 .mane of the horse, he gave him the spurs. He was soon 
 
APACHES ON THE WAR-PATH. 361 
 
 going «at a flj'ing gait ; still, the rattling noise pursued 
 him as the increased speed sent the little grains of rice 
 out of the sack in greater quantities. At last the sound 
 died away, as the cause of the trouble was expended. 
 The frightened rider now considered himself safe, and 
 began to rein in his horse. After awhile he brought 
 him to a stand-still, and turned to look for his retreat- 
 ing enemy, but instead found the origin and cause of 
 the mischief. His loss was irrevocable, and he could 
 only laugh at the ridiculous figure he must have cut. 
 This adventure gave his friends much merriment, and 
 served to open his eyes in reference to the much vaunted 
 capabilities of this snake. He has since often told this 
 story of himself, and considers it a capital joke. 
 
 The labor of settling up their business at Fort Lara- 
 mie was soon over, when Kit Carson and Goodel took 
 their departure. Goodel started for California, while 
 Kit Carson commenced his tramp homeward. As a 
 traveling companion, he took with him a Mexican. 
 They pursued their journey quite pleasantly and safely 
 enough, but,, on their arrival at the Greenhorn River, 
 the scene of the German's adventure with a rattle- 
 snake, they were obliged to be very wary in their prog- 
 ress, for Kit had learned that the Apache Indians were 
 out on the war-path, and were waylaying the road 
 which he intended to pursue with the avowed purpose 
 of attacking, plundering and murdering whoever 
 chanced to fall in their savage clutches. Kit Carson, 
 therefore, halted for six days on the banks of the Green- 
 horn, and spent the time recruiting his animals. While 
 here and thus engaged, a party of white men, whom 
 he found encamped on the same river, formed the sub- 
 ject of his earnest attention. They had come thus far 
 
362 SLEEPING IN TREE-TOPS. 
 
 on their route to New Mexico, but, on learning the 
 news of the hostile attitude of the Apache nation, their 
 courage had entirely deserted them. They did not 
 dare venture into New Mexico, and counseled the re- 
 tracing of their steps. Kit Carson set himself to work, 
 but found he had a difficult task to talk courage into 
 these men. By dint of much argument, he succeeded 
 in persuading one of them to accompany him. On the 
 seventh day, with this one companion — for the Mexi- 
 can had left him — he broke up his little camp on the 
 Greenhorn, and set out upon his dangerous journey. 
 
 By taking a zigzag course, avoiding, in the moun- 
 tains, all the usually traveled trails, he advanced on his 
 route forty miles without seeing any very fresh Indian 
 signs. As often as the moon was unclouded, the two 
 men embraced the assistance of its pale light to make 
 progress through the dangers that beset them ; and, on 
 the days which succeeded this night-work, they would 
 conceal themselves and animals in some out-of-the-way 
 place, where they were not to be easily discovered. 
 Kit Carson had not sufficient confidence in the quick- 
 ness of perception of his companion to trust him as a 
 sentinel, therefore he had to take upon himself all of 
 that important duty. While on the lookout, he usually 
 posted himself in the top limbs of a tree, and always 
 took care to select one that commanded a good pros- 
 pect of the surrounding country. After several days 
 passed without having proper rest. Kit, in the monot- 
 ony of his position as sentinel, would feel sleep stealing 
 over him, until it was difficult to keep longer awake. 
 He would close his ej-es and commence to nod, but on 
 these occasions he was sure to be quickly aroused on 
 almost losing his balance, by which, however, he en- 
 
A NAKROW ESCAPE. 363 
 
 dangered his neck. One day, while thus employed, he 
 was perched in the liighest branches of a lofty old cot- 
 ton-wood on the banks of the River Timchera, and not 
 far off from the '^Spanish Peaks/' Nearly ten hours 
 had passed without anything special having attracted 
 his attention, when, all at once, a band of straggling 
 Apaches came into view not over one-half mile distant. 
 A single look was sufficient to convince him that, as yet, 
 neither himself nor his companion had been discovered. 
 No time was to be lost, so Kit, as quickly as possible, 
 descended and ran to where his friend was, and in- 
 formed him of their danger. The animals were soon 
 saddled, and the two men mounting them, struck out 
 in a direction just the opposite to that in which 
 the Indians were traveling. Fortune favored them, as, 
 soon after they had emerged from the timber into the 
 open prairies, night set in, thus shutting them out from 
 the view of the savages. Profiting by the daikness 
 and the level country which lay before them, they 
 reached, by the rising of the next morning's sun, the 
 Mexican town of Red River, which was sixty-five miles 
 distant from the place they had last started from. All 
 dangers having been now surmounted, they made a 
 sufficient stay at Red River to rest themselves and 
 animals. 
 
 On resuming their journey, they jogged along over 
 the now rough trail and, after a ride of thirty miles, 
 came to Taos, where they were once more safe from 
 the perils that had so recently surrounded them, and 
 where they were well provided for by kind friends. 
 
 Rio Colorado, or Red River settlement, is, next to 
 Taos, the oldest town in northern New Mexico. It is 
 located on a small stream of the same name, which 
 
364 INVETERATE STORY-TELLERS. 
 
 flows into the Rio Grande. The town itself contains 
 some two or three hundred inhabitants, and occupies 
 rather a pretty site, being built on a high bank, while 
 between it and the river there is a large strip of bottom- 
 land, which is under cultivation. The scenery about 
 is picturesque, embracing lofty and bold mountains, 
 beautiful wood-land and open prairies. The exter- 
 nal appearance of the village is that of abject poverty; 
 and, on entering it, one readily sees that his eyesight 
 has not deceived him, but that his first impressions are 
 fully realized. It was here that Fremont and his men 
 found a haven of safet}^ after meeting their trying 
 reverses on the fourth exploring expedition. To them 
 the sight of this town must have been hailed with 
 delight. In Red River there live tw^o old trappers, 
 who have long since been weaned from the habits and 
 manners of civilization. These tw^o men are Canadians, 
 one of them notorious for the "yarns" he can spin; 
 but as they are, many of them, past belief, they are 
 listened to by the traveler as a help to pass the 
 time while he is obliged to tarry in the place. A 
 young English nobleman, who was on a visit of pleas- 
 ure to the western country, once fell into this man's 
 clutches, and, from the trapper's after boasting, we 
 infer that he (the trapper) more than surpassed him- 
 self in story-telling. Among other things, he informed 
 this nobleman that he had once mastered a grizzly 
 bear in a hand-to-hand fight by cramming a stick that 
 was sharpened at both ends into the bear's mouth in 
 such a way that the monster could not close his jaws, 
 because it fastened and kept them open. Being asked 
 by the nobleman how large were the hare in that 
 vicinity of country, his answer was, that he had seen 
 
SIX-OUNCE GRASSHOPPERS. 365 
 
 them of such a magnitude that one would be a load 
 for a man, and that when strung across the hunter's 
 shoulder, one part was sure to be dragging on the 
 ground. He then boasted that he had killed a grass- 
 hopper that, with his head cut off, weighed six ounces. 
 Notwithstanding his love of talk, this old man had 
 once been a brave and famous hunter; but no confi- 
 dence could be placed in him, owing to his habituated 
 want of regard for truth and honor ; hence, he has 
 long since been excluded from the companionship of 
 the mountaineers. The English gentleman above 
 spoken of was an experienced traveler, and therefore 
 undoubtedly knew how to weigh the truth of his 
 astonishing information. 
 
366 KIT CAESON BEACHES HOME. 
 
 OHAPTEE XIV. 
 
 Kit Carson reaches Home — Himself and Neighbors Robbed by the Apaches 
 —Major Grier goes in Pursuit of, and Recaptures the stolen Stock — 
 A Plot organized by White Men to Murder two Santa Fe Traders for 
 their Money — The Disclosure — Kit Carson goes to the rescue of the 
 Traders — The Camp of United States Recruits — Captain Ewell with 
 twenty Men joins Kit Carson — The Arrest of Fox — Gratitude ex- 
 pressed by the Traders — Money Offered but Refused — The Prisoner 
 taken to Taos and Incarcerated — Kit Carson receives a Magnificent 
 Pair of Revolvers as a Present from the grateful Traders — The Re- 
 turn to Rayado — A Trading Expedition to the United States — The 
 Return Journey — An Encounter with the Cheyenne Indians — A State 
 of Suspense — The Deliverance from Danger by a Message sent by a 
 Mexican Runner — The arrival at Rayado. 
 
 After finishing the pleasant visit which he was thus 
 enabled to make, while recruiting himself among the 
 good people of Taos, Kit Carson bent his way to his 
 home at Rayado. He safely reached there and had 
 but just dismounted at his own door, when he was in- 
 formed of a recent calamity that had befallen himself 
 and neighbors during his absence. It was the old story, 
 viz., that the Indians had come in and boldly stolen all 
 the animals belonging to the settlement. At the time 
 this depredation had been committed, there was a small 
 detachment of United States troops stationed in the 
 place, but the soldiers were too few in number to at- 
 tempt a rescue of the property from the savages. The 
 latter had visited the little town with a strong force 
 on this occasion ; the settlers, therefore, made applica- 
 
KIT carson's workmen. 367 
 
 tion to the commanding officer of the territory, who 
 promptly dispatched Major Grier with a command of 
 dragoons to hunt up the guilty parties and punish them. 
 This the major did, and was so fortunate as to recover 
 nearly all of the stolen stock, which he had the satisfac- 
 tion of returning to its owners. 
 
 Kit Carson remained through the following summer 
 months at his ranch at Rayado, busying himself in 
 efforts to improve his house and lands. 
 
 In his employment Kit Carson had several faithful 
 Mexicans. His task was to superintend their labors, 
 which occupied only a part of his time. When any- 
 thing required it he lent a hand to assist them ; but 
 these men had to be provided with provisions which, 
 to purchase in those distant parts, would have entailed 
 a great item of expense ; indeed, more than equal to 
 the profits arising from their labor. Therefore a certain 
 amount of time had to be set apart for hunting, which 
 kind of employment he truly enjoyed. Mounted on a 
 fine horse, with his faithful gun and dog, early each 
 day, he would start out on the prairies to engage in 
 the chase. In a few hours he would return on foot, 
 with his noble hunter loaded down with choice game. 
 Sometimes it would be antelope or elk ; on another oc- 
 casion, it would consist of black-tailed deer, which are 
 celebrated as being the largest and the finest species of 
 venison that roam the forests of any country, and are 
 only to be found in the Rocky Mountains ; on another, 
 wild turkeys ; and then mountain grouse and prairie 
 chickens helped to complete the load. When thus 
 provided for, it is no wonder that Kit's workmen loved 
 their employment and labored with good will. While 
 thus engaged Kit Carson's weather eye was always 
 
368 A PICTURE OF CONTENTMENT. 
 
 open for Indian signs. His horses, cattle and sheep 
 which he had bought since the last depredation were 
 watched with great vigilance, as no one could foretell 
 what the next hour would bring forth. In his moun- 
 tain home. Kit was often visited by Indian friends who 
 came to smoke the pipe of peace with him and enjoy 
 his hospitality. When thus surrounded by rival hunt- 
 ers worthy of his steel, who had sprung up, like oaks 
 of the forest, he felt truly happy. This happiness was 
 greatly enhanced and augmented by the thrifty appear- 
 ance of everything that pertained to him. 
 
 He saw himself in the possession of fine lands, well 
 watered and well timbered; also, plenty which was 
 ready for the plow. It was almost a flirm, made to 
 order by the most perfect workman. The soil, un- 
 surpassed in richness and fertility, was a safe and sure 
 depository for his seeds, telling him, in its silent but un- 
 mistakable language, of the rich harvest in store for 
 him. His stock was the best which heart could wish ; 
 and last, but with him not least, he was within a stone's 
 throw of splendid hunting-grounds, which, to his un- 
 erring rifle, as the reader has already seen, proved as 
 safe an assistant as would have been a Wall street bank 
 with a large credit side to his account. 
 
 We have here a picture of Kit Carson enjoying the 
 rewards of a home congenial to his taste and knowledge 
 of life, while around him are gathered the objects which 
 his manly soul had learned to love and live for. 
 
 The duties of farming and hunting were on]y once 
 interrupted during the summer which Kit Carson thus 
 enjoyed with his family. The exploit which called 
 him, on this occasion, from his home, was caused by 
 an effort to save the lives of two well known traders. 
 
A DIABOLICAL PLOT. dOy 
 
 To accomplish this, he assumefl the cliaracter and du- 
 ties of a detective police officer. The circumstances 
 of the case were as follows : 
 
 An American, by the name of Fox, had organized a 
 party to accompany as a guard over the plains, and, 
 while professedly engaged in this duty, to murder 
 Messrs. Brevoort and Weatherhead, two gentlemen who 
 were traveling into the United States, as the rascal and 
 party supposed, with a large sum of money which they 
 expected to expend in the purchase of goods to be used 
 for trading purposes. Fox played his part so well that 
 when he offered himself and men as an escort, the offer 
 was accepted by the intended and unsuspicious victims, 
 as if it had befen a mark of particular favor. Before the 
 route w^as entered upon, Fox visited Taos for the pur- 
 pose of enlisting among his band of desperadoes, a fel- 
 low who resided in that town. He was a person who 
 bore a very bad character, but for some reason, which 
 has never transpired, he refused to go ; yet, proving 
 true as a wicked confidant, he waited until he thought 
 his friend Fox was sufficiently advanced on the road to 
 accomplish his hellish purposes without any chance of 
 his beincr overtaken and arrested. He then saw fit to 
 
 o 
 
 divulge the plot. 
 
 Every new country is the favorite place of resort for 
 desperadoes and rascals of all grades, who cannot live 
 in their native districts on account of their many crimes. 
 Until the machinery of law and order begins to work 
 smoothly, these fellows, in their new homes, have 
 everything their own way unless they go to too great 
 excesses, when their neighbors will rise for their own 
 protection and treat them with summary and severe 
 punishment. Often, by thus making an example of a 
 
370 KEFARIOUS PRACTICES. 
 
 few, large numbers are prevented from doing further 
 mischief In the early history of nearly every one of 
 our western territories, escaped convicts, murderers, 
 thieves and the worst sort of humanity, mingled in 
 with good men, have commenced their nefarious prac- 
 tices on a grand scale. These things have brought such 
 sections of our country into bad repute abroad. It 
 needs but time for communities to ferret these human 
 monsters out and visit upon them a just retribution. 
 The inland position of New Mexico and the consequent 
 difficulty of intercourse with the General Government 
 of the United States, made it an inviting place, from 
 time to time, for men of this stamp to visit ; but, as 
 they have met on most occasions with a reception from 
 the friends of order, not in the least suited to their 
 tastes, they have almost ceased their coming, thereby 
 showing what a few resolute men can accomplish at the 
 commencement of such trouble. The reforming work 
 of mitigating the evil, which is sure to result among a 
 mixed population under the best regulations, is slowly 
 progressing, and the day is not far distant, when New 
 Mexico, in this respect, will compare favorably with her 
 sister ((ind older) States. 
 
 The purport of this diabolical plot accidentally came 
 to the ears of an officer in the army, who chanced to 
 be in Taos at the time. This gentleman was one of the 
 first to hear of it, and at once sought Kit Carson; but 
 instead of directly telling him what he had just heard, 
 from bome strange reason of his own, he demanded 
 of Kit whether he would be willing to pursue and ap- 
 prehend Fox for debt. To this proposition Kit Carson 
 replied in the negative. 
 
 On hearing Kit's indignant refusal to be employed 
 
KIT CARSON AS A DETECTIVE. 371 
 
 in such a menial undertaking, the officer concluded to 
 lay the true state of the case before him, who, he natu- 
 rally enough thought, could, above all others in that 
 territory, devise some plan that would result in rescu- 
 ing Brevoort and Weatherhead from their impending 
 fate. Here it may be proper for us to add that the offi- 
 cer who had thus indiscreetly acted, must have had 
 previously a very slight acquaintance with Kit Carson, 
 or he w^ould not have selected him as a man ready and 
 anxious for any dirty job which might oifer, as it is 
 entirely foreign to his true character. Kit Carson, on 
 being apprised of the facts, became interested, and took 
 the management of the affair, for the most part, into 
 his own hands ; and, on investigating it more thor- 
 oughly, he came to the conclusion that Fox and his 
 companions contemplated committing the crime on the 
 Cimaron River. 
 
 This river is nearly east from Taos ; and the point at 
 which Carson anticipated overhauling the party was 
 between two and three hundred miles distant. At this 
 time, the Mountain Indians were unusually hostile ; 
 but Kit Carson was always well informed of their 
 movements — as much so as it was in the power of any 
 one to be. With the little command under him he was 
 wilHng, where so weighty a matter of saving the lives 
 of two of his countrymen demanded his services, to 
 march anywhere — even if he had to contest his way. 
 One hour was sufficient time for him to make ready for 
 the undertaking, but not so with the soldiers. They 
 had to put their horses and themselves in trim, for it 
 might be severe and taxing duty. The route taken by 
 the party was a trail, which leads direct to Rayado, and 
 on which, just before reaching the last-named place 
 
372 MYSTERIOUS MOUNDS. 
 
 there are many curious piles of stones, which are scat- 
 tered over the side of a mountain, and have formed a 
 puzzle to many an inquiring mind. By some they are 
 supposed to be Indian graves ; but, by others, they are 
 thought to have been made as a sort of landmark by 
 the older inhabitants of the plains, when they started 
 into New Mexico on some marauding incursion. These 
 latter persons believe that the Indians were unac- 
 quainted with the country they were invading, and 
 had left these marks to assist them in making their 
 way out again. Most likely the first hypothesis is true, 
 and that the stones were thus heaped up to protect the 
 corpses from being devoured by the wolves. On quit- 
 ting Rayado Kit Carson struck out on the open 
 prairies. 
 
 By making an expeditious march. Kit Carson felt 
 that the traders could yet be saved. His party con- 
 sisted of ten picked men of the dragoons, and it was 
 splendidly mounted on horses furnished him to assist 
 in the undertaking. The pace which Kit commanded 
 and required was one which would try the nerves and 
 courage of most good horsemen. Onward, over the 
 level prairie, the party galloped — every man feeling 
 proud of the guide, whose spirit they caught and imi- 
 tated. The second night out from Taos they came upon 
 the camp of a detachment of United States recruits who 
 were under the command of Captain Ewell, and who 
 were bound for New Mexico, where they were to re-in- 
 force the regiments of the army which were stationed 
 in that territory. 
 
 It is customary to send out, each year, detachments 
 of recruits to the different departments of the West. 
 These men are enlisted and collected at the depots 
 
UNITED STATES RAW RECRUITS. 373 
 
 within the States ; and, whenever a sufficient force is 
 colleoted to fill up the requisitions, they are dispatched, 
 at the proper seasons, to their respective regiments. 
 Those intended for New Mexico set out during the 
 summer months. They were rarely sent at the same 
 time, or as the same command of men. These re- 
 cruits were a hard set to manage, especially when trav- 
 eling through the States, where they were exposed to 
 temptation. On arriving at the commencement of 
 theu' hardships, on the plains, it was usually found that 
 many had deserted, and also that many might have 
 done so with benefit to the government. Military ser- 
 vice with recruits, and the same with old soldiers, are 
 two different things. With the former, officers are 
 obliged to command, threaten and punish, to accom- 
 plish in one day, what the latter would perform with- 
 out much trouble in half the time. Eecruits know 
 little or nothing about marching or camp duty ; and, 
 in taking care of them, an officer has his hands full. 
 Even the most minute items have to be looked to ; for 
 example, they are men rarely used to fire-arms, and 
 are just as apt to load a gun with the ball of the car- 
 tridge first down, as with the powder. Old soldiers 
 look upon these new-comers as verdant in the ex- 
 treme, and the pranks they often play upon them are 
 very humorous. With patient discipline, they become 
 serviceable men, and are an honor to the standard 
 which they carry ; and, what appears to be the stran- 
 gest fact of all, frequently the poorest looking recruit 
 may make the best soldier. This is a fair picture of 
 the men Captain Ewell was commanding. 
 
 Kit Carson at once informed the captain of the duty 
 he was on, when that distinguished officer generously 
 
374 THE ARREST OF FOX. 
 
 determined to assist in putting a damper on the wicked 
 designs of the wretches. Taking with him twenty 
 men, Captain Ewell joined Kit Carson, and together 
 they proceeded in the pursuit. By using every pre- 
 caution in their power, and forcing their marches, they 
 entered into the camp of the traders, and arrested Fox 
 before he had time even to suspect the business upon 
 which the party had come. After Fox was secured, 
 Messrs. Weatherhead and Brevoort were informed of 
 the dangers through which they had passed. These 
 gentlemen at first were astounded, but they soon be- 
 came assured of the truth of what they had heard. 
 They then selected fifteen men whom they knew to be 
 innocent, and ordered the remainder of their escort, num- 
 bering thirty-five souls, to leave their camp instanter, 
 which command was promptly obeyed. To Kit Carson 
 they offered any sum of money that was in their power 
 to bestow, in return for the invaluable service he had 
 rendered them. Kit Carson replied, "that it was re- 
 ward sufficient for him to have been instrumental in 
 saving the lives of two worthy citizens, and that he 
 could not think of receiving one cent of money." 
 
 A long colloquy was held that night around a good 
 camp-fire, that was freely fed with "buffalo chips."* 
 At midnight, most of the party were asleep, and noth- 
 ing could then be heard except the barking of wolves 
 and the heavy tread of the guard, as they walked to 
 and fro on their respective beats. On the first appear- 
 ance of daylight, all hands were up and preparing to 
 strike their tents. Soon after the parties separated, 
 but, before doing so, the traders again expressed their 
 thanks, and then resumed their journey. Fox was first 
 
 •Buffalo chips form the principal fuel of the plains. It is dry buffalo manure. 
 
ESCAPE FROM miSON. 375 
 
 taken to Captain EwelPs camp, then he was turned 
 over to Kit Carson, wlio conveyed him to Taos, where 
 he was imprisoned for some time ; but was finally re- 
 leased, as nothing jx>sitive could be proved against liim,, 
 chielly because he had committed no overt act, but ha4 
 only, thus fiir, engaged in plotting the double ipaiir^der 
 and robbery. This is always a difficult crime^ \0' estab- 
 lish. In this instance, the difficulty was greatly aug-. 
 mented from the flict that the witnesses in the case, as. 
 soon as they heard of Fox's capture, scattered and left, 
 for parts unknown. He was finally set at liberty, j 
 
 At that day the keeping of a prisoner in close con- 
 finement in New Mexico, or of having him continually 
 under the surveillance of the military was no ordinary, 
 or easy matter. The only places which could be con- 
 verted into jails, were the common adohe houses of the 
 inhabitants. From these a wide-awake and deter- 
 mined prisoner, with the free use of his hands and the 
 assistance of the smallest kind of a tool, as a jackknife 
 or pair of scissors, could dig out of his dungeon in five 
 or six hours. The large majority of the criminals who 
 were thus incarcerated, managed to effect their escape. 
 In the case of Fox, however, he had a man to deal with 
 who was seldom thwarted in any of his undertakings. 
 With 80 much convicting evidence of his wicked inten- 
 tions, and with so much trouble to bring him to trial,, 
 it was greatly regretted that he did not receive a suit- 
 able punishment. As soon as he was set free, Fox 
 made his way out of the country ; but his further his- 
 tory is not known. 
 
 The general impression left upon the minds of the 
 people who were familiar with the minutiae of this af- 
 fair was, that Fox was guilty. As he was known to be 
 
 22 
 
376 CARSON HANDSOMELY REWARDED. 
 
 a finished villain, it was universally believed that, after 
 murdering and plundering the two traders, he intended 
 to grasp the "lion's share," and with his portion to pro- 
 ceed to Texas, where, as he was there entirely un- 
 known, he hoped to enjoy the rewards of his rascality. 
 
 This valuable service rendered to Messrs. Brevoort 
 and Weatherhead, was most gracefully and handsomely 
 rewarded by them. In the course of the following 
 spring, they presented Kit with a pair of magnificent 
 revolvers. Upon the silver mountings, there were en- 
 graved a very few, but expressive words, indicating the 
 obi i orations which the donors considered themselves 
 laborinir vmder towards their deliverer. Such a testi- 
 monial to an unselfish heart, like that which beats in 
 the breast of Kit Carson, is a prize of greater value 
 than any more substantial gift, which money could 
 purchase. These beautiful weapons Kit Carson prized 
 very highly ; and the donors afterwards learned the 
 fact that, in the hands of their owner, they were duly 
 initiated into active service, and found to perform their 
 necessary duties most admirably. 
 
 After the task of the arrest of Fox was thus success- 
 fully undertaken and consummated, by his being se- 
 curely lodged in jail and placed under suitable guard, 
 Kit Carson returned to Rayado, where he spent the 
 winter in a very quiet manner. We use the term 
 quiet manner : it should be qualified with the phrase, 
 quiet manner for him. He found plenty of employ- 
 ment in looking after his animals, besides spending a 
 large share of his time in hunting. This, however, 
 although always attended with paying practical results, 
 he did as much for pleasure as for necessity. He always 
 found a large number of hungry mouths ready to re- 
 
A VILLAGE OF CHEYENNE INDIANS. 377 
 
 lieve him from any superabundance of game ; and, as 
 his hospitality to all classes Avas unbounded, he took 
 special delight in feeding and liberally bestowing his 
 bounties upon his poor Mexican neighbors, to whom 
 powder and lead were more of a desideratum than to 
 himself, and with whom his experience and skill as a 
 hunter, were a source of support wliich they could 
 only wish for. 
 
 Early the next summer Kit Carson, in charge of a 
 train of wai!;ons beloni^inji; to himself and his friend 
 Maxwell, set out for the United States. After an un- 
 usually pleasant journe}^, he reached the Missouri 
 Rivt-r, and proceeded down it, in a steamboat, to St 
 Louis. Here he purchased a large stock of goods, 
 With this freight he returned to Kansas, where he had 
 left his caravan, into which, on his arrival, he transferred 
 his merchandise. He then started on his return trip to 
 New Mexico. In order that his animals might take ad- 
 vantage of the fine grass to be found there, he chose 
 the loute known to all traders on the plains, as well as 
 to the reader, as the road by Bent's Fort. He was 
 progressing on his journey quite happily, when unfor- 
 tunately, at a point that is located about fifteen miles 
 al)0ve the fording of the Arkansas, he fell in with a 
 village of Cheyenne Indians, who were just at that 
 time violently hostile towards the whites, and were 
 waiting an opportunity to wreak their vengeance on 
 them. This state of feeling had been brouirht about 
 only a few days previous, and was due to an officer 
 who was attached to a command of recruits that some 
 ten days before Kit's arrival had passed by. He had 
 flogged a warrior for some liberty which the fellow had 
 taken while he was in the camp of the soldiers. These 
 
378 INDIAN SQUAWS. 
 
 Cheyennes are very fond of dress and show ; but, as a 
 body, they are as noble and athletic looking men as 
 tread this earth. Singular though the contrast may 
 appear, a greater set of rascals never went unhung; 
 yet, they are Indians, and as such they ought to com-^ 
 mand sympathy and forbearance. 
 
 The young men who belong to the Cheyenne nation, 
 are fond of dress, and when arrayed in full costume one 
 of them is a picture to look upon ; when thus gilded no 
 man could be prouder. Many of these Indians wear 
 their hair in a long cue a la Chinese style. They take 
 great pleasure in ornamenting this cue with innumera- 
 ble pieces of silver, which are made from halfdollar 
 pieces, and are beat out in the shape of small shields. 
 With their blue, or red blankets, long ribbons of differ- 
 ent colored flannel, fancy leggins and bead decorations, 
 and finally (as I once saw one) with a red cotton um- 
 brella, they represent the very Paris tip of Indian fash- 
 ion. Their squaws do not possess as regular and fine 
 features as the men ; but, this may be said to be true 
 of most of the wild tribes of savages in North America, 
 for it requires an enormous stretch of the imagination to 
 call them handsome, while many of the men are fine 
 looking. Hard woik spoils the beauty of the Indian 
 women. To admire an Indian woman one must se- 
 clude himself from the society of other females ; under 
 such circumstances it may be that a person might be 
 inclined to change his opinion and think the race lovely. 
 The la/y brave considers it beneath his station to work; 
 therefore all camp labor and the packing, saddling and 
 looking after the ponies devolves upon the squaw. 
 When there is a scanty supply of horses, she is obliged 
 to give her lord the preference in taking his ease, and 
 
LO ! THE POOR INDIAN." 
 
i 
 
AN INDIAN NEVER FORGIVES. 381 
 
 go herself on foot and carry her pappoose. In fact it 
 is lowenng to the Indian's pride to do else than hunt and 
 fight. Owing to the scarcity of timber on the western 
 prairies, the Indians transport their lodge-poles from 
 camp to camp. This is done by attaching them to the 
 sides of the pack animals while the free ends drag on 
 the ground, and in time of war this constitutes one of 
 the signs of the trail by which to follow when in pur- 
 suit of them. 
 
 The reason why the commanding officer of this party 
 of recruits intlicted the summary punishment referred 
 to, is not known to the writer ; but, it surely does ap- 
 pear as if the person who ordered its execution, or per- 
 haps courageously performed it himself, might have 
 reflected, that a savage, least of all men, allows a sup- 
 posed injury done to him or his tribe to pass by unre- 
 venged, and also that it is a matter of perfect indiffer- 
 ence to him as to who the victim is, if he only gets 
 the chance to strike a blow on the same nation. This 
 revenge will quench his cruel thirst for blood quite as 
 effectually as if he had the satisfliction of scalping the 
 perpetrator of his real or supposed injury. It is a fact 
 — alas too frequently true — that the parties who are 
 strong in numbers, courage, and equipment, while 
 crossing the plains, are prone to treat, in an overbear- 
 ing and insolent manner, the bands of Indians with 
 whom they chance to come in contact. For these in- 
 sults and injuries weaker parties, who travel upon the 
 same road, are held to a strict and revengeful account 
 by being made to suffer even with their lives, as well 
 as effects. Kit Carson and his small force, unfortunately, 
 or rather, fortunately, so far as Kit himself was con- 
 cerned, — for no man could be better fitted to deal with 
 
382 PEEPARED FOR A FIGHT. 
 
 such a crisis of trouble than he — were the first white men 
 who came along after the flogging of their warrior had 
 wrought up the temper of the Cheyenne nation to a 
 degree which nearly bordered on frenzy. 
 
 As soon as the whites were discovered, the Indians 
 went into council, evidently to decide on the best 
 mode of attacking and making away with them. Kit 
 Carson, though he did not know that this tribe had 
 declared war, and much less their reasons for so doing, 
 when he first saw them, was not long in coming to a 
 conclusion, from their actions, that there was a screw 
 loose somewhere. He, therefore, began to act with 
 more than usual sagacity and caution. He ordered his 
 men to keep their wagons close together, to have their 
 rifles in good trim and be ready for an instant fight. In 
 this manner, with every man on the watch, he pushed 
 on for a distance of twenty miles. Although he had 
 left the Indians far behind, he did not relax his vigi- 
 lance, being still impressed with the belief that a storm 
 was brewing. His surmises began to be verified soon 
 after, lor the Indians, in parties of two, three, and four, 
 appeared in sight, arrayed and painted in their full 
 war costume. Having approached some of them to 
 within a distance sufliciently near so to do. Kit Carson 
 commenced talking to them in a conciliatory manner. 
 They were inclined to heed his words ; and, in order to 
 make it appear that he was not intimidated by their ac- 
 tions, he went into camp, and invited these advance par- 
 ties of tlie Indians to come in and have a talk and smoke 
 with him. The savages accepted the invitation, and 
 were soon seated in a circle. After the pipe had passed 
 from one to the other, until all present had had a puff or 
 two from it, they began to talk loud among themselves. 
 
^'CAUGHT A TARTAR." 383 
 
 At the time we now speak of, several years, as the 
 reader can readily compute, had ehipsed since Kit Car- 
 son was a hunter at Bent's Fort, and then well known 
 to most of the Cheyenne nation ; but, these few years 
 had so altered him, together with his new style of 
 dress, that it is no doubt that, at first, not one of the 
 Indians remembered ever havins; seen him before. 
 
 Kit Carson remained quiet and allowed the Indians 
 to open the talk, as he was watching to find out what 
 had so suddenly aroused their anger, and he well knew 
 that if they supposed that he and his men did not un- 
 derstand what they were conversing about, they might 
 refer to the cause of the trouble, and thus give him a 
 clue whereby he might take advantage, and form a line 
 of conduct. It was clear to his mind that the Indians 
 were resolved to have revenge on his party, and that 
 there was time enough to let himself be known to 
 them, which, in their present excited state, would serve 
 him but little. The Indians had at first conversed in 
 the Sioux tongue. The reason for this was to conceal 
 their own nationality, and thus, if necessary in the fu- 
 ture, they could shield themselves by laying the massa- 
 cre, which they were about to commit, on the shoulders 
 of that tribe. This is a ruse often employed by the In- 
 dians ; but, in this case, in their heated state they for- 
 got their native cunning and commenced conversing 
 in the lano:uau:e which was most ftxmiliar to them. A 
 Frenchman, called in the mountains Pete, who spoke 
 English quite fluently, and who was with Carson during 
 these trying scenes, informed the writer, on one occa- 
 sion, that he never fully knew or appreciated Kit Car- 
 son until this occurrence. "Why," said he in his en- 
 thusiasm, ^' Kit knew just what was to be done, and 
 
S84 "ticklish times. 
 
 >> 
 
 did it, too. With any other man, we would have gone 
 lender. The Indians were more afraid of him than all 
 the rest of us put together. There were red fellows 
 enough there to eat us up, and at one time I could 
 almost feel my hair leaving my head. We had two 
 women traveling with us, and their crying made me 
 feel so bad that I was sartin there was no fight in me. 
 Women (he added) are poor plunder to have along 
 when going out on a war party, but Kit talked to 
 them, and then to the Indians, and put them both 
 finally on the right trail. Wah ! ! but them were 
 ticklish times." 
 
 As soon as the Indians, in their excitement, began 
 to speak their own language, they became very vio- 
 lent, and so unguarded were they in expressing their 
 individual sentiments that they treated Kit and his 
 party with perfect indifference, and openly, though se- 
 cretly as they thought, arranged for the massacre. 
 
 Little did they imagine that Kit Carson, whom they 
 had at first sight selected as the leader of the company, 
 understood every word that was said. Kit listened at- 
 tentively to their plans and heard them decide that the 
 time to kill him was, when he again took the pipe to 
 smoke ; for, in so doing, he would lay down his weap- 
 ons. They could be instantly seized, and therefore he 
 would be prevented from doing them any harm. As 
 to the Mexicans who accompanied him, they said they 
 could kill them as easily they could buffalo. Already 
 enough had passed among the Indians to arouse in Kit 
 Carson's breast the greatest feeling of alarm as to what 
 would be the result of the position in which he was 
 placed. He had with him fifteen men, two only of 
 which number, were men on whom he felt that he could 
 
ASTONISHED INDIANS. 385 
 
 rely. The other members of the party, who counted 
 thirteen in all, were Mexicans of whom he had a poor 
 opinion as to their bravery. Nothing daunted by such an 
 accumulation of unfavorable circumstances, he at once 
 saw that a bold face was to be put on in order to extricate 
 himself from the grasp of the Indians. Springing to 
 his feet with his weapons ready for immediate use, Kit 
 Carson, as he advanced into the centre of the seated 
 warriors, gave directions for his men to be ready to de- 
 fend their lives. Then, turning to the Indians, who 
 sat rooted to the earth, as it were, with astonishment 
 at the suddenness of such actions and such coolness, he 
 commenced addressino- them. He informed them " that 
 they might readily see from the fluency with which he 
 spoke their language, that he had comprehended all 
 that they had been talking about. What puzzled him 
 most, however, was the cause of their wishing to have 
 his scalp. "Never," said he, "to his knowledge had he 
 been guilty of any wrong to their tribe ; that, on the 
 contrary, there were braves among those present, who, 
 if they turned to their memories, would recognize his 
 face as that of an old friend in years gone by, and who 
 could testify to the many acts of kindness which he had 
 performed in their behalf." He reminded them " how 
 that, even now, he had received them into his camp 
 and treated them with all the hospitality in his power; 
 and yet they persisted in repaying him by taking his 
 life." In the end, he wound up his discourse by giving 
 peremptory orders for them to leave his camp, and 
 should any one refuse, he would be shot. The Indians 
 were completely nonplussed, and not feeling inclined 
 to risk a fight without their usual accompaniment of a 
 surprise, after saying something about returning, to 
 
386 :kit a host in himself. 
 
 which they were answered " that if they did, they 
 would be received by a volley of bullets," they departed 
 to join their friends who were in swarms upon the 
 neighboring hills. It is supposed that a grand council 
 was called, in which the proceedings that had transpired 
 in the camp of the white men were fully reported, and 
 perchance, many of the braves, in refreshing their mem- 
 ories, began to recollect some of the daring deeds which 
 Kit Carson had performed when he lived in their coun- 
 try. This, doubtless, led them to the conclusion that 
 they had caught an experienced traveler ; for, certain 
 it was, that afterwards their actions became somewhat 
 disconcerted and not so rash as they had been. No 
 sooner had the savages retired from the camp, than Kit 
 Carson ordered his men to harness their animals to the 
 wagons, so that they could resume their journey. 
 
 As the train moved on, the Indians were once more 
 left behind, although they had, by no means, formed 
 the idea of allowing the white men to depart in peace. 
 They were busy concocting some scheme whereby they 
 could accomplish their ends without loss to themselves. 
 The muleteers, as they walked beside their teams, by 
 order of Kit Carson held in one hand their rifles, while 
 in the other were their whips, which, from time to time, 
 they were obliged to apply freely to their animals in 
 order to keep the caravan in compact order. Mounted 
 on a fnie horse, with his rifle and pistol so adjusted that 
 he could lay his hands on them at a moment's notice. 
 Kit Carson rode from one end of the line to the other, 
 inspiring his men with his own courage. He felt that 
 upon him was rested the responsibility of saving the 
 lives of his companions, and that it was to him they all 
 looked to be rescued from the perils that surrounded 
 
ON THE ALERT. 387 
 
 them. As he rode along, his eyes were busy scanning 
 the prairies in every direction. Now and then he rested 
 from this duty as his mind became somewhat reUeved, 
 when he could discover nothing except bands of ante- 
 lope, or, here and there, a hungry wolf, who, with his 
 white, canine looking teeth, seemingly, spoke volumes 
 of the empty condition of his stomach. For the re- 
 mainder of that day, the train traveled on in apparent 
 safety. When the shades of evening had fairly set in, 
 a camping ground was selected on a small stream. The 
 wagons were formed in a circle, in which were huddled 
 the men and animals, so that both could be protected 
 by the weapons of the former. Grass was cut with the 
 butcher knives belonging to the members of the party, 
 and was laid before the mules. In this dangerous lo- 
 cality, they could not be allowed to procure this food 
 for themselves. As strong a guard as their forces 
 would permit of was posted. The remainder of the 
 party gathered some wood that had floated down the 
 stream from the mountains, and was sparingly scattered 
 along the shores of the river near to the camp. This 
 was brought in, when small fires were made over which 
 their frugal meal was prepared, after which the men 
 lay down to rest. Many persons there are who would 
 think that after escaping such perils once, it would take 
 very great inducements to make them thus expose 
 themselves a second time. Nevertheless, there exist 
 in our land hundreds upon hundreds of men who take 
 delight in returning into the midst of these dane^ers. 
 
 CD CD O 
 
 A life on the prairies of the ''Far West" has its good 
 chances as well as its counter chances, and no man can 
 be happier than the true mountaineer. At first, to one 
 accustomed to luxuries and modern refinement, nothing 
 
388 A FLEET-FOOTED MESSENGER. 
 
 can be more unpleasant than a journey over the plains ; 
 but each day thus spent, hardens the traveler until 
 meals, that a beggar in our to^vns or cities would 
 hardly deign to touch, are by him eaten with a relish 
 to which he has long been a stranger. It is on these 
 long tramps that the dyspeptic and melancholic man 
 becomes the liveliest of the party ; his sociability often 
 increases to such a degree that he soon can spin a yarn 
 in a true Baron Munchausen style. 
 
 Kit Carson, as he rode silently along all the following 
 day, had been meditating over the scenes through 
 which he had so recently passed, and also the most 
 practicable means to be employed for the future. 
 When the night had fully set in, without saying one 
 word to the other members of the party, he called to a 
 young Mexican whom he knew to be very fleet of foot 
 and whose powers of endurance were wonderful. On his 
 coming to him he led him one side, when, after he had 
 depicted to the boy their fearful situation in its true 
 colors, he told him that he held the power of saving 
 the lives of the whole party. 
 
 The New Mexicans of the north are famous as being 
 very fleet of foot, and the great distance wdiich they 
 can run in a short period of time is astonishing. As 
 a general rule, they are very partial to horses, but, 
 when they have no riding animal, they will start on a 
 journey of hundreds of miles and accomplish it in an 
 incredibly short time. A journey of forty or fifty miles 
 in a day is an ordinary circumstance with them, even 
 when the inducement for making it, has in its behalf 
 only a minor consideration. Owing to want of mail 
 routes, it sometimes becomes necessary to dispatch them 
 on express duty, such as carrying one, or several letters 
 
WONDERFUL PHYSICAL ENDUUANCE. 389 
 
 to some distant point. Their charge is wrapped up 
 in a handkerchief and tied about their waist to prevent 
 being lost. Then, on a jog trot, they will start out ; and 
 over mountains and broken country they will not alter 
 the pace for many consecutive hours, and this for a re- 
 ward of one or two dollars per diem. It is not uncom- 
 mon to meet traveling companions where one is on 
 horseback and the other on foot; but notwithstanding, 
 they will keep together for an entire journey, and com- 
 plete it as quickly as if the horseman had undertaken 
 it alone. When, by chance, they come to and stop at 
 a village where there is a fandango or other festive 
 scene in full blast, they will, notwithstanding their long 
 tramp, join in and dissipate as hard as any member pres- 
 ent. Their healthy climate, coarse but plain diet, and 
 the great amount of exercise which they take in the 
 open air, make them capable of a wonderful amount of 
 physical endurance, under wdiich they seem never to 
 grow weary. In this respect, the only successful rivals 
 wdiich they have, are the Indians. This vias the kind 
 of material Kit Carson had in tlie Mexican boy, vrhom 
 he was now about to part with, having detailed him for 
 a very important duty. 
 
