BANCROFT LIBRARY 
 
kqd f'ktriotf of 
 
 By JOHN S. C. ABBOTT. 
 
 Each one Volume, I2mo., illustrated, $1.50. 
 
 DANIEL BO ONE, 
 
 MILES STANDISH, 
 
 FERDINAND DE SO TO, 
 
 PETER STUYVESANT. 
 
 KIT CARSON. 
 
 Other Volumes in preparation. 
 
KIT CARSON, 
 
 THE PIONEER OF THE WEST. 
 
 BY 
 
 JOHN S. C. ABBOTT. 
 
 ILLUSTRATED. 
 
 NEW YORK: 
 DODD & MEAD, No. 762 BROADWAY. 
 
AMERICAN PIONEERS AND PATRIOTS. 
 
 CHRISTOPHER CARSON 
 
 FAMILIARLY KNOWN 
 
 AS 
 
 KIT CARSON. 
 
 
 
 JOHN S^Cf ABBOTT, & &l 
 
 WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY 
 
 ELEANOR GREATOREX. 
 
 NEW YORK: 
 
 DODD & MEAD, No. 762 BROADWAY. 
 1874. 
 
037- 
 
 Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1873, by 
 
 DODD & MEAD, 
 in the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington. 
 
 LAXC.B, LITTLB A Co., 
 
 NEWBITROH STEREOTYPE Co. 
 
 108 TO 114 WOOT 8r**T, N. Y. 
 
, U, C. 
 
 OADEMY OF 
 tQIPIC COAST 
 HISTORY 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 IT is a prominent object of this volume to bring to 
 light the wild adventures of the pioneers of this conti 
 nent, in the solitudes of the mountains, the prairies and 
 the forests; often amidst hostile Indians, and far away 
 from the restraints and protection of civilization. This 
 strange, weird-like life is rapidly passing away, before the 
 progress of population, railroads and steamboats. But it 
 is desirable that the memory of it should not drift into ob 
 livion. I think that almost every reader of this narrative 
 will be somewhat surprised, in its development of the 
 character of CHRISTOPHER CARSON. With energy and 
 fearlessness never surpassed, he was certainly one of the 
 most gentle, upright, and lovable of men. It is strange 
 that the wilderness could have formed so estimable a 
 character. America will not permit the virtues of so illus 
 trious a son to be forgotten. 
 
 JOHN S. C. ABBOTT. 
 

CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 Early Training. 
 
 PACK 
 
 Birth of Christopher Carson. Perils of the Wilderness. Neces 
 sary Cautions. Romance of the Forest. The Far West. 
 The Encampment. The Cabin and the Fort. Kit an Ap 
 prentice. The Alarm. Destruction of a Trading Band. 
 The Battle and the Flight. Sufferings of the Fugitives. 
 Dreadful Fate of Mr. Schenck. Features of the Western 
 Wilderness. The March 9 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 Life in the Wilderness. 
 
 A Surgical Operation. A Winter with Kin Cade. Study of the 
 Languages and Geography. Return towards Missouri- 
 Engagement with a new Company and Strange Adven 
 tures. The Rattlesnake. Anecdote of Kit Carson. The 
 Sahara. New Engagements. Trip to El Paso. Trapping 
 and Hunting. Prairie Scenery. The Trapper's Outfit. 
 Night Encampment. Testimony of an Amateur Hunter. . 29 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 Among the Trappers. 
 
 The Discomfited Trappers. The New Party Organized. A 
 Battle with the Indians. Trapping on the Colorado. 
 March to the Sacramento. The Friendly Indians. Cross 
 ing the Desert. Instinct of the Mule. The Enchanting 
 
VI CONTENTS. 
 
 PACK 
 
 Valley of the Colorado. The Mission of San Gabriel. Vast 
 Herds of Cattle. The Mission of San Fernando. Adven 
 tures in the Valley of San Joaquin. The Meeting of two 
 Trapping Bands. Reasons for Kit Carson's Celebrity. A 
 Military Expedition. The Indian Horse Thieves. The 
 Pursuit and Capture 51 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 Conflicts with the Indians. 
 
 The American Trapper. The Trapper of the Hudson's Bay 
 Company. The Return Trip. Polished Life in the Wil 
 derness. The Spanish Gentlemen. Council of the Trap 
 pers. Self-possession of Kit Carson. The Camp Cleared 
 of Intruders. Robbing the Robbers. Sale of the Furs. 
 Mr. Fitzpatrick's Expedition. Pains and Pleasures of 
 Rocky Mountain Life. Pursuit of Indian Horse Thieves. 
 Extraordinary Battle 72 
 
 CHAPTER V 
 
 Marches and Encampments. 
 
 The Encampment Among the Rocky Mountains. The At 
 tempted Stampede. Retreat and Pursuit by the Savages. 
 The Alarm. Loss of the Horses. Their Recovery. En 
 terprise of Kit Carson. Fight with the Indians. The Litter 
 for the Wounded. Union of the two Trapping Parties. 
 Successful Return to Tos. Carson joins a Trading 
 Party. Chivalric Adventures. Attacked by Bears. . . 94 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 The Rendezvous. 
 
 Fair in the Wilderness. The Encampment. Dispersion of the 
 Trappers. Hostility of the Blackfeet. Camp on the Big 
 Snake River. The Blackfeet Marauders. The Pursuit. 
 The Calumet. The Battle. Kit Carson wounded. The 
 
CONTENTS. Vll 
 
 PACK 
 
 Rencontre with Shunan. The Defeat and Humiliation of 
 Shunan. Remarkable Modesty of Carson. Testimony to 
 Mr. Carson's Virtues 121 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 War with the Blackfeet Indians. 
 
 Unsuccessful Trapping. Disastrous March to Fort Hall. The 
 Feast upon Horse-flesh. The Hunting Expedition.- 1 Its 
 Rare Attractions. Dogged by the Blackfeet. Safe Arrival 
 at the Fort. All their Animals Stolen by the Indians. 
 Expedition to the Blackfeet Country. Winter Quarters 
 with the Friendly Indians. Sufferings of the Animals. 
 Return to the Blackfeet Country. Battle with the Indians. 
 Incidents of the Battle 141 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 Encampments and Battles. 
 
 The Renewal of the Battle. Peculiarities of the Fight. The 
 Rout. Encampment in the Indian Village. Number of 
 Trappers among the Mountains. The New Rendezvous. 
 Picturesque Scene of the Encampment. The Missionary 
 and the Nobleman. Brown's Hole. The Navajoes. Kit 
 Carson Purveyor at the Fort. Trapping at the Black Hills. 
 Again upon the Yellowstone. Pleasant Winter Quarters. 
 Signs of the Indians. Severe Conflict. Reappearance of 
 the Indians. Their utter Discomfiture. . ... . 160 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 The Trapper 3 Elysium. 
 
 Trapping on the Missouri. Attacked by the Blackfeet. The 
 Battle. Persevering Hostility of the Indians. The Trap 
 pers driven from the Country. Repair to the North Fork. 
 Cheerful Encampments. Enchanting Scene. Village of 
 the Flatheads. The Blessings of Peace. Carson's Knowl 
 edge of Languages. Pleasant Winter Quarters on the Big 
 
Vlil CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGH 
 
 Snake River. Successful Trapping. Winter at Brown's 
 Hole. Trip to Fort Bent. Peculiar Characters. Williams 
 and Mitchel. Hunter at Fort Bent. Marriage. Visit to 
 the States i/Q 
 
 'CHAPTER X. 
 Fremont's Expedition. 
 
 Carson's Visit to his Childhood's Home. On the Steamer. In 
 troduction to Fremont. Object of Fremont's Expedition. 
 Joins the Expedition. Organization of the Party.i The 
 Encampment. Enchanting View. Fording the Kansas. 
 The Stormy Night. The Boys on Guard. The Alarm. 
 The Returning Trappers. The Homeless Adventurer. 
 Three Indians join the Party. First sight of the Buffaloes. 
 The Chase 197 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 The Return of the Expedition. 
 
 Beautiful Prairie Scene. Fate of the Buffalo Calf. Vast Buffalo 
 Herds. The Fourth of July on the Plains. Journey up 
 the South Fork of the Platte. Visit to Fort St. Vrain. 
 Remonstrance of the Chiefs. Second Marriage of Mr. Car 
 son. New Engagements. Perilous Ride to Santa Fe. 
 The Successful Mission. The Noble Mexican Boy. Con 
 flict with the Savages. Discomfiture of the Indians. Fre 
 mont's Second Expedition. Carson joins the Party. 
 Course of the Expedition. Arrival at the Great Salt Lake. . 217 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 Marches and Battles. 
 
 Entering the Lake. Dangerous Navigation. The Return to 
 Camp. Feast upon Horse Flesh. Meeting the Indians. 
 Joyful Meeting. Return to Fort Hall. Feasting at the 
 Fort. The Party Diminished. The Journey down Snake 
 
CONTENTS. IX 
 
 PACK 
 
 River. Crossing the Sierra Nevada. Caison Rescues Fre 
 mont. Fort Sutter. Heroic Achievement of Carson. Dis 
 banding the Party. The third Expedition. Crossing the 
 Desert. Threatened by the Mexicans. Fight with the 
 Indians. The Surprise. Chastisement of the Indians. . .236 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 The Dispatch Bearer. 
 
 Colonel Fremont. Hazardous Undertaking of Kit Carson. 
 Carson's Courage and Prudence. Threatened Danger. 
 Interview with General Kearney, and Results. Severe 
 Skirmish. Wonderful Escape of Carson. Daring Adven 
 ture. Fearful Suffering. Lieutenant Beale. Carson's 
 Journey to Washington. Adventures on his Return. . . 255 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 The Chivalry of the Wilderness. 
 
 Injustice of the Government. Heroic Resolve of Mr. Carson. 
 Indian Outrages. The valley of Razado. Barbaric Mur 
 ders by Apaches. An Exciting Chase. An Attractive Pic 
 ture. Plot of Fox Overthrown. Gift of Messrs. Brevoort 
 and Weatherhead. Adventure with the Cheyennes. . . 272 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 Recollections of Mountain Life. 
 
 Character of the Native Indian. The Caravan. Interesting 
 Incident. Effects of Cholera. Commission of Joe Smith. 
 Snow on the Mountains. Government Appointment. 
 Adventure with three Bears. Journey to Los Angelos. Mt. 
 St. Bernardino. The Spring. Character of Men. In 
 subordination Quelled. Suffering for Water and Relief. 
 A Talk with Indians. 286 
 
X CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 Recollections of Mountain Life. 
 
 PACK 
 
 Position of The Spring. The Cache. Kit Carson's Character 
 and Appearance. Cool Bravery of a Mountain Trapper. 
 Untamed Character of Many Hunters. The Surveyor's 
 Camp in an Indian Territory. Terrors from Indians. Joe 
 Walker. A Mountain Man. Soda Lake. Optical Illu 
 sion. Camp on Beaver Lake. The Piyute Chief. Conver 
 sation with Him. An Alarm. A Battle 306 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 Frontier Desperadoes and Savage Ferocity. 
 
 Original Friendliness of the Indians. The River Pirates, Cul- 
 bert and Magilbray. Capture of Beausoliel. His Rescue 
 by the Negro Cacasotte. The Cave in the Rock. The 
 Robber Mason. His Assassination. Fate of the Assassins. 
 Hostility of the Apaches. Expedition of Lieutenant 
 Davidson. Carson's Testimony in his Favor. Flight of 
 the Apaches. 322 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 The Last Days, of Kit Carson. 
 
 The Hunting Party. Profits of Sheep Raising. Governmental 
 Appointment. Carson's Talk with the Apaches. His 
 Home in Taos. His Character. Death of Christopher 
 Carson. 337 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 TJie Last Hours of Kit Carson. 
 
CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Early Training. 
 
 Birth of Christopher Carson. Perils of the Wilderness. Necessary 
 Cautions. Romance of the Forest. The Far West. The 
 Encampment. The Cabin and the Fort. Kit an Apprentice. 
 The Alarm. Destruction of a Trading Band. The Battle and 
 the Flight. Sufferings of the Fugitives. Dreadful Fate of Mr. 
 Schenck. Features of the Western Wilderness. The March. 
 
 CHRISTOPHER CARSON, whose renown as Kit 
 Carson has reached almost every ear in the country, 
 was born in Madison county, Kentucky, on the 24th 
 of December, 1809. Large portions of Kentucky 
 then consisted of an almost pathless wilderness, with 
 magnificent forests, free from underbrush, alive with 
 game, and with luxuriant meadows along the river 
 banks, inviting the settler's cabin and the plough. 
 
 There were then many Indians traversing those 
 wilds. The fearless emigrants, who ventured to rear 
 
IO CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 their huts in such solitudes, found it necessary ever 
 to be prepared for an attack. 
 
 But very little reliance could be placed even in 
 the friendly protestations of the vagabond savages, 
 ever prowling about, and almost as devoid of intelli 
 gence or conscience, as the wolves which at midnight 
 weje heard howling around the settler's door. The 
 family of Mr. Carson occupied a log cabin, which 
 was bullet-proof, with portholes through which their 
 rifles could command every appro ich. Women and 
 children were alike taught the use of the rifle, that 
 in case of an attack by any blood-thirsty gang, the 
 whole family might resolve itself into a military 
 garrison. Not a tree or stump was left, within mus 
 ket shot of the house, behind which an Indian could 
 secrete himself. 
 
 Almost of necessity, under these circumstances, 
 any bright, active boy would become a skilful marks 
 man. A small garden was cultivated where corn, 
 beans and a few other vegetables were raised, but 
 the main subsistence of the family consisted of the 
 game with which forest, meadow and lake were 
 stored. The settler usually reared his cabin upon 
 the banks of some stream alive with fishes. There 
 were no schools to take up the time of the boys ; no 
 books to read. Wild geese, ducks and other water 
 fowl, sported upon the bosom of the river or the 
 
EARLY TRAINING. II 
 
 lake, whose waters no paddle wheel or even keel 
 disturbed. Wild turkeys, quails, and pigeons at 
 times, swept the air like clouds. And then there 
 was the intense excitement of occasionally bringing 
 down a deer, and even of shooting a ferocious grizzly 
 bear or wolf or catamount. The romance of the sea 
 creates a Robinson Crusoe. The still greater ro 
 mance of the forest creates a Kit Carson. It often 
 makes even an old man's blood thrill in his veins, to 
 contemplate the wild and wondrous adventures, which 
 this majestic continent opened to the pioneers of 
 half a century ago. 
 
 Gradually, in Kentucky, the Indians disappeared, 
 either dying off, or pursuing their game in the un 
 explored realms nearer the setting sun. Emigrants, 
 from the East, in large numbers entered the State. 
 Game, both in forest and meadow, became scarce ; 
 and the father of Kit Carson, finding settlers crowd 
 ing him, actually rearing their huts within two or 
 three miles of his cabin, abandoned his home to find 
 more room in the still more distant West. 
 
 Christopher was then the youngest child, a babe 
 but one year old. The wilderness, west of them, was 
 almost unexplored. But Mr. Carson, at his blazing 
 fireside, had heard from the Indians, and occasionally 
 from some adventurous white hunter, glowing ac 
 counts of the magnificent prairies, rivers, lakes and 
 
12 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 forests of the far West, reposing in the solitude and 
 the silence which had reigned there since the dawn 
 of the creation. 
 
 There were no roads through the wilderness. 
 The guide of the emigrants was the setting sun. 
 Occasionally they could take advantage of some 
 Indian trail, trodden hard by the moccasined feet of 
 the savages, in single file, through countless genera 
 tions. Through such a country, the father of Kit 
 Carson commenced a journey of several hundred 
 miles, with his wife and three or four children, Kit 
 being an infant in arms. Unfortunately we are not 
 informed of any of the particulars of this journey. 
 But we know, from numerous other cases, what was 
 its general character. 
 
 It must have occupied two or three weeks. All 
 the family went on foot, making about fifteen miles 
 a day. They probably had two pack horses, laden 
 with pots and kettles, and a few other essential 
 household and farming utensils. Early in the after 
 noon Mr. Carson would begin to look about for a 
 suitable place of encampment for the night. He 
 would find, if possible, the picturesque banks of 
 some running stream, where there was grass for his 
 horses, and a forest growth to furnish him with wood 
 for his cabin and for fire. If the weather were pleas 
 ant, with the prospect of a serene and cloudless 
 
EARLY TRAINING. 13 
 
 night, a very slight protection would be reared, and 
 the weary family, with a buffalo robe spread on the 
 soft grass for a blanket, would sleep far more sweetly 
 in the open air, than most millionaires sleep in 
 tapestried halls and upon beds of down. 
 
 If clouds were gathering and menacing winds 
 were wailing through the tree-tops, the vigorous arm 
 of Mr. Carson, with his sharp axe, would, in an hour, 
 rear a camp which could bid defiance to any ordinary 
 storm. The roof would be so thatched, with bark 
 and long grass, as to be quite impenetrable by the 
 rain. Buffalo robes, and a few of the soft and fra 
 grant branches of the hemlock tree, would create a 
 couch which a prince might envy. Perhaps, as they 
 came along, they had shot a turkey or a brace of 
 ducks, or a deer, from whose fat haunches they have 
 cut the tenderest venison. Any one could step out 
 with his rifle and soon return with a supper. 
 
 While Mr. Carson, with his eldest son, was build 
 ing the camp, the eldest girl would hold the baby, 
 and Mrs. Carson would cook such a repast of dainty 
 viands, as, when we consider the appetites, Delmon- 
 ico never furnished. It was life in the "Adiron- 
 dacks/' with the additional advantage that those 
 who were enjoying it, were inured to fatigue, and 
 could have no sense of discomfort, from the absence 
 of conveniences to which they were accustomed. 
 
14 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 If in the darkness of midnight, the tempest rose 
 and roared through the tree-tops, with crushing 
 thunder, and floods of rain, the family was lulled to 
 sounder sleep by these requiems of nature, or awoke 
 to enjoy the sublimity of the scene, whose grandeur 
 those in lowly life are often able fully to appreciate, 
 though they may not have language with which to 
 express their emotions. 
 
 The family crossed the Mississippi river, we know 
 not how, perhaps in the birch canoe of some friendly 
 Indian, perhaps on a raft, swimming the horses. 
 They then continued their journey two hundred 
 miles farther west, till they reached a spot far enough 
 from neighbors and from civilization to suit the taste 
 even of Mr. Carson. This was at the close of the 
 year 1810. 'There was no State or even Territory of 
 Missouri then. But seven years before, in 1803, 
 France had ceded to the United States the vast unex 
 plored regions, whose boundaries even, were scarcely 
 defined, but which were then called Upper Louisiana. 
 
 Here Mr. Carson seems to have reached a very 
 congenial home. He found, scattered through the 
 wilderness, a few white people, trappers, hunters, 
 wanderers who had preceded him. The Indians, in 
 numerous bands, as hunters and as warriors, were 
 roving these wilds. They could not be relied upon, 
 whatever their friendly professions. Any wrong 
 
EARLY TRAINING. 1 5 
 
 which they might receive from any individual white 
 man, their peculiar code of morals told them they 
 might rightly attempt to redress by wreaking their 
 vengeance upon any pale face, however innocent he 
 might be. Thus hundreds of Indian warriors might, 
 at any time, come swooping down upon Mr. Carson's 
 cabin, laying it in ashes, and burying their toma 
 hawks in the brains of his family. 
 
 The few white men, some half a dozen in number, 
 who had gathered around Mr. Carson, deemed it 
 expedient for self-defence to unite and build a large 
 log cabin, which should be to them both a house and 
 a fort. This building of logs, quite long and but 
 one story high, was pierced, at several points, with 
 portholes, through which the muzzles of the rifles 
 could be thrust. As an additional precaution they 
 surrounded this house with palisades, consisting of 
 sticks of timber, six or eight inches in diameter, and 
 about ten feet high, planted as closely as possible 
 together. These palisades were also pierced with 
 portholes. 
 
 With a practiced eye, these men had selected a 
 very beautiful spot for their habitation, in what is 
 now called Howard county, Missouri, just north of 
 the Missouri river. It seems that they had much to 
 fear from the Indians. There were at this time, 
 frequent wars with them, in the more eastern por- 
 
1 6 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 tions of the continent, and the rumors of these con 
 flicts reached the ears of all the roving tribes, and 
 greatly excited them. It became necessary for the 
 settlers to go upon their hunting excursions with 
 much caution. 
 
 As the months passed rapidly away, other persons 
 one after another, came to their fort. They were 
 glad to find a safe retreat there, and were welcomed 
 as giving additional strength to the little garrison. 
 Game began to be scarce around their lonely habita 
 tion, for the crack of the rifle was almost incessantly 
 heard there. It thus became necessary to resort 
 more generally to farming, especially to raising large 
 fields of corn, whose golden ears could easily be 
 converted into pork and into bread. With these 
 two articles of food, cornbread and bacon, life could 
 be hilarious on the frontier. Keenness of appetite 
 supplied the want of all other delicacies. 
 
 When they went to the cornfield to work, they 
 first made a careful exploration of the region around, 
 to see if there were any lurking savages near. Then 
 with their guns ever ready to be grasped, and keep 
 ing a close lookout for signs of danger, they ploughed 
 and sowed and gathered in their harvest. 
 
 Thus fifteen years passed away. Civilization 
 made gradual encroachments. Quite a little cluster 
 of log huts was reared in the vicinity, where the 
 
EARLY TRAINING. I/ 
 
 inmates in case of necessity could flee to the fort for 
 protection. Christopher, at fifteen years of age, was 
 an unlettered boy, small in stature, but very fond of 
 the solitude of the forest, and quite renowned as a 
 marksman. He was amiable in disposition, gentle 
 in his manners, and in all respects a good boy. He 
 had a strong character. Whatever he undertook, he 
 quietly and without any boasting performed. With 
 sound judgment, and endowed with singular strength 
 and elasticity, he was even then deemed equal to 
 any man in all the requirements of frontier life. 
 
 At a short distance from the fort there was a 
 saddler, and Mr. Carson, with the advice of friends, 
 decided to apprentice his son, now called Kit, to 
 learn that trade. The boy remained in this employ 
 ment for two weary years. Though faithful to every 
 duty, and gaining the respect and confidence of his 
 employer, the work was uncongenial to him. He 
 longed for the freedom of the wilderness ; for the 
 sublime scenes of nature, to which such a life would 
 introduce him ; for the exciting chase of the buffalo, 
 and the lucrative pursuits of the trapper, floating on 
 distant streams in the birch canoe, and loading his 
 bark with rich furs, which ever commanded a ready 
 sale. 
 
 All these little settlements were clustered around 
 some protecting fort. A man, who was brought up 
 
1 8 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 in the remote West, furnishes the following interest 
 ing incident in his own personal experience. It 
 gives a very graphic description of the alarms to 
 which these pioneers were exposed : 
 
 " The fort to which my father belonged was three- 
 quarters of a mile from his farm. But when this 
 fort went to decay and was unfit for use, a new one 
 was built near our own house. I well remember, 
 when a little boy, the family were sometimes waked 
 up in the dead of night by an express, with the 
 report that the Indians were at hand. The express 
 came softly to the door and by a gentle tapping 
 raised the family. This was easily done, as an 
 habitual fear made us ever watchful, and sensible to 
 the slightest alarm. The whole family were instantly 
 in motion. 
 
 " My father seized his gun and other implements 
 of war. My mother waked up and dressed the 
 children as well as she could. Being myself the 
 oldest of the children, I had to take my share of the 
 burdens to be carried to the fort. There was no 
 possibility of getting a horse in the night to aid us. 
 Besides the little children we caught up such articles 
 of clothing and provisions as we could get hold of in 
 the dark, for we durst not light a candle or even stir 
 the fire. All this was done with the utmost dis 
 patch and in the silence of death. The great- 
 
EARLY TRAINING. 19 
 
 est care was taken not to awaken the youngest 
 child. 
 
 " To the rest it was enough to say Indian, and 
 not a whisper was heard afterward. Thus it often 
 happened that the whole number belonging to a fort, 
 who were in the evening at their homes, were all in 
 their little fortress before the dawn of the next 
 morning. In the course of the next day their 
 household furniture was brought in by men under 
 arms. Some families belonging to each fort were 
 much less under the influence of fear than others. 
 These often, after an alarm had subsided, in spite of 
 every remonstrance, would remove home, while their 
 more prudent neighbors remained in the fort. Such 
 families were denominated fool-hardy, and gave no 
 small amount of trouble by creating such frequent 
 necessities of sending runners to warn them of their 
 danger, and sometimes parties of our men to pro 
 tect them during their removal." 
 
 While Kit Carson was impatiently at work on 
 the bench of the harness-maker, feeding his soul 
 with the stories, often greatly exaggerated, of the 
 wonders of scenes and adventures to be encountered 
 in the boundless West, a party of traders came 
 along, who were on the route for Santa Fe. This 
 city, renowned in the 'annals of the West, was the 
 capital of the Spanish province of New Mexico. It 
 
2O CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 was situated more than a thousand miles from Mis 
 souri, and contained a mongrel population of about 
 three thousand souls. Goods from the States could 
 be readily sold there at a profit of one or two hun 
 dred per cent. Cotton cloth brought three dollars a 
 yard. 
 
 Captain Pike, upon his return from his exploring 
 tour, brought back quite glowing accounts of Santa 
 Fe and its surroundings. It was a long and perilous 
 journey from Missouri. The party was all strongly 
 armed, with their goods borne in packs upon mules 
 and horses. They expected to live almost entirely 
 upon the game they could shoot by the way. Kit, 
 purely from the love of adventure, applied to join 
 them. Gladly was he received. Though but a boy 
 of eighteen, his stable character, his vigorous 
 strength, and his training in all the mysteries of 
 frontier life, rendered him an invaluable acquisi 
 tion. 
 
 The perils to which they were exposed may be 
 inferred from the fate which some traders encoun 
 tered soon after Kit Carson's party had accomplished 
 the journey. There were twelve traders returning 
 from Santa Fe. To avoid the Indians they took an 
 extreme southern route. Day after day they toiled 
 along, encountering no savages. It was December, 
 and in that climate mild and serene. A caravan of 
 
EARLY TRAINING. 21 
 
 twenty horses or mules travelling in single file, 
 leaves a trail behind which can easily be followed. 
 
 Our adventurers were on a treeless prairie, an 
 ocean of land, where nothing obstructed the view 
 to the remote horizon. One beautiful morning, just 
 after they had taken their breakfast and resumed 
 their march, they perceived, not a little to their 
 alarm, some moving object far in the distance behind. 
 It soon resolved itself into a band of several hundred 
 Indians, well mounted, painted and decorated in the 
 highest style of barbaric art. They were thoroughly 
 armed with their deadly bows and arrows and spears. 
 It was indeed an imposing spectacle as these savage 
 warriors on their fleet steeds, with their long hair 
 and pennons streaming in the wind, came down 
 upon them. 
 
 The little caravan halted and prepared for 
 defence. There were twelve bold hearts to encoun 
 ter several hundred foes on the open prairie. They 
 knew that the main object of the Indians would be 
 to seize the horses and mules and effect a stampede 
 with their treasure. This being accomplished they 
 would torture and murder the traders in mere wan 
 tonness. The savages had a very salutary caution 
 of rifles which could throw a bullet twice as far as 
 the strongest bow and the most sinewy arm could 
 speed an arrow. 
 
22 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 With the swoop of the whirlwind they ap 
 proached until they came within gun-shot distance, 
 when they as suddenly stopped. 'Each trader had 
 fastened his horse or mule with a rope and an iron 
 pin two feet long driven firmly into the ground. 
 They knew that if they were captured a cruel death 
 awaited them. They therefore prepared to sell their 
 lives as dearly as possible. There was no trunk or 
 tree, or stone behind which either party could hide. 
 The open prairie covered with grass was smooth as 
 a floor. 
 
 For a short time both bands stood looking at 
 each other. The traders in a small group had every 
 man his rifle. Had the Indians in their resistless 
 strength come rushing simultaneously upon them, 
 they could easily have been trampled into the dust. 
 But it was equally certain that twelve bullets, with 
 unerring aim, would have pierced the hearts of twelve 
 of their warriors. The Indians were very chary of 
 their own lives. They were never ready for a fight 
 in the open field, however great might be the odds in 
 their favor. 
 
 The savages having halted and conferred together, 
 endeavored to assume a friendly attitude. With a 
 great show of brotherly feeling they cautiously 
 approached one by one. The traders not wishing to 
 commence the conflict, began to move on, leading 
 
EARLY TRAINING. 23 
 
 their animals and with their rifles cocked, watching 
 every movement of the intruders. The mounted 
 Indians followed along, quite surrounding with their 
 large numbers the little band of white men. 
 
 Two of the mules lagged a little behind. One 
 or two of the bolder of the savages made a dash at 
 them and shot dead a man by the name of Pratt, 
 who had them in charge. It was the signal of bat 
 tle. A shower of arrows fell upon the traders, 
 another man dropped dead, and an arrow buried its 
 head in the thigh of another. Several of the In 
 dians also fell. But the savages manifested a great 
 dread of the rifle ; and though they were forty to 
 one against the white men, they retreated to a safe 
 distance. As they felt sure of their victims, they did 
 not wish to peril their own lives. 
 
 The traders hastily took the packs from the mules 
 and piled them around for a barricade. The Indians 
 were very wary. But by entirely surrounding the 
 little fort and creeping through the long grass they 
 succeeded in a few hours in shooting every one of 
 the mules and horses of the traders. The savages 
 kept up an incessant howling, and thirty-six dreadful 
 hours thus passed away. It seemed but a prolonga 
 tion of death's agonies. Hunger and thirst would 
 ere long destroy them, even though they should 
 escape the arrow and the tomahawk. It was not 
 
24 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 deemed wise to expend a single charge of powder or 
 a bullet, unless sure of their aim. And the Indians 
 crept so near, prostrated in the long grass, that not a 
 head could be raised above the frail ramparts with 
 out encountering the whiz of arrows. 
 
 The day passed away. Night came and went. 
 Another day dawned, and the hours lingered slowly 
 along, while the traders lay flat upon the ground, 
 cramped in their narrow limits, awaiting apparently 
 the sure approach of death. 
 
 The night was dark, dense clouds obscuring the 
 sky. The Indians themselves had become some 
 what weary, and deeming it impossible for their 
 victims to escape and feeling sure of the booty, 
 which could by no possibility be removed, relaxed 
 their watchfulness. As any death was preferable to 
 captivity and torture by the Indians, the traders 
 resolved, in the gloom of midnight to attempt an 
 escape, though the chances were a hundred to one 
 that they would be almost buried beneath the arrows 
 of the howling savages. 
 
 Cautiously they emerged from their hiding-place, 
 creeping slowly and almost breathlessly through the 
 tall grass of the prairie, till quite to their surprise, 
 they found themselves beyond the circle of the 
 besiegers. There were ten men, one wounded, flee 
 ing for life, expecting every moment to be pursued 
 
EARLY TRAINING. 2$ 
 
 by five hundred savages. It was a long, dark, dismal 
 winter's night, for in that changing clime a freezing 
 night succeeded a sunny day. Like spectres they 
 fled over the open prairie. That their flight might 
 not be encumbered they had taken nothing with 
 them but their guns and ammunition. 
 
 They were determined men. In whatever num 
 bers and with whatever speed the mounted Indians 
 might ride down upon them, ten of their warriors 
 would inevitably bite the dust ere the fugitives could 
 be taken. The Indians fully understood this. And 
 when the morning dawned and they saw that their 
 victims had escaped, instead of pursuing, they satis 
 fied their valor in holding a triumphant powwow over 
 the rich booty they had gained. 
 
 It was a chill day and the wind moaned dismally 
 over the bleak prairie. But as far as the eye could 
 extend no foe could 'be seen. Not even a tree 
 obscured the vision. The exhaustion of the fugitives, 
 from their thirty-six hours of sleeplessness and battle, 
 and their rapid flight, was extreme. They shot a 
 few prairie chickens,. built a small fire of dried buffalo 
 chips with which they cooked their frugal breakfast, 
 and then, lying dow upon the rank grass, slept 
 soundly for a few hours. 
 
 They then pressed on their pathless way toward 
 the rising sun. Through weary days and nights they 
 
26 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 toiled on, through rain and cold, sleeping often in 
 stormy nights drenched, upon the bare soil, without 
 even a blanket to cover their shivering frames. Their 
 feet became blistered. Passing beyond the bounds 
 of the open prairie, they sometimes found themselves 
 in bogs, sometimes in tangled forests. There were 
 streams to be waded or to be crossed upon such 
 rude rafts as they could frame with their hatchets. 
 Their clothes hung in tatters around them, and, 
 most deplorable of all, their ammunition became 
 expended. 
 
 For days they lived upon roots and the tender 
 bark of trees. Some became delirious, indeed some 
 seemed quite insane through their sufferings. The 
 man who was wounded, Mr. Schenck, was a gentleman 
 of intelligence and of refinement and of distinguished 
 family connections, from Ohio. A poetic tempera 
 ment had induced him to seek the romance of an 
 adventure through the unexplored wilderness. 
 
 After incredible sufferings his wound became so 
 inflamed that it was impossible for him to go any 
 farther. Prostrate upon a mound in the forest his 
 comrades left him. They could do absolutely 
 nothing for him. They could not supply him with a 
 morsel of food or with a cup of water. They had 
 no heart even to bid him adieu. Silently they 
 tottered along, and Mr. Schenck was left to die. 
 
EARLY TRAINING. 2^ 
 
 Through what hours of suffering he lingered none 
 but God can tell. Not even his bones were ever 
 found to shed any light upon his sad fate. 
 
 So deep became the dejection of these wanderers 
 that often for hours not one word was spoken. They 
 were lost in the wilderness and could only direct 
 their steps toward the rising sun. After leaving Mr. 
 Schenck there were but nine men remaining. They 
 soon disagreed in reference to the route to follow. 
 This led to a separation, and five went in one direc 
 tion and four in another. The five, after wandering 
 about in the endurance of sufferings which can 
 scarcely be conceived of, fell in with a party of 
 friendly Creek Indians, by whom they were rescued 
 and treated with the greatest humanity. Of the 
 other four two only succeeded in escaping from the 
 mazes of the wilderness. 
 
 Such were the perils upon which the youthful 
 Kit Carson was now entering from the pure love of 
 adventure. He was not uninformed respecting these 
 dangers. The knowledge of them did but add to 
 the zest of the enterprise. 
 
 Crossing the plains of the interior of our Conti 
 nent from the Missouri river to the Rocky mountains, 
 was a very different undertaking half a century ago, 
 from what it has been in more modern times. The 
 route was then almost entirely unexplored. There 
 
28 . CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 were no charts to guide. The bold adventurers 
 knew not where they would find springs of water, 
 where forage for their animals, where they would 
 enter upon verdureless deserts, where they could 
 find ford ing-places of the broad and rapid rivers 
 which they might encounter on their way. 
 
 This is not a forest-covered continent. The vast 
 plains of the interior, whether smooth or undulating 
 or rugged, spread far away for weary leagues, almost 
 treeless. The forest was found mainly skirting the 
 streams. Immense herds of buffaloes, often number 
 ing ten or twenty thousand, grazed upon these rich 
 and boundless pastures. Timid deer and droves of 
 wild horses, almost countless in numbers, here 
 luxuriated in a congenial home. There was scarcely 
 a white man in the land whose eyes had ever beheld 
 the cliffs of the Rocky mountains. And each Indian 
 tribe had its hunting-grounds marked out with con 
 siderable precision, beyond which even the boldest 
 braves seldom ventured to wander. 
 
 About a score of men started upon this trip. 
 They were thoroughly armed, practiced marksmen, 
 well mounted and each man led a pack mule, heavily 
 laden with goods for the Santa Fe market. Their 
 leader was commander-in-chief, whom all were bound 
 implicitly to obey. -He led the company, selecting 
 the route, and he decided when and where to encamp. 
 
EARLY TRAINING. 29 
 
 The procession followed usually in single file, a long 
 line. 
 
 Early in the morning, at the sound of the bugle, 
 all sprang from their couches which nature had 
 spread, and they spent no more time at their toilet 
 than did the horse or the cow. After a hurried 
 breakfast they commenced their march. Generally 
 an abundance of game was found on the way. The 
 animals always walked slowly along, being never put 
 to the trot. 
 
 At noon the leader endeavored to find some 
 spot near a running stream or a spring, where 
 the animals could find pasture. The resting for a. 
 couple of hours gave them time for their dinner, 
 which they had mainly picked up by the way. 
 
 An hour or two before sundown the camping 
 ground was selected, the animals were tethered, often 
 in luxuriant grass, and the hardy pioneers, by no 
 means immoderately fatigued by the day's journey, 
 having eaten their supper, which a good appetite 
 rendered sumptuous, spent the time till sleep closed 
 their eyelids in telling stories and singing songs. A 
 very careful guard was set, and the adventurers 
 enjoyed sound sleep till, with the dawn, the bugle 
 call again summoned them. Under ordinary .circum 
 stances hardy men of a roving turn of mind, found 
 very great attractions in this adventurous life. They 
 
30 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 were by no means willing to exchange its excite 
 ments for the monotonous labors of the field or the 
 shop. 
 
CHAPTER II. 
 
 Life in the Wilderness. 
 
 A Surgical Operation. A Winter with Kin Cade. Study of the Lan 
 guages and Geography. Return towards Missouri. Engagement 
 with a new Company and Strange Adventures. The Rattle 
 snake. Anecdote of Kit Carson. The Sahara. New Engage 
 ments. Trip to El Paso. Trapping and Hunting. Prairie 
 Scenery. The Trapper's Outfit. Night Encampment. Testi 
 mony of an Amateur Hunter.. 
 
 THE company of traders which Kit had joined en 
 joyed, on the whole, a prosperous expedition. They 
 met with no hostile Indians and, with one exception, 
 encountered nothing which they could deem a hard 
 ship. There was one exception, which most persons 
 would deem a terrible one. The accidental dis 
 charge of a gun, incautiously handled, shattered a 
 man's arm, shivering the bone to splinters. The arm 
 rapidly grew inflamed, became terribly painful, and 
 must be amputated or the life lost. There was no 
 one in the party who knew anything of surgery. 
 But they had a razor, a handsaw and a bar of iron. 
 
 It shows the estimation in which the firm, gentle, 
 and yet almost womanly Kit Carson was held, that 
 
32 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 he was chosen to perform the operation. Two 
 others were to assist him. The sufferer took his 
 seat, and was held firmly, that in his anguish his 
 struggles might not interfere with the progress of 
 the knife. This boy of but eighteen years then, 
 with great apparent coolness, undertook this formi 
 dable act of surgery. 
 
 He bound a ligature around the arm very tightly, 
 to arrest, as far as possible the flow of blood. With 
 the razor he cut through the quivering muscles, ten 
 dons and nerves. With the handsaw he severed the 
 bone. With the bar of iron, at almost a white heat, 
 he cauterized the wound. The cruel operation was 
 successful. And the patient, under the influence of 
 the pure mountain air, found his wound almost 
 healed before he reached Santa Fe. 
 
 Having arrived at his journey's end, Kit's love 
 of adventure led him not to return with the traders, 
 by the route over which he had just passed, but to 
 push on still further in his explorations. About 
 eighty miles northeast of Santa Fe there was another 
 Spanish settlement, weird-like in its semi-barbarous, 
 semi-civilized aspects, with its huts of sun-baked 
 clay, its Catholic priests, its Mexican Indians and its 
 half-breeds. It was a small, lonely settlement, whose 
 population lived mainly, like the Indians, upon corn- 
 meal and the chase. Kit ever kept his trusty rifle 
 
LIFE IN THE WILDERNESS. 33 
 
 with him. His gun and hatchet constituted his 
 purse, furnishing him with food and lodging. 
 
 It was a mountainous region ; -here in one of the 
 dells, Kit came across the solitary hut of a moun 
 taineer by the name of Kin Cade. They took a 
 mutual liking to each other. As Kit culd at any 
 day, with his rifle bring in food enough to last a 
 week, the question of board did not come into con 
 sideration. It was in the latter part of November 
 that Kit first entered the cabin of this hunter. 
 Here he spent the winter. His bed consisted proba 
 bly of husks of corn covered with a buffalo robe, a 
 luxurious couch for a healthy and weary man. Pitch 
 pine knots brilliantly illumined the hut in the even 
 ing. Traps were set to catch animals for their furs. 
 Deer skins were softly tanned and colored for cloth 
 ing, with ornamental fringes for coats and leggins 
 and moccasins. Kit and his companion Kin were 
 their own tailors. 
 
 Thus passed the winter of 1826. Both of the 
 men were very good-natured, and of congenial 
 tastes. They wanted for nothing. When the wind 
 howled amid the crags of the mountains and the 
 storm beat upon their lonely habitation, with fuel in 
 abundance and a well filled larder, and with no in 
 toxicating drinks or desire for them, they worked 
 upon their garments and other conveniences in the 
 
 2 
 
34 CHRISTOPHER CARSOX. 
 
 warmth of their cheerful fireside. It is not hazard 
 ing too much to say that these two gentle men, in 
 their solitary cabin, passed a far more happy winter 
 than many families who were occupying, in splendid 
 misery, the palatial residences of London, Paris and 
 New York - 
 
 Kin Cade was perhaps a Spaniard. He certainly 
 spoke the Spanish language with correctness and 
 fluency. The intelligence of Kit is manifest from 
 the fact that he devoted himself assiduously during 
 the winter to the acquisition of the Spanish language. 
 And his strong natural abilities are evidenced in his 
 having attained, in that short time, quite the 
 mastery of the Spanish tongue. It is often said 
 that Kit Carson was entirely an uneducated man. 
 This is, in one respect, a mistake. The cabin of Kin 
 Cade was his academy, where he pursued his studies 
 vigorously and successfully for a whole winter, 
 graduating in the spring with the highest honors 
 that academy could confer. 
 
 We ought not to forget that, in addition to the 
 study of the languages, he also devoted much atten 
 tion to the study of geography. They had no books, 
 no maps. It is doubtful indeed, whether either Kit 
 or his teacher could read or write. But Kin had 
 been a renowned explorer. He had traversed the 
 prairies, climbed the mountains, followed the courses 
 
LIFE IN THE WILDERNESS. 35 
 
 of the rivers, and paddled over the lakes. With his 
 stick he could draw upon the smoothly trodden floor 
 of his hut, everything that was needful of a chart. 
 There were probably many idle students in Harvard 
 and Yale, who during those winter months did not 
 make as much intellectual progress as Kit Carson 
 made. 
 
 In the spring of 1827, Kit again went forth from 
 his winter's retreat into the wilderness world, which 
 has its active life and engrossing excitements, often 
 even far greater than are to be found on the city's 
 crowded pavements. Not finding in these remote 
 regions any congenial employment, Kit decided to 
 retrace his steps to Missouri. Most persons would 
 have thought that the journey of some thousand 
 miles on foot, through a trackless wilderness where 
 he was exposed every step of the way, to howling 
 wolves and merciless savages, a pretty serious under 
 taking. Kit appears to have regarded it but as an 
 every-day occurrence. 
 
 He joined a party of returning traders. Much 
 of the region they traversed may be aptly described 
 in the language which Irving applies to Spain. " It 
 is a stern melancholy country, with rugged moun 
 tains and long sweeping plains, indescribably lone 
 some, solitary, savage.'' After travelling nearly five 
 hundred miles, about half the distance back to Mis- 
 
36 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 souri, they reached a ford of the Arkansas river. 
 Here they met another party of traders bound to 
 Santa Fe. Kit, who with great reluctance had 
 decided to return home, eagerly joined them. His 
 services were deemed very valuable, and they offered 
 him a rich reward. His knowledge of the Spanish 
 language became now a valuable investment to him*, 
 and as he had already twice traversed the route, he 
 was at once invested with the dignity of guide as 
 well as interpreter. 
 
 The following incident, related by a traveller who 
 was passing over this same plain under the guidance 
 of Kit Carson, shows that there are other dangers to 
 be encountered besides the prowling savage and the 
 wolf: 
 
 " It was a bright moonlight night. I had, as was 
 my custom, spread my saddle leathers for a bed, and 
 had drawn my blanket closely around me. Weary 
 with the day's march, I had been sleeping soundly 
 for several hours, when about midnight I awoke sud 
 denly with an unaccountable feeling of dread. It 
 must have been a sort of instinct which prompted me, 
 for in a moment I was upon my feet, and then, upon 
 removing my blanket, I found a rattlesnake, swollen 
 with rage and poison, coiled and ready to strike. 
 
 " I drew away the blanket which served as a 
 mattress, intending to kill the reptile, when to my 
 
LIFE IN THE WILDERNESS. 37 
 
 astonishment it glided away making its escape into 
 a small opening in the ground directly beneath my 
 bed. The whole matter was explained at once. 
 The snake had probably been out to see a neighbor; 
 and getting home after I was asleep, felt a gentle 
 manly unwillingness to disturb me. And, as I had 
 taken possession of his dwelling he took part of my 
 sleeping place, crawling under the blanket where he 
 must have lain quietly by my side until I rolled over 
 and disturbed him. I can scarcely say that I slept 
 much more that night, and even Carson admitted 
 that it made him a little nervous." 
 
 Kit Carson was not a garrulous man. He was 
 much more given to reflection than to talk, and he 
 was never known to speak boastfully of any of his 
 achievements. It is the invariable testimony of all 
 who knew him, that he was mild, gentle and unas 
 suming, one of Nature's noblemen. While travelling 
 he scarcely ever spoke. Nothing escaped his keen 
 eye. His whole appearance was that of a man 
 deeply impressed with a sense of the responsibility 
 of his office. He knew full well the treacherous 
 character of the Indians, and that " the better part 
 of valor is discretion." 
 
 He had often seen men killed at night by an 
 invisible foe. From the impenetrable darkness which 
 surrounded the camp fire, an arrow would come 
 
38 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 winged with death, piercing the heart of some 
 mountaineer whose body was clearly revealed by the 
 firelight. Kit Carson would never thus expose him 
 self. He would always spread his blanket where the 
 firelight would not reveal him. 
 
 " No, no boys," he would say to his often reckless 
 comrades, " you may hang around the fire if you will. 
 It may do for you, if you like it. But I do not wish 
 to have a Digger Indian slip an arrow into me when 
 I cannot see him.'' 
 
 A gentleman, who was guided over the plains by 
 Kit, writes, " During this journey I have often 
 watched Carson's preparation for the night. A 
 braver man than Kit perhaps never lived. In fact, I 
 doubt if he ever knew what fear was. But with all 
 this he exercised great caution. While arranging 
 his bed, his saddle, which he always used as a pillow, 
 was disposed in such a manner as to form a barricade 
 for his head. His pistols half cocked were placed 
 above it, and his trusty rifle reposed beneath the 
 blanket by his side, where it was not only ready for 
 instant use but perfectly protected from the damp. 
 Except now and then to light his pipe, you never 
 caught Kit, at night, exposing himself to the full 
 glare of the camp fire." 
 
 When on the march everything was conducted 
 with military precision. At the early dawn as Kit 
 
LIFE IN THE WILDERNESS. 39 
 
 gave the signal to prepare to start, all were instantly 
 in motion. The mules were brought up ; their packs 
 were fastened firmly upon their backs, an operation 
 which required much labor and skill. The mules 
 have a strange instinct which leads them to follow 
 with a sort of fascination a white horse. Thus 
 generally a white horse or mare leads the cavalcade. 
 
 At times it was necessary to march long distances 
 without meeting water. One of these dreary 
 stretches was eighty miles long. It was necessary 
 to pass over it as rapidly as possible, day and night 
 almost without resting. In accomplishing one of 
 these arduous journeys across a desert almost as bare 
 as that of Sahara, the party set out one afternoon at 
 three o'clock. One of the travellers writes : 
 
 " I shall never forget the impression which that 
 night's journey left upon my mind. Sometimes the 
 trail led us over large basins of deep sand, where 
 the trampling of the mules' feet gave forth no sound. 
 This, added to the almost terrible silence which ever 
 reigns in the solitude of the desert, rendered our 
 transit more like the passage of some airy spectacle 
 where the actors were shadows instead of men. 
 Nor is this comparison a strained one, for our way 
 worn voyagers, with their tangled locks and unshorn 
 beards, rendered white as snow by the fine sand with 
 which the air in these regions is often filled, had a 
 
4O CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 weird and ghost-like look, which the gloomy scene 
 around, with its frowning rocks and moonlit sands, 
 tended to enhance and heighten.'' 
 
 It is said, as illustrative of Kit's promptness of 
 action, that one night an inexperienced guard 
 shouted " Indians.'' In an instant Kit was on his 
 feet, pistol in hand. A dark object was approaching 
 him. The loss of a second of time might enable a 
 savage to bury his arrow-head deep in his side and to 
 disappear in the darkness. Like a flash of lightning 
 Kit fired and shot his mule. It was a false alarm. 
 
 The traders arrived safely in Santa Fe. Kit 
 Carson, having faithfully performed his contract, 
 began to look around for new adventures. Three 
 hundred and fifty miles south of Santa Fe, there 
 was the Mexican province of Chihuahua. It was a 
 very rich mining district, and many adventurers had 
 flocked to it from Spain. There was here a narrow 
 valley of the Rio Grande about ten miles in extent, 
 and quite well filled with the rude settlements of the 
 miners. It is said that at one time there were nearly 
 seventy thousand Spaniards and Indians scattered 
 along the river banks in search of the precious 
 metals. 
 
 A trading party was bound from Santa Fe to this 
 region. Colonel Trammel was the leader of this 
 party, and he eagerly secured the services of Kit 
 
LIFE IN THE WILDERNESS. 41 
 
 Carson, who, in addition to his experience as a trav 
 eller, could also perform the functions of an inter 
 preter. We have no record of the incidents which 
 occurred on this journey. As the route was well 
 known, and there were no hostile Indians to be 
 encountered, it was probably uneventful. 
 
 In this valley of El Paso, as it was called, Carson 
 found about five thousand people, mostly on the 
 right bank of the river. The rudeness of the style 
 in which they lived painfully impressed him. There 
 was far more comfort in the cabins he had left in 
 Missouri. 
 
 The houses were of clay baked in the sun, with 
 earthen floors. Window glass was a luxury unknown. 
 It seems almost incredible that they should have had 
 neither chairs, tables, knives nor forks. These 
 Mexicans were scarcely one remove from the un 
 tamed savages of the wilderness. Young Carson 
 found nothing to interest him or to invite his stay. 
 He returned to Santa Fe. The summer had now 
 passed and another winter come. 
 
 About a hundred and fifty miles north of Santa 
 Fe there was a small collection of huts called Taos, 
 inhabited by trappers and hunters. This pursuit of 
 game for food and fur was the employment which 
 was congenial to him above all others. He directed 
 his steps to Taos and at once entered into an engage- 
 
42 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 ment with Mr. Ewing Young, making his cabin 
 headquarters. 
 
 Hunting and trapping were somewhat different 
 employments, though perhaps equally exciting. The 
 hunter depended upon his rifle, and was mainly in 
 search of food. Still the robe of the buffalo and the 
 coat of the grizzly bear were very useful in various 
 ways, in the cabin of the hunter, and the softly 
 tanned skin of the deer was invaluable, furnishing 
 every article of clothing, shirt, leggins and moccasins. 
 The skins of these animals had also a market value. 
 
 But the trapper was in pursuit of furs only. 
 Though the men engaged in this pursuit were occa 
 sionally exposed to great hardship and suffering, 
 still, in general they probably had, in the gratification 
 of congenial tastes, a full share of such happiness as 
 this world can furnish. 
 
 Young Carson, at the age of nineteen, had no 
 taste for the scholarly seclusion of Yale or Harvard, 
 no desire to stand all day behind the counter of the 
 dry-goods store, or to work amid the crowd and the 
 hum of the factory; he had no wish for what is 
 called society, or to saunter down Broadway with 
 his cigar and his cane, to exhibit his tightly-fitting 
 garments ; but he did love to set out on a hunting 
 and trapping expedition. Let us follow him in one 
 of these adventures. 
 
LIFE IN THE WILDERNESS. 43 
 
 It is a bright morning of the Indian summer, far 
 along in November. There is a small log cabin on a 
 mound of the wilderness. A dense forest breaks the 
 northern winds. A rippling stream runs by the door. 
 Beyond lies the prairie rich in verdure and enamelled 
 with gorgeous autumnal flowers. Herds of buffalo 
 are grazing in groups of hundreds, sometimes of 
 thousands, on the broad expanse. Gangs of deer 
 are seen, graceful, beautiful, following in the train 
 of the antlered bucks, and with scent so keen and 
 eyes so piercing that it requires the utmost skill of 
 the hunter to approach them within rifle shot. 
 Clouds of prairie chickens and quails are floating 
 here and there in their short flight. It is the para 
 dise of the hunter. Let no one think this description 
 overdrawn. It-would be difficult to exaggerate the 
 loveliness of the flower-spangled prairie on a bright 
 autumnal day. Eden could scarcely have presented 
 scenes more attractive. 
 
 Young Carson stands at the door of the cabin 
 with a stout mule before him. The animal is strong 
 and plump, having been feasting upon the wild oats 
 growing luxuriantly around. Carson is packing his 
 mule. His outfit consists of a Mexican blanket, 
 rough, thick and warm ; a supply of ammunition ; a 
 kettle ; possibly a coffee-pot and some coffee, which 
 have been obtained at Santa Fe ; several iron traps ; 
 
44 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 some dressed deerskin for replacing clothing and 
 moccasins, a hatchet and a few other similar articles. 
 In addition to his mule he may also take a pony to 
 bear him on the way. Thus, if by accident, one 
 give out, he has another animal to rely upon. And 
 if very successful he may have furs enough to load 
 them both on his return. 
 
 His costume consists of a hunting shirt of the 
 soft and pliable deerskin, ornamented with long 
 fringes and often dyed with bright vermilion. Panta 
 loons of the same material are also ornamented 
 with fringes and porcupine's quills of various colors. 
 Many a tranquil hour has been beguiled, in the long 
 evenings and when the storm has beaten upon the 
 hut, in fashioning these garments with artistic taste, 
 learned of the Indians. A flexible cap, often of rich 
 fur, covers his head, and moccasins, upon which all 
 the resources of barbaric embroidery have been ex 
 pended, cover his feet. 
 
 His rifle is borne on his left shoulder. His pow 
 der horn and bullet pouch hang under his right arm. 
 In his bullet pouch he also carries spare flints, steel 
 and various odds and ends. Beneath the broad belt 
 which encircles his waist there is a large butcher 
 knife in a sheath of buffalo hide. There is a whet 
 stone in a buckskin case made fast to the belt, and 
 also a small hatchet or tomahawk. 
 
LIFE IN THE WILDERNESS. 45 
 
 Thus accoutred, our young hunter and trapper 
 sets out in search of the most lonely ravine which he 
 can find among the mountains. He would reach if 
 possible, some solitary stream which no white man's 
 eye had ever beheld. He has no road, no trail to 
 guide him. He rides his pony and leads his mule. 
 Over the prairie, through the forest, across the 
 streams, in silence and in a solitude which to him is 
 not lonely, he passes on his way. 
 
 Night comes. If pleasant, he unburdens his 
 horse and mule ; drives his iron pickets into the 
 ground, to which his animals are attached by ropes 
 about thirty feet long, generally in pastures of rich 
 grass or wild oats; builds a fire, cooks his supper, 
 rolls himself in his blanket and sleeps soundly till 
 morning. If the weather is unpleasant it makes but 
 little difference. He knows exactly what to do. In 
 a short time he constructs a frail but ample shelter ; 
 and then, with his feet towards the fire, sleeps sweetly 
 regardless of the storm. His animals have no more 
 need of shelter than have the bears and the buffa 
 loes. 
 
 This is the ordinary life of the hunter. There 
 are, of course, exceptions when calamity and woe 
 come. A joint may be sprained, a limb broken. 
 Fire may burn, or Indians may come, bringing cap 
 tivity and torture. But the ordinary life of the hunt- 
 
46 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 er, gratifying his natural taste, has many fascina 
 tions. This is evidenced by the eagerness with 
 which our annual tourists leave their ceiled chambers, 
 in the luxurious cities, to encamp in the wilderness 
 of the Adirondacks or the Rocky mountains. There 
 is not a restaurant in the Palais Royal, or on the 
 Boulevards which can furnish such a repast as these 
 men often find, from trout which they have taken 
 from the brook, and game which their own rifles 
 shot, have cooked at the fires which their own hands 
 have kindled. A gentleman who spent a winter in 
 this way, in the green and sheltered valleys of the 
 Rocky mountains, writes : 
 
 " There was something inexpressibly exhilarating 
 in the sensation of positive freedom from all worldly 
 care, and a consequent expansion of the sinews, as 
 it were, of mind and body, which made me feel as 
 elastic as a ball of India rubber, and in such a state 
 of perfect ease that no more dread of scalping 
 Indians entered my mind, than if I had been sitting 
 in Broadway, in one of the windows of the Astor 
 House. The very happiest moments of my life have 
 been spent in the wilderness of the Far West, with 
 no friend near me more faithful than my rifle, and no 
 companion more sociable than my horse and mules. 
 
 "With a plentiful supply of pine logs on the 
 fire, and its cheerful blaze streaming far up into the 
 
LIFE IN THE WILDERNESS. 4; 
 
 sky, illuminating the valley far and near, and ex 
 hibiting the animals, with well filled bellies, standing 
 contentedly over their picket-pins, I would sit enjoy 
 ing the genial warmth, building castles in the air. 
 Scarcely ever did I wish to exchange such hours of 
 freedom for all the luxuries of civilized life. Such 
 are the fascinations of the life of the mountain 
 hunter that I believe that not one instance could 
 be adduced of even the most polished and civil 
 ized of men, who had once tasted the sweets of 
 its attendant liberty and freedom from every worldly 
 care, not sighing once more to partake of its pleas 
 ures and allurements. 
 
 "A hunter's camp in the Rocky mountains is 
 quite a picture. It is invariably made in a pictur 
 esque locality. Nothing can be more social and 
 cheering than the welcome blaze of the camp fire on 
 a cold winter's night." 
 
 Young Carson, alone with his horse and mule, 
 would journey from fifty to a hundred miles, examin 
 ing every creek and stream, keeping a sharp lookout 
 for signs of beaver. Having selected his location, 
 generally in some valley eight or ten miles in extent, 
 with a winding stream circling through the centre, 
 which he had reason to believe was well stocked with 
 beaver, he would choose a position for his camp. 
 This would be more or less elaborate in its construe- 
 
48 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 tion, according to the time he intended to spend 
 there. But he would always find some sunny nook, 
 
 with a southern exposure and a pleasing prospect, 
 
 
 near the brook or some spring of sweet water, and, 
 
 if possible, with forest or rock sheltering from the 
 north winds. 
 
 In a few hours young Carson would construct his 
 half-faced cabin, as the hunting-camp was called. A 
 large log generally furnished the foundation of the 
 back part of the hut. Four stout stakes were then 
 planted in the ground so as to inclose a space about 
 eight feet square. These stakes were crotched at 
 the ends, so as to support others for the roof. The 
 front was about five feet high, the back not more 
 than four. The whole slope of the roof was from 
 the front to the back. The covering was made of 
 bark or slabs and sometimes of skins. The sides 
 were covered in a similar way. The whole of the 
 front was open. The smooth ground floor was 
 strewed with fragrant hemlock branches, over which 
 were spread blankets or buffalo robes. In front of 
 the opening the camp fire could be built, or on the 
 one side or the other, in accordance with the wind. 
 
 Thus in a few hours young Carson would erect 
 him a home, so cosey and cheerful in its aspect as to 
 be attractive to every eye. Reclining upon mat 
 tresses really luxurious in their softness, he could 
 
LIFE IN THE WILDERNESS. 49 
 
 bask in the beams of the sun, circling low in its 
 winter revolutions, or gaze at night upon the brilliant 
 stars, and not unfrequently have spread out before 
 him an extended prospect of as rich natural scenery 
 as ever cheered the eye. He had no anxiety about 
 food. His hook or his rifle supplied him abundantly 
 with what he deemed the richest viands. He knew 
 where were the tender cuts. He knew how to cook 
 them deliciously. And he had an appetite to relish 
 them. 
 
 Having thus provided himself with a habitation, 
 he took his traps and, either on foot or on horseback, 
 as the character of the region or the distance to be 
 traversed might render best, followed along the 
 windings of the stream till he came to a beaver dam. 
 He would examine the water carefully to find some 
 shallow which the beavers must pass in crossing 
 from shoal to deep water. Here he would plant his 
 trap, always under water, and carefully adjust the 
 bait. He would then follow on to another dam, and 
 thus proceed till six traps were set, which was the 
 usual number taken on such an expedition. 
 
 Early every morning he would mount his horse 
 or mule and take the round of his traps, which gene 
 rally required a journey of several miles. The 
 captured animals were skinned on the spot, and the 
 skins only, with the tails which the hunters deemed 
 3 
 
50 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 a great luxury as an article of food, were taken to 
 the camp. Then the skin was stretched over a frame 
 work to dry. When dry it was folded into a square 
 sheet, the fur turned inward and a bundle made 
 containing from ten to twenty skins tightly pressed 
 and corded, which was ready for transportation. 
 These skins were then worth about eight dollars per 
 pound. 
 
 After an absence of three or four weeks, young 
 Carson would return with his treasures, often several 
 hundred dollars in value, to the rendezvous of Mr. 
 Ewing Young at Taos. Soon again he would set 
 out on another similar expedition. Thus Carson 
 passed the winter of 1827. 
 
CHAPTER III. 
 
 Among the Trappers. 
 
 The Discomfited Trappers. The New Party Organized. A Battle 
 with the Indians. Trapping on the Colorado. March to the 
 Sacramento. The Friendly Indians. Crossing the Desert. 
 Instinct of the Mule. The Enchanting Valley of the Colorado. 
 The Mission of San Gabriel. Vast Herds of Cattle. The Mis 
 sion of San Fernando. Adventures in the Valley of San Joa- 
 'quin. The Meeting of two Trapping Bands. Reasons for Kit 
 Carson's Celebrity. A Military Expedition. The Indian Horse 
 Thieves. The Pursuit and Capture. 
 
 SOON after Carson returned to the cabin of Mr. 
 Young from one of his trapping expeditions, a party 
 of trappers came back who had set out to explore 
 the valley of the Colorado, in pursuit of furs. At 
 Taos they were west of the Rocky mountains, and 
 the route which they were to take led them still 
 farther in a northwest direction, a distance of , three 
 or four hundred miles. It was known that the 
 region was full of roving Indians, and it was not 
 doubted that the savages, if they saw any chance of 
 overpowering the trappers, would do so, and seize 
 their effects, which to the Indians would prove booty 
 of almost inconceivable value. The rifle gave the 
 
52 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 trappers such an advantage over the Indian, with his 
 bow and arrows, that they never hesitated, when upon 
 the open plain in encountering almost any superiority 
 of numbers. 
 
 This party of eighteen trappers, with their horses 
 and heavily laden mules, had advanced but a few 
 days' journey, over an almost unexplored region, 
 when they fell in with a powerful tribe of Indians, 
 who, after a little palaver, seeing their weakness in 
 numbers and the richness of their treasure, attacked 
 them with great fury. The Indians had adroitly 
 selected a spot where they could fight Indian fashion, 
 from behind trees and logs. The battle lasted a 
 whole day. We are not informed how many of 
 either party fell in the fray. But the Indians seemed 
 to swarm around the trappers in countless numbers, 
 and the white men were, greatly to their chagrin, 
 driven back with the loss of several mules. 
 
 As the discomfited party returned with their tale 
 of disaster, the ire of Mr. Young was raised. It is 
 a comment upon the number of men then roving the 
 wilderness, that Mr. Young was in a short time 
 enabled to organize another party of forty men, to 
 resume the enterprise. It was a motley collection 
 of Spaniards, Americans, Mexicans and half-breeds. 
 Proudly this powerful band, well armed, well mounted 
 and with heavily laden pack mules, commenced its 
 
AMONG THE TRAPPERS. 53 
 
 adventurous march, burning with the desire to 
 avenge the insult which the previous expedition had 
 encountered. 
 
 Mr. Young had learned highly to prize the capa 
 bilities of young Carson, and engaged him to take a 
 prominent position in this company on its hazardous 
 tour. After a march of about a hundred miles, they 
 reached the region occupied by the Indians who had 
 attacked and defeated the former band. The sava 
 ges, flushed by success, were all ready to renew the 
 conflict. Mr. Young himself was the leader of the 
 party. The Indians, by their gestures and shouts of 
 defiance, gave unmistakable evidence of their eager 
 ness for the fight. 
 
 There was some little delay as both parties pre 
 pared for the deadly strife. Mr. Young, a veteran 
 in the tactics of the forest, posted his men with 
 great sagacity. He had forty, as we have mentioned, 
 in all. Twenty-five of them he hid in ambush. 
 With the other fifteen he cautiously advanced, and 
 at length, as if alarmed, halted. The eminences all 
 in front of them, seemed filled with the plumed 
 warriors. The previous conflict had taught them the 
 powers of the deadly rifle bullet. They kept at a 
 respectful distance, never advancing unless protected 
 by some tree or rock. 
 
 But there were hundreds of savages almost sur- 
 
54 CHRISTOPHER CARSON 
 
 rounding the little band, and making the hills and 
 plains resound with the hideous war-whoop. When 
 the trappers halted and began slowly to draw back, 
 a deafening shout arose from the triumphant foe, and 
 in a simultaneous charge they advanced, but still 
 cautiously, not venturing near enough to discharge 
 their arrows. They were thus drawn along into the 
 trap. When fairly within rifle range, twenty-five 
 unerring marksmen from their concealment, almost 
 at the same instant, opened a death-dealing volley 
 upon the surprised and bewildered warriors. The 
 slaughter was terrible beyond anything they had 
 ever, in their native battles, witnessed before. 
 Twenty-five of their bravest warriors, for the bravest 
 were in the advance, fell dead or severely wounded. 
 
 The Indians were thrown into an utter panic. 
 The thunder, the lightning, and the death-bolts had 
 come from they knew not where. With almost the 
 rapidity of thought the rifles were again loaded and 
 the whole united band rushed forward upon the 
 Indians who were now flying wildly in all directions. 
 Instinct taught them to perform all sorts of gyrations 
 to avoid the bullets which pursued them. They 
 made no attempt to rally, though many of their 
 proud warriors were left behind lifeless, or struggling 
 in the convulsions of death. 
 
 The power of the rifle was such that, in those 
 
AMONG THE TRAPPERS. 55 
 
 days, forty or fifty men never hesitated to engage a 
 whole tribe, though it might number one or two 
 thousand warriors. A man will fight with terrible 
 persistence when he knows that defeat is inevitable 
 death by torture. It is a thousandfold better to fall 
 beneath the arrow, the tomahawk or the war-club, 
 than to be consumed alive amid the jeers and tor 
 tures of yelling Indians inspired with demoniac 
 instincts. Thus with the trapper it was always either 
 victory or death. 
 
 These hostile warriors were punished with a 
 severity never to be forgotten. The fugitives carried 
 far and wide to other roving tribes the tidings of 
 their disaster. The bold trappers proceeded on their 
 way, encountering no more serious molestation. 
 Smoke upon the distant hills indicated that their 
 march was watched. If a trap was set at any dis 
 tance from the night's encampment, it was pretty 
 surely stolen. Or if a weary mule was left to recruit, 
 a little behind, intending to bring him up in the 
 morning, before the dawn he disappeared. 
 
 The whole party followed slowly down a tributary 
 of the Colorado river, very successfully trapping upon 
 the main stream and its branches, until they reached 
 the head waters of the San Francisco river. They 
 then divided, and Mr. Young with Carson and seven 
 teen others proceeded several hundred miles farther 
 
$6 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 west, to the valley of the Sacramento. Before set 
 ting out for this long journey, as it was uncertain 
 what game they might find by the way, two or three 
 days were devoted to hunting. The skins of three 
 deer were converted into water tanks, which were 
 without difficulty carried by the mules. They were 
 induced to this caution because some friendly Indians 
 had assured them that there was a great destitution 
 of water by the way. 
 
 On their march they encountered a tribe of 
 Indians in all their native wildness. They were very 
 friendly though they had apparently never seen a 
 white man before. Perhaps their friendliness was 
 because they had never yet met any of the pale faces, 
 from whom they subsequently suffered such great 
 wrongs. These Indians presented remarkably fine 
 specimens of the physical man. They were tall, 
 erect and admirably proportioned. Their features 
 were European, their eyes very full and expressive, 
 and the dress of men and women simple in the ex 
 treme. They were all splendid horsemen, and often 
 as they entered the camp at full speed on their 
 spirited chargers, it seemed as though the steed and 
 its rider, like the fabled centaur, were but one 
 animal. Their bodies were painted and oiled so as 
 to resemble highly polished mahogany. 
 
 The travellers found the information communi- 
 
AMONG THE TRAPPERS. 57 
 
 cated to them by the friendly Indians to be true. 
 For four days they travelled over a dreary, sandy 
 waste, where there were neither streams nor springs. 
 At the camping place each night there was given 
 from the tanks, a small amount of water to each 
 animal and man, but only enough to sustain 
 life. A guard was set over the rest, for should any 
 accident befall it the destruction of the whole party 
 would be the probable consequence. 
 
 As they were toiling along the fifth day, painfully 
 through the sand, the mules began to manifest a 
 strange excitement. They pricked up their ears, 
 snuffed the air, then began to rush forward with all 
 the speed their exhausted strength would allow. 
 The sagacious animals had scented water at the dis 
 tance of nearly a mile. It was a clear running 
 stream, fringed with grass and shrubs. When the 
 first mule reached the water, the remainder were 
 scattered for a great distance along the trail. Here 
 the party encamped and remained for two days to 
 recruit. 
 
 The bags of deerskin were again filled with water 
 and the journey was resumed. The route still led 
 over a similar barren region, where both man and 
 beast suffered great privations from the want of 
 water. On the fourth day they came in sight of the 
 splendid valley of the great Colorado. It was with 
 3* 
 
58 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 a thrill of delight that they gazed upon its verdure 
 and its luxuriance, which were an hundredfold en 
 hanced from the contrast with the dreary region 
 which they had just traversed. 
 
 In their march of eight days through this barren 
 and gameless region, their provisions had become 
 quite exhausted. They chanced to come across 
 some Indians from whom they purchased an old 
 mare. The animal was promptly cut up, cooked and 
 eaten with great gusto. They also obtained, from 
 the same Indians, a small quantity of corn and beans. 
 In the rich meadows of the Colorado our adventurers 
 again found abundance. They spent a few delight 
 ful days here, feasting, trapping and hunting. The 
 animals found, for them, a paradise in the luxuriant 
 pastures of wild oats. 
 
 Again the journey to the west was resumed. The 
 account we have of their movements is so meagre 
 that it is impossible to follow with accuracy the route 
 they traversed. They followed for some leagues a 
 river, when suddenly its waters disappeared. They 
 apparently sank beneath the surface of the quick 
 sands. Still there were indications which enabled 
 them to follow the course of the river, until finally it 
 rose again above the surface, and in the open air 
 flowed on to the ocean. 
 
 At length they reached the celebrated Catholic 
 
AMONG THE TRAPPERS. 59 
 
 Mission of San Gabriel, near the Pacific coast. The 
 Mission was then in a flourishing condition. The 
 statistics, published in 1829, indicate a degree of 
 prosperity which seems almost incredible. More 
 than a thousand Indians were attached to the Mis 
 sion, and were laboring in its widely-extended fields, 
 tending its herds and cultivating the soil. The poor 
 Indians, who were often half starved upon the plains, 
 found here light employment, shelter and abundant 
 food. The statistics to which we refer, state that 
 the Mission had seventy thousand head of cattle, 
 four thousand two hundred horses, four hundred 
 mules, and two hundred and fifty sheep. 
 
 These Missions, several of which were established 
 in a line, within about fifty miles of the Pacific coast, 
 belonged to the Spanish government, and were sup 
 ported by the revenues of the crown. Animals 
 multiplied with great rapidity upon those luxuri 
 ant and almost boundless prairies. They ranged 
 sometimes, it was said, spreading out over a hun 
 dred thousand acres of wonderfully fertile pastures. 
 There must of course, have been much guess-work 
 in estimating the numbers of these vast herds, gene 
 rally wandering unattended at their pleasure. But 
 with such supplies of animal and vegetable food 
 there was no fear of want. The indolent Indians 
 consequently gathered around the Missions in great 
 
60 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 numbers. They were all fond of show, and not 
 unwillingly became such Christians as consists in 
 attending the ceremonies of the church. 
 
 The Mission, with its buildings, cultivated fields 
 and vast herds, seemed like the garden of Eden to 
 our weary travellers. They however, remained here 
 but one day, as they were not on a tour of pleasure 
 but in pursuit of furs. A day's travel brought them 
 to another but much smaller Mission, called San 
 Fernando. Without any delay they pushed on 
 towards the west, their object being to enter the 
 valley of the Sacramento river, where they had been 
 told that beavers could be found in great abundance. 
 They expected to reach the banks of this now 
 renowned, but then scarcely known river, after axfew 
 days' journey in a northeast direction. They were 
 now in a delightful region. The climate was charm 
 ing. Brooks of crystal water, and well filled with 
 fishes, often crossed their path. There was abundant 
 forage for their cattle ; and forest and prairie seemed 
 alive with game. i 
 
 They soon reached the banks of the San Joaquin, 
 a lovely stream flowing northerly and emptying into 
 the Sacramento near its mouth. There, finding a 
 very eligible camping site, and many indications of 
 beaver in the stream, Mr. Young halted his party, 
 to rest for a few days, and in the meantime to set 
 
AMONG THE TRAPPERS. 6 I 
 
 their traps. The general character of the scenery 
 around them may be inferred from Mr. Bryant's 
 description of a similar encampment in his overland 
 journey to California. 
 
 " Finding here an abundance of grass, we remain 
 ed the following day for the benefit of our animals. 
 The valley was probably fifteen miles in length, with 
 a variable width of two or three miles. It was a 
 delightful spot. Wild plants grew in profusion, 
 many-hued flowers studded its surface, and silvery 
 streams, bordered by luxuriant verdure and shrubs, 
 were winding through it. On both sides the moun 
 tains towered up by continuous elevations of several 
 thousand feet, exhibiting a succession of rich vege 
 tation, and then craggy and sterile cliffs, capped by 
 virgin snow, the whole forming a landscape of rare 
 combinations of the beautiful and sublime." 
 
 After a short rest the trappers continued their 
 journey slowly, setting their traps on the San Joa- 
 quin and its tributaries. Pretty soon, much to their 
 surprise, they saw indications that there was another 
 band trapping on the same streams. In a short time 
 they met, and it was found that the other party 
 belonged to the Hudson Bay Company, and was 
 commanded by Peter Ogden. 
 
 It is pleasant to record that the two parties, 
 instead of fighting each other as rivals, cordially 
 
62 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 fraternized. For several weeks they trapped near 
 together, often meeting and ever interchanging the 
 courtesies of brotherly kindness. These men were 
 from Canada. They were veterans in the profession 
 of hunting and trapping, having long been in the 
 employment of the Hudson Bay Company, and 
 having served a regular apprenticeship to prepare 
 them for their difficult aud arduous employment. 
 Here again the peculiarity of Kit Carson's character 
 was developed. Instead of assuming that he knew 
 all that was to be known about the wilderness, and 
 the business in which he was engaged, he lost no 
 opportunity of acquiring all the information he could 
 from these strangers. He questioned them very 
 carefully, and his experience was such as to enable 
 him to ask just such questions as were most impor 
 tant. 
 
 There is scarcely a man in America who has not 
 heard the name of Kit Carson. No man can make 
 his name known among the forty millions of this 
 continent, unless there be something extraordinary 
 in his character and achievements. Kit Carson was 
 an extraordinary character. His wide-spread fame 
 was not the result of accident. His achievements 
 were not merely impulsive movements. He was a 
 man of pure mind, of high morality, and intensely 
 devoted to the life-work which he had chosen. His 
 
AMONG THE TRAPPERS. 6$ 
 
 studies during the winter in the cabin of Kin Cade, 
 had made him a proficient in the colloquial Spanish 
 language. This proved to him an invaluable acqui 
 sition. He had also gathered and stored away in his 
 retentive memory all that this veteran ranger of the 
 woods could communicate respecting the geography 
 of the Far West, the difficulties to be encountered 
 and the mode of surmounting them. And now he 
 was learning everything that could be learned from 
 these Canadian boatmen and rangers. 
 
 Already young Carson had attained eminence. 
 It was often said, " No matter what happens, Kit 
 Carson always knows at the moment exactly what is 
 best to be done." 
 
 Both as a hunter and a trapper, though he had 
 not yet attained the age of manhood, he was 
 admitted to be the ablest man in the party. And 
 his native dignity of person and sobriety of mariners 
 commanded universal respect. In this lovely valley 
 both parties lived, as trappers, luxuriously. They 
 were very successful with their traps. And deer, elk 
 and antelope were roving about in such thousands, 
 that any number could be easily taken. These were 
 indeed the sunny, festival days of our adventurers. 
 
 The two united parties, trapping all the way, 
 followed down the valley of San Joaquin to the Sac 
 ramento. Here they separated. The Hudson Bay 
 
64 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 Company set out for. the Columbia river. Mr. Young 
 and his party remained to trap in the valley of the 
 Sacramento. At this time an event occurred which 
 again illustrates the fearlessness, sagacity and energy 
 of Kit Carson. 
 
 Not very far from their encampment there was 
 the Catholic Mission of San Rafael. Some Indians 
 belonging to that Mission, after committing sundry 
 atrocities, fled, and took refuge in a distant Indian 
 village. It was deemed important, in order that the 
 Indians might be held under salutary restraint, that 
 such a crime should not go unpunished. A force 
 was sent to demand the surrender of the fugitives. 
 But the Indians assumed a hostiFe attitude, refused 
 to give up the criminals, and fiercely attacking the 
 Mission party, drove them back with loss. 
 
 The Mission applied to the trappers for assistance. 
 The request was promptly granted. Such a victory 
 wonld puff up the Indians, render them insolent, and 
 encourage them to make war upon other parties of 
 the whites. Eleven volunteers were selected for 
 the expedition, and the young and fragile Kit Car 
 son was entrusted with the command. In manners 
 he was gentle as a girl, with a voice as soft as that 
 of a woman. He had no herculean powers of mus 
 cle, but he had mind, mental powers which had been 
 developed in a hundred emergencies. And these 
 

AMONG THE TRAPPERS. 65 
 
 stout, hardy veterans of the wilderness seem with 
 one accord to have decided that he was the fitting 
 one to lead them into battle, where they were to 
 encounter perhaps hundreds of savage warriors. 
 
 Cautiously Kit Carson led his little band so as to 
 approach the Indian village unperceived. At a given 
 signal they raised the war-whoop and impetuously 
 charged into the cluster of wigwams. As the terri 
 fied warriors rushed out of the huts, all unprepared 
 for battle, these unerring marksmen laid them low. 
 One-third of the warriors were slain. The rest fled 
 in dismay. The village was captured with the 
 women and the children. The victorious Carson 
 then demanded the immediate surrender of the 
 criminals. The next day they were brought in, 
 strongly bound, and delivered to the Mission. With 
 his heroic little band Kit Carson returned to the 
 encampment, apparently unconscious that he had 
 performed any unusual feat. 
 
 The trappers purchased of the Mission sixty 
 horses, paying for them in beaver skins, which always 
 had a cash value. These horses were indispensable 
 to the trapper. It required a large number to carry 
 the packs of a successful trapping party. It would 
 be impossible for the trappers to transport the packs 
 upon their own backs. A party of forty trappers 
 would need each a horse to ride. Then generally 
 
66 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 each man led a spare horse, lest the one he rode 
 should break a limb or in any other way give out in 
 the midst of the wilderness. If the expedition were 
 successful, each trapper would have three or four 
 horses or mules to lead or drive, laden with the 
 packs of skins, the traps, camping utensils and a 
 supply of food for an emergency. Thus a party of 
 forty men would sometimes be accompanied by 
 more than two hundred horses. Horses were cheap, 
 and their food on the rich prairies cost nothing. 
 But it was necessary to guard the animals with the 
 greatest care, for the Indians were continually 
 watching for opportunities to steal them. 
 
 Soon after Mr. Young, whose party it will be re 
 membered now consisted of eighteen men, had made 
 his purchase of horses, in preparation for a return, 
 as the animals were feeding on the open prairie, a 
 band of Indians succeeded one night in stealing sixty 
 of them, and with their booty, like the wind they 
 fled towards the valleys of the Snow mountains. 
 Such a cavalcade of horses in one band, travelling 
 over the turf of the prairie, would leave a trail behind 
 which could easily be followed. The number of the 
 Indian thieves was not known, though the boldness 
 of the robbery and their tracks indicated that the 
 band must have been large. 
 
 Twelve men were immediately detached to pur- 
 
AMONG THE TRAPPERS. / 
 
 sue the gang. Young Carson was then appointed 
 leader. There were but fourteen horses left in the 
 camp. Carson, having mounted his twelve men, had 
 the other two horses led, to meet any emergency. 
 Vigorously the pursuit was pressed. There was no 
 difficulty in keeping the track. The Indian with all 
 his cunning was never the equal of the far more in 
 telligent white man. Indeed the ordinary savage 
 was often but a grown up-child. 
 
 For more than one hundred miles Carson contin 
 ued his pursuit before he came up with the robbers. 
 They had already entered the green valleys of the 
 Snowy mountains. The eagle eye of the pursuer 
 saw some smoke circling up in the distance. No or 
 dinary eye would have perceived it. Immediately 
 he dismounted his men, and tethered the horses. 
 The rifles were carefully examined, that every one 
 might be loaded, primed, and in perfect order. The 
 band then cautiously pressed forward, led by their 
 boy captain, till they came to the entrance -of a wild 
 but lovely glen, where at the distance of perhaps a 
 mile, they saw these savage warriors, enjoying all 
 the luxury of a barbaric encampment. A mountain 
 stream, rippled through the valley. The horses were 
 grazing in the rich pasture. The thieves had killed 
 six of the fat young horses, and having cooked them 
 and feasted to utter repletion, were lounging around, 
 
68 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 basking in the sun, in the fullness of savage felicity. 
 Little were they aware of the tempest of destruction 
 and death about to burst upon them. 
 
 The Indians could not have chosen a more de 
 lightful spot for their encampment and their feast. 
 Neither could they have selected a spot more favor 
 able for the unseen approach of the pursuers. But 
 the savages, having accomplished more than a hun 
 dred miles, deemed themselves perfectly safe. 
 
 Carson carefully reconnoitred the position, gave 
 minute directions to his men, and they all, with the 
 noiseless, stealthy movement of the panther, worked 
 their way along until they were within rifle distance 
 of their foes. Every man selected his victim and 
 took deliberate aim. The signal was given. The 
 discharge was .simultaneous. Twelve bullets struck 
 twelve warriors. Most of them dropped instantly 
 dead. Almost with the rapidity of thought the rifles 
 were loaded, and the little band rushed upon the 
 bewildered, terror-stricken, bleeding savages. The 
 Indians scattered in every direction. Eight were 
 killed outright. Carson had no love of slaughter. 
 Many more, in their flight, might have been struck 
 by the bullet ; but they were allowed to escape. All 
 the horses were recovered excepting the six which 
 the Indians had killed. 
 