 That youth had long been known by, and had the 
 full confidence of his employer. He was ready at his 
 ])idding to undertake anything. Therefore, on hearino* 
 the mission which Kit proposed sending hiui on, he 
 promised to use every exertion in its accomplishment, 
 and at once set about its execution. Having obtained a 
 few rations of provisions, he soon rejoined Carson. 
 They then proceeded outside of the camp, where he 
 was to receive his final instructions. By the dim light 
 of the moon, Kit pointed in the direction of Eayado, 
 
390 LOOKING FOR MOCCASIX TEACKS. 
 
 where he was to travel ; and, after warning him of the 
 dangerous places that lay in his route, and giving bim 
 the niessaire that he was to deliver to the commiaulinc^ 
 officer at Rayado, he bid him good-by, with tbe v> oids, 
 ^' be sure and leave a good many miles between us, by 
 to-morrow's sunrise." The distance to the settlement 
 of Eayado, from Kit Carson's camp, was between two 
 and three hundred miles, yet, this runner was capable 
 of traveling it in as short a period of time, as could any 
 ordinary horse. Kit now returned among his men, not 
 to sleep, but to watch. This he did until tbe break of 
 the following day, when he summoned all handj to 
 hitch up the teams and proceed. Until twelve o't '.ock 
 no Indians were visible ; but, at ai)Out that hour, f.ve 
 of the savages were seen approacbing. On they c;;::ie, 
 and when within speaking distance. Kit Carson on'.cied 
 them to halt. They obeyed his command. On scaunhig 
 them closer he bade them come nearer, when, he in- 
 formed them, ^' that tbe night before he had scut an 
 express to Eayado, for the purpose of letting the 
 troops there know of the annoj-ances their tribe were 
 causinu: him. "Amonor the soldiers," he said, ^' he had 
 man\^ friends, who would be certain to come to li's le- 
 lief, and, if they should find that his party was massa- 
 cred, which he let the Indians know could only be j:c- 
 complished by his men being overpowered, they would 
 be already informed by whom it was done, and would 
 be sure to visit upon the perpetrators of the crime, a 
 terrible retribution." The Indians said they A\ould 
 look lor the moccasin tracks made by the messenger, 
 and thus decide whether that which they had just 
 h( a;(] was true, or not. Kit Carson hearing this, at 
 once considered it as the turning-point in favor of the 
 
"was it cowardice?" 391 
 
 safety of his party. The Indians immediately went to 
 look for tlie trail. Shortly afterwards the entire Indian 
 village passed within sight, and were evidently making 
 the best of their time in seeking some safe hiding-place. 
 The five warriors had, therefore, evidently found the ex- 
 pressman's trail, as they had been informed that they 
 would, and that the boy had proceeded too far on his 
 journey to think of pursuing him. On his way to Ra- 
 vado, the messenuer overtook the detachment of recruits 
 to which was attached the officer who had caused the 
 trouble. To the commander of these men, the young 
 Mexican reported the position, as he left them, of his 
 employer and companions, but that gentleman, for 
 some unaccountable reason, would not then grant the 
 desired aid ; therefore, the boy pushed on to Rayado, 
 where he found a warm-hearted and brave soldier in 
 the person of Major Grier, who commanded the post. 
 The major, on hearing the message sent by Kit Carson, 
 immediately ordered Lieutenant R. Johnston, his sub- 
 altern officer, to take a squad of dragoons and proceed 
 to the assistance of his countrymen. While on his 
 march. Lieutenant Johnston met with the command 
 of recruits of whom we have before spoken. In the 
 course of the conversation which ensued, Johnston was 
 asked, by the officer in charge of the recruits, what 
 was the service he was engaged on ? and, being in- 
 formed, that gentleman probably gave the subject 
 deeper thought, and it may have occurred to him, and 
 such is the opinion of Kit Carson, that if the affair was 
 properly managed, there might be some glory accruing 
 from it. At any rate, he suddenly changed his mind, 
 and ordered a detail of men to go with the lieutenant. 
 The relief party, thus re-inforced, again started, and 
 
392 PRAISEWORTHY ACTION OF MAJOR GRIER. 
 
 found Kit Carson and his train of wagons at a point 
 that is some twenty-five miles below Bent's Fort. 
 Under the escort of the soldiers, Kit and his men trav- 
 eled in safety to Kayado, where he had the pleasure 
 of thanking Major Grier for his praiseworthy and 
 prompt action, in succoring him and a few other 
 American citizens who had thus been exposed to the 
 barbarities of savages, made hostile by the overbearing 
 conduct of a man whose double blunder was shielded 
 by power. Although the fighting qualifications of the 
 soldiers were not called into requisition, yet, they per- 
 formed a meritorious service by coming. They might 
 have been instrumental in saving lives while protecting 
 commerce, and their frequent visits to remote Indian 
 countries, always leaves salutary impressions on the 
 minds of the red men. 
 
 Kit Carson's thorouo^h knowledo-e of Indian character 
 and his established bravery and integrity ought, it ap- 
 pears to us, to have been a sufficient guaranty to this 
 officer, that he was acting in good fiiith when he asked, 
 through the proper channel, that protection to which 
 he was certainly entitled while pursuing the necessary 
 though hazardous business, connected with the com- 
 merce of the plains. 
 
 Never, throughout his eventful career, had Kit Car- 
 son refused to offer his services in the cause of a coun- 
 tryman who stood in need of them ; and now, when the 
 first time came that he felt it necessary to make the 
 call for assistance, he could not understand why two 
 valuable days were allowed to pass, by an officer who 
 could have aided him, without some notice being taken 
 of his urgent requisition It is true that by some, 
 especially those who were not acquainted with the char- 
 
AK AMUSING INCIDENT. 393 
 
 acter of Kit Carson, he was regarded as being ever 
 anxious for an Indian fight; but had this been the case, 
 he would have long since paid the forfeit with his life. 
 To contradict such a statement, we have but to appeal 
 to the reader of this narrative, and ask him to bear 
 testimony to the marked discretion that has so far 
 coupled itself with Kit Carson's fame. An amusing in- 
 cident which came under the eye of the writer, is to 
 the point. 
 
 In the early part of the so-called gold '' fever " of 
 California, when parties were organizing in the city of 
 New York, to proceed overland to the Pacific, we 
 chanced to be present at a meeting held by one of the 
 companies. As most of those present were entirely un- 
 acquainted with the country to be passed over, and as 
 they were anxious to place themselves in a safe posi- 
 tion, some one proposed that Kit Carson should be em- 
 ployed as a guide, provided his services could be had. 
 This was ruled out. The amusing part of this incident 
 consists in the reason which governed this judgment. 
 It was on account of the fear that he might lead them 
 out of their way in order to engage in some bloody In- 
 dian fight, it being generally represented and believed 
 that he was sanguinarily inclined. Cheap literature 
 had so ferociously made the man, that he, of all men 
 most experienced, could not be trusted, showing thereby 
 how little had been known of the real Kit Carson. 
 
 23 
 
394 THE LAST TEAPPIKG EXPEDITION. 
 
 CHAPTEE XV. 
 
 Kit Carson's last Trapping Expedition— He Embarks in a Speculation — 
 His Trip to California with a large Flock of Sheep — The Methods em- 
 ployed by Mexicans in driving Herds and their Dexterity — Kit Carson 
 goes to San Francisco — Its wonderful Growth — Maxwell joins Kit 
 Carson at Sacramento City — The Lucky Speculation — The Return 
 Trip to New Mexico and its Adventures — The Mormon Delegate to 
 Congress informs Kit Carson of his Appointment as Indian Agent — 
 Kit Carson enters upon the Duties of his Office — Bell's Fight with the 
 Apaches on Red River — Kit Carson's Interview with the same Indians — 
 High-handed Measures on the Part of the Apaches — Davidson's Des- 
 perate Fight with them — The Soldiers defeated with Severe Loss — 
 Davidson's Bravery is unjustly Questioned — Kit Carson's Opinion of 
 it — The Apaches elated by their Victory — Their Imitations of the Ac- 
 tions of Military Men. 
 
 The expedition into the United States, which termi- 
 nated with the last chapter, proved to be valuable in 
 its results, so far as the parties engaged in it were con- 
 cerned. Kit Carson was once more trying hard to 
 keep quiet in his comfortable home at Rayado. But 
 his restless spirit was not proof against this inactivity. 
 His stay at home, therefore, was short. The memories 
 of other days came upon him, and he longed once more 
 to enjoy, in company with the " friends of his youth," 
 the scenes, excitements and pleasures of his old life as 
 trapper. Throughout his eventful life, as the reader 
 has been able clearly to see, Kit Carson seldom spent 
 his time in idle thinking. His thoughts almost invari- 
 ably took form in actions. This eager longing resulted, 
 
MEETING FRIENDS OF lilS YOUTH. 895 
 
 therefore, in the forming of a regular trapping expedi- 
 tion, after the olden style, shape, etc., which he organ- 
 ized with great care and attention. The members of 
 the party were selected by himself, chiefly with great 
 exclusiveness, and numbers who wished to join the 
 party w^ere refused, on account of their inexperience. 
 After a good deal of inquiry. Kit succeeded in collect- 
 ing eighteen of his old companions No one among 
 them was not entitled to be called a mountaineer. Kit 
 looked upon his party of men with an e3'e of real affec- 
 tion. The meeting, previous to the start, was a scene 
 to behold. Such a greeting of old friends, well tried 
 and true, will never again be seen on the American 
 continent. The day when men went trapping was 
 "long time ago." Kit Carson, as he stood among his 
 band of friends, the acknowledged leader of the party, 
 every man of whom he knew would have periled his 
 life for either one of the company, felt that, indeed, 
 the days of his youth had returned unto him. 
 
 Everything preliminary was arranged in the most 
 approved style. When all was complete. Kit Carson, 
 mounted on his magnificent charger, Apache, riding to 
 the head of the line, gave the order to march. Kit had 
 put it to vote, and the result was unanimous, that the 
 expedition should be no boys' play. On the contrary, 
 the boldest and one of the longest of the routes known to 
 their experienced footsteps was selected. It comprised 
 many of the mighty rivers of the Rocky Mountains, 
 every one of which was almost a hunting ground by 
 itself Onward, over the wild and broad plains, this 
 band of stalwart men^ brave and kindred spirits, dashed. 
 They soon put many a mile between them and the 
 comfortable firesides at Rayado. But these miles, Kit 
 
396 BEAYER IN GREAT NUMBERS. 
 
 Carson has often said, were the shortest he ever trav- 
 eled. The way was beguiled hy many a recollection, in 
 which every man present could participate with a rel- 
 ish, keen as disuse alone can render the palate of en- 
 joyment. In a short time the well-remembered waters 
 of the South Fork of the River Platte were descried. 
 Their practiced eyes soon discovered the oft-noted 
 "signs of the beaver." The camp was formed and the 
 traps set. The beaver, so long left to mind their own 
 business, had increased in great numbers. The hunt 
 proved correspondingly successful. The party contin- 
 ued working down the stream through the plains of 
 Laramie to the North Park, and from thence on to the 
 South Park We cannot follow them through this 
 long and enlivening hunt. They trapped a large 
 number of their old streams until, finally, the expe- 
 dition terminated on the Arkansas River. Through- 
 out the whole course the hunt proved to be very suc- 
 cessful. With a large stock of furs they returned in 
 safety to Rayado, via the Raton Mountains, which are 
 spurs of the great Rocky chain. 
 
 The fact that most of the old trappers had given up 
 their vocation, furnishes the reason why the beaver 
 were found, along the entire route, to be so plentiful. 
 We desire that the reader shall paint for himself the 
 enjoyment which these men gathered in this renewal 
 of a pursuit rendered congenial by the experience of 
 long years of activity in following it. It has been our 
 purpose to enable the reader to gather a spark of this 
 same enjoyment by the endeavor to make of him an 
 amateur trapper. He has followed Kit Carson through- 
 out the trapping expeditions of his earlier life. It is to 
 be supposed that with Kit he has acquired some expe- 
 
"there she blows." 397 
 
 rionce. With Kit, therefore, he shall now receive his 
 final polishing, and if he does not in the end catch a 
 bea\'er, he shall at least learn how they are caught, and 
 all the necessary minutia) of toil which he must expect 
 to encounter and undergo. 
 
 On striking any river, when on the hunt, the trap- 
 pers are accustomed to keep a bright lookout for signs, 
 often heretofore referred to. The word "signs" con- 
 veys but a vague idea of its all-important meaning, as 
 it was received by the trappers. The news of the 
 presence of "signs" sent a thrill of joy through the 
 hunters of the olden time onlj' equaled on board 
 of whale-ships when the man at the lookout cries, 
 ^^ There she blows.'' It rarely happens that this cun- 
 ning, amphibious animal can be seen moving free, 
 either on the river banks or in the water ; for nature 
 has given him no powerful weapons with which to de- 
 fend himself when surprised and attacked ; but, what 
 is better, she has endowed him with exceedino^lv sensi- 
 tive eyesight and hearing, which enables him to detect 
 the approach of danger in time to escape. The marks, 
 however, which he leaves behind are, for a time, in- 
 effaceable. These were onl}^ to be detected and used 
 for his own purposes, by the superior intellect of man. 
 The unequaled industry of gnawing down trees and 
 cutting twigs, peelmg off the tender cuticle of the 
 willow bushes, digging away banks, and carrying on 
 their shovel-shaped tail the earth, together with in- 
 numerable foot-prints and sometimes dams, were the 
 items which filled up the catalogue of "signs" on 
 which the trapper's vision was regaled after long and 
 dangerous tramps in search of them. These "signs" 
 were not always found together ; but, instead, they 
 
398 EXPLODING ERRONEOUS IDEAS. 
 
 each could exist separately, and thus would arouse the 
 hunter's suspicion of game near by. The little twig, 
 as it floated down the stream, half denuded of its bark, 
 would go unheeded by the casual observer, but, to the 
 experienced trapper, it was a prize to be obtained ; for, 
 by its freshness, it indicated to his mind how near he 
 was to the chance of obtaining and adding another 
 pound or so of valuable fur to his stock on hand. To 
 him this small event, or one like it, as for instance a 
 fresh foot-print, with its neatly-defined claw-tracks, as 
 moulded in the moistened earth or sand, was of greater 
 importance than the wonderful and striking workman- 
 ship exhibited in a dam ; for, the latter might be old 
 and deserted, w^hereas, the former was too recent to 
 cause him to be deceived with such a sign ; and in 
 such a vicinity he hesitated not to set his trap. 
 
 An idea prevails which ought to be exploded. It is 
 boldly asserted that the beaver builds his dam for the 
 purpose of having a nice swimming-pond in the neigh- 
 borhood of his residence, which is always located in the 
 river's bank. This is not true ; for, in every stream 
 which he inhabits, if this was his sole object, he could 
 select many natural places where the water is without 
 a ripple and where it is both deep and broad. The ani- 
 mal has a wiser object in view ; and it consists in pro- 
 viding against the pinching wants of hunger during 
 winter, when nearly everything green has lost its sap 
 and nutrition, and is, as a body, without blood and ani- 
 mation. He therefore chooses a place favorable for 
 obtaining food, and also where his labors will be assisted 
 by natural formations or accidents in the river's course 
 and construction. Having pitched upon the right section 
 to build, he sets to work with his fellows and fells giant 
 
SYSTEMATIC BUILDING. 399 
 
 trees. In this he again exhibits his wonderful instinct ; 
 for, while one party is cutting with their sharp teeth 
 the hard wood of one side of the tree, another division 
 is actively employed on the other side, never forgetting 
 to make, like unto the woodman, the lowest incision on 
 the side the tree is to fall, which, to suit their purposes, is 
 always directly into and across the stream. When a tree 
 is thus fallen, it is attacked in its branches, which are so 
 turned and woven together in the outline of the dam as 
 to catch in their meshes any floating material, or receive 
 the tail-loads of soil and rubbish which they carry to it. 
 Another and another tree are then systematically fallen 
 and arranged as is the first, until tlie work is finished 
 as completely as if it had been planned and executed 
 by a reasoning mind. The finishing stroke is the trans- 
 porting of the mud and laying it. In this labor, they 
 show themselves to be excellent masons. They now 
 act in concert. A large gang marches in line to the 
 bank, where they load each other's tails and swim with, 
 their cargoes elevated above and free from the water. 
 When they arrive at an unfinished point of the dam, 
 they dump the mud and mould it in place. Their 
 houses they have previously built in the river banks 
 These consist of holes which lead into large and airy 
 subterranean rooms, and which are above the water- 
 mark. In these houses they are said to sleep and live 
 in pairs; and, if we could believe the story of the trap- 
 per, related many pages back, they imitate human be- 
 ings in managing their household and in keeping house. 
 The main oljject they have in staying the progress of 
 the current of the river is to afford a deep place where, 
 having fallen numbers of trees, the deep water will pre- 
 serve tender and fresh the limbs and shrubs on which to 
 
400 DOMESTICATED BEAVER. 
 
 subsist during, not only time present, but also time to 
 come. It is well known that fresh branches of trees 
 and young willows, when placed in water, will keep up 
 partial life for a considerable length of time. On this 
 principle, the beaver acts in submerging his food deep 
 in the water, where it will retain its verdure, and where 
 the freezing process that is going on at the surflice of 
 the river will not bar his efforts in getting at his store 
 of provisions during the winter season. It is said that 
 the beaver goes so far as to bundle up small branches 
 of trees and willows, which he stows away in the muddy 
 bottom of the river. The trapper, in his wondrous 
 yarns, insists that there are grades of society among 
 beavers, the same as among men ; and he will have it 
 that they have their "head chiefs," and that often indi- 
 viduals am.ong them roll in wealth, and that they have 
 slaves who stand ready to do their master's bidding at 
 a moment's warning ; for instance, to bring them a 
 bundle of green twigs on which to feast. According to 
 their imaginative stories, the life of a beaver cannot be 
 rivaled in happiness ; and if we could put full credence 
 in their descriptions of the pastimes of the animal, his 
 palaces and luxuries, we could only compare a beaver 
 to a citizen of Venice in her m^ost palmy daj's — the dif- 
 ference between the two being, that the former enjoyed 
 himself more in the water tlian the latter did on it in 
 his favorite gondola. 
 
 The beaver, when captured young, can be sufficiently 
 domesticated to make him a pet; but their unattractive 
 form is anything but an ornament to the house. Y/itli 
 young children, they are very friendly, though their 
 disposition is amiable to any one. They are \Qvy neat 
 in their person, and, when moved from their comrades 
 
SUPERSTITIOUS TRAPPERS. ^ 401 
 
 and domiciled with human beings, nothing do they so 
 much Hke as being allowed the daily privilege of taking 
 a clean bath. When thus engaged, they are a curiosity 
 to look at, as they are very agile and particular in re- 
 moving every particle of dirt. We remember seeing 
 one of these pets in the Mexican town of Culehro thus 
 enjoying himself. His owner hesitated not in taking 
 the animal to the river, which was close by, and giving 
 him his freedom. On finishing his ablutions the beaver 
 returned to where his owner was standing, without 
 making an effort to escape, and by a look as much as 
 said, " I am ready to return to your home." 
 
 The signs having been discovered, the trappers next 
 select a suitable location for a camp, which they soon 
 occupy. After the pack animals are unloaded, a part 
 of the men start out to set the traps, while the remainder 
 busy themselves in looking after their wants and in 
 cooking and guarding their property, etc. The trap is 
 very much like the same instrument used in different 
 sections of the United States for catching foxes, wolves, 
 etc., excepting, that it is smaller and perhaps made with 
 more skill. Old trappers were very superstitious in 
 regard to the makers of their traps, for they entertained 
 the idea that much of their good or bad fortune de- 
 pended on the tools they worked with ; hence, they 
 always had their favorite makers, and would pay more 
 for their traps, than for those of any other maker. This 
 is true also of their rifles. For many j^ears a rifle was 
 condemned at first sight if it did not have the name 
 of Hawkins * stamped on it, and it w\as not uncommon 
 for them, when boasting of the good qualities of their 
 riding animals, if they considered them of the maximum 
 
 * Mr. Ilawkins was the owner of a large gun establishment at St. Louis, Mo. 
 
402 IN FULL DRESS FOR AN EXPEDITION. 
 
 degree of superiority, to style them " regular Hawkins 
 horses,'' thereby showing how far, in this respect, their 
 predilections grounded their opinions. 
 
 The setting of the trap required expertness and ex- 
 perience, or else it availed nothing ; for the game to be 
 caught is, as the reader can now readily conceive, very 
 wary, and his suspicions of there being anything wrong 
 near at hand, had to be allayed by concealing as much 
 as possible the instrument from view ; yet it must not 
 be far from the surface of the water ; and then again 
 it had to be firmly fixed in its position, by being made 
 fast to something that was firm, so as to prevent its be- 
 ing dragged off. The trapper, while thus engaged, is 
 in the water. About his waist there is a strap to which 
 is attached a pouch in which is carried the bait. Every- 
 thing being arranged, the trap is set and the bait ap- 
 plied, when the man notes the place where he has been 
 at work, so as to recognize it again, and then takes his 
 departure, to return early the following morning. The 
 beaver, during this interim, is attracted by the peculiar 
 scent of the bait, and, as a reward for his curiosity, he 
 generally is caught by one of his paws, and thus falls a 
 prey to the hunter's pleasure. The traps, when visited, 
 are relieved of the contents and then set again. The 
 game is put out of its misery and carried to camp, 
 where it is skinned, and where all the pelts recently 
 taken are stretched out, dried, cured, and packed in 
 small bales, whenever a sufficient quantity is obtained 
 so to do with it. The trapper, when in full dress for 
 an expedition, and especially after having been on one 
 with its concomitant hair-breadth escapes, Indian and 
 bear fights, etc., cuts, to all appearances, a sorrowful 
 figure. His wardrobe is meager in the extreme, yet it 
 
THE trapper's OUTFIT. 403 
 
 answers all of his purposes, and the man would have no 
 other. When summed up, it would be found to consist 
 usually of two pairs of moccasins, one (or two pair) of 
 buckskin pantaloons, two woolen shirts, a loose, fringed 
 buckskin coat and an old slouched hat (usually made of 
 some kind of skin with the fur on). His baggage, lim- 
 ited to a very small bundle, comprises his blankets, a 
 bufflilo robe or two, a spare hide of dressed buckskin, 
 his extra garments above spoken of, and a little tobacco 
 (when it can be had). These, with his camp kettle and 
 outfit of powder, lead, extra traps, scanty allowance of 
 provisions, guns, pistols, horses, bridles,* saddles, etc., 
 make up his traveling and working kit; it may be only 
 for a few months, or it may be for years. With them 
 he was ready to penetrate the loftiest mountains and 
 unexplored regions. This is but a true picture, in a 
 brief space, of the appearance of Kit Carson and the 
 resources of his earlier days, the tools he had to work 
 with, the mode of doing his labor, and the habits of the 
 animal he diligently hunted for several j'ears, in order 
 that his fellow-man might convert into a luxury the 
 products of his toil ; yet, had he been allowed the 
 choice, he w^ould not have exchanged situations with 
 the consumer of the commodity. In the company of 
 his boon companions, and enjoying the pure mountain 
 air, he had often seen as happy hours as ever fell to 
 the lot of any man. And now he was starting out on 
 probably his last trapping expedition. 
 
 The party did not return to their homes until sev- 
 
 * These saddles and bridles are queer-looking articles; but, for use, they could not 
 be surpassed either for durability or comfort. Their bridle bits are the same as are used 
 by the Mexicans. They are very powerful, and intended for managing wild lior.^es and 
 mules, particularly the latter. With one in his mouth, an animal cannot drink or feed. 
 A JJexican only waters his horse twice a day when traveling, viz., morning and night. 
 
404 IN THE SHEEP BUSINESS. 
 
 eral months had expired, and, as much of the excite- 
 ment that used to pertain to their former exploits had 
 been worn off from the changes brought about by civ- 
 ilization, they decided that this, as far as they were 
 concerned, should be their last trapping expedition ; 
 therefore, this visit to their old haunts was a sort of 
 funeral service performed over their early adventures. 
 On quitting each flivorite river, the trappers felt that 
 they were shaking hands with the streams and bidding 
 them, one by one, a final good-by. 
 
 Kit Carson, after disposing of his beaver, occuj)ied 
 himself in attending to his ranch, and was thus em- 
 ployed when news was brought to New Mexico of the 
 exorbitant prices which sheep were bringing in Cali- 
 fornia, lie made up his mind to embark in a specula- 
 tion in those animals by collecting a herd and driving 
 it to that territory. He set out for the valley of Rio 
 Abajo, which lies to the south of Santa Fe, and there, 
 to his satisfaction, made his purchases. In company 
 with two friends, after employing a suitable number 
 of shepherds, he commenced his journey and traveled 
 northward to Fort Laramie, where he came to and fol- 
 lowed the emig-rant road that leads direct into Cali- 
 fornia via Salt Lake, etc. In the month of August, 
 1853, after meeting with very trifling losses, as he 
 traveled very slowly and understood thoroughly the 
 business he was employed in. Kit Carson, with his flock 
 of sixty-five hundred sheep, reached the point of his 
 destination in California, where he found no difficulty 
 in disposing of them at the rate of five dollars and 
 fifty cents per head. 
 
 The making of these long journeys with such large 
 herds of sheep, over a diversified country, sometimes 
 
TPwOUBLESOME TRIBES OF INDIANS. 405 
 
 abounding in water and grass, while on the other hand, 
 and not unfrequently, for many miles, the earth is bar- 
 ren, is a difficult task. When broad, deep and swift 
 rivers are to be forded, it requires dexterity and man- 
 agement to prevent heavy losses. 
 
 The trail which Kit Carson followed to Fort Laramie 
 is now a well-beaten path. It runs almost due north 
 from Taos, and abounds, in the proper season, in good 
 grass and water. For about one hundred and twenty 
 miles, it passes through a broken country, but when 
 that distance is accomplished, the traveler is ushered 
 on to the plains and keeps on them for most of the 
 way close under the Eocky Mountains. The scenery 
 on this route is most magnificent, and at times as grand 
 perhaps as can be seen in any part of the world. The 
 distance from Taos, Kit Carson's starting-point, .to 
 Laramie Eiver, is counted by hundreds of miles ; and 
 in this great tract of country, there lived several of the 
 largest and most troublesome tribes of Indians in the 
 far West. The names of these tribes are the Utahs, 
 Apaches, Arrapahoes, Cheyennes and Sioux. A man 
 with a large drove of sheep is so conspicuous an object 
 that he is certain to attract their notice and bring: 
 them to him. Kit Carson, however, was well received 
 by them and allowed to pass unmolested. They were 
 pleased to find so formidable an enemy moving boldly 
 into their country and bearing the olive-branch of 
 peace. He, however, forgot not to pay them toll by 
 preseuting them with a suitable number of the sheep. 
 In this way he prevented them from being tempted to 
 steal from him. This is a usual custom, and the In- 
 dians expect that this sort of attention will be shown 
 them. They do not like, at all seasons of the year, to 
 
406 SQUAWS COLLECTING TOLL. 
 
 have these herds pass through their country. Being 
 so large, they eat up much of their grass, which assists 
 greatly to drive away the game. We remember on 
 one occasion that an American, in charge of several 
 thousand sheep, started on a journey from New Mexico 
 to CaUfornia. Everything went prosperously with the 
 man until he left the Raton Mountains and entered the 
 country inhabited by the Arrapahoes and Cheyennes. 
 At first, he was received in a friendly manner by these 
 Indians ; but was commanded by them to rest where 
 he was until they went ahead and killed their annual 
 amount of buffalo. This the man could not do ; for 
 the season was so far advanced that if he delayed, and 
 then attempted to make California, he would be cer- 
 tainly overtaken by snow-storms which would bury him 
 and his property in the mountains. In vain he used 
 his best endeavors to impress this state of affairs on 
 the minds of the Indians. They would not listen to 
 him or sanction his going on, and threatened to pun- 
 ish him if he undertook to disobey them. Bidding 
 defiance to these threats, this man started ; but had 
 only proceeded a few miles, when a band of one hun- 
 dred squaws, mounted on horseback, overtook him and 
 dashed into his herd, and with savage delight put to 
 death one hundred and fifty of the sheep before their 
 owner's eyes and without his being able to stop them. 
 The carcasses of the slaughtered animals were left to 
 rot on the ground, thereby showing that the Indians 
 did not stand in need of food, but that they wished to 
 teach the intruder a lesson which he would be apt to 
 remember. These women had been sent out by their 
 husbands, who no doubt were close by in case their 
 services should be needed, to show to the white man 
 
PECULIARITIES OF INDIAN WOMEN. 407 
 
 the contempt tliej had of his power. The result was 
 that the American was obhged to return to New 
 Mexico, from whence he came. When he set out 
 again, he chose what is known as the Southern Route, 
 which runs via the Rio GiLa and strikes California in 
 its lower section. 
 
 In the Rocky Mountains, the Indian women are 
 rather small in stature, but, from their constant exer- 
 cise they are physically very strong. They are natu- 
 rally not wanting in modesty ; but, being compelled to 
 work, and even engage in war, they soon become rough- 
 ened and hardened. Their dresses consist principally 
 of deer skins, and sometimes they are very tastefully 
 arranged. They give birth to their children with great 
 ease, and, as they have not become martyrs to fashions, 
 or dress, they suffer but little inconvenience from this 
 provision of nature. The children learn, during their 
 earliest years, to look out for themselves, and soon be- 
 , come expert at it. The marriage ceremony amounts to 
 little or nothing, and consists of a mere barter. The 
 warrior is obliged to pay so many horses to the father 
 for the bride. We remember, on one occasion, buying 
 a superior pony from a trader, who said that he had 
 obtained him from his Indian owner with great diffi- 
 culty. The facts were as follows: This Indian was in 
 love with a young maiden of his tribe. The young 
 girl wished some silver ornaments which the trader 
 had. The only thing the warrior had to exchange for 
 these trinkets, was his prized pony. An old chief stood 
 by with the trader and saw the warrior look and sigh at 
 his horse. The chief gave the trader a wink, and said 
 in a low tone of voice to him : " That man loves his 
 horse and he loves his affianced bride, but the bride 
 
408 TERRIBLE SYMPTOMS OF HYDROPHOBIA. 
 
 elect will conquer. Hold on, and he will sacrifice the 
 horse to please the girl. His love for her is the deep- 
 est feeling." Sure enough this came true, and w^e never 
 regretted that it was so. The pony proved a valuable 
 addition to our stock of animals. 
 
 Besides the many dangers to his flock w^hich a person 
 runs the risk of, both from the numerous accidents to 
 which it is liable, and the unwelcome visits of the In- 
 dians when thus traveling, there are others which may 
 occasionally happen to his own person. He may be, 
 while standing guard, suddenly attacked and bitten by 
 a mad wolf On this event occurring, he is almost cer- 
 tain to be seized with that terrible, and we might as 
 well add incurable disease, hydrophobia, which renders 
 him a most pitiful object to behold. From a human be- 
 ing so recently respected and beloved by his companions, 
 a person, thus unfortunate, is suddenly changed into an 
 object most dreaded and detested. A party of Mexi- 
 cans in charge of a large herd of sheep, a few years^ 
 since, were bound to California. One night a large, 
 ferocious wolf entered the camp, and bit a man in the 
 leg. Symptoms of hydrophobia very soon set in, and 
 in a short time the victim was a confirmed case of the 
 disease. His comrades had no proper means of taking 
 care of and transporting him, as they were hundreds of 
 miles from the nearest house. They were superstitious, 
 and believed that all would die if they kept the man's 
 company any longer ; accordingly, they drove a stake 
 in the ground, to which they inhumanly secured him ; 
 and, after depositing a small allowance of provisions 
 near by, they left him to die. Human bones were 
 afterwards found near the identical spot where it was 
 said this unfortunate incident happened, which ofiered 
 
ROCKY MOUNTAIN SHEEP. 409 
 
 strong circumstantial evidence that the man had eked 
 out a miserable existence soon after he was deserted by 
 his so-called friends, and also, that the truth of this story 
 rested upon strong probability. 
 
 When the Americans first obtained possession of 
 New Mexico, sheep could be bought at the rate of 
 twenty-five cents per head. The reason of this was, 
 the want of a market and the ease with which they 
 were raised. Cheapness of labor also assisted in reduc- 
 ing their value. The wool of these sheep was rather 
 coarse, resembling hair more than wool. The only 
 use in which it was employed, was for manufacturing 
 blankets, rough carpet, and in filling mattresses. The 
 valley of the Eio Grande is wonderful as a sheep grow- 
 ino: countrv. The mountain districts also cannot be 
 excelled in this respect. Their fitness for grazing is 
 best exemplified by their abounding in the famous 
 Rocky Mountain sheep. In many respects this animal 
 resembles the chamois. They live on the tops of the 
 highest peaks, eat the tenderest grass, and produce the 
 finest flavored mutton in the world. One of their 
 heads, with the horns, often weighs one hundred 
 pounds. To shoot them requires all of an experienced 
 hunter's skill, and, when he has brought down one of 
 these trophies, he feels he has done more than if he- 
 had killed ten deer. The sight of one of these moun- 
 tain sheep, as perched on a high, rocky peak, is beau- 
 tiful. The hostile Indians are the main drawback in 
 New Mexico, to the successfid raising of sheep. 
 
 The usual modus operandi employed by Mexican 
 herders, who cannot be surpassed in their vocation, to 
 which they appear to take intuitively, although many 
 of them serve an apprenticeship at it, which begins 
 
 24 
 
410 A BRIDGE OF CARCASSES. 
 
 with early life and ends only by death, is, to send a 
 youth who leads a goat in advance of the flock. From 
 some strange and unaccountable reason, the sheep 
 will follow him, even to the crossing of rivers whose 
 currents are deep and swift. The shepherds, with their 
 dogs to assist them when necessary, allow the herd to 
 scatter over a space varying in its size, but always 
 allowing sufficient area so that the animals can move 
 on at their ease, and at the same time be able to feed. 
 The danger above all others that is to be apprehended 
 and guarded against, while thus traveling, is crowding; 
 for, in this manner, when journeying through deep 
 gorges in the mountains and over the precipitous 
 banks of rivers, hundreds of sheep can be, and not 
 unfrequently are, smothered. When this crowding 
 commences, it is next to impossible to arrest it ; a 
 sort of panic prevails over the entire herd, and they 
 rush on, one on top of another, until a mass of dead 
 and dying is thus piled up and a barrier is made ; or 
 else until, as most frequently happens, a bridge of car- 
 casses is formed over which the survivors pass in safety. 
 The Indians who inhabit the country on the A^arious 
 routes to California, have a strong predilection for 
 mutton, which is a fact to bear in mind when mi- 
 grating with this sort of property. Such accidents as 
 having a few sheep bitten by rattlesnakes, and also a 
 certain percentage becoming foot-sore and breaking 
 down from fatigue, are connnon to every herd that 
 crosses the Rocky Mountains. Economy in living is 
 the great fundamental principle among the lower classes 
 of the Mexicans ; therefore, when a sheep is going to 
 die from fatigue, or any simple disease, natural death 
 is anticipated by the herders with the aid of the hunt- 
 
KIT VISITS SAX FRANCISCO. 411 
 
 ing-knife, and the meat, being dressed and cooked, is 
 unhesitatingly eaten by them. Next to the Mexican 
 shepherd, his dog, although he is not generally a 
 handsome animal, is found to be ever faithful in 
 guarding the flocks. The greatest enemy to the herds 
 is the wolf; and in keeping them at bay, and prevent- 
 ing their inroads by night, the dog is capable of per- 
 forming valuable service ; hence, no band of sheep 
 should cross the plains and mountains without a full 
 complement of them. It was at one of the frontier 
 towns of California that Kit Carson disposed of his 
 flock. There, having heard of the rapid and marvel- 
 ous growth of San Francisco, he made up his mind to 
 verify these reports with his own eyes, for he was well 
 acquainted with its ancient aspect. 
 
 San Francisco had now^ had, since the year 1848, to 
 grow under the impulse of the gold fever. Kit Carson 
 remembered it, a Spanish settlement, as it existed in 
 1S45-G-7, then containing not over two hundred in- 
 habitants. In 1847, the first gold discovery was made 
 at Sutter's Fort. In two months thereafter, about 
 $250,000 in gold dust were carried into the town. The 
 next two months, $600,000 more. In February, 1849, 
 the population of the town was two thousand. In six 
 months follow^ing, it increased to five thousand. In the 
 early part of the year 1850, the population had in- 
 creased to nearly twenty thousand. In 1852, accord- 
 ing to the census, it was thirty-four thousand eight 
 hundred and seventy, and in ]S70, the population was 
 one hundred cvid foriij-nine thousand f our Inindvcd and 
 stvrnly -three. Truly a marvelous growth. '1 he first 
 settlement made at San Francisco was corrunenced 
 in the year 1776. The place was then called Yerba 
 
412 WEAIUED BY BEING LIOXIZED. 
 
 Buena, or Good Herb, from the fact that an herb of 
 that name, which was supposed to have great medicmal 
 value, grew in rich luxuriance over the surrounding 
 country. The houses were at first built of adobes, or 
 sun-dried bricks. It is now one of the most important 
 cities on the western continent. 
 
 As Kit Carson neared this great emporium of Cali- 
 fornia, possessed of some of the details of its astonish- 
 incr onrowth, and rememberinp^ it as it existed when its 
 inhabitants could be easily counted in an hour, he was 
 perfectly astonished to behold the great changes which 
 a few short years had produced. 
 
 Had it not been for the immovable landmarks about 
 the city and the familiar scenery of the bay, he would 
 have been entirely at a loss in considering that this 
 was the spot, called San Francisco, which he had visited 
 in former years. This metropolis, however, like all oth- 
 ers, presented few attractions to Kit Carson's vision, 
 further than its objects of curiosity, which were a source 
 of interest and amusement to him. When he had fin- 
 ished sight-seeing he was ready and anxious to be on 
 his way to New Mexico. Previous to his setting out, 
 he went on business to Sacramento City. While there, 
 he received a message from his friend and partner, 
 Maxwell, asking him to wait until the latter could come 
 in with a herd of sheep from Carson River, when they 
 could join forces and return home together. 
 
 Kit Carson's stay in California was shortened by the 
 annoyance (as he considered it) of being made a lion. 
 His society was constantly courted by men whom he 
 had never seen ; he was passed free on steamboats rtnd 
 to all places of public amusement; and, in fact, the 
 people, in acknowledging his worth, treated him with 
 
HIGHLY llOXORED AND FAVORED. 413 
 
 marked distinction. He was pointed out, wherever he 
 went, as a man who had done the State great service. 
 This reward of his merit was indeed a just tribute to 
 his worth. Kit felt himself highly honored and favored, 
 but he did not expect or wish such attention. He felt 
 himself to be a humble individual, who had honestly 
 and faithfully performed his duty, as it had been as- 
 signed to him, and his modesty would not allow him to 
 ask or be wilHng to receive any other than the unex- 
 pressed opinion of the people. There were some men 
 (there always are such persons in every community) 
 wdio sought his company expecting to hear him boast 
 of his deeds and proclaim himself a hero such as had 
 never before existed ; but, what must have been their 
 surprise on seeing his unassuming bearing, his disre- 
 gard of notoriety, and his anxiety to escape that popu- 
 larity which they themselves would have highly prized. 
 Tired by the anxiety and hard work of bringing his 
 property over a long and dangerous journey to a good 
 market, he had looked for rest and retirement ; but 
 instead, he was everywhere sought out and made 
 conspicuous. 
 
 And here we pause to speak of the noble qualities 
 of moral character and good judgment evinced by Kit 
 Carson on this occasion of his eventful life. He found 
 himself surrounded with the choice spirits of the new 
 El Dorado ; his name a prestige of strength and posi- 
 tion, and his society courted by everybody. The siren 
 voice of pleasure failed not to speak in his ear her most 
 flattering invitations. Good-fellowship took him inces- 
 santly by the hand, desiring to lead him into the paths 
 of dissipation. But tlie gay vortex, with all its bril- 
 liancy, had no attractions for him 3 the wdne-cup, with 
 
414 A PROFITABLE BUSINESS OPERATION. 
 
 its sparkling arguments, failed to convince his calm 
 earnestness of character, that his simple habits of life 
 needed remodeling. To the storm, however, he was 
 exposed ; but, like a good ship during the gale, he 
 weathered the fierce blast, and finally took his depart- 
 ure from the new city of a day, with his character un- 
 tarnished, but nevertheless leaving behind him many 
 golden opinions. With a hurried farewell and many 
 kind remembrances of the good people of California^ 
 he left their great city to return to a home where he 
 was certain to find a life better suited to his tastes. 
 Money-getting had no charms for him. Had he chosen 
 to accept some of the offers made him while then in 
 San Francisco, he could easily have amassed an immense 
 fortune. But his home had now the greater allure- 
 ments, and a legitimate business gave him the certainty 
 of comfort. The power merely which wealth assumes, 
 Kit Carson never had desired to grasp. 
 
 The time had nearly arrived for the appearance of 
 Maxwell. He finally joined Kit Carson, when the two 
 immediately engaged in the very profitable work of dis- 
 posing of their sheep. The market proved to be quite 
 active — so much so that they disposed of their entire 
 flock at, high cash values without the least difficulty. 
 The speculation thus proved to be highly satisfactory to 
 all concerned. In a monetary point of view, the adven- 
 ture proved to be the most fortunate in which Kit Car- 
 son had been engaged. Heretofore, money had been 
 a second consideration with Kit Carson. He had di- 
 rected his energies and attention to almost everything, 
 or at least to many tilings besides its accumulation. 
 
 The sums Avhich he had received for the important 
 services rendered both to government officers and pri- 
 
KIT DOES NOT LIKE THE SEA. 415 
 
 vate individuals, had been expended on the wants of 
 his family and on his suffering friends and countrymen. 
 A trifling amount had always sufficed to satisfy his own 
 immediate desires. The calls upon his purse, at the 
 end of each year, had left, therefore, but little which 
 he could call his own. The snug sum now at his dis- 
 posal, Kit Carson determined to lay by ; and serving 
 as a nucleus, around it, he has since accumulated 
 enough amply to supply those comforts which will tend, 
 in his old age, to make him happy. Maxwell and Car- 
 son decided to return to their homes by the southern 
 route, which runs through the country on and adjacent 
 to the Eio Gila. Maxwell determined to take a 
 steamer down the coast as far as Los Angelos, distant 
 from San Francisco about three hundred and fifty miles, 
 and used his best endeavors to persuade his friend Kit 
 Carson to accompany him. In this, however, he failed. 
 Already one cruise over a part of the ocean route 
 which Maxwell contemplated making, had been made 
 by Kit Carson in 1846, and which had so sickened him 
 of sea life, that he resolved never to travel on salt 
 water again while it was in his power to obtain a mule 
 to assist him in journeying by land. Maxwell, by his 
 water conveyance, reached Los Angelos fifteen days in 
 advance of Kit Carson, and employed himself in mak- 
 ing the necessary preparations for their trip to New 
 Mexico. When Kit rejoined his companion, everything 
 was in readiness for them to proceed on their route, 
 and, in a day or so afterwards, they started. Every- 
 thing favored them until they reached a village belong- 
 ing to some Pimo Indians, and located on the Rio Gila. 
 Here the grass became suddenly very scarce. They 
 learned from these Indians that the season had been 
 
416 A PRAIRIE O^ FIRE. 
 
 unusually dry, and that, if they attempted to proceed 
 on the regular trail, they would do so at the risk of 
 losing their animals by starvation. While undecided 
 as to which was the best course to pursue. Kit Carson 
 informed the party that he could guide them over a 
 new route which, though difficult and rough to travel, 
 he felt confident would afford sufficient forage to an- 
 swer all their purposes. At once the men agreed to 
 be governed by their experienced friend's advice, and, 
 having signified to him their willingness to do so, they 
 resumed their march, following up the Eio Gila, until 
 they came to the mouth of the San Pedro, when they 
 struck out up the latter for three days, and then parted 
 with it to risk the chances of reaching, at the end of 
 each day, the small mountain creeks that lay on their 
 contemplated route. After traveling in as direct a 
 course as the nature of the country would admit, they 
 arrived seasonably at the copper mines of New Mexico. 
 
 One day the party found themselves entirely desti- 
 tute of fresh meat, and Carson, with three men, includ- 
 ing a friendly Pimo Indian, started out for a hunt, ex- 
 pecting to be gone but for a few hours, the balance 
 of the party in the meantime going into camp, to await 
 their return. 
 
 For some days the air had been filled with a disagree- 
 able and suffocating smoke, indicating a distant fire, 
 which seemed to be rapidly working its way towards 
 them. At times the sun was completely obscured by 
 low, black clouds. 
 
 Night came, and Carson and party did not return, 
 and the dark clouds which overhung them like an im- 
 mense mantle, now assumed a horrible lurid glare all 
 alonij: the horizon, which in no deirrce tended to lessen 
 
 i 
 
WAITING IN HORRIBLE SUSPENSE. 417 
 
 their anxiety. No one in the party felt competent to 
 guide the band to a phice of safety ;, and one and all 
 thought their laSt day had come. All through the 
 night they watched and waited. As far as the eye 
 could reach was a glowing belt of fire, eagerly devour- 
 ing everything that came in its way. What could be 
 the flite of the hunting party ? The first thought was, 
 that they had been attacked and killed by their old 
 enemies, the Indians ; but this seemed hardly possible, 
 for they were not then in a hostile country. They 
 could but wait in horrible suspense. The morning 
 came, and they found that the fire had almost encom- 
 passed them, and hastily packing their mules, prepared 
 to make their escape. As they were about to start, 
 one of the party gave a loud cheer, and pointed in the 
 direction of the fire, from whence, coming at full speed, 
 the long-looked-for Carson and comrades appeared. No 
 time was lost in getting out of the uncomfortable 
 position in which the fire had placed them. Carson, it 
 seems, had started off in search of game, which, being 
 unusually scarce, led him a long distance from camp. 
 He had noticed the fire ; but, from the direction which 
 it was then taking, it could not reach his friends, and, 
 consequently, it caused him no uneasiness. A sudden 
 change of the wind, however, started the fire directly 
 for the camp, and cut ofi* his retreat. He at once put 
 spur to his horse, and made a long detour, hoping to 
 meet his companions of the hunt and enter the camp 
 on the opposite side. He rode nearly all night, and at 
 last succeeded in finding his friends, when it was de- 
 cided to make a break directly through the fire, which 
 w^as successfully doue, much to the joy of the encamped 
 party. 
 
418 A ROUGH AND RUGGED ROAD. 
 
 While pursuing this experimental journey, Kit Car- 
 son, who was well acquainted with the general outline 
 of the country, but was not equally conversant with it 
 in reference to the certainty of finding eligible camp- 
 ing-sites, where wood, water and grass, presented them- 
 selves in abundance, was frequently made the subject 
 of a tantalizing joke by the men of the party. 
 