 Great was the. rejoicing in the camp when the 
 
AMONG THE TRAPPERS. 69 
 
 victorious party returned so abundantly successful. 
 One of the annalists of this extraordinary man speak 
 ing of the enterprise, very truthfully writes : 
 
 " Carson, though at that day a youth in years and 
 experience, had risen rapidly in the estimation of all, 
 and had excited the admiration and enlisted the 
 confidence of the entire band. When called upon to 
 add his counsel, concerning any doubtful enterprise, 
 his masterly foresight and shrewdness, as well as 
 clearness in attending to details, gave him willing 
 auditors. 
 
 " But it was the modest deportment he invariably 
 wore, which won for him the love of his associates. 
 Kit Carson's power in quickly conceiving the safest 
 plan of action in difficult emergencies, and his brav 
 ery, which in his youth, sometimes amounted to rash 
 ness, caused his companions to follow his leadership. 
 His courage, promptitude, self-reliance, caution, sym 
 pathy and care for the wounded, marked him at once 
 as the master mind. 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 grey 
 with experience.'' 
 
 The highest style of manhood, the most attractive 
 character is that in which the mildness and the deli 
 cacy of the woman is combined with the energy and 
 the fearlessness of the man. In Kit Carson we witness 
 
70 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 a wonderful combination of these two qualities. An 
 acquaintance of the writer, who spent many years of 
 his early life roving through the wilderness of the far 
 West, and who had often met Kit Carson, said he 
 never heard an oath from his lips. Even the rude 
 and profane trappers around him could appreciate 
 the superior dignity of such a character. 
 
 Rev. Dr. Bushnell, speaking of the region in 
 which our trappers were engaged, says, " Middle 
 California, lying between the head waters of the two 
 great rivers, and about four hundred and fifty or five 
 hundred miles long from north to south, is divided 
 lengthwise parallel to the coast, into three strips or 
 ribbons of about equal width. First the coastwise 
 region comprising two, three, and sometimes four 
 parallel tiers of mountains, from five hundred to four 
 thousand, five thousand or even ten thousand feet 
 high. Next, advancing inward we have a middle 
 strip, from fifty to seventy miles wide, of almost dead 
 plain, which is called the great valley; down the 
 scarcely perceptible slopes of which from north to 
 south, and south to north run the two great rivers, 
 the Sacramento and the San Joaquin, to join their 
 waters at the middle of the basin, and pass off to 
 the sea. The third long strip or ribbon is the 
 slope of the Snowy mountain chain which bound 
 
AMONG THE TRAPPERS. 71 
 
 the great valley on the East, and contains in its foot 
 hills, or rather its lower half, all the gold mines." 
 
 It was in this middle region called The Great Val 
 ley, that Mr. Young and his trappers pursued their 
 vocation. They commenced far south, at the head 
 waters of the San Joaquin, and trapped down that 
 stream, a distance of about one hundred and fifty 
 miles. They then struck the greater flood of the 
 Sacramento, and followed up that stream nearly 
 three hundred and fifty miles. They had now 
 obtained furs enough to load down all the horses and 
 mules at their disposal. They prepared to return to 
 Santa Fe, where they were sure of a ready market 
 for their furs, which would be sent to Europe for 
 their final sale. 
 
CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Conflicts with the Indians. 
 
 The American Trapper. The Trapper of the Hudson's Bay Com 
 pany. The Return Trip. Polished Life in the Wilderness. 
 The Spanish Gentlemen. Council of the Trappers. Self-pos 
 session of Kit Carson. The Camp Cleared of Intruders. Rob 
 bing the Robbers. Sale of the Furs. Mr. Fitzpatrick's Expe 
 dition. Pains and Pleasures of Rocky Mountain Life. Pursuit 
 of Indian Horse Thieves. Extraordinary Battle. 
 
 IN the last chapter we have alluded to the 
 friendly meeting, in the valley of San Joaquin, of 
 the American trappers with a party from Canada, 
 sent put by the Hudson's Bay Company. It is a 
 remarkable fact, but one which all will admit, that 
 the Hudson's Bay Company maintained far more 
 friendly relations with the Indians than the Ameri 
 cans secured. In fact, they seldom had any difficulty 
 with them whatever. The following reasons seem 
 quite satisfactorily to explain this difference. It is 
 said : 
 
 " The American trapper was not like the Hud 
 son's Bay employees, bred to the business. Oftener 
 than any other way he was some wild youth who, 
 
CONFLICTS WITH THE INDIANS. 73 
 
 after some misdemeanor in the society of his native 
 place, sought safety from reproach or punishment in 
 the wilderness. Or he was some disappointed man, 
 who with feelings embittered towards his fellows, 
 preferred the seclusion of the forest and mountain. 
 Many were of a class disreputable everywhere, who 
 gladly embraced a life not subject to social laws. A 
 few were brave, independent and hardy spirits, who 
 delighted in the hardships and wild adventures their 
 calling made necessary. All these men, the best 
 with the worst, were subject to no will but their 
 own. And all experience goes to prove that a life 
 of perfect liberty is apt to degenerate into a life of 
 license. 
 
 " Even their own lives, and those of their com 
 panions, when it depended upon their own prudence, 
 were but lightly considered. The constant presence 
 of danger made them reckless. It is easy to con 
 ceive how, under these circumstances, the natives 
 and the foreigners grew to hate each other, in the 
 Indian country, especially after the Americans came 
 to the determination to " shoot an Indian at sight." 
 
 " On the , other hand, the employees of the 
 Hudson's Bay Company were many of them half- 
 breeds, or full-blooded Indians of the Iroquois 
 nation, towards whom nearly all the tribes were 
 kindly disposed. Even the Frenchmen, who trapped 
 4 
 
74 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 for this Company, were well liked by the Indians on 
 account of their suavity of manner, and the ease 
 with which they adapted themselves to savage life. 
 They were trained to the life of a trapper, were 
 subject to the will of the Company, and were gene 
 rally just and equitable in their dealing with the 
 Indians. Most of them also had native wives, and 
 half-breed children, and were regarded as relatives. 
 There was a wide difference." 
 
 It was the month of September when Mr. Young 
 and his party set out on their return. The home 
 ward route was essentially the same which they had 
 already traversed. They made a brief visit at the 
 Mission of San Fernando, and then pressed on to the 
 flourishing Mission village of Los Angelos. This 
 City of the Angels, as it was called, from the salubrity 
 of the climate and the beauty of the scenery, was on 
 a small river about four hundred and fifty miles south 
 east from the present site of San Francisco. 
 
 Here Mr. Carson was introduced to a scene of 
 refined and polished life, such as he had never wit 
 nessed before. He was informed that a Spanish 
 gentleman of wealth was residing, at the distance of 
 a few miles, on one of the most highly cultivated 
 farms in the country. Young Carson, who never 
 allowed any opportunity of extcnding'his knowledge 
 to escape him, dressed himself carefully in his best 
 
CONFLICTS WITH THE INDIANS. 75 
 
 apparel, mounted a fine horse, well caparisoned, and 
 set out to pay the Spaniard a visit. 
 
 He reached the ranche, as the farm was called, 
 dismounted at a wicket gate, and having fastened his 
 horse, walked up several rods, over a gravelled-walk, 
 and beneath an avenue of trees, with occasional 
 clumps of shrubs and flowers, until he reached the 
 residence. It consisted of a spacious one story edi 
 fice, built of sun-baked bricks, called adobe. The 
 dwelling was a hundred feet long, and the roof was 
 rendered impenetrable to rain, being covered with a 
 thick coating of asphaltum, mingled with sand. There 
 was a spring of this valuable pitchy substance near 
 the village ; and the roofs of all the houses in Los 
 Angelos were similarly covered. 
 
 A huge brass knocker was attached to the door. 
 In response to its summons, an Indian girl made her 
 appearance, and ushered him into an elegantly fur 
 nished parlor. There were several guitars lying about, 
 with other indications that there were ladies in the 
 household. Soon the gentlemanly owner of the 
 farm appeared, in morning gown and slippers. He 
 was a fine looking man, of dignified address, and 
 courteously he saluted the stranger. 
 
 There was a native air of refinement about Kit 
 Carson, with his highly intellectual features, and his 
 modest, self-possessed bearing, which seemed always 
 
76 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 to win, at sight, interest and confidence. Carson in 
 troduced himself as an American, though he spoke 
 in the Spanish language. His host, evidently much 
 pleased with his guest, replied in English, saying: 
 
 " I address you in your native tongue, which I 
 presume is agreeable to you, though you speak very 
 good Spanish/' 
 
 The parties were immediately on the most friend 
 ly terms. Carson sought information which the 
 Spanish gentleman was able and happy to give. It 
 was an early hour in the morning. Carson was in 
 vited to remain to breakfast, and was soon conducted 
 to the breakfast-room, where he was introduced to 
 the wife of his host, and se.veral sons and daughters. 
 
 There was no restraint in conversation, as both 
 parties could speak, with equal apparent facility, the 
 Spanish and the English. There was a young gentle 
 man from Massachusetts, a graduate from a New 
 England college, who was private tutor in the family. 
 After breakfast the stranger was conducted around 
 the farm, and to the vineyard. 
 
 " I have more grapes," said the host, " than I 
 know what to do with. Last year I made more butts 
 of wine than I could dispose of, and dried five thou 
 sand pounds of raisins. I have travelled through 
 Europe, and I think that neither the valley of the 
 Rhine nor the Tagus can produce such grapes as ours. 
 
CONFLICTS WITH THE INDIANS. 77 
 
 I think that the Los Angelos grape is indeed food 
 for angels. They are equal to the grapes of Eschol. 
 You remember the heavy clusters that were found 
 there, so that two men carried one on a pole resting 
 upon their shoulders. See that vine now. It is six 
 inches in diameter. And yet it needs a prop to sus 
 tain the weight of the two clusters of grapes which it 
 bears." 
 
 " I have more oranges/' he said, u than I can 
 either use or give away. This is the finest country 
 the sun shines upon. We can live luxuriously upon 
 just what will grow on our own farms. But we can 
 not get rich. Our cattle will only bring the value of 
 the hides. Our horses are of little worth, for there 
 are plenty running wild, which a good huntsman can 
 take with a lasso. I think that we shall have the 
 Americans with us before many years, and, for my 
 part, I hope we shall. The idea of the Californians 
 generally, as well as other Mexicans, that the Ameri 
 cans are too shrewd for them, is true enough. But cer 
 tainly there is plenty of room for a large population, 
 and I should prefer that the race that has most enter 
 prise should come and cultivate the country with us." 
 
 Thus the conversation continued for two hours. 
 Young Carson modestly suggested that it would be 
 better if the Spaniards were less cruel in breaking in 
 their horses. 
 
78 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 " Your horses,'' said he, " would make excellent 
 buffalo hunters with proper training. I have some 
 horses at camp, that I intend shall see buffalo. But 
 why do you not deal gently with them when they 
 are first caught? You might thus preserve all the 
 spirit they have in the herd. Pardon me, but I think 
 that in taming your horses you break their spirits." 
 
 " I sometimes think so too," the Spanish gentle 
 man replied. " We mount one just caught from the 
 drove, and ride him until he becomes gentle from 
 exhaustion. Our custom is brought from Spain. It 
 answers well enough with us, where our horses go in 
 droves ; and when one is used up, we turn him out 
 and take up another." 
 
 When young Carson took his leave, the Spaniard, 
 with true Castilian courtesy, pressed his hand, thanked 
 him for his visit, and promised to return it at the 
 camp. It was thus instinctively that Kit Carson, 
 naturally a gentleman, took his position among gen 
 tlemen. 
 
 In the meantime most of the rude trappers, seem 
 ing to be almost of a different nature from Kit Car 
 son, were indulging in a drunken carouse at Los 
 Angelos. They got into a brawl with the Mexicans. 
 Knives were drawn, wounds inflicted, and one Mexi 
 can was killed. 
 
 It became necessary to get these men away as 
 
CONFLICTS WITH THE INDIANS. 79 
 
 soon as possible. Carson was sent forward a day's 
 march, with all who could be collected. The 
 next day Mr. Young followed, having with much 
 difficulty gathered the remainder of the band. Soon 
 the party was reunited, and the men were recovered 
 from their shameful debauch. Then for nine days 
 they vigorously continued their march homeward, 
 when they again reached the banks of the Colorado 
 river, not far from the spot where they had crossed it 
 before. 
 
 Here they encamped for a few days, while most 
 of the men ranged the stream for many miles up and 
 down, still very successfully setting their traps. Car 
 son, with half a dozen men, was left to guard the 
 camp. It was a responsible position. Nearly all the 
 horses were there, and all the treasures of furs which 
 they had gathered in their long and laborious excur 
 sion. As the animals were turned out to graze, the 
 packs, which were taken from them, were arranged 
 in a circular form so as to enclose quite a space, like 
 a fortress. These bundles of furs not even a bullet 
 could penetrate. Thus Kit Carson reared for himself 
 and men a rampart, as General Jackson protected his 
 troops with cotton bags a.t New Orleans. 
 
 Scarcely was this work completed, when a band 
 of five hundred Indians was seen approaching. As 
 usual, they stopped at a short distance from the 
 
8O CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 fortified camp, and a few of the warriors, laying 
 aside their arms and expressing by words and ges 
 tures the utmost friendliness, came forward and were 
 admitted into the camp. They were followed by 
 others. Soon there were enough stalwart savages 
 there easily to overpower, in a hand-to-hand fight, the 
 feeble garrison of but six men. Carson's suspicions 
 were excited, and watching their movements with an 
 eagle eye, he soon discovered that they all had con 
 cealed weapons. 
 
 Without the slightest apparent alarm he quietly 
 summoned his men, with their rifles, into one corner 
 of the enclosure. Then in his usual soft voice he 
 directed each man to take deliberate aim at some one 
 of the prominent chiefs. He himself presented the 
 muzzle of his rifle within a few yards of the head of 
 the leader of the now astonished and affrighted 
 party. This was all the work of a moment. Then 
 calmly he said to the leader, <{ leave this fort instantly 
 or you are dead men." A moment of hesitation on 
 their part, a word of parleying would have been 
 followed by the simultaneous discharge of the rifles, 
 and six of the warriors at least, would have been 
 numbered with the dead. In a moment the fort was 
 cleared, and the savages did not stop until they had 
 got beyond the reach of rifle bullets. 
 
 One of these Indians could speak Spanish. Thus 
 
CONFLICTS WITH THE INDIANS. 8 1 
 
 Kit Carson again found tfre inestimable advantage 
 of his winter's studies in the cabin of Kin Cade. 
 The Indians, five hundred in number, might easily, 
 at the expense of the loss" of a few lives, have over 
 powered the white men, and seized all their animals 
 and their goods. But Carson well knew their habits, 
 and that they would never hazard a contest where 
 they must with certainty expect a number of their 
 own warriors to be slain. Friendly relations were 
 opened with the Indians, only two or three being 
 admitted to the fort at a time. The animals were 
 tethered in the rich herbage within the protection 
 of their rifles and were carefully watched, night and 
 day. 
 
 In a few days the men who had left the camp on 
 a trapping expedition, returned. The whole united 
 company then followed down the south bank of the 
 Colorado, setting their traps every night, until they 
 reached its tide waters. From that point they 
 struck over east to the river Gila, and trapped up 
 the western banks of that river until they reached 
 the mouth of the San Pedro, a distance of more 
 than two hundred miles. 
 
 Their animals now were very heavily laden with 
 furs, and they were in great need of more beasts of 
 burden. The following is the account which is given 
 of the manner in which they obtained a supply. It 
 
 
 4* 
 
82 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 certainly looks very suspicious. It is not improbable 
 that the Indians, had they any historians, would give 
 a very different version of the story. 
 
 " Near the mouth of the San Pedro river they 
 discovered a large herd of horses and mules. On a 
 closer examination they found that they were in pos 
 session of a band of Indians, who had formerly given 
 them some of their gratuitous hostilities. Not hav 
 ing 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 suf 
 ficed 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 fight 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 
 sleep, and while enjoying their slumbers, a noise 
 reached their ears which sounded very much like 
 distant 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 
 
CONFLICTS WITH THE INDIANS. 83 
 
 in the mountains a man's gun rests in the same 
 blanket with himself, x>n all sleeping occasions, they 
 sallied forth to reconnoitre, and discovered a few war 
 riors driving along a band of at least two hundred 
 horses. The trappers comprehended instantly that 
 the warriors had been to the Mexican settlement in 
 Sonora, on a thieving expedition, and that the horses 
 had changed hands, with only one party to the bar 
 gain. The opportunity to instil a lesson on the sav 
 age marauders was too good to be lost. 
 
 " They saluted the thieves with a volley from their 
 rifles, which, with the bullets 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 were the morals of the wilderness. Mr. 
 Young resolved himself into a court, of which he was 
 legislator, judge, jury and executioner. The property 
 of others he could confiscate at pleasure, for his own 
 use. The Indians probably retaliated upon the first 
 
 
84 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 band of white men which came within their power. 
 And this retaliation would be deemed an act of 
 wanton savage barbarism demanding the extinction 
 of a tribe. 
 
 Continuing their march up the Gila river, trapping 
 ,all the way, from its head waters they struck across 
 the country to Santa Fe. Here they found a ready 
 market for their furs, at twelve dollars a pound. 
 Their mules were laden down with two thousand 
 pounds. Thus the pecuniary results of the trip 
 amounted to the handsome sum of twenty four thou 
 sand dollars. The trappers, flush with money, re 
 turned to Taos. The vagabonds of the party soon 
 squandered their earnings in rioting, and were then 
 eager to set out on another excursion. It was now 
 April, 1830. 
 
 Young Carson was at this time a very handsome 
 young man of twenty-one years. He had obtained a 
 high reputation, and his pockets were full of money, 
 with which he scarcely knew what to do. It is said 
 that, for a time, he was led astray by the convivial 
 temptations with which he was surrounded. To 
 what length he went we cannot ascertain. There is 
 no available information upon this point. Perhaps 
 the whole story is but one of those slanders to which 
 all men are exposed. One of his annalists writes : 
 
 " Young Kit, at this period of his life, imitated 
 
CONFLICTS WITH THE INDIANS. 85 
 
 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 noble for the con 
 science polish which he received. He contracted no 
 bad habits, but learned the usefulness and happiness 
 of resisting temptation ; and became so well schooled 
 that he was able, by the caution and advice of wis 
 dom founded on experience, to prevent many a 
 promising and skilful hand from grasping ruin in the 
 same vortex." 
 
 In the fall of this year Kit joined another trap 
 ping expedition. Its destination was to the innu 
 merable streams and valleys among the Rocky 
 mountains. Mr. Fitzpatrick, a man of good reputa 
 tion and a veteran trapper, had charge of the party. 
 Crossing a pass of the Rocky mountains, they 
 pursued their route in a direction nearly north, a 
 distance of about three hundred miles, till they 
 reached the head waters of the Platte river. They 
 were now on the eastern side of those gigantic 
 ranges which form the central portion of the North 
 American Continent. 
 
 Here, in the midst of the mountains, the winter 
 was inclement, with piercing blasts and deep snows. 
 Still the trappers, warmly clad, vigorously pursued 
 
86 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 both hunting and trapping, availing themselves of 
 every pleasant day. In inclement weather they 
 gathered joyously around their ample camp-fires, 
 finding ever enough to do in cooking, dressing their 
 skins, repairing garments, making moccasins, and in 
 keeping their guns and knives in order. Some of 
 these valleys were found sheltered and sunny. Even 
 in mid-winter there were days of genial warmth. 
 They occasionally changed their camp and trapped 
 along the banks of the Green, the Bear and the 
 Salmon rivers. 
 
 During the winter one sad incident occurred. 
 Four of the trappers who were out in pursuit of 
 game, were 'surrounded and overpowered by a nu 
 merous -party of Blackfeet Indians, and all were 
 killed. There were buffaloes in abundance in that 
 region, and these animals found ample forage, as 
 they had the range of hundreds of miles, and 
 instinct guided them to sheltered and verdant glens. 
 But in some of the narrow, wind-swept valleys the 
 animals of the trappers suffered from exposure and 
 want of food. They were kept alive by cutting 
 down cottonwood trees and gathering the bark and 
 branches for fodder. But the trappers themselves, 
 having abundance of game, fared sumptuously. 
 
 The beaver is so intelligent that he is one of the 
 most difficult animals in the world to entrap. Mar- 
 
CONFLICTS WITH THE INDIANS. 8/ 
 
 vellous stories are told by the hunters of his sagacity. 
 Many of the Indians believe that the beavers have 
 human intelligence. They say that the only differ 
 ence between the beaver and the Indian, is that the 
 latter has been endowed by the Great Spirit with 
 capabilities to catch the former. 
 
 Among these bleak, barren, gigantic ridges there 
 are many lovely valleys to be found, scores of miles 
 in length and width. Here are found two extensive 
 natural parks, of extraordinary beauty. Apparently 
 no landscape gardener could have laid them out 
 more tastefully. There are wide-spread lawns, some 
 times level as a floor, sometimes gently undulating, 
 smooth, green and at times decorated with an 
 almost inconceivable brilliance of flowers. Here and 
 there groves are sprinkled, entirely free from under 
 brush. There are running streams and crystal lake 
 lets. Birds of brilliant plumage sport upon the 
 waters. Buffaloes, often in immense numbers, crop 
 the luxuriant herbage. Deer, elks and antelopes 
 bound over these fields, reminding one of his childish 
 visions of Paradise. In the streams otter and 
 beaver find favorite haunts. 
 
 During the winter, as business was a little dull, 
 Kit Carson and four of his companions set off on a 
 private hunting expedition. They were gone about 
 six weeks. Soon after their return, in the latter 
 
88 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 part of January, a party of Crow Indians, one very 
 dark night, succeeded in stealthily approaching the 
 camp and in driving off nine of the animals which 
 were grazing at a short distance. It was not until 
 morning that the loss was discovered. 
 
 As usual Kit Carson was sent, at the head of 
 twelve men, in pursuit of the thieves. They selected 
 their best horses, for it was certain that the Indians 
 would make no delay in their flight. It was found 
 quite difficult to follow their trail, for, during the 
 night, a herd of several thousand buffaloes had 
 crossed and recrossed it, quite trampling it out of 
 sight. Still the sagacity of Carson triumphed, and 
 after being baffled for a short time, he again with 
 certainty struck the trail. 
 
 For forty miles the pursuit was continued with 
 much vigor. The horses then began to give out. 
 Night was approaching. Carson thought it neces 
 sary to go into camp till morning, that the horses 
 might be refreshed and recruited. There was a 
 grove near by. Just as they were entering it for 
 their sheltered encampment, Kit Carson saw the 
 smoke of Indian fires at no great distance in advance 
 of him. He had no doubt that the smoke came 
 from the encampment of the party he was pursuing. 
 
 The Indians had fled from the north. Of course 
 it would be from the north that they would look for 
 
CONFLICTS WITH THE INDIANS. 89 
 
 the approach of their pursuers. The southern 
 borders of their camp would consequently be less 
 carefully guarded. The trappers remained quietly in 
 their hiding-place until midnight. They then took a 
 wide circuit, so as to approach the Indians from the 
 south. The savages seemed to have lost all fear of 
 pursuit, for the gleam of their triumphal fires shone 
 far and wide, and the shouts of their barbaric revelry 
 resounded over the prairie. 
 
 Very cautiously Carson and his men approached, 
 availing themselves of every opportunity of conceal 
 ment, creeping for a long distance upon their hands 
 and knees. Having arrived within half gunshot they 
 gazed upon a very singular spectacle, and one which 
 would have been very alarming to any men but 
 those accustomed to the perils of the wilderness. 
 
 A large number of Indian warriors, painted, 
 plumed and decorated in the highest style of savage 
 taste, were celebrating what they deemed a victory 
 over the white men. Their camp was in a beautiful 
 grove, on what would be called an undulating prairie. 
 There was some broken ground which facilitated 
 the approach of the trappers. The nine horses they 
 had stolen were tethered in some rich grass, at a 
 short distance from the encampment. The Indians 
 had erected two large huts, or wigwams, which, in 
 their caution, they had constructed partially as forts, 
 
90 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 into which they could retreat and protect themselves 
 should they be attacked. 
 
 The large fires were burning hotly. At these 
 fires they had roasted two horses, and had feasted to 
 satiety. They were now dancing franticly around 
 these fires, brandishing their weapons, shouting their 
 rude songs of defiance and exultation, interspersed 
 with occasional bursts of the shrill and piercing war- 
 whoop. The savages outnumbered the trappers many 
 to one. They were also armed with rifles and had 
 learned how to use them skillfully. Thus, in view 
 of a battle, the odds seemed fearfully against the 
 trappers. 
 
 It was a dark night in January, and a piercing 
 winter wind swept the prairie. Even savage muscles 
 will get weary in the frenzied dance, and the con 
 tinuously repeated war-whoop will exhaust the most 
 stentorian lungs. Carson ordered his men to remain 
 perfectly quiet in their concealment. As they had 
 but a scanty allowance of clothing, they suffered 
 much from the intense cold. Soon after midnight 
 the savages threw themselves down around the fires 
 and most of them were soon soundly asleep. 
 
 Kit Carson then, with five of his companions, 
 cautiously crept towards the horses, drew out the 
 picket-pins and led them a short distance to a place 
 of concealment nearer their own camp. Several of 
 
CONFLICTS WITH THE INDIANS. 9! 
 
 the party were then in favor of returning, with their 
 recovered property, as rapidly as possible. They 
 would have several hours' advantage of the savages, 
 and they thought it not advisable to provoke a conflict 
 with foes outnumbering them, and who were also 
 armed with rifles. 
 
 But Mr. Carson said, " our horses are exhausted. 
 We cannot travel fast. We shall certainly be pur 
 sued. The Indians can judge from our trail how few 
 we are in numbers. They are perfectly acquainted 
 with the country. They can select their point of 
 attack. With their large numbers they can surround 
 us First they will shoot our horses. Then we shall 
 be on foot and at their mercy. We now can take 
 them by surprise. Our only safety consists in so 
 weakening them, and appalling them by the vehe 
 mence of our attack, that they will have no heart to 
 renew the conflict." 
 
 We do not profess to give Mr. Carson's precise 
 words. These were his views. They were so mani 
 festly correct that all, at once, fell in with them. 
 The united party then again advanced, with rifles 
 cocked and primed, towards the Indian camp. The 
 trappers were in the shade. The recumbent forms 
 of the sleeping Indians were revealed by the smoul 
 dering fires. When they were within a few .yards of 
 the foe, an Indian dog gave the alarm. Instantly 
 
92 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 every savage sprang to his feet, presenting a perfect 
 target to these marksmen who never missed their 
 aim. There was almost an instantaneous discharge 
 of rifles and thirteen Indian warriors fell weltering in 
 their blood. 
 
 The rest, thus suddenly awoke from sound sleep, 
 witnessing the sudden carnage, and with no foe 
 visible, fled precipitately to their forts. But the 
 trappers instantly reloaded their pieces and, secure 
 from harm, in the darkness, and behind the trees, 
 struck with the bullet every exposed Indian, and 
 five more fell. This was an awful loss to the Indians. 
 Still they greatly outnumbered the whites. But 
 they were caught in a trap. They had neither food 
 nor water in their forts. Not an Indian could creep 
 from them without encountering certain death. 
 
 Upon the dawn of day the Indians were able to 
 ascertain that their foes were but few in number. 
 As the only possible resort, which could save them 
 from destruction, they decided to make a simulta 
 neous rush, from the forts into the grove, and to take 
 their stand also behind the protection of the trees. 
 This would give them, with their superior numbers, 
 the advantage over the trappers. They were good 
 marksmen with the rifle, and were accustomed to 
 that style of fighting. Mr. Carson was prepared for 
 this movement. They made the rush, and they 
 
CONFLICTS WITH THE INDIANS. 93 
 
 met their doom. Thirteen more warriors were 
 struck down, either killed or severely wounded. 
 
 The Indians had now lost thirty-one warriors. 
 Discouraged and appalled they retreated. The way 
 was now clear for the return of Kit Carson. The 
 savages made no attempts to obstruct their path. 
 With all the horses which had been stolen, and 
 without a man injured, this Napoleon of the wilder 
 ness re-entered the camp to be greeted by the cheers 
 of his comrades. 
 
CHAPTER V. 
 Marches and Encampments. 
 
 The Encampment Among the Rocky Mountains. The Attempted 
 Stampede. Retreat and Pursuit by the Savages. The Alarm. 
 Loss of the Horses. Their Recovery. Enterprise of Kit Car 
 son. Fight with the Indians. The Litter for the Wounded. 
 Union of the two Trapping Parties. Successful Return to 
 Taos. Carson joins a Trading Party. Chivalric Adventures. 
 Attacked by Bears. 
 
 MR. FlTZPATRICK, with his party of trappers, 
 wandering to and fro, found himself at length en 
 camped on the head waters of the Arkansas river, in 
 the heart of the Rocky mountains, more than a 
 thousand miles from the point where that majestic 
 stream empties into the Mississippi. Their inter 
 course with the Indians had not been such as to 
 secure friendly relations. Powerful tribes were 
 around them, ready to combine for their destruction. 
 The men were widely scattered in their trapping 
 excursions, and but few were left here to guard the 
 camp and the furs already taken. 
 
 It is impossible to trace with accuracy the course 
 pursued by these different bands, neither is it a mat- 
 
MARCHES AND ENCAMPMENTS. 95 
 
 ter of any moment. Kit found himself at one time, 
 left with but one man to guard the camp. He was 
 fully conscious of his danger, and made every possi 
 ble preparation for defence, should they be attacked. 
 With food in abundance, loop-holes properly ar 
 ranged, and a number of rifles ever ready loaded, no 
 war-party, however numerous, could seize the fort 
 without the loss of many of their men. And as we 
 have said, the boldest of these warriors were never 
 willing to expose themselves unprotected to rifle 
 shot. 
 
 Neither of the men dared to venture far from 
 their camp for game. Fortunately this was not 
 necessary. Game existed in such abundance that, 
 almost from the door of their fortification, they could 
 shoot any quantity they needed. They always kept 
 a careful guard. While one slept the other watched. 
 For a month these two men were in this lonely posi 
 tion. At the end of that time Mr. Blackwell, one 
 of the partners in one of these expeditions, arrived 
 with fifteen fresh men, and a very thorough outfit. 
 It was a joyful meeting, and the whole party, taking 
 with them their furs, commenced a march to the Salt 
 springs, near the head waters of the Platte river. 
 
 These adventurers had been but four days on 
 their route, when one morning as they were break 
 fasting, the guard gave the startling cry of " Indians." 
 
96 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 Every man was instantly on his feet, rifle in hand. 
 The horses of the trappers were at but a short dis 
 tance from the camp, turned loose to crop the grass, 
 which was there scanty, wherever they could find it. 
 But when Kit Carson was in a company nothing was 
 ever left to chance. The animals were all carefully 
 hobbled, a hind foot and a fore foot so bound 
 together that they could not possibly run. 
 
 The Indians, on fleet horses, with flaunting pen 
 nons, hair streaming in the wind, and uttering 
 demoniac yells, came down like the sweep of the 
 tornado upon the animals. Their object was to 
 cause a stampede, that is, to throw the animals into 
 such a panic that they would break away from every 
 thing, and follow the Indian horses off into the 
 boundless prairie. The trappers thus left without 
 any steeds, would find pursuit impossible. 
 
 The movement was so sudden and so rapid that, 
 though several shots were fired, but one Indian was 
 struck. He fell dead upon the sod. One horse only 
 was lost. One of the warriors, as he was passing by 
 on the full run, succeeded in cutting the cord of a 
 rearing, struggling steed, and the terrified animal 
 disappeared with the mounted herd. Had it not 
 been for the precaution of hobbling the horses, 
 probably every one would have been lost in this 
 attempted stampede. What is usually called good 
 
MARCHES AND ENCAMPMENTS. 97 
 
 luck, is almost always the result of wise precautions. 
 In reference to this adroit mode of horse-stealing 
 adopted by the Indians, it is written: 
 
 " These stampedes are a source of great profit to 
 the* Indians of the Plains. It is by this means they 
 deprive the caravans of their animals. The Coman- 
 ches are particularly expert and daring in this kind 
 of robbery. They even train horses to run from one 
 given point to another, in expectation 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 victims. All of the picketed animals 
 will attempt to follow, and usually succeed. 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 which generally ensues, often 
 times great injury is done to the runaways them 
 selves. 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 large, the horses scatter 
 over the open country and are irrecoverably lost. 
 
 A favorite policy of the Indian horse thieves is to 
 creep into camp, cut loose one animal and thoroughly 
 5 
 
98 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 frighten him. This animal seldom fails to frighten 
 the remainder, when away they all go with long 
 ropes and picket-pins dangling after them. The 
 latter sometimes act like harpoons, being thrown 
 with such impetus 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, and they are suddenly 
 thrown. Such seldom escape without broken legs 
 or severe contusions, which are often incurable. The 
 necessity of travelling on, without delay, renders it 
 an impossibility to undertake the cure, when it 
 might be practicable under other circumstances." 
 
 The next day the party of trappers travelled fifty 
 miles, till they thought themselves beyond the reach 
 of the hostile savages. Still they knew how stealth 
 ily their trail might be followed, and they were vigi 
 lant to guard against surprise. They selected, for 
 their night's encampment, a beautiful spot upon the 
 banks of a clear mountain stream, which emptied 
 into the Arkansas river. They had there a smooth 
 and verdant meadow, of limited extent, affording 
 fine pasturage. Here the wearied animals were 
 strongly picketed. There was also a grove, where 
 they could obtain fuel and timber for such camp 
 protection as they might require. 
 
 It was nearly dark when they reached this spot, 
 
MARCHES AND ENCAMPMENTS. 99 
 
 hungry and tired after the long journey of the day. 
 But their camp-fires soon blazed brightly. Rich 
 viands of choice cuts of venison and other game, 
 were cooked by artistic hands. And the mountain 
 springs afforded them cool and delicious water. 
 With ravenous appetites they partook of a feast 
 which any gourmand might covet. And then 
 wrapped in their furs, and surrounded by the silence 
 and solitude of the wilderness, with the whole wild 
 scene illumined by their fires, they fell asleep. In 
 accordance with invariable custom a careful guard 
 was set. 
 
 They had one cause of solicitude, which to any 
 person unfamiliar with mountain life would have 
 been very serious ; the place abounded with rattle 
 snakes. The whole region seemed to be a favorite 
 rendezvous for these venomous reptiles. These 
 mountaineers, however, had become so thoroughly 
 acquainted with their habits, as to sleep in the midst 
 of them without anxiety. In the night the rattle 
 snake seldom moves, in the daytime with his rattles 
 he gives chivalric warning before he strikes with his 
 fangs. Consequently it is not often that the trapper 
 or the Indian is bitten. 
 
 Our travellers carefully examined the ground 
 over which they reared their frail shelters, and then 
 folded in their blankets or buffalo robes, experienced 
 
100 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 no solicitude. About midnight a faithful dog began 
 to bark furiously. It was not doubted that the 
 sagacious animal scented the approach of Indians. 
 Every trapper was instantly on his feet, with his 
 rifle in his hand. Their attention was immediately 
 directed to the horses. The Indians were- profes 
 sional thieves, not murderers ; they were in search 
 of booty, not of revenge. And when they sought to 
 take the lives of the trappers, it was merely as a 
 necessary means for attaining their end of robbery. 
 
 It subsequently appeared that the Indians were 
 undoubtedly near, and that the dog had not given a 
 false alarm. The savages probably from their 
 covert, saw that the animals were strongly tethered, 
 and that the trappers were on the alert. Any at 
 tempt to stampede the horses,would expose them to 
 the bullets of these unerring marksmen. They 
 therefore withdrew, waiting for a more favorable 
 opportunity. After an hour of watching, the trap 
 pers, about seventeen in number, having posted an 
 extra guard, lay down again, but not for sleep. They 
 expected every moment to see a band of mounted 
 savages, perhaps several hundred in number, coming 
 with the sweep of the whirlwind upon their horses, 
 and yelling like demons, as they drove the terrified 
 animals far away into the wilderness. The night, 
 however, passed away without further disturbance. 
 
MARCHES AND ENCAMPMENTS. IOI 
 
 As the morning dawned serene and cloudless upon 
 them, all suspicions seem to have been dispelled. 
 They replenished their fires, cooked their savory 
 breakfast, and decided to remain for a day or two in 
 their delightful encampment. The region abounded 
 with the most desirable game, and it was thought that 
 beaver might be found in the adjacent streams. 
 
 Kit Carson had a remarkably retentive memory, 
 and a wonderful aptitude for comprehending the 
 mazes of rivers, mountains, and valleys. He had 
 very thoroughly studied the geography of these 
 regions, and told his companions that at a distance 
 of a few miles, there was a much larger stream than 
 that upon which they were encamped ; and that he 
 had been informed that beaver were to be found 
 there in abundance. There were two ways of ap 
 proaching that stream ; the shorter, but more diffi 
 cult one, was by clambering over a mountain ridge 
 several hundred feet high, and then descending into 
 the valley beyond, through which the river flowed. 
 The other and much longer route, was to follow 
 down the small stream upon whose banks they 
 were encamped, for several miles, until they reached 
 its entrance into the larger river. 
 
 Four of the trappers, led by Kit Carson, under 
 took to cross this Rocky Mountain peak, and explore 
 the valley beyond. They mounted four horses, 
 
102 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 laden with their traps, and other articles essential 
 for a short trapping excursion. Probably the 
 Indians, hidden in the distance, were with keen eyes 
 watching every movement at the camp. Carson and 
 his companions had been absent but about four 
 hours, and others of the party were dispersed in 
 search of game, when a large band of Indians, 
 mounted on fleet horses, with flaunting pennons, 
 and hair streaming in the wind, and making the 
 cliffs resound with their yells, succeeded in liberating 
 a large number of the horses, and with their booty, 
 rapidly disappeared down the winding glen. 
 
 This all took place in almost less time than it has 
 required to describe it. The hardihood and fearless 
 ness of these hunters is signally manifest in the fact 
 that four of these men instantly grasped their rifles, 
 and springing upon four of the fleetest of their re 
 maining horses, set out in pursuit of these savages, 
 who outnumbered them ten to one. The narrow 
 ness of the glen, was such, that the pursuers had the 
 decided advantage over the spoil-encumbered pur 
 sued. They soon overtook them, and opened upon 
 them a deliberate and deadly fire. One warrior fell 
 dead from his horse. The others, imminently ex 
 posed to the same fate, with terror abandoned the 
 drove they had captured, and soon disappeared in 
 their rapid flight. The horses were all regained, and 
 
MARCHES AND ENCAMPMENTS. 1 03 
 
 with them the victorious party returned to the camp, 
 One of the men however was seriously wounded, 
 having been struck by a bullet from one of the In 
 dian warriors, several of whom were armed with 
 rifles. 
 
 In the meantime, Carson and his companions, 
 after surmounting great difficulties, reached the valley 
 they sought, and to their disappointment, found no 
 beaver there. Crossing the ridge had proved so dif 
 ficult, that they decided to return by the more cir 
 cuitous route of the two valleys. As they were rid 
 ing along on their pathless way, they suddenly came 
 upon four Indian warriors, evidently on the war-path ; 
 painted, plumed and armed in the highest style of 
 military decoration. The four Indians instantly 
 turned their horses and fled. The four trappers at 
 once spurred on their steeds, and pursued them. 
 
 They were dashing on at their highest speed, 
 when suddenly they found they had been led into an 
 ambush. Sixty warriors came rushing upon them 
 from behind the hill, where they had been concealed. 
 The trappers had no time for deliberation. There 
 was but one possible escape. It was to run the 
 gauntlet. Bowing down to .the necks of their 
 horses, so as to expose their persons as little as possible 
 to bullets or arrows, they urged their steeds to their 
 utmost speed. The horses had an instinctive dread 
 
104 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 of the Indian. Sharing the alarm of their riders, they 
 became frantic with terror, and needed no urging in 
 their impetuous race. The Indians were often with 
 in sixty feet of their victims, and bullets and ar 
 rows flew thickly around the trappers. But both 
 parties being on the fiercest run, and there being 
 interposing obstacles of rocks, and shrubs, and trees, 
 accurate aim was impossible. As the fugitives drew 
 near their camp, the Indians relinquished the pursuit. 
 One of the men had been struck by an arrow and 
 wounded. 
 
 It was late in the afternoon when these heroic 
 men were all re-assembled around the camp-fires, to 
 recount the adventures of the day. With the sleep 
 lessness of the preceding night, and the toil and 
 peril which the rising sun had ushered in, they were 
 all exceedingly exhausted. Still the consciousness 
 that they were surrounded by a vigilant and power 
 ful foe, rendered it necessary for them to adopt every 
 precaution for their safety. They tethered their 
 horses with very great care, near their camp. They 
 prepared hasty ramparts which guarded every ap 
 proach ; and having established a very careful guard, 
 sought that repose which all so greatly needed. 
 The night passed without alarm. 
 
 At the distance of four days' march, there was 
 another encampment of trappers, under Mr. Gaunt. 
 
MARCHES AND ENCAMPMENTS. 10$ 
 
 They decided as speedily as possible to join them. 
 But the two wounded men found their wounds so 
 inflamed that they could not travel. The trappers, 
 accustomed to such exigencies, prepared for them 
 litters very ingeniously constructed. They cut two 
 flexible poles about twenty-four feet long. These 
 were laid upon the ground, three feet apart, and a 
 buffalo robe laid between them, strongly fastened on 
 either side, so as to present a swinging hammock 
 about six feet in length. This left at either end 
 shafts about six feet long. Two mules or horses, of 
 about the same size were selected as carriers. The 
 ends of these shafts were attached to saddles, on 
 each of the animals. Thus the patient was borne by 
 a gentle, swinging motion, over the roughest paths. 
 