 Occasionally his memory would not solve the ques- 
 tion, what is the next course ? He had neither map, 
 chart, nor compass, and depended entirely upon old 
 landmarks. Occasionally the resemblance of different 
 mountains, one to another, would serve to embarrass 
 him. For a time, he would become doubtful as to the 
 exact course to pursue. At such moments, the mis- 
 chievous dispositions of the men would get the better 
 of their judgment, and they would exert their lungs 
 in shouting to him, as he spurred his riding animal to 
 keep out of the sound of their raillery. He was not 
 always successful in this, and occasionally a few sen- 
 tences reached him like the following : 
 
 " Hurrah 1 " 
 
 " I say ! are you the famous Kit Carson, who knows 
 this country so well ? " 
 
 "Are you really a good pilot, or are you lost? " 
 
 These and similar expressions saluted Kit's ear — a 
 language to which he had not been heretofore accus- 
 tomed — as some impediment, such as a fallen tree, a 
 rock, a swamp, or a creek staid, for a brief period, 
 his progress, thus allowing the party to approach 
 withhi speaking distance. The remarks might have 
 temporarily chafed his spirit ; but he had too much 
 good sense to allow his friends to see that they had 
 gained any advantage over him. He rode boldly on, 
 
CARSON APPOINTED INDIAN AGENT. 421 
 
 and answered tlieir raillery with silence. He knew, 
 however, very well, that his turn would come; and, 
 when he had brought them in safety to a spot with 
 which all were familiar, he turned the tables on them 
 by retorting to tlieir questions in a playful manner, 
 which made their future interpretation of his occa- 
 sional doubt less sweeping in its conclusions. 
 
 Kit succeeded in guiding the party safely to the Cop- 
 per Mines, from whence their route was plain. From 
 the Copper Mines the party traveled through to the 
 Eio del Norte. This river is 1,800 miles in length, and 
 forms the boundary line between Texas and Mexico. 
 It takes its rise in the Rocky Mountains and empties 
 into the Gulf of Mexico. It is navigable for small 
 steamers, sloops and schooners, for a distance of about 
 four hundred and fifty miles from its mouth. About 
 nine hundred miles from its mouth, there is a spot 
 where the river is only about three or four feet deep. 
 Here the Apache and Camanche Indians always cross 
 when on their depredatory tramps into Mexico. 
 
 Leaving the Rio Grande or del Norte, the party pur- 
 sued their homeward route through the settlements of 
 the Rio Abago and Santa Fe, and finally reached Taos 
 on the twenty-third day of December, 1853. 
 
 Soon after the party entered the territory of New 
 Mexico, Kit Carson accidentally met the Mormon del- 
 egate to Congress. That person informed Kit Carson 
 that the appointment of an Indian Agent had been 
 conferred upon him. 
 
 On learning this piece of intelligence, Kit was much 
 elated. He felt that the office was perfectly suited to 
 his tastes, and he was honestly impressed with the be- 
 lief that he was capable of performing the duties of 
 
422 THE JICCAPJLLA APACHES. 
 
 this office, and of accomplishing much good. His hap- 
 piness and pride were heightened by thinking that, 
 finally, his services had met the approbation of his 
 government, the substantial proof of which was the 
 offering to him of an important trust without solicita- 
 tion on his part. Immediately on arriving at Taos, he 
 wrote an answer to the authorities at Washington, in 
 which he expressed his willingness to serve the gov- 
 ernment, and the pleasure he felt in accepting the 
 office ; at the same time he sent the necessary bond 
 required of persons who hold this appointment. 
 
 Hardly had Kit Carson been ushered into his new 
 duties before the Jiccarilla Apaches, who formed one 
 of the tribes of his agency, began to show new signs 
 of dissatisfaction by committing various kinds of out- 
 rages on the property and lives of the citizens of the 
 northern part of New Mexico. To arrest them in their 
 career and make them amenable for the crimes they 
 had already committed, Lieutenant Bell, of the Second 
 Regiment of United States Dragoons, was sent in quest 
 of them. He found them on the Red River, and at 
 once commenced operations against them. At first, 
 these red men were equally ready to break a lance in 
 combat with their foes ; but, after the soldiers had made 
 two charges and penetrated through and through their 
 ranks, they were, although in superior numbers, glad 
 to give up the mastership of the field, and run away. 
 In this fight, the Apaches lost, by his being killed, one 
 of their great chiefs, besides many warriors. On the 
 side of the soldiers, two men were killed and several 
 seriously wounded. 
 
 A short time after the news of the skirmish had 
 reached Taos, Kit Carson found it necessary, in order 
 
BEARDING THE LION IN IIIS DEN. 423 
 
 to attend to some ofTiciul business, to proceed to Santa 
 Fe ; but, just as he ^vas on the point of setting out, he 
 was informed that a harge party of these Jiccarilla 
 A2)aches had recently arrived at a place in the moun- 
 tains only about twenty miles from Taos, and were 
 there encamped. With the view of pacifying them if 
 possible. Kit Carson immediately posted thither; and, 
 with no small degree of peril attending his movements 
 — for he went unattended, and among Indians who 
 were at the time very bitter against the whites — he 
 confronted their ''head men" m their den. He needed 
 no mtroduction, for, during many years, he had been 
 well known to them. Therefore he proceeded, at once, 
 to business. After passing through the usual Indian 
 salutations, he commenced by haranguing them in a 
 style that most pleases their fancy, thereby fixing their 
 attention on Avhat he was saying. Among other things, 
 he forewarned them that the course they were pursuing, 
 if persisted in, would prove the cause of their being 
 exterminated, as their "Great Father," the President, 
 had at his disposal thousands of soldiers to replace 
 those who fell in battle, while, when their warriors 
 were killed, they could not immediately place others in 
 their moccasins. When a warrior was killed, they were 
 compelled to wait until their children grew up. He 
 added, that the "Great Father" loved his red children, 
 and through him, whose servant he was, he wished to 
 give them annuities and otherwise aid them in living 
 at peace. These Indians, on learning that Kit Carson 
 was their agent, expressed great pleasure, and, at his 
 earnest solicitation, came forward and professed friend- 
 ship. So little reliance, however, was to be placed in 
 this tribe, that Kit Carson doubted their sincerity; 
 
424 LIEUTENANT DAVIDSON IN THE FIELD. 
 
 although he exacted every pledge which he thought 
 would in the least tend to bind them to their promises, 
 he feared they would not prove true. Having finished 
 his business, Kit bent his way to Santa Fe ; but, he had 
 not more than reached there before he heard that the 
 Jiccarillas had ah^eady become tired of the restraints 
 which he bad placed upon them, and had broken out in 
 open defiance of the authorities. From this time on- 
 ward, so thick and fast did their wicked crimes in- 
 crease, tbat coercive measures became necessary to put 
 them down. This finally resulted in as sanguinary a 
 battle being fought between a small band of soldiers 
 and this tribe, as was ever recorded. 
 
 A rapid sketch of it must suffice to illustrate to the 
 reader what kind of a fight this was, and what plucky 
 fellows these Apaches are. Lieutenant J. W. Davidson,* 
 with a command of sixty men belonging to F and I com- 
 panies of the First Regiment of United States Dragoons, 
 was ordered out to seek and act ao-ainst these red men. 
 Both the soldiers and their officers were renowned for 
 their bravery and experience in Indian mode of war- 
 fare ; hence, more than ordinary deeds were expected 
 to be performed by them. The result will show that 
 they did not disappoint any reasonable expectation. 
 Lieutenant Davidson marched to the '^ Emhuda Moini- 
 tabis'' (which range lies between fifteen and twenty 
 miles southwest of Taos), as he had been informed by 
 good authority that the Indians were to be found 
 there. 
 
 On reaching the mountains he soon came upon the 
 savages, and found them fully prepared to meet him. 
 
 • TJeiitonant Pnvitlsnn (then) Is now I.ientonant Colonel of the 10th U. S. Cavalry. He 
 served Willi iiiiirKed distinction during our lute civil war. 
 
MANCEUVRING AMONG THE ROCKS. 425 
 
 They liad selected their ground with great skill. Tlie 
 site which they had chosen was npon a high elevation, 
 and at the first glance, to get at them appeared to be 
 an impossibility, on account of the roughness of the 
 country. If the Indians had hunted over the whole of 
 the Rocky iNTountains they could not have hit upon a 
 place that offered them so many advantages for the use 
 to which they intended to put it; but, as the red men 
 had, by great labor, reached the tops of the crags, 
 therefore, the soldiers resolved not to be outdone, 
 even if they had to be the assaulting party. 
 
 The strength of the Apaches amounted to eight 
 lodges, or two hundred and forty warriors ; and, as 
 they were on foot and without their families, they 
 were entirely unencumbered. Lieutenant Davidson's 
 first manoeuvre was to send in advance a small party, 
 whose duty it was to act as spies, while at the same 
 time they endeavored to engage the Indians in a talk, 
 of which they are usually so fond ; but the courage of 
 the red men was apparently much elevated on seeing 
 the smalhiess of the whole force sent against them ; 
 therefore they received the advance with such cold- 
 ness that the latter soon after gladly retreated to their 
 companions, who were halted on the little creek that 
 runs ])y the foot of the mountains. Lieutenant David- 
 son now saw that his only course was to commence the 
 attack and trust to fortune and the bravery of his men. 
 Therefore he ordered the gaHant fellows to dismount, 
 and after leaving their horses with a small guard, they 
 commenced the work of scrambling up the rocks, so 
 that they might get at and dislodge the enemy. In 
 this they succeeded, notwithstanding they met with a 
 powerful and determined resistance. In the attempt. 
 
426 WAR-WHOOPS AND UNEARTHLY SHOUTS. 
 
 five soldiers were killed ; and when the dragoons had 
 reached the highest eminence of the mountains, they 
 found, to their disappointment, that the Apaches had 
 not taken to flight, according to their anticipations, but 
 instead, they were scattering and surrounding them. 
 There being great danger, as already demonstrations 
 were visible in that quarter, that the Indians would 
 capture the horses of the soldiers, therefore Lieutenant 
 Davidson placed himself at the head of his men and 
 led them back to the spot where the animals were con- 
 gregated. In so doing he was obliged to fight his way, 
 as every foot of ground he passed over was stoutly con- 
 tested ; but at last he arrived, just in time to save 
 them. The fight then became desultory, but despe- 
 rate, on the part of the soldiers ; for the Indians, by 
 concealing themselves behind rocks, trees and what- 
 ever came in their way, were quite secure against in- 
 jury from the carbines and revolvers of the whites, 
 while from their side came a deadly fire that fast di- 
 minished the numbers of their adversaries. In vain 
 did the dragoons charge them and cause the foremost 
 of the enemy to retreat to their friends in the rear. 
 Lieutenant Davidson soon found his party so much 
 crippled in strength, that he saw he could no longer 
 protect his horses and at the same time carry on the 
 combat against such great odds. When there was lit- 
 tle left that he could do except to ofier himself and 
 men as targets to be shot at. Lieutenant Davidson re- 
 luctantly ordered his men to retreat. 
 
 hi obeying this connnand, the soldiers had not more 
 than uheeled about, when down came the foe in full 
 pursuit, making the very air ring with their war-whoops 
 and unearthly shouts. So bold did these Indians become 
 
A VICTORY FOR THE APACHES. 427 
 
 from the victory which they had achieved, that they 
 charged so hotly and so near the soldiers that the latter 
 were compelled, in self-defence, to turn and, in a hand- 
 to-hand contest, beat them off. After resisting a suc- 
 cession of these assaults, the command finally gained 
 the main road. Upon counting his men, Lieutenant 
 Davidson found that twenty of them w^ere killed and 
 left behind on the battle-field ; and that, out of the 
 surviving forty, hardly one man had escaped being 
 w^ounded, thereby showing, considering the numbers 
 engaged, how bravely the fight had been maintained, 
 and how gallantly each one had endeavored to turn the 
 tide of afilxirs to a more favorable result. 
 
 The course pursued by, and even the bravery of, 
 Lieutenant Davidson in this affair, has been unjustly 
 assailed and questioned by some jDcrsons who have 
 probably been misinformed on the subject. Judging 
 from the evidence of his companions, there w^as not a 
 more courageous man on that ground than the officer 
 in command. Kit Carson refutes the accusation made 
 against his friend in the following strain : " I am inti- 
 mately acquainted with Lieutenant Davidson, and have 
 been in engagements with him where he has taken a 
 prominent part, and can testify that he is as brave and 
 discreet as it is possible for a man to be. Nearly every 
 person engaged in, and who survived that day's bloody 
 battle, has since told me that his commanding officer 
 never once sought shelter, but stood manfully exposed 
 to the aim of the Indians, encouraging his men and 
 apparently entirely unmindful of his own life. It was, 
 however, in the retreat they say that he acted the most 
 gallantly, for, when everything was going badly with 
 the soldiers, he was as cool and collected as if under 
 
 25 
 
428 THE DEAD TERRIBLY MUTILATED. 
 
 the guns of his fort. The only anxiety he exhibited was 
 for the safety of his remaining men. " 
 
 The Indians must have lost many of their warriors 
 in this fight, but the exact number has never been as- 
 certained. The news of the defeat was brought by the 
 retreating soldiers themselves to the town of Taos, 
 where, on hearing it, for a short time, consternation 
 seized hold of its inhabitants ; but slowly they calmed 
 down, and a party consisting of Americans and Mexi- 
 cans with wagons, was sent out to bring in the mutila- 
 ted remains of the fallen. On reaching the field, the 
 dead were found, but they w^ere all mutilated and 
 stripped of all their clothing. The Indians had left 
 nothing which they thought might be turned to the 
 least account. One poor fellow had escaped the rigid 
 scrutiny of the red men by crawling to an obscure 
 place where he had died from his wounds. On his body 
 was found a belt that contained three hundred dollars 
 in gold — his hard earnings that he had been saving up 
 against a day of need. Had the savages known of this 
 money, they would not have left it, for they are quite 
 familiar with the use, if not with the real value of 
 gold. A few days later, the Apaches made their ap- 
 pearance in a small Mexican settlement which was far 
 distant from the scene of their success. They were 
 dressed in portions of the uniforms and accoutrements 
 taken from the dead dragoons ; and, as they sauntered 
 about the town, they would salute each other in mili- 
 tary style, and otherwise mock the actions of the mili- 
 tary men. Calling for a piece of paper, one fellow, 
 Avith a bit of charcoal, pretended to write on it an order. 
 No doubt, by so doing, he thought he was imitating 
 Bomething of the kind Avhich he had seen done at a 
 
INDIANS IMITATING CIVILIZATION. 429 
 
 military post. After making a few scratches on the 
 paper, he handed it to one of his red companions, and, 
 with a smile on his rough countenance, addressed to him 
 some directions in reference to the document. Although 
 the Mexicans were much amused at these burlesque 
 actions of the Indians, yet they did not dare to show 
 their mirth until the latter had departed and left them 
 in possession of their lives. 
 
 The day following the one on which the fight had 
 taken place, Kit Carson returned from Santa Fe and 
 passed near to the spot where the soldiers had been so 
 roughly handled ; but he did not see a visage of an 
 Apache. They had, by that time, traveled to the west 
 side of the Rio del Norte. Indeed, he anticipated no 
 danger to himself, as he was well aware that the safest 
 time to travel through any section of an Indian 
 country, is just after the savages have been guilty of 
 some high-handed act. They are then, mstinctively, 
 as some may say, but, as the fact appears to us, by 
 use of their reasoning powers, well aware that active 
 measures will be set on foot to repay them for their 
 rascality. 
 
 The trail which, on this occasion. Kit Carson trav- 
 eled over in coming from Santa Fe, is one of the most 
 interesting routes, in safe times, that the mere traveler 
 can select. It comprises some of the most beautiful 
 scenery in New Mexico. The length of the trail is 
 about seventy-five miles, and so many windings and 
 turns does it make through mountains, forests and 
 gorges, that every hundred yards furnishes a suitable 
 place for an Indian ambuscade. The largest part of 
 the country which lies between Taos and Santa Fe, is 
 mountainous ; therefore, this trail is one series of 
 
430 MAGNIFICENT MOUNTAIN SCENERY. 
 
 ascents and descents. The greatest pitch is near the 
 scene of the fight in which Lieutenant Davidson and 
 his command were engaged, w^here the path, in order 
 to avoid an almost perpendicular declivity, makes a 
 zigzag course. To accomplish the ascent of this 
 mountain on a good riding animal, it takes at least two 
 hours; therefore the height of the mountain can be 
 easily imagined by those accustomed to mountain climb- 
 ing. On reaching some of these immense eminences, 
 the scenery is principally formed by the broken 
 country, studded here and there with mountains, w^hich 
 appear as if in miniature, as w^ell as real. Between are 
 valleys, rivers, creeks, canons, etc., which render the 
 views truly grand. There is sufficient woodland, plenty 
 of pure air, and different species of game in great 
 abundance playing about, and filHng up the picture 
 with life. To use the w^ords of romance, this does not 
 fail to make the scenery perfect. The trail runs through 
 hamlets and villages, which come in at the proper dis- 
 tances and form great auxiliaries to the traveler, when 
 fatigued by horseback riding ; for, at most of these 
 places, the traveler can find rest for the night, always 
 provided that he be wdlling to submit to a multitude 
 of inconveniences. 
 
 The most desirable j)lace at which to stop, on this 
 trail, was a town nearly midway between Taos and 
 Santa Fe. It was called Rio Arriba. In this village the 
 traveler could obtain many comforts which were denied 
 him even in the larger towns. At the time of which 
 w^e write, it was a very difficult matter for loaded car- 
 avans to pass direct from Santa Fe to Taos ; but the 
 United States government afterwards took the matter 
 in hand and appropriated large sums of money for 
 
QUILLS FULL OF GOLD DUST. 431 
 
 making a good road between the two places ; there- 
 fore, soon after, the transit was accomplished with ease 
 and safety. Scattered over the country adjacent to 
 this trail now under consideration, there were many 
 hamlets and villages which were being greatly aug- 
 mented by new settlers yearly. Many of these had 
 been seldom, if ever, visited by white men, and the 
 minute geography of this tract of country was still in 
 the embryo. Perhaps a new El Dorado is there in 
 store for mankind, and that some day its resources will 
 receive an impetus and be developed by the sudden 
 discovery of valuable mines therein. This is no chi- 
 merical illusion ; it scarcely rests upon an uncertainty; 
 for, the mineral wealth of New Mexico, we are firmly 
 persuaded, is still in its infancy. To use trapper lan- 
 guage, judging from ^' signs" which exist there in 
 abundance, we shall not be surprised to hear, in time, 
 that this territory has turned out to be a second Cali- 
 fornia. Rumors of gold, and even specimens of the 
 article itself, are frequent in many parts of the country; 
 but the poverty of the inhabitants keeps them from 
 searching as they oright in order to make the discovery. 
 The Americans find a more profitable business in com- 
 merce and trade, therefore they but seldom indulge in 
 speculations designed to develop the mineral wealth 
 of the country ; but nevertheless, they have faith that 
 gold, in immense quantities, exists there, and believe 
 that, in time, scientific men will disclose the fact and 
 position. We have seen qidUs full of gold dust which 
 has been collected there, and we are well acquainted 
 with men who have washed out from several streams 
 in the northern part of the Territory, the value of two 
 and a half dollars per diem ; but, with the high prices 
 
432 MISTAKEN LOCATION. 
 
 of living, this rate of produce cannot be made to pay 
 unless the work shall be carried on by the assistance 
 of capital. 
 
 On this trail to Santa Fe there are several small 
 Pueblos which are inhabited by the descendants of the 
 ancient Aztecs. These settlements, generally, are 
 quite thrifty, and exhibit many external appearances 
 of comfort. To prepare and cultivate the soil, it takes 
 much labor in irrigating and bestowing other farming 
 operations upon the land in order to bring crops to 
 perfection. Hence these people, like the New Mex- 
 icans, can realize from their toil but little beyond their 
 own subsistence. This trail, as it approaches Santa Fe, 
 enters through groves of small pines which are many 
 miles in extent. In such places the ground is sandy 
 and the vegetation poor in the extreme. It has proved 
 an exceedingly difficult problem, for more than one 
 mind, to solve the reason why the capital of the Terri- 
 tory should have been located in such a barren section of 
 the country. Perhaps it was because this was the most 
 central spot that could be selected, although such a 
 reason can hardly be offered in sober earnestness. The 
 most charitable reasoning which we can offer for it, is 
 because the Mexicans knew no better. It is true there 
 are valuable silver mines near by ; but this could only 
 cause a town to be raised to suit the miners and not to 
 form the attraction where the elite of New Mexican 
 society should for so many years congregate. 
 
 Santa Fe is located on a plateau of ground which 
 is about seven thousand feet above the level of the sea. 
 The town itself contains about five or six thousand in- 
 habitants, which includes all races. It is built of 
 adobes, or sun-burnt brick, and occupies both sides 
 
 J 
 
TUE CAPITAL OF NEW MEXICO. 433 
 
 of a small stream, which is called the Rio Chicito and 
 which tlows into the Rio Grande nearly twenty miles 
 from tlie town. The site of Santa Fe is low when 
 compared with the altitude of the surromiding country, 
 being bounded on nearly all sides by lofty mountains. 
 One of these mountains is quite famous. It is the 
 loftiest of all in that section of country, and is capped 
 during the greater part of the year with snow. As is 
 invariably the case with the large majority of Mexi- 
 can towns, there is but little regularity in the streets of 
 Santa Fe ; but yet, the plaza is easily reached by sev- 
 eral avenues. Santa Fe at one time formed the grand 
 commercial emporium of the great interior continent 
 of North America; and its trade diverged to every 
 point of the compass. The extent of this trade can be 
 realized when w^e assert the fact that, with the State of 
 Missouri alone it amounts annually to several mil- 
 lions of dollars. The stores in the town are mostly 
 owned, and the mercantile business chiefly carried on, 
 by Americans. These American speculators are cele- 
 brated for the daring manner with which they launch 
 out their money upon various enterprises. With them, 
 the greater the risk when their chances appear that 
 the gain will be large, the more eager they are in fa- 
 cing the hazard. They sometimes lose, but oftentimes 
 realize large fortunes. The appearance of these stores 
 is captivating to the fancy, and many of them would 
 be ornaments to any of the larger cities or towns of the 
 East. The most expensive articles of luxury and dress 
 are to be found in them, and in these distant parts such 
 property commands a price which w^onld startle and 
 quite shake the nerves of a prince ; but, when the 
 people can obtain the money, they purchase every- 
 
434 A SANTA FE SENORITA. 
 
 thing which their fancy dictates. A Santa Fe seilorita 
 clashes in her rich silks which have cost hundreds of dol- 
 lars with as much grace as docs one of the Washington 
 or Fifth Avenue belles, clothed in the same luxuriant 
 style. In Santa Fe, we are sorry to say, it requires 
 vice of the worst shade for women to support such a 
 style of living ; but the morals of the Mexicans are so 
 loose in all classes, that virtue is boldly jDarted with by 
 both sexes in a spirit which the triumphs of natural 
 reason alone ought to prevent, and which no lover of 
 humanity can admire or tolerate. Gambling, in this 
 town, has long held its full sway, and many is the vic- 
 tim which this wretched wickedness has prematurely 
 hurried into a vortex, from which there has been no 
 recovery. 
 
 The palmy days of gambling, in San Francisco, have 
 been rivaled in the little town of Santa Fe, and the 
 boldness with which the Mexican player will part 
 with his last dollar, shows the hardened state to which 
 the man, and, what is perhaps worse, the woman, have 
 been brought, by years of habitual playing for money. 
 In olden times, the Mexicans used to travel hundreds 
 of miles, and bring their money with them, in order to 
 squander it at their favorite game of monte. Not only 
 this fact is true, but men will often sell themselves into 
 the slavery of debt in order to satisfy their craving de- 
 sire to gamble. 
 
 The town of Santa Fe is watered by azcquias or small 
 canals, which are used in every section of tlie Terri- 
 tory, with which to irrigate the soil. Near the town, 
 and on a hill adjoining, stands the ruins of Fort Marcy, 
 which was used by the American Volunteers during the 
 -conquest of the country in 184G. This fort commands 
 
THE BUILDINGS OF SANTA FE. 435 
 
 the town ; and, for the purpose which governed its 
 building it answered very well. There are several good 
 boarding-houses in Santa Fe, and several hotels which 
 are well fitted up, and well kept. They form the ren- 
 dezvous for the whole town. The commanding general 
 of the military department which comprises the Terri- 
 tory of New Mexico, with his staff, makes this town his 
 head-quarters. There is also a garrison of American 
 soldiers stationed in the town. The governor of the 
 Territor}', the judges, surveyor and all the government 
 officials, of any importance, make this place their home. 
 The Territorial buildings, being the halls of legislation, 
 and such other buildings as are necessary for the State 
 and Territorial purposes, both finished and under process 
 of erection, are located in Santa Fe. On one side of 
 the plaza there stands a long, low building known as 
 the Palace. No one, however, would be aware of the 
 fact if not informed of it; for the building has more 
 the appearance of having been intended for a rope- 
 walk than for the assemblage of savcmts, w^ho were to 
 discuss and arrange matters of state and public inter- 
 est. Notwithstanding the small pretensions in the way 
 of architecture which the Palace presents, nevertheless, 
 within it, there have lived old Mexican governors who 
 ruled their people with a rod of iron, and whose fiery 
 impulses went forth as just and equitable law. These 
 tyrants — for it was very seldom that the poor and ig- 
 norant New Mexicans were favored with a good, wise 
 and just governor — governed on the principle of self- 
 aggrandizement. Being far separated from their home 
 government, they took care to smother all evil reports, 
 while the good, only, were allowed to circulate ; and 
 these, so far as the home government was concerned, 
 
436 PIONEER LAWS OF NEW MEXICO. 
 
 solely by their authority, in order to have the desired 
 effect to retain them in office. In this they were usu- 
 ally successful, as they generally retained their lucra- 
 tive positions until cut off by death, or until they had 
 amassed a fortune which made their tasks burdensome. 
 Many of these men might have been envied by the 
 richest of Americans, so far as wealth is considered. 
 They were so envied by the wealthy men at the capi- 
 tal of the republic. These provinces of Mexico were 
 the Indies where troublesome opponents were to be 
 sent by government, to suck, like leeches, the public 
 treasury, and thus obtain their fill to repletion. When 
 the United States came into possession of New Mexico, 
 affairs were somewhat tempered to the state of reason 
 and justice ; but, a people who had so long been kept 
 down, could not at once appreciate the value of the 
 changes ; consequently, they have been slow in ele- 
 vating their heads to the proper standard of men. 
 The legislature of New Mexico, as it has been recog- 
 nized imder the constitution of the United States, re- 
 sembles other forms of territorial governments. This 
 statement is true in theory, but not in practice ; for it 
 is impossible to collect an luieducated people, unused 
 to self-government, and allow them to steer their own 
 bark as law-makers, without observing that they make 
 many openings for serious mistakes to creep in, which 
 are and should be severely criticised. The jDioneer 
 laws, as they came from the first New Mexican legisla- 
 ture, were faulty in the extreme. They seemed to 
 point out wickedness as a punishment for wickedness. 
 If we desired to afford our readers a laugh, we should 
 permit them to read many of these laws. The simple 
 perusal of them would cause merriment equal to the 
 
GRADUALLY MENDING TUEIli WAYS. 437 
 
 most laughable comedy. Had it not been for the few 
 white men, who, from time to time, have found their 
 way into the legislature of New Nexico, the whole body 
 would long since have lost themselves in the depth of 
 learning which their untutored minds had undertaken 
 to engraft upon their statute books. The members of 
 this body, for a long time, turned their attention more 
 to the emoluments which naturally accrued from their 
 position, than to endeavors to steady the helm of gov- 
 ernment for the good of their country. In order to 
 save their pay, they studied economy, which caused 
 them to make a beggarly appearance, and, in the eyes 
 of the white men, they were often contemptibly mean. 
 Greatly predominating in numbers, the Mexicans of 
 course had no difficulty in ruling the country ; and they 
 naturally preferred their own countrymen in filling 
 the law-making department of their government. The 
 consequence was, that they thus obtained a crowd of 
 legislators who could hardly read. By the aid of a few 
 schools, an enlightened press, and the examples of a 
 few worthy Americans, they are gradually mending 
 their ways in this respect ; and tbe time will come, in 
 a few years, when the legislature of- New Mexico will 
 compare favorably with its sister territories ; but this, 
 not until education has made her indelible mark upon 
 the people. 
 
 The town of Santa Fe is provided with a Roman 
 Catholic church, which, under the judicious manage- 
 ment of the present bishop and clergy, is doing what it 
 can to improve the condition of the Mexican popula- 
 tion. Other religious denominations have not yet been 
 fully developed, although the attempt is being made to 
 establish churches of the Protestant faith on a sure and 
 
438 THE EOMAN CATHOLIC FAITH. 
 
 permanent footing ; but this, although we regard it as 
 certain, will take time, for the majority of the people, 
 lean strongly to the Roman Catholic faith. It is a very 
 singular fact, that among the population of seventy 
 thousand souls included in the limits of the Territory 
 of New Mexico, there have been such feeble and vain 
 attempts made by Protestant missionaries to bring the 
 people to their mode of thinking. The task might 
 have been impossible when the country was under the 
 jurisdiction of old Mexico ; but, since it has changed 
 masters, this excuse does not hold good. The Mexi- 
 cans, as a body, learn readily ; they easily discern be- 
 tween right and wrong ; and, as the field for Christian 
 enterprise to work in is large enough for all sects, it is 
 strange that the Protestant church is not found labor- 
 ing in the good cause, side by side with its Eoman 
 Catholic friend. It is true, there are a few persons 
 struggling on under the auspices of the Protestant 
 church ; but they are so few that they are seldom met 
 in the great expanse of the countr}^ Santa Fe has 
 long been celebrated as having a depraved population; 
 but, as honest and honorable men are now working 
 with satisfactory success for a reformation , the day 
 cannot be far distant when this town will redeem 
 itself It is true that, not many years back, Santa 
 Fe was filled with gamblers and desperadoes of all 
 grades ; but, at the present time, law and order is be- 
 ginning to predominate, and it is to be hoped that the 
 next generation will see a better state of affairs. The 
 vices which have characterized the inhabitants have 
 not been confined, by any means, to the Mexicans ; 
 but rather they have been exemplified in those Ameri- 
 cans with bad characters, who have, from time to time, 
 
MERE MATTERS OF ACCIDENT. 439 
 
 crept in among the people. These men, in several 
 instances, have set examples which the most debased 
 Mexican would hesitate to follow. 
 
 The appearance of Santa Fe, from an outside view, 
 is anything but striking. Its houses, like most Mexi- 
 can buildings, are seldom higher than one story, and, 
 with few exceptions, they are entirely wanting in 
 beauty. They are built after what may be styled a 
 Mexican mode of architecture, and consist of a series 
 of rooms which encircle an open square or court, the 
 access to which is through a large portal. These 
 buildings are usually huddled together towards the 
 centre or plaza, while, in the outskirts of the town, 
 they are greatly scattered. The arrangement of the 
 streets appears as if they were mere matters of acci- 
 dent rather than matters of system or intention. The 
 town is ornamented by few, if any, trees, while the 
 general appearance of the adjacent country, as has 
 been seen, is barren. The markets of the town are 
 but sparingly supplied with a variety, and those 
 articles which are the most common, bring, compar- 
 atively speaking, good prices. Not many miles from 
 Santa Fe there are famous silver mines, which for 
 many years were worked almost entirely by hand. 
 Within a recent date machinery has been introduced 
 by some enterprising Americans, and the precious sil- 
 ver ore is being brought to light in large quantities. 
 In point of amusement, the people still cling to the 
 pleasures of the fandango; and, as this town is much in 
 advance of any other in the Territory, the Santa Fe 
 balls are carried on, sometimes, on quite a grand scale. 
 The majority of them are the places of resort for the 
 free classes of society. The more respectable people 
 
440 FROM SANTA FE TO THE MISSOURI EIVER. 
 
 seldom attend them, and then only when they are cer- 
 tain that they will find the ceremonies conducted in 
 the spirit which administers really to pleasure and not 
 to excess. The distance from Santa Fe to the Missouri 
 Eiver, is in the neighborhood of nine hundred miles. 
 The road, for the first one hundred miles towards the 
 Santa Fe terminus, is rough and hilly ; but, after that, 
 it strikes out on the open plains, and is as level as can 
 possibly be for such an immense distance. It is over 
 this beautiful road that we have several times described 
 Kit Carson as he traveled to and from the United States, 
 though more frequently, as has been seen, he preferred 
 routes of his own selection, which enabled him, with 
 his small escorts, to elude the vigilant watch of hostile 
 Indians. 
 
A FKESII CAMPAIGN. 441 
 
 CnAPTEE XVI 
 
 A fresh Campaign set on foot — Colonel Cook in Command — Kit Carson 
 goes as Guide — The Apaches and Utahs leagued together — The Rough- 
 ness of the Country and the Privations to which the Command was 
 exposed — The Indians overhauled — A running Fight — The Advantpges 
 gained — The Chase resumed — The Apaches resort to their old Tricks 
 — Colonel Cook is obliged to return to Abiquiu — A Utah taken Pris- 
 oner through Mistake — Kit Carson goes to Taos and has a Conference 
 with the Chiefs of the Utah Nation — Cook's second Scout — He is 
 caught in a furious Snow-storm and is obliged to return to Rio Col- 
 orado — Major Brooks and Re-inforcements come to the Rescue — Major 
 Brooks on the Lookout, but fails to find the Indians — Carleton's Ex- 
 pedition — Kit Carson goes with it as Guide — The Adventures met 
 with — Kit Carson's Prophecy comes true — The Muache Band of Utahs 
 summoned by Kit Carson to a Grand Council — Troubles brewing 
 among these Indians — The Small-Pox carries off their Head Men. 
 
 To retrieve the ground lost, and also, to show the 
 Jiccarilla iVpaches that their recent victory had tended 
 only to stimulate the movements of the Americans to a 
 display of greater activity and energy, after a brief 
 space of time, a large body of regular troops were made 
 ready to take the field against them. The commander 
 of this expedition was Colonel Cook of the Second Regi- 
 ment of United States Dragoons. That officer chose 
 for his principal guide Kit Carson, whose peace duties 
 as Indian Agent had been abruptly arrested by the war- 
 like attitude of some of his Indians. It was necessary, 
 also, that Kit Carson should be on the ground in case 
 the red men were overtaken, in order to ascertain 
 
442 PUEBLO INDIANS AS SPIES. 
 
 whether, or no, the Utahs were mixed up with the op- 
 erations of the Apaches. A large branch of the former 
 tribe were part and parcel of his agency, and the two 
 nations were known to be on very friendly terms with 
 each other ; consequently, it was surmised that they 
 might be secretly, and under disguise, acting together 
 in the war. 
 
 Colonel Cook employed, besides the troops of the 
 line which were under his command, some forty men 
 selected from among the Mexican and Pueblo Indians, 
 whose duties were to act as spies and trailers. 
 
 These Pueblos were selected for spies on account of 
 their being familiar with Indian habits, and their mode 
 of warfare. They were taken from among the best 
 hunters which the Pueblo villages could furnish. They 
 presented themselves provided with their own horses, 
 rifles, and, in most cases, with their own ammunition, 
 and were supplied only with their rations of food. 
 When it was practicable, they were allowed to kill 
 game; and, being very expert at it, they seldom re- 
 turned from a hunt open-handed. Their peaceful mode 
 of life prevented them from engaging in any deep 
 league with the hostile Indians; but yet, there is no 
 doubt that when the different tribes were at war with 
 the whites, the Pueblos harbored the warlike Indians, 
 and supplied them, in many instances, with such arti- 
 cles as they stood most in need of. Their policy in 
 thus acting might have been to retain the friendship of 
 these Indians, and thus prevent their committing any 
 depredations on themselves. The Pueblos may have 
 taken advantage of the state of affairs when war exist- 
 ed, and doubtless frequently did, under disguise of the 
 enemy, become guilty of crimes which could easily 
 
LOYAL TO THE GOVERNMENT. 443 
 
 have been proven against them. The Mexicans have 
 often tried to criminate the Pueblos for thus acting; 
 but they have proceeded with such bunghng policy, 
 that it has seldom happened that anything criminal has 
 been definitely proven against them. If a part of them 
 have thus acted, there is not the least doubt but that 
 the majority are guiltless. They are, as a body, loyal 
 to the government of the United States; but, not so 
 much from love of the Americans as from being shrewd. 
 They know it is for self-interest to keep good friends 
 with the strongest power. On these war scouts they 
 rendered valuable service, and in this light, have been 
 long regarded with favor by the whites. 
 
 The command of these forty Mexicans and Pueblo 
 Indians was conferred npon James H. Quinn, a well- 
 known and prominent citizen of New Mexico. This 
 gentleman became intimately associated with the Ter- 
 ritory of New Mexico soon after that country was an- 
 nexed to the United States. In politics, military life^ 
 farming and mercantile pursuits, he was most actively 
 engaged, and by his talents and industry, took a prom- 
 inent position, and became an influential member of 
 society. He had some faults ; (who has not ?) but his 
 unexpected death came so suddenly upon his friendS) 
 that they could only think of him for the many good 
 qualities both of his head and heart. Hence, his faults 
 were most willingly passed over in silence. 
 
 All things being in readiness, the command entered 
 upon the pursuit of the Indians. They marched from 
 Taos, ten miles north, to a stream called the Arroya 
 Hondo. Thence, following the banks of this stream 
 down through its deep and rocky caiion, they came to 
 the Rio del Norte. 
 
 26 
 
444 AN ANCIENT AZTEC TOWN. 
 
 On the first-named stream, there is a small and un- 
 attractive settlement, which bears the same name. 
 Several years since, there was a large distillery in full 
 operation at this place. This establishment was owned 
 by an American, and was very extensive. The build- 
 ing was celebrated as being the place where several 
 Americans were slaughtered by the Mexicans during 
 the revolution in which Governor Bent lost his life, 
 heretofore spoken of. On the plain which is contig- 
 uous with the south bank of the Arroya Hondo, there 
 are to be found the remains of a large Aztec town, 
 which was, at some remote period, the largest settle- 
 ment inhabited by that interesting people to be found 
 in northern New Mexico. At the present day can be 
 seen the size and almost the number of houses which 
 formed the town — which are very numerous. The 
 building material, as here used by the Aztecs, was small 
 cobble-stones which undoubtedly were mixed with mud 
 and thus formed the structure. Pieces of pottery, flint 
 arrow-points; stone pipe and rude tools have been, 
 from time to time, found on the site of the town, going 
 to prove that the people were not wandering in their 
 habits, but that instead, they occupied their time in 
 farming, raising cattle and mining. The wild Indians 
 may have murdered the inhabitants, and then destroyed 
 the town ; or, civil w^ar and pestilence might have 
 caused it to become deserted, when, as a natural result, 
 it fell to decay. The most plausible theory to enter- 
 tain is the former, as everj^ old Mexican town of the 
 North contains relics which could not have been de- 
 signed merely in case of an emergency. Not one of 
 these towns in olden times Avas without a large well, 
 which, in most instances, w^as bountifully supplied with 
 
PREPxUlED FOR AX EMERGENCY. 445 
 
 water. In time of peace, these extensive reservoirs 
 were covered over and concealed from view, and there- 
 fore, but few stranirers could be made aware of their 
 existence. On the breaking out of war, these wells 
 were thrown open for public use, and, being located in 
 the centre of the towns, the inhabitants escaped that 
 danger in procuring water which necessarily would 
 have surrounded them in case they had been obliged, 
 as th'-iy are now, to bring it from the neighboring 
 streams. As time rolled on, and danger was lessened, 
 these wells were almost forgotten, until the timber 
 which covered them rotted and allowed their fragments 
 and the earth to cave in, when the object of the dig- 
 ging these reservoirs became apparent. It is an estab- 
 lished fact in history that the town of Taos once with- 
 stood a long and fearful siege, but finally escaped, as 
 did its people, uninjured. The besieging party, in this 
 instance, was composed of the Indians of the plains; 
 they were present to the number of many thousand, and 
 were at last compelled to depart, as is supposed, in con- 
 sequence of their provisions giviug out. Reasoning from 
 analogy, it is no more than proper to suppose, that if the 
 early settlements of the Mexicans were thus annoyed, 
 the case of the Aztecs must have been still harder, and 
 that, being overcome by numbers, they were necessi- 
 tated to succumb ; and hence were swept, by the In- 
 dians of the plains, from the face of the earth, leaving 
 but a dim outline of their ancient grandeur. 
 
 The party found the stream very much swollen by 
 the melting of the snows in the mountains. When 
 they arrived at its fording-place, notwithstanding a tor- 
 rent rolled before them, the command was, of a neces- 
 sity, given to cross. There was no shrinking. Without 
 
446 PERILOUS FORDING. 
 
 a single murmur, the entire command set themselves 
 about the perilous task. The bed of the river at this 
 place is rocky and shelving. At low water, these facts 
 offer no great obstacles in crossing. The case is very 
 different when the torrent has reached high-water- 
 mark — then, a single step will often plunge horse and 
 rider into the angry waters beyond their depth. Kit 
 Carson boldly took the lead, and before the infantry 
 had all passed, the horses of the dragoons had to be 
 sent back to assist them. To facilitate this fording, 
 Kit Carson crossed and recrossed the stream at least 
 twenty times. No serious accident occurred, although 
 three of the dragoons came near being swept down the 
 current, which, at the time, -was very swift and strong. 
 Had they gone below the fording-place, they w^ould 
 most assuredly have been drowned, as the river there 
 takes a fearful leap through a cut in the rocks. Hav- 
 ing safely gained the opposite shore, the men found 
 that their labors had but just commenced. In front of 
 them stood a precipice that was, at the least calcula- 
 tion, six hundred feet in height, of solid rock, and 
 almost perpendicular. Up this ascent the command 
 had to mount, by following a zigzag trail. With much 
 trouble and toil, the summit of the height was reached, 
 when they once more commenced their journey over 
 a diversified country, made up of plains and ravines. 
 No grass or water was found until the expedition 
 arrived at a small Mexican town called Sirvilletta. 
 Here an encampment was formed for one night, and 
 here their animals were to have their last rations 
 of corn and forage. The sale of these latter articles 
 proved a windfall to, and made glad the hearts of the 
 inhabitants of the settlement; for the money which 
 
OVER-SnOOTING THE MARK. 447 
 
 they received in exchange for their produce was the 
 hirgest sum they liad ever possessed. Thus, in more 
 ways than one, these campaigns in the mountains 
 caused good results. 
 
 These settlements on the remote frontiers of the ter- 
 ritory of New Mexico are composed of very poor peo- 
 ple, who, for many years succeeding their first efforts 
 in establishing their small farms, fmd great difficulty 
 in doing more than to feed themselves. Their distance 
 from markets such as Taos affords, prevents them from 
 transporting thither more than their small surplus of 
 grain ; but, as in this case, on thus finding many hungry 
 horses and mules to feecf, their corn-stalks and wheat- 
 straw come into demand, and bring them in a remuner- 
 ation in ready money, in sums which they have not 
 even dreamed of before. The only difficulty in trading 
 with such people is to fix a fair price on their produce; 
 for they are so fearful of not receiving enough, that 
 they often overshoot the mark, and charge so m.uch as 
 to prevent other expeditions of the same sort from vis- 
 iting them. With the few dollars in their pockets thus 
 gained from the party, these Mexicans for once felt 
 themselves rich men. 
 