 In four days they reached Gaunt's camp. The 
 whole united party set out for the lovely region to 
 which we have before alluded, known as the Great 
 Park. Here they found beautiful scenery, game in 
 abundance, a delicious climate, rich pasturage for 
 their animals, but no beavers. Other trapping 
 parties had just preceded them, and emptied all the 
 streams of their furs. For a week or two they 
 wandered far and wide, setting their traps in vain. 
 At length Kit Carson, weary of such profitless pur 
 suits, took two chosen companions with him, and with 
 the hearty good wishes of Mr. Gaunt and the re- 
 5* 
 
106 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 maining trappers, set out on an expedition on his 
 own account. 
 
 He plunged directly into the very heart of the 
 mountains, where game not being abundant he would 
 be less likely to be annoyed by the savages. His 
 experience and sagacity guidjd him safely and suc 
 cessfully. For several months these three men 
 wandered about among these lonely streams, which 
 even the Indian rarely visited. They found beaver 
 in abundance, and loading down their animals with 
 the well packed furs, set out on their perilous journey 
 home. It was necessary for them to pass over miles 
 of open prairie, where Indian bands were ever found 
 pursuing buffalo, deer and other game. It would 
 seem that a miracle only could preserve them from 
 attack, and they were too few in numbers for a per 
 sistent defence. 
 
 The sagacity of Kit Carson, however, triumphed 
 over all the obstacles he had to encounter. He 
 traversed the forest and the prairie undiscovered, 
 and reached Taos with all his animals and their 
 precious freight. Here he found furs in great 
 demand. Traders were there from various parts of 
 the States, ready to purchase his supply at the 
 highest prices. Kit Carson was abundantly rewarded 
 for all his toil, and for a mountain trapper, might be 
 deemed rich. His two companions speedily squan- 
 
MARCHES AND ENCAMPMENTS. IO/ 
 
 dered their earnings in all kinds of extravagant and 
 senseless revelry. Mr. Carson, having perhaps learned 
 wisdom from past experience, judiciously invested 
 the sums he had acquired. 
 
 Mr. Carson had now very decidedly stepped out 
 from the ranks of vagabondage, in which so many 
 of the reckless trappers were wandering, and had 
 entered the more congenial association with intelli 
 gent and respected men. There was at that time at 
 Taos, a gentleman by the name of Lee. He had 
 the title of Captain, having been formerly an officer 
 in the United States army. He was then a partner 
 in the firm of Bent and Vrain, merchants of renown 
 in the fur trade. This firm, in the eager pursuit for 
 furs, had dispatched Captain Lee to these remote 
 frontiers in New Mexico. 
 
 Bands of energetic trappers were penetrating 
 streams and valleys, over distances thousands of 
 miles in extent. Many of the Indians also, seeking 
 lucrative trade with the white men, had purchased 
 steel traps and had become quite successful in the 
 capture of beavers. Captain Lee had obtained a 
 large number of mules. These he was to load with 
 packs, containing such goods as he thought would 
 be the most eagerly sought for by the trappers. 
 Then with a cavalcade of perhaps forty or fifty 
 mules, horses for his party to ride, and spare horses 
 
108 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 to meet any accidental loss, he was to set out on a 
 long tour of hundreds of miles, climbing the moun 
 tains, threading the valleys, crossing the prairies in 
 search of these widely wandering bands. 
 
 In exchange for his goods he received furs; and 
 the mules returned with their freightage of very rich 
 treasure. This was in the latter part of October, 
 1832. Captain Lee became acquainted with Kit 
 Carson, and immediately appreciated his unusual 
 excellencies as a companion in an enterprise so 
 arduous and perilous, as that in which he was en 
 gaged. He made him so liberal an offer to join his 
 company, that Mr. Carson promptly accepted it. 
 
 There is -a narrow mule-path which has been 
 traversed for ages, between New Mexico and Cali 
 fornia. The mules and the Indians ever travel it in 
 single file. It was then known by the name of The 
 Old Spanish Trail. 
 
 As merchants, not trappers, they marched, with 
 out any delay, down White river, forded Green river, 
 and struck across the country to Windy river. As 
 cending its windings, they reached the camp of Mr. 
 Robidoux, who, with twenty men in his employ, was 
 there setting his traps. They had scarcely arrived 
 at the encampment, when snow began to fall, and 
 an early winter seemed to be setting in. It was 
 deemed expedient for the united party to establish 
 
MARCHES AND ENCAMPMENTS. 109 
 
 winter quarters there. They erected very comfort 
 able lodges, of buffalo skins, quite impervious to 
 wind and rain, and made everything snug for a 
 mountain home. They had food in abundance, 
 ample materials for making and repairing their cloth 
 ing, and when gathered around their bright and 
 warm camp-fires seemed to be in want of nothing. 
 
 Attached to Mr. Robidoux's company there was 
 an Indian of great strength and agility, in whom 
 much confidence was reposed. He had become very 
 expert with the rifle, and had shrewdly studied all 
 the white man's modes of attack and defence. 
 Horses were in this remote region very valuable. 
 They could not easily be obtained, and were indis 
 pensable to transport the furs. They were worth 
 two hundred dollars each. 
 
 This Indian, one night, selected six of the fleet 
 est horses, an-d mounting one and leading the rest, 
 with his stolen property, disappeared over the track 
 less waste. It was a sum total loss of twelve hun 
 dred dollars. But the immediate pecuniary loss was 
 not all, for the horses could not easily be replaced, 
 and without them all the movements of the trapping 
 party were greatly crippled. Mr. Robidoux, know 
 ing Kit Carson's reputation for sagacity and courage, 
 immediately applied to him to pursue the Indian. 
 It was just one of those difficult and hazardous 
 
HO CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 enterprises which was congenial to the venturous 
 spirit of Carson. 
 
 There was a friendly tribe of Indians in the 
 vicinity, in which there was a young warrior whose 
 chivalric spirit had won the confidence and regard 
 of Carson. This young man was easily induced to 
 join him in the chase. But a short time was re 
 quired for preparation. Grasping their rifles, and 
 taking their blankets, they each mounted a fine 
 horse and set out in pursuit of the fugitive, who had 
 several hours the start of them. The wary thief had 
 so successfully concealed the direction of his flight 
 that it took them some time to discover his trail. 
 Having at length found it, they set off, at the high 
 est speed which they felt that their animals could 
 endure. Over soft ground, the marks left by six 
 horses, running in one compact band, could be with 
 out difficulty followed. But at times the nature of 
 the soil was such that but a very indistinct imprint 
 of their footprints was left. 
 
 As the thief, in his flight, conscious that he 
 might be overtaken, would make no difference be 
 tween day and night, it was necessary that his pur 
 suers should also press on without allowing darkness 
 to delay them. This added greatly to the difficulty 
 of following the trail. But the sagacity of Carson 
 and his intelligent Indian comrade triumphed over 
 
MARCHES AND ENCAMPMENTS. Ill 
 
 all these obstacles. For one hundred miles they fol 
 lowed the fugitive with unerring precision. But now 
 they encountered a serious calamity. 
 
 This singular race was down the valley of the 
 Green river. The Indian's horse suddenly gave out 
 completely. He could go no farther. Nothing re 
 mained for Carson but to relinquish the pursuit, and 
 slowly to return with the dismounted Indian, or to 
 continue the chase alone. Carson could not endure 
 the thought of failure. His pride of character led 
 him ever to resolve to accomplish whatever he 
 should undertake. He seems not at all to have 
 thought of the peril he would encounter in grappling 
 with the savage alone. The Indian was of herculean 
 size and strength, and of wonderful agility. He was 
 well armed, and thoroughly understood the use of 
 his rifle. His bravery had already given him renown, 
 and it was certain that under the circumstances he 
 would fight with the utmost desperation. 
 
 Kit Carson, on the other hand, was slender and 
 almost boyish in stature. In a conflict with the 
 burly savage it would be a David meeting a Goliath. 
 
 It was a peculiarity of Mr. Carson's mind, that 
 his decisions were instantaneous. He never lost any 
 time in deliberation ; but whatever the emergency, 
 he seemed instinctively to know at the moment, ex 
 actly the best thing to be done. The most mature 
 
112 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 subsequent deliberation invariably proved the wis 
 dom of the course he had adopted. This was said 
 to have been a marked peculiarity in the mind of 
 Napoleon I. However great the complication of 
 affairs, however immense the results at issue, his 
 mind at a single flash discerned the proper measures 
 to be adopted ; and without the slightest agitation 
 the decision was pushed into execution. 
 
 Carson looked for a moment upon his unhorsed 
 comrade, uttered no words of lamentation, bade him 
 good bye, wished him a successful return, and pushed 
 forward on his truly heroic enterprise. Thirty miles 
 farther he rode alone through the wilderness, care 
 fully husbanding his horse's strength, allowing him 
 occasional moments of rest, and not unfrequently 
 relieving him of his burden as he ran along by his 
 side. Though Mr. Carson was, as we have said, very 
 fragile in form, his sinews seemed tireless as if 
 wrought of steel. 
 
 At length, just as he was rounding a small emi 
 nence on the open prairie, he caught sight of the 
 Indian with his stolen cavalcade, not an eighth of a 
 mile before him. He was mounted on one of the 
 most powerful of the steeds, moving leisurely along, 
 leading the rest. There chanced to be two or three 
 trees not far from the savage. The moment he 
 caught sight of Carson, his keen eye discerned who 
 
MARCHES AND ENCAMPMENTS. 113 
 
 his foe was. Instantly he leaped from his horse, 
 rifle in hand, and rushed at his highest speed for the 
 trees. Could he but reach that covert, Carson's fate 
 was sealed .beyond any possibility of escape. v 
 Sheltered by the trunk of the tree, he could take 
 deliberate aim at his foe, exposed on the open prai 
 rie within half rifle shot. 
 
 Carson comprehended the peril of his position. 
 He sprang from his horse, unslung his rifle, took 
 calm and sure aim, and just at the moment when the 
 Indian was reaching his covert, the sharp report was 
 heard, the bullet whistled through the air, the Indian 
 gave one convulsive bound and fell dead upon the 
 sod. The savage had already cocked his rifle. As 
 he fell the piece was discharged, and the bullet in 
 tended for Carson's heart, whizzed harmlessly through 
 the air. Such scenes were of constant occurrence 
 in this wild mountaineer life. They produced no 
 lasting impression. The shooting of a bear, a buffalo 
 or an Indian seemed about alike eventful. These 
 pioneers being entirely beyond the protection of law, 
 were compelled to be a law to themselves. 
 
 Mr. Carson collected the horses, who were all 
 very weary, and quietly commenced his return home. 
 He did not urge the animals at all, allowed them to 
 feed abundantly on the rich prairie, and after a few 
 days' journey, modestly entered the camp with his 
 
114 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 recaptured animals all in good condition. This was 
 another of those victories which Carson was con 
 tinually winning, and which were giving him in 
 creased renown. 
 
 A few days after his return to the encampment, 
 two or three wandering trappers entered their lodges, 
 and informed them that a numerous party were 
 encamped on Snake river, about fifteen days' jour 
 ney from them. This party was in the employ of 
 two men quite distinguished in the fur trade, Messrs. 
 Fitzpatrick and Bridger. Snake river is one of the 
 tributaries of Green river, or rather flowing from the 
 western declivities of the Rocky mountains, it first 
 enters Bear river, then Green river, then the Colo 
 rado river, down whose current it flows a distance of 
 more than a thousand miles into the gulf of Cali 
 fornia. 
 
 The encampment at Snake river was five or six 
 hundred miles almost due north from Taos. West 
 of the Rocky mountains the climate is much more 
 mild than in the same latitudes east of those gigan 
 tic ridges. Though it was midwinter, and though 
 many snow-storms were to be encountered, Mr. Lee 
 decided to set out immediately on that journey, 
 doubting not that he could readily dispose of his 
 remaining goods to Messrs. Fitzpatrick and Bridger. 
 
 The execution of this enterprise would require a 
 
MARCHES AND ENCAMPMENTS. 11$ 
 
 very laborious march ; but still one not fraught with 
 much danger from the severity of the cold. Though 
 there were often treeless prairies, whose bleak ex 
 panse they must traverse, all the streams, even the 
 smallest, were fringed with forests. Suitable pre 
 caution would enable them every night to obtain 
 the shelter of some one of these groves. They were 
 almost certain during the day to obtain all the game 
 they would need. A couple of hours' work with 
 their axes, would enable them to rear a sufficient 
 shelter for the night. With an immense fire roaring, 
 and crackling, and throwing out its genial warmth in 
 front of their camp, they could, wrapped in their 
 furs and with their feet to the fire, enjoy all the 
 comfort which the pioneers of the wilderness could 
 desire. No matter how dismally the wintry storm 
 might wail through the tree- tops, no matter how 
 fiercely the smothering, drifting snow-storm might 
 sweep the prairie, they, in their warm and illuminated 
 cabins, could bid defiance alike to gale and drift. 
 Their hardy animals, ever accustomed to unsheltered 
 life in winter as well as summer, knew well how to 
 find the grass beneath the snow, or to browse upon 
 the succulent foliage. 
 
 The journey, though it proved very toilsome, was 
 successfully accomplished. Captain Lee, with Carson, 
 and their accompanying band, having reached the 
 
 
Il6 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 Snake river encampment, readily sold all his goods, 
 taking his pay in beaver skins. With his rich pur 
 chase packed upon the backs of his horses, he 
 returned to Taos. As there was nothing in Captain 
 Lee's journey home to require the services of so im- 
 pDrtant a man as Mr. Carson, the latter decided to 
 remain and unite himself with the trappers. 
 
 The party was large, the beavers were scarce, and 
 after the lapse of a month Mr. Carson decided that 
 the prospect of a rich remuneration in the distribu 
 tion of their furs, was not encouraging. He there 
 fore arranged an expedition on his own account. 
 His popularity as a man and his reputation as a 
 trapper were such that every man in the party was 
 ready to join him. He selected three of the best 
 men, and crossing the main ridge of the Rocky 
 mountains, a distance of about one hundred and 
 fifty miles, reached the Laramie river, a stream which 
 flowed into the north fork of the Platte. 
 
 The warm airs of spring were now beginning to 
 breathe through these valleys. On the Laramie and 
 its tributaries, Carson and his companions continued 
 trapping through the whole summer. They were 
 successful beyond their highest expectations. As 
 they were to carry their furs for sale to Taos, which 
 was on the west side of the mountains, they set out, 
 laden with their goods, to cross the wide and rocky 
 
MARCHES AND ENCAMPMENTS. 1 1/ 
 
 range. It was slow work threading these defiles, and 
 it required a journey of several days. 
 
 One afternoon having travelled for hours through 
 a very dreary and barren ravine, in which they had 
 found no game, they halted two hours before sunset. 
 Carson, while his two companions were arranging 
 the camp, set off with his rifle in pursuit of supper. 
 He had wandered about a mile from the camp, when 
 he came upon the fresh tracks of some elk. Follow 
 ing their trail for a little distance, he soon discovered 
 a small herd of the beautiful animals grazing upon a 
 hill-side, just on the edge of a grove. Moving with 
 great care, circuitously he entered upon the covert 
 of the trees, crept up within rifle range, selected the 
 largest and fattest of the herd, and at the report of 
 the rifle, the animal stood for a moment shivering as 
 if struck by paralysis, and then dropped dead. 
 
 Carson was more than usually elated by his suc 
 cess. The party were all hungry. The region was 
 extremely wild and barren, and there was great danger 
 that they would have to go supperless to bed. 
 Scarcely had the echo of his rifle shot died away, 
 when Carson heard a terrific roar, directly behind 
 him. Instantly turning his head, he saw two enor 
 mous grizzly bears, coming down upon him at full 
 speed, and at the distance of but a few rods. 
 
 The grizzly bear is a larger animal and far more 
 
Il8 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 ferocious, than the black bear. A bullet seems to 
 prick rather than to maim him, and he will attack 
 the hunter with the most desperate and persevering 
 fierceness. Carson was helpless. He had discharged 
 his rifle. The brutes were close upon him, and there 
 were two of them. They could outrun him. His 
 fate seemed sealed. 
 
 For once, Kit Carson was frightened ; but not so 
 much so as in the slightest degree to lose his self- 
 possession. With a lightning glance, his eye swept 
 the grove, in search of a tree into whose branches 
 he might climb. He saw one at a little distance, and 
 rushed towards it, pursued by both of the monsters, 
 growling and gnashing their teeth. With wonderful 
 agility, he sprang and caught a lower branch, and 
 drew himself up into the tree, just in time to 
 escape the blow which one of the bears struck at him 
 with his terrific claws. But he had by no means 
 obtained a place of safety. He had been compelled 
 to drop his rifle in his flight. The grizzly bear can 
 climb a tree, far more easily than can a man. He 
 was too far distant from the camp to hope for aid 
 from that quarter. Again it seemed that a dreadful 
 death was inevitable. 
 
 The bears hesitated for a moment, growling and 
 showing their claws and their white teeth. Quick as 
 thought Carson cut and trimmed from the tree a 
 
CONFLICTS WITH THE INDIANS. 1 19 
 
 stout cudgel, which would neither break nor bend. 
 Soon, one of the bears commenced climbing the tree. 
 The nose of the bear is very tender, and is the only 
 point vulnerable to blows. 
 
 Cudgel in hand, Carson took his stand upon one 
 of the branches, and as soon as the bear's head came 
 within reach, assailed him with such a storm of.blows, 
 that he dropped howling to the ground. The other 
 then made the attempt to climb the tree, and en 
 countered the same fate. The blows which the 
 sinewy arm of Carson had inflicted, evidently gave 
 the animals terrible pain. They filled the forest 
 with their howlings, and endeavored to bury their 
 snouts beneath the sod. For some time they lin 
 gered around the tree, looking wistfully at their prey, 
 as if loth to leave it. But they did not venture to 
 incur a repetition of the chastisement they had al 
 ready received. At length, with almost a ludicrous 
 aspect of disconsolateness, they slowly retired into 
 the forest. 
 
 Carson waited until assured that they had en 
 tirely withdrawn. He then descended the tree, re 
 loaded his rifle, and repairing to the spot where he 
 had shot the elk, found that it had already been de 
 voured by wolves. This adventure had occupied 
 many dreadful hours. It was not until the morning 
 dawned, that Carson found his way back to his anx- 
 
I2O CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 ious companions in the camp. He often said that 
 never in his life, had he been exposed to greater peril, 
 than on this occasion. 
 
CHAPTER IV. 
 
 The Rendezvous. 
 
 Fair in the Wilderness. The Encampment. Dispersion of the Trap 
 pers. Hostility of the Blackfeet. Camp on the Big Snake 
 River. The Blackfeet Marauders. The Pursuit. The Calu 
 met. The Battle. Kit Carson wounded. The Rencontre 
 with Shunan. The Defeat and Humiliation of Shunan. Re 
 markable Modesty of Carson. Testimony to Mr. Carson's 
 Virtues. 
 
 IN the morning the party fortunately found, in 
 one of their traps, a beaver, upon whose not very pal 
 atable flesh they breakfasted. The tail of a beaver 
 when well cooked, is esteemed quite a delicacy. But 
 one tail would not furnish sufficient food for three 
 men. Fifteen days passed away before Kit Carson's 
 little band was re-united with the larger company of 
 Messrs. Fitzpatrick and Bridger. A rendezvous 
 had been appointed at a spot on Green river, 
 which afforded great attractions for an encamp 
 ment. 
 
 In some unexplained way intelligence had been 
 conveyed, through the wilderness, to the widely dis 
 persed trappers, that a Fair for trading, would be 
 
122 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 held at a very commodious and well-known spot on 
 the above-mentioned stream. There was here a 
 green, smooth, expanded meadow ; the pasturage 
 was rich ; a clear mountain stream rippled through 
 it, fringed by noble forest trees. The vicinity afford 
 ed an abundance of game. Here they reared their 
 camps and built their roaring fires. Band after band 
 of trappers and traders came in with loud huzzas. 
 Within a few days between two and three hundred 
 men were assembled there, with five or six hundred 
 horses or mules. 
 
 On one of the gorgeous days of the Indian sum 
 mer, the encampment presented a spectacle of beau 
 ty which even to these rude men was enchanting. 
 There was the distant, encircling outline of the Rocky 
 mountains, many of the snow-capped peaks piercing 
 the clouds. Scattered through the groves, which 
 were free from underbrush, and whose surface was 
 carpeted with the tufted grass, were seen the 
 huts of the mountaineers in every variety of the pic 
 turesque, and even of the grotesque. Some were 
 formed of the well tanned robes of the buffalo ; some 
 of boughs, twigs and bark; some of massive logs. 
 Before all these huts, fires were burning at all times 
 of the day, and food was being cooked and devoured 
 by these ever-hungry men. Haunches of venison, 
 prairie chickens, and trout from the stream, were 
 
THE RENDEZVOUS. 123 
 
 emitting their savory odors, as they were turned on 
 their spits before the glowing embers. 
 
 The cattle, not even tethered, were grazing over 
 the fertile plain. It was indeed a wild, weird-like, 
 semi-barbaric Fair which was thus held in the very 
 heart of the wilderness. Men of many nationalities 
 were present, in every variety of grotesque costume ; 
 and not a few Indians were there, with scarcely any 
 costume at all. For nearly two months the Fair 
 continued, with comings and goings, while hill and 
 plain often resounded with revelry. 
 
 At length the festival was dissolved, and the 
 mountaineers, breaking up into smaller bands, sep 
 arated. The traders, with their horses loaded down 
 with the furs, returned to the marts of civilization. 
 The trappers again directed their steps to the soli 
 tudes of the remoter streams. 
 
 Kit Carson joined a party of fifty men, to 
 explore the highest tributaries of the Missouri river. 
 The region was occupied by a numerous band of 
 warlike Indians, called Blackfeet. Many of the 
 warriors had obtained rifles. The itinerant trader 
 could not refrain from furnishing the Indians with 
 guns and ammunition, at the exorbitant prices which 
 the savages were ready to pay. It shows the supe 
 riority of the white men, that fifty of them ventured 
 to enter upon these plains and into these defiles, 
 
124 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 where thousands of these well-armed warriors were 
 watching for their destruction. 
 
 The enterprise proved more bold than success 
 ful. The trappers found the Indians so vigilant and 
 hostile, that it was necessary to prot&ct themselves 
 by an intrenched camp. They had to adopt the 
 most wearisome precautions to protect their ani 
 mals, never allowing them to graze beyond rifle dis 
 tance from the camp, unless under a strong guard. 
 Matters grew daily more and more desperate. The 
 Indians seemed to be gathering from great dis 
 tances, so as almost to surround the encampment. 
 If any small party wandered a mile, to examine 
 their traps, they were pretty sure to find the traps 
 stolen, and to be fired upon from ambush. This 
 state of affairs at length constrained them to quit 
 the country. Like an army, exposed hourly to an 
 attack from its foes, this heroic band of fifty men 
 commenced its march in military array, watching 
 with an eagle eye, knowing not but that at any 
 moment hundreds of strongly mounted, well-armed 
 savages might come rushing down upon them. 
 They could indulge in no rest, till they got beyond 
 the territory of the Blackfeet. 
 
 A march of one or two hundred miles brought 
 them to the banks of the Big Snake river. It was 
 the month of November. In those northern lati- 
 
THE RENDEZVOUS. 12$ 
 
 tudes winter was setting in with much severity. 
 The hill-tops were covered with snow ; the streams 
 were coated with ice ; freezing blasts from the 
 mountains swept the bleak plains and the narrow 
 defiles. It was necessary to go into winter quarters 
 for a couple of months. But there was no discom 
 fort in this. 
 
 They selected a snug valley having a southern 
 exposure, with a northern barrier of hills, and in the 
 midst of a wide-spread grove which fringed a pure 
 mountain stream. There were fifty men. Every 
 man belonged to the working class. Every man was 
 skilled in the trades of hunting, trapping, wigwam- 
 building, cooking, and tailoring. A few hours' work 
 reared their cosey huts. Fuel was cheap and abun 
 dant. The broadcloth for their clothing, was already 
 woven on the backs of buffaloes, bears, deer and 
 wolves. Their own nimble hands speedily formed 
 them into garments impervious to wind and cold. 
 They had laid in quite a store of game, which the 
 cold weather preserved, and there was enough more 
 within their reach. And fortunately for them all, 
 nature's law of prohibition, had effectually banished 
 from the whole region all intoxicating drinks. 
 Where there is no whiskey there is rarely any quar 
 rel. The pure mountain stream supplied them with 
 their health-giving beverage. 
 
126 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 In a few days everything was cosey and comfort 
 able around them. During the months of Decem 
 ber and January, and until the middle of February, 
 while wintry blasts swept the hills, warmth, abun 
 dance and friendliness reigned in these sheltered, 
 cheerful huts in a Rocky Mountain valley. There 
 was one exciting event which disturbed the serenity 
 of this winter encampment, 
 
 A band of Blackfeet Indians had cautiously 
 dogged their footsteps, watching for an opportunity 
 to stampede their horses. One very dark night, a 
 number of these savages, supported by quite a 
 numerous band of warriors, crept, like wolves, into 
 the grazing ground of the horses, and succeeded in 
 seizing eighteen of them, with which they made oft' 
 rapidly towards their own country. The loss was 
 not discovered until morning. After a few moments' 
 deliberation it was decided that the valuable prop 
 erty must be recovered if possible, and the Indians 
 chastised for such insolence. 
 
 The unanimous voice called upon Kit Carson to 
 lead the enterprise, and to select his men. He took 
 eleven. In a few minutes they were all mounted ; a 
 blanket their only baggage ; their rifles and ammu 
 nition their only stores. The ground was covered 
 with snow. These veteran mountaineers knew well 
 
THE RENDEZVOUS. I2/ 
 
 when and how to spare their horses for a continuous 
 pursuit. 
 
 The Indians being more numerous, having horses 
 to lead, and with their steeds somewhat jaded with 
 the long journey from their own country, could not 
 travel as fast as their pursuers were able to do with 
 their fresh animals. Still the savages had so much 
 the start that it required fifty miles of sharp riding 
 before they were overtaken. Fortunately for the 
 pursuers, there had been recently a heavy fall of 
 snow, so that the Indians were under the necessity 
 of breaking a path. Their party was so large that 
 the white men were furnished with a clearly marked, 
 well-trodden trail. This toil through the snow, 
 seems quite to have exhausted the strength of the 
 horses of the Indians. They had been compelled to 
 stop at noonday to refresh the animals. A spot had 
 been selected on a hill-side, where the wind had 
 blown away the snow, and where the horses found, 
 for grazing, an abundance of succulent dried grass. 
 
 Suddenly, and probably not a little to their con 
 sternation, the twelve trappers, rounding an eminence 
 on the full trot, appeared before them. Carson 
 halted his troop to reconnoitre ; for his foes were 
 strongly posted and far out-numbered him. The 
 savages, seeing the impossibility of immediately 
 gathering and mounting their horses for flight, 
 
128 CHRISTOPHER CAJRSON. 
 
 cunningly sent a flag of truce to solicit a parley. 
 According to their custom, this flag consisted of one 
 of their warriors advancing entirely unarmed, half 
 way to the opposing band. There he stopped, and 
 folding his arms, waited for some one of the other 
 party similarly weaponless, to come forward to con 
 fer with him. 
 
 These savage thieves manifested a degree of 
 intelligence in their cunning, which was hardly to 
 have been expected of them. Through their inter 
 preter they assumed an air of perfect innocence, 
 affecting great surprise that the horses belonged to 
 the trappers, saying that they supposed that they 
 had been robbing their hereditary foes, the Snake 
 Indians. 
 
 " Nothing would induce us," said these barbarian 
 diplomatists, " to commit any depredations upon our 
 friends the white men." 
 
 Such barefaced falsehood did not, for a moment, 
 deceive Kit Carson. But it was needful for him to 
 move with great caution. The number of the 
 Indians, their position, their weapons, and the nature 
 of the ground upon which they had met, rendered 
 the result of a battle very doubtful. It would not 
 do for Carson to manifest the slightest trepidation, 
 or the least doubt of his ability to recover the stolen 
 property, and to chastise the marauders. 
 
THE RENDEZVOUS. 1 29 
 
 After some pretty severe questioning, he suggested 
 that since they were friends, they should all meet in 
 council unarmed, and smoke the calumet of peace. 
 There are generally some points of honor, which will 
 bind the most abandoned men. Such was the smok 
 ing of the pipe of peace with the savages. A large 
 fire was built. The two parties met around it. The 
 calumet was lighted, and passed around to each 
 person present. Every one of the savages first puffed 
 two whiffs, and the white men then did the same. 
 This was the solemn pledge that there should be no 
 treachery. 
 
 The council then commenced. Several of the 
 Indian warriors made long and wordy speeches, with 
 many protestations of friendship, but carefully avoid 
 ing any offer to restore the stolen animals. Mr. 
 Carson listened patiently and made no response, 
 until they had talked themselves out. He then 
 simply replied, that he was very happy to learn that 
 the Indians were friendly in their feelings toward the 
 whites, and that the taking of the animals was a 
 mistake. The trappers would therefore overlook the 
 affair, and peacefully return home with the restored 
 horses. 
 
 The Indian orators again began to chatter, 
 branching off upon various points irrelevant to the 
 question at issue. But Mr. Carson was in no mood 
 6* 
 
130 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 to be drawn into a profitless palaver. To these 
 eloquent speeches he made no response, but simply 
 demanded the return of the horses. 
 
 The Indians began to bluster, to talk loud and to 
 grow insolent. But Mr. Carson never allowed him 
 self to lose his temper. A man in a passion seldom 
 acts wisely. With calm persistence he said, " I can 
 listen to no overtures of peace, until our horses are 
 restored." Still the Indians hesitated to provoke a 
 battle in which some of their warriors would un 
 doubtedly fall. At length they sent out and brought 
 in five of the poorest and most exhausted of the 
 horses, saying that these were all that they could or 
 would restore. 
 
 The trappers accepted this as a declaration of 
 war. In a body they retired to seize their rifles and 
 to submit the question to the arbitrament of battle. 
 The savages also, with tumultuous howlings, rushed 
 to grasp their guns. The battle immediately com 
 menced, each party seeking the shelter of trees. 
 But for the dread in which the savages stood of the 
 powers of the white men, the advantages would 
 have been in their favor ten to one. There were 
 unerring marksmen on both sides. No one could 
 expose himself to the aim of either party without 
 almost certain death. Kit Carson and one of his 
 companions, by the name of Markhead, were the 
 
 
THE RENDEZVOUS. 131 
 
 foremost of the band of trappers, and they stood 
 behind trees not far from each other. As Carson 
 was watching the movements of a burly savage, who 
 was endeavoring to get a shot at him, he saw another 
 savage taking deliberate aim, from his concealment, 
 at Markhead. 
 
 With the rapidity of thought Carson wheeled 
 around, and at the same instant the bullet from his 
 rifle pierced the heart of the savage and he fell dead. 
 But there was another report, almost simultaneous 
 with that from Carson's gun. A bullet whizzed through 
 the air, touched the bark of the tree, behind which 
 nearly the whole of Carson's body was concealed, 
 and severed one of the sinews of his shoulder, shat 
 tering a portion of the bone. The blood gushed 
 freely from the wound, and Carson " fell, almost 
 fainting, to the ground. With much difficulty his 
 friends succeeded in bearing him off from the field, 
 and in their rough kindness ministered to his wants. 
 
 This loss of Carson's guidance and arm was irre 
 parable and fatal to the trappers. Still they continued 
 the battle valiantly, holding the Indians at bay 
 until night came. The night was bitter cold. The 
 trappers could not light any fire, for it would surely 
 guide the Indians to their retreat, and present them 
 as fair targets to the bullets of the savages. 
 
 Disappointed as these bold men were, they had 
 
132 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 the consolation of feeling that the wound of their 
 leader had not passed unavenged. They were sure 
 that several of the Indians had been killed and many 
 wounded. Though they did not doubt that the 
 Indians would still fight desperately in defence, they 
 did not fear that they would venture to pursue and 
 to attack the trappers where they could choose their 
 own ground. The trappers therefore, bearing as 
 tenderly as possible their wounded leader, com 
 menced their return to the camp which they reached 
 in safety. The savages, as it afterward appeared, 
 fled as rapidly as possible in the other direction. 
 
 The adventure added to the reputation of Kit 
 Carson. All admitted that it was to save the life of 
 a comrade that he had imperilled his own. And no 
 one doubted that, but for his wound, his sagacity 
 would have triumphed over the savages, and that he 
 would have brought back all the horses. It was 
 immediately decided, in general council, that another 
 expedition of thirty men, under Captain Bridger, 
 should pursue and chastise the thieves. This well 
 armed party vigorously followed the Indian trail for 
 several days. But the savages had fled so rapidly, 
 into distant and unknown parts, that they could not 
 be overtaken. The trappers returned disappointed 
 to their camp. 
 
 Spring was returning with its milder breezes and 
 
THE RENDEZVOUS. 133 
 
 its warmer sun. The time for the spring hunt had 
 commenced. There were no hostile Indians in the 
 vicinity to disturb the trappers. Success, surpassing 
 their most sanguine expectations, attended their 
 efforts. Every morning the trappers came in from 
 their various directions laden with furs. All were 
 elated with their extraordinary prosperity. There 
 is the spring hunting and the fall hunting. But 
 there is a period in midsummer when the fur is value 
 less or cannot easily be taken. Game was then 
 abundant, camping was a luxury. This was the time 
 selected by the traders for their Fairs in the wilder 
 ness. Here, as we have mentioned, there was ex 
 change of the commodities needed in mountaineer- 
 life, for the furs the trappers had taken during the 
 autumn, winter and spring. There was at this time 
 another rendezvous on Green river, where there was 
 to be a renewal of the scenes of the past year. 
 
 Kit Carson very speedily recovered from his 
 wounds. His perfect health and temperate habits 
 caused a cure, which seemed almost miraculous. As 
 we have mentioned, these mountaineers were beyond 
 the limits of the laws. There was no governmental 
 protection whatever. Every man was compelled to 
 be his own protector, filling the threefold office of 
 judge, jury and executioner. 
 
 The incident we are about to record would have 
 
134 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 been highly immoral in any well-ordered community 
 where law was recognized and could be enforced. 
 And yet the same act occurring in the savage wil 
 derness may have merited the high commendation 
 which it universally received. 
 
 There was a fellow at the rendezvous, as the Fair 
 among the mountains was called, known as captain 
 Shunan. He was of unknown nationality, of very 
 powerful frame, a bully and a braggadocio. Totally 
 devoid of principle, and conscious of his muscular 
 superiority, he was ever swaggering through the 
 camp, dealing blows and provoking quarrels. He 
 was universally detested and also feared. Every 
 one in the camp desired to see him humbled. 
 
 One day Shunan was particularly offensive. 
 That morning he had engaged in two fights,and had 
 knocked down and flogged both of the men whom 
 he had assailed. The traders had brought whiskey 
 to the rendezvous, and probably whiskey was at the 
 bottom of these troubles. Mr. Carson was quietly 
 talking with some of his friends, in one part of the 
 extended encampment, when the swaggering bully 
 came along seeking to provoke another fight. 
 " These Americans," said he, " are all cowards ; they 
 are all women. I am going into the bush to cut 
 some rods and I'll switch every one of them." 
 
 Kit Carson immediately stepped forward in his 
 
THE RENDEZVOUS. 135 
 
 calm, unimpassioned way, and with his soft and 
 almost feminine voice said: 
 
 " Captain Shunan, I am an American and one of 
 the smallest and weakest of them all. We have no 
 disposition to quarrel with any one. But this con 
 duct can no longer be endured. If it is continued, 
 I shall be under the necessity of shooting you." 
 
 There was almost a magic power in Kit Carson's 
 calmness. He had a piercing eye, before whose 
 glance many would quail. There was an indescriba 
 ble something in his soft words, which indicated that 
 they came from a lion-like heart. The whole com 
 pany of trappers looked on in perfect silence, curious 
 to see what would be the result of this bold move 
 ment. 
 
 Shunan at first, the herculean bully, looked 
 down upon his fragile opponent, with much of the 
 contempt with which Goliath contemplated David. 
 But apparently that glance showed him that he had 
 encountered no ordinary foe. The reputation also 
 of Kit Carson, as an able and fearless man extended 
 through the whole encampment. There was a 
 moment of perfect silence, Shunan not uttering one 
 word in reply. He then turned upon his heel and 
 walked rapidly across the plain towards his camp. 
 Carson and the mountaineers understood perfectly 
 what this meant. He had gone to seize his rifle, 
 
136 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 mount his horse, and shoot Kit Carson for defying 
 him. 
 
 Carson also turned his steps towards his own 
 lodge. He took a loaded pistol, bestrode his horse, 
 and saw Shunan riding down towards him rifle in 
 hand. All this had occupied but a few minutes. 
 Still it had arrested the attention of nearly the whole 
 encampment. It was well known that when Carson 
 and Shunan should meet on the hostile field, there 
 was to be no vulgar rough and tussle fight, but a de 
 cisive conflict which would settle forever the question, 
 whether the one or the other was to be master. The 
 common law of the wilderness demanded only, that 
 the parties should be left to settle the question in 
 their own way. 
 
 Kit Carson always rode a magnificent horse. He 
 bestrode his steed as if he were a part of the animal, 
 and seemed as unembarrassed in his movements 
 when in the saddle, as when on the floor of his tent. 
 Rapidly he rode down upon Shunan until the heads 
 of their horses nearly touched. Calmly he inquired, 
 as if it were one of the most ordinary occurrences of 
 life. 
 
 "Am I the person you are looking for? 5 ' The 
 treacherous bully answered. " No," hoping thus, in 
 some degree, to throw his opponent off his guard ; 
 but at the same instant, he brought his rifle to his 
 
THE RENDEZVOUS. 137 
 
138 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 docile as a child. They took him to his tent, and 
 treated liim with all the rough nursing which trap 
 pers in the wilderness could bestow. The shattered 
 bones of course could never recover their former 
 strength. The weakest of those upon whom he 
 formerly trampled, could now chastise him, should 
 he assume any of his former insolent airs. The tyrant 
 became docile as a child, and the whole camp re 
 garded Carson as its benefactor. 
 
 It is worthy of special notice, that Mr. Carson 
 was not at all elated by his victory. He never 
 boasted of it. He never alluded to it, but with a 
 saddened countenance. Whenever the subject was 
 referred to, he always expressed his heartfelt regret, 
 that it had been needful to resort to such severe 
 measures to preserve the good order of the camp. 
 
 In the life of John Charles Fremont we find the 
 following reference to Mr. Carson and to this ad 
 venture : 
 
 " Christopher Carson is a remarkably peaceable 
 and quiet man, temperate in his habits, and strictly 
 moral in his deportment." In a letter written from 
 California in 1847, introducing Carson as the bearer 
 of dispatches to the government, Col. Fremont says : 
 
 "'With me Carson and Truth, mean the same 
 thing. He is always the same, gallant and dis 
 interested.' 
 
THE RENDEZVOUS 139 
 
 " He is kind-hearted and averse to all quarrel 
 some and turbulent scenes, and has never been en 
 gaged in any mere personal broils or encounters, ex 
 cept on one single occasion, which he sometimes 
 modestly describes to his friends. The narrative is 
 fully confirmed by an eye-witness, of whose presence 
 at the time he was not aware, and whose account he 
 has probably never seen." 
 
 Another who knew him well, writes, in corrobora 
 tive testimony : 
 
 " The name of Christopher Carson has been 
 familarly known for nearly a quarter of a century. 
 From its association with the names of great ex 
 plorers and military men, it is now spread through 
 out the civilized world. It has been generally con 
 ceded, that no small share of the benefits derived 
 from these explorations, was due to the sagacity, 
 skill, experience, advice and labor of Christopher 
 Carson. His sober habits, strict honor, and great re 
 gard for truth, have endeared him to all who can 
 call him friend ; and among such maybe enumerated, 
 names belonging to some of the most distinguished 
 men whose deeds are recorded on the pages of Ameri 
 can history. 
 
 " A few years ago, the writer of this first met 
 Christopher Carson. It needed neither a second in 
 troduction, nor the assistance of a friendly pane- 
 
I4O CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 gyric, to enable him to discover, in Christopher Car 
 son, those traits of manhood which are esteemed by 
 the great and good to be the distinguishing orna 
 ments of character. This acquaintance ripened into 
 a friendship of the purest stamp. Since then the 
 writer has been the intimate friend and companion 
 of Christopher Carson at his home, in the wild scenes 
 of the chase, on the war trail, and upon the field of 
 battle. 
 
 "Christopher Carson physically, is small in stature, 
 but of compact framework. He has a large and 
 finely developed head, a twinkling grey eye, and 
 hair of a sandy color which he wears combed back. 
 His education having been much neglected in his 
 youth, he is deficient in theoretical learning. By 
 natural abilities, however, he has greatly compensated 
 for this defect. He speaks the French and Spanish 
 languages fluently, besides being a perfect master of 
 several Indian dialects. In Indian customs, their 
 manners, habits, and the groundwork of their con 
 duct, no man on the American Continent is better 
 skilled." 
 
CHAPTER VII. 
 
 War with the Blackfeet Indians. 
 
 Unsuccessful Trapping. Disastrous March to Fort Hall. The Feast 
 upon Horse-flesh. The Hunting Expedition. Its Rare Attrac 
 tions. Dogged by the Blackfeet. Safe Arrival at the Fort. All 
 their Animals Stolen by the Indians. Expedition to the Black- 
 feet Country. Winter Quarters with the Friendly Indians. Suf 
 ferings of the Animals. Return to the Blackfeet Country. Bat 
 tle with the Indians. Incidents of the Battle. 
 