 Early on the subsequent day the w^hole force was 
 again in motion, and continued an active march for two 
 days over a rough country. At last Kit Carson struck 
 the Indian trail. The course was instantly made to suit 
 this trail, when the party marched on two days more 
 at a rapid pace. On the second day's march, the In- 
 dians were overhauled. The band of Apaches had been 
 jogging on slowly, and consequently, their animals were 
 in good order. The case was far different with their 
 pursuers 3 their horses were much used up by overwork 
 
448 A BRAYE OFFICER. 
 
 and privations. Thus, when their strength was most 
 needed, it was found wanting. The Indians espied the 
 .soldiers in time to make good their flight, but not quick 
 enouo^h to save the lives of all their warriors. Several 
 of them were killed and many more were wounded. 
 They also lost a few of their horses, and nearly all their 
 camp equipage. The roughness of the section of the 
 country where they were overtaken, assisted the sav- 
 ages in escaping, notwithstanding every effort was made 
 by the Americans to prevent their leaving so easily. 
 Kit Carson, when describing these events, said : " To 
 Captain Sykes, who commanded the infantry, is due the 
 greatest amount of praise for the part he acted in our 
 adventures. When his men w^ere almost broken down 
 with sore feet, long and difficult marches, want of pro- 
 visions, the coldness of the weather, and with their 
 clothing nearly worn out, and when they w^ere on the 
 point of giving up with despair, they were prevented 
 from so doing by witnessing the noble example set them 
 by their captain. He showed them what a soldier's duty 
 really was, and this so touched their pride that they 
 hobbled along as if determined to follow him until death 
 relieved them from their sufferings. Although this 
 officer had a riding animal at his disposal, yet never 
 for once did he mount him ; but instead, he lent the 
 horse to some deserving soldier who was on the point 
 of succumbino; to overwork. When the Indian villasre 
 was discovered, he cheered his men from a limping walk 
 into a sort of run, and dashino; throuti:h a swollen moun- 
 tain stream, that was nearly up to their arm-pits and 
 full of floating ice, he was, with his company, the fore- 
 most in the attack.*' 
 
HARD KOADS TO TRAVEL. 449 
 
 Two soldiers of Captain Sykes's company * Avere 
 wounded, and one of them afterwards died. Tlie other 
 man was severely injured, but eventually recovered. 
 The Indians, on being routed, were pursued through a 
 deep canon for about four miles. A few who had been 
 previously wounded were overtaken and slain. Night 
 now came on ; therefore, the men had to give up the 
 chase, and on returning to their own encampment they 
 found their friends had located it on the same ground 
 wdiich the Indians had occupied when they were first 
 discovered. The next morning the surviving wounded 
 man, with an escort, was sent back to the nearest mili- 
 tary post, so that he could receive proper attention. 
 The pursuit at an early hour was then resumed, by the 
 soldiers' takino; the fresh trail of the Indians. Away 
 went both parties through valleys, canons, and over 
 snow-clad mountains, until, in the end, the Americans 
 saw that it was impossible to overtake the red men, 
 who began to break up into squads of two and three 
 and scatter in every direction. During the latter days 
 of the chase, the routes which the Indians traveled were 
 the worst they could select; their object being, entirely 
 to use up the animals of their pursuers, who were thus 
 vic^orouslv drivino- them from one haunt to another. 
 Very often, at night, the soldiers would find themselves 
 bivouacked but a short distance from the place which 
 they had left on the previous morning ; and this hap- 
 pened, when not once, during the whole day, had they 
 missed the trail or ceased traveling ; but the fact was, 
 that the enemy were so familiar with the country that 
 they made these crooked trails with impunity. Finally, 
 the Indians saw that in this trial of muscles and nerves 
 
 * Company D, 2J Regiment U. S. Artillery. 
 
450 THE TOWN OF ABIQUIU. 
 
 they gained nothing, and could not thus shake off their 
 pursuers, but that it was necessary for them to try other 
 expedients; therefore they separated, to meet again 
 at some preconcerted rendezvous. On this occasion, as 
 so often heretofore, the Apaches did not belie the char- 
 acter formed of them by some of our most experienced 
 military men, and of which we have before spoken : 
 viz., that they have no equals for endurance, and such 
 a thing as overtaking them when once put to flight is 
 almost out of the category of the white man's feats. 
 
 There being nothing more that could be accom- 
 plished by the pursuit, consequently. Colonel Cook 
 ordered his men to face about, and they having done 
 so, he made a direct march to Abiquiu, a Mexican vil- 
 lage that is located on the Rio Chamo, a tributary of 
 the Rio del Norte. The design he had in going there 
 was to recruit his men and animals. Their suflerings 
 had been severe. Although performing constantly 
 more than double duty, the entire command Avas put 
 upon half allowance of food, and that little could not 
 be properly cooked. For this reason, the trials and 
 hardships which they experienced were of no ordinary 
 character. 
 
 The town of Abiquiu, where Colonel Cook arrived, 
 is about sixty miles north-west from Santa Fe, and a 
 traveler can make a journey through valleys from one 
 town to the other. It stands next to Taos in point of 
 magnitude and importance in the matter of townships 
 in 'the north of New Mexico. The scenery about this 
 settlement is very attractive, and, as it lies on the bor- 
 ders of the Utah Indian country, it is frequently visited 
 by these Indians. The neighbors of the Utahs, the 
 Navajoes, occasionally make their appearance in the 
 
UTAH TERRITORY. 451 
 
 town. The Mexicans of Abiquiii, from their continued 
 intercourse with bands of the Utah Indians, are more 
 or less linked in with them ; and, in time of war, the 
 Americans can place but little confidence in the inhab- 
 itants of Abiquiu on this account. The grazing and 
 farming facilities of the country adjacent to this town 
 are quite progressive, and were it not for the Indians, 
 its resources would be much more rapidly developed 
 than they now are. 
 
 Utah was originally part of the territory of Upper 
 California. The United States came in possession of 
 it by treaty with Mexico in 1848. The j^opulation is 
 chiefly Mormon. The new territory, as set off' by 
 the United States in 1850, includes an area of one 
 hundred and eighty-seven thousand nine hundred 
 and twenty-three square miles, or one hundred and 
 twenty millions two hundred and seventy thousand 
 and seven hundred and twenty acres. Near the 
 eastern base of the Sierra Nevada range there are 
 several lakes which receive the waters of the eastern 
 slope of these leviathan mountains. One of these 
 lakes bears the name of Kit Carson, having been 
 named Carson Lake by Colonel Fremont. 
 
 In one respect this country has characteristics seldom 
 met with in any part of the globe. Large numbers of 
 the lakes and rivers have no outlets. Such is the fact 
 in regard to Carson Lake. The only means by which 
 their waters are reduced is by evaporation. The Great 
 Salt Lake of Utah, to the traveler, is of great interest. 
 It may well be called the Dead Sea of Utah. 
 
 As has been seen. Colonel Cook and party were now 
 halted at a Mexican village of the Kio Chamo, a trib- 
 utary of the Pvio Grande or del Norte. 
 
452 CAPTURE OF A UTAH INDIA^^". 
 
 The party that had been sent back with the wounded 
 man, while on their journey met and captured an In- 
 dian. Supposing him to be an Apache, they deprived 
 him of his horse and arms, and otherwise treated him 
 as a prisoner. While they were en route, the Indian 
 made his escape and joined his tribe. This captive 
 they afterwards learned was a Utah, whose tribe had 
 the external appearance of being friendly towards the 
 whites, although there were existing good reasons for 
 doubting their sincerity. Colonel Cook, fearing that 
 such treatment might offer the Utahs a plausible ex- 
 cuse for openly declaring war, determined to clear 
 himself of censure by making such reparations as was 
 in his power. Accordingly he dispatched Kit Carson 
 to the head-quarters of his Agency, in order to set- 
 tle matters. On reaching Taos, Kit Carson sent an 
 expressman to the Utah village, with the request that 
 their chiefs would come and have a talk with him. 
 They obeyed this summons, and when they were 
 seated in council with their " Father Kit," he ex- 
 plained to them how that the soldiers had taken 
 prisoner their brave through mistake and ignorance. 
 He informed them that his countrymen did not wish 
 to do their tribe any injury, and he trusted that they 
 would overlook the affair, advising them that the best 
 way to show to the white men that their intentions were 
 honest would be by not rendering aid to the Apa- 
 ches. He said that he had not sent for them throuo^h 
 fear, as their warriors were but a handful when com- 
 pared to the soldiers of their " Great Father," but 
 the main object always to be held in view in their de- 
 liberations, was to cultivate friendship, as the country 
 was large enough for both parties to live in. The In- 
 
AFTER THE JICCARILLAS. 453 
 
 diaiis replied that they were satisfied with the explana- 
 tion made to them, and declared that their hearts Avere 
 not in the least inimical towards the whites. On hear- 
 ing this, Kit Carson restored to them the captured prop- 
 erty, and also made to the chiefs themselves a few use- 
 ful presents. 
 
 Colonel Cook, after granting a sufficient rest to his 
 men. and after obtaining supplies at Abiquiu, started 
 out again to hunt the Jiccarillas. He was so fortunate 
 soon after as to find a fresh trail, and in hot haste fol- 
 lowed it for several days, when, unfortunately, he w^as 
 caught in a furious snow-storm which obliterated the 
 tracks of the Indians, besides otherwise greatly dam- 
 aging his resources. The fair prospects of a successful 
 termination to the expedition being so suddenly frus- 
 trated, the commander had no other alternative open to 
 liim but to return. This he did by going to the Rito Col- 
 orado, a small town that lay on his route. Here the com- 
 mand was joined by Major Brooks of the Third Reg- 
 iment of United States Infantry, who had marched to the 
 relief of Colonel Cook with re-inforcements. As soon 
 as the necessary preparations were gone through with, 
 another scout w^as undertaken, under charge of this last- 
 named officer, while Colonel Cook and his men retired 
 from their active service. 
 
 Major Brooks, without much difficulty, struck upon 
 a recent path made by the enemy, and on it gave them 
 chase. The Indians were making their way to the Utah 
 country, and on arriving there, the plans of the Major 
 were completely balked, owing to the great numbers 
 of fresh trails that he discovered in those parts. They 
 w^ere so numerous that they crossed and recrossed one 
 another at all points, and were so similar that his best 
 
454 KIT CARSON AND MAJOR CARLTON. 
 
 guides could not distinguish the one made by the Apa- 
 ches from those belontringr to the Utahs. The result 
 was that this command, after being in the field for fif- 
 teen days, was compelled to return without accomplish- 
 ing anything. 
 
 These two nations, the Utahs and Apaches, have been 
 so long inthnate, that many of their habits and customs 
 are the same, and very often it requires them to speak 
 their respective languages, before they can be recog- 
 nized; but, usually, the Utahs are cleaner and better 
 dressed than their faithful allies, the Apaches, whom 
 they use, in time of peace and war, as tools. 
 
 After allowing sufficient time for the Apaches to col- 
 lect and reorganize, so that they would be more accessi- 
 ble, a third expedition was made ready and placed un- 
 der the command of Major Carlton of the First Regi- 
 ment of United States Dragoons. Major Carlton em- 
 ployed as his guide. Kit Carson. 
 
 This command, at first, traveled to the north one hun- 
 dred miles, until it reached Fort Massachusetts. Here 
 it halted for one day, until the final arrangement could 
 be finished. Major Carlton then divided his party, 
 sending one division, which consisted of his spy com- 
 pany, under Captain Quinn, to examine the country on 
 the west side of the White Mountains, while he took it 
 upon himself to inspect the territory on the east side of 
 the same range. 
 
 Captain Quinn follow^ed, up the valley of San Luis. 
 When he reached the Mosco Pass, he turned off through 
 it in order to get into the Wet Mountain Valley, where 
 it had been previously agreed upon that he should meet 
 with and report progress to his commanding officer. 
 
 The Mosco Pass is a narrow opening in the White 
 
ON THE RIGHT SCENT. 455 
 
 Mountains, whicli latter is but another name for a 
 branch of the Kocky Chain. Tliis pass has been trav- 
 ersed b}' Colonel St. Yrain, many years ago, with wagons, 
 but, at the present time, such a feat would prove to be 
 an impossibility, as the mountain streams have washed 
 doAvn large rocks and other obstacles, which now pre- 
 sent difficulties which simply men and animals cannot 
 overcome. The pass itself is but a few miles in length. 
 It is but a deep cut through very lofty mountains. 
 Its sides are rocky, craggy and very rough, defying, in 
 many places, the most experienced climber to ascend 
 them. It is a favorite route which the Apaches like to 
 take when hotly pursued, as it offers them the saving 
 of many miles of difficult and circuitous traveling, 
 w^hen they wish to reach the open prairies. 
 
 On reaching the place of rendezvous, Carlton, while 
 in the Sangre de Christo Pass, by the aid of his guide, 
 Kit Carson, discovered a trail made by three of the 
 enemy, and on following it up, it was found to join the 
 main path on the Huerfano Creek. On the arrival of 
 Quinn, who had discovered signs which indicated the 
 direction the Indians were taking, a conference was 
 called, when all the old guides and spies of the party 
 agreed in believing they were on the right scent. The 
 skill shown by men accustomed to the business of 
 tracking Indians, either for friendly or warlike pur- 
 poses, is oftentimes truly wonderful, and especially is 
 it so to a person brought up in a civilized community, 
 only familiar with the reports of such things. The age 
 of the trail, the haunts the red men are bound to, their 
 object in going there, the numbers on the trail, and 
 the tribe or tribes to which they belong, can, in the 
 majority of cases, be told with the greatest accuracy. 
 
456 ENCAMPED ON "FISHEr's PEAK." 
 
 It is by philosophizing on minute things, which in 
 ordinary life would be considered mere trifles, and 
 hardly worth a consideration, that this knowledge is 
 arrived at. Thus it takes but a minimum amount of 
 wisdom to realize that a spear of grass, when trodden 
 upon, is usually crushed to the earth ; but few reflect 
 that the attempt is made by nature to restore the blade 
 to its naturally upright position, and in doing so, re- 
 quires a certain period of time to accomplish the task. 
 This process, to the trailer, is an index by which he 
 judges the age of the visit made by the Indians to 
 that section of country. The shape of the sole of the 
 moccasin, or the carvings on arrows when they are 
 found, which not unfrequently happens, and many 
 other like things, are sure signs in guiding the expe- 
 rienced trailer to the particular party he is seeking. 
 
 Carlton and his men became flushed with the pros- 
 pects of success on finding the main trail, and they 
 lost no time in follow^ing it up. For six days they made 
 rapid progress, and at the end of that time espied the 
 Indians encamped on ^' Fisher's Peak " in the Eaton 
 Mountains. Although the mountain was none the 
 easiest to climb, yet the soldiers went at its perform- 
 ance with a determination that brought them upon the 
 Indians before they could collect their animals and be 
 off, and the consequence was, that many a brave war- 
 rior then and there drew his last breath. However, 
 the most of the Indians ran away, but were pursued, 
 and a few were overtaken and shot. 
 
 The mountain on which the Apaches were concealed, 
 as described in this adventure with them, is devoid of 
 trees, and hence is what, in western language, is known 
 as a "bald mountain." Its summit contained a dry 
 
IN AMBUSH. 457 
 
 basin, ^vliich, besides the open lookout that the emi- 
 iienee eoimnanded, Ibriiied another inducement to these 
 Indians in selecting it for a hiding-place. The route 
 from New Mexico to the United States, which we have 
 before spoken of as the Bent's Fort road, ran through, 
 or rather, close to, the Raton Mountains. On account 
 of its being well timbered, and offering somewhat of a 
 protection, this route was often chosen late in the 
 autumn, and early in the spring, as the safest for cara- 
 vans to travel. As a hunting district it cannot be sur- 
 passed, especially in the seasons of the year above 
 mentioned, as the game collects there for shelter from 
 cold and storms. 
 
 At night, a squad of men under command of Lieu- 
 tenant R. Johnston, of the First Regiment of United 
 States Dragoons, secreted themselves in the camp 
 lately occupied by the Indians, in the expectancy that 
 some of them would return to reconnoitre and see 
 what had been done there. Along with this detach- 
 ment, there w^as a man belonging to the spy company 
 wdio could counterfeit the call used by these Indians 
 wdien they w^ish to find each other and collect their 
 forces. At about midnight, wdien all was still, this 
 peculiar-toned whistle was sounded, when lo and be- 
 hold ! two warriors and two squaws came forth and 
 commenced groping about in the darkness. They w^ere 
 fired upon, but as no accurate aim could be taken, only 
 one of the men was mortally wounded. There is no 
 reason to doubt that there were more of these Indians 
 concealed in the neighborhood, but the report of the 
 rifles and the yells of their exposed brothers caused 
 them to cling to their hiding-places; and, as the 
 shades of night advanced, they thought it w\as best 
 
458 CUSTOMS OF THE APACHES. 
 
 to be on the move to distant parts. Hence, they 
 escaped. The Apaches, in this affray, parted with forty 
 head of horses and also their scanty allowance of camp 
 equipage; for, by prosecuting the war, -they were fast 
 becoming poverty stricken ; but, to do them as much 
 harm as possible, all the articles that could be of any 
 service to them were collected and destroyed. 
 
 A spectator, not used to seeing Indians in all phases, 
 on beholding these Apaches in their most flourishing 
 condition, would at once decide they had but little else 
 to lose than their bodies, for they usually have but a 
 small quantity of clothing on them ; but this is but an 
 instance where human eyes can be easily deluded. As 
 long as he has his rifle, with plenty of ammunition, or 
 even when he is reduced to his bow and arrows, the 
 Apache considers that he is amply provided to carry 
 on war. Least of all the Indians in the far West does 
 this race prepare for the future. When deprived of 
 his horse, which he is ready, at a moment's warning, 
 to convert into food by killing, his spirits are as buoy- 
 ant as if he was mounted on the fleetest charger. He 
 is equally careless about partaking of his last morsel of 
 nourishment, although his rashness may drive him, and 
 often does, to the alternative of subsisting on roots and 
 bark, or such other articles as may fall in his way. 
 
 On the morning of the day that the Apache village 
 was discovered and captured, Kit Carson rode up to 
 his superior officer and said: ^^ Major, if no accident 
 shall happen to prevent us, we are certain to overtake 
 the Indians by two o'clock this afternoon. The signs 
 are becoming so fresh that I feel confident that I will 
 not be mistaken." Carlton replied that if his words 
 came true, he would present him with the finest hat 
 
KIT CARSON S PROPHECY. 
 
 459 
 
 that could be purchased in the United States. Strange 
 as it may appear, the Indians were found at the hour 
 which the guide had predicted. Sometime afterward, 
 as it required quile a k^ngth of time to write and have 
 the commission executed, Kit Carson w\as presented 
 with a superb hat, in which there was a very appropri- 
 ate inscription — viz., 
 
 
 AT 2 O'CLOCK. 
 
 lECIT OJ^I^SOI^, 
 
 FHOM 
 
 MAJOR CARLTON. 
 
 
 This prophecy was not guess-work. On the contrary, 
 it was a matter of calcuhition, made on the same prin- 
 ciple Avhich any experienced workman would adopt, in 
 reference to some undertakino; that was w^ithin rano-e 
 of his calling. A few years later, an officer who had 
 been an eye-Avitness of this incident, had the opportu- 
 nity of trying Kit Carson a second time on the same 
 business, but Kit was not mistaken. The Indians were 
 overtaken within five minutes from the time he had 
 foretold they would be. 
 
 Major Carlton, having performed all that lay in his 
 power, commenced his homeward-bound march. While 
 en route he traveled by the head waters of the Cana- 
 dian Piiver and its tributaries, and passed over bold 
 and lofty mountains, and through a picturesque coun- 
 try. Finally he reached Taos. Ilis conuiiand was in 
 a very good condition, considering the hardships to 
 which it had Ijuen exposed. 
 
 Although we say, in common parlance, that this 
 
 27 
 
460 RETURN FROM AN INDIAN CAMPAIGN. 
 
 command returned in good condition, yet it must not 
 be presumed by this assertion that they came back 
 making a fine appearance, like that presented by sol- 
 diers on a parade. When out on these campaigns, the 
 comfort of the men is considered to be of more impor- 
 tance than cither pomp or show ; hence, those military 
 trappings which are not particularly essential are left 
 behind, while there is just enough uniformity of dress 
 remaininfjc to make them recos-nizable as soldiers. But 
 little luggage can be transported on these trips, hence 
 the soldiers are obliged to limit their wants to actual 
 necessity, which seldom amounts to more than the 
 clothes they have on. When about starting out, the 
 soldiers bear the appearance of being ready for hard 
 work, which, after finishing, they are glad to return, 
 even if they present themselves at their quarters in 
 rags. It is wonderful what a change in personal ap- 
 pearance a few weeks can make by traveling in the 
 mountains. The person thus exposed partially con- 
 forms to the habits of the wild Indians, both in appear- 
 ance and mode of life. Such toilet articles as mirrors 
 and razors, with their paraphernalia, are dispensed with, 
 personal beauty being a thing the most to be despised. 
 In lieu thereof, robust health shows itself in the cheek, 
 the eye, and the whole economy of the man. The 
 blood courses through his veins as pure as the water 
 in the mountain streams about him. By this training, 
 the mind becomes clear and w^ell-balanced, and the 
 whole system reaches a condition which far surpasses 
 the finest constructed machinery. This happy state 
 of the body does not, however, communicate itself to 
 the fantastical appearance of the soldiers as they come 
 marching along. Were they to enter a town belong- 
 
PREPARING FOR WAR. 4G1 
 
 ing to a civilized community, when arrayed in tliis 
 mountain costume, they woukl be at once judged as a 
 band of desperadoes. 
 
 On arriving at his home, Kit Carson resumed the 
 duties of his olhce as Indian Agent, which occupied his 
 time during the remainder of the year. Soon after, 
 another expedition was organized and sent out against 
 the Apaches, but it returned unsuccessfuL 
 
 AVe have used this Avord ^-organizing" when speaking 
 of the fitting out of various expeditions against the In- 
 dians, and it seems proper that here we should give the 
 reader an idea of what kind of preparation is necessary 
 to put one of these commands in proper trim. The 
 company, or companies, of soldiers will be first detailed 
 for the arduous duties of the field to castigate the In- 
 dians. This matter is easy to accomplish ; but the 
 next til in or to be thouGrht of is to take care of these 
 troops, which is not quite so puerile a task. The quar- 
 ter-master estimates from the number of the soldiers how 
 many mules will be required to transport their luggage, 
 equipments and provisions. This having been deter- 
 mined upon, he collects the animals and has them pro- 
 vided with pack-saddles. The task of shoeing the 
 horses and mules is also no easy matter, for they can- 
 not go until after they have been properly shod. A 
 certain weight of freight is assigned to each pack mule, 
 and a suitable number of men are employed to take 
 care of, load and unload these animals when in camp. 
 When on the march, these men perform duty as driv- 
 ers, and otherwise look after their charge. Notwith- 
 standing their proverbial obstinacy, these pack mules 
 quickl}^ learn the labor which they have to perform. 
 After finishing their usual day's work, they often ex- 
 
462 TACKING A TRICKY MULE. 
 
 liibit impatience to be relieved of their burdens. In 
 the morning they are correspondingly reluctant about 
 being loaded, and by their hostile demonstrations, they 
 plainly sliow their unwillingness to engage in further 
 labor. Especially is this true Avhen, by careless man- 
 agement, their backs have become injured ; or when, 
 from the steadiness of pressure from the "cZeacZ weight " 
 of their cargoes, the same result has been brought about. 
 The Mexicans understand the art of packing animals to 
 perfection ; hence they are preferred before other men 
 to serve in this capacity. It is often a laughable scene 
 to witness a mule wdio is used to the business, having 
 his load strapped on and otherwise arranged in proper 
 place. The packer, with the lashing rope in hand, and 
 with his foot braced against the side of the animal, by 
 the assistance of a kind of pulley arrangement in the 
 saddle gearing, uses his utmost endeavors to make 
 things as firm as possible. Every effort which he thus 
 puts forth, is strenuously and obstinately resisted by a 
 trick which we will call a straining process that is re- 
 sorted to by the mule. The animal seems to know 
 when his pack is securely and properly adjusted; for, 
 if it is not, he is ready to dump it on the first oppor- 
 tunity occurring. When the mules are loaded, they 
 start out in a drove, but are allowed to select their own 
 path, provided they follow on after the command. It 
 generally happens that one of them is more ambitious 
 than his companions. This one taking the lead, the 
 others resign to him their right to the place, and are 
 content to keep his company at a respectful distance in 
 the rear. One of the duties of the commissary de- 
 partment in fitting out such expeditions is, to provide 
 a sufficient quantity of rations for the men, such as 
 
A COMMISSARY DEPARTMENT. 463 
 
 beef, bacon, beans, sugar and colTec. These form the 
 reliable subsistence of the soldiers Avliile absent from 
 their posts or the sett](*ments. The estimate is judged 
 of by the number of days Avhich the expedition will 
 require to be absent, in order to perform a certain 
 amount of Avork. From this result is calculated the 
 weight and number of rations required, always, when 
 practicable, allowing a small surplus. In this respect, 
 old and experienced soldiers are far superior to volun- 
 teers. The former will allow of no waste. They are 
 accustomed to be methodic in their modes of life, while 
 the volunteer is usually ignorant of such teaching; 
 hence he is wanting in making little things go a great 
 way. While out on one of these campaigns, it is often 
 practicable to a certain extent, jirovided the imdertak- 
 ing is not a hotly contested chase, to drive along beef 
 cattle, which can be killed and used at discretion. Ba- 
 con, however, is the soldier's sheet anchor ; and the va- 
 riety of forms in wdiich he can cook and prepare for 
 eating this article, while in the field, would astonish 
 even a French chef de cuisine. It very frequently 
 happens, however, that in an Indian country, he is not 
 allowed to exercise his talent, for, making large fires 
 might have the effect of apprising the enemy of the 
 near approach of danger. In such a case he is obliged 
 to make his coffee in a tin cup, over a very small fire, 
 the fuel of which consists of a handful of dry twigs, 
 which are carefidly and cautiously replenished as the 
 first supply is consumed. This coffee, together with 
 the remains of his last frugal meal, serves to stay his 
 appetite for the time being, nolens volens. The orgjin- 
 ization is said to be complete and fit for service when the 
 soldiers are judiciously provided with arms, ammuni- 
 
464 THE KEQUIREMEXTS OF INDIANS. 
 
 tion, and riding horses. When a party consists of 
 mounted men, they are also provided with such other 
 articles as are deemed necessary, which are included, 
 usually, under the heading of an outfit for the especial 
 business in which the soldier is to engage. 
 
 In the latter part of the summer, Kit Carson departed 
 from the agency, on a visit to the band of Utahs, one of 
 the tribes who w^ere placed under his special charge. 
 Although, usually, he went to their country several 
 times in a year, yet, more frequently, these Indians 
 came to him in order that they might enjoy the hospi- 
 tality of his house, and receive from him presents of 
 tobacco and other little commodities which he was al- 
 ways sure to give them — articles which he generally 
 had to pay for himself In visiting them at their home 
 on this particular occasion. Kit Carson had the double 
 object in view of notifying them of the onoon when 
 they must meet the superintendent of the Indian affairs 
 of fne Territory at Abiquiu, a town adjacent to their 
 hunting grounds, and one which they often frequented, 
 and also, to inform himself of the schemes which they 
 had on foot and their actual wants, so that he could re- 
 port to the proper authorities the necessary articles of 
 which they stood most in need. To define the actual 
 wants and requirements of Indians, is a subject which 
 has puzzled many a person who has endeavored thor- 
 oughly to investigate their character, and who has un- 
 derstood their mode of life. If the question was left to 
 themselves, it w^ould be readily settled ; for, they desire 
 to possess everything which in the least pleases their 
 active fancy ; and, so extensive are their demands in 
 this respect, that they know no limit, provided their 
 own inclinations are consulted. By some, it is sup- 
 
A MISTAKEJf rOLICY. 465 
 
 posed that the presents of blankets and trinkets which 
 the\^ annually receive from government, are more than 
 sufficient rewards for depriving them of parts of their 
 country. Others there are who charitably add to these 
 things, presents of weapons and ammunition, arguing 
 that thus they can kill their game, and gain their own 
 subsistence without resorting to plunder; but alas! 
 this latter argument is not found, in the majority of 
 instances, to be the peaceful manner in which they em- 
 ploy these gifts. Very often the weapons which they 
 have but recently received, are turned upon their do- 
 nors with a view of destroying them. The reasoning of 
 the Indian in regard to these presents is perhaps right 
 and just, yet it is by no means pleasing to the exposed 
 frontiersman. The Indian argues that these gifts are 
 but rights which he is forced to receive in lieu of his 
 hunting grounds, w^ith which he is very loth to part, 
 no matter what be the terms or consideration offered. 
 The inference which he draws is, that he can use these 
 presents as he pleases. Money, in the hands of wild 
 Indians, is almost worthless to them, and paying it for 
 their lands by way of annuity, is extreme folly. Some 
 of them in time, as they have become half civilized, 
 begin to appreciate the value of money. Such, only, 
 should be allowed to receive or accept it. They some- 
 times desire it by way of ornament. Then by the usual 
 means of exchanging property, they know how, easily, 
 to obtain it. Every tribe has its own peculiarities in 
 respect to its wants, and the best judge of these is the 
 agent, who should be first chosen for his honor, integ- 
 rity and skill, and then allowed a large discretion in 
 his decisions. 
 
 The distance to be traveled over while on this duty 
 
466 A GRAXD COUXCIL AVITH THE UTAHS. 
 
 was in the vicinity of two hundred and fifty miles, and 
 was performed, hke all of Kit's previous journeys, on 
 horseback. Indeed, there are but few men, living or 
 dead, who have ridden in the saddle over as much 
 territory as the man we write of On his way to the 
 Utah village, Kit accidentally fell in with the Apaches ; 
 but as he was constantly on the lookout, and therefore 
 first in making the discovery, he lost no time in effect- 
 ing his escape from them, by changing his course. He 
 thus was able to pass around them in perfect safety. 
 Kit Carson met with no difficulty in finding the Utahs, 
 among whom he spent two days, investigating their 
 affairs. Just before parting with them, he left direc- 
 tions for them to be at the council at the time ap- 
 pointed, which was in the new moon of October. Not- 
 withstanding his path was beset with the same perils 
 that existed on his outward journey, yet by careful 
 traveling he surmounted them all, and arrived at his 
 home safe and sound. Little or nothing worth noting 
 transpired until the time arrived for him to set out for 
 Abiquiu, where all parties soon assembled in grand 
 council and proceeded to business. Speeches were made 
 by the superintendent, by Kit Carson, and (dso by the 
 head chiefs. After these interesting proceedings were 
 gone through with, the annuities, to which the band 
 were entitled according to their treaty, were presented 
 to them, which they received with outward signs of 
 friendship, though the knowing ones who were oii the 
 ground could see, lurking beneath that stoic appearance 
 which a savage usually assumes when facing his white 
 brother, that the red men were not entirely satisfied 
 with past events. However, ever}^ means had been 
 employed to pacify the band, who, on first coming into 
 
A CASE OF TOTAL DEPRAVITY. 467 
 
 the council, had succeeded in showing that they had 
 been greatly outraged and injured, and that they had 
 suflicient cause for resentment. The following circum- 
 stances will show the truth of this. 
 
 Just previous to the holding of this council, one of 
 the warriors who was much esteemed by his tribe, had 
 been waylaid and murdered by a small party of Mexi- 
 cans. The only excuse offered by the latter for com- 
 mitting this bloody deed was, that they washed to 
 deprive the warrior of an old coat, which, by some 
 means, had come into his possession. 
 
 The killing of a human being to deprive him of a 
 garment which was almost worthless, is perfectly char- 
 acteristic of the depravity exliibited by the lower classes 
 of Mexicans. It is a singular t-act that these people love 
 to steal trifling articles, or sums of money. We remem- 
 ber two instances where this trait is singularly illustrated. 
 An American, on one occasion, left on a table, in his log 
 house, a large sum of money in gold. He sent a Mex- 
 ican into this room to bring him something which he 
 wanted, but the man returned saying he could not find 
 it. The American now went himself to look for the 
 article, and, while in the house, recounted his money, 
 and found one of the smallest coins missing. He at 
 once called the thief and charged him with the crime. 
 The Mexican knew this American to be a very resolute 
 man; when, therefoie, he heard him threaten him with 
 severe and summary punishment if he did not at once 
 produce the money, he knew there was no escape, and 
 accordingly drew from its hiding-place, on his person, 
 the missing coin, and restored it to its owner. The 
 American, being used to such every-day occurrences, 
 passed by the affair without further notice. In the 
 
468 THIEVING MEXICANS. 
 
 other instance, an American Avas traveling and had 
 occasion to stop at a Mexican's lionse during the night. 
 On going to pay his bill for his lodgings in the morning, 
 he noticed that two pieces of his money had been ab- 
 stracted while he was sleeping. These coins had been 
 taken, one from either end of his purse. This was what 
 drew his attention to the fact of his having been robbed. 
 The host was informed of what had happened, and at 
 once proceeded to restore the missing money. He 
 called his son to him, a boy twenty years of age, and 
 after threatening a good deal, he made the lad take his 
 choice between owning the theft, or submitting to the 
 risk of being discovered by a search of his person for the 
 missing coins. This had the desired effect, and at once 
 the stolen property was returned to its rightful owner. 
 
 Both of these facts are simple, and, perhaps, uninter- 
 esting ; but they serve to exhibit a characteristic of 
 the lower classes of Mexicans. Doubtless, such paltry 
 thieving is the result of a want of animal courage, 
 easily discernible by the close observer of the Mexican 
 race. Of course there are many exceptions to ' this 
 statement. 
 
 The white men interested in the council had their 
 hands full, in their endeavors to smooth over this 
 affair, for the Indians w^ere much dissatisfied with such 
 treatment. At first they demanded that reparation 
 should be made them, by their agents giving them a 
 certain number of horses. The Superintendent ex- 
 plained to them that he had not the power to do this, 
 but he assured them that the murderers should be 
 arrested and dealt with accordino: to law. The In- 
 dians willingly received this promise, but seemed to 
 feel, as finally was the fact, that they were doomed to 
 
SMALL-rOX AMOXG THE INDIANS. 469 
 
 be disappointed as flir as the punishment was concerned. 
 It afterwards happened that only one of tlie murderers 
 Avas apprehended, and in a very short time after he was 
 locked up as a prisoner, he succeeded in making his es- 
 cape and was never retaken. This was all that was 
 ever done by those in authority to render the justice 
 that had been agreed upon and which was richly due to 
 the Indians. After quitting the council, and while on 
 their way back to their hunting-ground, the small-pox 
 broke out among the red men, and carried off, in its 
 ravages, the leading men of this band of Muache Utahs. 
 On the f rst appearance of this trouble the Indians held 
 a council among themselves, and decided that the Su- 
 perintendent was the cause of the pestilence that had 
 visited them. They also decided that he had collected 
 them together in order thus to injure them, and to fur- 
 ther his designs he had presented to each of their dis- 
 tinguished warriors a blanket-coat. They found that 
 nearly every Indian who had accepted and worn this 
 article had died. 
 
 It so happened that the writer, several years after 
 these events occurred, visited the camp where this pes- 
 tilence reigned in its full vigor. The site of this camp 
 was very beautiful. Pei haps it was this, aided by other 
 circumstances, which caused the red men to select it as 
 a refuge for their sick. The 'p\acQ is located on the 
 west side of the Valley of San Luis, and is about mid- 
 way between its upper and lower extremes. Two 
 mountain streams have so joined as to form a penin- 
 sula of table-land, which is well shaded by cotton-wood 
 trees. This ground, when the writer saw it, was liter- 
 ally strewn with the bleached bones of the Indian vic- 
 tims who had died from the scourge. As we lifted up 
 
470 THE PLACE OF DRY BOXES. 
 
 one skull and another, the thought struck us that, per- 
 haps, we might liave touched the bones which once 
 belonged to the famous chief, Chico Vehisques, of 
 whom we have before spoken, as it was here that he 
 died. Had we done so knowingly, on account of that 
 man's many cruel deeds, a thrill of horror must have 
 run throu^'-h our voin3. The funeral rites of the dead 
 among the Indians were clearly exemplified here. 
 
 Whatever may be these rites observed among the 
 Indians on the Vv^est side of the Rocky Mountains, I am 
 satisfied that most of the tribes of Indians on the east 
 side of this same range use but few, if any, imposing 
 ceremonies in committing the body to the dust. It is 
 very difficult to find the bones of an Indian on the 
 plains, and therefore, I believe, and herein I am assisted 
 by the observations of experienced men, that these In- 
 dians burn their dead bodies when they can do so, or 
 completely hide them in the mountains by covering 
 them with rocks, so that it is impossible to find them. 
 Such a course would also serve the purpose of prevent- 
 ing the wolves from digging them up. Tlie high-col- 
 ored novels, referred to heretofore, wdiich have, during 
 the past few years, had for their theme the Indian race, 
 love to dwell on the imposing and affecting spectacle of 
 an Indian burial. When stripped of fancy, the truth 
 is, that beyond the lamenting of a few h3\sterical squaws 
 and the crackling of the flames of the funeral pile, there 
 is little else done that is noticeable. 
 
 But to return to the results of the council. The In- 
 dians, naturally enough, argued and persuaded them- 
 selves that these presents were intended as poisonous 
 destroyers, and that they had been steeped in conta- 
 gion for that end. It wanted but the happening of this 
 
SECRETLY PREPAKIXG FOP. WAR. 471 
 
 afliiir, or a similar one, to destroy the small amount of 
 conlicleiice which the Superintendent had hitherto en- 
 joyed with these savages. While they were secretly 
 preparing for war, they anxiously inquired of the 
 traders who came among them^ what was transpiring 
 in regard to the Mexican prisoners who had wantonly 
 murdered their brave. On each separate occasion 
 they were answered with intelligence that did not 
 in the least satisfy them. They therefore renewed 
 their energies, in order soon to be ready to take the 
 redress in their own hands. Kit Carson apprehended 
 difHculty, even at the council ; but, after it broke up, 
 he was early apprised of the trouble which was brewing, 
 and, to prevent any outbreak, he brought all his Indian 
 experience to bear upon the task. In him they said 
 that they knew they had a true friend ; but, their na- 
 tion had received too many wrongs to allow any more 
 to be thrust upon them without showing to the world 
 tliiit they were worthy of the names which their fathers 
 had o'iven to them. 
 
472 A FORMIDABLE INDIAN WAR. 
 
 OHAPTEE XYII. 
 
 The Commencement of a Formidable Indian "War — High-handed Measures 
 on the Part of the Indians — The Governor of New Mexico raises Five 
 Hundred Mexican Volunteers and places them under the Command of 
 Colonel St. Vrain — Colonel Fauntleroy placed in Command of all the 
 Forces— Kit Carson is chosen as Chief Guide — Tlie Campaign Com- 
 menced — The Trail Found — The Indians are met and the first Fight 
 and its Consequences — An Excitement in Camp — The Indians again 
 Overtaken — The Return to Fort Massachusetts — Intense Cold AVeather 
 experienced — The Second Campaign — Colonel Fauntleroy Surprises 
 the Main Camp of the Enemy — The Scalp Dance Broken Up — Terrible 
 Slaughter of the Indians — The Great Amount of Plunder Taken and 
 Destroyed — Another Small Party of Indians Surprised and Routed — 
 St. Vrain equally fortunate in his Campaign — The Indians Sue for 
 Peace — The Council held and Treaties signed — Kit Carson opposes 
 the making of them — The poor Protection Indian Treaties usually 
 afford to Settlers — Kit Carson's House at Taos and his Indian Friends 
 — His Attachment for his Family put to the Test — Cowardice of a 
 Mexican — Kit Carson's Friends as they looked upon him — His Influ- 
 ence over Indians. 
 
 The Muache band of Utahs, under their renowned 
 Chief, BLanco, after tradhig for all the powder and 
 lead which they required, joined the Apaches and com- 
 menced the war in earnest. They wayhaid and mur- 
 dered travelers on the roads, attacked towns, killed and 
 made prisoners the people who inhabited them, and 
 became so formidable that for a length of time every- 
 thing was at their mercy. They lost no opportunity 
 in showing their power and in possessing themselves 
 of the finest herds of horses, mules, cattle and sheep 
 within their reach. 
 
THE IIENOWXED CHIEF, BLANCO. 473 
 
 This Chief, Bhiiico, was a man who stood in his moc- 
 casins about five feet nine inches. He was rather 
 thickset, but, to use an Indian phrase, as straight as an 
 arrow. The chief attraction about this Indian was his 
 head, which Avas finely developed. His lustrous bhick 
 eye, fdled with animation, showed an active brain, 
 which, unfortunately, was turned to bad account. His 
 forehead was lofty, yet was sj'mmetrically chiseled, and 
 every feature about his face was as regular as if it had 
 been carved for sculptured perfection. Blanco was a 
 man who, in any sphere of life, would have become 
 most certainly distinguished ; and, under the influence 
 of education, he might have risen even to greatness. 
 In his unreclaimed state he showed to a decided disad- 
 vantaii:e. 
 
 It is within my jDrovince fully to attest to the earnest- 
 ness, the savageness and the brutality, with which these 
 Indians commenced this contest. I was then stationed 
 in their country and came very near being one of their 
 first victims. The circumstances of this narrow escape 
 happened as follows: For a considerable length of 
 tim^e, the post to which I was then attached was kept 
 in a constant state of excitement by receiving authentic 
 accounts, daily, of murders and robberies committed 
 by the Indians. While these events were transpiring, 
 the officers and soldiers were anxious to take the field 
 in order that they might punish the perpetrators of 
 the crimes ; but as the force of the Indians was, numer- 
 ically speaking, very strong, therefore it required, in 
 order to insure success, a well organized command to 
 match them and checkmate their plans at once. It 
 required time and much labor for the officers in charge 
 of the military district to arrange and complete their 
 
474 AX EXCITING ADVENTURE. 
 
 plans. Every man who left oiir post ran the risk of 
 losing his life ; for the enemy kept an e\'e on the road 
 which led away from it to the principal towns of New 
 Mexico, as often there was rich booty for them to 
 obtain passing over it. Notwithstanding this critical 
 state of affairs, express duty had to be performed, and 
 it required brave men for the task. There were pres- 
 ent, however, those who stood ready to volunteer to 
 execute all express orders. Before proceeding with 
 our own case, we will illustrate these critical times. 
 It was necessary to dispatch an expressman to Fort 
 Union. This post, from Fort Massachusetts, was one 
 hundred and fifty miles distant. The ever faithful 
 Mexican, Armador Sanchez, was then attached to Fort 
 Massachusetts as a hunter and interpreter. On account 
 of extensive experience w^ith the habits and customs 
 of the hostile Indians, Armador was selected to per- 
 form this dangerous mission. In his usually quiet 
 manner, this noble hunter soon prepared himself for 
 the undertaking. By using every precaution, he 
 reached his point of destination in safety. Having fin- 
 ished up his business, he instantly began his homeward- 
 bound journey. While on the rough trail wdiicli leads 
 from Fort Union to Taos, he came near being surprised 
 and captured by the enemy, under the following cir- 
 cumstances. Armador had selected the night as the 
 safest time to travel ; and, as it was quite dark, in order 
 to pick out his way and prevent his growing sleepy 
 by riding, he traveled on foot and led his animal. He 
 had made good progress on his journey when, suddenly, 
 his hunter-trained car detected a noise on ahead of 
 him, which sounded like the rolling of stones down the 
 side of the hills over which the trail ran. He stopped 
 
A CraTICAL MOMENT. 475 
 
 and listened more attentively. This time he was cer- 
 tain that he \vas not deceived, and thought that he 
 could hear voices singing Indian war songs. This was 
 convincing proof to him that danger was near at hand ; 
 therefore he turned off from the trail and led his animal 
 as high up the steep hill as he could, where, fortunately, 
 he found sufficient underbrush, aided by the darkness 
 of the night, to conceal himself from view. Hardly 
 had he taken up this position when the noises suddenly 
 became very distinct. The Indians, while following 
 the trail, had made a turn round a bluff and were almost 
 beneath him. Now the hunter felt his situation to be 
 most precarious, for, should his mule bray, as these 
 animals are apt to do when others are approaching, his. 
 own life would have to pay the forfeit ; but, to prevent 
 this, Armador held the mule's nostrils firmly with his- 
 hands, and otherwise drew off the animal's attention 
 by various gentle manipulations bestowed upon him. 
 He saw the outlines of the Indians as they passed 
 alonsr in sinQ;le file beneath him, and estimated them to 
 be at least twenty strong. Had these savages known 
 that a victim w\as so close by, they would have made 
 short work of liim ; but, before they could have killed 
 him, it is safe to affirm that Armador Sanchez would 
 have had a companion with whom to draw his last 
 breath. Fortunately affiiirs took a better turn, and 
 the expressman finished his journey without further 
 trouble. 
 
 To return to my own case — I was obliged to visit 
 Taos. As an escort, I was allowed one faithful and 
 brave soldier. We traveled toirether over the first half 
 
 o 
 
 of our journey, and as we had considered, far the most 
 dangerous part, in perfect safety. At the Mexican 
 
 28 
 
476 SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES. 
 
 town of Costillo, after our day's ricle, we rested for the 
 night. Our fears of meeting Indians were now almost 
 dispelled ; but still, we took the precaution to question 
 the Mexicans of the town in regard to their knowledge 
 of tlieir whereabouts. In reply we were invariably an- 
 swered that no fresh signs had been discovered and that 
 intercourse was both safe and free for the remainder of 
 our route. By the first appearance of daylight on the 
 following morning we w^ere up and preparing for our 
 journey, and but a little time elapsed before we were 
 leisurely traveling along on the main road. We had 
 left the town but a few miles behind us, when the morn- 
 ing sun began to make its appearance in all his splen- 
 dor. The country through which we were journeying 
 was prairie land, and was bounded on either side by 
 lofty and picturesque mountains, and the distance of the 
 one range from the other was considerable, but yet 
 could fully be taken in by the eye almost at a single 
 view. As we rode along, we were amusing ourselves 
 admiring the beauty of the morning, and especially di- 
 rected our attention to the rising of the sun. All at 
 once, just as w^e had reached a high j^lateau of land, the 
 soldier made the discovery of a flock of sheep at a great 
 distance off on the prairie. They appeared to be mov- 
 ing under rather suspicious circumstances. "We reined 
 up our horses, for the purpose of obtaining a better ob- 
 servation. What puzzled us, was the dim figures of, 
 apparent!}^, mounted men, who w^ere moving at great 
 sj)eed from one point of the band of sheep to another, 
 as if hurrying them along. After taking a searching 
 look, we concluded that the horsemen wdiich we saw 
 were hostile Indians, as we had not been accustomed to 
 see Mexican herders mounted and acting so strangely. 
 
TnE AUTHOR IN" A FIX. 477 
 
 The herders, near the towns in New Mexico, are usu- 
 ally small boys, avIio are under the surveillance of one 
 or two men stationed near by. When the Apaches and 
 Utahs steal these herds, they always take the young 
 herders along, in order to look after the property in 
 their mountain retreats. They rarely mortally injure 
 these hoys, for they say that it is against their own in- 
 terest to do so ; but instead, they prefer to save their 
 lives, so that they may be useful in guarding other 
 flocks which, perchance, may fall into their hands. Most 
 of these youtliful prisoners in time make their escape ; 
 and, after a series of hardships, return safe to their 
 homes. Many Mexicans can give such adventures of 
 their early experience, but scarcely one of them can re- 
 call a single kind act shown them by their captors, save 
 the mere sparing of their lives. 
 
 As we were viewing the herd, we thought that we 
 noticed the figures of the horsemen throwing them- 
 selves from one side to the other of their horses, as if 
 very busily employed in frightening the sheep. We 
 now held a council, and decided that our best policy 
 was to quit the main road, as it was crooked, and make 
 a straight march across the prairies for the town of Red 
 Kiver, which was located about twenty miles in our ad- 
 vance. It was our opinion, which afterwards proved to 
 be correct, that, if the Indians were stealing the stock 
 belonging to the town of Costillo, they were also en- 
 gaged in attacking the place itself. For, while a strong 
 party were engaged in drawing off the attention of tlie 
 people, another would be driving off the cattle, sheep, 
 etc. To return, therefore, would be almost certain 
 death ; so, at a full gallop, we commenced our direct 
 course. As the sage bushes were thick and high and 
 
478 IMITATING THE BUFFALO. 
 
 the ground miicli broken by various kinds of holes, we 
 soon found that we had our hands full in managing our 
 horses. We had hardly started afresh before our eyes 
 were attracted to one side of us ; and in the direction 
 of the Rio del Norte, which runs through the valley, 
 saw, what we at first considered to be, antelope. As 
 we watched closely these supposed antelope, we re- 
 marked that they kept in Indian file, and that the 
 course they were on would diagonally intercept our 
 own point of the compass. We began now to suspect 
 that the white appearance assumed by these objects 
 was owing to the strong sunlight which dazzled our 
 eyesight, and struck on the dressed side of buffalo robes 
 and that in these robes were concealed human beings 
 who had formed the determination to have our scalps. 
 During the cold weather, most of the Indians who 
 dwell in the countr}^ adjacent to the Rocky Mountains, 
 and especially those living on the eastern side of them, 
 wear buffalo robes with the fur next to their bodies. 
 These robes serve the double purpose of shirts or coats, 
 and a covering by night. The wearers make them fast 
 around the waist, and, in the heat of the day, they are 
 allowed to fold over and hang down ; but, as the cool 
 air of the evening comes on, they are wrapped around 
 tlie head and body, something after the Spanish fashion 
 of wearing a cloak. The Indians, frequently, for the 
 purpose of decoying their enemies into battle, go out 
 on the prairies, and by turning the fur side of these 
 robes out, and covering their persons, having previously 
 assumed a half-bent position, imitate the Simon Pure 
 buffalo while in the act of grazing. In order to keep 
 up the ruse, they move about Avith a rocking motion. 
 When taken for the buffalo, which frequently happens, 
 
A RIDE FOR LIFE. 479 
 
 tliey arc enabled to gain an advantage in approacliing 
 a party or village Avliicli they wish to attack. The 
 Cheyenne Indians are very partial to loose sack-coats 
 which are made ont of" white blankets. To these coats 
 a hood is attached, which is thrown over the head at 
 the wearer's pleasure. In addition to this, during the 
 winter season, they also resort to the buffalo robe. 
 The squaws of the various tribes of Indians on the 
 plains are well versed in the art of tanning and dress- 
 ing buffalo hides. They frequently ornament them 
 wdth beads, porcupme quills and rude paintings. In 
 times long since gone by, these robes could be pur- 
 chased, or rather traded for, at good bargains ; but the 
 unlimited and increasing demand for them has greatly 
 enhanced their value. Nowadays they bring standard 
 prices. 
 
 Being satisfied that the Indians were in pursuit of us, 
 we carefully guided our horses, at the same time using 
 our spurs freely and keeping them at their maximum 
 speed. As the Indians drew nearer, we could see dis- 
 tinctly that they were urging on their animals. Our 
 safety, therefore, depended entirely on outriding them. 
 The race became most exciting, and demanded the 
 greatest caution, for we well knew, that one misstep 
 made by either of our horses, would prove fatal to the 
 rider. We had decided, on commencing the race, that 
 neither of us should fire a shot except as a last resort, 
 and that we should do it only on the principle of man 
 for man. While putting our horses to their speed, our 
 weapons were held in our hands and kept ready for in- 
 stant service. The most dangerous point was that at 
 which the two trails would inevitably intersect. To 
 gain this place in advance of our savage enemies, all 
 
480 A NARROW ESCAPE. 
 
 our hopes now centered. For twelve miles we daslied 
 along, laboring nnder a state of suspense not to be eas- 
 ily forgotten. When, at last, we arrived at the desired 
 point, we were only about two hundred yards in the ad- 
 vance of our savage pursuers ; still, we felt that our 
 lives, for the time being, were saved, and accordingly 
 breathed a prayer to the Almighty in thanks for our 
 deliverance thus far. The pace now became tremen- 
 dous ; and here our grain-fed horses proved to be too 
 much (and their powers of endurance were fully put to 
 the test) for the grass-fed ponies of the Indians. After 
 a short run, the savages saw that the advantage be- 
 longed to us, consequently soon after they halted. 
 We, however, kept steadily, but with slackened speed, 
 on our course, fearing that some accident might change 
 the happy turn of affairs in their favor. On finding 
 themselves thwarted in their designs, the Indians fired 
 two or three shots at us, but even these final compli- 
 ments did not, to use nautical phraseology, make us 
 "heave to." We reached the settlement of the Eed 
 River in good season, and concluded that we had trav- 
 eled the distance in about as brief a space of time as 
 it ever had been accomplished, either before or since 
 our adventure. Our horses were so used up by this 
 race that we Avere obliijced to chano;e them for fresh 
 ones, on which we finished our journey without further 
 annoyance. The Indians, in this incursion, stole five 
 thousand sheep, besides other jDroperty from the Cos- 
 tillo, and killed two men who were traveling behind 
 us and on the same road. When the bodies of these 
 men were discovered, one of them had a mouthful of 
 bullets, which he had evidently put there in order that 
 he might drop them into his rifle as he should require 
 
THE RESULTS OF MISMANAGEMENT. 481 
 
 them, and not be obliged to be delayed in taking them 
 from his ammunition pouch; but, evidently, before he 
 could have used more than one from this supply, he 
 was shot dead. 
 
 It cannot be denied but that this outbreak on the 
 part of the Indians, and its subsequent outrages, was 
 the result of mismanagement; and it is but justice to 
 the reputation of Kit Carson to assert that it was no 
 fault of his that affairs had terminated so disastrously. 
 He had used every means which human skill could de- 
 vise to allay the anger of the Indians. Had his supe- 
 riors in power acted with the same discretion and judg- 
 ment, in all probability the Utahs might have been 
 kept at peace. It is wonderfully strange that our gov- 
 ernment will persist in placing at the head of Indian 
 affairs men who are not practically acquainted with 
 Indian habits, which can only be learned by a long life 
 passed upon the frontiers. If it was a matter where 
 dollars and cents alone were to be estimated, it might 
 be different ; but where valuable lives are legitimately 
 exposed, it seems to us morally wrong to give the con- 
 trol of tribes of wild men to politicians, who are liable 
 to make all kinds of mistakes, and in whom the Indians 
 will not repose the least confidence. It is because such 
 appointments are made that, in a great measure, the 
 troubles with these border Indians arise ; and many is 
 the section of country in western America, where ap- 
 parently the reward for taking a white man's scalp is a 
 blazing red or sky-blue blanket, which is paid under 
 the plea of keeping the peace. This, too, when effi- 
 cient means and decided measures are the only hopes 
 of a lasting peace. 
 
 While engaged in our travels through the far West, 
 
482 A MERE BOY; AS INDIAN AGENT. 
 
 we remember to have met with an Indian agent who 
 was, both in years and experience, but a mere boy. 
 To him had been entrusted the affairs of a large tribe, 
 notorious in the country where they reside as being 
 great thieves. These Indians had so little respect for 
 their agent, that they would openly boast of the 
 crimes which they had committed, in his very pres- 
 ence. Not only this, but, on horses stolen from neigh- 
 boring settlers, they would ride by him, thus defying 
 his power. The settlers were loud in their complaints 
 against the Government for thus neglecting to protect 
 them, and sending them a block of wood for a king. 
 The young man of whom we speak bore an exemplary 
 character, but it was plainly and painfully apparent 
 that he was, in no way whatever, fitted for the office 
 he held, and which he had attained through the influ- 
 ence of pov/erful jDolitical friends. This is but a fair 
 example by which many of the so-called Indian agents 
 may be rated, who are the actual managers of Indian 
 affairs on our frontiers. 
 
 The Utahs and the Apaches, having now openly 
 combined, met with such success in their endeavors to 
 attack the whites, that, during the course of a few 
 months, they overran almost the entire northern part 
 of the Territory of New Mexico. They utterly defied 
 the power of the American Government; and, when- 
 ever the opportunity offered, boasted to the Mexicans 
 " that they no longer stood in fear of the white men." 
 The subsequent cruel and barbarous crimes of which 
 they were guilty, clearly demonstrated that they were 
 elated by their success. It soon became apparent that, 
 unless checked, they would exterminate the population 
 and burn or otherwise destroy their settlements. 
 
CRUEL AND BARBAROUS CRIMES. 483 
 
 At tills time, it ^vas only by running great risk that 
 tlic whites could leave their towns and go to the neigh- 
 boring mountains, for the purpose of obtaining even a 
 little iirewood. Working parties were daily surprised 
 and murdered ; Avomen and children w^ere carried into 
 bondage, and reserved for a worse fate, and all kinds 
 of business were receiving a check, which was becom- 
 ing ruinous to the country. It was even greatly 
 feared that the boldness of the savages w^ould carry 
 them so far as to make them attack Fort Massachu- 
 setts. To give them a warm reception, should they 
 dare undertake that enterprise, the post was strength- 
 ened, by cutting down and removing everything which 
 might in the least tend to aid the Indians, and give 
 them a cover which they so much like when fighting; 
 all the trees and brush about the post were cut aw\ay. 
 Breastw^orks w^ere thrown up on the block-house at- 
 tached to the post, so that the soldiers could be well 
 protected in case of emergency. In these, sentinels 
 w^ere posted, and the strength of the guard doubled 
 and greater vigilance exacted. Haystacks were re- 
 moved to a safe place, for fear they would be fired by 
 the enemy. The sentinels w^ere ordered to cry out 
 every half hour in the night while on their posts, and 
 no man w\as allowed to approach after the shades of 
 ni2:ht had come on, without c:ivinQ: the counters! <^n. 
 It proved to be well that these precautions w^ere taken, 
 for, on the neighboring mountains, Indian watch-fires 
 were seen nightly ; and, on several mornings, Indian 
 moccasin tracks were discovered in close proximity to 
 the fort, showing thereby that the enemy was watching 
 and waiting for a favorable opportunity to strike a sud- 
 den and overwhelming blow upon the garrison within. 
 
484 GREAT AND SUDDEIT COMMOTION. 
 
 The savages, no doubt, were deterred from making a 
 bold attack by the prompt precautionary measures 
 which had been taken by the commander to anticipate 
 their plans. The wagons belonging to the fort were 
 sent out after wood, under a strong escort, and the 
 government herd of beef-cattle, horses and mules, 
 were well protected by the soldiery. On one occasion, 
 throuf]:h a false alarm of Indians, the whole command 
 of the post, which numbered less than one hundred 
 men, was put in great and sudden commotion. The 
 cause will appear in connection with the following cir- 
 cumstances. The party in charge of the herd had espied 
 a large cavalcade of men and animals approaching them. 
 At the long distance they were off, the strangers resem- 
 bled Indians. The commander of the party immedi- 
 ately sent an expressman to the fort to apprise its oc- 
 cupants of the fact. The drums immediately sounded 
 the rally, which caused the men to rush for their arms. 
 They quickly fell into their ranks, and the order was 
 given to march. Headed by a gallant lieutenant, they 
 dashed out of the fort on a fast run, in order to reach 
 and save their property from being captured by the 
 enemy. The soldiers were elated at the j^i'ospect of 
 having a brush with the Indians, and, on an open 
 plain, giving them battle, where, notwithstanding the 
 great numbers which would certainly be arrayed against 
 them, they felt that they coukl soundly chastise them. 
 On reacliing the herd, the soldiers scattered, and were 
 soon prepared to commence the skirmish ; but, lo ! 
 when the strangers drew near enough to be discern- 
 ible, they were recognized as a large party of Mexicans, 
 tinder the command of an American. These people 
 had been absent several months on a trading voyage 
 
FORT MASSACHUSETTS, NEW MEXICO, IX ISOii. 
 
ORGANIZING THE MILITARY. 487 
 
 among the Chcyonnos and Arrapaliocs, and for the pur- 
 pose of returning home in safety, they had formed 
 themselves into one bod3^ Their dress was similar to 
 that of the Indians, and, therefore, at the great distance 
 at which they were first discovered, it is not strange 
 that such a mistake had been made, especially during 
 these dangerous times. The reason of the sudden sta- 
 tioning of the soldiers about the herd, the traders easily 
 surmised ; hence, on drawing near, they began to cry 
 out that they were friends. No set of men were ever 
 more disappointed than were these soldiers at this un- 
 expected termination of the affair. 
 
 Matters eventually arrived at such a crisis that the 
 Governor of the Territory, by and with the advice of 
 the Commanding General, felt obliged to issue a proc- 
 lamation, calling upon the people to volunteer for the 
 purpose of defending their lives and property. 
 
 The inhabitants of New Mexico promptly responded 
 to this call, by flocking to the places de^gnated for 
 them to organize. Out of the great number who pre- 
 sented themselves and offered their services, there were 
 selected men sufficient to fill six companies, each of 
 which, when fully organized, contained eighty mounted 
 men. They had the power of electing their own offi- 
 cers, by and with the advice and consent of the Gov- 
 ernor. These volunteers furnished themselves with 
 riding horses. The pay which they were to receive 
 amounted to about thirty dollars per month, which was 
 considered very liberal, inasmuch as they were pro- 
 vided, in most cases, with arms. Eations were issued 
 out to them the same as to the regular army. The 
 willingness which the Mexicans exhibited on this occa- 
 sion to volunteer, does them great credit, and clearly 
 
488 THE PROPER MODE OF TREATMENT. 
 
 proves the fact that they do not always Lack in courage, 
 but that they are prompt to defend their homes when 
 properly disciplined and aided with the means neces- 
 sary to do so. 
 
 It is the opinion of many of the most prominent cit- 
 izens of the Territory of New Mexico, that, if the chas- 
 tisement of the Indians, when it w^as required, was left 
 to the people themselves, the general Government only 
 supplying them with money and arms, that peace be- 
 tween the two parties would, in a short time, be firmly 
 established on a sure and permanent footing. 
 
 In giving currency to such opinions, we risk them, 
 with the knowledge that the previous experiments made 
 on this policy, which have proved unsuccessful in the 
 various older territories belonging to the United States, 
 will be brought to bear as potent arguments against 
 such a course by a large and powerful opposition. But 
 such facts of Indian history are exceptions. Indian 
 history clearly demonstrates the proposition, that well- 
 organized volunteers, under able leaders, have accom- 
 plished more in w^arfare against the savages than 
 regular troops, taking into consideration that the same 
 length of time, which each have been engaged in actual 
 service, has given them equal experience. The cause 
 of this is plain. These two distinct forces are composed, 
 entirely, of different material. The one is made up of 
 frontiersmen who thoroughly understand the effective 
 use of tlie rifle, and a life in an Indian country, while 
 the regular soldiers have to be taught these things; 
 and, as it very often happens, they have never seen one 
 of their enemy until sent out in quest of the savages. 
 
 As matters usually stand, the Indians are almost 
 the actual, although not the nominal, masters of the 
 
THE KEASON OF FAILURE. 489 
 
 coimtiy. In sliort, they commit excesses Avhenever it 
 suits them, paving no regard to treaties. This has 
 been their habit from time innnemorial, and it is found 
 to be a diilicult task to break them from it. Their 
 minor crimes are allowed to accumulate, and when, at 
 last, they are actuated by increasing success and con- 
 sequent boldness, to commit some great and overt act, 
 it is noticed, and expeditions are sent out against them. 
 These usually hiil to punish the really guilty parties, 
 but instead, they recover a small share of the property 
 stolen, and with it the thirst for revenge must be sa- 
 tiated. The officers and soldiers do their utmost to 
 accomplish something more, and readily meet hard- 
 ships and privations in every shape in order to accom- 
 plish the desired end ; but their time is too limited 
 rightly and efficiently to jDcrform the work ; for the 
 campaign must be ended, when in reality it has but 
 just commenced. The reason exists in the fiict that 
 those high in authority are liable to be called to an 
 account for spending a dollar too much in a good cause. 
 Perhaps this state of affairs has been brought about by 
 the immense expenses which have attended many of 
 the Indian wars in which the United States Govern- 
 ment has been engaged, when mismanagement and 
 paltry results have characterized the acts of whole 
 campaigns. This charge cannot, however, reach to the 
 military department in wdiich New Mexico is included, 
 for the leading officers who have, from time to time, 
 been stationed there, have invariably exhibited an un- 
 usual amount of discretion and sound judgment, and 
 have set examples of military science, promptitude 
 and skill which it might be w^ell for others to follow. 
 Under the existing causes for difficulty and pecu- 
 
490 THE CAUSE OF INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 liarity of circumstances, it is sometimes hazardous to 
 assume the responsibility of punishing the hostile In- 
 dians as they deserve. 
 
 By punishing the Indians we do not wish to impress 
 the reader with the idea that they must be collected 
 and butchered, like animals, in order to bring them to 
 terms. Milder means serve the same purpose ; but, 
 when they dig up the hatchet, battles must be fought 
 in which they ought to be so closely driven as to cause 
 them to see that it is perfect rashness to attack the 
 whites. One victory gained by savages over white 
 men so exhilarates their pride that they forget the 
 past and believe themselves invincible. In these fights 
 valuable lives are sacrificed, but they are necessary 
 sacrifices for the common good. When one tribe is 
 severely chastised, the surrounding Indians hear of it, 
 and, becoming alarmed, for a time they behave them- 
 selves wdth propriety. This happy state of things will 
 continue until some weak move on the part of govern- 
 ment officials counteracts this good influence, when, 
 misconstruing kind acts for fear, the red men at once 
 dig up the tomahawk and boldly march upon the war 
 path, to spill innocent blood. Such results often follow 
 when the power is taken from the experienced military 
 commanders, and vested in the hands of (often the 
 fact) inexperienced superintendents. These men pom- 
 pously invite the Indians to grand councils, w4iere un- 
 meaning speeches are manufactured to suit the occa- 
 sion. Usually when thus summoned, the wily savages 
 arc delighted to go into council, for, as a rejoinder to 
 the many concessions which are easily obtained from 
 them, and which they arc always ready to make after 
 assuming a little coquetry, they receive presents which 
 
THE ONLY TIIUE KEMEDY. 491 
 
 the suporintendeiit informs them are merely tokens of 
 the high appreciation Avith Avhich they are regarded by 
 their Great Father at Washington. 
 
 Kit Carson often said '' that the only true remedy 
 for this great evil is to compel the savages to form set- 
 tlements by themselves. Then and there assist and 
 teach them to cultivate the soil. In time they will be 
 able to gain a maintenance independent of the General 
 Government; and, to a certain extent, they will be- 
 come responsible for their acts." 
 
 The people who form the chief population of the 
 Territory have so often been deprived of their prop- 
 erty that it is not strange that they have become 
 poverty-stricken and indolent. It is enough to strike 
 down the enterprise of any nation to have been so 
 long badly governed, and then, without any resources 
 in the way of arms and ammunition, to be compelled 
 to beat back hostile Indians. Under the provisions of 
 the Government of the United States, they are improv- 
 ing, but yet, even now, they have not the protection 
 which they require, and should receive. In their Ter- 
 ritory it takes a daring man to venture his small capi- 
 tal in raising stock. To be sure, claims are allowed 
 them by Congress for the losses by Indian depreda- 
 tions, but these usually fall into the hands of specu- 
 lators, and in reality, assist the people to a very trifling 
 extent. It can be said, to their credit, that Mexicans 
 bear reverses of fortune with a nonchalance seldom 
 seen among any other race. Although generally poor, 
 they are as happy and joyous as it is possible for hu- 
 man beinfj;s to be. 
 
 The organization of the Mexican volunteers was 
 made complete by the Governor of the Territory, who 
 
492 mexica:n- volunteers. 
 
 selected, as their leader, Mr. Ceran St. Yrain of Taos. 
 This gentleman, although he had much important 
 business which called his attention elsewhere, imme- 
 diately expressed his willingness to accept the respon- 
 sible position which, without solicitation, had been 
 conferred upon him. The commission received by St. 
 Vrain gave him the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. With- 
 out delay he set about the difficult and important w^ork 
 that lay before him, bringing to bear upon the details, 
 that sound judgment, gentlemanly bearing and ready 
 zeal, wdiich have long characterized the man. He had 
 the good fortune to secure the services of Lieutenant 
 Creigg of the regular army, whom he appointed one 
 of his aids-de-camp. Having completed his staff, and 
 other arrangements to place his force upon a military 
 basis, he was ready to take the field. 
 
 The appointment of St. Yrain as Commander of the 
 Volunteers, w^as hailed with delight throughout the 
 Territory. His great experience in the mountains, 
 his knowledge of the Indian mode of warfare, and the 
 respect which the people he was called to command 
 invariably paid him, seemed to convince every think- 
 ing mind that something more than usual was to be 
 accomplished. They felt that the wrongs of their 
 country would now be certainly redressed. The se- 
 quel will prove that the people were not doomed to 
 disappointment. 
 
 Early in the month of February, 1855, Col. T. T. 
 Fauntleroy, of the First Eegiment of United States 
 Dragoons, arrived in Taos from Fort Union, New 
 Mexico. 
 
 Fort Union is the first post met with on entering the 
 Territory of New Mexico from the east. It lies on the 
 
DARING AND EXPERT nORSEMEN. 493 
 
 Santa Fe road usually traveled by parties when cross- 
 ing the plains, and is about one hundred miles distant 
 from the capital. The site of this fort, at the lirst 
 view, is bold and picturesque, as it is located near the 
 west side of a broad valley, which is continuous with 
 the open prairies. The houses composing the fort are 
 built mostly of logs; and, as there are quite a number of 
 them, the post has the appearance of a small settlement. 
 The soil about is sandy, and the place being exposed, it 
 suffers when the high winds spring up. This fort is 
 usually garrisoned by several companies of soldiers. 
 
 As it has such free access to the mail communication 
 with the States, it is, comparatively speaking, quite a 
 desirable fort Ibr an officer to be stationed at. The 
 difficulty of procuring fuel for the fort, and also other 
 necessary articles, is the great objection to the present 
 location, but its importance more than counterbalances 
 these ; therefore, the post will probably be kept up 
 either where it is, or in the immediate vicinity, for 
 many years to come. Colonel Fauntleroy had received 
 orders from the Department General to proceed to the 
 town of Taos and take command of the entire expedi- 
 tion. The little force had been made as powerful 
 as the resources of the country would permit. The- 
 Mexican Volunteers, soon after their enrollment, pur- 
 chased woolen shirts and felt hats, the color of which, 
 in each company, was similar ; this fact, with a little 
 drilling, gave them quite a military appearance. Never 
 were men prouder of the position they now held than: 
 the volunteers under consideration ; and a more daring 
 and expert band of horsemen has been seldom collected. 
 So pleased were they at being recognized as soldiers, 
 that they could not, when afterwards marching through 
 
 29 
 
494 MEXICO' PONIES. 
 
 their own towns, resist the temptation of jocosely taunt- 
 ing their countrymen whom they chanced to meet, for 
 beincr oblio-ed to till the trroiuid. We have before said 
 
 or; *- 
 
 that these men were mounted. At first sight it would 
 appear as though they would soon be on foot, for their 
 horses appeared to be in a sad plight for so severe a cam- 
 paign as that which lay before them. As has often oc- 
 curred before, looks are frequently deceptive. In this 
 instance, it was found to be the case ; for. no sooner did 
 these hardy ponies reach the mountains than their won- 
 derful powers of endurance began to be exempHfied. 
 
 When the noble dragoon horses began to droop from 
 hunorer and overwork, these little fellows were fresh 
 and strong as the day they started. The rea^-on of 
 this was that the Mexican horses were well vei-^ed in 
 takine care of themselves, and when the snow fell and 
 prevented their having free access to the dry grass be- 
 neath, they were not m the least disconcerted ; for, 
 with the aid of their fore i^^^i^ they readily pawed the 
 snow awav and thus obtained full rations; but their 
 more enlightened rivals did not fully understand this 
 science, and, owing to a want of proper nourishment, 
 their strength would fail, gradually, until finally they 
 broke down. 
 
 The only real inconvenience under which the ponies 
 seemed to labor, arose fiom tender feet, for the rocky 
 trails in the mountains rapidly wore away and broke 
 off their hoofs. This continued, so that at last, reach- 
 ing the matrix of these horny growths, their feet became 
 very sensitive. Many of the Mexicans had taken the 
 precaution to guard against this, before leaving the 
 tov\ns and military posts which lay on their route. 
 They had obtained horse-shoes, with which they shod 
 
A^fATEUR BLACKSMITDS. 495 
 
 the ponies. We remember seeing a large party of them 
 thus cncrnired as black>mitlis. It was at nic:ht: ^vhile 
 8ome oil them held burning torches, otliers were busy 
 with hammers, stones and hatchets in applying all sorts 
 and sizes of horse and mule shoes, with which they were 
 content, provided they approached the diameters of 
 the hoofs to which they were to be nailed. Strana:e to 
 say, this rough woik answered the purpose, and but 
 few, if any, of the animals so shod, went lame. After 
 the command had got under full headway, if any of 
 the>e ponies became so tender in their feet as to be able 
 to travel only with great difficulty, their riders resorted 
 to other expedients for relieving them. AVhen practi- 
 cable, they obtained the fresh hides of the beef cattle 
 as they v.ere killed, and, binding the material around 
 the injured {'cei, atid making it fast about the fetlocks, 
 they allowed it to dry on. In the morning, thus pro- 
 tected, the horse could journey on. It is customary 
 regularly to shoe these ponies only on the fore fi^et, as 
 the weicrht of the animal's head and neck, toi^ether 
 with that of the rider, comes harder on these hoofs, and 
 causes them, when traveling over sharp rocks, to wear 
 away quickly. It seldom happens that the hind feet 
 become tender. The Indians cannot understand the 
 policy of this, and one of them ])hilosophizing on the 
 subject, while visiting the blacksmitli's shop attached 
 to a military post, made the remark in Spanish, after 
 apparently having been for some little time engaged in 
 a deep study. "' that it was not right." Said he, '' The 
 horse, with his eyes, can see ^^here to put his fore feet 
 when traveling over bad places, but he cannot do this 
 with those beliind; therefore, you white men ought to 
 put the moccasins there." The Mexicans had so much 
 
496 KIT CARSON AS CHIEF GUIDE. 
 
 confidence in the powers of endurance of their ponies 
 while out on this campaign, that they hesitated not to run 
 them on races, whenever circumstances and the site of 
 the camp would permit such pastime. The only train- 
 ing required for these trials of speed, consisted in the 
 rider foregoing the pleasure of riding for a day or t^vo, 
 in order to allow his horse to recruit. As their walk- 
 ing did not in the least interfere with the order of the 
 march, they of course w^ere permitted to race as they 
 pleased, for their services on the march were just as 
 valuable on foot. 
 
 Colonel Fauntleroy's command, when completed, 
 consisted of four companies of Mexican volunteers, two 
 companies of dragoons, one company of artillery who 
 were performing duty as a rifle corps, and one com- 
 pany of spies. The two remaining companies of vol- 
 unteers were dispatched to exposed towns on the re- 
 mote frontiers in order to protect them. The artillery 
 company was the only one on foot ; but the soldiers 
 who then composed it were known, from actual experi- 
 ment, to be more than a match for the horses in travel- 
 ing when the party should reach and penetrate the 
 mountains. Colonel Fauntleroy engaged the services 
 of Kit Carson as his chief guide, and, having arranged 
 all of his plans necessary for a vigorous campaign, he 
 set out upon its execution. 
 
 The conuuand proceeded at first one hundred miles 
 due north to Fort Massachusetts, which was to be their 
 depot. Without delay, they left this post and pro- 
 ceeded, encountering snow-storms and severe cold 
 weather. The mercury of the thermometer, for most 
 of the time, ranged several degrees below zero. They 
 marched to the Kio Grande del Norte, and thence on 
 
AN ACCIDENT TO A PET. 497 
 
 up this river to where it makes its exit through a deep 
 canon from the mountains. It was, as will be remem- 
 bered by the reader, on the head-waters of this last- 
 mentioned stream that Colonel Fremont, while en- 
 gaged in his last great exploring expedition, met 
 with severe reverses, in w^hicli several of his men 
 lost their lives from exposure, hunger, etc., while he, 
 and the remainder of his party, barely escaped the 
 same fate. 
 
 While passing over this point of his journey. Colonel 
 Fauntleroy sent out as an advance party the company 
 of spies. Their duty was to seek for fresh Indian 
 trails. On reaching the mouth of the caiion of this 
 river, the main portion of the soldiers halted for a short 
 time, while their trailers penetrated the mountains in 
 search of the much desired Indian signs. During this 
 resting spell an incident occurred w^hich, for an hour 
 or two, created some little stir and excitement among 
 part of the men present. A large Newfoundland dog 
 belonging to an officer had, accidentally, been allowed 
 to follow the soldiers. By his pranks and his good 
 disposition he had become a general favorite among 
 them. While attempting to drink, this animal lost his 
 foothold on the ice and slipped into the swift current 
 of the river, w^hich was partially frozen over. The 
 dog at once attempted to extricate himself, but with 
 all his efforts he could do no more than stem the jflood, 
 making no progress against it. His situation was very 
 precarious, for, should his strength begin to give out, 
 he w^as certain to be carried under the ice and lost. 
 The sympathies of the men were soon well awakened 
 in his behalf, and many plans were devised to rescue 
 him, but they all proved abortive until, at last, a Mex- 
 
498 ON THE INDIAN TPwAIL. 
 
 ican approached him with a lasso, and after making 
 several vain attempts, succeeded finally in encircling 
 the dog's head with the slip-noose. On tightening the 
 rope he found that he had the animal firm, and soon 
 dragged him from his perilous position. 
 
 The spies were not long in discovering a trail made 
 by the Indians, to which they led the main portion of 
 the command. This trail had been so frequently used 
 of late by the Indians in driving stolen bands of sheep 
 and cattle over it, that it was now a well-trodden road, 
 and, therefore, there was no difficulty in keeping on it 
 at all hours of the day and night. 
 
 Being accustomed to perform his duty carefully, 
 and at the same time to use dispatch, the Colonel, in 
 the course of a few days, led his party to the entrance of 
 the Saquachi Pass, which is the great natural opening 
 in the mountains that bound on the west the valley of 
 San Luis. As they approached the mouth of the pass, 
 the men were traveling close under the hills; therefore, 
 on coming to it, and in order to follow it up, it was 
 necessary to turn off almost at a right angle. The 
 spies, as was usual when the conmiand was on the 
 march, were considerably in the advance. They had 
 hardly entered the pass, and had just reached the 
 summit of a knoll which lay in their path and which 
 had hitherto prevented their seeing up the valley, 
 when, all at once, the long looked for Indians were 
 presented to their view. They were but a short dis- 
 tance ofi*, and as if surprised at thus so suddenly dis- 
 covering each other, both parties halted. During 
 this state of suspense, the white men noticed that the 
 Indians were arrayed in their war costume, showing 
 that they were bound on another plundering expedi- 
 
A WARFARE OF SMALL TALK. 499 
 
 tion. Everything went to show that the visit which 
 the white men were nuiking to their mountain haunts 
 was unexpected hy the red men. 
 
 The Indians quickly recovered from their astonish- 
 ment and began to form in line of battle by spreading 
 themselves out across the valley. They were evidently 
 emboldened by the small force with which, apparently, 
 they had to contend, and felt certain that a victory 
 would be both easy and sure. Having taken their 
 position, Blanco, their Chief, was easily recognized by 
 the red woolen shirt which he wore. He was busy, 
 riding along in front of his warriors, occasionally stop- 
 ping to give some command. As they were near enough 
 so to do, the Indians opened a warfare of small talk, in 
 the Spanish language. They charged their adversaries 
 with being afraid to advance, or to use their expressive 
 words, the Americans were as cowardly as squaws. To 
 these taunts no reply was made ; but, to keep up the 
 decoy, the few soldiers who were exposed to view re- 
 mained stationary, while word was passed to the rear 
 of what was transpiring in the advance. Thus several 
 minutes passed by ; but they were not thrown away. 
 During this time, most of the dragoons and volunteers 
 were relieving themselves of such extra luggage as 
 overcoats, blankets, etc. ; saddle girths were tightened 
 and weapons put in order for immediate use. The In- 
 dians were finely mounted, and about two hundred and 
 fifty strong; and, as their wild career had gone so long 
 unchecked, their bravery was aroused to its highest 
 pitch. 2VII things being in readiness, the bugle sounded 
 the command to charge, when away dashed the gallant 
 soldiers, eager for the afi'ray, and each trying to be 
 foremost in the fight. As they came bounding over 
 
500 A RUNNING FIGHT. 
 
 the knoll before spoken of, the Indians began to see 
 the delusion under which they had been laboring, and 
 at once turned to fly, but not in time to escape, for the 
 soldiers were soon among them, and with their revolv- 
 ers and small arms were fast thinning their ranks and 
 sending many a brave to his final home. A running 
 fight ensued, which was continued up the valley for 
 about eight miles, when a majority of-the Indians 
 gained the mountains and made good their escape. 
 The chase was a splendid affair to behold, and many 
 feats of horsemanship were performed that would be 
 difficult to excel. Among the foremost in this skir- 
 mish was, as the reader might readily imagine, Kit 
 Carson. The pursuit was continued far into the 
 mountains, and was only given over when night 
 came on. The soldiers then retired to their re- 
 serve guard, who had established a camp on a small 
 stream which runs through the centre of the pass, 
 where their pack animals and stores could be easily 
 guarded. During this exciting fight several of the 
 soldiers were slightly wounded. With this exception, 
 the command came out of the skirmish unharmed. On 
 the side of the Indians, affairs in this respect were quite 
 different. Their blood had well sprinkled the battle- 
 ground, and several of their swarthy forms were 
 stretched out at full length, sleeping that sleep that 
 knows no wakening, except it be at the final judgment 
 day. Had it not been that most of the Indians, as is 
 usually the case with them when in action, were tied 
 on their horses, this number would have been aug- 
 mented. The bloody trails that were afterwards found 
 in the mountains went to prove that many of the 
 wounds given to the escaped Indians were mortal, 
 
PRETENDING TO BE DEAD. 501 
 
 and, while their horses were carrying them from the 
 clanger, they themselves were sinking from furious 
 hemorrhage. Early in the pursuit, a fine warrior was 
 thrown from his horse. As he had heen crippled by a 
 ball, he could not recover himself and make off. For 
 some time he lay alone and neglected, but when the 
 rear guard came along they noticed that he was play- 
 ing a game by pretending to be dead ; but he had 
 closed his eyes too firmly for a man in that condition, 
 and this fact attracted the notice of the passers-by. A 
 Mexican raised his rifle and fired at the brave ; but the 
 bullet only served to cause another flesh wound. This 
 so irritated the would-be-dead sava^ce that, seizins: his 
 lance that lay by his side, he attempted to reach and 
 kill his adversary with it ; but, others coming up, he 
 was soon dispatched. 
 
 While this running fight was in progress, the author 
 met with an adventure which came near costing him 
 his life. It was m}^ duty to follow the charging sol- 
 diers in order to be near at hand to render professional 
 services to the wounded, should there be any. I was 
 mounted on a young horse, and when the dragoon 
 horses started off, he became frightened and unman- 
 ageable, and was in a short time left far behind, but 
 not until he had fallen and thrown me into a thrifty 
 bed of prickly pears, the thorns of which did not, in 
 the least, save me from being hurt. On regaining my 
 feet, I found that my injuries were but slight, and that 
 I still retained my bridle rein, therefore I quickly re- 
 gained my seat in the saddle and started on again, re- 
 membering the old proverb, which says, " All is fair in 
 war." While riding on, I was joined by a soldier whose 
 horse had broken down in the charge. As we now ad- 
 
502 THE AUTHOR I^ DANGER. 
 
 vnncecl together, our route led us by some large sand 
 hills, behhid which several Indians had sought refuge, 
 when hotly pursued. Seeing that they had been over- 
 looked during the excitement of the moment, they re- 
 mained quiet until we came along, when they made a 
 dash at us and commenced firing their arrows in fine 
 style. My horse now became unmanageable, and by 
 some unaccountable impulse made directly for the In- 
 dians, seeing which, they fled precipitately. My horse 
 seemed determined to bring me into uncomfortably 
 close quarters with a young warrior, who constantly 
 turned and saluted me with his arrows. As the situa- 
 tion Avas getting decidedly unpleasant, I raised myself 
 in the saddle, and sent a ball from my revolver through 
 the body of the Indian, which rolled him to the ground 
 dead, his horse, relieved of his load, galloping away 
 furiously. As the danger was thick about them, the 
 balance of the Indians soon left to effect their escape. 
 Riding back, I soon found the soldier, and attended to 
 the wounded horse, whose life we were so fortunate as 
 to save, by putting a ligature about the bleeding vessel. 
 The night succeeding the day on which this fight oc- 
 curred, with a single exception, passed by quietly. A 
 soldier, who lay near the center of the camp, had re- 
 tired to rest, perhaps impressed with the belief that he 
 and his comrades would be attacked by the Indians be- 
 fore morning; this train of thought had led him into 
 dreams of war, and while reveling in them, he imagined 
 that danger was at hand. Suddenly starting up, and 
 seizing his rilie, he fired at random. His bullet came 
 near striking a Mexican sentinel who was on duty, and 
 who Avas making his rounds. The sentinel was very 
 naturally startled by this unaccountable noise in the 
 
I x\V|/:it-'"' 
 
 ;;iiiii:ii;i;i',;iiii:iii;;iiBB!i^ 
 
A FALSE ALARM. 505 
 
 camp, and supposing that the Indians had, unobserved, 
 crept Avithin the lines, he returned the compliment by 
 discharging his piece in the direction of the supposed 
 danger. The report of these fire-arms had the effect of 
 arousing the entire connnand. The men were quickly 
 on their feet and ready for active service. In the 
 confusion ^vhich ensued, several more rifles were fired, 
 but fortunately no harm was done, and as soon as the 
 cause of the trouble was explained, quietness and order 
 was piomptly established. 
 
 At the break of day, on the next morning, the sol- 
 diers were up and preparing for their march. The In- 
 dians had, on this morning, made fires, and even pre- 
 sented themselves to view on the mountains, but they 
 were few in number, and it was well known that this 
 was only a ruse to allure the white men to the wrong 
 trail, while their famiHes should have time to escape in 
 the contrary direction ; hence, but little notice was 
 taken of these demonstrations. 
 
 Colonel Fauntleroy here determined to relieve him- 
 self of all drawbacks which should in the least tend to 
 prevent his now giving full chase to the Indians. Ac- 
 cordingl}', he left his baggage and provision train under 
 escort of the foot company and quartermaster men, the 
 whole being placed under the command of Lieutenant 
 Lloyd Beall, of the Second Eegiment U. S. Artillery, 
 with instructions to meet him at an appointed rendez- 
 vous in the Wet Mountain Valley. It required but a 
 short search by his guide. Kit Carson, and his spies, to 
 put him on the right trail taken by the main portion of 
 the enemy. When it was found, the pursuit was re- 
 sumed and kept up vigorously. Late and early, the 
 soldiers followed on this trail, and although the Indians 
 
506 SCALPING A WOMAN. 
 
 purposely led them over the worst conceivable route, 
 yet they gained nothing substantial by it. On one oc- 
 casion, when the men were pushing on as fast as possi- 
 ble, their advance guard surprised three Indians, one 
 of them a woman, while they were leisurely watering 
 their ponies. These Indians attempted to fly, and suc- 
 ceeded in making a good run for about four miles, but, 
 at the end of that distance, two of them were over- 
 taken. A Mexican, who was mounted on a very swift 
 horse, was the first to come up with the savages. He 
 fired and brought the woman to the ground. Quickly 
 dismounting, he made a trophy of her scalp. The 
 other Indian, being arrested by a slight wound, was 
 made a prisoner. On questioning him, it was found 
 that they all belonged to one family. The man who 
 had made his escape, was the husband of the woman 
 who was killed, while the prisoner was her brother. 
 These Indians had heard nothing of the recent fight in 
 the Saquachi Pass, and, had the soldiers dropped down 
 from the heavens, they could not have been more sur- 
 prised at thus unceremoniously meeting them. It was 
 very much regretted by those present that this Indian 
 woman had lost her life • but, as she was dressed in the 
 disguise of a man, her sex could not be recognized. 
 There are many of our readers who will perhaps cen- 
 sure this Mexican for his barbarous action of scalping 
 a human being, but it must be remembered that the 
 education of his people is different from our own. The 
 taking of Indian scalps for a long time has been au- 
 thorized by the Mexican Government, as a means of 
 lessening their savage enemies, and handsome premi- 
 ums have been offered as an inducement to obtain 
 them. In the case of this Mexican, there were exten- 
 
INDIAN MODE OF SCALPING. 507 
 
 uating circumstances which, if they did not warrant 
 such a cruel act, yet they rendered him somewhat ex- 
 cusable. He had recently lost a near and dear relative 
 by the hands of these same Indians, and the appear- 
 ance of this mangled body was still fresh in his mem- 
 ory, making him to thirst for revenge. It must not be 
 supposed for a moment that the commanding officer of 
 this expedition had sanctioned such a mode of proced- 
 ure, for he had no knowledge of the matter until after 
 it had been ended. It was not within his province to 
 preach humanity to a people who had been so greatly 
 outraged by savages. He came to punish and not to in- 
 tercede for wild men who had long been a terror to the 
 surrounding country, and upon whom, in order to recon- 
 cile them, every kind act had been expended in vain. 
 