 AT the close of the summer months the rendez 
 vous was broken up, and all parties scattered ; the 
 
 ^traders to their homes, within the precincts of civili 
 zation, and the trappers to the savage wilderness. 
 KrFCarson joined a party bound to the upper waters 
 of the Yellowstone river. This is a large stream with 
 many tributaries, all of which take their rise amidst 
 the eastern ravines of the Rocky mountains, pouring 
 their united flood into the Missouri at Fort William. 
 From the head waters of the river, to the point 
 
 where it enters the Missouri, there is a distance of 
 five or six hundred miles,of perhaps as wild a coun 
 try as can be found on this continent. 
 
 Here, amidst these rugged defiles, the mountain- 
 
142 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 eers set their traps. But they caught no beaver. 
 They then struck across the country, in a southeast 
 direction, a distance of one or two hundred miles, to 
 the Big Horn river, another large tributary of the 
 Yellowstone. Here again they were unsuccessful. 
 They then journeyed westward, several hundred 
 miles, to what are called the Three Forks of the 
 Missouri river. Here again they set their traps in 
 vain. Our disappointed but persistent trappers 
 turned their footsteps south, and having travelled 
 about two hundred miles, passing through one of 
 the defiles of the Rocky mountains, they reached 
 the head waters of the Big Snake river. This is a 
 large stream, some six hundred miles in length, 
 which pours its flood through the Columbia river into 
 the Pacific Ocean. 
 
 Here Kit Carson met a Mr. McCoy, formerly a 
 trader in the employment of the Hudson Bay Com 
 pany, but who was now out on a trapping excursion. 
 With the consent of his companions, Kit Carson and 
 five others withdrew from the larger party to join 
 their fortunes with Mr. McCoy. A rumor had 
 reached them that abundance of beaver were to be 
 found at a distance of about one hundred and fifty 
 miles, on Mary's river, since called the Humboldt. 
 Here again they were doomed to disappointment. 
 They followed down this stream, trapping in vain, 
 
WAR WITH THE BLACKFEET INDIANS. 143 
 
 for a hundred miles, till its waters were lost in what 
 is called the Great Basin. 
 
 These hardy adventurers now directed their steps 
 north, and after traversing a country, most of it wild 
 and barren, about two hundred miles in extent, 
 again reached the banks of the Snake river, midway 
 between its source and its mouth. Here the com 
 pany divided. Mr. McCoy set out to trap down the 
 stream, about one hundred and fifty miles, to Fort 
 Walla Walla, which was near the junction of this 
 river with the Columbia. 
 
 Kit Carson and his band followed up the stream 
 about the same distance, trapping most of the way. 
 They, however, encountered continued disappoint 
 ments. The region they traversed was dreary and 
 barren in the extreme. Often there was no game to 
 be found. They were brought to the very verge of 
 starvation. For some time they subsisted upon 
 nutritious roots, which they had adopted the pre 
 caution to take with them. When these were ex 
 hausted they were reduced to the greatest straits, 
 and could be only saved from starving by bleeding 
 the mules and drinking the warm blood. This is a 
 resource which could not be repeated. The ani 
 mals were also very poor, though enough of dry and 
 scanty grass was found to keep them alive. 
 
 The whole party became frightfully emaciated, 
 
 
144 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 and they began to fear that they should be com 
 pelled to kill some of their mules. But the men 
 themselves had become so weak it was with difficulty 
 they could carry their rifles. The loss of any of 
 these useful beasts of burden would terribly enhance 
 their peril. It might compel them to abandon, not 
 only their traps, but also their rifles and their ammu 
 nition. In this dreadful emergency they came 
 across a band of Indians who proved to be friendly. 
 But the savages were also in an extremely destitute 
 condition. 
 
 Fortunately for both parties there was water at 
 hand, and the withered herbage furnished the ani 
 mals with sustenance. The Indians had a young 
 horse which was respectably fat. It required all of 
 Kit Carson's diplomatic skill and knowledge of the 
 Indian character to induce the Indians to part with 
 the animal. It was not until after much maneuver 
 ing that they succeeded in obtaining him. He was 
 immediately killed and eaten. To the hungry men, 
 the horse flesh afforded as delicious a feast as epicure 
 ever found in the most costly viands. 
 
 At last Kit Carson and his men reached Fort 
 Hall. Here they were, of course, kindly received by 
 their countrymen, and all their wants were immedi 
 ately and abundantly supplied. This fort was then 
 mainly occupied as a trading post. As the men were 
 
WAR WITH THE BLACKFEET INDIANS. 145 
 
 neither sick nor wounded, but only half starved, they 
 found themselves in a few days quite recruited, and 
 ready again for any adventure of enterprise and hard 
 ship. During their sojourn at the fort th2 men were 
 not idle. They had their saddles, clothing and 
 moccasins to repair. All their outfit was in the con 
 dition of a ship which has just weathered a storm 
 with loss of anchor, sails, spars, and leaking badly. 
 
 Having finished their repairs the party, in good con 
 dition, with their mules, set out on a hunting expedi 
 tion. They were told that in a fertile region, about 
 fifty miles south of them, large herds of buffaloes 
 had recently been seen. The weather was delight 
 ful. They were all in good spirits. It was trapper 
 philosophy never to anticipate evil, never to borrow 
 any trouble. At a rapid pace they marched through 
 a pleasant, luxuriant well watered region, entirely 
 forgetful of past sufferings. 
 
 On the evening of the second day, as they were 
 emerging from a forest, there was opened before 
 them a scene of remarkable beauty and grandeur. 
 Far as the eye could extend towards the south, east 
 and west an undulating prairie spread, with its wil 
 derness of flowers of every gorgeous hue, waving in 
 the evening breeze like the gently heaving ocean. 
 The sun was just setting in a cloudless sky, illumi 
 nating with extraordinary brilliance the enchanting 
 7 
 
146 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 scene. Here and there in the distance of the bound 
 less plain, a few clumps of trees were scattered, as 
 if nature had arranged them with the special purpose 
 of decorating the Eden-like landscape. But that 
 which cheered the hunters more than all the other 
 aspects of sublimity and loveliness, were the immense 
 herds, grazing on the apparently limitless prairie. 
 Many of these herds numbered thousands and yet 
 they appeared but like little spots scattered over the 
 vast expanse. The hunter had found his paradise ; 
 for there were other varieties of game in that luxuri 
 ant pasture, elk, deer, antelopes and there was room 
 enough for them all. 
 
 Our adventurers immediately selected a spot for 
 their camp on the edge of the forest, near a bubbling 
 spring. With great alacrity they reared their hut, 
 and arranged all the apparatus for camping, with 
 which they were abundantly supplied. Poles were 
 cut from the forest, and planted in the open sunny 
 prairie, with ropes of hide stretched upon them. 
 Upon these ropes they were to suspend strips of 
 buffalo meat to be cured by drying in the sun. Every 
 thing was prepared over night for the commence 
 ment of operations in the early dawn. The best 
 marksmen were selected for hunters. They were to 
 go into the prairie, shoot the game and bring it in. 
 The rest were detailed to cut up the meat and hang 
 
WAR WITH THE BLACKFEET INDIANS. 147 
 
 it on the ropes to dry. After it was sufficiently dried, 
 they were to take it down, and pack it closely in 
 bundles for transportation. 
 
 These were halcyon days, and abundant was the 
 harvest of game which these bold reapers were gath 
 ering. During the days thus spent, in shooting the 
 game and curing the meat, the hunters lived upon 
 the fat of the land. The tongue and liver of the 
 buffalo, and the peculiar fat, found along the spine 
 are deemed great delicacies. 
 
 In a few days a sufficient supply had been 
 obtained to load all their pack animals. So heavily 
 were they laden that their homeward journey was 
 very slow. They were followed by a foe, of whom 
 they had not the slightest conception. A band of 
 Blackfeet Indians had discerned them from the far 
 distance with their keen eyes. Keeping carefully 
 concealed, they watched every movement of the 
 unconscious hunters. When the party commenced 
 its return they dogged their steps ; in the darkness 
 creeping near their encampment at night, watching 
 for an opportunity to stampede their animals and to 
 rob them of their treasure. Though Kit Carson had 
 no suspicion that any savages were on his trail, his 
 constitutional caution baffled all their cunning. 
 
 The fort was reached in safety, and the abundance 
 which they brought was hailed with rejoicing. The 
 
148 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 party of hunters encamped just outside the pickets 
 of the fort, where there was good pasturage for 
 their animals, and where they could watch them. 
 The inmates of the fort had fenced in a large field 
 or barnyard which they called a corral. Into this 
 yard at night they drove their animals, from the 
 prairie, and placed a guard over them. At any time 
 a band of savages might, like an apparition, come 
 shrieking down upon the animals to bear them away 
 in the terrors of a stampede, or might silently, in 
 midnight gloom, steal towards them and lead them 
 noiselessly away one by one. 
 
 Two or three nights after the arrival of the 
 hunters at the fort, all the horses and mules were 
 driven, as usual, into the enclosure ; the bars were 
 put up and a sentinel was placed on duty. It so 
 happened that the sentinel, that night, was an inex 
 perienced hand ; a new comer, not familiar with the 
 customs of the fort. He was stationed, at a slight 
 distance from the enclosure, where he could watch 
 all its approaches, and give the alarm should any 
 band of Indians appear. He supposed that a large, 
 well mounted band alone would attempt the hazard 
 ous enterprise of capturing the animals. 
 
 The latter part of the night, just before the dawn 
 of the morning, he saw two men advance, without 
 any disguise, deliberately let down the bars and drive 
 
WAR WITH THE BLACKFEET INDIANS. 149 
 
 out the horses and mules. He supposed them to be 
 two of the inmates of the fort or some of his own 
 companions, who were authorized to take out the 
 herd to graze upon the prairie. Concluding there 
 fore that he was relieved from duty, he returned to 
 his camp and was soon fast asleep. 
 
 In the morning the horses and mules had all dis 
 appeared. They were nowhere to be seen. There 
 was hurrying to and fro, fora solution of the mystery, 
 when a short investigation revealed the true state of 
 affairs. The cunning Indians had come in a strong 
 party, well mounted, and were concealed at a short 
 distance. Two of their number had gone forward 
 and driven out the animals. The horses and mules 
 are always ready to rush along with any herd leading 
 them. 
 
 Placing the stolen animals between the van and 
 the rear guards of their steeds, the Indians moved 
 cautiously until they had gained some little distance 
 from the fort. Then giving the rein to their power 
 ful charges, with the fleetness of the wind they fled, 
 over the hills and through the valleys, to their wild 
 and distant fastnesses. 
 
 Not a single animal was left for the garrison or 
 the trappers upon which to give chase. The Indians, 
 who have but little sense of right and wrong, might 
 well exult in their achievement. Without the loss of 
 
ISO CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 a single man, and even without receiving a wound, 
 they had taken from beneath the very walls of the 
 fort, its whole herd, leaving the garrison powerless to 
 pursue. The loss was very severe to the trappers. 
 Without their horses and mules, they could do 
 nothing. It only remained for them to wait for the 
 return of Mr. McCoy and his party, who had prom 
 ised, after visiting Fort Walla Walla, to rendezvous 
 at Fort Hall. 
 
 The Blackfeet Indians were at that time, forty 
 years ago, the terror of the whole region. It is said 
 that the warlike tribe numbered thirty thousand 
 souls. Of course there could not have been any very 
 accurate estimate of the population, Not long after 
 this the small-pox prevailed, with awful fatality. 
 One half of the tribe perished. The dead were left 
 unburied, as the savages endeavored to flee in all 
 directions from the fearful pestilence. 
 
 A month passed slowly away before Mr. McCoy 
 with his party reached the fort. Very opportunely 
 he brought a fresh supply of animals ; having pur 
 chased a number at Fort Walla Walla. The united 
 band returned to the Green river. Here Mr. Carson 
 joined a party of one hundred trappers who, in their 
 strength, were to plunge into the very heart of the 
 Blackfeet country, on the Yellowstone river. 
 
 Arriving at the region where they were to set 
 
WAR WITH THE BLACKFEET INDIANS. 151 
 
 their traps, they divided into two companies of fifty 
 men each. It was necessary to be always armed 
 and on the alert, ready to repel any sudden attack. 
 The duty of one company was to explore the streams 
 in search of beavers and game for food. The other 
 party guarded the camp, dressed, rudely tanned, and 
 packed the skins, and cooked the food. The trappers 
 were so strong, that they not only went where they 
 pleased, but they were eager to come in contact with 
 the savages, that they might pay off old scores. 
 They were, however, not molested. Not an Indian 
 crossed their path. They subsequently learned, as a 
 solution of the mystery, that at that time the small 
 pox was making dreadful ravages. Thousands were 
 dying and it was feared the whole tribe would perish. 
 The Indians in their terror, had secluded themselves 
 in the remotest solitudes. 
 
 Winter was now approaching, with its freezing 
 gales, its drifting snows, its icy streams. It was ne 
 cessary to find winter quarters for two or three 
 months. The region, drained by the Yellowstone 
 and its tributaries, extends over thousands of square 
 miles. In one portion of the territory there was a 
 mountainous region inhabited by the Crow Indians. 
 As they were the deadly foe of the Blackfeet tribe, 
 they were disposed to cultivate friendly relations with 
 the whites, and to enter into an alliance with them. 
 
CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 Quite a large band of the Crow Indians joined 
 the trappers, and conducted them to one of their 
 most sheltered valleys. Here they reared their huts 
 and lodges. The mountain ridges broke the force 
 of the cold north wind. They had water and fuel in 
 abundance. Game was not scarce and they had also 
 an ample supply of dried meat in store. But as the 
 season advanced, the cold became increasingly se 
 vere, until at last it was more intense than the trap 
 pers had ever before experienced. Still the trappers, 
 with their rousing fires and abundant clothing, found 
 no difficulty in keeping warm. 
 
 But the animals suffered terribly. Snow cover 
 ed the valleys to such a depth, that they could ob 
 tain no food by grazing. It was with the utmost 
 difficulty they kept the animals alive. They cut 
 down cotton-wood trees and thawed the bark and 
 small branches by their fires. This bark was then 
 torn into shreds, sufficiently small for the animal to 
 chew. The rough outside bark was thrown aside, 
 and the tender inner bark, which comes next the 
 body of the tree, was carefully peeled off for food. 
 There is sufficient nutrition in this barely to keep the 
 animals alive for a time, but they can by no means 
 thrive under it. 
 
 Quite a company of Indians reared their lodges 
 in the same valley with the trappers. In the pleas- 
 
WAR WITH THE BLACKFEET INDIANS. 1 53 
 
 ant days they vied with each other, in various ath 
 letic games, and particularly in their skill in hunting. 
 Both parties were very happy in this truly paternal 
 intercourse. There were no quarrels, for there was 
 no whiskey there. One barrel of intoxicating drink 
 would have changed kindly greetings into hateful 
 brawls, and would have crimsoned many knives. In 
 dependently of the anxiety, the trappers felt for their 
 suffering animals, the six or eight weeks of wintry 
 cold passed away very pleasantly. The returning sun 
 of spring poured its warmth into the sheltered val 
 ley, melting the snows and releasing the streams. 
 With wonderful rapidity the swelling bud gave place 
 to leaves and blossoms. The green grass sprang up 
 on the mounds, the animals rejoiced and began even 
 to prance in their new-found vigor. The winter 
 had gone and the time for the singing of birds had 
 come. 
 
 The trappers were in need of certain supplies, 
 before they could advantageously set out on their 
 spring hunting tour. They therefore sent two of 
 their party to obtain these supplies at Fort Laramie, 
 which was one or two hundred miles south of them, 
 on the Platte river. They did not return. They 
 were never heard from. It is probable that they 
 fell into the hands of hostile Indians, who killed 
 them and took possession of all their effects. This 
 
154 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 was another of those innumerable tragedies, ever oc 
 curring in this wicked world, which are only record 
 ed in God's book of remembrance. 
 
 The trappers, after waiting for their companions 
 for some time, were compelled to enter upon their 
 spring hunt without them. They continued for 
 some time setting their traps on the Yellowstone 
 river, and then struck over to what is called the 
 Twenty five yard river. After spending a few weeks 
 there, they pushed on to the upper waters of the 
 Missouri, where those waters flow through the most 
 rugged ravines of the Rocky mountains. Here 
 again they were in the vicinity of their Blackfeet 
 foes. And they learned, through some wanderer in 
 the wilderness, that the main village of that tribe 
 was at the distance of but a few miles from them. 
 
 In the previous collisions between the Blackfeet 
 and the trappers, the Indians had gained decidedly 
 the advantage. They had at one time driven the 
 trappers entirely out of their country, having stolen 
 their traps, and effectually prevented them from 
 taking furs. In the conflict, in which Kit Carson 
 was wounded, the Indians had retired, though with 
 loss, still victorious, carrying with them all their booty 
 of stolen horses. Most humiliating of all, they had, 
 without firing a shot, captured all the animals of 
 the garrison and the trappers at Fort Hall. And it 
 
WAR WITH THE BLACKFEET INDIANS. 155 
 
 was most probable that they had robbed and mur 
 dered the two men who had been sent to fort Lar- 
 amie. 
 
 The trappers were all burning to avenge these 
 wrongs. The thievish Blackfeet had made these as 
 saults upon them entirely unprovoked. The savages 
 were greatly elated with their victories, and it was 
 deemed essential that they should be so thoroughly 
 chastised, that they would no longer molest those 
 who were hunting and trapping within those wild 
 solitudes. The whole party of trappers struck the 
 trail which led to the Indian encampment, and cau 
 tiously followed it, until they were within ten or fif 
 teen miles of their foes. 
 
 The company, numbering a hundred men, with 
 one or two hundred horses and mules, presented a very 
 imposing cavalcade. A council of war was held, and 
 Kit Carson, with five picked men was sent forward to 
 reconnoitre the position of the village, and to decide 
 upon the best points of attack. The rest of the com 
 pany retired to some little distance from the trail, 
 where they concealed themselves, obliterating, as far 
 as possible, their tracks. It was deemed necessary to 
 proceed with the utmost caution. The Blackfeet 
 composed one of the most numerous and ferocious of 
 all the Indian tribes. Their warriors were numbered 
 by thousands. It was certain that they would fight, 
 
156 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 and that a high degree of intelligence would guide 
 them in the battle. 
 
 After the lapse of a few hours, Kit Carson returned 
 from his perilous adventure. He had attained an 
 eminence from which he could look down upon the 
 valleys of the foe, which was in one part of an ex 
 tended plain in the midst of hills. He reported that 
 there was some great agitation in the camp. There 
 were runnings to and fro, driving in the animals from 
 their pasturage, saddling and packing them, and 
 sundry other preparations indicative of a general 
 alarm. It might be that their braves were entering 
 on the war-path. It might be that they were prepar 
 ing for flight. It was not improbable that, through 
 their scouts, they had gained intimation of the ap 
 proach of the trappers. A council of war was held. 
 Promptly it was decided to send out forty-three men, 
 under the leadership of Kit Carson to give the Black- 
 feet battle. The remaining men, fifty-five in number, 
 were left, under Mr. Fontenelle, to discharge the re 
 sponsible duty of guarding the animals and the 
 equipage. They were also to move slowly on, as a 
 reserve force, who could rush to the aid of the ad 
 vanced force, or upon which those men could fall 
 back in case of disaster. 
 
 They soon reached the village. It was pretty 
 evident that they were expected. But the savages 
 
WAR WITH THE BLACKFEET INDIANS. I$? 
 
 had only bows and arrows. This gave the assailants 
 an immense advantage. They had both rifles and 
 pistols. Taking a circuitous route, they approached 
 the village from an unexpected quarter. They were 
 scarcely seen before a discharge of their guns struck 
 down ten of the bravest warriors. But at that time 
 it was an encampment rather than a village, occupied 
 mainly by fighting men, who greatly outnumbered 
 their assailants. The Indians fought heroically. 
 Each man instantly sprang behind some tree where, 
 protected, he could watch his opportunity and keep 
 his foe at a distance. When a rifle was once dis 
 charged, it took some time to reload ; but the In 
 dians could throw a dozen arrows in a ^minute, with 
 sinewy arms, with sure aim and with deadly power. 
 
 The battle was mainly in the forest, neither party 
 being willing to encountre the exposure of the open 
 plain. The Indians, behind the trees, watched their 
 opportunity. As there were several Indians to one 
 white man, and the trappers were necessarily dis 
 persed, seeking the protection of the trees, the In 
 dians, as soon as a rifle was discharged, would dodge 
 from tree to tree, ever drawing nearer to their assail 
 ants. For three hours this battle continued. The 
 ammunition of the trappers was nearly exhausted, 
 and they remitted the energy of their fire, awaiting 
 the arrival of their companions. The Indians com- 
 
158 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 prehended the state of things and sagaciously re 
 solved to make a simultaneous charge, before the 
 trappers should have opportunity to replenish their 
 powder-horns and bullet-pouches. 
 
 There was a distance of many rods between the 
 two contending parties. The ground was mainly 
 level, and there was no underbrush to intercept the 
 view. The trappers saw and understood the move 
 ment for the charge. Every man was prepared, with 
 his loaded rifle and revolver. On came the Indians, 
 dodging, as they could, from tree to tree, but with 
 an impetuosity of onset which excited the admiration 
 of their opponents. The forest resounded with their 
 shrill war-whoop. Carson requested every man to 
 withhold his fire until sure of his aim. " Let not a 
 single shot," said he, " be lost.'' It was a fearful mo 
 ment, for upon that moment depended the life of 
 every man in the party. Should the outnumbering 
 Indians succeed in passing the narrow intervening 
 space, the trappers would inevitably be overpowered 
 and from the spear-heads of the savages, forty- 
 three scalps would be waved as the banners of their 
 victory. 
 
 There was no simultaneous discharge but a rat 
 tling fire, occupying perhaps sixty seconds. Forty- 
 three Indian warriors were struck by the bullets. 
 Eleven fell instantly dead ; the others were more or 
 
WAR WITH THE BLACKFEET INDIANS. 159 
 
 less crippled by their wounds. Still the brave 
 Indians rushed on, when suddenly there was opened 
 upon them another deadly fire from the revolvers. 
 This was a reinforcement of the strength of their 
 foes which the savages had not anticipated. They 
 hesitated, staggered as if smitten by a heavy blow, 
 and then slowly and sullenly retreated, until they 
 were far beyond pistol range. Some of the moun 
 taineers were on horseback to carry swift aid to any 
 imperilled comrade. Kit Carson was also mounted 
 and with his eagle eye was watching every act of his 
 little army. 
 
 One of his aids, a mountaineer by the name of 
 Cotton, was thrown from his horse, which slipped 
 upon some smooth stones, and fell upon his rider, 
 fastening him helpless to the ground. Six Indians 
 near by rushed, with exultant yells and gleaming 
 tomahawks, for his scalp. Kit Carson, calling on two 
 or three to follow him, sprang from his horse and with 
 the speed of an antelope was by the side of his fallen 
 comrade. The crack of his rifle was instantly heard ; 
 the foremost of the savages gave one convulsive 
 bound, uttered a death cry and fell weltering in his 
 blood. The rest immediately fled, but before they 
 could reach a place of safety three more were struck 
 down by the balls of those who had followed Car 
 son. Two only of the six savages escaped. 
 
CHAPTER VIII 
 
 Encampments and Battles, 
 
 The Renewal of the Battle. Peculiarities of the Fight. The Rout. 
 Encampment in the Indian Village. Number of Trappers 
 among the Mountains. The New Rendezvous. Picturesque 
 Scene of the Encampment. The Missionary and the Nobleman. 
 Brown's Hole. The Navajoes. Kit Carson Purveyor at the 
 Fort. Trapping at the Black Hills. Again upon the Yellow 
 stone. Pleasant Winter Quarters. Signs of the Indians. Severe 
 Conflict. Reappearance of the Indians. Their utter Discom 
 fiture. 
 
 THERE was now a brief lull in the battle. The 
 Indians had not left the field and by no means 
 acknowledged a defeat. With very considerable 
 military skill they selected a new position for the 
 renewal of the fight, on broken ground among a 
 chaos of rocks, about one hundred and fifty yards 
 from the line of their opponents. They were evi 
 dently aware of the strong reserve approaching to 
 'oin the trappers. With this reserve it was necessary 
 that the trappers should make the attack, for they 
 could not venture to move on their way leaving so 
 powerful a hostile army behind them. 
 
 The Indians manifested very considerable powers 
 
ENCAMPMENTS AND BATTLES. l6l 
 
 of reasoning, and no little strategic skill. They 
 took the defensive, and chose a position from which 
 it would be almost impossible to dislodge them. 
 The trappers awaited the arrival of their comrades, 
 and obtained a fresh supply of ammunition. The 
 whole united band prepared for a renewal of the 
 battle. Thus far not one of the trappers had been 
 wounded, excepting Cotton, who was severely 
 bruised by the fall of his horse. 
 
 About an half hour elapsed while these move 
 ments were taking place with each party. The trap 
 pers all dismounted and then, in a long line, with 
 cheers advanced in Indian fashion, from tree to tree, 
 from rock to rock, every moment drawing nearer to 
 their determined foes. The great battle, the Water 
 loo conflict, now commenced. Small as were the 
 numbers engaged, limited as was the field of action, 
 there was perhaps never a battle in which more 
 personal courage was displayed, or in which more 
 skill and endurance was called into requisition. 
 Not unfrequently a trapper would occupy one side 
 of a large boulder and an Indian warrior the other, 
 each watching for the life of his adversary, while 
 every fibre of mental and muscular power were 
 roused to activity. Neither could leave his covert 
 without certain death, and one or the other must 
 inevitably fall. 
 
 
1 62 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 For an hour or two this dreadful conflict contin 
 ued. Gradually the superiority of the white man, 
 and the vast advantage which the rifle gave, began 
 to be manifest. The Indians were slowly driven 
 back, from tree to rock, from rock to tree. Many 
 of their warriors had fallen in death. The ground 
 was crimsoned with their blood. The disheartened 
 Indians began to waver, then to retreat ; and then 
 as the trappers made a simultaneous charge, and the 
 rifle bullets whistled around them, to run in com 
 plete rout, scattering in all directions. It was in 
 vain to attempt any pursuit. The women and chil 
 dren of the Blackfeet village were on an eminence, 
 about a mile from their homes, awaiting the issue 
 of the conflict. They also instantly disappeared, 
 seeking refuge no one knew where. 
 
 In this battle a large number of the Indians were 
 killed or wounded, we know not how many. But 
 three of the trappers were killed, though many 
 others received wounds more or less severe. The 
 Indian village was located on very fine camping- 
 ground. They left nothing behind them. An 
 Indian woman needs no Saratoga trunk for her 
 wardrobe. Their comfortable wigwams were left 
 standing. Here Fontenelle allowed his party to 
 rest for several days. The dead were to be buried, 
 the wounded to be nursed, damages to be repaired, 
 
ENCAMPMENTS AND BATTLES. 163 
 
 and a new supply of provisions to be obtained. 
 Free from all fear of molestation, the trappers ex 
 plored the region for miles around, and were very 
 successful in taking beavers. 
 
 It is estimated that the various parties of trap 
 pers, then wandering among the mountains, num 
 bered at least six hundred men. While our trap 
 pers were thus encamped, elated with their victory 
 over the Indians, and still more exultant over their 
 daily success in trapping and hunting, one day an 
 express rode into the camp, and informed them 
 that the rendezvous was to be held, that year, upon 
 the Mud river, a small stream flowing circuitously 
 from the south into Green river. The party, hav 
 ing a large stock of beaver on hand, set out to cross 
 the main ridge of the Rocky mountains, to dispose 
 of their furs at the rendezvous. It required a jour 
 ney of eight days. As the trapping party, nearly a 
 hundred in number, all mounted on gayly capar 
 isoned steeds, and leading one or two hundred pack 
 horses, entered the valley over the distant emi 
 nences, there were two scenes presented to the eye, 
 each peculiar in many aspects of sublimity and 
 beauty. 
 
 It was midsummer. The smooth meadow upon 
 which the encampment was held was rich, ver 
 dant and blooming, a beautiful stream flowing 
 
164 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 along its western border. A fine grove fringed the 
 stream as far as the eye could reach up and down. 
 Not a tree, stump, or stone was to be seen upon 
 the smooth, lawn-like expanse. Its edge, near the 
 grove, was lined with a great variety of lodges, con 
 structed of skins or bark, or of forest boughs. 
 Horses and mules in great numbers were feeding on 
 the rich herbage, while groups of trappers, Cana 
 dians, Frenchmen, Americans and Indians, were scat 
 tered around, some cooking at their fires, some en 
 gaged in eager traffic, and some amusing themselves 
 in athletic sports. It was a peaceful scene, where, 
 so far as the eye could discern, man's fraternity was 
 combined with nature's loveliness to make this a 
 happy world. Such was the spectacle presented to 
 the trappers as they descended into the valley. 
 
 On the other hand, the trappers themselves con 
 tributed a very important addition to the pictur- 
 esqueness of the view. Half a mile from the en 
 campment, in the northeast, the land rose in a gen 
 tle, gradual swell, smooth, verdant and treeless, per 
 haps to the height of a hundred and fifty feet. Down 
 this declivity they were descending, with their horses 
 and their pack mules, in a long line of single file. 
 They were way-worn pilgrims, and the grotesqueness 
 of their attire, and their unshaven, uncut, and almost 
 uncombed locks, added to their weird-like aspect. 
 
ENCAMPMENTS AND BATTLES. 165 
 
 Here the party met with two gentlemen, such as 
 were rarely, perhaps never before, seen on such an 
 occasion. One was a Christian missionary, Father 
 De Smidt, who, in obedience to the Saviour's com 
 mission, " Go ye into all the world and preach my 
 Gospel to every creature," had abandoned the com 
 forts of civilization, to cast in his lot with the sav 
 ages, that he might teach them that religion of the 
 Bible which would redeem the world by leading all 
 men to repentance, to faith in an atoning Saviour, 
 and to endeavor " to do justly, to love mercy, and 
 to walk humbly with God." 
 
 The other stranger was an English nobleman, a 
 gentleman of high character, of refinement and cul 
 ture. In his ancestral home he had heard of the 
 sublimities of the wilderness ; the wide-spread prai 
 ries ; the gloomy forests ; the solitary lakes. He 
 had heard of savage men, numbering tens of thou 
 sands in their tribes, almost as wild, as devoid of 
 human traits as were the buffaloes whom they pur 
 sued with whoop and halloo over the plains. Curi 
 osity, a very rational and praiseworthy curiosity, 
 had lured him into these remote realms, that he 
 might behold the wondrous works of God, and that 
 he might study the condition of his brother man 
 without the Gospel. 
 
 Kit Carson was, by a natural instinct, drawn into 
 
1 66 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 association with this refined English gentleman. 
 They could each appreciate the other. They soon 
 became acquainted, and a warm friendship sprang 
 up between them. Mr. Carson subsequently wrote, 
 in reference to Sir William Stuart : 
 
 " For the goodness of his heart and numerous 
 rare qualities of his mind, he will always be remem 
 bered by those of the mountaineers who had the 
 honor of his acquaintance." 
 
 The terms of the commendation show the virtues 
 which Mr. Carson could appreciate, and which he 
 was accustomed to practice. Of the missionary, 
 Rev. Mr. De Smidt, it has been very truly written : 
 
 " Perhaps there never was a person, in the wilds 
 of America, who became so universally beloved, both 
 by the white and red man. While in the mountains 
 he acted with untiring zeal for the good of all with 
 whom he came into contact. Wherever duty called 
 him, there he was sure to be found, no matter what 
 the obstacles or dangers spread upon his path. He 
 worked during a long series of years in these danger 
 ous localities, and when he at length returned to 
 civilization he left an indelible name behind him." 
 
 The Rendezvous continued for twenty days. It 
 was a constant festival, like the Olympic games of 
 the Greeks, or the renowned Tournaments of more 
 modern days, with the exception that business was 
 
i 
 
 ENCAMPMENTS AND BATTLES. l6/ 
 
 intimately blended with pleasures. It at length 
 broke up into small parties. Kit Carson, with seven 
 companions, followed down the Green river, to 
 Brown's Hole ; a narrow but sunny and fertile val 
 ley about sixteen miles long. Here he found a 
 party of traders, who were on an excursion to a nu 
 merous and quite wealthy band of Indians, called 
 the Navajoes. They seemed to have attained a de 
 gree of civilization considerably above that of any of 
 the other tribes. They had fixed abodes ; had im 
 mense herds of sheep, horses and mules. They had 
 also attained, the art by a slow and tedious process, 
 of weaving admirable woolen blankets ; thick, warm 
 and strong. These blankets were quite renowned 
 throughout all that region, and brought a high price. 
 Kit Carson joined the traders in their expedition to 
 the country of the Navajoes. 
 
 Here they purchased many of these blankets, and 
 a large drove of strong, fat mules. With these they 
 crossed the mountains, to a distance of three or 
 four hundred miles, to a fort on the south fork of the 
 Platte river. At this place they disposed of their 
 blankets and cattle to great advantage, and Mr. Car 
 son promptly returned to the companions he had left 
 at Brown's Hole. The traders undoubtedly receiv 
 ed in payment the only currency of the country, 
 beaver skins. These they probably took with them 
 
168 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 to St. Louis for ultimate sale. We know not how 
 Mr. Carson invested his earnings. It is very certain 
 that he did not squander them in riotous living. 
 Subsequent events indicate that they were sent 
 through the hands of the traders, Messrs. Thompson 
 and Sinclair, to the States, there to be deposited to 
 his credit. 
 
 The autumnal months had now passed away, and 
 the blasts of approaching winter warned the hunters 
 that they must seek a refuge from its storms. 
 
 Mr. Carson had produced so favorable an impres 
 sion upon the men at the fort on the Platte river, 
 that they sent him a very urgent invitation to re 
 turn, and take the very responsible position of stew 
 ard or purveyor for the garrison during the winter. 
 They offered him such ample emolument that he ac 
 cepted their proposition, though many other parties 
 were eager to obtain his services. I cannot help re 
 marking, in this connection, in special reference to 
 any of my young readers, that this is the true secret 
 of success in life. In whatever position you are, in 
 whatever business you are engaged, be as faithful 
 and perfect as possible. Promotion and prosperity 
 are then almost sure. 
 
 The task which now devolved upon Mr. Carson 
 was, with his rifle and such aid as he might need, to 
 supply all the animal food which twenty men might 
 
 
ENCAMPMENTS AND BATTLES. 169 
 
 require. He performed this duty, not only to the 
 satisfaction of all, but such was his energy, his skill, 
 his spirit of self-sacrifice, his entire devotion to his 
 work, and the wonderful success which attended his 
 exertions, that he secured universal affection and 
 esteem. 
 
 With the returning sun of spring, Mr. Carson, 
 having well performed his task, joined Mr. Bridger 
 and four other trappers, to go to what were called 
 the Black Hills. This was a limited mountainous 
 range, far away in the north, extending a distance of 
 about a hundred miles between the Laramie and 
 Sweetwater rivers. These streams were tributaries 
 of the north fork of the Platte. This region had per 
 haps never before been visited by either trapper or 
 hunter. They found beavers in plenty, and their 
 success was excellent. 
 
 With well laden mules they again crossed the 
 Rocky mountains to reunite themselves with the 
 main camp of the trappers on Green river. They 
 trapped on their way and continued success attend 
 ed them. Thus enriched, they accompanied the 
 main party to a tributary of the Wind river, where 
 the annual Rendezvous was that year to be held. 
 Here were renewed the usual scenes of the trapper's 
 great Fair which we have already described. 
 
 As the Rendezvous broke up, Mr. Carson joined 
 
170 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 a large party, and recrossed the mountains to the 
 Yellowstone, where they had already had so many 
 bloody encounters with the Blackfeet Indians. 
 They trapped successfully until the inclement weath 
 er forced them into winter quarters. Nothing occur 
 red of any moment, until mid-winter. Daily parties 
 went out for game and they always returned with 
 an ample supply. In their snug lodges, gathered 
 around their blazing fires, telling stories of past ad 
 ventures, preparing clothing for the summer, feast 
 ing upon fat turkeys, and the choicest cuts of buffalo- 
 meat and venison, a few weeks passed very pleas 
 antly away. Being free from that most terrible of 
 all earthly curses, intoxicating drinks, there was no 
 discord, and this little community of mountaineers, 
 in the solitudes of a Rocky mountain valley, were 
 perhaps as happy as any other equal community 
 amidst the highest conveniences of civilization. 
 
 One winter's day a little band of hunters, in their 
 pursuit of game, were lured to a greater distance 
 than usual from the camp. Their attention was 
 arrested by certain signs which indicated that a band 
 of Indians had passed by, and had endeavored care 
 fully to conceal their trail. A close scrutiny so con 
 firmed this opinion that they hastily returned to the 
 camp with the declaration that savages were certainly 
 prowling around watching for an opportunity to at- 
 
 ' 
 
ENCAMPMENTS AND BATTLES. I?! 
 
 tack them. They knew full well that the wary In 
 dians would never think of approaching their camp 
 unless in overpowering numbers. It was deemed 
 expedient not to allow the foe any time to mature 
 their plans. A party of forty men was immediately 
 fitted out, under the command of Kit Carson, to go 
 to the hidden trail and follow it till the haunts of the 
 Indians were discovered. The reputation of Mr. 
 Carson was such that unanimously he was invested 
 with dictatorial powers. Everything was left to the 
 decision of his own good judgment. 
 
 With silent, moccasined tread the adventurers 
 threaded their way over the broken country, and 
 through a dense forest, when suddenly they came 
 upon a band of Indians, manifestly on the war-path ; 
 painted, plumed and armed in the highest style of 
 their barbaric art. The savages, on catching sight 
 of the trappers, turned and fled with the utmost 
 speed, without scattering. The trappers pursued 
 with equal swiftness of foot. They had no doubt 
 that there was a stronger band at some little distance, 
 which the Indians were retreating to join. 
 
 The supposition proved correct. A large number 
 of warriors had assembled, in a very good military 
 position, and it was at once evident that they intended 
 to give battle. Though the majority of them had 
 only arrows and lances, many were armed with rifles. 
 
CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 They were on a hill-side which was quite steep, rugged 
 with boulders, and with a heavy growth of gloomy 
 firs and pines. The field was admirably adapted for 
 the Indian mode of warfare, and the desperate war 
 riors of the Blackfeet were foes not to be despised. 
 
 Kit Carson possessed the qualities essential to a 
 military leader. He was cautious as he was bold. 
 He was very careful never unnecessarily to expose 
 the lives of his men. Very deliberately he recon 
 noitred the position, and prepared for the battle. 
 He had no doubt that, with what would be called a 
 gallant rush, he might drive the Indians from him and 
 gain a brilliant victory. But it would be attended 
 with loss. By a slower process he was sure of the 
 result, while his men would be protected from death 
 and wounds. All of his men were armed with the 
 best of rifles. They had a good supply of ammuni 
 tion. They could afford to load with heavy charges 
 which would throw the balls to the greatest possible 
 distance. It was very difficult for the Indians to 
 obtain ammunition. They therefore found it neces 
 sary to husband the little they had with great care. 
 Consequently the Indian's rifle, but lightly charged, 
 would seldom throw a bullet more than two-thirds 
 the distance thrown by the rifle of the trapper. 
 
 Mr. Carson gave every man his position. They 
 were all veterans in every exigence of Indian war- 
 
ENCAMPMENTS AND BATTLES. 173 
 
 fare. Each man was capable of independent action. 
 They all knew the folly of throwing away a single 
 shot. There was no random firing. Each man was 
 trained to seek sure protection behind rock, stump 
 or tree, and then to keep a vigilant watch, not only 
 to guard himself but his immediate comrades from 
 the missiles of the foe. Slowly the line of trappers 
 was to advance upon the enemy, from point to point 
 of protection, making sure that every bullet should 
 kill or wound. The tactics of the battle secured the 
 victory. The Indians fought with their accustomed 
 bravery. But one after another their warriors fell 
 killed or disabled. 
 
 As the gloom of a winter's night settled down 
 over this awful scene of war, the savages retired in 
 good order, across the ice of an arm of the Yellow 
 stone, to an island in the middle of the river. They 
 had adopted the precaution, unusual with them, of 
 erecting here quite a strong fortress, to which they 
 could retreat in case of disaster. Thus situated, both 
 parties, wearied with the Jong conflict of the day, 
 sought such repose as night could give to men sleep 
 ing upon their arms. 
 
 The trappers knew not what scenes were trans 
 piring in the Indian camp on the island. As for 
 themselves, they could only venture, with the utmost 
 caution, to kindle small fires to cook their supper. 
 
174 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 They then carefully extinguished the embers, lest 
 the flames should guide several hundred warriors in 
 a midnight attack. 
 
 Mr. Carson was not aware of the strength of the 
 Indian fortifications on the island. Not wishing to 
 
 o 
 
 give them any time to strengthen their works, with 
 the earliest dawn he put his men in motion. They 
 crossed the ice to the island, where they found only 
 silence and desolation. Not an Indian was to be 
 seen. In the night the savages had retreated, and 
 were then probably at a distance of leagues, no one 
 could tell where. There were, however, many indi 
 cations left of the results of the battle. The 
 interior of the fort was quite crimsoned with fresh 
 blood. A bloody trail led to a hole which they had 
 cut through the ice in the middle of the river, and 
 into which they had thrust the bodies of the slain. 
 It was not their intention that the trappers should 
 know how many of their number had been wounded 
 or slain. Mr. Carson with his victorious associates 
 returned to the camp. 
 