 It may possibly be asked whether a man, wdio has 
 simply lost his scalp, can recover. In reply we can 
 safely say that without any other wound, and under 
 favorable circumstances, with good care, the sufferer 
 stands a chance of beino; restored to health. There 
 was a man who formerly w^as living and working at 
 his trade as a blacksmith in Santa Fe, who, in a fight 
 with the Camanches while crossing the plains, was 
 wounded by a lance and then scalped. After a long 
 period of suffering, this person entirely recovered, al- 
 though the cicatrix of the wound was ever afterwards 
 a source of annoyance to him, compelling him contin- 
 ually to wear a skull-cap made of oiled silk. The size 
 of the scalp, as usually taken off by the Indians, varies. 
 Sometimes they remove only the back covering of the 
 head. At other times they cut off the whole, running 
 down even with the margin of the ear. When a man 
 has died in a manner which the Indians style as ''brave" 
 
508 AN INDIAN SCALP DANCE. 
 
 — th«at is, desperately fighting for his life, and never for 
 once showing fear, they take two scalps, one from either 
 side of the head. The object of this is, to have scalp 
 dances for each, as they consider such a man as deserv- 
 ing the fate of two ordinary men. These scalps are 
 often stretched, dried, decorated and frequently kept 
 for years as trophies. 1 he more scalps a warrior takes, 
 the greater favorite he becomes with his tribe ; and 
 finally, having obtained a gi^cn number, lie is consid- 
 ered eligible to fill the office of War Chief, provided he 
 has other qualifications, such as the power of quickly 
 conceiving the right plan on which to act in case of 
 em.ergency. When a party of Indians in the Eocky 
 Mountains have been on a war trail, met the enemy 
 and vanquished them, they appoint a brave who is hon- 
 ored as being the scalp-bearer. This warrior carries a 
 long pole, to which, at suitable distances from each oiher, 
 the scalps are attached. When the part}^ returns to, 
 and enters their own village, this brave is the observed 
 of all observers. Eagerly, by the old men, women and 
 children, these bloody trophies are counted, for each of 
 them offers an occasion for rejoicing, to be at separate 
 intervals of time. They are, then, each synon3mous 
 with the phrase, a fete da}^ and the scalp-bearer is 
 looked upon with the same jealous eye which greets 
 the color-bearer of an armv, after havino; been en^aored 
 in sou'.e great battle which has proved successful to his 
 standard. An Indian will not remove, as a general 
 thing, a scalp which contains gray hairs. This he con- 
 siders to be a business fit only for women. The sculp 
 which is to cause a general jubilee, on an appointed 
 evening, is attached to the top of a long pole, planted 
 in the earth at a suitable place. The warriors who 
 
INDIAN SCALP DANCK. ' 
 
A TERRIBLY HIDEOUS SCENE. 511 
 
 have been instrumental in tcarinf^ it from the liead 
 of its owner, form a circle around the pole, outside 
 of ^v]l!(•ll are arranged the spectators. By the aid of 
 one (Innustick, the person \vlio has been detailed for 
 this duty, keeps up a beating motion on a sort of 
 kettle-drum, the noise of which serves the purpose of 
 marking time. The voices of the dancers make the 
 music. At first the song is a mere humming sound, 
 but after a time, it grows gradually louder, until the 
 participants in the dance, being excited to the highest 
 attainable pitch ^vith interest in the ceremonies, it be- 
 comes terribly hideous. Almost naked, with toma- 
 hawk and hunting-knife in hand, the warriors imitate 
 the process of dispatching and tearing off the scalps of 
 their victims. So excited do the dancing savages 
 sometimes become while reveling in these fantastical 
 scenes, that they frequently are aroused to a pitch 
 which borders on frenzy. The spectators of these 
 sights get so deeply interested that it is not an extra- 
 ordinary matter for them to appear as if almost de- 
 ran^'-ed. Their excitement breaks out into exclamations 
 of encouragement and applause, until at last they can 
 control themselves no longer, and, on their own ac- 
 count, commence making bodilj^ demonstrations of joy 
 by jumping about. The scalp dance may last an en- 
 tire niizht, or until, worn down with fatiirue, the actors 
 are willing to forego their pleasure and seek rest. The 
 Mexicans on the frontiers have fallen into this Indian 
 custom, and they can go into the spirit of the scalp 
 dance with a relish which fully equals that exhibited 
 by their savage neighbors. This is not true as a gen- 
 eral rule ; but, very many of their people really enjoy 
 these ceremonies. 
 
512 AN INDIAN VILLAGE. 
 
 Colonel Faimtleroy and his men .traveled at sucli a 
 rapid pace that, in the course of^a very few days, they 
 succeeded in once more overtaking the main village 
 belonging to the enemy. The Indians took refuge in 
 a steep and rocky mountain. A skirmishing fight im- 
 mediately commenced, which lasted several hours. 
 During this engagement, a large number of the savage 
 warriors were killed, their band completely routed, and 
 the inhabitants of the whole village made to scatter in 
 every direction in order to save their lives. At first 
 the braves attempted to make a stand, but they were 
 driven from rock to rock, until they broke their ranks 
 and fled. It Avas about the time of this crisis, and 
 when they were most needed, that the dragoon horses 
 began to break down and die. 
 
 The word village has many times appeared in our 
 pages, and as it may prove ambiguous to a few of our 
 readers and render them liable to confound its meaning 
 with that of a fixed town, we will here stop and ex- 
 plain its signification when applied to Indians. An 
 Indian village, as understood in border parlance, com- 
 prises the lodges, the women, children, old men, and 
 such movable property as Indians may chance to pos- 
 sess. They are usually found in some safe retreat 
 where the old men, women and children stay while the 
 warriors are engaged following the hunt or war path. 
 The word has become more generalized since it was 
 first given to stationary camps of the savages, and may 
 now include any band of Indians traveling with their 
 families and property. The village is the home of the 
 red man, where those persons and things which he 
 most cherishes he tries to keep intact and sacred from 
 the spoiler's hand. It is also where the Indian allows 
 

 . A; \ 
 
 i|!iiiiiiiiliiiiiilliliillilliiiiMiiiiiini!l 
 
 ;i,!i',ililHii'i 
 
,6 .tec 
 
YOUTn AND OLD AGE. 515 
 
 his love, friendship and all the better feelings of his 
 nature to exhibit themselves. It is Avhere in early 
 youth he has listened to the legends of his tribe, and 
 \vhere he is taught those lessons and forced to endure 
 those trials ^vllicll are to prepare his heart in seeking 
 out revenge. It is the place ^vhere, as he approaches 
 the age of manhood, he takes those steps which are to 
 make for him the reputation of a daring hunter and 
 brave warrior. Here he first learns to shoot his arrows 
 with precision, and to handle the lance with dexterity. 
 His boyish feats in horsemanship, which he daily per- 
 forms in the village, would be witnessed with astonish- 
 ment by skillful riders. It is here that he runs to wel- 
 come his father when he returns either from the chase 
 or the war path ; and, while he listens to the mar- 
 velous adventures which his sire has encountered, he 
 secretly wishes himself a man, so that he can emulate 
 his greatness. In fact, the same feelings exist between 
 parent and child with the Indian race, as with those 
 who boast of being more civilized. Youth and the 
 vigor of manhood are the golden days with the savage. 
 To be doomed to old age, is considered by him to be a 
 punishment. AVhen he is no longer able to hunt and 
 seek out his enemy, he loses his desire to live. His 
 life is then considered an incumbrance to the camp. 
 The old and infirm, therefore, are often willingly 
 deserted, that they may the more quickly die. The 
 village is always under the surveillance of men who 
 are past the middle age, and who no longer can act 
 out the stirring deeds of the warrior. Their ex- 
 perience renders them capable of giving good advice, 
 and attending to the less active affairs of the nation. 
 They hold the power of restraining the rashness and 
 
 30 
 
516 ALWAYS PREPARED FOR DANGER. 
 
 indiscretion of the younger men, therefore they are 
 selected to watch over the property of the tribe, while 
 the strong warriors are seeking to provide the de- 
 pendent portion of the band with food, or to revenge 
 their real or imaginary wrongs. Order and good fel- 
 lowship is made to prevail in these villages, somewhat 
 similar to the habits found in civilized communities, 
 for the passions and evil propensities of all men are 
 found to be alike, no matter what differences of educa- 
 tion or color exist. We find that the Indian tribes 
 have their wise men, whose voices are heard and 
 heeded on all occasions. When these villages are 
 located, or, to use soldier phrase, when the Indians go 
 into camp, care is taken that each lodge shall be placed 
 where it will not interfere with the common good. 
 The internal economy of these habitations is arranged 
 on a social system which, in many respects, is com- 
 mendable. When one person is poor, generally speak- 
 ing, the whole tribe is found to be so. The herds of 
 horses and mules belonging to the tribe, are turned 
 loose in one body, as if they were the propert}' of one 
 man. If game exists in plenty and danger is not ap- 
 prehended, happiness holds complete sway within these 
 Indian homes. The proverbial caution of the red man 
 rarely allows him to be surprised ; therefore, even in 
 times of peace, he keeps his fleetest horse tied at the 
 door of his lodge, so that he may make haste and col- 
 lect his property, and be away before his enemy can 
 harm him. These favorite animals are fed by hand. 
 Before trusting his body in sleep, some warrior, in 
 whom the tribe repose the utmost confidence, must 
 ascend a neighboring eminence, if there chance to be 
 iOnC; and jexamiae tlie country in search of dangers. 
 
DrwVGOON HORSES BREAKING DOWN. 517 
 
 Parties are always kept out as spies, and, at the least 
 appearance of suspicious signs, they become easily 
 aroused and vigilant, and if danger really exists, word 
 is immediately sent to their village to be ready to 
 move. This is a homely but literal interpretation of 
 the term Indian village. 
 
 The reader has seen that the drao;oon horses g-ave 
 out before the fatigues of the march, while the Mexican 
 ponies performed their tasks so admirably and easily. 
 
 This was a painful subject to contemplate and one 
 which no man who loves the noble horse could wish to 
 witness the second time. The dragoon horses, reduced 
 to skeletons from starvation while retaining all their 
 natural spirit, with tottering limbs, faithfully tried to 
 perform the labor which their riders, seemingly, asked 
 of them. Long before the arrival of the time when 
 they could no longer support a burden, the soldiers had 
 humanely relieved them from this work and were assist- 
 ing them, by all the means in their power, to reach a 
 haven of safety, where food, so essential in restoring 
 their sinking powers of life, existed in abundance. As 
 their little remaining strength was leaving them, they 
 would exhibit the fact by staggering. Finally, break- 
 ing down in their hinder legs, they would sink to the 
 ground, but not until they had made the effort to drag 
 themselves along with their fore feet. To relieve them 
 from their agonies and prevent their falling into the 
 hands of the Indians, one by one, they were shot. 
 
 When these horses broke down and began to die off, 
 it was decided to be best to return to Fort Massachu- 
 setts in order to recruit and also to allow the Indians 
 an opportunity to concentrate their forces, when an- 
 other effective blow could be struck against them. On 
 
518 TERRIBLY COLD WEATHER. 
 
 his return, Colonel Fauntleroy met, at the designated 
 place, Lieutenant Beall, who had managed the affairs 
 intrusted to him very much to his credit. Having once 
 more consolidated his command, Colonel Fauntleroy re- 
 tired to Fort Massachusetts, which he made, for a time, 
 his head-quarters. 
 
 Kit Carson, the guide of this expedition, when after- 
 wards speaking of it, says, "During the time our forces 
 were in the field they were exposed to the most intense 
 cold weather I ever remember experiencing. We were 
 overtaken by several severe snow-storms which came 
 near completely using us up." 
 
 For the success that had so fiir attended the labors of 
 this body of soldiers, the greatest amount of praise is 
 due to their leader, who set a noble example to his 
 men. During those hours when hardships and trials 
 came thickest upon the command, all eyes were turned 
 to the commander, and, as the result proved, with no 
 lack of confidence. Kit Carson's services were found 
 to be invaluable. His long experience and untiring 
 energy proved to be one of the best anchors of the 
 gooflly ship. 
 
 We should not omit to state, in regard to the sever- 
 ity of the cold, that it was early in the morning, just 
 before the break of day, that the cold was invariably 
 found to be the most intense. During this time, it is 
 the greatest wonder that the Mexicans did not perish, 
 for but few of them had more than one blanket as a 
 covering by night, and the remainder were but very 
 little better provided for. When wood was plenty, and 
 they were allowed so to do, they made large fires and 
 laid down near them to attempt to sleep. After about 
 one hour thus spent, they were routed out by being 
 
FREEZING AND THAWING OUT. 519 
 
 nearly frozen. Getting into close contact with the fires, 
 they would thaw out and tlien were ready to make an- 
 other endeavor to repeat the sleeping operation. In 
 this manner they managed to live through each night, 
 and on the following day they were, apparently, none 
 the worse for wear. A person judging these men as he 
 oftentimes sees them during the summer season, bask- 
 ing in the sunlight on the sunny side of their houses in 
 New Mexico, would not, for an instant, suppose that 
 the}^ could undergo such hardships ; and yet, they can 
 do so, as the above example sufficiently proves, without 
 allowing one murmur of complaint to escape their lips. 
 With the regulars, who were amply supplied with 
 blankets and buffalo robes, it would appear that they 
 could have obtained sound sleep. But this, too, proved 
 to be almost an impossibility. The heat of the man's 
 body, during the early and warmer part of the night, 
 served to melt the icy covering of the mother earth 
 just under him. When the cold increased, this was 
 again frozen, rendering the portion of the body nearest 
 to the ground almost benumbed. By frequently revers- 
 ing the posture a little, some relief from suffering was 
 obtained but not sufficient to reach a degree which 
 could be called comfortable, or, in the least, be claimed 
 as desirable. Every member of this expedition can 
 truthfully assert that they have experienced a foretaste 
 of what the first symptoms of freezing to death must be. 
 Finally, the command reached Fort Massachusetts, 
 where, in ease and plenty, the half starved, half frozen, 
 half used-up men, soon forgot all their troubles and 
 privations. A few weeks spent at the fort acted like a 
 magic charm in recruiting the men and the remaining 
 animals, when they were once more in a fit condition, 
 
520 COMFORT AND LUXURY IN CAMP. 
 
 and, again eager to go on the war path, anxiously de- 
 sirmg to surpass the splendid deeds of their first tramp. 
 
 At the permanent camp which was made near Fort 
 Massachusetts, the Mexican Volunteers, especially, en- 
 joyed themselves hugely. From privations of various 
 kinds, to which they had shown themselves to be well 
 trained, and which consequently affected them but lit- 
 tle, they were suddenly placed in a state of compara- 
 tive comfort, and even luxury, rarely realized at their 
 own homes. They had not much else to do beyond 
 guarding their animals and attending to such other 
 minor duties as were required by camp duties. Had 
 not their hardy ponies required the rest that was now 
 being given them, these troops would have been kept 
 in more active service ; but, as this could not be, they 
 were allowed a respite, which they themselves turned 
 into pleasure. Foot races and various athletic games 
 were concocted and played by them, making the time 
 pass merrily by. Their discipline and respect for their 
 officers had reached a degree seldom, if ever, attained 
 by volunteer soldiers, and which, in many respects, 
 could be imitated with advantage by regular troops. 
 But the time soon arrived for the march to be resumed. 
 
 At a council held among the chief officers, it was de- 
 cided that the best and surest course to be followed 
 would be to divide the forces and send them out in 
 quest of the Indians, as if they were separate com- 
 mands. Thus it might happen that, being caught be- 
 tween the two, as they were running from danger they 
 would rush into it and receive chastisement sufficient 
 to answer all purposes. Acting on this plan, Colonel 
 St. Vrain, with most of the Volunteers, was ordered to 
 proceed in one direction, while Colonel Fauntleroy, 
 
THE VALLEY OF SAX LUIS. 521 
 
 with the main division, started in another; Avhilc on 
 his route, Colonel Fauntleroy traveled close in under 
 the mountains, and kept his men as much concealed as 
 possible, making most of his marches by night. He 
 traveled through the Valley of San Luis up to its head. 
 
 The Valley of San Luis is about one hundred miles 
 in length. Its greatest width is fifty miles. On either 
 side it is bounded by snow-capped mountains. The 
 scenery of the valley is very prepossessing, being sure 
 to enchant the eye throughout its entire length. In 
 the south, the valley is continuous with prairie land, 
 which extends down as far as the settlement of Rio 
 Colorado. It is well watered by mountain streams, 
 and bears the appearance of being an excellent farming 
 district ; but, the probability is, that its climate is too 
 cold for raising crops, and that its true value will be 
 found chiefly to consist in using it for grazing purposes. 
 From time to time the Indians have reported that it 
 contains gold mines, but there are no authentic proofs 
 that this is a fact. 
 
 At one time, the Indians succeeded in making the 
 Mexicans converts to the belief in the existence of 
 these mines, as they showed them specimens of gold 
 w^hich they affirmed to have been taken from them. It 
 was agreed that, for this valuable information, presents, 
 such as blankets, horses, and guns, should be made to 
 those Indians who had openly proclaimed the good 
 news, provided they could conduct the Mexicans to 
 them. A party was formed and started to explore the 
 valley, but, as nothing was afterward heard of their 
 success, and, as many of them, to all external appear- 
 ances, were as poor as ever when they returned, it is 
 presumed that they were duped by the Indians. The 
 
522 PUNCHI PASS. 
 
 bottom-land of the Rio Grande which skirts the south- 
 ern border of the valley of San Luis is, judging from 
 the luxuriant hay crops which it produces, year by 
 year, a fine farming section. 
 
 While passing up the valley of San Luis, Colonel 
 Fauntleroy came to the Punchi Pass. This pass is the 
 main opening through the mountains which bound the 
 valley of San Luis on the north. The pass itself is less 
 than half a mile wide, but yet it ]3resents some of the 
 grandest scenery human eyes ever beheld. The moun- 
 tains, on either side, are not so lofty as their compeers 
 close by, but they are rugged and picturesque. Tlirough 
 the pass runs a bold stream, which, at about midway 
 (and at this time) was obstructed by a beaver dam, 
 that was so scientifically constructed as immediately to 
 attract the attention of the entire party. Near to this 
 dam there is a very large hot spring, which is located 
 close under the base of one of the mountain sides, and 
 which, under the favorable circumstance of a fine day, 
 lends enchantment to the view. The Punchi Pass is 
 but a few miles long, and leads into a beautiful little 
 valley, called by the Mexicans after the same name 
 which is given to the pass. 
 
 On arriving at the Punchi Pass, Colonel Fauntleroy 
 proceeded on through it to the head-waters of the 
 Arkansas River, where, fortunately, a fresh trail made 
 by the Indians was found. This trail was followed 
 with such assiduity and prudence that the camp of 
 some spies belonging to the enemy, and which was in 
 their rear, was passed by the Americans one night 
 without their presence being noticed. Early the en- 
 suing morning (before the break of day), the main 
 village of the Indians was discoyered. Its occupants 
 
SACKING AN INDIAN VILLAGE. C 
 
 or» 
 
 were enjoying a ^va^ and scalp dance, and their voices, 
 as engaged in the song which usually accompanies such 
 festivities, could be heard for a distance of at least a 
 mile. Unconscious of danger, they were having a 
 merry time. One can imagine, better than can be de- 
 scribed, the scene that followed when three hundred 
 loaded rifles poured their contents into this crowd. 
 Sufiice it to sav, that amono; those who survived this 
 terrible retribution, the greatest consternation pre- 
 vailed ; but, as a dernier resort, they began to fly, 
 when they were hotly pursued by the soldiers. Be- 
 fore quitting their late camp, some of the savages had 
 managed to get their own rifles, and with them to fire 
 several shots which did some execution, as two soldiers 
 were killed and two wounded. 
 
 Thus it will be seen that the main villai^e of these 
 Apaches and Utahs fell into the hands of the Americans. 
 It proved to be rich in plunder, for it contained all their 
 stock of dried buffalo meat, besides other provisions. 
 Also, several cart-loads of robes, saddles, weapons, 
 ropes, skins, blankets, trinkets and camp equipage. 
 Most of this property was collected and destroyed by 
 fire, being of little use to the command, whose means 
 of conveyance were limited to their own actual wants. 
 The number of Indians killed in this surprise has been 
 variously estimated, as has been also the number of 
 the red men on the ground when the carnage com- 
 menced ; but all agree that this was the severest blow 
 these savao-es had ever received, 
 
 o 
 
 Among the many other objects of curiosity found by 
 the victors, was a '^ Medicine lodge," which had, from ap- 
 pearance, but recently been in full blast. It was highly 
 (and to Indian eyes it must have been very artistically) 
 
524 A CAPTURED MEDICINE LODGE. 
 
 decorated, and contained all the emblems and symbols 
 of witchcraft. If sickness was to be frightened away, 
 or even coaxed to dethrone itself from the afflicted, 
 there was sufficient in this temple of the Indian gods, 
 seemingly, to have answered either purpose. Some 
 potentate of the magnitude of a great chief had, evi- 
 dently, but a few hours since, been its occupant; for, 
 in his hurry to desert the premises, on hearing the 
 music of the white man's rifle, he had forgotten his 
 beautiful head-dress of feathers, and other articles pei:- 
 taining to his wardrobe, which designated to the cap- 
 tors his high rank. Perhaps, and the surmise may not 
 be far out of the way, this chief was suffering from a 
 gunshot wound inflicted in a recent fight by his pale- 
 faced enemy, and having received one of their most 
 dangerous potions of lead, he was not anxious for 
 another, and therefore made his escape with the activity 
 of a well man. 
 
 In this expedition, a company of artillery,* who 
 have before been described, doing duty as infantry, 
 performed a feat that w^ill compare well with anything 
 of the same kind on record. These men, under the 
 command of Lieutenant Beall, who shared all the pri- 
 vations of his soldiers, marched on foot through a mix- 
 ture of mud and snow, nearly ankle deep, over an 
 uneven country, from the Mosco Pass in the Valley of 
 San Luis, to the head-waters of the Arkansas River, a 
 distance which is computed at eighty-five miles, in 
 thirty-six hours, including all their stoppages. This 
 company had been long celebrated as being expert 
 marksmen, therefore their services were much needed 
 when the Indian village was discovered. Although 
 
 ♦ Company D, 2d Kegiment U. S. Artillery. 
 
SUEING FOK PEACE. 525 
 
 nefirly broken down with fatigue, yet as soon as the 
 electrifying news of the enemy being so near at hand 
 reached them, it seemed to inspire them with new 
 vigor. They dashed ahead, and gallantly led the van 
 in this assault, which terminated so favorably to the 
 side of the Americans. 
 
 Colonel Fauntleroy was not satisfied with the vic- 
 tory already obtained ; but, after having accomplished 
 all that was possible for him in this quarter, and hav- 
 ing scattered the Indians to the four winds, he deter- 
 mined to make forced marches in order to surprise an- 
 other band of them, who were supposed to be located in 
 a distant mountain haunt well known to his guide. His 
 object in thus hurrying away from the scenes of his 
 late triumph, was to reach and surprise the Indians be- 
 fore their friends had time to travel to and apprise them 
 of their defeat. In this manoeuvre he was also suc- 
 cessful. He came upon this second band also before 
 they were aware of their danger. They were routed, 
 and after severe loss were followed far into the moun- 
 tains. At this camp, Blanco, the celebrated Apache 
 chief, was driven to such close quarters that he evi- 
 dently began to feel that the safety of his whole tribe 
 stood in jeopardy. He made his appearance on a high 
 point of rocks, and asked the white men who occupied 
 the plain beneath for a parley, which was granted him. 
 
 He said, in the Spanish language, that he and his 
 Indians wished to make peace ; that they were tired 
 of fighting. In reply, he was informed that the terms 
 l:e demanded would be listened to on his coming into 
 the soldiers' camp. He was going on to say that he 
 was afraid to trust himself there, when a bullet was 
 sent whizzing by his head, which caused him to de- 
 
526 AMOXG THE PHILISTINES. 
 
 ca.mp in all haste. It was ascertained, afterwards, that 
 a Mexican, who had great antipathy to this chief, had, 
 unknown to the rest of the party, crept secretly up 
 into the rocks. When he had reached a place where 
 Blanco was within the range of his rifle, he fired; but, 
 as the reader has inferred, he missed an accurate aim. 
 
 At this latter camp or village, and near the close of 
 this same day, another incident happened which will 
 lono; be remembered bv those who witnessed it. Two 
 Indians, who probably had been absent to some distant 
 section of the country, having no knowledge of the 
 matters which had lately been transpiring, were seen 
 aj^jD roach ing. Gradually they drew near to a grove of 
 cotton-wood trees in which the soldiers were resting, 
 thinking, no doubt, that they were about to meet their 
 friends. A mountaineer by the name of Stewart, who 
 commanded the spy company, and another man, one 
 of the Mexican volunteers, immediately on seeing the 
 Indians, sprang upon the backs of their horses which 
 chanced to be near by, and started out to attack them. 
 Not until these Indians saw the men advancing, were 
 they made aware of their danger ; when instantly they 
 turned around their animals, and put them on a keen 
 run for the nearest mountain. They were pursued, and 
 the race hotly contested for at least two miles ; but 
 the Indians succeeded in making their escape, although 
 shots were fired at them, and returned by the Indians. 
 In doing so, one of them was obliged to dismount and 
 leave his horse behind him, which fell into the hands 
 of his pursuers. 
 
 At the time that the chief 'Blanco was endeavoring 
 to gain a parley, a stirring scene was being enacted at 
 the soldiers' camp, which was several miles distant. 
 
JUST IN TIME. 527 
 
 Most of the soldiers had left it, and were then out en- 
 gaged in the business of scouring the country. In the 
 camp there were all the pack animals, provisions, lug- 
 gage, etc., of the command. To guard this property 
 there were only about fifty men left, who, anticipa- 
 ting no danger, were employing themselves in cooking 
 and otlierwise providing for the wants of their absent 
 friends against their return. The herd of mules was 
 scattered about, and grazing under the charge of a few 
 herders. Suddenly a band of about one hundred war- 
 riors were discovered coming down the little valley 
 where the camp was located. The alarm was given, 
 when each man, seizing his rifle, rushed to place him- 
 self in the line of sentinels which were forming around 
 the property. The mules were quickly driven together 
 in a compact body into the centre of the camp. Hardly 
 had this movement been performed, before the red men 
 came galloping by'. Seeing the smallness of the force 
 opposed to them, they made two or three attempts at 
 an attack on the w^eakest points of the line. They 
 were about to succeed, when a shout went up from the 
 Americans, wdio descried relief in the shape of the foot 
 company, which, having been left behind for one night 
 in order to make easy marches and thus partially rest 
 themselves, w^as now approaching. The Indians saw 
 the near approach of this powerful re-info rcement, and, 
 using that discretion which is often the better part of 
 valor, they started off and were soon lost sight of Had 
 not this re-inforcement providentially thus arrived, the 
 Indians wouhl have certainly captured the pack mules 
 belonging to the soldiers and got away with them. Never 
 was succor hailed with more delight than on this occa- 
 sion ; for, had the red men succeeded in this endeavor, 
 
528 PRAIRIE ON" FIRE. 
 
 the benefits of this whole campaign would have been 
 greatly frustrated. 
 
 Colonel Fauntleroy, after thoroughly scouring the 
 adjacent country in the hope of meeting with parties 
 of straggling Indians, but, as the result proved, without 
 success, returned to Fort Massachusetts, where he had 
 the satisfaction of learning that Colonel St. Vrain, in 
 his expedition, had caught other bands of these same 
 Indians, and most severely chastised them. 
 
 The Fort Massachusetts here referred to, was aban- 
 doned some years ago, and another one has been built, 
 distant about six miles from the original site. The 
 name is retained for the new defences, which are lo- 
 cated on the river Trinchera. The present location is 
 picturesque and beautiful in the extreme. 
 
 In one of his fights, Colonel St. Vrain had overtaken 
 the red men on the prairies, where a running battle 
 ensued, in which the volunteers killed many of the 
 enemy, and made several prisoners. During this skir- 
 mish the Indians tried the ruse of setting fire to the 
 prairie grass, and, as the wind was blowing in the di- 
 rection from whence their foes were coming, they 
 hoped thereby to impede their progress, and thus give 
 themselves time to escape ; but the volunteers boldly 
 rode through the flames, and successfully continued the 
 chase. 
 
 The time for which the New Mexican volunteers had 
 enlisted, was fast drawing to a close ; but, as the hostile 
 Utahs and Apaches were scattered to the four winds, it 
 was thought best not to send out again a regularly ap- 
 pointed force to act against them. Instead, while await- 
 ing the effect of their late telling blows, it was decided 
 to be judicious to keep out, in different directions, small 
 
THE "wagon mound." C29 
 
 scouting parties, who could better follow the trails of 
 the small parties of fu_iz;itive Indians with some pros- 
 pect of success. It wns now the season for the richly 
 hiden caravans to arrive on the borders of the territory, 
 and perchance they might fall in with bands of the hos- 
 tile savages of sufficient strength to cause them trouble ; 
 or, it might be, the Indians would combine in sufficient 
 strength, being driven by pressing want, to capture some 
 one of these trains, and thus obtain the material for re- 
 newing the contest. In view of these apprehensions, 
 it was decided that the regular troops should go out on 
 the plains, where they could be on hand ready to afford 
 protection in case of need. Major Blake, in command 
 of the dragoons, started out and faithfully performed 
 this mission. After this duty was fully accomplished, 
 he visited the mountains to the north-east of Fort Mas- 
 sachusetts, and then returned to Taos via the fort and 
 the intervenino; Mexican towns. 
 
 While intimating the dangers which may befall trains 
 on their journey across the plains, especially in time of 
 Indian war, it may be well to narrate a fatal adventure 
 which once happened to a mail party while traveling this 
 route. Not many miles from Fort Union, and on the 
 plains, there is a clump of hills known as the "Wagon 
 Mound," so called from their resemblance to one of 
 those peculiar wagons which are used to transport valu- 
 able freight across the country. It being dangerous 
 times, a party of ten picked men had been sent out to 
 insure the safe transit of the mail. Everything went 
 well with the little band of travelers, and their pros- 
 pects were becoming bright for making a safe journey, 
 when, suddenly, a large band of hostile Apaches and 
 Utahs hove in sight. The mail party, on making this 
 
530 FEARFUL MASSACRE. 
 
 discovery, immediately halted and prepared for a fight. 
 The Indians very soon granted to them this favor. At 
 first, the attack was sharply maintained, but, at last, 
 fortune favored the whites, for the time being, and they 
 succeeded in repulsing their foes, who retreated out of 
 sight. The mail party being thus freed from the un- 
 pleasant society of the Indians, at once hitched up their 
 teams and proceeded on their route. It was afterwards 
 learned that the Apaches made the first attack, but 
 they were countenanced by the Utahs, who remained 
 close by. On the return of the unsuccessful war party 
 of Apaches to the Utahs, the latter at once com- 
 menced charging them with cowardice, and boasted 
 that they could have done better. The true state of 
 the case was, that the Utahs were using the Apaches as 
 tools by which to gain plunder, crying "go dog," while 
 they themselves were keeping out of harm's way. The 
 anger of the Apaches was fully aroused at these deri- 
 sive imputations. Under the new impulse, they said to 
 the Utahs, "If you will help, we will return and show 
 you whether we are afraid to meet these pale-faces.'* 
 Another attack having been decided upon, the Indians 
 set out and overtook the mail party once more near 
 to this " Wagon Mound." It was snowing flist at 
 the time, therefore the w^hite men were comfortably 
 traveling in their vehicles and had their guns protected 
 with siiitaldc coverings to prevent their being injured, 
 for they anticipated no further danger. The curtains of 
 the mail wagons were all fastened down, and there was 
 no look-out kept, for it w^as considered sufficient to pre- 
 pare for the furies of the storm. The Indians accord- 
 ingly approached unperceived, and made such a desper- 
 ate attack that all the white men were quickly killed. 
 
DIED FlIOM OVER-EATING. 531 
 
 Not one, if the boasts of the Indians can be believed, 
 had time to get out from his seat. Several days elapsed 
 and no tidings wore heard of the expected mail party ; 
 therefore a body of men started out in quest of the miss- 
 ing men, and found them sleeping the last sleep which 
 knows no awakening. The bodies of the dead were 
 decently interred; and, since that day, the "Wagon 
 Mound " is pointed out to the traveler, accompanied 
 ^vith an historical account of this awful tragedy. 
 
 During the campaign under consideration, several 
 Indian children ^vere captured. These were generally 
 under the age of ten years. They could not stand the 
 kindlj'-planned treatment which they received while in 
 bondage, for many of them died from over-eating, after 
 having so long been accustomed to Indian frugality. 
 One of the women prisoners taken openly declared, and 
 there is no reason why she should not be believed, that 
 many of the younger children belonging to her tribe had 
 been strangled by their parents and friends in order to 
 prevent their becoming an inconvenience, and thus pre- 
 vent their being able to prosecute the war, thereby show- 
 ing that their hatred of the white man w\as deeply rooted, 
 and that their anger had been aroused to its highest 
 degree. On the publishing of peace, those Indian chil- 
 dren wdio still lived, were collected, and, through the 
 Indian agents, restored to their relatives and fiiends. 
 The good effect which the moral of this campaign had 
 on the surroundinu: Indian nations cannot be denied. 
 They soon became loud in procKaiming their friendships 
 for the Americans. Taking advantage of the now crip- 
 pled condition of the Utahs and Apaches, their enemies, 
 the Arrapahoes and Cheyennes, were ready to pounce 
 upon them at a moment's warning. The opportunity 
 
 31 
 
532 A NOBLE CHIEFTAIN. 
 
 did not, however, present itself until long after peace 
 had been established with the white men, when the 
 Utahs and Apaches had been able to recover from their 
 losses and collect again. 
 
 War party after war party of Cheyennes and Arrap- 
 ahoes entered the country of their old enemies, the 
 Apaches and Utahs, but returned unable to find them. 
 Yellow Bear, a head war chief of the Arrapahoes, did 
 not accompany his braves on these expeditions, and he 
 would not believe that they could not find either the 
 Apaches or Utahs ; therefore, to show his people that 
 there was one warrior living of the olden stamp, he 
 started, accompanied only by his youngest squaw, to 
 meet and fight them. A severe snow-storm compelled 
 this noble chieftain to come into Fort Massachusetts. 
 While he was there, the commanding officer of the post 
 endeavored to dissuade him from his rash undertaking. 
 In reply the chief said : 
 
 " Captain, my young men are no longer warriors. 
 They have become squaws. I sent them to seek our na- 
 tion's enemies. They went, discovered their fires and 
 counted their lodges, but were afraid to attack them. 
 I am now on my way to find the Utah village, where I 
 intend, either to smoke the pipe of peace, or offer fight 
 to any three of their chiefs. If they kill me otherwise 
 than fairly, perhaps it will stir up once more the fire 
 in the breast of the warriors of the Arrapahoe nation." 
 
 This speech was delivered with so much pathos, and 
 yet with such an oratorical air, that the interpreter was 
 enabled to catch and translate every word of it. Yel- 
 low Bear was now informed of the recent campaign 
 against the Utahs and Apaches, but the news made 
 no change in his determination. The advice was 
 
A MASTERPIECE OF ACTING. 533 
 
 thrown away, as he was found conversant with the 
 whole proceedings of the campaign. We have broii<>*ht 
 in this incident to show how surrounding tribes are di- 
 rectly allected and personally interested in the results 
 of all military transactions with hostile Indians. As 
 we have taken up for a theme the story of this brave 
 and really noble Indian, it may prove interesting to 
 some of our readers if we complete the picture. Yel- 
 low Bear w^as always the firm friend of Kit Carson, both 
 by word and action. He was the finest specimen of 
 an Indian that the Avriter ever laid eyes on. He stood 
 in his moccasins over six feet; straight and symmetri- 
 cally proportioned. The head, however, was the main 
 attraction of this Indian. Never was a statesman pos- 
 sessed of a better. We once heard him address a laro^e 
 council of his warriors, and, although we could not un- 
 derstand one w^ord he said, yet our attention was fixed 
 on the man, for we never saw, either before or since, 
 such majestic gestures, mixed wdth equal grace, in any 
 speaker. It was a masterpiece of acting, and from the 
 "humphs," or grunts, ejaculated by his auditors, we 
 were inclined to think that the speech was impressive. 
 There was one great point about this chief, which those 
 who are familiar with the Indian race, as they now ex- 
 ist, cannot but admire. He was never known to bes: : 
 rather than do this, we believe, he would have actually 
 starved. We will finish this description of Yellow Bear 
 by adding that he finally listened to the advice of the 
 then commanding officer of Fort Massachusetts, and 
 returned to his own nation. 
 
 On the final arrival at Taos of the troops engaged in 
 this brilliant Indian campaign against the Utahs and 
 Apaches, they received orders to disband. Those whose 
 
534 INDIANS SUEING FOR PEACE. 
 
 calling was arms, returned to their respective military 
 posts, while the New Mexicans scattered to seek their 
 homes, where they were received and justly treated as 
 heroes. Before the forces were dispersed, the Pueblo 
 Indians, who had been employed in the spy companies, 
 gave, with the aid of their friends, by moonlight, a 
 grand war-dance entertainment in the plaza of the 
 town. It proved a fine display of this time-honored 
 Indian custom. 
 
 The combined efforts of the two commanders, Col- 
 onel Fauntleroy and Lieutenant- Colonel St. Yrain, 
 aided by their followers, among whom Kit Carson 
 played a most conspicuous and important part, had the 
 effect to compel the Indians to send a delegate to Santa 
 Fe, commissioned to sue for peace. Peace was finally 
 granted, which formed a most happy and pleasing ter- 
 mination to this brilliant Indian campaign. 
 
 It proved afterwards that a great mistake was made 
 in hastily allowing these Indians to evade the punish- 
 ment they so richly deserved, and which was being so 
 summarily inflicted, by entertaining so soon conciliatory 
 measures. At the council that was subsequently held, 
 it was found that only a part of the Apaches were pres- 
 ent to sanction the proceedings, and that the remain- 
 der were still in the mountains, and were either hostile 
 or undecided what course they would pursue. Kit Car- 
 son, their agent, was at the meeting, and earnestly 
 opposed the policy of making a treaty so long as any 
 portion of the two nations were insubordinate, as it 
 offered a loop-hole for those present to creep out when- 
 ever they were so inclined. He said '' that now was 
 the time, if ever, when they might, at a small additional 
 expense, and with the prospect of saving many valuable 
 
WEAK DIPLOMACY. 535 
 
 lives, show these Indians that they were dealing with 
 a powerful government.'* His voice and experience 
 were overruled by the other ofticials present, and the 
 treaty was made. It stipulated tliat the Indians should 
 receive certain sums annually in case they would settle 
 down and commence farming, and that they should be 
 allowed to select their own locality, within certain pre- 
 scribed limits. The making of such offers to tribes of sav- 
 ages half subdued is absurd. The wisdom of this asser- 
 tion has since been clearly shown, for hardlj'' one article 
 contained in the treaty there made has been carried out. 
 The actions of those iVpaches present at the council 
 were trifling in the extreme, notwithstanding which, 
 they were presented with some cattle. These they ob- 
 jected to receiving, on the ground that they were not 
 fat enough to suit their fastidious tastes. They inso- 
 lently addressed the Government officials in the follow- 
 ing strain : ^' If you do not give us better, we will again 
 take the road where we can have our choice." 
 
 The fact was, that these half-starved rascals saw that 
 the white men were anxious to make peace, and hence 
 they assumed a haughty air in order to drive a good 
 bargain. 
 
 The great results which should have been brought 
 about by the teachings of Colonels Fauntleroy and St. 
 Vrain, by tliis weak diplomacy, were more or less frus- 
 trated. These gentlemen, however, had won great re- 
 nown. They had tlie savages driven to such extremes 
 that one more expedition, led by them in person, would 
 have subdued all their obstinacy, and made them over- 
 anxious for peace. The Indians had been seven times 
 caught, and, on every one of the occasions, they had 
 been greatly worsted. They had lost at least five 
 
536 RIFLE ARGUMENTS NEEDlTD. 
 
 hundred horses, all their camp equipage, ammunition, 
 provisions, and most of their arms, and were indeed 
 almost at the mercy of the whites. Under these cir- 
 cumstances they should have been shown true mag- 
 nanimity and greatness, by forcing them into that 
 course which was and is for their own welfare as well 
 as the welfare of the countr}^, and against which they 
 themselves so blindly contend. Say to an Indian, that 
 ere many years have passed by, the buffalo will all be 
 destroyed, and he will answer you " that the ' Great 
 Spirit ' rains them down in the mountain for his red 
 children." This is a fair examjDle of the manner in 
 which most of them listen to the voice of reason. It 
 requires practical and active demonstrations, by means 
 of rifles and other weapons, to teach them that they 
 will not be permitted to inlander and murder at pleas- 
 ure. The wrong of this conduct they are as well aware 
 of as their white brethren. It is by rifle arguments that 
 their treaties become worth the value of the paper upon 
 which they are written. 
 
 It is a well known fact that people who live in Indian 
 countries prefer to have the red men at war, rather than 
 bound to peace by such slender ties as they are usually 
 called upon to take upon themselves. In the former 
 case, the settler knows what to expect, and is always 
 prepared for the Avorst, so far as it lies in his power; 
 but, in the latter position, he is continually exposed to 
 the caprices of a race who are in many respects as 
 changeable as the very air they breathe. 
 
 In the old Mexican town of Don Fernandez de Taos, 
 as we have before said, resided Kit Carson. A stranger 
 entering this town, and especially at a little distance 
 from it, is reminded of a number of brick-kilns just pre- 
 
'<&'^^-- 
 
 KIT CARSON'S HUME AT TA(JS. J^ E JA*, ]Vi£?:iCq 
 
THE HOME OF KIT CARSON. 539 
 
 vioiis to being burnt, and all huddled together without 
 any regard being paid to symmetry. In order to reach 
 the Plaza, which is the main feature of attraction be- 
 longing to the town, the traveler is obliged to follow 
 the crooks and turns of several unattractive streets. 
 The home of Kit Carson faced on the w^est side of this 
 public square. It w^as a building only one story in 
 height; but, as it extended over a considerable space 
 of ground, it made up in part this defect, and within, 
 it was surpassed by but few other houses in the coun- 
 try, for the degree of comfort which it furnished to its 
 occupants. On most any fair day, around the doors of 
 this house might be seen many Indians of various tribes, 
 who w^ere either w^aiting for their companions within, 
 or else for the opportunity to present itself so that they 
 themselves could enter. 
 
 Business or no business to transact with Kit Carson, 
 they could not come to town w^ithout visiting " Father 
 Kit," and having a smoke and talk wdth him. Kit Car- 
 son enjoyed himself in their society, for his heart and 
 hand had long since taught them that, irrespective of 
 the office which he held towards them, he was their 
 true friend and benefactor. Never was his patience 
 exhausted by their lengthy visits. He listened to their 
 narrations of grievances, wdiich they laid freely before 
 him foL' his counsel, even in matters exclusively per- 
 sonal. Being familiar with all those things which would 
 in the least, touch their feelings and make them inter- 
 ested, he found no difficulty in entering into the spirit 
 of their affairs, in a manner that exactly suited their 
 tastes. This caused them to look upon him in the same 
 light as they would upon some brave and experienced 
 chief of their own race. 
 
540 RECEIVED WITH MARKED RESPECT. 
 
 Kit Carson took every opportunity to warn the In- 
 dians against the use of intoxicating drinks, and showed 
 them by his own example, that " fire water" was a dan- 
 gerous luxury which man does not require, and in which 
 he should not indulge. Notwithstanding his best ef- 
 forts, now and then they got under its influence. On 
 becoming sober, they were so ashamed of their conduct 
 that they would often keep clear of their agent until 
 they thought he had forgotten the occurrence. Kit 
 Carson, to a certain extent, treated Indians as a wise 
 father does his own children ; hence, he won their re- 
 spect as well as confidence, which fact gave him more 
 influence over them than any other man in the country 
 where he lived. When Kit Carson entered the various 
 villages of the Indians under his supervision, he was 
 invariably received with the most marked attention. 
 Having selected the warrior whose guest he intended 
 to be, he accompanied him to his lodge, which was 
 known during his stay as the "soldiers' lodge." He 
 gave himself no concern about his horse, saddle, bridle, 
 rifle, or any minor thmg. The brave whom he had thus 
 honored, considered that he had assumed the responsi- 
 bility of a " soldier," and so styled himself This mak- 
 ing of a " soldier," is no every day business with the 
 Indians. It is only when they are visited by some 
 great personage for whom they have the greatest re- 
 spect, that this ceremony is gone through with. When 
 thus favored, the "soldier" at once becomes the sworn 
 friend of the white man who occupies his lodge, and 
 will fight and die for him even against his own brethren. 
 
 It was the opinion of Kit Carson, that Indians should 
 not be allowed to come, when it pleases them, into the 
 settlements. Every visit which they thus make is det- 
 
A KIND AND INDULGENT FATHER. 541 
 
 limcntal to them in many ways. lie thought tliat the 
 time thus ppent could be better employed in hunting, 
 or otherwise providing for the wants of their families. 
 In the towns of the frontiers they do nothing but beg 
 and learn the vices of the white man, which, added to 
 their own, make them as dangerous and wicked as men 
 can be. In lieu thereof, he advised that mission and 
 agency houses should be established in their midst, 
 when supplies should be furnished to them in a time of 
 need. As matters stand now, the Indians, during a se- 
 vere winter, or from some unforeseen accident, are 
 liable to become suddenly destitute. They are then 
 compelled either to starve or to make inroads upon the 
 property of the settlers on the frontiers. Besides his 
 Indian friends. Kit Carson was surrounded by a host of 
 Mexicans and Americans, to whom he had greatly en- 
 deared himself To his children Kit Carson was a kind 
 and indulgent father, and to best illustrate his self-sac- 
 rificing attachment for them, it is only necessary to re- 
 late one striking incident of its proof A few years 
 since, he was returning to Taos from Rayado, whither 
 he had been on a visit in company with his wife, 
 two children, and two servants (a Mexican man and 
 woman). The party had completed the first half of 
 their journey, and were jogging along over a tract of 
 prairie land that was of considerable extent, when sud- 
 denly Kit Carson discovered, far off, a band of about 
 forty Indians. Being so exposed he at once concluded 
 that he also had been seen, for while he was looking^ 
 he thought he could see the speed of their riding ani- 
 mals increase. The glaring rays of the sun impeded 
 his view, so that he could not discern at such a dis- 
 tance, either from their dress or appearance, to what 
 
542 rPtOTECTixG wife and children. 
 
 tribe they belonged. He was in a section of country 
 that was frequently visited by the marauding Canian- 
 ches, and, as their signs had been recently seen in the 
 neighborhood, he made up his mind that it was a band 
 of this tribe that he now saw. No time was lost ; so, 
 dismounting from the very fleet horse he was riding, 
 he placed in his saddle his wife and eldest child. To 
 the first named he gave directions '^ to follow on the 
 trail that led to Taos, and let the bridle reins be a lit- 
 tle slack, so that the horse would know what was ex- 
 pected of him, when he would travel at the top of his 
 speed. He said that he intended to ride towards the 
 Indians and engage them at first in a parley, and then 
 if necessary offer them a single-handed combat. At 
 any rate, before they could manage to kill him, she 
 would have sufficient time to lessen her danger. As to 
 the remainder of the party, he added, there was no 
 alternative but for them to take their chances for life 
 or death." Bidding his wife and boy good-by, with one 
 heart-rending look, he turned to face his apparent 
 doom. As Kit approached the Indians, they began to 
 call out his name. As soon as he heard this, he aroused 
 himself from the agonizing frame of mind he had been 
 laboring under after parting with all that was so dear 
 to him, and as he had thought, for the last time. To 
 his joy. Kit quickly recognized before him, the familiar 
 faces of some of his Indian friends. They had come, 
 as they afterwards informed him, to see him and his 
 helpless charge safely lodged in their home, for they 
 had become aware that he was exposed to great dan- 
 ger. While the friends were talking, some of the In- 
 dians began to laugh, which caused Carson to turn his 
 head and look in the direction they were gazing. To 
 
A COWARDLY MEXICAN. 543 
 
 his astonishment and disgust, lie saw (the truth was too 
 evident to be mistaken) that the cowardly Mexiean 
 man had, on his leaving, pulled off from her horse Mrs. 
 Carson and her child, and having mounted the animal 
 himself, was making good his escape. The Indians 
 wished to keep uj) the ruse, pursue, attempt to overtake 
 and punish the poltroon; but Kit Carson was too thank- 
 ful that matters had gone so well ; therelbre he said 
 that he felt that he could excuse such dastardly con- 
 duct, and requested the Indians to let it pass unnoticed. 
 It is hardly necessary to add that with his faithful body- 
 guard, who had come to watch over him from feelings 
 of earnest respect, gratitude and affectionate regard, the 
 agent accomplished the remainder of his journey in per- 
 fect safety. 
 
 Several years had elapsed, as the reader can easily 
 estimate, since Kit Carson met, while traveling home 
 from one of his expeditions, the Mormon delegate to 
 Congress who had first informed him of his appoint- 
 ment as Indian agent. During this length of time Kit 
 Carson retained this office and rendered satisfactory 
 service. The Indians who were under his jurisdiction 
 were large and powerful bands of the Apaches and 
 Utahs ; but, as we have said before, neighboring tribes 
 freely sought his counsel, aid, and protectorate power, 
 as they required it, and, from habit, considered that 
 they had a claim on his services. To best illustrate 
 this, we have but to cite one instance, of which a 
 thousand similar exist. Two Indian women were taken 
 prisoners by the red men of the plains, from a band of 
 savages not under the immediate control of Kit Carson, 
 who inhabited a section of New Mexico. These squaws, 
 while captives, were subjected to the severest labor 
 
544 PROTECTED BY KIT CARSON. 
 
 and the most brutal punishment which Indian inge- 
 nuity could invent. For one 3'ear they submitted 
 without exhibiting any outward symptoms by which 
 their condition could be known ; but, at the end of 
 that time, they resolved to escape, even if they were 
 killed in the attempt. Watching a favorable opportu- 
 nity, they started, and fortunately so well laid their 
 plans that, for some time, they were not missed. On 
 their prolonged absence being noticed, a party who 
 were well mounted commenced the pursuit, no doubt 
 believing that to recapture the runaways would be an 
 easy task. The squaws, however, eluded these horse- 
 men, and, on foot, made their way to Kit Carson's 
 house at Taos. By him they were hospitably received, 
 entertained and amply provided for. They had trav- 
 eled on foot for hundreds of miles, and, while en route, 
 had lived on roots and such other food as fell in their 
 way. In their reduced condition, it required kindness, 
 proper diet and rest to resuscitate them. In the com- 
 fortable house to which they had come, these things 
 were at hand, and were freely given, without hoping 
 for the rewards which man can give. The pursuers of 
 these unfortunate Indian women followed on their trail, 
 which, with native instinct, the squaws had made as 
 indistinct as possible, until they found themselves at a 
 settlement w^ithin the boundaries of Kcav Mexico. 
 Here they were informed that their late captives 
 were safe under the protection of Kit Carson. This 
 name acted like magic in settling their future mode 
 of proceedings. They needed nothing more to bid 
 them face about and retrace their steps to their own 
 homes. The squaws, in the household of Kit Carson, 
 rapidly recruited, and when the time came for them to 
 
THE iiED man's fkiend. 545 
 
 be sent to tlieir o^vn tribe, tbey ^vent away rejoicing at 
 their good fortune, first, in making their es^cape, and 
 second, because they had been so humanely treated by 
 a man whose name they had often heard, but never 
 before seen. As we have said before, and with truth, 
 this is but one example out of thousands which have 
 passed by unheralded since Kit Carson first commenced 
 his official career as Indian au^ent. 
 
 The duties of an agent were not by Kit Carson con- 
 fined to the mere letter of the law. His was a heart 
 that could not be happy were he not daily doing some 
 equitable and humane act to ameliorate the condition 
 of the Indian race. The strict duties of an Indian 
 agent required that he should receive and disburse cer- 
 tain sums of money in purchasing such minor articles 
 as the tribes over which he was placed may require. lie 
 had to give monthly and quarterly reports to the Gen- 
 eral Government and the Superintendent of the Terri- 
 tory he was in, of the condition, crimes, practices, hab- 
 its, intentions, health, and such other things as pertained 
 to the economy of his charge. How seldom is this 
 knowledge properly attained, and how often are these 
 things entrusted to clerks, while the principal receives 
 the emoluments of his office ! Of the details which 
 make the Indian happy or miserable, he too frequently 
 knows but little about, except from routine. The 
 agent, if he be a fit man, and the Indian is by no 
 means slow in forming his estimate of the person he 
 has to deal Avith, is received into the confidence of the 
 tribes, when, after sufficient trial, he has been proved 
 worthy of their esteem and friendship. When once he 
 has gained a foothold in the affections of the savages, 
 his task assumes the condition of pleasure rather than 
 
546 DUTIES OF INDIAN AGENT. 
 
 severe labor ; but, if he is ignorant of the minute work- 
 ings of his business, he is generally imposed upon and 
 always disliked to such a degree that no honorable man 
 would retain such a position longer than to find out his 
 unpopularity and the causes of it. The Indian agent, to 
 perform his duties well, must be continually at his 
 agency house, or among the Indians, in order that he 
 may personally attend to their wants and protect them 
 from the mercenary visits and contact of outside in- 
 truders, who are continually watching their opportu- 
 nity, like hungry wolves, to prey upon and cheat them 
 in every shape and form. In fine, he is to assist the 
 superintendent in managing the entire Indian family. 
 
 The business of Indian agent, which he strictly and 
 conscientiously attended to, kept Kit Carson employed 
 during the most of his time ; yet, as often as once each 
 year, he managed affairs so that he could spend a few 
 weeks in the exciting scenes of the chase. On these 
 excursions, which Avere eagerly looked forward to by 
 his friends, he was accompanied by the crack shots of 
 the country, including his Indian and Mexican friends. 
 On horseback and on open prairies. Kit Carson was in- 
 disputably the greatest hunter in America, if indeed he 
 was not the greatest hunter living. He has killed, in 
 the brief space of three consecutive hours, wdth his 
 rifle, twenty-two antelope, at a time when the game 
 was so scarce, that other men wbo followed the business 
 of hunting under pay, and wcr^ no ordinary shots, 
 thought themselves doing well to bring down six of the 
 same animals. 
 
 It gave the greatest satisfaction to the people of 
 New Mexico that Kit Carson was, from time to time, 
 re-installed in his office of Indian ao-ent, notwithstand- 
 
WIDE-SPREAD INFLUENCE. 547 
 
 ing the other great changes that were being continu- 
 ally niade in their politics. His fitness for the position 
 which he held cannot be doubted, when the good al- 
 ready accomplished by his efforts is considered. His 
 influence reached far beyond his own tribes, and was 
 felt by the Cheyennes, Arrapaboes, and Kiowas, who 
 were fast becoming very chary about visiting, with 
 hostile intentions, the settlements of Northern New 
 Mexico. 
 
548 TAUIED AKD VALUABLE EXPERIENCES. 
 
 CHAPTER XYIII. 
 
 Carson not allowed to Remain Idle — His Position in our late Civil War — 
 He is Needed on an Important Field of Army Operations — His Love 
 for tlie Union — His Promise to Stand by the Old Flag— His Fulfill- 
 ment of the Promise — Is Appointed Colonel of the First New Mexico 
 Volunteers — His Friendship with General Canby — Lieutenant-Colonel 
 Pfiefer — Valuable Service against the Camanches, Arrapahoes and 
 Cheyennes — Overpowered and Defeated — Fearful Loss — A Brilliant 
 Campaign against the Navajoes — Increased Fame — The War Depart- 
 ment sound his Praises in Flattering Terms — Brigadier General of 
 Volunteers — Detailed for Responsible Duty — Appointed Peace Com- 
 missioner to the Sioux — A Delicate Mission — The Indian Policy of our 
 Government — A Reformation Movement — A Wise and Humane Policy 
 — Kit Carson's Opinion as to what Should be Done — His Wonderful 
 Success in Treating with the Savages — Beloved and Feared — The Visit 
 of Indian Chiefs to Washington — The Effects of Civilization — Recep- 
 tions and Speeches of Buffalo Good and Little Raven — The Indian 
 Question, and What Has Been Done, and What Must Be Done, to Se- 
 cure Lasting Peace— The Death of General Kit Carson, at Fort Lyon, 
 Colorado — His Death Hastened by the Loss of his Wife — A Man of 
 Striking Virtues — Kit Carson as a Free Mason — Masonic Signs among 
 the Indians. 
 
 Following on the varied and valuable experiences 
 that Kit Carson had, in his strangely eventful career, 
 prior to his appointment as Indian agent, he might have 
 treasured the hope that he should live out the rest of 
 his days in peace and quiet, so far as a man with such 
 surroundings might expect repose. With him rest 
 would not be the absolute calm that one might have in 
 a settled, law-abiding community. Indeed, to him, that 
 kind of repose would be the most tiresome of all ex- 
 
CLAIMED BY BOTH SIDES. 510 
 
 pericncc ; for men of his mould — of his tireless energy 
 and constant exercise of body and mind — there must 
 be sometliiug to demand constant watchfuhiess, • as a 
 necessary stimulus, or life becomes a weary drag, and 
 has no attractions. But Carson could reasonably have 
 expected a comparative season of rest. He might have 
 ended his life of great deeds at this very point, aud 
 have more than fdled a mission of heroic work. This, 
 however, he was not permitted to do. His ripe knowl- 
 edge of the country in which he had won his proud- 
 est distinction, and his thorough judgment, amounting 
 to an intuitive perception, of the habits and character 
 of all tribes and people, made him an available man, 
 above all others, in tjie overshadowing crisis of national 
 afiairs which plunged the nation into civil war, for cer- 
 tain specified work on an important field of army op- 
 erations. Early in the war he was claimed by both 
 sides — the North and South — as a friendly all}', and his 
 position was a matter of consequence, as much as if he 
 had been a general in the field ; but, while his position 
 was disputed, there was never the slightest doubt con- 
 cerning his convictions or his purposes, from the very 
 start, among those who knew well his character. He 
 loved the Union, and no temptation could have diverted 
 that love. 
 
 The author left New Mexico in the flill of 1S5G, hav- 
 ing resigned his position in the army, and proceeded to 
 Europe to perfect his studies. In 1860 he returned, 
 and re-entered the service of the Government as an 
 army oflicer. Kit Carson was then holding the place 
 of Indian agent of the Utahs and Apaches at Taos, 
 New Mexico, and was devoting himself wholly to civil 
 pursuits. As the author was soon after taken a pris- 
 
 32 
 
550 TRUE TO THE OLD FLAG. 
 
 oner in Texas, he did not see Carson, as he had hoped 
 and expected, but subsequently held a correspondence 
 with him, at the time the rebellion broke out, and re- 
 ceived from him very positive and patriotic assurances 
 that he should steadfastly remain loyal to the Union 
 and to the flag — a promise that he admirably fulfilled. 
 
 He was early in the war appointed Colonel of the 
 First Kegiment New Mexico Volunteers, under the 
 command of Brigadier General Canby, whose subse- 
 quent tragic death, after braving all the perils of the 
 great conflict between the North and South, will be 
 alluded to in a subsequent chapter. Carson had no 
 trustier friend than Canby. 
 
 The regiment which Kit Carson commanded was a 
 fine body of men who were accustomed to hardships 
 and could endure much w^ithout complaint. His 
 Lieutenant-Colonel's name was Pfiefer, and he was a 
 valuable man to have for an associate in the prosecu- 
 tion of the brave work to be done. Pfiefer was a 
 mountaineer of the bravest sort, who had suffered deeply 
 by the slaughter of his wife and children and the burn- 
 ing of his ranch, and, though cool in the hour of dan- 
 ger, he was reckless of *liis own life. He was a good 
 companion for one who never knew fear. 
 
 Carson's first action in the war w\as under Canby at 
 Val Verde, in an engagement against an invading force 
 of Texans, when he was greatly distinguished for per- 
 sonal bravery. After this battle his regiment wixs em- 
 ployed almost exclusively against confederate Texans 
 under General Sibley, who was a West Point graduate, 
 and of excellent standing in the United States Army be- 
 fore his desertion, and was widely known as tbe invent- 
 ior of the Sibley tent, which all soldiers in the late war 
 
■■^'%4 
 
 <■ r-'H-'A^ 
 
 •5 
 
 3V:';:*lf ,1 
 
MAGNIFICENT OPERATION. 553 
 
 arc familiar with. Portions of the regiment were, 
 at times, detailed as guides and spies in the southern 
 part of New Mexico. After the defeat of theTexans in 
 Apache Pass, near Santa Fe, Carson and his command 
 were detached on Indian duty under Colonel Carlton, 
 who was subsequently made a Brigadier General. On 
 this duty valuable service was performed against the 
 Camanches, Arrapahoes and Cheyennes ; but at Stone 
 Wall, near the Red liiver, Carson met his match, being 
 overpowered and badly defeated. There was a fearful 
 loss on both sides. 
 
 But this repulse was very soon supplemented with a 
 victory of the greatest magnificence. The Navajo In- 
 dians were very troublesome. For a whole decade they 
 had defied the Government, and now, enlisted as savage 
 cohorts of the rebels, they were especially dangerous. 
 They numbered several thousand warriors, and roamed 
 over an immense tract of country. General Carlton se- 
 lected Carson to command two thousand picked men, 
 consisting of Californians, Mexicans, and Mountaineers, 
 to operate against these Indians. The campaign was a 
 most brilliant one. After a succession of skirmishes, 
 Carson succeeded in getting the enemy into a bed or 
 ravine, and had his own forces so disposed as to com- 
 mand every approach, and in doing this compelled 
 the surrender of ten thousand Indians, being the larg- 
 est single capture of Indians ever known. The entire 
 tribe, men, women and children, was disposed of by 
 this magnificent operation. This greatly increased the 
 fame of the mountain leader, and the official reports to 
 the war department very justly sounded his praises in 
 flattering terms, but none too extravagantly. For this 
 great service and gallantry displayed elsewhere, he was 
 
554 BRIGADIER GENERAL OF VOLUNTEERS. 
 
 breveted with the rank of Brigadier General of Volun- 
 teers, and entirely without any solicitation. The cap- 
 tured Indians were afterwards sent to a reservation on 
 one of the tributaries of the Arkansas River, and hxter, 
 following General Sherman's Indian negotiations, they 
 were sent by their own request to their original grounds 
 in the Navajo country, where they have since remained 
 in a well-behaved condition. They are peaceful, and are 
 gradually becoming accustomed to the more advanced 
 ways of civilization. They are measurably indus- 
 trious, and to a considerable extent are self-supporting. 
 During the remainder of the war. General Carson was on 
 different details of responsible work, mainly courts mar- 
 ti il and matters relating to the Indians, and in one of 
 which be made himself useful to the Government. The 
 war history of affairs in New Mexico, during this period, 
 as cont lined in official reports, will show that his services 
 were fully recognized by the department whose inter- 
 ests he served. He was retained in his rank and posi- 
 tion at the close of the war, long after nearly all the 
 volunteer officers had been mustered out, and was then 
 made a peace commissioner to visit the Sioux and otlier 
 tribes, bis long experience, honesty, and loyalty to the 
 Government qualifying him in all respects for the re- 
 sponsibilities of such a delicate mission. 
 
 The settlement of the trouble with the Sioux Indians, 
 which was assigned to General Carson, was a matter of 
 great consequence, more, indeed, than appeared upon 
 the surlace of things at tlie time. Hostilities had^ 
 grown out of bad faitli in tbe first place, and a bloody 
 war, attended with fright fid massacres, followed, in- 
 volving a cost of millions of dollars to the Government. 
 Indian wars have always been costly ; they are con- 
 
AN APPEAL FOR THE RED MEN. 555 
 
 ducted by the Government at fearful odds. In the 
 Senunole war, there were only 1,010 warriors in the 
 field, and they, loauiinsr over 47,000 square miles of 
 territory, compelled the United States to equip 1Z(),()00 
 troops, and pay $1^0,000,000 to militia and volunteers, 
 exclusive of what was piiid to regulars. 
 
 One careful observer in the Sioux war, who was act- 
 ively engaged in the expedition conducted by the Gov- 
 ernment, offered the following pertinent suggestion : 
 "Justice and humanity require that, as we have de- 
 prived the Indian of his occupation of hunting and the 
 mdu gence of the wild habits of centuries, we should 
 make a genuine attempt to have him adapt himself to 
 his altered condition. Such an attempt has never yet 
 been made, although the treaties contemplated it, and 
 the officials pretend it has been done. A proper code 
 of laws and policy, having in view this end, should be 
 adopted." 
 
 It was this Sioux war which, to a great degree, 
 opened the eyes of the nation to much of the injustice 
 of the old policy of Indian management, and enlisted a 
 wide-spread movement in behalf of something better. 
 Bishop Whipple, of Minnesota, sent out a stirring "Ap- 
 peal for the Red Man," in which, making the massa- 
 cres in his own State the text of his commentaries, he 
 said : 
 
 '* There is not a man in America, who ever gave an 
 hour's calm reflection to this subject, who docs not 
 know that our Indian sj'stem is an organized system of 
 robbery, and has been for years a disgrace to the 
 nation. It has left savage men without governmental 
 control ; it has looked on unconcerned at every crime 
 against the law of God and man ; it has fostered sav- 
 
556 BISHOP Whipple's manifesto. 
 
 age life by wasting thousands of dollars in the purchase 
 of paint, beads, scalping-knives and tomahawks; it has 
 fostered a system of trade which robbed the thrifty and 
 virtuous to pay the debts of the indolent and vicious; 
 it has squandered the funds for civilization and schools; 
 it has connivrd at theft ; it has winked at murder ; and 
 at last, after dragging the savage down to a brutishness 
 unknown to his fathers, it has brought a harvest of 
 blood to our own door." 
 
 This was but a part of his earnest arraignment of the 
 nation for its shortcomings in the treatment of its way- 
 faring children. His manifesto, as a whole, had a 
 powerful effect upon the country. Acting under his 
 lead, all the Episcopal bishops of the Northern States, 
 with many of the first clergy and laity, united in a pe- 
 tition to the President of the United States, in which his 
 attention was solicited to the following suggestions : 
 
 "First — That it is impolitic for our Government to 
 treat a heathen community, living in our borders, as 
 an independent nation, but that they ought to be re- 
 garded as our wards. 
 
 " Second — That it is dangerous to ourselves and to 
 them, to leave these Indian tribes without a govern- 
 ment, not subject to our own laws, and when every 
 corrupt influence of the border would inevitably foster 
 a spirit of revenge leading to murder and war. 
 
 " lliird — That the solemn responsibility of the care 
 of a heathen race requires that the agents and servants 
 of the Government who have them in cliarge, shall be 
 men of eminent fitness, and in no case should such 
 offices be regarded as a reward for political service. 
 
 "Fourth — That every feeling of honor and of jus- 
 tice demands that the Indian funds which we hold for 
 
A REFORMATORY MOVEMENT. 557 
 
 them as a trust, shall be carefully expended under some 
 Avell devised system ^^hich will encourage their ellbrts 
 towards civilization. 
 
 "Fifth — That the present system of Indian trade is 
 mischievous and demoralizing, and ought to be so 
 amended as to protect the Indian and wholly to prevent 
 the possibility of the sale of the patrimony of the tribe 
 to satisfy individual debts. 
 
 " Sixth — Tliat it is believed that the history of our 
 dealings with the Indians has been marked by gross 
 acts of injustice and robbery, such as could not be pre- 
 vented under the present system of management, and 
 that these wrongs have often proved the prolific cause 
 of war and bloodshed." 
 
 The petition closed in the following words : 
 
 " We feel that these results cannot be secured with- 
 out much careful thought, and, therefore, request you 
 to take such steps as may be necessary to appoint a 
 commission of men of high character, who have no po- 
 litical ends to subserve, to whom may be referred this 
 whole question, in order that they may devise a more 
 perfect system for the administration of Indian afljiirs, 
 which shall redress these wrongs, preserve the honor 
 of the Government, and call down upon us the bless- 
 ings of God.'* 
 
 It was from this beginning of a reformatory move- 
 ment, that a complete change in the Indian policy of 
 the Government was brought about. The commission 
 asked for originally was appointed during President 
 Grant's first term of ofiice, and it w^as he who began 
 the experiment of new measures to secure the best in- 
 terest of the Indians. The plan adopted in the selec- 
 tion of the commission, was to have it composed of 
 
658 THE OXLY TRUE EEMEDY. 
 
 leading representatives of religious denominations, and 
 men of high character were chosen. The policy from 
 the start was to get the Indians upon reservations, and 
 that, to a very general extent, has succeeded, and, so 
 far as accomplished, has worked admirably, though with 
 occasional disadvantages, as might be expected from 
 the inauijuration of so extensive a movement. On the 
 whole, the policy of the Government is accepted by the 
 country as eminently wise, humane and just. 
 
 This accomplishment recalls the opinion expressed 
 by Kit Carson, as given in a previous chapter, that the 
 question would never be settled so long as the Indians 
 were permitted to run at large. '' The only true rem- 
 edy," he said, " for this great evil, is to compel the sav- 
 ages to form settlements by themselves ; then and there 
 assist and teach them to cultivate the soil; in time, 
 they will be able to gain a maintenance independent 
 of the General Government, and, to a certain extent, 
 they will become responsible for their acts." Substan- 
 tially we have seen these views of the distinguished 
 mountaineer and soldier, derived from his own practi- 
 cal experiences, incorporated into the settled policy of 
 the Government, and both directly and indirectly, no 
 doubt, he himself very considerably contributed to the 
 attainment of that result. 
 
 The effect of this policy has been no less marked 
 upon the tribes which were directly within General 
 Carson's jurisdiction as Indian agent, than upon others 
 less savage in many respects, and could he have sur- 
 vived to witness the practical results of the reservation 
 plan and its attending peaceful regulations, it would 
 unquestionably have afforded him great satisfaction. 
 
 The most powerful band which was under his direc- 
 
VISITING CHIEFS. 559 
 
 tion was tlie Apaclics, tlioiigli liis operations oxtcnded 
 to the Clieveniies. tlie Arra]~)alioes, and the Kiowas. 
 The chiefs of tlie^e tril)es visited the Eastern States in 
 the sunimer of 1871, going to Washington, where they 
 had an interview w^ith the President, and also proceed- 
 ing to other cities. The kind treatment they received 
 everywhere made so favorahle an impression npon their 
 minds, that on their return to the Indian country they 
 not only refused to join a warlike tribe wdiich had be- 
 come incensed at the arrest of two chiefs, but were the 
 means of preventing a bloody war. 
 
 While in New York, they were given a reception 
 at Cooper Union, and a very intelligent audience as- 
 sembled. The Indians were dressed partly in their 
 native style, wearing moccasins and ear-rings, and 
 havino: their lono; black hair braided. One w^ore a 
 gaudy red robe. Of Arrapahoe chiefs there were 
 Little Raven, Powder Face, and Bird Chief; of Che}'- 
 ennes, Little Robe and Stone Calf; and of the Wich- 
 itas, Buffalo Good. Their prevailing style of face 
 was that usually seen in the warlike Sioux race ; that 
 is, a coarse, broad lower face, Hebrew nose, and re- 
 treating forehead. 
 
 In Boston there was another reception. Buffalo 
 Good, the ablest man in the delegation, and a natural 
 orator of considerable power, made a characteristic 
 speech, the translation of which is as follow^s : 
 
 "Gentlemen : Washington (President Grant) invited 
 me and these other chiefs to go to his big house in 
 Washington City, to have a talk with him. I thought 
 I was going to have a straight story, that my heart 
 -would be made glad by what I was to hear. But I 
 
560 SPEECH OF BUFFALO GOOD. 
 
 have been disappointed, and I think Washington is 
 not so much of a chief after all. [Laughter.] God 
 gave this country to the Indians. He gave the white 
 man a country across the waters. When he gave 
 this country to the Indian, he gave them the bow and 
 the arrow and the land, and he w^is able to hold his 
 own until the white man came over here. He gave 
 the white man paper and a great deal more knowledge 
 than he gave the Indians. Then they came to this 
 country ; but the Wichitas never fought them, but 
 took them by the hand and treated them kindly. 
 When I left home, it was to see Washington, for I 
 thought he was all the great chief in this country. 
 But my friends told me that there were a great many 
 chiefs, and that I should find some here ; that is why I 
 come here to-night — I didn't intend to come. But I 
 am glad to see you. God told the Indians that some 
 day the white men would come here. But we did not 
 think they would treat us so unkindly and try to drive 
 us from our lands. The bones of my fathers lie in 
 every hill and valley of my country, and I don't w^ant 
 to be turned out from that country, for I love it very 
 much. Nearly thirty years ago Washington gave me 
 and my people a good chief, who tried to put us on 
 the white man's road. We think he meant all that he 
 said. We wanted to go on the white man's road very 
 much. I and my brother represent five different tribes, 
 who have always been friendly, and who wanted to be 
 friendly to the whites. But because we do not fight, 
 Washington takes away our lands and gives them to 
 the tribes that are fighting them all the time. My 
 people are grieved at this, and when I left home they 
 told me to preach hard and get some satisfaction in 
 
THE KED man's GRIEVANCES. 5G1 
 
 ivgnrd to our country; but, when 1 return, it Avill bc- 
 with my hjinds belbre my eyes and my head cast down, 
 Ibr I can tell them nothing new. They knew it all be- 
 fore 1 left. I, too, am getting along in years. 1 can't 
 live forever, but I would like to see churches and 
 school-houses built in my land, and would like to see 
 my children educated belbre I die. [Applause ] For 
 the white men have driven the buffalo off, and now we 
 have got to live like white men, and so I want my 
 white brothers to help me. Since I have been here I 
 have heard a great deal about the people in this town. 
 They help everybody else ; they send their mission- 
 aries all abroad; but I ask you why you Avon't assist 
 me and my people ? [Applause.] I am glad I have 
 met you all. You are all my friends — my brothers. I 
 have taken fiist hold of you with my hand, and I am 
 not going to let go. Some of the tribes are living well. 
 They ought to, for the white men have stolen our lands, 
 (we who have never hunted the whites,) and have given 
 them to them, and they are learning them to grow up 
 like white people. If they would give us our lands, we 
 would learu to do the same thing. When I got to 
 Washington, they said they knew all about my people. 
 If they did know it, why didn't they help us, and fix 
 it? But I am very glad I came on. One thing I 
 wanted to speak about; I had nearly forgotten it. We 
 settled in Texas, but the Texans drove us out ; they 
 wanted the country, for it was a very fine one. They 
 stole our cattle and our pigs ; they broke down our 
 fences and obliged us to move. The Government told 
 us we should be made all right, but it hasn't been done 
 yet, and I want to know to-night why it hasn't? Then 
 we went to Kansas, and when we got there some friends 
 
5G2 LITTLE RAYE^?" TALKS. 
 
 said we Nvould whip the Texans all out, and then Gov- 
 ernment would appreciate our services. But the war 
 broke out, and the soldiers who were going to help 
 whip the Texans were called away. I reckon you 
 know those people in Texas ; they are a mighty hard 
 people down there. [Laughter.] We have got a very 
 good agent down in our country now, and if \Yashing- 
 ton does not help that agent to help us, I would like to 
 have you help him, for we don't want to lose him. I 
 wonder why youv Government has not done something 
 for the Wichitas and those other Indians that have 
 done all that was wanted of them. They help 'the 
 others, who are fighting them all the time, but it is no 
 use doing anything for them. That is what I think. 
 When I go home I want to, and I shall, carry home a 
 big talk with me, to tell all my brothers down there. I 
 shall remember it all ; I shan't forget a word of it on 
 the way. This is all I have got to say to 3'ou. I am 
 sorry that I can't talk English, or you can't talk in 
 Wichita, for if you did I would have a great deal more 
 to say to you." [Applause.] 
 
 Little Raven made the following speech : 
 
 ^'My Friends : These bio: chiefs on the left and rijj^ht 
 have invited me into this big council-house and invited 
 us to hear what you have got to say. This is a good 
 house, and this is just the kind of a house to have a 
 good talk in. [Laughter.] Some years ago General 
 Sheridan met my tribe in the Wichita Mountains and 
 .told us that he did not want the Arrapahoes to fight 
 any more. It was a good talk, and I listened to what 
 the General told me. I have kept that talk ever 
 
WANTED TO 13E LKT ALONE. 5G3 
 
 since, and liavc never foiiglit ^vith the Avliitc man. I 
 Aviint you to look upon these men around me; they 
 do not look so strong as they really are, but they are not 
 to be desj)ised, even if they are Indians. [Laughter 
 and applause ] The Great Father invited me and these 
 other chiefs to come to Washington to see him, and he 
 made just such a talk as Sheridan did, in a nice talking 
 place. It was a good talk. It was just the kind of 
 talk I wanted to hear, and I was glad I did hear it. 
 Then I and my friends went to Philadelphia and to 
 New York, and we had just such a good talk there. I 
 told them that I wanted to have peace with the white 
 man ; and that I only wanted to be let alone. I was 
 glad to see this, and my heart was glad to hear this. 
 I was told that I had some friends at the North that I 
 had never heard of, nor seen before, and I found a great 
 many chiefs here ; some of them have been showing 
 me through the city. The women, the children, boys 
 and girls, are glad to see me, and my heart is big, and 
 I am glad to meet them. [Applause.] My people, 
 the Arrapahoes, the braves, and the women, are all 
 anxiously looking for my return. My friends are wait- 
 ing for me ; they are now looking lor me, and I am 
 glad I have got so good a talk to carry back to them 
 as I have received here. When 1 sleep at night I sleep 
 with all this talk in my heart, and when I wake up I 
 hud it still there, and I am going to take every word 
 of it home with me. [Applause] I believe God is 
 going to pity the Indians. lie has shown us a good 
 many friends here, and tliere is not one that h;is said 
 anything or done anything wrong to my party. I am 
 very glad of that, for if anything should happen to any 
 member of my party, my people would feel very bad 
 
564 CnETENNES AND AEEAPAHOES. 
 
 on my return. Once the Arrapahoes had a fine conn- 
 try in the West, (Colorado,) but the white man lias 
 driven us from there. T hope some day the white man 
 will do justice to the Arrapahoes. There are a groat 
 many chiefs listening to what I say to-night, and I want 
 to say that I only ask for justice. I am growing old, 
 and I may die, but my children will live, and I hope 
 justice will be done to my children if not to myself. 
 God gave this country to the Indian, and God sent tlie 
 white man here, but I don't think God sent the white 
 man to do injustice to the Indian always. [Applause.] 
 When I get home I shall talk to my young men, to any 
 of them that are disposed to do wrong, and tell them to 
 hold on and to behave themselves. I think my white 
 brethren I have seen here, have made a great talk and 
 that they mean what they say. [Applause.] That is 
 all I have to say." 
 
 The latest official reports on fde m the Department 
 of the Interior say that "the Cheyennes and Arrapahoes 
 are generally contented upon their new reservation. 
 The schools are gaining their confidence, and their con- 
 dition has sufficiently improved during the last year to 
 warrant the expectation of a satisfactory advancement 
 in the future." 
 
 The special attention of Government was directed to 
 the situation of the Apaches of New jMexico, their 
 eager desire for peace, their starving condition, and the 
 opinion of agents and army officers that with means to 
 feed and clothe them, they could be kept at peace. 
 Congress finally made an appropriation of seventy 
 th'.Hisand dollars, and the board of commissioners at 
 once directed its secretary to proceed to New Mexico 
 
SOLVING THE INDIAN PROBLEM. 5G5 
 
 and Arizona to make arrangements to bi'ing tlie roving 
 Ap;iches upon suitable reservations, and to feed, clothe, 
 and otherwise care for them. The hearty approvid of 
 the President was obtained to its course. The offers 
 of peace by the secretary were received by the Apaches 
 with iri'cat ea[rorness, and several thousands of them 
 immediately took possession of the reservations pro- 
 vided for them. 
 
 The ini])ortance of these results, which are now but 
 partially fidfdled, can only be measured by time. Cer- 
 tainly the humane policy has thus far worked with as 
 much success as might reasonably have been expected 
 by its most strenuous advocates. Peace itself is not alto- 
 gether secured by voluntary acts in any condition of life; 
 and if hitherto unrestrained tribes of Indians are made 
 the happy subjects of peaceful treatment, there must nec- 
 e3sarily be, in some cases, compulsion to begin with, if 
 persuasion fails. All society is built to its highest aims, 
 through the arbitrary operation of law. Even men, as 
 individuals, can restrain themselves only by the exercise 
 of controlling powers. So that in following out the In- 
 dian policy, which looks to the location of tribes upon 
 suitable reservations, it is no argument against the pol- 
 icy to i^ny tiiat the Indians themselves are forced to 
 settlements not of their favorite choice, and that there- 
 fore, the Government, while proposing peace, is forcing 
 resistance. It should be remembered that Government, 
 in doing this, seeks no more and no less than the prosper- 
 ity of the country, as it does in all its legislative work, 
 and that Avhat ma}^ seem objectionable to certain classes 
 and conditions is, after all, the true course to secure the 
 general public welfare in the largest possible measure. 
 In this whole matter of solving the Indian problem, at 
 
566 DEATH OF GENERAL CARSON. 
 
 once a difficult and daiio-erous one, evervthino; lias been 
 done in the light of the fullest experience, no mean 
 share of ^Yhich was gathered through weary 3'ears of 
 hardships and toil by such courageous men as Kit Car- 
 son, who himself, long before the petition of Bishop 
 Whipple was thought of, and before the Sioux massacre 
 had startled public attention, gave it as the positive 
 conviction of his mind that the true remedy for the 
 prevention of the impoverishment of our territoiies 
 was '^ to compel the savages to form settlements by 
 themselves." 
 
 It was on General Carson's return from the mission 
 with the Sioux, and while he was yet holding the othce 
 of Indian agent, that he suddenly died at Fort Lynn, 
 Colorado. This was on the 23d of May, 1868. While in 
 the army he suffered a serious fall by his horse going 
 over a precij)ice, and this led to the enlargement of an 
 artery near the heart, which suddenly ruptured. His 
 health had not been the best for several months. 
 Within a short j^eriod his wife had died, and that had a 
 visible ellect upon him, breaking down to a great de- 
 gree his strong constitution and subjecting him to ner- 
 vous prostration. He was devoted to his wife, and her 
 going no doubt hastened his departure. 
 
 General Carson was a man of singularly striking vir- 
 tues, for one who led such a rough kind of life. His 
 gentleness of heart was shown in his love for his 
 friends, and in his domestic inclinations, for over and 
 above all desire for adventure, he loved home. He 
 never drank liquor, and in this abstinence, so uncom- 
 mon in border life, is one of his characteristic virtues — 
 a virtue certainly that is remarkably exceptional under 
 all the circumstances. 
 
BELOVED BY ALL. 6G7 
 
 He was a great Free Mason, and dearly loved the or- 
 der, lie frequently told the author that he recognized 
 among the Indians masonic signs. He Avas huried at 
 Fort Lynn, Avhere he died, but with the expectation 
 that the Fraternity some day would take his remains 
 to the masonic grounds at Santa Fe, New Mexico. 
 
 General Carson had abundant opportunities to acquire 
 wealth, even great wealth ; but he seemed to care little 
 for fortune beyond that of an honest name. His habits 
 were simple, and he therefore craved no more than he 
 had; he was too scrupulous to seek wealth by taking 
 advantage of anybody ; he was too liberal, if he had 
 earned much money, to have hoarded it. To every 
 man who seemed honest and w^orthy he was a friend, 
 and displayed his friendship in practical ways. He 
 died comparatively poor, beloved by all who knew 
 him. 
 
 33 
 
OOH WttCfANIZED EOBBERl'. 
 
 CHAPTER XIX, 
 
 The new Peace Policy — The Grievances of the Indians— Affecting Speeches 
 — The Modocs at Home — Their Habits ^nd Customs — Life Among the 
 Lava Beds — Continual Warfare Between the Modocs and Klamaths 
 — Scraps of Modoc History — Unfriendly to the Whites — A Division 
 of the Tribe — Captain Jack the Ruling Turbulent Spirit — Refusing 
 to go upon the Reservation — Determined to Shed Blood — Schon- 
 chin and Captain Jack — The Efforts of the Peace Commission — A 
 Peaceable Settlement Desired — General Canby and the Indians — 
 His Kindness Toward Them — Provisions, Calico, and Tobacco — 
 Treachery of the Modocs — Going Out for a Talk — Murder of Gen- 
 eral Canby and Dr. Thomas — '■ Description of the Murderers — Scar- 
 Faced Charley, Bogus Charley, Schack Nasty Jim and Ellen^s Man 
 Captured — Indignation of the Troops — Mourning the Loss of a 
 Brave Man — General Canby ; His Noble, Heroic Life and Deeds — 
 Capture of Captain Jack — Trial of the Murderers — Finis. 
 
 The adoption of any radical change of policy m 
 government is apt to be followed by abuses. Some 
 were to be expected in making a compulsory provision 
 for the Indian tribes ; though the abuses had been so 
 great and so long-suffered, that it was hardly possible 
 to avoid improvement in whatever was done in the 
 adoption and carrying out of the new policy. There 
 could be no doubt that the Indian Department of the 
 Government had become, in some degree, a place for 
 organized robbery, which was not left alone to the 
 regularly appointed agents of the Government, but 
 xiad a powerful impetus in the Department itself The 
 •complaints of the Indians were not without many 
 
CUTIUGEOUS ABTJSF.S. /'♦-'• 
 
 reasonable claims, and it was a burning shame to tl e 
 nation that the bold and almost universal system of 
 plundering them sliould have been allowed to go on 
 without correction for so many years. The time of 
 the war oflered a fruitful season for imposition, and, 
 undoubtedly, very much of the rightful provisions of 
 the several tribes was deliberately stoien, and the acts 
 of plunder covered up by the overshadowing responsi- 
 bilities of the war itself, which prevented investigatluus 
 and delayed the application of correctives. 
 
 The wisest discovery made toward reforming abuses 
 was that of the reservation plan, because it gave con- 
 centration to every effort of the Government, and 
 thereby prepared a system by which robberies could 
 the more readily be detected. And, moreover, this 
 system was more desirable for the Indians themselves, 
 because it fortified them with the chances of securing 
 what belonged to them, and fitted them, by the means 
 of training and education, to provide for the better 
 protection of their rights. When Kit ^Carson, there- 
 fore, advocated compulsion on the part of the Gov- 
 ernment to make the " savages form settlements by 
 themselves," he was as much actuated by a desire that 
 the Indian should have his best interests guarded, as 
 to have the Government secured in ever}^ respect that 
 tended to make its treasury proof against rascality, 
 and its frontier safe from the outpouring of revenges 
 upon innocent people because of the wicked craft of 
 designing men. 
 
 Another striking object of the reservation plan was 
 to provide civil laws over the Indians, not partially, 
 but so as to cover all matters between themseivcs. 
 The Commissioners, in their report of 1871 wrote 
 
570 PARTIALLY CIVILIZED INDIANS. 
 
 upon this point : " A serious detriment to the progress 
 of the partially civilized Indians is found in the fact 
 that they are not brought under the domination of 
 the law as far as regards crimes committed against 
 each other. The difference in the characteristics of 
 the various tribes, together with the differences in the 
 degree of civilization to which they have attained, 
 seem to render it impossible to frame any general law 
 equally applicable to all. To attempt the enforcement 
 of civil or statute law on a tribe of Indians when first 
 brought into peaceful relations with the Government, 
 is not deemed expedient ; nor would it be practicable, 
 for the reason that the savages are unable yet to dis- 
 tino^uish between such enforcements and acts of war. 
 But when they have adopted civilized costume and 
 civilized modes of subsistence, we owe it to them and 
 to ourselves to teach them its protection against the 
 lawless among themselves." 
 
 Indian reservations, to a partial extent, have been 
 provided for many years, and many improvements and 
 much progress was made in some of the Territories. 
 The costumes and habits of the whites were adopted, 
 as civilization progressed, and some of the Indians led 
 consistent Christian lives. Of course, the vices as well 
 as the virtues of civilization have crept in, and, as the 
 vicious class have mostly sought the vicinity of towns 
 and railroads, travelers many times have had a mis- 
 taken color given to their opinions of the race. As 
 the civilizing tendencies become more marked, experi- 
 ence shows that the Indians themselves prefer to throw 
 off their tribal relations and assume the duties of citi- 
 zens. Very many have already been thus metamor- 
 pnosed, and are no longer wards of the nation. 
 
DISPOSED TO BE PEACEFUL. 571 
 
 The new peace policy of the Government met with 
 early opposition from some of the whites on the bor- 
 der, who appeared to look upon the Indian in the light 
 of personal revenge for all past hostilities. Some of 
 the oldest traders, however, saw at the outset its benefi- 
 cent effects. Oscar Hutton, an old pioneer, who had 
 the reputation of having personally killed more In- 
 dians than any other man in Arizona, testified under 
 oath, in 1871, concerning a massacre of Apache In- 
 dians by whites, that he had never seen Indians on a 
 reservation more peaceful, or more teachable and obe- 
 dient, and he saw nothing about them to indicate 
 treachery in the least. Others gave corresponding 
 testimony, showing that, if unmolested, the Indians 
 w^ould have a due care for all their obligations, both to 
 the Government and to surrounding settlers. The 
 chiefs uniformly admitted in all tribes that they had 
 some bad young men, as were found among white men, 
 and urged forcibly that the tribes should not be held 
 responsible for the acts of these young men, any more 
 than civilized society should suffer because of the oc- 
 casional outlaws found existing in it. 
 