 A council of war was held. It was generally 
 supposed that the powerful Blackfeet could bring five 
 thousand warriors into the field. They were very 
 resolute men ; having been abundantly successful 
 heretofore, it was not doubted they would strain 
 every nerve to wipe out the disgrace of this defeat. 
 
ENCAMPMENTS AND BATTLES. 175 
 
 The trappers were confident that the savages would 
 soon appear again, with numbers which they would 
 deem sufficient to annihilate the white men. Guided 
 by the wisdom of Kit Carson, the whole camp imme 
 diately resolved itself into a military garrison. In- 
 trenchments were thrown up to guard every ap 
 proach. Everything was cleared away, around the 
 camp within rifle range, behind which an Indian could 
 secrete himself. The most trusty men were appointed 
 as sentinels. 
 
 About a mile from the camp there was an emi 
 nence, several hundred feet high, whose summit 
 commanded a fine view of the whole surrounding 
 country. Every day some one was sent to that hill 
 to keep a constant lookout. 
 
 The wisdom of Mr. Carson's measures was soon 
 apparent. One morning the watch on the hill dis 
 cerned, far away in the distance, a warlike band of 
 Indians approaching. He had no doubt that it was, 
 as it proved to be, but the advanced guard of the In 
 dian army. He waved his signal to communicate the 
 intelligence to the camp, and immediately hastened 
 down to join his comrades. Every man sprang to 
 arms and was at his post. Kit Carson had antici 
 pated everything and had attended to the most min 
 ute details. 
 
 With firm self-confident tread the savages came 
 
CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 on, a thousand in number, to crush by the weight of 
 their onset, and to trample beneath their feet sixty 
 trappers. It was an appalling sight even for brave 
 men to look upon. They were all arrayed in their 
 fantastic war costume, some on horseback splendidly 
 mounted, some on foot, many armed with rifles, and 
 others with bows, arrows, and lances which were very 
 formidable weapons in the hands of such stalwart and 
 sinewy men. 
 
 They came in separate bands, of two or three 
 hundred each, and took position about a mile from 
 the fort. As band after band came up, the prairie 
 and the adjacent hills resounded with their yells of 
 defiance. In the evening they held their war-dance, 
 which the trappers well understood to be the sure 
 precursor of the battle on the next day. Their 
 songs could be distinctly heard in the camp, and as 
 they danced, with hideous contortions, in the gather 
 ing shades of night around their fires, it seemed as 
 though a band of demons had broken loose from 
 Pandemonium. 
 
 With the first dawn of the morning, a large party 
 of these warriors approached the fort to reconnoitre. 
 They were evidently astonished in beholding the 
 preparations which had been made to receive them. 
 They could not, from any direction, approach within 
 an eighth of a mile, without presenting their bodies a 
 
ENCAMPMENTS AND BATTLES. 
 
 perfect target for the rifles of men who never missed 
 their aim. These cautious warriors did not venture 
 within half a mile of the fortress. But they were 
 keen-eyed and sagacious men. They saw that the 
 trappers were effectually protected by their breast 
 works, and that the fort could by no possibility be 
 taken without enormous slaughter on their own side. 
 Indeed it was doubtful whether, armed as the white 
 men were, with rifles, revolvers and knives, the fort 
 could be taken at any expense. 
 
 In their impotent rage a few random shots were 
 fired at- the fort, but the bullets did not reach their 
 mark. The trappers threw away no lead. They 
 quietly awaited the attack, and were so confident of 
 their ability to defeat the Indians, that they were 
 disappointed when they saw the reconnoitring party 
 commencing to retire. They shouted to them in 
 terms of derision, hoping to exasperate them into an 
 attack. But the wary savages were not thus to be 
 drawn to certain death. They retired to their camp, 
 which as we have said was distant about a mile from 
 the fort, but which was in perfect view. 
 
 Here they evidently held a general council of 
 war. There probably was some diversity of opinion, 
 as many speeches were made and the council was 
 protracted for several hours. There was manifestly 
 
 no enthusiasm on the occasion, and no exultant 
 8* 
 
1 78 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 shouts were heard. At the conclusion of the council, 
 the whole band divided into two parties and, in di 
 vergent directions, disappeared from view. After 
 this the trappers were not again disturbed by the In 
 dians. Indeed they feared no molestation. No In 
 dian band would think of attacking a fortress which 
 a thousand warriors had declared impregnable. 
 
 As soon as the returning spring would permit, the 
 trappers broke up their encampment on the Yellow 
 stone, and passing directly west through the very 
 heart of the Blackfeet country, planted their traps 
 on the head waters of the Missouri river. For three 
 months they traversed many of the tributaries of 
 this most majestic of streams. They were mod 
 erately successful, and in the early summer turned 
 their steps south, crossing the mountains to dispose 
 of their furs at the Rendezvous, which was again held 
 on Green river. Here they remained in such social 
 enjoyment as the great festival could afford them, 
 until the month of August, when the Rendezvous 
 was dissolved, 
 
CHAPTER IX. 
 
 The Trapper s Elysium. 
 
 Trapping on the Missouri. Attacked by the Blackfeet. The Bat 
 tle. Persevering Hostility of the Indians. The Trappers driven 
 from the Country. Repair to the North Fork. Cheerful En 
 campments. Enchanting Scene. Village of the Flatheads. 
 The Blessings of Peace. Carson's Knowledge of Languages. 
 Pleasant Winter Quarters on the Big Snake River. Successful 
 Trapping. Winter at Brown's Hole. Trip to Fort Bent. 
 Peculiar Characters. Williams and Mitchel. Hunter at Fort 
 Bent. Marriage. Visit to the States. 
 
 UPON the breaking up of the rendezvous at 
 Green river, Kit Carson, with five companions, 
 directed his steps in a northwest course, about two 
 hundred miles to Fort Hall, on Snake river. He 
 spent the autumnal months trapping along the 
 various streams in this region. They were very 
 successful on this tour, and at the close of the season 
 returned to the fort with a rich supply of furs. 
 These forts were generally trading-houses, well forti 
 fied and garrisoned, but not governmental military 
 posts. 
 
 Here Carson disposed of his furs to good advan 
 tage, and after remaining there about a month he 
 
180 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 crossed the mountains with a large party of trappers 
 to the head waters of the Missouri, thus again 
 entering the country of the Blackfeet. They struck 
 the Missouri river itself far up among the mountains. 
 They commenced setting their traps on this stream. 
 Slowly they followed up the banks, gathering in the 
 morning what they had taken through tire night. 
 
 One morning a party of half a dozen trappers, 
 who had gone about two miles from the camp to 
 examine their traps, encountered a band of Blackfeet 
 Indians, who fired upon them. The trappers imme 
 diately retreated with the greatest rapidity. Though 
 closely pursued by their swift-footed foes they 
 reached the camp in safety. It so happened that 
 near their camp there was quite an extensive 
 thicket of tall trees and dense underbrush. Kit 
 Carson, not knowing how numerous the Indians 
 might be who were coming upon him, directed the 
 men as quickly as possible to conceal themselves and 
 animals in the thicket. 
 
 Scarcely had the order been executed when the 
 Indians with hideous yells came rushing towards 
 the camp. But not a trapper or a horse was visible. 
 Nothing was found there but silence and solitude. 
 Still they came rushing on, shouting and brandishing 
 their weapons, when suddenly and to their great con 
 sternation, the reports of the rifles were heard and 
 
THE TRAPPER'S ELYSIUM. 
 
 181 
 
 fourteen bullets struck fourteen warriors. Several 
 were killed outright, others were seriously wounded. 
 Before the savages had recovered from their conster 
 nation the rifles were reloaded and every man was 
 ready for another discharge. 
 
 The brave Blackfeet wavered for a moment, and 
 then with unearthly yells, made a simultaneous 
 charge upon the thicket. Carson was in the midst 
 of his little band. His calm, soft voice was heard 
 reassuring his men, as he said : 
 
 " Keep cool and fire as deliberately as if you were 
 shooting at game." 
 
 There was another almost simultaneous discharge 
 and every bullet struck a warrior. The Indians, 
 thus mercilessly handled, recoiled, and every one 
 sought refuge behind some trunk, rock or tree. 
 They could see no foe, while the trappers could find 
 peep-holes through which they could watch all the 
 movements of the Indians. A shower of arrows was 
 thrown into the thicket, but none of the trappers 
 were struck. The intermittent battle continued the 
 whole day. Several times the savages attempted to 
 renew the charge, but as often the same deadly vol 
 ley was poured in upon them with never-failing aim. 
 
 At length they attempted to set the thicket on 
 fire, hoping thus to burn out their foes. There was 
 another and still larger body of trappers about six 
 
82 CHRISTOFER CARSON. 
 
 ailes below the point were this battle was raging, 
 hit the direction of th wind was such, together 
 /ith the dense forest and he broken ground, that the 
 eport of the fire-arms wa not heard. 
 
 It is probable that thdndians had knowledge of 
 his band, and feared tat the larger party might 
 ome to the aid of the* friends. Whatever may 
 ave been the reason vdch influenced them, they 
 uddenly abandoned thecontest and departed. As 
 oon as Mr. Carson hadsatisfied himself that they 
 fere effectually out of te way, he emerged from his 
 etreat and joined his fends down the river. His 
 oolness and prudence ad saved the party. They 
 3st not a man nor an aimal. 
 
 But the Indians stilhovered around in such ener- 
 ;etic and persevering ostility, that not a trapper 
 ould leave the camp w:hout danger of falling into 
 n ambuscade. The Idians avoided any decisive 
 onflict, but their war-vioops and yells of defiance, 
 ke the howlings of wcves, could be heard, by day 
 nd by night, in the fcests all around them. Un- 
 *ss the traps were canully guarded, they were sure 
 D be stolen. Under tese circumstances there was 
 o possibility of trappig with any hope of success. 
 )nce before the indorrtable Indians had driven the 
 rappers from their contry. And now again it was 
 leemed necessary to -;thdraw from their haunts. 
 
THE TRAPPER ELYSIUM. 1 
 
 To the trappers this waa very humiliating nee 
 sity. A council was 1 1 it was decided 
 
 abandon the region and to ircct their steps ab< 
 two hundred miles, in a nrtheasterly direction, 
 the north fork of the Missari river. The jourr 
 was soon accomplished whout adventure. 1 
 trappers, far removed fror their inveterate fo 
 vigorously commenced openions. They had th 
 central camp. In small parts they followed up a 
 down the majestic stream, ari pursued the windir 
 of the brook< flowing int< . They generally w< 
 in parties of two or three. 
 
 Wherever night found thci, whether withcloi 
 less skies or raging storm, it lattered not, the w< 
 of an hour with their hatchts, reared for then 
 sheltering camp. Before it b^.ed the ever-cheer 
 illuminating fire. Rich f the choicest ga 
 
 smoked upon the embers, am'*. he hunters, reclin 
 upon their couches of blankts or furs, exulted 
 the luxurious indulgence of hunter's life. W 
 all the hardships to which oe is exposed in si 
 adventures, there is a charn accompanying th 
 which words cannot easily ck ribe. It warms 
 blood of one sitting upon the arpeted floor in 
 well-furnished parlor to send h imagination bacl> 
 r those scenes. 
 
 Men of little book culture, nd with but slii 
 
 
 
1 84 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 acquaintance with the elegancies of polished life, 
 have often a high appreciation of the beauties and 
 the sublimities of nature. Think of such a man as 
 Kit Carson, with his native delicacy of mind ; a deli 
 cacy which never allowed him to use a profane word, 
 to indulge in intoxicating drinks, to be guilty of an 
 impure action ; a man who enjoyed, above all 
 things else, the communings of his own spirit with 
 the silence, the solitude, the grandeur, with which 
 God has invested the illimitable wilderness ; think of 
 such a man in the midst of such scenes as we are 
 now describing. 
 
 It is the hour of midnight. His camp is in one of 
 the wildest ravines of the Rocky mountains. A dense 
 and gloomy forest covers the hillsides. A moun 
 tain torrent, with its voice of many waters, flows on 
 its way but a few yards beyond the open front of 
 his camp. A brilliant fire illumines the wild scene 
 for a few rods around, while all beyond is impene 
 trable darkness. His hardy mule, accustomed to all 
 weathers, is browsing near by. The floor of his 
 camp, spread with buffalo robes, looks warm and 
 inviting. His two comrades are soundly asleep with 
 their rifles on their arms, ready at the slightest alarm 
 to spring to their feet prepared for battle. 
 
 There is a raging storm wailing through the tree- 
 tops. The howling of the wolves is heard as, in 
 
THE TRAPPER'S ELYSIUM. 185 
 
 fierce and hungry packs, they roam through these 
 uninhabited wilds. Carson, reclining upon his couch, 
 in perfect health and unfatigued, caresses the faith 
 ful dog, which clings to his side, as he looks out upon 
 the scene and listens to the storm. What is there 
 which the chambers of the Metropolitan hotel can 
 afford, which the hardy mountaineer would accept in 
 exchange ? 
 
 Slowly our party of trappers ascended the river, 
 gathering many furs on their way. It was an unex 
 plored region, and they could never tell what scene 
 the next mile would open before them. One morn 
 ing as they were turning the majestic bend of a ravine, 
 they came upon a beautiful little meadow, where the 
 mountains retired for nearly a quarter of a mile from 
 the stream, and where the waters of the river flowed 
 gently in a smooth, untroubled current. They were 
 ascending the river which flowed down from the south. 
 A beautiful vista was opened before them of green 
 valleys and gentle treeless eminences, while far away 
 in the distance rose towering mountains. 
 
 Upon this lovely meadow there was a large vil 
 lage of Flathead Indians. Their conical lodges, 
 constructed of skins, were scattered thickly around, 
 while the smoke of their fires curled gently through 
 an opening in the top of each lodge. Children were 
 playing upon the greensward, shooting their arrows, 
 
1 86 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 throwing their javelins, and engaged in sundry other 
 barbaric sports. A party of the Indians had just 
 returned from a hunting expedition laden with game. 
 Warriors and women were scattered around in small 
 groups, discussing the events of the day and pre 
 paring for a great feast. Young Indian girls, of 
 graceful form, looked very attractive in their pic 
 turesque attire of fringed buskined leggins and glitter 
 ing beads. 
 
 Kit Carson at once recognized these Indians as 
 his friends, the Flatheads. They knew him and 
 gave him and his comrades a cordial greeting. O, 
 the blessings of peace ! How many are the woes of 
 this world which are caused by man's inhumanity to 
 man. The trappers were led by their Indian friends, 
 with smiling faces and kind words, into their lodges, 
 and shared with them in a thanksgiving feast. 
 
 Mr. Carson was endowed with unusual facility in 
 the acquisition of languages. He could converse 
 fluently in Spanish and French, and it was stated 
 that he also understood some ten Indian dialects. 
 With the Flatheads he was quite at home. After a 
 few days, spent in this hospitable village, it was 
 deemed expedient to seek winter quarters. Several 
 of the chiefs accompanied them. They accordingly 
 left the head waters of the Missouri, and crossed the 
 Rocky mountains in a southerly direction, about two 
 
THE TRAPPER'S ELYSIUM. 187 
 
 hundred miles, till they reached the Big Snake river. 
 It will be remembered that this stream, flowing from 
 the western declivities of the mountains, is the most 
 important tributary of the Columbia river. Here the 
 winter passed very pleasantly away without any in 
 cident which calls for record. Rather an unusual 
 quantity of snow fell. But the trappers were warmly 
 housed, with ample clothing and abundant fuel. 
 
 Every pleasant day hunters left the camp, and 
 usually returned well laden with game. Thus the 
 larder of the trappers was well provided for. An 
 anonymous writer speaking of these winter encamp 
 ments, says : 
 
 " The winter seasons in the Rocky mountains are 
 usually fearful and severe. There snow-storms form 
 mountains for themselves, filling up the passes for 
 weeks and rendering them impracticable either for 
 man or beast. 
 
 The scenery is indescribably grand, provided the 
 beholder is well housed. If the case be otherwise, 
 and he is doomed to encounter these terrible storms, 
 his situation is dreadful in the extreme. Even du 
 ring the summer months the lofty peaks of this 
 mighty chain of mountains are covered with white 
 caps of snow. It affords a contrast to the elements, 
 of the grandest conception, to stand in the shade of 
 some verdant valley wiping the perspiration from the 
 
 
 
1 88 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 brow, and at the same time to 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 un 
 surpassed by their Alpine brothers of Europe. Not 
 so in the glaciers. Throughout the great range 
 there are no glaciers to be found which can compare 
 with those among the Alps.'' 
 
 In the spring the trappers scattered in small 
 bands throughout that region. They were in the 
 territory of the Utah Indians, just north of the Great 
 Salt Lake. Kit Carson was well acquainted with 
 them and they were all his friends. The trappers, 
 therefore, wandered at pleasure without fear of mo 
 lestation. Mr. Carson took but one trapper with 
 him, with two or three pack mules. They were very 
 successful, and in a few weeks obtained as many furs 
 as their animals could carry. 
 
 With these they went to a trading post, not very 
 far distant from them called Fort Robidoux. Here 
 their furs were disposed of to good advantage. Mr. 
 Carson, having judiciously invested his gains, organ 
 ized another party of five trappers, and traversed an 
 unpeopled wilderness for a distance of about two 
 hundred miles until he reached the wild ravines and 
 pathless solitudes of Grand river. This stream, 
 
THE TRAPPERS ELYSIUM. 189 
 
 whose junction with the Green river forms the Col 
 orado, takes its rise on the western declivity of the 
 Rocky mountains, amidst its most wild and savage 
 glens. Trapping down this river \\ith satisfactory 
 success, late in the autumn he reached Green river. 
 Falling snows and piercing winds admonished him 
 that the time had come again to retire to winter 
 quarters. 
 
 He repaired to Brown's Hole, the well known and 
 beautiful valley which he had often visited before. 
 Here he passed an uneventful but pleasant winter. 
 With the earliest spring he again directed his foot 
 steps to the country of the Utahs in the remote 
 north. He was successful in trapping, and as the 
 heat of summer came, he again turned his steps, 
 with well laden mules, to Fort Robidoux. Here he 
 found, to his disappointment, that beaver fur had 
 greatly deteriorated in value. His skins would 
 scarcely bring him enough to pay for the trouble of 
 taking them. This was caused mainly by the use 
 of silk instead of fur, throughout Europe and Amer 
 ica, in the manufacture of hats. 
 
 Kit Carson saw at a glance, that his favorite 
 occupation was gone ; that he and the other trappers 
 would be compelled to seek some other employment. 
 In company with five men of a decidedly higher 
 order than the common run of trappers, he struck 
 
CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 for the head waters of Arkansas river. Following 
 this stream down along the immense defile which 
 nature seems to have opened for it through the 
 Rocky mountains, they approached Fort Bent, which 
 is about one hundred and fifty miles east of that 
 gigantic barrier. 
 
 Mr. Carson's companions on this trip, were some 
 of them at least, very peculiar characters, very 
 interesting specimens of the kind of men who are 
 drawn from the haunts of civilization to the wilder 
 ness. One was a man, probably partially insane, who 
 was known through all the Rocky mountain region 
 as " old Bill Williams." He had been a Methodist 
 preacher in Missouri. For some unknown reason 
 he left the States and joined the Indians, adopting 
 their dress and manners. He was very familiar with 
 the Bible and had marvellous skill in the acquisition 
 of languages. He would spend but a short time 
 with any tribe before he became quite familiar with 
 their speech. Though his conduct was often in 
 strange contrast with the teachings of that sacred 
 book, he took much pleasure in telling the Indians 
 Bible stories. He was subsequently killed in some 
 feud with the savages. 
 
 Another of his companions, whose real or assumed 
 name was Mitchel, had abandoned his friends and 
 joined the Comanche Indians. It is a much easier 
 
THE TRAPPER'S ELYSIUM. 191 
 
 step from the civilized man to the savage than from 
 the savage to the civilized. Mitchel, with his Indian 
 costume, his plumed head-gear, his Indian weapons, 
 and his fluent Indian speech, could not be distin 
 guished from the savages around him. The Coman- 
 ches adopted him into their tribe and accepted him 
 as one of the most prominent of their braves. 
 Mitchel said that his object was to discover a gold 
 mine through their guidance, which they reported 
 was to be found amid the mountains of Northern 
 Texas. Disappointed in this endeavor, he joined the 
 trappers and was cordially welcomed by them as an 
 experienced mountaineer, a man full of humor and 
 one who could tell a capital story. 
 
 When Kit Carson and his companions had arrived 
 within a few days' journey of the fort. Mitchel and a 
 man by the name of New, contrary to the advice of 
 Carson, decided to remain behind, to enjoy them 
 selves in a beautiful country where they found abun 
 dance of game. A week after the safe arrival of 
 Mr. Carson and his party, these two men made their 
 appearance in a truly pitiable plight. They had 
 encountered a party of Indian hunters who, while 
 sparing their lives, had robbed them of their arms, 
 their ammunition and even of every particle of their 
 clothing. Of course they were kindly received at 
 the fort and all their wants supplied. 
 
CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 Fort Bent was a trading post ; belonged to a com 
 pany of merchants of whom Messrs. Bent and Vrain, 
 residing at the fort, were partners. Immediately 
 upon Mr. Carson's arrival there, he was so well known 
 and his capabilities so well understood, that he 
 received an earnest application to take the position 
 of hunter for the fort. He accepted the office and 
 filled it for eight years with such skill and fidelity 
 that never did one word of disagreement pass be 
 tween him and his employers. His duties were to 
 supply a camp of about forty men with all the animal 
 food they needed. 
 
 When game was plenty, this was an easy task, 
 but often wandering bands of Indian hunters would 
 sweep that whole region around rendering the labors 
 of Mr. Carson extremely difficult. For unfrequently 
 he would wander from sunrise to sunset over prairie 
 and mountain, in pursuit of game ; but rarely did he 
 return without a mule load. At times he extended 
 his hunting trips to a distance of fifty miles from the 
 fort. During these eight years thousands of buffalo, 
 elk, antelope and deer, fell before his rifle, besides a 
 vast amount of smaller game. 
 
 The skill which he displayed, and the success 
 which that skill secured, excited the admiration alike 
 of the red men and the white men. He was univer 
 sally known by the Indians, and was respected and 
 
THE TRAPPER'S ELYSIUM. 193 
 
 beloved by them. Fearless and alone he wandered 
 over mountain and prairie, frequently meeting 
 bands of hunters, and warriors, and entering the 
 lodges of the savages, and sleeping in them without 
 encountering any harm. They admired his boldness, 
 and an instinctive sense of honor led them not to 
 maltreat one who had ever proved their friend, and 
 who trusted himself so unreservedly in their 
 power. 
 
 His familiarity with the Indian language enabled 
 him to converse familiarly with them. He was as 
 much at home in the wilderness as the most veteran 
 hunters of their tribes. In the huts of the Arapahoes, 
 Cheyennes, Kiowas and Comanches he was always 
 a welcome guest. They appreciated the vast superi 
 ority of his intellect. Often groups of men, women 
 and children would linger around the central fire of 
 the lodge till after midnight, listening to his enter 
 taining stories of adventure and peril. 
 
 One incident which occurred at this time, speaks 
 volumes in reference to Mr. Carson's character as a 
 lover of peace, and is deserving of perpetual remem 
 brance. 
 
 The Sioux tribe of Indians who could bring a 
 thousand warriors into the field had invaded the hunt 
 ing-grounds of the Comanches. Several skirmishes 
 had already taken place, in which the Comanches 
 9 
 
194 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 had been worsted. The chiefs sent a deputation to 
 Kit Carson, whom they regarded as a host in him 
 self, to come to their aid, and to take the leadership 
 of one of their bands. Carson promptly responded 
 to their call. He met the Comanche chiefs in coun 
 cil, and so represented to them the blessings of peace 
 and the horrors of war, that they consented to send a 
 deputation, to effect if possible, an amicable settle 
 ment of the difficulty. 
 
 We infer from the brief narrative that is given 
 that Kit Carson was the bearer of this Indian flag of 
 truce. He was the friend of both parties. He was 
 alike regarded by both as eminent for his wisdom 
 and his sense of justice. He met the Sioux chiefs in 
 council. After long deliberation, they consented to 
 retire from the Comanches' hunting-ground at the 
 close of the then season, and never to molest them 
 more. 
 
 Carson returned to the Comanches with this an 
 nouncement, and persuaded them to accede to the 
 terms. Thus a dreadful Indian war was averted. 
 
 Among some of these tribes Kit Carson found a 
 beautiful and unusually intelligent Indian girl, whom 
 he married, and took to his home in the fort. 
 
 It is the undisputed testimony of all who knew 
 him, that he was a man of unspotted purity of char 
 acter in his domestic relations. By this wife, Mr. 
 
THE TRAPPER'S ELYSIUM. 195 
 
 Carson had one child ; a daughter. Not long after 
 the birth of this child, the mother died. The father 
 watched over the motherless infant with the utmost 
 tenderness. As she emerged from infancy to child 
 hood he removed her to St. Louis. Here he found 
 the funds he had so carefully invested very valuable 
 to him. He was able liberally to provide for all her 
 wants, to give her as good an education as St. Louis 
 could afford, and to introduce her to the refining in 
 fluences of polished society. She was subsequently 
 married and removed with her husband to Cali 
 fornia. 
 
 Sixteen years had now elapsed since Kit Carson 
 left the log cabin of his father, in the then wilds of 
 Missouri, for the still wilder regions of mountaineer 
 life. Referring to this period, he says : 
 
 " During sixteen years my rifle furnished almost 
 every particle of food upon which I lived. For many 
 consecutive years, I never slept under the roof of a 
 house, or gazed upon the face of a white woman." 
 
 He now, very naturally, began to long to visit the 
 home of his childhood, and to witness some of the 
 scenes of progressive civilization, rumors of which 
 often reached him in the forest. Messrs. Bent and 
 Vrain were in the habit of sending once a year a 
 train of wagons to St. Louis, to transport their skins 
 and to obtain fresh supplies. It was a journey of 
 
196 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 about six hundred miles. There was a wagon trail, 
 if we may so call it, leading circuitously over the 
 vast and almost treeless intervening plains. The 
 route led along the river valleys, following the wind 
 ings of streams, and conducting to fords near their 
 head waters. Sometimes they came to swampy 
 regions, sometimes to deep gulleys, sometimes to 
 desert plains. But throughout all this wide expanse 
 there were no mountain ranges to obstruct their path. 
 It was in the spring of the year 1842, that Mr. 
 Carson, as a gentleman passenger, joined one of these 
 caravans. The little daughter, of whom we have 
 spoken, was then six or seven years of age. It was 
 one object of his journey to place her at school, at 
 St. Louis, where she could enjoy the advantages of 
 a refined and Christian education. We have no 
 record of the incidents of this journey, which was 
 probably uneventful. The old Indian trail had 
 become quite a passable road for wagons. 
 
CHAPTER X. 
 
 Fremont's Expedition. 
 
 Carson's Visit to his Childhood's Home. On the Steamer. Intro 
 duction to Fremont. Object of Fremont's Expedition. Joins 
 the Expedition. Organization of the Party. The Encamp 
 ment. Enchanting View. Fording the Kansas. The Stormy 
 Night. The Boys on Guard. The Alarm. The Returning 
 Trappers. The Homeless Adventurer. Three Indians Join the 
 Party. First Sight of the Buffaloes. The Chase. 
 
 WHEN the caravan, with which Kit Carson 
 travelled as a passenger from Fort Bent, arrived with 
 in the boundaries of Missouri, he left his compan 
 ions and, with his little daughter, turned aside to 
 visit the home of his childhood. He had, as we have 
 mentioned, been absent from that home for sixteen 
 years. Time, death, and the progress of civilization 
 had wrought, in that region, what seemed to him 
 fearful ravages. One of his biographers writes : 
 
 " 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 
 
 
198 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 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 from the 
 noble hearted Missourians, nevertheless he had fully 
 allayed his curiosity and, as soon as possible, he bade 
 adieu to these unpleasant recollections. 
 
 "He bent his steps towards St. Louis. In this 
 city he remained ten days. As it was the first time, 
 since he had reached manhood, that he had viewed 
 a town of any magnitude, he was greatly interested. 
 But ten days of sight-seeing wearied him. He 
 resolved to return to his mountain 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 engaged a 
 passage on the first steamboat which was bound up 
 the Missouri river.'' 
 
 Kit Carson was instinctively a student. In what 
 ever situation he was placed he was ever endeavoring 
 to learn something new. He was also always drawn, 
 by constitutional taste and preference towards men of 
 culture, and high moral worth. On board the steam 
 er, he found himself almost a perfect stranger. 
 Though a small man in frame, modest and unobtru- 
 
FREMONT'S EXPEDITION. 199 
 
 sive, there was something in his kindly handsome face 
 and winning manners, which invariably attracted 
 attention. As he quietly wandered over the boat, 
 studying its machinery, the discipline of the crew 
 and the faces of his fellow passengers, he found him 
 self irresistibly drawn towards one whose counte 
 nance and dignified bearing indicated that he was de 
 cidedly above most of those on board. 
 
 It is said that " the eagle eye, the forehead, the 
 form, the movements, the general features, the smile, 
 the quiet dignity of the man, each and all these at 
 tributes 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 admiration and 
 respect." 
 
 Kit Carson entered into conversation with this 
 man. Immediately an attachment sprang up be 
 tween them, which grew increasingly strong through 
 many subsequent years. The new friend whom Car 
 son had thus found was Lieutenant John C. Fre 
 mont, of the United States corps of Topographical 
 Engineers. He had been commissioned by the 
 Government to explore and report upon the coun 
 try between the frontiers of Missouri and the South 
 Pass in the Rocky mountains, on the line of the 
 Kansas and Great Platte rivers. 
 
 Lieutenant Fremont had left Washington, and ar- 
 
 
200 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 rived at St. Louis on the twenty-second of Ma> 
 1842. Here he engaged a party of twenty-one men, 
 principally Creole and Canadian boatmen, who were 
 familiar with Indian life, having been long engaged 
 in the service of the various fur companies. In ad 
 dition to these boatmen, Lieutenant Fremont had 
 under his charge, Henry Brandt, nineteen years of 
 age, son of Colonel J. B. Brant, of St. Louis, and Ran 
 dolph Benton, a lively boy of twelve years, son of the 
 distinguished U. S. Senator from Missouri. These 
 young men accompanied the expedition for that de 
 velopment of mind and body which their parents 
 hoped. the tour would give them. 
 
 With this party, Lieutenant Fremont was ascend 
 ing the river four hundred miles, to the mouth of the 
 Kansas, from which point he was to take his depart 
 ure through the unexplored wilderness. We say 
 unexplored, though many portions of it had been 
 visited by wandering bands of unlettered trappers 
 and hunters. Lieutenant Fremont had been disap 
 pointed in obtaining the guide he had expected. 
 Upon learning this fact, Mr. Carson retired to a 
 secluded part of the boat, sat down, and for some 
 time seemed lost in reverie. Then rising and ap 
 proaching Lieutenant Fremont he modestly said to 
 him 
 
 " Sir, I have been for some time in the moun- 
 
FREMONT'S EXPEDITION. 201 
 
 tains, and think I can guide you to any point there 
 you may wish to reach." 
 
 The office of a guide, through thousands of miles 
 of untroden wilderness, was a very responsible posi 
 tion. Mr. Carson was an entire stranger to Lieuten 
 ant Fremont. But there was something in his bear 
 ing which inspired confidence. After making a few 
 inquiries of others, Mr. Carson was engaged to act 
 as guide with a salary of one hundred dollars a 
 month. 
 
 The expedition commenced its march from near 
 the mouth of the Kansas on the loth of June 1842. 
 It followed along the banks of that stream, in a west 
 erly direction. The whole party consisted of twenty- 
 eight souls. They were well armed and were well 
 mounted with the exception of eight men, who drove 
 as many carts. These carts were each drawn by two 
 mules and were packed with the stores of the party, 
 their baggage and their instruments. There were a 
 number of loose horses in the train to supply the 
 place of any, which might be disabled by the way. 
 There were also four oxen, which were added as a 
 contribution to their stock of provisions, one may 
 well imagine that so numerous a cavalcade, winding 
 its way over the undulating and treeless prairie, 
 would present a very imposing aspect. 
 
 An Indian guide conducted them for the first 
 9* 
 
202 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 forty miles, along the river banks, with which Mr. 
 Carson was not familiar. He then left them and 
 they entered upon that vast ocean of prairie which 
 extended, with scarcely any interruption, to the base 
 of the Rocky mountains. 
 
 The borders of nearly all these western streams 
 are fringed with a narrow belt of forest. Here where 
 there was abundance of water, the richest of soil, 
 which needed but to be " tickled with a hoe to laugh 
 with a harvest," and where there was an ample 
 supply of timber for building and for fuel, they 
 found many good-looking Indian farms with Indians 
 riding about in their picturesque costumes. 
 
 At an early hour in the afternoon they encamped 
 in a smooth and luxuriant meadow, upon the banks 
 of a small stream flowing into the Kansas. Nearly 
 all the party were experienced backwoodsmen. 
 Speedily, and with almost military precision, the 
 camp was formed in the following manner: The 
 eight carts were so arranged as to present a sort of 
 barricade, encircling an area about eighty yards in 
 diameter. The cloth tents, such as are used in the 
 army, were pitched inside the enclosure. The 
 animals were all hobbled and turned out to feed in 
 the meadow. The company was divided into four 
 messes of seven men each. Each mess had its cook. 
 They quickly prepared the evening meal. 
 
FREMONT'S EXPEDITION. 203 
 
 At nightfall all the animals, having been well fed 
 on the abundant grass, were driven within the 
 enclosure for the night and picketed. A small steel- 
 shod picket was driven firmly into the ground, to 
 which the animal was fastened by a rope about 
 twenty feet long. The carts were regularly arranged 
 for defending the camp. A guard was mounted at 
 eight o'clock, consisting of three men, who were 
 relieved every two or three hours. At daybreak 
 the camp was roused. The hobbled animals were 
 again turned loose upon the meadow or prairie to 
 obtain their breakfast. The breakfast of the men 
 was generally over between six and seven o'clock. 
 The march was then resumed. There was a halt at 
 noon for about two hours. Such was the usual order 
 of the march day after day. 
 
 The second night, just as they were about to 
 encamp, one of the loose horses started upon the 
 full gallop, on his return, and was followed by several 
 others. Several men were sent in pursuit. They 
 did not return with the fugitives until midnight. 
 One man lost his way and passed the whole night 
 upon the open prairie. At midnight it began to rain 
 violently. By some strange oversight, the tents 
 were of such thin cloth that the rain soaked through, 
 and those within them were thoroughly drenched. 
 The discomfort of the night, however, was forgotten 
 
204 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 as the dawn of the morning ushered in another 
 lovely summer day. 
 
 The journey through the beautiful and pictur 
 esque scenery was a delight. In the serene close of 
 the afternoon they encamped on one of the Kansas 
 bluffs. From this spot they had an enchanting 
 view of the valley, about four miles broad, inter 
 spersed with beautiful groves and prairies of the 
 richest verdure. This evening they killed one of 
 their oxen for food. Thus far their route had been 
 along the southern bank of the Kansas. The next 
 day they reached what was called the ford of that 
 river, a hundred miles from its entrance into the 
 Missouri. 
 
 But the recent rains had so swollen the stream 
 that it was rushing by, a swift and rapid torrent two 
 hundred and thirty yards wide. The river could not 
 be forded. Several mounted men entered it to swim 
 their horses across, and thus to act as guides or 
 leaders for the rest. The remaining animals were 
 driven in, and all got safely across excepting the 
 three oxen, who being more clumsy swimmers, were 
 borne down by the current and again landed on the 
 right side. The next morning, however, they were 
 got over in safety. 
 
 Lieutenant Fremont had adopted the precaution 
 of taking with him a portable India rubber boat. It 
 
FREMONT'S EXPEDITION. 205 
 
 was twenty feet long and five feet broad. It was 
 placed in the water, and the carts and the baggage 
 were carried over piecemeal. Three men paddled 
 the boat. Still the current was so strong that one 
 of the best swimmers took in his teeth the end of a 
 rope attached to the boat and swam ahead, that, 
 reaching the shore, he might assist in drawing her 
 over. Six passages were successfully made and six 
 carts with most of their contents were transported 
 across. Night was approaching, and it was very 
 desirable that everything should be upon the other 
 side before the darkness closed in. 
 
 " I put," says Lieutenant Fremont, " upon the 
 boat the two remaining carts. The man at the helm 
 was timid on the water and, in his alarm, capsized 
 the boat. Carts, barrels, boxes and bales were, in a 
 moment, floating down the current. But all the men 
 who were on the shore jumped into the water with 
 out stopping to think if they could swim, and almost 
 everything, even heavy articles, was recovered. Two 
 men came very near being drowned. All the sugar 
 belonging to one of the messes was dissolved in the 
 water and lost. 
 
 But the heaviest calamity of all was the loss of a 
 bag containing the coffee for the whole company. 
 There is nothing so refreshing to a weary mountain 
 eer, as a cup of hot coffee. Often afterwards these 
 
 
2O6 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 travellers, overcome with toil, mourned the loss of 
 their favorite beverage. 
 
 Kit Carson had made such efforts in the water, 
 that in the morning he was found quite sick. 
 Another of the party also was disabled. Lieutenant 
 Fremont, on their account, and also to repair dama 
 ges, decided to remain in camp for the day. Quite 
 a number of the Kansas tribe of Indians visited 
 them in the most friendly manner. One of them 
 had received quite a thorough education at St. Louis, 
 and could speak French as fluently and correctly as 
 any Frenchman. They brought vegetables of va 
 rious kinds, and butter. They seemed very glad to 
 find a market for their productions. 
 
 The camping-ground of the party was on the 
 open, sunny prairie, some twenty feet above the 
 water, where the animals enjoyed luxuriant pastur 
 age. The party was now fairly in the Indian coun 
 try, and the chances of the wilderness were opening 
 before them. 
 
 About three weeks in advance of this party, 
 there was a company of emigrants bound to Oregon. 
 There were sixteen or seventeen families, men, 
 women and children. Sixty-four of these were men. 
 They had suffered severely from illness, and there 
 had been many deaths among them. One of these 
 emigrants, who had buried his child, and whose wife 
 
FREMONT'S EXPEDITION. 207 
 
 was very ill, left the company under the guidance of 
 a hunter, and returned to the States. The hunter 
 visited the Fremont camp, and took letters from 
 them to their friends. 
 
 Day after day the party thus journeyed on, with 
 out encountering anything worthy of special notice. 
 They had reached the Pawnee country. These sav 
 ages were noted horse-thieves. The route of the 
 surveyors led along the banks of a placid stream, 
 about fifty feet wide and four or five feet deep. 
 The view up the valley, which was bordered by 
 gracefully undulating hills, was remarkably beautiful. 
 The stream, as usual with these western rivers, was 
 fringed with willows, cottonwood, and oak. 
 Large flocks of wild turkeys tenanted these trees. 
 Game, also, of a larger -kind made its appearance. 
 Elk, antelope and deer bounded over the hills. 
 
 A heavy bank of black clouds in the west ad 
 monished them, at an early hour in the afternoon, to 
 prepare for a stormy night. Scarcely had they 
 pitched their tents ere a violent wind came down 
 upon them, the rain fell in torrents and incessant 
 peals of thunder seemed to shake the very hills. It 
 so happened that the three who were to stand guard 
 on that tempestuous night, were Carson and the two 
 young gentlemen Brandt and Benton. 
 
 " This was their first night on guard," writes Lieu- 
 
2O8 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 tenant Fremont " and such an introduction did not 
 augur very auspiciously of the pleasures of the expe 
 dition. Many things conspired to render their situa 
 tion uncomfortable. Stories of desperate and bloody 
 Indian fights were rife in the camp. Our position 
 was badly chosen, surrounded on all sides by tim 
 bered hollows, and occupying an area of several hun 
 dred feet, so that necessarily the guards were far 
 apart. Now and then I could hear Randolph, as if 
 relieved by the sound of a voice in the darkness, 
 calling out to the sergeant of the guard, to direct his 
 attention to some imaginary alarm. But they stood 
 it out, and took their turn regularly afterwards." 
 
 The next morning, as they were proceeding up the 
 valley, several moving objects were dimly discerned, 
 far away upon the opposite hills ; which objects dis 
 appeared before a glass could be brought to bear 
 upon them. One of the company, who was in the 
 rear, came spurring up, in great haste, shouting " In 
 dians." He affirmed that he had seen them dis 
 tinctly, and had counted twenty-seven. The party 
 immediately halted. All examined their arms, and 
 prepared for battle, in case they should be attacked. 
 Kit Carson sprang upon one of the most fleet of the 
 hunting horses, crossed the river, and galloped off, 
 over the prairie, towards the hills where the objects 
 had been seen. 
 
FREMONT'S EXPEDITION. 209 
 
 "Mounted on a fine horse, without a saddle/' 
 writes Lieutenant Fremont, " and scouring, bare 
 headed, over the prairies, Kit was one of the finest 
 pictures of a horseman I had ever seen. He soon 
 returned quite leisurely, and informed them that the 
 party of twenty-seven Indians had resolved itself 
 into a herd of six elk who, having discovered us, 
 had scampered off at full speed." 
 
 The next day they reached a fork of the Blue 
 river, where the road leaves that tributary of the 
 Kansas, and passes over to the great valley of the 
 Platte river. In their march, across the level prairie 
 of this high table-land, they encountered a squall of 
 rain, with vivid lightning and heavy peals of thunder. 
 One blinding flash was accompanied by a bolt, which 
 struck the prairie but a few hundred feet from their 
 line, sending up a column of sand. 
 