 Lieutenant Eoyal E. Whitman, of the United States 
 Army, made a very interesting report of the massacre 
 alluded to. He had charge of the military post. He 
 writes as follows : 
 
 " Many of the men, whose families had all been 
 killed, when I spoke to them and expressed sympathy 
 for them, were obliged to turn away, unable to speak, 
 and too proud to show their grief The women whose 
 children had been killed or stolen were convulsed with 
 grief, and looked to me appeal ingly, as though I was 
 their last hope on earth. Children who, two days be- 
 
572 HOPwRIBLE BUTCHERY BY WHITES. 
 
 fore, had been full of fun and frolic, kept at a distance, 
 expressing wondering horror. I did what I could : I 
 fed them, and talked to them, and listened patiently to 
 their accounts. I sent horses into the mountains to 
 bring in two badly-wounded women, one shot through 
 the left lung, and one with an arm shattered. These 
 were attended to, and are doing well, and will recover. 
 Their camp was surrounded and attacked at day-break. 
 So sudden and unexpected was it, that no one was 
 awake to give the alarm, and I found quite a number 
 of women shot while asleep beside their bundles of 
 hay, which they had collected to bring in on that morn- 
 ing. The wounded who were unable to get away, had 
 their brains beaten out with clubs or stones, while some 
 were shot full of arrows after having been mortally 
 wounded by gunshot. The bodies were all stripped. 
 Of the whole number buried, one was an old man and 
 one was a well-grown boy — all the rest, women and 
 children. Of the whole number killed and missing, 
 about one hundred and twenty-five, eight only were 
 men. It has been said that the men were not there ; 
 they were all there. On the 28th, we counted one 
 hundred and twenty-eight men, a small number 
 being absent for mescal, all of whom have since been 
 in. I have spent a good deal of time with them, 
 since the affair, and have been astonished at their con- 
 tinued unshaken faith in me and their perfectly clear 
 understanding of their misfortune. They say : ' We 
 know there are a great many white men and Mexicans 
 who do not wish us to live at peace. We know that 
 the Papagos would not have come out after us at this 
 time unless they had been persuaded to do so.' What 
 they do not understand is, while they are at peace, 
 
DREADFUL WRONGS. 573 
 
 and are conscious of no wrong intent, that they should 
 be murdered by Government arms in the hands of 
 Papagos and Mexicans. One of the chiefs said : ^ I 
 no longer want to live ; my women and children have 
 been killed before my face, and I have been luialde to 
 defend them. Most Indians in my place would take a 
 knife and cut his throat, but I will live to show these 
 people that all they have done, and all they can do, 
 shall not make me break faith with you, so long as you 
 will stand by us and defend us, in a language we know 
 nothing of, to a great governor we never have nor 
 never shall see.' About their captives they say : ' Get 
 them back for us ; our little boys will grow up slaves, 
 and our girls, as soon as they are large enough, will 
 be diseased prostitutes, to get money for whoever owns 
 them. Our women work hard, and are good women, 
 and they and our children have no diseases. Our dead 
 you cannot bring to life, but those that are living we 
 gave to you, and we look to you, who can write and 
 talk and have soldiers, to get them back.' I will as- 
 sure you it is no easy task to convince them of my 
 zeal when they see so little being done." 
 
 There is something very touching in all this. The 
 fortitude and faith displayed make a remarkable exhi- 
 bition of human power ; and when we consider that 
 the people who thus talk are semi-savages, our boasted 
 civilization seems very much contracted. One of the 
 post surgeons writes of the same outrageous occur- 
 rence : 
 
 " Lieutenant Whitman then ordered me to go to the 
 Indian camp to render medical assistance and bring 
 down any wounded I might fmd. I took twelve men 
 (mounted) and a wagon, and proceeded without delay 
 
574 HEART-RENDING SCENES. 
 
 to the scene of the murder. On my arrival I found 
 that I should have but little use for wagon or medi- 
 cine; the work had been too thoroughly done. The 
 camp had been fired, and the dead bodies of some 
 twenty-one women and children were lying scattered 
 over the ground ; those who had been wounded in the 
 first instance had their brains beaten out with stones. 
 Two of the best-looking of the squaws were lying in 
 such a position, and from the appearance of the geni- 
 tal organs and of their wounds, there can be no doubt 
 that they were first ravished and then shot dead. 
 Nearly all of the dead were mutilated. One infant of 
 some ten months was shot twice and one leg hacked 
 nearly off. While going over the ground, we came 
 upon a squaw who was unhurt, but were unable to get 
 her to come in and talk, she not feeling very sure of 
 our good intentions. Finding nothing further could 
 be done, I returned to the post, and reported the state 
 of afiliirs to Lieutenant Whitman, commanding post." 
 
 The manner of conducting the negotiations with 
 the Indians by members of the Peace Commission, 
 after the inauguration of the peace policy, was always 
 interesting, especially as it developed the peculiarities 
 and also the natural disposition of the Indian chiefs, 
 who were not, after all, one-half so unreasonable as 
 might have been supposed, even by the highest cul- 
 tured " civilized races of men." A few examples of 
 the Indian talk on these occasions are worthy of refer- 
 ence in this connection. 
 
 Ilowlish-Wam-po, chief of the Cayuse, said: "You 
 talked with a good heart when you told me that you 
 believed in God. I thought that was good; that is 
 any heart too, while I stand upon this ground. What 
 
nowLisn-wAM-ro. 575 
 
 you have spoken this people have heard ; all under- 
 stand Avhat jou have said. You came here to ascer- 
 tain what is our mind. This reservation is marked out 
 for us. We see it with our eyes, and our hearts, we 
 all hold it with our bodies and with our souls. Right 
 out here are my lather and mother, and brothers and 
 sisters, and children, all buried ] I am guarding their 
 graves. My friend, this reservation, this small piece 
 of land, we look upon it as our mother, — as if she were 
 raising us. You come to ask me for my land. It is like 
 as if we, wdio are Indians, were to be sent away and 
 get lost. I look upon all sides. On the outside of 
 the reservation I see your houses ; they have windows, 
 they are good. You are bringing up your children 
 w^ell. What is the reason you white men who live 
 near the reservation like my land, and w^ant to get it ? 
 You must not think so. My friends, you must not 
 talk too strong about getting my land. I like my 
 land, and wall not let it go. You have been asking 
 my heart about the reservation. This is my heart." 
 
 Wenap-snoot, of the Umatillas, said : '' Our red peo- 
 ple wxre brought up here, and some one had to teach 
 them as they grew\ Those who were taught grew up 
 well. I believe the man w^ho understands and follows 
 the way he is taught, grows up w^ell. I learned from 
 the way in w^hich I was brought up, and I am going to 
 have my children taught more, and they will grow up 
 better than I am. When my father and mother died, 
 I was left here. They gave me rules, and gave me 
 their lands to live upon. They left me to take care of 
 them after they were buried. I w^as to watch over 
 their graves. I do not wish to part with my land. I 
 have felt tired working on my land, so tired that the 
 
576 AFFECTING SPEECHES. 
 
 sweat dropped off me on the ground. Where is all 
 that Governor Stevens and General Palmer said ? I 
 am very fond of this land that is marked out for me, 
 and the rest of the Indians have no more room for 
 their stock than they need, and I do not know where 
 I'd put them if I had to confine myself to a small piece 
 of ground ; should I take only a small piece of ground, 
 and a white man sit down beside me, I fear there 
 would be trouble all the time." 
 
 "William" said: "God is my Heavenly Father; 
 you are my father from Washington. If you look at 
 our houses you will see they are very poor. I tell you 
 we are very poor; see the tools we work with (exhib- 
 iting a stone hammer and other Indian tools) ; it is 
 with these we have to build our houses ; we use a stone 
 for a hammer. We are almost all dead, but we are 
 glad to see you. One of our employers treats us like 
 dogs ; he uses us like slaves. I tell you the truth, he 
 struck an Indian on the face, and the blood gushed 
 out. You tell us to talk freely, and I do so. The 
 whites cheat us, and some of our agents cheat us. I 
 speak to you ; I talk in the presence of the God who 
 made us. I talk to you as my father. I am glad to 
 see you ; I came from one of these tribes. I have no 
 land now. I am a poor old man. God made me ; the 
 whites took our land. Here is my country below this 
 reservation ; near it is the Tulalip. I want a paper to 
 keep any white men away when they come. They 
 scare the old men and want to kill us." 
 
 Billy Williamson was reported as follows : " Since 
 Mr. Meacham came, this summer, our eyes have been 
 opened. Our saw-mill is almost done, and we expect 
 to have a grist-mill soon. Mr. Bruno t comes from 
 
WANTED TO BE GOOD. 577 
 
 Washington, and I want to know whether what I said 
 before, and that now, was put on paper — did my words 
 go to Washington ? Then the Indians were all sepa- 
 rated ; now they are all here. If you go to see their 
 homes, you will find many things they made them- 
 selves. They learned it from the whites outside. The 
 men on the reservation did not learn us. When the 
 treaty was made we were very poor. For fifteen years 
 we have been talking about what was needed. Do they 
 know it at Washington ? Some white men say we will 
 only get twenty acres. Where I came from I had not 
 only twenty acres, but a hundred. Everybody knows 
 we are poor. I had a cow and a yoke of oxen long 
 ago; that is all I have now. I don't w\ant to lie to 
 God. I don 't think I am a very good man. I may 
 tell a lie ; I am an Indian. I speak the truth. I don't 
 drink. I don 't do as Indians did in old times ; I have 
 quit that. We can 't do everything in a day. If w^e 
 get our land, we need cows and horses and plow^s and 
 wagons. Then we w on 't go outside ; we will stay 
 here. There are a few half-breeds here. I think noth- 
 ing about that ; they have families here. I want to 
 know if money was sent here for us. Now we are like 
 white men. You know about God ; so do these Indians; 
 I speak no bad words. White men and Indians are all 
 alike. Some Indians here have been shot and whipped by 
 white men for nothing. Two of our people are in Salem 
 penitentiary. We w^ant to get them out; they did 
 nothing. White men gave them whisky and got them 
 drunk, and now they get them into the penitentiary." 
 
 More directly now concerning the Modoc Indians, 
 William M. Turner, in an able article in the "Overland 
 Monthly," says : 
 
578 CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MODOCS. 
 
 " It is difficult even to approximate the probable 
 number of this people, when in their luiclisturbed abor- 
 iginal glory, and before their contact with the superior 
 civilization, whose vices, only, seem to be attractive to 
 the savage nature. Indians have no Census Bureau ; 
 and, indeed, nearly all tribes have a superstitious aver- 
 sion to answering any questions as to their numbers. 
 The Modocs are like all others, and, wdien questioned 
 on the subject, only point to their country, and say, 
 that ' once it was full of people.' The remains of their 
 ancient villages, found along the shores of the lakes, 
 on the streams, and in the vicinity of springs, seems to 
 corroborate this statement ; and one ranch alone, the 
 remains of which are found on the western shore of 
 Little Klamath Lake, must have contained more souls 
 than are now numbered in the whole Modoc nation. 
 Only four hundred, by official count, left of a tribe 
 that must have numbered thousands ! Some of the 
 causes of the immense decrease of this people can be 
 traced to their deadly conflicts wdth the early settlers 
 of Northern California and Southern Oregon. They 
 were in open and uncompromising hostility to the 
 Whites, stubbornly resisting the passage of emigrant 
 trains through their country ; and the bloody atrocities 
 of these Arabs of the West are still too well remem- 
 bered. As early as 1847, following the route taken by 
 Fremont the previous year, a large portion of the Ore- 
 gon immigration passed through the heart of the Modoc 
 country. From the moment they left the Pit River 
 Mountains, their travel was one of watchful fear and 
 difficulty, the road winding through dangerous caiions, 
 and passing under precipitous cliffs that afforded secure 
 and impenetrable ambush. Bands of mounted war- 
 
THE ^^ BLOODY POINT " MASSACRE. 579 
 
 rioi's liovered near them l)y day, watching favorable 
 opportunities to stampede their cattle, or pick ofT any 
 stmy or unwary traveler. Nor were the emigrants 
 safe by night. The camping-places were anticipated 
 by the enemy — dark shadows crept among the sage 
 and tall rye-grass, and, when least expecting it, every 
 bush would seem to harbor a dusky foe, and the air be 
 full of Hying arrows. If the train were small, or 
 weak in numbers, the Indians would be bolder, and 
 not satisfied with shooting or stampeding cattle, but 
 would waylay and attack it in open daylight. 
 
 " In 1852, a small train, comprising only eighteen 
 souls — men, women and children — attempted to reach 
 Oregon by the Rhett Lake route. For several days, 
 after leaving the valley of Pit River, they had traveled 
 without molestation, not having seen a single Indian ; 
 when, about midday, they struck the eastern shore of 
 Rhett Lake, and imprudently camped under a bluff, 
 now known as ' Bloody Point,' for dinner. These poor 
 people felt rejoiced to think that they had so nearly 
 reached their destination in safety ; nor dreamed that 
 they had reached their final resting-place, and that soon 
 the gray old rocks above them were to receive a bap- 
 tism that would associate them forever with a cruel 
 and wanton massacre. Their tired cattle were quietly 
 grazing, and the little party were eating their meal in 
 fancied security, when, suddenly, the dry sage-brush 
 was fired, the air rung with demoniac yells, and 
 swarthy and painted savages poured by the score from 
 the rocks overhead. In a few moments the camp was 
 filled with them, and their bloody work was soon ended. 
 Only one of that ill-fated party escaped. Happening 
 to be out, picketing his horse, when the attack was 
 
580 OLD BEN WRIGHT. 
 
 made, he sprang upon it, barebacked, and never drew 
 rein till lie had reached Yreka, a distance of sixty 
 miles. 
 
 " The men of early times in these mountains were 
 brave and chivalrous men. In less than twenty-four 
 hours, a mounted force of miners, packers, and pros- 
 pectors — men who feared no living thing — were at 
 the scene of the massacre. The remains of the vic- 
 tims were found, shockingly mutilated, lying in a pile 
 with their broken wagons, and half charred ; but not an 
 Indian could be found. 
 
 "It was not until the next year that the Modocs 
 were punished for this cruel deed. An old mountaineer 
 named Ben Wright — one of those strange beings who 
 imagine that they are born as instruments for the ful- 
 fillment of the red man's destiny — organized an inde- 
 pendent company at Yreka, in 1853, and went into the 
 Modoc country. The Indians were wary, but Ben was 
 patient and enduring. Meeting with poor success, and 
 accomplishing nothing but protection for incoming 
 emigrants, he improvised an ' emigrant train ' with 
 which to decoy the enemy from the cover of the hills and 
 ravines. Winding slowly among the hills and through the 
 sage-plains, Ben's canvas-covered wagons rolled quietly 
 along, camping at the usual watering-places, and ap- 
 parently in a careless and unguarded way. Every 
 wagon was filled with armed men, anxious and willing 
 to be attacked. The ruse failed, however; for the 
 keen-sighted Indians soon perceived that there were 
 no women or children with the train, and its careless 
 movements were suspicious. After several months of 
 unsatisfactory skirmishing, Ben resolved on a change 
 of tactics. Surprising a small party of Modocs, in- 
 
A TERRIBLE REVENGE. 581 
 
 stead of scalping them, lie took them to his camp, 
 treated them kindly, and making them a sort of Peace 
 Commission, sent them with olive-branches, in the 
 shape of calico and tobacco, back to their people. Ne- 
 gotiations for a general council to arrange a treaty 
 were opened. Others visited the white camp; and 
 soon the Modocs, who had but a faint appreciation of 
 the tortuous ways of white diplomacy, began to think 
 that Ben was a very harmless and respectable gentle- 
 man. A spot on the north bank of Lost River, a few 
 hundred yards from the Natural Bridge, was selected 
 for the council. On the appointed day, fifty-one In- 
 dians (about equal in number to Wright's company) 
 attended, and, as agreed upon by both parties, no 
 weapons were brought to the ground. A number of 
 beeves had been killed, presents w^ere distributed, and 
 the day passed in mutual professions of friendship ; 
 when Wright — whose quick, restless eye had been 
 busy — quietly filled his pipe, drew a match, and lit it. 
 This was the pre-concerted signal. As the first little 
 curling wreath of smoke w^ent up, fifty revolvers were 
 drawn from their places of concealment by Wright's 
 men, who were now scattered among their intended 
 victims ; a few moments of rapid and deadly firing, 
 and only two of the Modocs escaped to warn their 
 people ! 
 
 ^'In 1864, when old Schonchin buried the hatchet 
 and agreed to war with the pale-faces no more, he 
 said, mournfully : ' Once my people were like the 
 sands along yon shore. Now I call to them, and only 
 the wind answers. Four hundred strong young men 
 w^ent with me to the war with the whites ; only eighty 
 are left. We will be good, if the white man will let 
 
582 DECKEASE OF THE MODOCS. 
 
 US, and be his friends forever/ And this old Chief 
 has kept his word — better, perhaps, than his conquer- 
 ors have theirs. The Modocs themselves offer a better 
 reason for the great decrease of their people. They 
 say that, within the memory of many of this genera- 
 tion, the tribe were overtaken by a famine that swept 
 off whole ranches, and they speak of it as if remem- 
 bered like a fearful dream. As is usual with savages, 
 the chief labor of gathering supplies of all kinds, ex- 
 cept those procured by fishing and the chase, devolved 
 upon the Modoc women. Large quantities of kamas 
 and wocas were always harvested, but the predatory 
 character of the surrounding tribes made it dangerous 
 to store their food in the villages ; and it was custom- 
 ary to cache it among the sage-brush and rocks, which 
 was done so cunningly that an enemy might walk over 
 the hiding-places without suspicion. Snow rarely fell 
 in this region sufficiently deep to prevent access to 
 t?:e caches ; but the Modocs tell of one winter when 
 they were caught by a terrible storm, that continued 
 until the snow was more than seven feet in depth over 
 the whole country, and access to their winter stores 
 impossible. The Modocs, like all other Indians, have 
 no chronology ; they do not count the years, and only 
 reckon their changes by the seasons of summer and 
 winter. Kemarkable events are remembered only as 
 coincident with the marked periods of life ; and, judg- 
 ing from the probable age of the survivors of that ter- 
 rible famine, it must have occurred over forty years 
 ago, long before any of the tribe had ever looked upon 
 the face of a w^hite stranger. These wild people gen- 
 erally regard such occurrences with superstitious hor- 
 ror; they rarely speak of the dead, and even long 
 
FEARFUL SUFFERING. 683 
 
 residence among tlie whites does not remove a super- 
 stition that forbids them to mention even a dead rela- 
 tive by name. From those Avho have lived among the 
 whites since early childhood, the particulars of this 
 season of suftering and desolation are obtained ; and 
 they say that their parents who survived it still speak 
 of that dreadful Avinter in shuddering whispers. 
 
 '^ It seems that the young men of the tribe had re- 
 turned, late in the season, from a successful hunt, when 
 a heavy snow-storm set in ; but these people — like 
 children, in many things — had no apprehension, as 
 their present wants were supplied. But the storm in- 
 creased in fury and strength ; the snow fell in blinding 
 sheets, for days and days, till it had covered bush, and 
 stunted tree, and plain, and rock, and mountain, and 
 every landmark was obliterated. The survivors tell 
 of frantic efforts to reach the caches ; how strong men 
 returned to their villages, weak and weary with tramp* 
 ing through the yielding snow, in search of the hidden 
 stores. They tell how the little brown faces of the 
 children, pinched with hunger, drove the men out 
 again and again in search of food, only to return empty- 
 handed and hopeless : how everything that would sus- 
 tain life — deer and antelope skins, their favorite dogs 
 — even the skins of wild fowl, used as bedding, were 
 devoured ; how, when everything that could be used 
 as food was gone, famine made women out of strong, 
 brave warriors, and a dreadful stillness fell upon all 
 the villages. They tell how death crept into every 
 house, till the living lay down beside the dead and 
 waited. After weeks of pinching hunger, and when 
 in the last extremity, an opportune accident saved the 
 
 largest village on the south-eastern extremity of Ehett 
 34 
 
584 DRIVEN TO CANNIBALISM. 
 
 Lake from complete extinction, a large band of ante- 
 lope, moving down from the hills, probably in search 
 of food, attempted to cross an arm of the lake, only a 
 short distance from the village, and were caught in the 
 breakino- ice and drowned. Tl ose w^ho had sufficient 
 strength left, distributed antelope meat among the 
 families, and it was then that thc^ shocking fact was dis- 
 covered that some of the staiving people had been 
 driven to cannibalism. In on house, a woman was 
 found with the half-eaten foo;, of her husband con- 
 cealed beneath her bed. Wht n wholesome food was 
 given her, she went raving mad, and confessed that 
 she had killed him to save her life and the life of her 
 little one. The survivors tell how, when the spring 
 came, and the grass grew greei^ again on the hills, this 
 poor demented creature was v \ssing — decoyed away, 
 perhaps, by some friend of , husband, and mur- 
 dered. Some of them, with .0 fondness for the su- 
 pernatural so strong among all savages, aver that, even 
 to this day, that woman's voice is heard, in mourning 
 lamentation, borne on the night-wind from the rugged 
 cliffs on the western shore of ^the lake, often and often ; 
 and they tell of little piles- of rock raised by unseen 
 hands along the western mountain — Indian signs of 
 sorrow and mourning. 
 
 '^ All accounts agree that, at the opening of spring, 
 it was found that fully one-half of the people had per- 
 ished, and that, in many houses, there was not a single 
 survivor. The details of this fearful famine are related 
 so circumstantially by different narrators, that there 
 can be but little doubt of their correctness. But the 
 Modoc nation, certainly once so numerous, is easily 
 .counted now, and their days are numbered. The 
 
UNFRIENDLY TO THE WHITES. 585 
 
 spirit of the majority of the tribe is broken ; they are 
 content to be cooped up within the limits of a reserva- 
 tion in a country where once they were lords, and the 
 superior race claims their former possessions by the 
 right of might. The ' are part and parcel of that un- 
 solved problem — the Red race, created by the same 
 Power as we, for God's own purposes. Like the rest 
 of the red people, they are destined to speedy extinc- 
 tion ; and the last o the Modocs, powerful as they 
 have been, will probably be seen by the present gen- 
 eration of white men." 
 
 The tribe of Modocs have always been unfriendly and 
 opposed to the whites. It first entered into formal 
 relations with the Government by a treaty to which 
 the Klamaths and Yabooskin band of Snakes were also 
 parties; made in Oc^ )er, 18G4, and ratified by the 
 Senate, with certain )al amendments, in July, ISGG ; 
 and after the Indians ..A consented to these amend- 
 ments, in December, 18G9, proclaimed by the Presi- 
 dent in 1870. Under the provisions of Article 1 of this 
 treaty, and of the Executive order of March 14, 1871, 
 issued thereunder, a trac . of land, estimated to contain 
 seven hundred and sixty-eight thousand acres, was set 
 apart for the Indians, — parties to the treaty, — in the 
 southern part of Oregon. In 18G5, while this treaty 
 was pending before the Senate, Mr. Lindsley Apple- 
 gate, sub-agent in charge of the Klamaths and Snakes, 
 commenced operations for their benefit. 
 
 The Modocs, presumedly acting under the advice of 
 certain interested whites, had previously withdrawn 
 from the country to their former home, near Clear 
 Lake, sixty miles south-east of Klamath. They, how- 
 ever, informed Mr. Applegate, by messenger, that they 
 
586 TROUBLE BREWING. 
 
 would conform to his wishes, and, in the event of the 
 ratification of their treaty, would come on to the reser- 
 vation. During the ensuing year a part of this tribe, 
 under their head chief, " Scon-chin/' or " Skin-tian," 
 were induced to settle quietly at the agency. Captain 
 Jack's band, however, preferred to stay at tbeir old 
 homes, where, without serious outbreak, they remained 
 until 1869. 
 
 In the latter part of that year, the amendments of 
 the Senate to said treaty were presented for their ac- 
 ceptance, when Captain Jack made strenuous objec- 
 tions to the whole affair. He was, however, finally 
 induced by the other chiefs to withdraw his objections 
 to the treaty, and in December of that year settled 
 with his immediate followers upon the reservation. 
 
 "Within three months, trouble arose between the 
 Modocs and Klamaths, due in a great measure to the 
 unfriendly disposition and conduct of the latter, who, 
 as is shown in many parts of this volume, are ready to 
 quarrel with friend or foe. 
 
 Under orders from Washington, the Modocs were 
 removed to another part of the reservation. Here dis- 
 turbances were soon renewed, which resulted in the 
 departure of the Modocs, who refused, as they said, 
 "to go into any traps for the benefit of their enemies, 
 the Klamaths." Mr. A. B. Meacham, the then Super- 
 intendent of the agency, attempted to settle the diffi- 
 culty by establishing at Camp Yainax, in a distant part 
 of the reservation, a sub-agency for the Snakes and 
 others, leaving the Klamaths at the regular agency. 
 
 But this measure, so far as it concerned the seced- 
 ing and more turbulent portion of the tribe, under 
 Captain Jack's leadership, failed o£its object. 
 
CAPTAIN JACK DISSATISFIED. 587 
 
 After an interview with the band by Superintendent 
 Odeneal, they defiantly refused to go to Sink liiver, 
 and Captain Jackson, of the U. S. A., with tliirty men, 
 were ordered to the Modoe camp, but with instructions 
 not to fight, except in self-defence. 
 
 Mr. Odeneal, in reporting what took place, says : 
 
 " Captain Jackson has since informed me that he 
 repeated to them all I requested him to say, and used 
 every argument he could to induce them to go. All 
 proving ineffectual, he demanded of them to lay down 
 their arms, when one of the leaders, Scar-faced Char- 
 ley, raised his gun, and, with an oath, said he would 
 kill one officer to begin with, fired at Lieutenant Bou- 
 telle, who was in front of his men, shooting four bullet 
 holes through his coat-sleeve. The Indians all had 
 their guns in their hands, and a general firing com- 
 menced on both sides. The battle lasted two hours, 
 when the Indians escaped." 
 
 During the daj', eleven citizens were murdered by 
 the Indians. This was the beginning of their treach- 
 ery. The band afterward retired to some high lands, 
 known as the lava-beds, beyond the California border, 
 which was the seat of a long contest, lasting several 
 months, during which the United States troops failed 
 to dislodge them. 
 
 On the Gth of February, a Peace Commission was 
 appointed to settle the dilliculties with the Modocs, all 
 attempts to dislodge them from their fastnesses proving 
 unavailinGT. The Hon. A. B. Meacham, formerlv In- 
 dian Superintendent for Oregon, was chairman, and 
 the Hon. Jesse Applegate and Samuel Case of Oregon 
 were his associates. Negotiations were opened Feb- 
 
588 FAILURE OF THE COMMISSION. 
 
 ruary 20, and on the 3d of March the following dis- 
 patch was sent by the Peace Commissioners : 
 
 " To C Delano, Washington : 
 
 " We have sent a messenger with these terms to the 
 Modocs : To surrender themselves prisoners of war ; to 
 be removed to a Southern and warmer climate, and 
 provided for. They accept the terms, and have sent 
 a delegation of eight to talk over the details, but not 
 to conclude them. Captain Jack is sick. Everything 
 looks favorable for peace. They ask for small homes, 
 and to be located collectively. We think w^ell of their 
 request for amnesty to all. Captain Jack desires to 
 visit Yv^ashington with one or two of his j'oung men." 
 
 The proffered conditions were rejected by the Mo- 
 docs, and on the 4th of March the following dispatch 
 was sent to Secretary Delano : 
 
 '^ Head-quarters Peace Commission",) 
 Fairchild's Camp, March 4. j 
 " To Columbus Delano, Secretary of the Interior, 
 Washington, D. C. 
 "The Modocs emphatically reject all offers and prop- 
 ositions. They propose to meet in full force Meacham 
 and Applegate, with six unarmed men, in the lava- 
 beds. This undoubtedly means treachery. We are 
 still willing to meet them in conference, but not upon 
 their terms. They have an accession of twenty-four 
 -warriors, not Modocs. We will send a message of pro- 
 tection to all who come out. The commission is a 
 failure. Instructions coming. Time of vast import- 
 ance. Couriers await. A. B. Meacham." 
 
 After much fruitless talk, a new Peace Commission 
 
c APT at:: jack. 
 
OPINION OF GENERAL SHERMAN. 591 
 
 was formed, March IG, composed of General E. R. S. 
 Caiiby, the Rev. Dr. E. Thomas, who was a leadhig 
 Methodist divine of California, Mr. A. B. Meacham, 
 Judge Rosborough of Yreka, Cal., and Mr. Dyar, of 
 Oregon. On the 22d of March, General Canby tele- 
 graphed to General Sherman as follows: 
 
 *^I think that a system of gradual compulsion, with 
 an exhibition of the force that can be used against 
 them, if the Commission should again fail, will satisfy 
 them of the hopelessness of any further resistance, and 
 give the peace party sufficient strength to control the 
 whole band. Time is becoming of the greatest import- 
 ance, as the melting of the snow will soon enable 
 them to live in the mountains. This will greatly in- 
 crease the difficulties we have to contend with, as they 
 will then break up into small parties, and can more 
 readily make their escape from their present location." 
 
 Several parleys had, meantime, been held, the In- 
 dians appearing insolent and aggressive. At one of 
 the interviews Captain Jack and his comrades appeared 
 with the scalps of some of their late white victims 
 hanging at their belts. According to Mr. Jesse Apple- 
 gate, there were, on the 1st of April, just forty-three 
 Indians in the band. They were well armed with 
 breech-loaders, and had plenty of ammunition. 
 
 The instructions to the Commission given by Secre- 
 tary Delano, of the Interior Department, were these : 
 
 " The o])jects to be gained by this Connuission are 
 these : First, to ascertain the causes which have led to 
 the difficulties and hostilijties between the troops and 
 the Indians ; and, secondly, to devise the most effective 
 and judicious measures for preventing the continuance 
 
592 INSTKUCTIONS FROM WASHINGTON. 
 
 of these hostilities and for the restoration of peace. 
 It is the opinion of the Department, from the best in- 
 formation in its possession, that it is advisable to re- 
 move the Modoc Indians, with their consent, to some 
 new reservation ; and it is believed that the coast res- 
 ervation in Oregon, lying between Cape Lookout on 
 the north and Cape Perpetua on the south, and bounded 
 on the east by the coast range of mountains and on 
 the west by the Pacific Ocean, will be found to furnish 
 the best location for these Indians. The Commission 
 will therefore be directed to make an amicable ar- 
 rangement for locating the Indians on some portion of 
 this reservation, provided it is possible for it to do so, 
 and provided that said Commission is not of opinion, 
 after fully investigating the case, that some other place 
 is better adapted to accomplish the purpose of the De- 
 partment; in either of which events the Commission 
 will, before finally concluding an arrangement with the 
 Indians, hold communication with the Commissioner 
 of Indian Affairs and receive further advice. 
 
 " The Commission will in no wise attempt to direct 
 the military authorities in reference to their move- 
 ments. It will be at liberty, however, to inform the 
 commanding officer of the wish of the Department, 
 that no more force or violence be used than in his 
 opinion shall be deemed absolutely necessary and 
 proper, it being the desire of the Department in this, 
 as well as in all other cases of like character, to con- 
 duct its communications with the Indians in such a 
 manner as to secure peace and obtain their confidence, 
 if possible, and their voluntary consent to a compliance 
 with such regulations as may be deemed necessary for 
 their present and future welfare." 
 
TREACHERY OF THE INDIANS. 593 
 
 For several days there had heen endeavors made, by 
 the Peace Commissioners and General Canby, to obtain 
 an interview with Captain Jack and the leading chiefs 
 of the Modoc band. The prospects of peace seemed 
 to be better, as orders had been received from Wasli- 
 ington to the Peace Commissioners, to give the Indians, 
 if necessary, a reservation in the neighborhood of the 
 lava beds. 
 
 On the evening of April 10, 1873, Bogus Charley 
 came in and said that Captain Jack, Sclionchin, and 
 three or four others, would meet the Commissioners in 
 a spot near the lake, about three-quarters of a mile 
 from camp. Bogus Charley stayed in camp all night, 
 and in the morning Boston Charley also came in and 
 said that everything was all right, as Captain Jack was 
 coming out to meet the Commissioners. 
 
 Between ten and eleven o'clock in the morning, of 
 April 11th, the Peace Commission party — comprising 
 General Canby, A. B. Meacham, Dr. Thomas, Mr. 
 Dyer, Riddle the interpreter and his squaw, and 
 Bogus Charley and Boston Charley — went out to the 
 spot designated. There they met Captain Jack, John 
 Schonchin, Black Jim, Schack Nasty Jim, Ellen's Man, 
 and Hooker Jim. They had no guns with them, but 
 each carried a pistol in their belt. This, however, was 
 not much noticed, as in previous interviews they had 
 had their guns with them. 
 
 All sat down in a kind of broken circle ; General 
 Canby, Mr. Meacham, and Dr. Thomas together, faced 
 by Captain Jack and Schonchin. Mr. Dyer stood by 
 Jack, holding his horse, with Hooker Jim and Schack 
 Nasty Jim at his left. 
 
 Mr. Meacham opened the talk, and gave a long his- 
 
594 MURDER OF GENERAL CANBT. 
 
 tory of what they wanted to do for them; after which, 
 General Canby and Dr. Thomas both talked with 
 them for some time. Captain Jack then talked in an 
 apparently serious strain, and when he finished, he 
 stepped to the rear, near where Mr. Meacham's horse 
 was hitched. John Schonchin then began to talk, and 
 while he was speaking, Mr. Dyer heard a cap miss fire, 
 and looking around, saw Captain Jack to his left, with 
 his pistol pointed at General Canby. This was the sig- 
 nal for a general massacre, and a dozen shots were fired 
 within half a minute. 
 
 Mr. Dyer, after hearing the cap miss, turned, and was 
 followed by Hooker Jim, who fired two shots after him. 
 Dyer finding Jim gaining upon him, turned and drew 
 his derringer, whereupon Hooker retreated, and Dyer 
 made his way to the camp. 
 
 Captain Jack fired again on General Canby, and the 
 noble old man was speedily shot down, and killed in- 
 stantly. Mr. Meacham was shot by Schonchin, and 
 wounded in the head. He tried to draw his derringer, 
 when two Indians ran up and knocked him down. Dr. 
 Thomas was killed almost instantly, by two shots in the 
 head. Kiddle ran ofi", and it appears they did not fire 
 at him, but knocked his squaw down. Dyer, Kiddle 
 and the squaw returned in safety to the camp. 
 
 The troops immediately beat to arms, and a general 
 advance ensued. In the distance, three of the per- 
 petrators of the murder were seen running around 
 the edge of the lake, on their way to their rocky 
 fastness. 
 
 About one hundred yards from the place of meeting, 
 was found Mr. Meacham, who was badly wounded with 
 a pistol shot over the left eye. He was immediately 
 
" ^^ CH ^^" 
 
 
LOVED AND RESPECTED. 597 
 
 attended to and carried back for medical treatment. 
 Fifty yards further ^vas the body of the liev. Dr. 
 Thomas, lying on his llice and stripped to the waist. 
 Life was extinct from pistol-shot wounds in his head. 
 
 The body of General Canby, the hero of many a 
 fight, was stripped of every vestige of clothing, and 
 lay about one hundred yards to the south-west, with 
 two pistol-shot w^ounds in the head. Pausing only to 
 cast a glance on the body of the man they both loved 
 and respected, the troops dashed on, and the two lead- 
 ing batteries were within a mile of the murderers when 
 the bugle sounded a "halt." Lieutenant Eagan and 
 Major Wright's companies of the Twelfth Infantry 
 w^ere behind the artillery, and then came the cavalry. 
 General Gillem and Colonel Green and staff were up 
 with the men, but as soon as they found that the In- 
 dians had all got back to their stronghold, the troops 
 were ordered to fall back. 
 
 The murder of General Canby cast a gloom over 
 the whole country. No officer was more universally 
 respected and esteemed. He was a true Christian and 
 brave soldier, and died in the discharge of his duty. 
 For the past few days he had clothed and fed these 
 Indians — giving them blankets, food and tobacco. 
 When the squaws came into camp, they rushed to 
 General Canby, and went back laden with provisions 
 and calico. Yet the first to fall Avas their kindest 
 and noblest benefactor. 
 
 General Canby was one of the best educated and 
 most highly esteemed of all the officers in the regular 
 army. He served with great distinction during the 
 War of the Rebellion, and held several very important 
 commands. 
 
598 THE LAVA BEDS. 
 
 A protracted effort followed to capture the treach- 
 erous band, but it failed because of the peculiar nature 
 of the Modoc country. Some idea of its lava-bed re- 
 treats may be gathered from the report of Dr. J. S. 
 Newberry, geologist, who was with a surveying expe- 
 dition in 1849. He says : 
 
 ^' The valley is bounded by walls of more than one 
 thousand feet in hight, composed of dark, lava-like 
 trap or red scoria, the interval between them forming 
 a nearly level lava plain, a kind of congealed sea, of 
 which the surface was everywhere roughened by waves, 
 cooled wdiile flowing ; their crests black and raggedy 
 the troughs containing a little ash-like soil, which sup- 
 ported a tangled growth of sage manzanita. At nu- 
 merous points of this lava plains we passed miniature 
 volcanic vents or chimneys, which had evidently been 
 formed by the bursting out of steam or gases from 
 below ; and, in more than one instance, we noticed 
 subterranean galleries or caverns having a diameter of 
 fifteen or twenty feet, an irregularly circular section, 
 and extending indefinitely in either direction. The 
 chimneys to which I have referred probably communi- 
 cated with these passages. 
 
 " Near Wright Lake occurs a conical mountain of 
 trap rock, which rises to a hight of perhaps fifteen 
 hundred feet from the plain on which it stands. The 
 south shore of this lake is bordered by a mountain 
 range of nearly equal altitude, which has here a course 
 nearly east and west, curving round toward the north. 
 Its western extremity terminates in bold headland on 
 the shore of Rhett Lake, and is connected by a low 
 ridge with similar hills lying north of these lakes. This 
 
CAPTAIN JACKS STRONGHOLD. 599 
 
 connecting ridge forms the l)aiTier between Rhett and 
 Wright Lakes, is composed exchisively of trap, and 
 bears on it a conical hill of blood-red scoria, which has 
 evidently, at no distant day, formed a volcanic; vent. 
 On the eastern shore of the lake is a conical hill, con- 
 siderably removed from the cliffs referred to, ])iit hav- 
 ing apparently the same structure. 
 
 " Following the boundary line from its initial point 
 on the twelfth mile, we reach the high divide of iikmui- 
 tains overlooking Goose Lake, which, almost at our 
 feet, bears off some twenty miles to the north and 
 south, with fertile bottom-lands on its east side. On 
 the west side steep ridges put down bluff to the water's 
 edge. Still further, the country is covered ^viih juni- 
 per timber. In the distant horizon, Rhett or Tule 
 Lake is barely discernible. Much nearer to the south- 
 west is Wright or Clear Lake. To the southward the 
 country is streaked with sparse timber, and presents a 
 more broken and mountainous appearance. To the 
 west south-west the great Shasta Butte towers with its 
 bi-capped peak, whitened with eternal snows. Passing 
 w^est from Goose Lake, a measured distance of forty- 
 four miles, the country is timbered and covered with 
 masses of broken and loose rocks, cut in various direc- 
 tions by deep ravines, through which it would not be 
 possible to operate with cavalry. The remains of 
 many old Lilian fortifications are to be found in this 
 district, in the erection and location of which much 
 skill and judgment would appear to have been mani- 
 fested. This region is well watered, and there are also 
 numerous small patches of meadows, a few acres in 
 extent, covered with luxuriant grass. Here large 
 numbers of deer abound, also brown and grizzly bears. 
 
600 CAPTURE OF THE MURDERERS. 
 
 and numbers of ^jackass rabbits/ In the lakes and 
 streams are to be found an abundance of fish." 
 
 Toward the close of May the retreat of Captain Jack 
 and his band was reached, through the guidance of 
 Boston Charley, who voluntarily gave himself up, and 
 in a few days the whole band substantially was cap- 
 tured. 
 
 After the capture, a number of the prisoners w^ere 
 brutally murdered. They were being conveyed in a 
 wagon drawn by four mules, and were shot down, it is 
 supposed, by Oregon volunteers. 
 
 On the 5th of July a Military Commission met at 
 Fort Klamath, and proceeded with the trial of Captain 
 Jack, Schonchin, Boston Charley, Black Jim, Slotuck 
 and Barncho, who were charged with : 
 
 Charge 1. — Murder in violation of the laws of 
 war. 
 
 First Specification : That they, the Indians known 
 as Captain Jack, Schonchin, Boston Charley, Black 
 Jim, Slotuck and ]>arncho, members of a certain band 
 of Indians known as the Modoc band of Indians, which 
 band, including the Indians above named, was, at the 
 time and place hereinafter alleged, engaged in open 
 and flagrant war with the United States, under com- 
 mand of Captain Jack, did, as representatives of said 
 Modoc band, meet under a flag of truce during the 
 suspension of hostilities, Brigadier-General E. R. S. 
 Canby, United States Army, commanding the Military 
 Department of Columbia, and certain Peace Commis- 
 sioners on the part of the United States, viz., E. Thomas, 
 A. B. Meacham and L. S. Dyer, citizens of the United 
 States, for the agreed purpose of discussing and ar- 
 
!iBP(^¥?^'^?^ 
 
TKIAL IJV MILITARY COMMISSION. G03 
 
 ranging terms upon uhicli the hostilities existing be- 
 tween tlie United States and the said band of Indians 
 might cease, and did there, in wanton viohition of the 
 sacred character of the flag of truce, under the laws 
 of war, ^villi\dly, feloniously, and witli malice afore- 
 thought, murder Brigadier-General Canby, United 
 States Army, near the hiva-beds, situated near Tule 
 Lake, in the State of California, within the territory 
 of the United States, on the eleventh day of April, 
 A. D. 1873. 
 
 The second specification is very nearly a copy of 
 the above, excepting the name of Dr. Thomas is sub- 
 stituted. 
 
 Charge 2. — Assault with intent to kill A. B. 
 Meacham and L. D. Dyer. 
 
 It was shown on the trial that Captain Jack shot 
 General Canby, Schonchin shot Mr. Meacham, Boston 
 Charley shot Dr. Thomas, and Hooker Jim tried to 
 kill Mr. Dyer. 
 
 The testimony for the prosecution was of the most 
 positive character, and such as to leave little doubt of 
 the gnilt of the prisoners. 
 
 Captain Jack, in entering upon his defence, said he 
 wanted to call Dave, One-Eyed Mose, and Scar-faced 
 Charley, as witnesses. They were called, but their 
 testimony was of no value whatever to the prisoners. 
 It was simply a recital of what the Klamath Lake In- 
 dians had done and told them (the Modocs) since the 
 troubles beiz-an, and had no direct bearins^ in the case. 
 After the examination of the last witnesses for the 
 prosecution, Captain Jack made a sjieech, in which he 
 said he did not want to fight the whites, but wiis driven 
 
604 SENTENCED TO BE HANGED. 
 
 to it by other Modocs. He said he had been told by 
 squaws that the Peace Commissioners wanted to ki^' 
 the Modocs, and also that Mr. Meacham had a pile oi 
 wood upon which he wanted to burn him (Jack). 
 Schonchin John also made a speech in wuich he t .ed 
 to throw the blame of the dastardly murder upo^ Jer 
 members of the band ; but the evidence was so cui<clu- 
 sively against them that, even in the beginning oi the 
 trial, there seemed to be no hope for their aequittal. 
 
 From the time of the capture of the Modoc mur- 
 derers, there had been great efforts made by fricnus 
 and sympathizers of the prisoners for executive clem- 
 ency ; but it was the universal opinion that, from the 
 first outbreak of the Modoc troubles, clemency was 
 out of place with those unfortunate and brutal savages. 
 Whenever we parleyed with them it encouraged them, 
 and they were led by the mistaken lenity and confi- 
 dence of the Commissioners to think that, if they 
 killed them, they would have no further annoyance. 
 
 After hearing the evidence on both sides, the Com- 
 mission found the accused, Captain Jack, Schonchin, 
 Black Jim, Boston Charley, Barncho alias One-Eyed 
 Jim, and Slotuck alias Cok, Modoc Indians, captives, 
 guilty, and sentenced them to be hanged. 
 
 The sentences were approved by the President, and 
 the Secretary-of-War ordered them to be duly execu- 
 ted imder the direction of the General commanaing 
 the Department of the Columbia, at Fort Klamath, 
 Oregon, on Friday, October 3,- 1873. 
 
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