 A march of about twenty-three miles brought 
 them to the waters of the majestic Platte river. 
 Here they found a very delightful place of encamp 
 ment near Grand Island. They had now travelled 
 three hundred and twenty-eight miles from the 
 mouth of the Kansas river. They had fixed the 
 latitude and longitude of all the important spots 
 they had passed, and had carefully examined the 
 geological formation of the country. 
 
 They were working their way slowly up this 
 
210 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 beautiful valley, to a point where it was only four 
 miles wide. Here they halted to " noon/' As they 
 were seated on the grass, quietly taking their dinner, 
 they were alarmed by the startling cry from the 
 guard, of " All hands." In an instant everybody 
 was up, with his rifle in hand. The horses were 
 
 immediately both hobbled and picketed, while all 
 
 % 
 
 eyes were directed to a wild-looking band approach 
 ing in the distance. As they drew near they proved 
 to be a party of fourteen white men, returning on 
 foot to the States. Their baggage was strapped to 
 their backs. It was indeed a forlorn and way-worn 
 band. They had, on a trapping excursion, encoun 
 tered but a constant scene of disasters and were now 
 returning to St. Louis, utterly impoverished. 
 
 They brought the welcome intelligence that 
 buffaloes were in abundance two days' journey in 
 advance. After a social hour, in which the two 
 parties feasted together, the surveyors mounted 
 their horses, and the trappers shouldered their packs, 
 and the two parties separated in different directions. 
 Lieutenant Fremont mentions an incident illustrative 
 of the homeless life which many of these wanderers 
 of the wilderness live : 
 
 " Among them," he writes, " I had found an old 
 companion on a northern prairie, a hardened and 
 hardly-served veteran of the mountains, who had 
 
FREMONT S EXPEDITION. 211 
 
 been as much hacked and scarred as an old moustache 
 of Napoleon's Old Guard. He flourished in the 
 soubriquet of La Tulipe. His real name I never 
 knew. Finding that he was going to the States, 
 only because his company was bound in that direc 
 tion, and that he was rather more than willing to 
 return with me, I took him again into my service.'' 
 
 The company made but seventeen miles that 
 day. Just as they had gone into camp, in the even 
 ing, three Indians were discovered approaching, two 
 men and a boy of thirteen. They belonged to the 
 Cheyenne tribe, and had been off, with quite a 
 numerous band, on an unsuccessful horse-stealing 
 raid among the Pawnees. Upon a summit, they had 
 caught a glimpse of the white men, and had left their 
 companions, confident of finding kind treatment at 
 the camp-fires of the pale faces. 
 
 They were invited to supper with Lieutenant 
 Fremont's mess. Young Randolph Benton, and the 
 young Cheyenne, after eying each other suspiciously 
 for some time, soon became quite intimate friends. 
 After supper one of the Cheyennes drew, upon a 
 sheet of paper, very rudely, but, as it afterwards 
 appeared, quite correctly, a map of the general 
 character of the country between the encampment 
 and their villages, which were about three hundred 
 miles further west. 
 
 
212 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 The two next days the party made about forty 
 miles. "The air was keen," writes Lieutenant Fre 
 mont, "the next morning at sunrise, the thermome 
 ter standing at 44 degrees. It was sufficiently cold 
 to make overcoats very comfortable. A few miles 
 brought us into the midst of the buffalo, swarming 
 in immense numbers over the plains, where they had 
 left scarcely a blade of grass standing. Mr. Preuss, 
 who was sketching at a little distance in the rear, had 
 at first noticed them as large groves of timber. In 
 the sight of such a mass of life, the traveller feels a 
 strange emotion of grandeur. We had heard, from 
 a distance, a dull and confused murmuring, 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 are 
 feeding, and every where they are in motion. Here 
 and there a huge old bull was rolling in the grass, 
 and clouds of dust rose in the air from various parts 
 of the bands. 
 
 Shouts and songs resounded from every part of 
 the line, and our evening camp was always the com 
 mencement of a feast which terminated 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 on sticks around 
 the fire. With pleasant weather, and no enemy to 
 
FREMONT'S EXPEDITION. 213 
 
 fear, an abundance of the most excellent meat and 
 no scarcity of bread or tobacco, they were enjoying 
 an oasis of a voyageur's life.'' 
 
 Three buffalo 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 band. Though 
 considerably hurt, he had the good fortune, to break 
 no bones. Maxwell, who was mounted on a fleet hunt 
 er, captured the runaway after a hard chase. He 
 was on the point of shooting him, to avoid the loss 
 of his bridle, a handsomely mounted Spanish one, 
 when he found that his horse was able to come up 
 with him. 
 
 The next day was the first of July. 
 
 As our adventurers were riding joyfully along, over 
 a beautiful prairie country, on the right side of the 
 river, a magnificent herd of buffalo came up from 
 the water over the bank, not less then seven or eight 
 hundred in number, and commenced slowly crossing 
 the plain, grazing as they went. The prairie was here 
 about three miles broad. This gave the hunters a 
 fine opportunity to charge upon them before they 
 could escape among the distant hills. The fleet 
 horses for hunting, were brought up and saddled. 
 Lieutenant Fremont, Kit Carson and L. Maxwell 
 mounted for the chase. Maxwell was a veteran pio- 
 
214 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 neer, who had been engaged as hunter for the ex 
 pedition. 
 
 The herd were about half a mile distant from the 
 company. The three hunters rode quietly along, till 
 within about three hundred yards of the herd, before 
 they seemed to be noticed by the buffaloes. Then a 
 sudden agitation and wavering of the herd was fol 
 lowed by precipitate and thundering flight. The 
 fleet horse can outstrip the buffalo in the race. The 
 three hunters plunged after them at a hard gallop. 
 A crowd of bulls, gallantly defending the cows, 
 brought up the rear. Every now and then they 
 would stop, for an instant, and look back as if half 
 disposed to show fight. 
 
 " In a few moments," writes Lieutenant Fremont, 
 " during which we had been quickening our pace, we 
 were going over the ground like a hurricane. When 
 at about thirty yards we gave the usual shout and 
 broke into the herd. We entered on the side, the 
 mass giving away in every direction in their heedless 
 course. Many of the bulls, less fleet than the cows, 
 paying no heed to the ground, and occupied solely 
 with the hunters, were 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. 
 
FREMONT'S EXPEDITION. 215 
 
 " 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, he 
 sprang on after the cow, like a tiger. In a few mo 
 ments he brought me along side of her. Rising in 
 the stirrups, I fired, at the distance of a yard, the 
 ball entering at the termination of the long hair, 
 passing near the heart. She fell headlong at the re 
 port of the gun. Checking my horse, I looked 
 around for my companions. 
 
 " At a little distance Kit was on the ground, en 
 gaged in tying his horse to the horns of a cow, which 
 he was preparing to cut up. Among the scattered 
 band, at some distance, I caught a glimpse of Max 
 well. While I was looking, a light wreath of white 
 smoke curled away from his gun, from which I was 
 too far to hear the report. Nearer, and between me 
 and the hills, towards which they were directing 
 their course, was the body of the herd. 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 nothing, and the buffalo were not 
 distinguishable until within thirty feet. They crowd 
 ed together more densely still, as I came upon them, 
 and rushed along in such a compact body that I 
 
 
2l6 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 could not obtain an entrance, the horse almost leap 
 ing upon them. 
 
 " In a few moments the mass divided to the right 
 and left, the horns clattering with a noise heard 
 above everything else, and my horse darted into the 
 opening. Five or six bulls charged on us, as we 
 dashed along the line, but were left far behind. 
 Singling out a cow I gave her my fire, but struck too 
 high. She gave a tremendous leap and scoured on 
 swifter than before. I reined up my horse, and the 
 band swept on like a torrent, and left the place 
 quiet and clear. Our chase had led us into danger 
 ous ground. A prairie-dog village, so thickly set 
 tled that there were three or four holes in twenty 
 yards square, occupied the whole bottom for nearly 
 two miles in length." 
 
CHAPTER XI. 
 The Return of the Expedition. 
 
 Beautiful Prairie Scene. Fate of the Buffalo Calf. Vast Buffalo 
 Herds. The Fourth of July on the Plains. Journey up the 
 South Fork of the Platte. Visit to Fort St. Vrain. Remonstrance 
 of the Chiefs. Second Marriage of Mr. Carson. New Engage 
 ments. Perilous Ride to Santa Fe. The Successful Mission. 
 The Noble Mexican Boy. Conflict with the Savage. Discom 
 fiture of the Indians. Fremont's Second Expedition. Carson 
 joins the Party. Course of the Expedition. Arrival at the Great 
 Salt Lake. 
 
 AFTER this exciting and successful buffalo hunt, 
 the caravan in a long dark line advanced over the 
 prairie twenty-four miles, and encamped on the banks 
 of a stream, where they feasted abundantly upon the 
 choicest cuts of buffalo beef. Wolves were howling 
 around them all night, their instinct teaching them 
 that bones would be left there which they would be 
 privileged to gnaw. In the morning the wolves 
 were seen sitting around at a short distance, barking 
 and growling impatiently, waiting for the departure 
 of the caravan. 
 
 Resuming their march, they ascended the stream 
 about eighteen miles, where they found a fording- 
 
 10 
 
 
2l8 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 place and crossed over to the northern bank. Here 
 there opened before them a rich and beautiful prairie, 
 bordered with gentle eminences on the north and 
 the south. This prairie extended about twenty miles 
 along the banks of the river and was nearly six miles 
 wide. Its vast expanse was almost as smooth as a 
 gentleman's lawn, and was waving with a luxuriant 
 growth of grass and flowers. The river was skirted 
 with a slight fringe of willow and cottonwood trees. 
 As Lieutenant Fremont intended to return by 
 the same route, he concealed here for his homeward 
 journey, in what is called a cache, a barrel of pork. 
 They encamped in the evening upon the open prairie. 
 As there was no wood at hand, they built their fires 
 of the dry excrement of the buffalo. This substance, 
 which was called buffalo chips, burns like turf and 
 forms a very good substitute for wood. Immense 
 numbers of wolves surrounded the camp at night, 
 with an incessant and hideous howling and barking. 
 In the morning, while the explorers were sitting 
 quietly at breakfast, a small buffalo calf rushed frantic 
 with terror through the camp, pursued by two wolves. 
 The helpless little thing, separated from the herd, had 
 probably mistaken the animals of the caravan for a 
 herd of buffaloes. The frightened creature, discov 
 ering its error, continued its precipitate flight. The 
 wolves, too wary to enter the camp, made a circuit 
 
THE RETURN OF THE EXPEDITION. 2 19 
 
 around it, thus the calf got a little the start. It 
 strained every nerve to reach a large herd of buffaloes 
 at the foot of the hills, about two miles distant. 
 Wolf after wolf joined in the chase until more than 
 thirty were yelping in the hot pursuit. 
 
 A bull came out to the rescue of the little one, 
 but was overpowered and driven back. Soon the 
 foremost of the pack fastened their fangs into the 
 calf, the rest were instantly upon him, and the quiv 
 ering animal was pulled down, torn to pieces and 
 devoured almost before he was dead. Every reader 
 will sympathize with the remark of Lieutenant 
 Fremont : 
 
 " We watched the chase with the interest always 
 felt for the weak. Had there been a saddled horse 
 at hand he would have fared better." 
 
 As the caravan was slowly advancing that after 
 noon, vast clouds of dust on their right near the hills 
 attracted their attention. Several enormous herds 
 of buffalo seemed to emerge from these clouds, 
 galloping down towards the river. By the time the 
 first bands had reached the water the whole prairie 
 seemed darkened with the countless multitudes, num 
 bering thousands upon thousands. They stretched 
 in an unbroken line from the hills to the river, and 
 fording the river passed on to the other side. 
 
 The prairie here was not less than two miles wide. 
 
220 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 The mighty mass filled the whole expanse. As they 
 reached the caravan, they circled around it leaving 
 the travellers an open space of two or three hundred 
 yards. The caravan continued its march, and the 
 buffaloes continued their flow, until towards evening, 
 when the company reached its camping-ground. 
 
 It was the evening of the fourth of July. All 
 through the day preparations were being made to 
 celebrate the anniversary by a great feast. Lieuten 
 ant Fremont gives the following attractive account 
 of the bill of fare : 
 
 "The kindness of our friends at St. Louis had 
 provided us "with a large supply of excellent pre 
 serves and rich fruit cake. When these were added 
 to macaroni soup and variously prepared dishes of 
 the nicest buffalo meat, crowned with a cup of coffee, 
 and enjoyed with prairie appetites, we felt as we sat 
 in barbaric luxury around our smoking supper on the 
 grass, a greater sensation of enjoyment than the 
 Roman epicure at his perfumed feast. But most of 
 all it seemed to please our Indian friends who, in the 
 unrestrained enjoyment of the moment, demanded 
 to know if our medicine days came often." 
 
 The party had now reached near the point where 
 the north and south fork of the Platte river unite. 
 Lieutenant Fremont wished to explore the south 
 branch, to obtain some astronomical observations, and 
 
THE RETURN OF THE EXPEDITION. 221 
 
 to determine the mouths of its tributaries, as far as 
 St. Vrain's fort. He also hoped to obtain some mules 
 there which he greatly needed. He took with him 
 nine men. The three Cheyenne Indians accompa 
 nied him, as their village was upon that stream. The 
 remainder of the company followed up the north fork 
 to Fort Laramie to be joined by their companions 
 there. 
 
 The journey proved an arduous one. It was in 
 tolerably hot ; there were frequent tempests, with 
 floods of rain and violent gusts of wind. The bot 
 tom lands on each side of the river seemed absolutely 
 covered with buffaloes. Upon ascending any emi- 
 ence vast herds were seen grazing as far as the eye 
 could reach. Our adventurers pressed on, quietly 
 and cautiously, following the windings of the stream. 
 On the fourth day they discovered Indians in the 
 distance ; a band of three hundred, well mounted. 
 Maxwell recognized the chief. This secured for 
 them a friendly reception. They were led into their 
 village. It consisted of a hundred and twenty-five 
 lodges bordering a broad irregular street. 
 
 After a hospitable entertainment, they continued 
 their journey and encamped in a little grove of cot- 
 tonwood, in a cold drizzling rain. The next morn 
 ing they caught their first glimpse of the Rocky 
 mountains, about sixty miles distant. That day 
 
 
222 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 they came across a camp of four or five white men 
 who were on a trapping expedition. They had all 
 taken Indian wives, and a large number " of little fat 
 buffalo-fed boys were tumbling about the camp, all 
 apparently of the same age, about three or four 
 years old." Their camp was on a rich bottom, lux 
 uriant with grass, and they had many well fed horses 
 and mules. 
 
 They reached St. Vrain's fort on the tenth, where 
 they were hospitably received by Mr. St. Vrain. 
 They purchased several horses and mules, and hired 
 three additional men to accompany them across the 
 country, one hundred and twenty-five miles, to Fort 
 Laramie. On the twelfth they recommenced their 
 journey, and reached the fort on the fifteenth. This 
 trading post was quite an imposing military construc 
 tion, with large bastions at the corners, its lofty walls 
 being whitewashed and picketed. A cluster of 
 lodges of Sioux Indians was pitched almost under the 
 shadow of its wall. The party which Kit Carson 
 had accompanied had arrived a few days before, and 
 was encamped near by. 
 
 Here Fremont received the alarming intelligence 
 that there was great excitement among the Indians 
 beyond. They were all assuming a hostile attitude. 
 Several parties of whites had already been cut off 
 and massacred. Most of the men, at the Fort, re- 
 
THE RETURN OF THE EXPEDITION. 223 
 
 monstrated against his advance till the country should 
 be somewhat settled. Even Kit Carson, though per 
 fectly ready himself to proceed, declared his convic 
 tion that the danger was imminent, and that some 
 encounters with the Indians were inevitable. He 
 made his will, left it at the fort and was prepared 
 to go. 
 
 Just before starting, the Sioux chiefs encamped 
 at the fort almost forced themselves into Lieutenant 
 Fremont's presence and , presented him the following 
 remonstrance written in good French : 
 
 " Mr. Fremont : 
 
 " The chiefs, having assembled in council, have 
 just told me to warn you not to set out before the 
 party of young men, which is now out, shall have re 
 turned. They tell me that they are sure they will 
 fire upon you as soon as they meet you. They are 
 expected back in seven or eight days. Excuse me 
 for making these observations, but it seems my duty 
 to warn you of danger. Moreover the chiefs, who 
 prohibit your setting out before the return of the 
 warriors, are the bearers of this note. I am your 
 obedient servant, 
 
 " JOSEPH BISSONNETTE." 
 
 The chiefs who brought this note, four in num 
 ber, sat in silence until it had been read. One of 
 them rose and stepping forward shook hands with 
 Mr. Fremont, and then said : 
 
224 
 
 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 " You have come among us at a bad time. Some 
 of our people have been killed, and our young men, 
 who are gone to the mountains, are eager to avenge 
 the blood of their relations, which has been shed by 
 the whites. Our young men are bad. If they meet 
 you they will believe that you are carrying goods 
 and ammunition to their enemies, and will fire upon 
 you. You have told us that this will make war. 
 We know that our great father has many soldiers, 
 and big guns, and we are anxious to have our lives. 
 We love the whites and are desirous of peace. 
 Thinking of all these things, we have determined to 
 keep you here until our warriors return.'' 
 
 The others followed in the same strain. Lieu 
 tenant Fremont had the pride of an American 
 military officer, and was not disposed to be driven 
 from his course by threats of danger. He also be 
 lieved the stories of peril to be greatly exaggerated, 
 and that the great object of the chiefs was to prevent 
 him from going farther into their country, where he 
 had openly avowed it was his intention to establish 
 a military fort. He therefore, in reply, urged that 
 two or three of the chiefs should accompany him 
 until they should meet the young men. He said 
 they should eat at his table and sleep in his tent, and 
 that he would abundantly reward them on their 
 return. 
 
THE RETURN OF THE EXPEDITION. 225 
 
 This they declined to do, saying that they were 
 too old for such a journey. 
 
 Mr. Fremont then said to them, " You say that 
 you love the whites. But you are unwilling to 
 undergo a few days' ride to save our lives. We do 
 not believe you. We will not listen to you. We are 
 the soldiers of the great chief your father. He has 
 told us to come here and see this country, and all 
 the Indians. We shall not go back. We are few and 
 you are many. You may kill us all. But do you 
 think that our great chief will let his soldiers die and 
 forget to cover their graves ? Before the snows melt, 
 his warriors will sweep away your villages as the fire 
 does the prairie in the autumn. See ! I have pulled 
 down my white houses, and my people are ready. 
 When the sun is ten paces higher, we shall be on the 
 march." 
 
 They left the fort on the twenty-second of July, 
 and followed up the north fork of the Platte for 
 three weeks, encountering no molestation from the 
 Indians, and meeting only with the ordinary hard 
 ships to be expected in travelling through the wil 
 derness. They generally found a sufficiency of water, 
 of grazing and of game. They at length found 
 themselves among the wildest ravines of the Rocky 
 mountains. Here they employed themselves day 
 after day in astronomical and geological observations, 
 10* 
 
226 
 
 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 and then commenced their return. All the objects 
 of their expedition had been successfully accom 
 plished. They reached Fort Laramie early in 
 September. Kit Carson's labors were now ended. 
 He had joined the expedition as hunter and guide. 
 In neither of these offices were his services any longer 
 required. He therefore remained at the fort, while 
 the surveying party returned to St. Louis. 
 
 Mr. Carson's Indian wife had long been dead. 
 Four months after this, in February, he married a 
 Mexican lady, named Senora Josepha Jarimilla. 
 This lady was highly esteemed by all who knew her 
 for her many virtues, and was also endowed with 
 much personal beauty. She subsequently became 
 the mother of three children, for whom Mr. Carson 
 has ever manifested the strongest attachment. 
 
 Two months after his marriage he engaged as a 
 hunter to accompany an expedition of Messrs. Bent 
 and Vrain's wagons to the United States. When 
 about half-way across the plains, they struck the great 
 Santa Fe trail. Here Carson and his companions 
 came upon an encampment of Captain Cook, with 
 four companies of U. S. Dragoons. They were 
 escorting a train of Mexican wagons, as far as the 
 boundary line between the United States and New 
 Mexico. The region was infested with robber bands 
 and it was deemed important that the richly freighted 
 
THE RETURN OF THE EXPEDITION. 22/ 
 
 caravan should not encounter harm within the limits 
 of the United States. 
 
 The Mexicans were apprehensive that, as soon as 
 they should separate from their American protectors, 
 they should be attacked upon entering Texas, by a 
 large body of Texan Rangers, who, it was reported, 
 were waiting for them. They therefore offered Kit 
 Carson, with whose energetic character they were 
 well acquainted, three hundred dollars, if he would 
 carry a letter to Armijo the governor of New Mexico, 
 who resided at Santa Fe. This letter contained an 
 application to the governor to send them an escort. 
 To convey the letter required a journey of between 
 three and four hundred miles through a wilderness, 
 rilled with hostil'e Indian bands. 
 
 Carson accepted the offer, and engaging another 
 man, Owens, to accompany him, rode back to Fort 
 Bent. Here he learned that the Indians, through 
 whose territory he must pass, were all up in arms 
 against the whites, and that the journey would be 
 full of peril. Owens refused to go farther. Carson 
 was not a man to turn from duty because of danger. 
 He found no one at the fort who could be induced 
 to share the peril with him. He therefore set out 
 alone. In addition to the powerful horse which he 
 rode, Colonel Bent furnished him with a magnificent 
 and fleet steed, which he led as a reserve corps. 
 8 
 
228 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 Very rapidly Carson pressed on his way, watch 
 ing for Indian trails and carefully avoiding all their 
 wandering bands. From every eminence he narrowly 
 examined the wide and generally treeless expanse 
 spread out before him, in search of any sign of the 
 foe. One afternoon he aw, far away in the distance, 
 an Indian encampment of many lodges, directly on 
 his trail. He immediately sought an out of the way 
 place, where he . might effectually secrete himself 
 until night. When darkness came on, he, by a cir 
 cuitous route, passed the camp of the savages and 
 pressed rapidly on his way. In a fe\v days he reached 
 Taos, much exhausted by his impetuous ride. 
 
 He immediately called upon the mayor of the 
 town, to whom he delivered the dispatches, and he 
 at once sent an agent with them, down south a dis 
 tance of about thirty miles to the governor at Santa 
 Fe. He waited at Taos the return of the messenger 
 to recruit himself and horses in preparation for his 
 ride back. The response was that Governor Armijo 
 had sent a hundred Mexican dragoons to seek the 
 caravan, and that he was about to follow with six 
 hundred more. We may mention in passing, that 
 this company of one hundred men, were attacked 
 after a few days' march, by a large body of Texan 
 rangers, and were all massacred except one, who 
 escaped on a fleet horse. 
 
THE RETURN OF THE EXPEDITION. 229 
 
 Governor Armijo and his dragoons, as they were 
 on their way, learned of this massacre, and hearing 
 exaggerated reports of the strength of the Texan 
 Rangers, retreated rapidly to their fortification at 
 Santa Fe. The governor, in the meantime, entrusted 
 dispatches to Carson, thinking that he, by riding 
 express, could reach the caravan before the govern 
 mental troops could come to their aid. 
 
 Carson was a remarkable judge of character. He 
 selected, as a companion for his return,a Mexican boy 
 whose innate nobility was soon developed. When 
 two days out from Taos, Carson and his young com 
 panion came suddenly upon four Indian warriors. 
 There was no escape, for the warriors, though at a 
 distance, had seen them, and were riding rapidly 
 down upon them. This noble young Mexican 
 promptly turned to Kit Carson and said, " I am but a 
 boy and perhaps the Indians will spare my life. At 
 any rate your life is much more valuable than mine. 
 Therefore mount the horse you are leading without 
 delay, and you can undoubtedly make your escape." 
 
 Kit Carson replied, " I cannot and I will not for 
 sake you. We must stand our ground together. If 
 we have to die, let us take each with us an Indian 
 warrior.'' 
 
 At this time the Indians had come near and 
 halted out of rifle range, as Carson and his compan- 
 
230 
 
 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 ion were taking deliberate aim at them, thus forbid 
 ding a nearer approach. One of the savages then 
 alighted, and leaving his arms behind him, came for 
 ward for a parley. He assumed to be very much at 
 his ease, and approached with a careless, swaggering 
 air and a smile, and offered his hand in token of 
 friendship. Carson accepted the proffered hand. 
 The moment it was released, the savage, a man of 
 herculean frame, grasped his rifle endeavoring to 
 wrench it from him, doubtless intending instantly to 
 shoot him down, when the boy would easily become 
 their captive. But Carson, with his clenched fist and 
 sinewy arm, gave the Indian instantly such a blow 
 between the eyes as rolled him prostrate upon the 
 grass, with the blood spouting from his nostrils. 
 
 The Indian, apprehensive that the next moment 
 a rifle ball would pierce his heart, sprang up and 
 with the fleetness of an antelope rejoined his com 
 panions. They were on the open prairie. There 
 was nothing to afford either party the slightest pro 
 tection. The Indians slowly and cautiously ad 
 vanced, until they came within speaking distance. 
 Carson, who could speak their language, hailed them 
 and ordered them to stop. He then assured them, 
 that if they advanced any farther or made any hos 
 tile demonstration whatever, two of their number 
 would certainly and instantly die. 
 
THE RETURN OF THE EXPEDITION. 23! 
 
 The savages began to bluster, primed their guns, 
 and boasted of what they intended to do. But even 
 to their darkened minds it was manifest that two out 
 of the four, in case of hostilities, must certainly fall 
 before the rifles of the white man. And should 
 the remaining two rush on before their opponents 
 could reload, still the white men had their revolvers 
 in hand, and it was not improbable that the other 
 two might be shot. These were not the circumstances 
 under which the Indians were willing to enter into 
 battle. After a short delay and many defiant ges 
 tures, they departed. 
 
 Mr. Carson and his noble-hearted boy immedi 
 ately resumed their journey, and after five days of 
 hard riding reached Fort Bent. Here Mr. Carson 
 learned that the Texan Rangers, having incautiously 
 entered the territory of the United States, were all 
 captured and disarmed. This relieved the conduct 
 ors of the Mexican train from all anxiety. The dis 
 patches which Mr. Carson had borne were left at 
 the fort, from which place they were sent back to 
 Santa Fe. 
 
 A few days before Mr. Carson arrived at 'Bent's 
 Fort, from this expedition into New Mexico, Mr. 
 Fremont had passed by, on a second expedition to 
 the still far off west. Carson was anxious to see his 
 old friend and comrade again. He mounted his 
 
232 
 
 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 horse and, following his trail, by rapid riding over 
 took him after a pursuit of seventy miles. Colonel 
 Fremont manifested the greatest pleasure in again 
 meeting Mr. Carson, and so urged him to join the 
 expedition that he decided to do so. It had become 
 manifest that the party needed more mules to as 
 sist them in their operations. In climbing wild 
 mountains these hardy animals are far more valuable 
 than horses. 
 
 Kit Carson was sent back to Fort Bent to procure 
 the mules, and to rejoin the party at St. Vrain's Fort, 
 on the south fork of the Platte. Here Major Fitz- 
 patrick, with a reinforcement of forty men, was 
 added to the expedition. On Mr. Carson's return 
 with the mules, the exploring party was divided into 
 two forces ; the main body, under Major Fitzpatrick, 
 following the eastern bank of the river to the site of 
 the present city of Denver, and then west, through 
 the passes of the mountains. They took with them 
 nearly all the camp equipage. 
 
 Colonel Fremont, with Kit Carson as a guide, ac 
 companied by fifteen men, in what may be called 
 light marching order, followed along the Thomp 
 son river some miles, directly west, then struck north 
 about thirty miles, to the Cache le Poudre river. 
 This stream they followed up in a northwesterly 
 direction some sixty miles, through a ravine in the 
 
THE RETURN OF THE EXPEDITION. 233 
 
 mountains, till they reached the head waters of the 
 Laramie river. They then pushed on in a still north 
 westerly direction, under the eastern brows of the 
 Rocky mountains, through a somewhat broken, 
 though prairie country, two hundred miles, to the 
 Sweetwater river. 
 
 They then pressed on, two or three hundred miles 
 directly west, through the south pass of the Rocky 
 mountains, along the route now followed by the Cen 
 tral Pacific Railroad, to Soda Springs, on Bear river. 
 From this point Kit Carson was sent, with one com 
 panion and a relay of mules, about forty miles in a 
 northwesterly direction to Fort Hall, on Snake river, 
 to obtain supplies. He was directed to meet the 
 remaining party at the extreme end of the Great Salt 
 Lake. As usual he successfully accomplished his 
 mission and rejoined his companions. 
 
 The whole body then journeyed down the east 
 ern shores of this immense inland sea, about twenty 
 miles. They were delighted with the beauty of the 
 scenery opening before them, and were very busy in 
 taking observations and exploring the country 
 through which they passed. Far out in the lake 
 there was seen a very attractive and densely wooded 
 island. Colonel Fremont had with him an india rub 
 ber boat, which, with inflated air chambers, was very 
 buoyant. Improvidently the plates of the boat had 
 
234 
 
 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 been gummed together only, instead of being also 
 sewed. Thus the boat was very frail and could not 
 endure the strain of a heavy sea. 
 
 It was the latter part of August, 1843, when Colo 
 nel Fremont encamped on these shores. Though 
 this was but thirty years ago, that now quite popu 
 lous region, had then been visited only by trappers 
 in search of beaver streams. Colonel Fremont de 
 cided to visit the island. He selected a pleasant 
 spot for encampment, in a grove on one of the banks 
 of Bear river, near its entrance into the lake. He 
 felled timber so as to make a large pen for the ani 
 mals. He then erected a rude fort, which-would pro 
 tect the company from any ordinary band of In 
 dians. The boat was repaired with gum, and the air 
 chambers inflated. Game was found to be scarce, and 
 their provisions were about exhausted. He therefore 
 sent back one half his party to Fort Hall for supplies. 
 
 Leaving two or three to guard the fort and the 
 horses, Colonel Fremont, with Carson and three 
 other men, set out on their expedition to explore the 
 island. It was a very beautiful morning, the eighth of 
 September. Slowly they floated down the romantic 
 stream, frequently stopping to get a shot at the wild 
 geese and ducks they met on their way. It was not 
 until the edge of the evening that they reached the 
 outlet of the river. 
 
THE RETURN OF THE EXPEDITION. 235 
 
 They encamped in a small willow grove, where 
 they found an abundance of drift-wood for their 
 camp fire. The game they had taken furnished their 
 supper. They made for themselves soft beds of the 
 tender willow twigs, and in a mild atmosphere, be 
 neath a starlit sky, slept soundly till morning. The 
 voices of millions of waterfowl, around them, did not 
 disturb their slumbers. 
 
CHAPTER XII. 
 
 Marches and Battles. 
 
 Entering the Lake. Dangerous Navigation. The Return to Camp. 
 Feast upon Horse Flesh. Meeting the Indians. Joyful Meeting. 
 Return to Fort Hall. Feasting at the Fort. The Party Di- 
 minished. The Journey down Snake River. Crossing the Sierra 
 Nevada. Carson Rescues Fremont. Fort Sutler. Heroic 
 Achievement of Carson. Disbanding the Party. The third Ex 
 pedition. Crossing the Desert. Threatened by the Mexicans. 
 Fight with the 'Indians. The Surprise. Chastisement of the 
 Indians. 
 
 THE morning of the ninth of September dawned 
 upon our voyagers remarkably serene and beautiful. 
 They hurried through breakfast to make an early 
 start. The water was found so shallow, at the mouth 
 of the river, that it would not float the boat. They 
 were compelled to take off their clothes and wade 
 through the soft mud for the distance of a mile, drag 
 ging the boat, when they came to deep water. The 
 whole wide marshy expanse seemed to be covered 
 with waterfowl of every description, filling the air 
 with their discordant voices. Though it was calm, 
 there was quite a heavy swell upon the ocean-like 
 lake. The waters were of crystal clearness, though 
 
MARCHES AND BATTLES. 237 
 
 so thoroughly saturated with salt that the spray left 
 a saline crust upon the clothing. 
 
 They reached the island and ascended its loftiest 
 peak, which was about eight hundred feet high. It 
 is almost certain that never since the creation. had a 
 white man's foot trod that summit. 
 
 " As we looked," writes Colonel Fremont, " over 
 the vast expanse of water spread out beneath us, and 
 strained our eyes along the silent shore, over which 
 hung so much doubt and uncertainty, I could hardly 
 repress the desire to continue our exploration. But 
 the lengthening snow on the mountains, spreading 
 farther and farther, was a plain indication of the ad 
 vancing season, and our frail linen boat appeared so 
 insecure that I was unwilling to trust our lives to the 
 uncertainties of the lake. I therefore unwillingly re 
 solved to terminate our survey here and to remain 
 satisfied for the present with what we had been able 
 to add to the unknown geography of the region. We 
 felt also pleasure in remembering that we were the 
 first who, in the traditionary annals of the country, 
 had visited the island and broken with the cheerful 
 sound of hu-man voices, the long solitude of the 
 place. 
 
 " Out of the drift-wood on the beach, we made 
 ourselves pleasant little lodges, open to the water, 
 and, after having kindled large fires, to excite the 
 
 
238 
 
 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 wonder of any straggling savage on the lake shores, 
 lay down, for the first time in a long journey, in per 
 fect security, no one thinking about his arms. The 
 evening was extremely bright and pleasant. But the 
 wind rose during the night, and the waves began to 
 break heavily, making our island tremble. I had not 
 expected, in our inland journey, to hear the roar of 
 an ocean surf. The strangeness of our situation, 
 and the excitement we felt, in the associated inter 
 ests of the place, made this one of the most interest 
 ing nights I remember during our long expedition." 
 
 The next morning they set out at an early hour, 
 on their return to the main land, about nine miles 
 distant. When they had rowed about three miles 
 the clouds gathered, menacing a storm, and a strong 
 wind rose, blowing directly against them. The 
 heavy sea which they encountered caused a leakage 
 in the air chambers of the boat, and they were in 
 imminent danger of finding a grave in the bottom of 
 the lake. It was with much difficulty that a man, 
 stationed at the bellows, supplied the chamber with 
 air as fast as it escaped. 
 
 At length they effected a landing on marshy 
 ground, about nine miles from the encampment. 
 Two men were immediately dispatched to the camp 
 to bring horses to take back the boat and baggage. 
 
 " The rude looking shelter," writes Colonel Fre- 
 
MARCHES AND BATTLES. 239 
 
 mont, " we raised on the shore, our scattered baggage 
 and boat lying on the beach made quite a picture. 
 We called this the fisherman's camp." 
 
 The horses arrived in the afternoon. It was then 
 blowing such a gale that a man could hardly stand 
 against it. The water of the lake was rapidly rising, 
 forced in by the wind. Very hurriedly they packed 
 their baggage and had scarcely left the spot ere it 
 was entirely submerged. They reached the camp 
 in the edge of the evening, just in time to escape a 
 thunder storm, which blackened the sky and deluged 
 the earth with rain. The next day they remained at 
 the camp, and boiled down five gallons of lake water 
 which yielded fourteen pints of very fine white salt. 
 The ensuing morning was calm and beautiful, as is 
 almost invariably the case during the summer and 
 autumnal months, throughout all that region. 
 
 They now commenced their return by the same 
 route they had already traversed, ascending the 
 valley of the Bear river towards the north. Day 
 after day they journeyed on, without meeting much 
 game, and their supply of food was nearly exhausted. 
 All the party seemed low-spirited, and trudged along 
 in silence. Scarcely a word was spoken. On the 
 night of the fourteenth they encamped on the bank 
 of a crystal stream. It was a lovely evening, serene 
 and mild. But the company seemed very forlorn 
 
240 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 from hunger. Colonel Fremont therefore consented 
 that a fat young horse, which he had purchased of 
 the Indians, should be killed for food. As the com 
 pany gathered around their brilliant camp-fires, 
 feasted on the savory horse steak, the customary 
 good-humor and gayety were restored. 
 
 The next day, as they were still ascending the 
 valley, they came upon two families of Snake Indians, 
 who were gathering herbs and roots. The berries 
 they were drying on buffalo robes. These two 
 families had twelve or fifteen horses grazing around 
 their encampment. Soon after this they encountered 
 a solitary Indian, who had an antelope which he had 
 killed. They purchased the antelope and encamped 
 early to enjoy the rich feast. While they were 
 protracting the pleasures of their repast, a messenger 
 came galloping into their camp saying that Mr. Fitz- 
 patrick was within a few miles of them, with an 
 ample supply of provisions. They could scarcely 
 sleep that night for joy. The next morning before 
 sunrise they were on the move and soon rejoined 
 their friends. Together they continued their journey 
 to the northward, encountering several lodges of 
 Snake Indians ; of whom they purchased about a 
 bushel of dried berries. 
 
 Leaving the valley of the Bear river they crossed 
 over to Snake river, or as it is sometimes called, 
 
MARCHES AND BATTLES. 24! 
 
 Lewis's Fork of the Columbia river. On their way 
 they met an Indian family on horseback, who had 
 been gathering what are called service berries. At 
 night fires were seen burning all along the mountain 
 sides, indicating numerous encampments of the 
 Indians. But they were all friendly, and the weary 
 voyagers slept with a very happy and grateful sense 
 of security. On the eighteenth they entered the 
 spacious valley of the Snake river, near its upper 
 waters. The next morning the snow began to fall 
 and it continued snowing all day. 
 
 They were now very near Fort Hall. They 
 therefore encamped, and Colonel Fremont rode up 
 to the fort and purchased several horses, and five fat 
 oxen. The arrival of the oxen, giving promise of 
 such good cheer, was received with shouts of joy. 
 Though night came down upon the wanderers, cold 
 and stormy, rousing fires and smoking steaks made 
 all happy. 
 
 For several days the party remained in their 
 encampment. They had journeyed from the frontier 
 of Missouri, thirteen hundred and twenty-three 
 miles. Though winter had come on thus early, and 
 both game and forage were known to be scarce along 
 the route they were about to travel, Colonel Fre 
 mont decided to continue his explorations, regardless 
 of ice and cold. He thought it, however, expedient 
 
242 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 to diminish the number of his party. Accordingly 
 he assembled the men, informed them of his inten 
 tion, and of the great hardships to which they would 
 doubtless be exposed. Thus he persuaded eleven 
 men to withdraw from the expedition, and return to 
 the States. 
 
 With the lessened party, about twenty in number, 
 Colonel Fremont recommenced his journey, on the 
 twenty-second of September, down the valley of the 
 river towards the mouth of the Columbia. We have 
 not space here to record the many interesting events 
 of this journey. The Colonel bears constant and 
 affectionate testimony to the services rendered by 
 Kit Carson. After travelling six or seven hundred 
 miles, they reached Fort Dalles, then passing directly 
 south, through the very heart of the Oregon terri 
 tory, they made a thorough exploration of Klamath 
 Lake, to its extreme southern border. 
 
 Thence they started for California. It was neces 
 sary to cross a ridge of the Sierra Nevada mountains. 
 The snow was six feet deep on a level. The toils 
 and sufferings of the men were dreadful. There was 
 neither game nor forage to be found. Many of the 
 mules died of starvation. One incident, which 
 occurred during this dreadful march, we give in the 
 words of Colonel Fremont. Under date of February 
 23d he writes : 
 
MARCHES AND BATTLES. 243 
 
 " 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 exposure 
 afforded us a chance to scramble along. But these 
 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, with 
 soles of buffalo hide, so slippery that we could not 
 keep our feet, and generally we crawled along the 
 snow beds. Axes and mauls were necessary to make 
 a road through the snow. 
 
 " Going ahead with Carson, to reconnoitre the 
 road, we reached, this 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 sole of my moccasin 
 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 a while for my gun, 
 which had been lost in the fall, but the cold drove 
 us out. 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 
 
244 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 been slung under the ice which lined the shores of 
 the creek." 
 
 Upon reaching the southern declivity of the 
 mountains, Fremont and Carson, with six others, 
 pushed ahead to Fort Sutter where, it will be re 
 membered, the gold of California was first discovered. 
 The whole party reached the fort on the sixth of 
 March, 1844. These extraordinary men, in the 
 depths of winter, had travelled from Fort Hall about 
 two thousand miles. They remained at the Fort re 
 cruiting but a fortnight. A braver enterprise history 
 does not record. Its successful accomplishment sent 
 the name of John C. Fremont, its leader, on the 
 wings of fame, throughout the civilized world. We 
 have no space to record the vastly important results 
 accomplished by this exploration. 
 
 Upon leaving the fort, on their return towards the 
 States, they met a Mexican and a little boy, who 
 were in great destitution and grief. They had been 
 left with a band of six, among whom were the boy's 
 father and mother, to watch their animals grazing in 
 a fertile meadow. They were suddenly attacked by 
 a party of thirty Indians, who either captured or kill 
 ed all of the party except the man and the boy, who 
 fortunately escaped. The Indians fled with their 
 booty. The poor boy was overwhelmed with grief. 
 
MARCHES AND BATTLES. 245 
 
 He had every reason to fear that both of his parents 
 were dead. 
 
 Kit Carson's heart was touched. He proposed to 
 Richard Godoy, an experienced and noble-hearted 
 mountaineer, that they two should pursue the thirty 
 Indian warriors, rescue the captives, and regain the 
 animals. They soon struck the Indian trail and fol 
 lowed it nearly all the night. The Indians, not ap 
 prehensive of pursuit, were travelling leisurely. To 
 wards morning, Carson and his companion halted for 
 an hour or two, to allow their horses to graze and 
 to get a little sleep. At daybreak they were again 
 in the saddle, and just at sunrise discovered the In 
 dians in a snug little valley, feasting luxuriously up 
 on horse-steaks. They had already, killed five of the 
 stolen animals. 
 
 These two men immediately charged, with a loud 
 shout, upon the thirty warriors. The savages were 
 taken utterly by surprise, and thrown into a panic. 
 Carson's practiced eye selected the chief, who in 
 stantly fell pierced through the heart by a bullet 
 from Carson's rifle. Godoy missed his aim, but in 
 stantly reloading, another warrior dropped in his 
 blood. The Indians, not doubting that the two were 
 but the advance party of a strong force, fled with 
 precipitation, abandoning everything. Deliberately 
 Carson collected the horses, counted them and found 
 
246 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 that they had them all, excepting the five the thieves 
 had killed. 
 
 They then followed the trail back to the spot 
 where the savages had attacked the Mexicans. The 
 captives had all been killed and their bodies had 
 been shockingly mangled. Carson and his heroic 
 companion, with fifteen horses, rejoined the camp. 
 The property was at once restored to the Mexicans 
 without any remuneration whatever being received 
 by either of these men for their exploit. They had 
 been absent from the camp thirty hours, and had 
 ridden over a hundred miles. 
 
 The march was now resumed and, after a tedious 
 journey of many leagues, they reached Fort Bent on 
 the second of July, where the exploring party was 
 disbanded. Colonel Fremont proceeded to Wash 
 ington. Kit Carson returned to Taos. Thinking 
 that he had had enough of wandering, he decided to 
 become a farmer, that he might reside at home with 
 his family. He purchased quite a large tract of land 
 a little out from the straggling village of Taos, and 
 commenced farming upon a pretty large scale. 
 
 As he was very busy erecting his buildings and 
 breaking up the soil, an express arrived from Colo 
 nel Fremont, stating that he was about to set out on a 
 third exploring tour and that he should depend upon 
 Mr. Carson's accompanying him. He also reminded 
 
MARCHES AND BATTLES. 247 
 
 him of a promise once given that he would be ever 
 ready to heed such a call. 
 
 Mr. Carson had made large investments in build 
 ings, stock, farming utensils, etc. With Mr. Owens, 
 who had been his companion on a former trip, Mr. 
 Carson set out for Fort Bent, where he met with a 
 very cordial welcome from Colonel Fremont. We 
 cannot follow the party, in its long and adventurous 
 wanderings, along the ravines, across the prairies, 
 and over the mountains, until they reached the 
 lower extremity of the Great Salt Lake. Before 
 them towards the west spread out a vast desert, of 
 unknown extent. No white man had ever crossed 
 it. Colonel Fremont decided that it was his duty to 
 explore it. His men were always ready to follow 
 their bold chieftain. 
 
 Kit Carson and three others were sent forward 
 to mark out the road by their trail. Should they 
 find grass and water, they were to build a fire, the 
 smoke of which would convey the joyful intelligence 
 to Colonel Fremont, who was watching, spy-glass in 
 hand, from a neighboring eminence. For sixty miles 
 they travelled without finding a drop of water, or a 
 blade of grass. Then suddenly they came upon 
 both in abundance ; an oasis in the desert. 
 
 Carson built a rousing fire, piling on the green 
 wood to make as much smoke as possible. Notwith- 
 
248 
 
 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 standing the great distance, the glass of Fremont 
 discerned the billowy signal, ascending through the 
 serene skies. His party was at once put in motion, 
 and after a weary march reached their companions. 
 They thence pressed on to Sutter's Fort, where 
 they could only obtain moderate supplies. On the 
 trip they had divided into two parties and one of 
 them had wandered and got lost. Mr. Carson was 
 sent to hunt them up. With his usual skill and 
 promptitude, he accomplished his mission, and 
 brought the lost party safely to the fort. They then 
 directed their course to Monterey, on the sea coast, 
 where they could obtain all they needed. When 
 within thirty miles of the place, an express arrived 
 from General Castro, the Mexican commander of the 
 territory, ordering Colonel Fremont and his party 
 to leave the country or he would compel them to 
 do so. 
 
 Instead of obeying this order, Colonel Fremont, 
 with but forty men under his command, immediately 
 selected a good military position, and prepared for a 
 defence. General Castro soon appeared with several 
 hundred troops, infantry, cavalry and artillery, and 
 established himself within a few hundred yards of 
 the Fremont camp. The two parties watched each 
 other for three days. Colonel Fremont then, satisfied 
 that the Mexicans would not assume the .offensive, 
 
MARCHES AND BATTLES. 249 
 
 and that it would be rash to attempt to force his way 
 against so powerful a foe, turned his steps north to 
 the Sacramento river, and thence to the mouth of 
 the Columbia. 
 
 On the route they met a thousand Indian war 
 riors. They were armed only with arrows and jave 
 lins. A fierce battle ensued. The Indians were re 
 pelled with heavy loss. Mr. Carson thinks that in 
 that conflict, they became convinced that with their 
 weapons, they could never hope to vanquish the 
 rifle-armed white men. Upon this trip they also 
 learned that war had broken out between the United 
 States and Mexico. The express which brought 
 this intelligence informed Fremont that a United 
 States officer was in the rear, with a few men in 
 imminent peril. 
 
 Colonel Fremont took Carson and ten other 
 picked men, and hastened to the rescue. Mr. Car 
 son himself gives the following account of a tragic 
 scene which soon took place. The narrative was 
 given in a letter published in the Washington Union 
 of June, 1847: 
 
 " Mr. Gillespie had brought the Colonel letters 
 from home and he was up, and kept a large fire 
 burning until after midnight. This was the only 
 night, in all our travels, except the one night on the 
 island in Salt Lake, that we failed to keep guard. 
 
250 
 
 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 As the men were so tired and we expected no at 
 tack now that we had sixty in the party, the Colonel 
 did not like to ask it of them, but sat up late himself. 
 Owens and I were sleeping together, and we were 
 waked at the same time by the licks of the axe that 
 killed our men. At first I did not know it was that, 
 but I called to Basil who was on that side : 
 
 " What's the matter there ? What's that fuss 
 about ? " 
 
 " He never answered for he was dead then, poor 
 fellow, and he never knew what killed him. His head 
 had been cut in, in his sleep. The Delawares, we 
 had four with us, were sleeping at that fire, and they 
 sprang up as the Klamaths charged them. One of 
 them caught up a gun which was unloaded, but 
 although he could do no execution he kept them at 
 bay like a soldier, and did not give up till he was 
 shot full of arrows, three entering his heart. 
 
 " As soon as I had called out I saw it was Indians 
 in the camp, and I and Owens cried out together, 
 ' Indians.' There were no orders given, things went 
 on too fast, and the Colonel had men with him that 
 did not need to be told their duty. The Colonel and 
 I, Maxwell, Owens, Godey and Stepp jumped 
 together and went to the assistance of our Dela 
 wares. 
 
 " I dont know who fired first and who didn't ; but 
 
MARCHES AND BATTLES. 251 
 
 I think it was Stepp's shot that killed the Klamath 
 chief; for it was at the crack of Stepp's gun that he 
 fell. He had an English half-axe slung to his wrist 
 by a cord, and there were forty arrows left in his 
 quiver; the most beautiful and warlike arrows I ever 
 saw. He must have been the bravest man among 
 them, from the way he was armed, and judging from 
 his cap. 
 
 " When the Klamaths saw him fall, they ran ; but 
 we lay, every man with his rifle cocked, until 
 daylight, expecting another attack. In the morning 
 we found, by the tracks, that from fifteen to twenty 
 of the Klamaths had attacked us. They had killed 
 three of our men and wounded one of the Delawares, 
 who scalped the chief, whom they left where he fell. 
 
 " Our dead men we carried on mules ; but after 
 going about ten miles we found it impossible to get 
 them any farther through the thick timber. And 
 finding a secret place we buried them under logs and 
 chunks, having no way to dig a grave. It was only 
 a few days before this, that some of these same 
 Indians had come into our camp ; and although we 
 had only meat for two days and felt sure that we 
 should have to eat mules for ten or fifteen days to 
 come, the Colonel divided with them, and even had 
 a mule unpacked to give them some tobacco and 
 knives.'' 
 
252 
 
 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 In consequence of the war declared between the 
 United States and Mexico, Colonel Fremont thought 
 it expedient to return to California. He judged it, 
 however, to be necessary first, as a lesson to the 
 savages, to punish them severely for their wanton 
 murder of his men. Kit Carson, at the head of ten 
 chosen mountaineers, was sent forward in search of 
 their strongholds. If he discovered them without 
 being seen himself he was to return for reinforce 
 ments. If seen he was to act as he thought best. 
 
 He soon discovered an Indian trail, and followed 
 it to an Indian encampment of fifty lodges, contain 
 ing one hundred and fifty warriors. The agitation in 
 the camp evidenced that the Indians had obtained 
 warning of danger. Carson decided to attack them 
 instantly, in the midst of their confusion. The 
 Indians for a moment made a bold stand. But as 
 bullet after bullet pierced them, from the invisible 
 missiles of their foe, whom they could not reach with 
 arrows, they turned in a panic and fled. Mr. Carson, 
 wishing to inflict chastisement which would not soon 
 be forgotten, ordered all their valuables to be col 
 lected in their lodges and then applied the torch. 
 The flames leaped high in the air and in an hour 
 nothing remained of the Indian village, but glowing 
 embers and the bodies of their dead warriors. 
 
 Colonel Fremont saw the smoke of the conflagra- 
 
MARCHES AND BATTLES. 253 
 
 tion and understood its significance. He hastened 
 forward and joined Carson. But it was thought that 
 the Indians had not yet received the punishment 
 which their crime deserved. The whole party then 
 moved on together for several miles, to a secluded 
 encampment. 
 
 Mr. Carson said that the warriors would certainly 
 return to view the ruins of their village and to bury 
 their dead. Twenty men were consequently sent 
 back to lie in ambush. At midnight fifty savages 
 were seen in the bright moonlight, approaching their 
 ruined homes. Some alarm caused them precipi 
 tately to retreat. Carson was a little in advance 
 with Colonel Fremont. He saw one solitary warrior 
 separate from the rest. Spurring upon the savage 
 at the distance of not ten paces he endeavored to 
 shoot him, when his gun missed fire. He was now 
 apparently at the mercy of the Indian, who had 
 already with sinewy arm, drawn an arrow to the 
 feather to pierce the body of his foe. 
 
 Fremont was mounted on a very powerful and 
 spirited charger. He plunged the rowels of his 
 spurs into the animal, when the noble horse made 
 one or two frantic leaps, knocked down the Indian 
 and trampled over him. The arrow of the savage 
 flew wide of its mark. The next moment a rifle ball 
 pierced his heart, and he lay quivering in death. 
 
254 
 
 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 The party now pressed on to the Sacramento 
 river. The Klamath warriors dogged their path, 
 watching for an opportunity to take them at advan 
 tage. One day Carson and Godey, who were a lit 
 tle separated from the rest of the company, came 
 quite unexpectedly upon a band of these warriors 
 and instantly charged upon them. One Indian only 
 was too proud to fly. He took his position behind 
 a rock and as soon as the two white men came with 
 in shooting distance, he let fly his arrows with great 
 force and rapidity. 
 
 After dodging these arrows for some time, Carson 
 mounted and crept through concealment, till he ob 
 tained good aim at the savage. There was a sharp 
 report of the rifle, and the Indian was dead. Carson 
 took from him a beautifully wrought bow and a 
 quiver still containing a number of arrows. But the 
 savages still continued to hover around their trail 
 without venturing upon any attack. 
 
CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 The Dispatch Bearer. 
 
 Colonel Fremont. Hazardous Undertaking of Kit Carson. Carson's 
 Courage and Prudence. Threatened Danger. Interview with 
 General Kearney, and Results. Severe Skirmish. Wonderful 
 Escape of Carson. Daring Adventure. Fearful 'Suffering. 
 Lieutenant Beale. Carson's Journey to Washington. Adven 
 tures on his Return. 
 
 OUR explorers now pressed on for twenty-four 
 hours without encountering any molestation, though 
 they saw many indications that the Indians were 
 hovering about their track. Hungry and weary, 
 they reached Fort Lawson, on the Sacramento river, 
 where they tarried for a week to recruit. They then 
 followed down the river some distance, to the well- 
 known camping-grounds, " The Buttes." 
 
 War between the United States and Mexico was 
 in active operation. Colonel Fremont took the re 
 sponsibility of capturing a weak Mexican post near 
 by, at Sonoma, where he obtained several cannon and 
 some small arms. His explorers being thus virtually 
 resolved into an army, he marched, with Kit Carson 
 as nominal Lieutenant, for the capture of Monterey. 
 
2 5 6 
 
 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 Before he reached there, the city was taken by an 
 American squadron under Commodore Sloat. Colo 
 nel Fremont obtained a ship to convey him, with 
 his fast friend Kit Carson, and one hundred and fifty 
 bold mountaineers, who had attached themselves to 
 his fortunes, a few hundred miles down the coast, to 
 San Diego. Thence he marched upon Los Angelos. 
 
 It was becoming important to have some com 
 munication with Washington. To send dispatches 
 around by the cape, required a voyage of weary 
 months. To reach the capital by land, it was neces 
 sary to traverse an almost pathless wilderness four 
 thousand miles in extent. Whoever should under 
 take such an enterprise, must not only live upon such 
 food as he could pick up by the way, but also be ex 
 posed to attack from innumerable bands of hostile 
 savages, urged on by still more hostile Mexicans. 
 
 On the fifteenth of September, 1846, Kit Carson 
 undertook this hazardous enterprise. He was placed 
 in command of fifteen picked men. The utmost vigi 
 lance was necessary every step of the way. He was 
 instructed to make the journey in sixty days. For 
 two days, he pressed on his way without molestation. 
 The third day, he came suddenly in view of a large 
 encampment of Apache Indians. Each party discov 
 ered the other at the same moment. There was in 
 stantly great commotion in the Indian camp ; the 
 
THE DISPATCH BEARER. 
 
 warriors running to and fro in preparation for a 
 fight. 
 
 Mr. Carson, acquainted with their language, and 
 also familiar with all their customs, saw at once that 
 his only safety consisted in reckless courage. He 
 halted his little band, and assuming an air of entire 
 unconcern, rode forward till he came within speaking 
 distance, and of course within arrow distance of hun 
 dreds of plumed and painted warriors. He was en 
 tirely at their mercy. They might instantly pierce 
 him, and almost bury him beneath a shower of ar 
 rows. The chief of the white men being thus killed, 
 the rest of the party would fall easily a prey to their 
 overpowering numbers. Carson shouted out to 
 them : - 
 
 " I come to you as a friend, and I ask for a 
 parley." 
 
 Two or three warriors then came forward and 
 with the usual preliminaries, held a brief conference. 
 They could without any difficulty have seized upon 
 Carson and held him as a hostage. But he knew 
 that his only possible safety was in this apparent act 
 of desperation. Having smoked the pipe of peace, 
 he said to them : 
 
 " We come to you as friendly travellers, seeking 
 only a passage through your country. We come to 
 you as brothers, presenting the olive branch of peace. 
 
2 5 8 
 
 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 We do not wish to harm you. We ask only for your 
 friendship. Our animals are weary. We would ex 
 change them for those that are fresh. We will pay 
 you well for the exchange/' 
 
 If that be eloquence which moves the heart, this 
 was eloquence. It changed the hearts of the Indians. 
 Friendly demonstrations immediately took the place 
 of preparations for a bloody fight. Carson pitched 
 his camp at a short distance from the Apaches. 
 His prudence, as well as his courage, was developed. 
 He selected a site where in case of treachery, he 
 could make a vigorous defence. Every man had rifle, 
 revolver, and knife. Every man was instructed, 
 while assuming an air of entire trust in the Indians, 
 to be constantly on the watch. There was to be no 
 surrender. In case of attack, every man was to sell 
 his life as dearly as possible. The calm, self-possessed, 
 invincible spirit of this wonderful man was infused 
 into all his followers. Fifteen such men with rifles, 
 revolvers, and knives, would make terrible havoc 
 among a crowd of Indian warriors, before they could 
 all be cold in death. 
 
 As soon as the camp was arranged, the Indians 
 were allowed to come in. They smoked and feasted, 
 and traded together, in the most friendly manner. 
 Carson remounted all his men on fresh and vigorous 
 
THE DISPATCH BEARER. 259 
 
 steeds. The next morning he went on his way 
 rejoicing. 
 
 Nearly a month passed away, as this heroic little 
 band, with tireless diligence, pressed along their path 
 less route towards the rising sun. With the utmost 
 caution, Mr. Carson avoided the Indian trails, mak 
 ing a path for himself. He would often make a wide 
 circuit, that he might not cross hunting grounds 
 where his experience taught him that Indian hunt 
 ing bands would probably be encountered. 
 
 It was a bright and beautiful morning, the sixth 
 of October, that they entered upon the western edge 
 of a smooth, treeless prairie extending to the east as 
 far as the eye could reach. Soon after the morning 
 sun began to flood that ocean of waving flowers with 
 its rays, the keen eye of Carson discerned in the ex 
 treme east, a small speck, like the sail of a ship at 
 sea. He watched it, it moved. Slowly it increased 
 in size. It soon developed itself into the front of a 
 numerous band of warriors. His anxiety was great. 
 It was not wise to attempt flight over the boundless 
 prairie. 
 
 As the column drew nearer, he discovered to his 
 great joy that it was a detachment of United States 
 troops. The expedition had been sent out by the 
 government, to operate under General Kearney, in 
 California. As the two parties met, General Kear- 
 
26o 
 
 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 ney sent for Mr. Carson, and after a little conversa 
 tion with him, decided to entrust his dispatches to 
 Mr. Fitzpatrick, to convey them to Washington, 
 while he should attach Mr. Carson to his staff as a 
 guide, of which he stood greatly in need. Upon in 
 forming Mr. Carson of this his decision, the modest 
 reply of the pioneer was, " As the General thinks 
 best." 
 
 Mr. Carson now was invested with the responsi 
 ble office of guiding the footsteps of this army over 
 these almost boundless plains. This duty he so per 
 formed as to receive the highest commendation of 
 General Kearney. And his dignified character was 
 such as to win the confidence and respect of every 
 man in the army. The worst of men can often ap 
 preciate high moral excellence. 
 
 Early in December the army had reached Califor 
 nia, and were approaching San Diego. On the 
 sixth, the scouts brought the news that a numerous 
 party of Mexicans were strongly intrenched a few 
 miles before them, to dispute their passage. Fifteen 
 men were sent forward as an advanced guard, under 
 the guidance of Kit Carson, to drive in the outposts, 
 and capture any loose animals which might be found. 
 A very fierce battle ensued. These Californian Mex 
 icans developed a degree of bravery and determine 
 
THE DISPATCH BEARER. 26l 
 
 tion totally unexpected, and which could not have 
 been exceeded. 
 
 Quite a number of troops had come up to assist 
 in carrying an important post. In addition to the 
 fifteen men with Carson, there were two companies 
 of United States dragoons, and twenty-five California 
 volunteers. These determined men, all well mount 
 ed, formed a very imposing column for the charge. 
 Mr. Carson was in the front rank of the column. 
 As the horses were plunging forward upon the foe, 
 Mr. Carson's horse, from some inequality in the 
 ground, fell, throwing his rider over his head with 
 such violence as to break his gun-stock in several 
 pieces. Carson was slightly stunned by the fall, and 
 the whole troop of horse galloped over him. It 
 seems a miracle that he was not trampled to death. 
 Though severely bruised, no bones were broken. 
 
 Upon recovering, and finding his own gun use 
 less, he looked around and saw a dead dragoon. 
 Seizing his gun, he rushed forward into the thickest 
 of the fight. It is probable that the fall of his horse 
 saved his life. Nearly the whole of the head of the 
 charging column was cut off by the bullets of the foe. 
 The Mexicans were soon driven from their post, and 
 fled on swift horses. But the Americans suffered 
 terribly. Large numbers were killed. 
 
 The Mexicans soon rallied with reinforcements 
 
262 
 
 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 and resumed the battle. The advanced guard of the 
 Americans was driven back and compelled to act up 
 on the defensive. We have not space here to give, 
 in detail, the victories and defeats of these fierce 
 conflicts. Most of these California Mexicans were 
 of the bravest blood of Spain. And they fought as 
 if determined to perpetuate their ancestral renown. 
 
 When near San Diego, Kearney's force was sur 
 rounded by three or four times its number, and 
 were starving. The men were feeding upon the 
 mules. Even that resource seemed almost exhaust 
 ed. The utter ruin of the army seemed inevitable. 
 A council of war was held. Carson was present. 
 He was a man of few words. When he spoke, all 
 listened. In his soft, feminine voice he said : 
 
 " I think I may be able to creep in the night, 
 through the Mexican lines. I can hasten then to San 
 Diego, and inform Commodore Stockton of our peril. 
 He will hasten to the rescue. I am willing to try." 
 
 Immediately Lieutenant Beale, of the United 
 States Navy, one of the most heroic of men, added, 
 " I will go with him." General Kearney accepted 
 the noble offer. In its desperation was his only 
 hope. 
 
 The camp was encircled by three concentric rows 
 of sentinels. They were mounted, and rode inces 
 santly to and fro, through their short patrols. Night 
 
THE DISPATCH BEARER. 263 
 
 came. It was dark. Carson and Beale crept out 
 from the camp, on their hands and feet, feeling for 
 the tall grass, the slight depressions in the ground, 
 the shade of the thickets. They had shoes instead 
 of moccasins. As they crept along foot by foot in 
 breathless silence, the stiff soles of the shoes would 
 sometimes hit a stone or a stick, and make a slight 
 noise. They drew off their shoes and pushed them 
 under their belts. Occasionally they were within a 
 few feet of the sentinels, whom they could dimly dis 
 cern. 
 
 They had passed the first line of sentinels, and 
 the second, and were just beginning to breathe a 
 little more freely when a sentinel rode up to within a 
 few feet of the spot where they were lying still as 
 death, and but slightly concealed in the tall grass. 
 By daylight they would have been instantly seen. 
 To their terror the sentinel was mounted, and alight 
 ing with flint and steel began to strike a light to in 
 dulge in the comfort of his pipe. The flame of a piece 
 of paper would reveal them. The suspense was terrible. 
 So still did they lie and so intense were their inward 
 throbbings that Mr. Carson afterwards affirmed that 
 he could actually hear Lieutenant Beale's heart 
 pulsate. 
 
 Providentially the Mexican lighted his pipe, and 
 remounting rode in the other direction. For a dis- 
 
264 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 tance of nearly two miles Carson and Beale thus 
 crept along, working their way through the Mexican 
 lines. Having left the last sentinel behind them, 
 they regained their feet and felt for their shoes. 
 They were gone. Thus far they had not inter 
 changed even a whisper. Though the worst peril 
 was now over, they had still many dangers to 
 encounter, and fearful suffering. It would not do to 
 advance upon San Diego by any of the well-trodden 
 trails, all of which were closely watched by the 
 enemy's scouts. Carson chose a circuitous route 
 over rocks and hills, where their feet were dreadfully 
 lacerated by the prickly pear. 
 
 All the next day, with feet torn and bleeding, 
 they toiled along, feeding upon whatever they could, 
 find, which would in the slightest degree appease 
 the gnawings of hunger. Another night spread its 
 gloom around them. Still onward was the march 
 of our heroes. About midnight, Carson discovered, 
 from a slight eminence, the dim outline of the houses 
 in San Diego. They approached the American 
 sentinels, announced themselves as friends, and were 
 conducted to Commodore Stockton. He immedi 
 ately dispatched one hundred and seventy men with 
 a heavy piece of ordnance, and with directions to 
 march day and night, for the relief of Kearney. 
 
 The Mexicans hearing of their approach, knowing 
 
THE DISPATCH BEARER. 265 
 
 that they would be attacked both in front and rear, 
 fled. Kearney and his army were saved. Carson 
 and Beale had rescued them. 
 
 The main army of the Mexicans was now at Los 
 Angelos, about a hundred and twenty miles north 
 from San Diego. They had a strongly intrenched 
 camp there ; garrisoned by about seven hundred 
 men. Kearney and Fremont united their forces to 
 attack them. Carson was again with his friend Fre 
 mont. The Mexicans were driven away, and the 
 American army took up its winter quarters during 
 two or three cold and dreary months. 
 
 In the month of March, 1847, Mr. Carson was 
 directed to carry important dispatches to Washing 
 ton. Lieutenant Beale, who never recovered from 
 the hardships he encountered in his flight to San 
 Diego, was permitted to accompany him. As we 
 have mentioned, it was a journey of four thousand 
 miles. It was accomplished in three months. In 
 reference to this adventure Mr. Carson writes : 
 
 " 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 riding 
 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 circum- 
 12 
 
266 
 
 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 stances. Before the fatiguing and dangerous part 
 of our route was passed over, he had so far recovered 
 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 1 staid in Washing 
 ton, which was more than I had any reason for ex 
 pecting, and which will never be forgotten by me." 
 
 On this expedition, Kit Carson was provided 
 with a guard of ten or twelve picked men, veteran 
 mountaineers. They took an extremely southern 
 route. Having journeyed about four hundred miles 
 without meeting any hostile encounter, they reached 
 the Gila, a tributary of the lower Colorado. Here 
 Mr. Carson had evidence that a band of hostile In 
 dians, keeping always out of sight, were dogging his 
 path, watching for an opportunity to attack him by 
 surprise. Their route led over a vast prairie, where 
 there were no natural defences. They cooked" their 
 supper early in the evening, and wrapped in their 
 blankets, threw themselves on the grass for sleep. 
 Mr. Carson, aware that the cunning Indians might 
 be watching all his movements, as soon as it was 
 dark, ordered his men to rise, march forward in the 
 darkness more than a mile, again to picket their ani 
 mals, and then to arrange their pack-saddles so as to 
 protect them from the arrows of the Indians. In 
 
THE DISPATCH BEARER. 267 
 
 case of an attack they were to lie perfectly still, and 
 not speak a word. It would be of no use to fire, for 
 no savage .would be within sight. If the Indians 
 ventured into the camp, they were then, with rifle, 
 and revolver and knife, to assail them with the utmost 
 desperation. 
 
 At midnight the yell of the savage was heard, 
 and a shower of arrows fell around. They had not 
 ascertained with accuracy the position of the travel 
 lers. They dared not approach near enough to see, 
 for in that case they could be seen, and the bullet 
 would certainly strike them. After many random 
 shots, and many unearthly yells, the discomfited sav 
 ages fled. They dared not await the dawn of the 
 day, when upon the open prairie, their arrows 
 would be powerless weapons against rifles. In 
 all these journeyings, Mr. Carson was so cautious 
 that one not acquainted with his well balanced char 
 acter, might deem him wanting in courage. Not a 
 tree, a rock, a bush, or any other place where an Indian 
 might hide, escaped his notice. His eye was ever 
 scanning the horizon to see if there were any smoke 
 indicating an Indian's fire, or any flight of crows 
 hovering over a spot where Indians had recently en 
 camped. The ground he was ever watching in 
 search of the pressure of the horse's unshod foot, or 
 of the Indian's moccasin. 
 
268 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 Colonel Fremont had married the daughter of 
 Missouri's illustrious Senator, Hon. Thomas H. Ben- 
 ton. Mr. Carson, upon his arrival at St. Louis, was 
 taken immediately to Mr. Benton's home, where he 
 was treated with every attention, and where he en 
 joyed the pleasure of an introduction to the most 
 distinguished men of the city. As in the continuance 
 of his journey he stepped upon the platform of the 
 depot in Washington, Mrs. Fremont was there, with 
 her carriage, to convey him as a guest to her resi 
 dence. 
 
 In the crowd landing from the cars, Mrs. Fre 
 mont recognized him at once, from the description 
 which her husband had given. Mr. Carson remained 
 in Washington for several weeks, greatly interested 
 in the entirely new world which was open to him 
 there. His reputation had gone before him, and 
 the very best men in our land honored themselves 
 in honoring Christopher Carson. President Polk ap 
 pointed him Lieutenant in the United States Rifle 
 Corps. He was then directed to return immediately 
 across the continent as bearer of important dis 
 patches. 
 
 Arriving at Fort Leavenworth, in Kansas, he was 
 there furnished with an escort of fifty soldiers to 
 accompany him across the plain. He reached the 
 eastern declivity of the Rocky mountains without 
 
 
THE DISPATCH BEARER. 269 
 
 important adventure. Here, at a place called Point 
 of Rocks, he overtook a party of United States 
 Volunteers, under command of Lieutenant Mulony. 
 They were escorting a large train of wagons to New 
 Mexico. They encamped not far from each other. 
 Just before the break of day a band of Comanche 
 Indians made an attack upon the cattle of Mulony's 
 party, and got possession of all the oxen and of 
 twenty-six horses. 
 
 Mr. Carson, ever on the alert, heard the tumult, 
 and made a sudden and impetuous charge upon the 
 savages. He recovered all the oxen, but the horses 
 were effectually stampeded and lost. But for Mr. 
 Carson, the cattle also would have fallen into the 
 hands of the Indians, which would have been a great 
 calamity. The next day Mr. Carson resumed his 
 rapid march and reached Santa Fe in safety. Here 
 he left his escort in accordance with orders, and 
 hiring sixteen mountaineers, he proceeded on his 
 journey. 
 
 Travelling rapidly, he came to Muddy Creek, a 
 tributary of Virgin river. Here he suddenly encoun 
 tered a camp of three hundred Indians. He knew 
 their reputation as treacherous in the extreme. He 
 threw up a little rampart, forbidding the Indians to 
 draw too near, and then held a parley under the pro 
 tection of his men. Thoroughly acquainted with 
 
2/0 CHRISTOPHER CARSOrf. 
 
 the Indian character, he seemed always to know the 
 tone which it was best to assume. Sternly address 
 ing the chiefs, he said : 
 
 " I know your treachery. Your words of friend 
 ship cannot be believed. Not long ago, you massa 
 cred seven Americans. You wish to gain admission 
 to my camp that you may kill us also. I will now 
 allow you till midday to be off. If any of you, after 
 that, are within reach of our rifles you will die." 
 
 Most of the Indians were overawed by this bold 
 talk, and disappeared. A few of the more desperate 
 of the warriors lounged about, apparently doubting 
 his words. At the designated hour he ordered his 
 men to take good aim and fire. Though the Indians 
 were at quite a distance, one of the warriors fell 
 instantly dead. Four others were severely wounded. 
 Soon not a savage was to be seen. Thus fifteen 
 men under Carson, vanquished three hundred 
 Indians. "Better/' said Napoleon, "is an army of 
 deer led by a lion, than an army of lions led by a 
 deer." 
 
 Mr. Carson now pressed on to Monterey, and 
 delivered his dispatches to Colonel Mason. As 
 acting lieutenant in the U. S. army he was placed at 
 the head of a company of dragoons* to guard Tajon 
 Pass, the main outlet through which robber Indian 
 bands conveyed their booty from California to the 
 
THE DISPATCH BEARER. 2?I 
 
 plains. After spending the winter very successfully 
 in the discharge of this duty, he was again ordered 
 to proceed to Washington with dispatches. Fifteen 
 men were detailed to escort him on the way. 
 
CHAPTER XIV. 
 The Chivalry of the Wilderness. 
 
 Injustice of the Government. Heroic Resolve of Mr. Carson. In 
 dian Outrages. The valley of Razado. Barbaric Murders by 
 Apaches. An Exciting Chase. An Attractive Picture. Plot of 
 Fox Overthrown. Gift of Messrs. Brevoort and Weatherhead. 
 Adventure with the Cheyennes. 
 
 ON this second excursion of Mr. Carson to 
 Washington as bearer of dispatches, he learned at 
 Santa Fe, that the Senate of the United States had 
 refused to confirm his appointment as lieutenant. It 
 was a great wrong. Party spirit then ran high at 
 Washington. His friends at Santa Fe advised him 
 to resent the wrong, by delivering his dispatches to 
 the officer in command there, saying he could no 
 longer serve a government which refused to recognize 
 him. His heroic reply was: 
 
 " I have been entrusted with these dispatches. I 
 shall try to fulfil the duty thus devolving upon me, 
 if it cost me my life. This is service for my coun 
 try. It matters little, whether I perform it as lieu 
 tenant in the army, or as a mountaineer. I certainly 
 
THE CHIVALRY OF THE WILDERNESS. 2/3 
 
 shall not shrink from duty because the Senate does 
 not confirm an appointment which I never sought.'' 
 
 In the then state of the country, there was per 
 haps not another man who could have conveyed 
 those dispatches over the almost boundless plains, 
 swarming with hostile Indians. It was well known 
 at Santa Fe that the Comanche savages, in bands of 
 two or three hundred, were watching the old Santa 
 Fe road, for two or three hundred miles, that they 
 might murder and rob all who fell into their hands. 
 
 Carson resolved to make a trail of his own. He 
 selected but ten men. Pushing directly north, he 
 reached a region which the Comanches seldom visit 
 ed. Then changing his route, he struck the Bijoux 
 river, and followed it down until within about 
 twenty-five miles of its entrance into the Platte. 
 He then traversed the plains to Fort Kearney, and 
 thence proceeded to Fort Leavenworth without any 
 molestation. His men and animals were in fine con 
 dition. His trail, though very circuitous, had led him 
 through a country abounding in game, well watered 
 and with a succession of rich pastures. Here he dis 
 missed his escort, and proceeded to Washington 
 alone. 
 
 Having delivered his dispatches, he immediately 
 set out on his return, and reached his home in Taos 
 in October, 1848. He had not been long at home, 
 
 
2/4 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 before the Apache Indians in the vicinity were com 
 mitting terrible outrages. Colonel Beale, who was 
 in command at Taos, learned that a large party of 
 the savages were upon the upper waters of the Ar 
 kansas, with quite a number of white prisoners. He 
 took two companies of dragoons, and Kit Carson as 
 a guide. Upon reaching the river, he found two 
 hundred Indians who had met there in grand coun 
 cil. The force of armed warriors was so strong, and 
 their passions so aroused, that Col. Beale deemed 
 it impossible to liberate "the captives, who were 
 Mexicans, by force. He therefore returned to Taos, 
 to resort to the more peaceful operations of diplo 
 macy. 
 
 There was at that time residing at Taos, an old 
 mountaineer friend of Kit Carson, by the name of 
 Maxwell, who had become quite rich. Fifty miles 
 east from Taos, there is one of the most lovely val 
 leys in the world called Razado. Fringed with lofty 
 hills of luxuriant foliage, with a mountain stream 
 meandering through the heart of the valley, and 
 with the fertile prairie extending on either side, 
 waving with grass and flowers, a scene is presented 
 which is quite enchanting. 
 
 This valley Maxwell and Carson selected for their 
 vast farms, or ranches, as they were called, contain 
 ing thousands of acres. Maxwell erected a mansion 
 
THE CHIVALRY OF THE WILDERNEST. 275 
 
 which would be an ornament to any country town. 
 Mr. Carson's dwelling, though more modest, was 
 tasteful, and abounding with comforts. While earn 
 estly engaged in developing and cultivating his farm, 
 he heard that an American merchant by the name 
 of White, while approaching Santa Fe in his private 
 carriage, had been killed by the Apaches, and 
 his wife and only child were carried off by the 
 savages. 
 
 A command was immediately organized to pur 
 sue the murderers, and rescue the lady if possible. 
 Kit Carson proffered his services for the expedition. 
 The first object was to find the trail. They soon 
 reached the place where the crime had been com 
 mitted. The ground was strewn with boxes, trunks 
 and pieces of harness, etc., which the savages had not 
 thought it worth while to carry away. They struck 
 the trail and followed it for twelve days without 
 overtaking the fugitives. At last their camp was 
 seen far away in the distance. Kit Carson was the 
 first who caught a glimpse of it. He urged that they 
 should draw unseen as near the camp as possible, 
 and then make a sudden rush upon the Indians, 
 with constant and unerring discharges from their 
 rifles. He said that the savages in their consterna 
 tion would run, each one to save his own life, with 
 out thinking of their captives. If there were a few 
 
2 7 6 
 
 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 moments allowed them for thought, they would cer 
 tainly kill them before effecting their escape. 
 
 Unfortunately his counsel was not followed. 
 There was hesitation, delay, and talk of parley. At 
 length they made the attack. The Indians fled be 
 fore them like deer. The body of Mrs. White was 
 found in the camp, still warm, with an arrow piercing 
 her heart. The savages, on their fresh horses, could 
 not be overtaken by the wearied steeds of the drag 
 oons. They were pursued for six miles. One war 
 rior was killed, and several wounded. Sadly they 
 returned. The little child of Mrs. White had an 
 noyed the Indians by its cries, and with one blow of 
 a tomahawk, its skull had been split open. 
 
 Mr. Carson speaking of this adventure modestly 
 writes : 
 
 " I am certain that if the Indians had been 
 charged immediately on our arrival, Mrs. White 
 would have been saved. Yet I cannot blame the 
 commanding officer, or the 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." 
 
 The expedition however was not a failure. The 
 Indians were severely punished. Many of them fled 
 with nothing but the scanty clothing they had on. 
 
THE CHIVALRY OF THE WILDERNESS. 2// 
 
 Mr. Carson returned to Razado. The winter passed 
 peacefully away. 
 
 In the spring, a band of Apaches entered the 
 valley, shot the two herdsmen, and drove off a large 
 number of animals. Kit Carson, at the head of ten 
 dragons, set out in sharp pursuit. After a ride of 
 twenty-five miles, they came in sight of them, far 
 away on the prairie. It was an open chase. Soon 
 four of the horses of the dragoons gave out. The re 
 mainder of the party, consisting of Carson, six drag 
 oons, and three settlers, pressed on. They soon got 
 near enough to count the numbers of the Indians. 
 There were twenty. Five of them were soon 
 struck by rifle balls, and dropped from their horses. 
 The heroic band returned with the stolen pro 
 perty. 
 
 Mr. Carson was now a farmer. In May, 1856, 
 accompanied by an old mountaineer, he took fifty 
 horses and mules to Fort Laramie, a distance of five 
 hundred miles, and sold them to advantage. He 
 then set out for home accompanied only by a Mexi 
 can boy. He remained at his farm through the fol 
 lowing summer, a peaceful, industrious, busy man, 
 loving his home and enjoying it. He had quite a 
 number of Mexicans employed upon his large farm, 
 whose labors he superintended. Much of his time 
 he employed in hunting, thus abundantly supplying 
 
2/8 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 his large family with game. It is written of him, at 
 this time : 
 
 " Mounted on a fine horse, with his faithful dog 
 and gun, 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 an 
 antelope or elk. On another occasion it would con 
 sist of black-tailed deer, which are celebrated as 
 being the largest and finest specimens 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. 
 
 " In his mountain home he was often visited by 
 Indian friends who came to smoke the pipe of peace 
 with him, and to enjoy his hospitality. He saw him 
 self in possession of fine lands, well watered and 
 well timbered. The soil, unsurpassed in richness and 
 fertility, was a safe and sure depository for his seeds, 
 telling him in its silent but unmistakable language, 
 of the harvest in store for him. His stock was the 
 best which heart could wish. And last, but not 
 least, he was within a stone's throw of splendid hunt 
 ing-grounds." 
 
THE CHIVALRY OF THE WILDERNESS. 2/Q 
 
 During the summer two gentlemen, Messrs. Bre- 
 voort and Weatherhead, were going to the United 
 States from Santa Fe, with a large sum of money to 
 purchase goods. One of the worst of frontier vaga 
 bonds, a fellow by the name of Fox, offered his 
 services as guide, and to organize a company to 
 escort them over the plains. He was a shrewd and 
 plausible scoundrel, and his services were accepted. 
 He enlisted a small but very energetic band of des 
 peradoes, and conspired with them to murder and 
 rob the gentlemen on the way. The deed was to be 
 perpetrated when they should have got nearly across 
 the plains. The murderers could then divide the 
 rich booty among themselves, and scatter through 
 out the States. 
 
 One wretch who had been applied to to join the 
 gang, but who for some unknown reason had declined, 
 divulged the plot when he thought that his friend 
 Fox was so far on his way that there was no danger 
 of his being overtaken and arrested. The rumors 
 of the diabolical plot reached the ears of Kit Carson. 
 He knew Fox" and his depraved associates well. 
 The murder was to be perpetrated when the party 
 should reach Cimaron river, about three hundred 
 miles from Santa Fe. 
 
 In an hour the energetic man was mounted with 
 a small band of his employes, all upon the fleetest 
 
280 
 
 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 and most powerful steeds. Most of the workmen on 
 Mr. Carson's extended ranche were veteran pioneers. 
 Every man was well armed, and led a horse in addi 
 tion to the one upon which he rode. It vtas possible, 
 and that was all, that by the most expeditious riding 
 the travellers might be overtaken before the bloody 
 deed had been performed. 
 
 Their path was over the open prairie. Onward 
 they went as fast as their steeds could be safely 
 urged. The second night out, they came upon a 
 detachment of United States troops bound for Cali 
 fornia as recruits. The officer in command, Captain 
 Ewell, knowing that the plains were infested with 
 powerful bands of Indians, by whom the small party 
 of Mr. Carson might be cut off, generously joined 
 him with twenty men, leaving the rest of his party 
 to proceed on their journey by slow marches. 
 
 They overtook the merchants just before they 
 had reached the spot where their lives were to be 
 taken. Fox was at once arrested. Messrs. Weather- 
 head and Brevoort were astounded when informed 
 of the peril from which they had been rescued. Fox 
 was carried back to Santa Fe and placed in jail. 
 The merchants were entrusted to the care of fifteen 
 men who could be relied upon. The rest of the 
 gang were ordered immediately to leave the camp. 
 Though their guilty designs were unquestioned, they 
 
THE CHIVALRY OF THE WILDERNESS. 28 1 
 
 would be difficult of proof. The grateful merchants 
 offered Kit Carson a large sum of money for his 
 heroic and successful efforts to save their lives. He 
 replied : 
 
 " It is a sufficient reward for me to have been in 
 strumental in saving the lives of two worthy citizens. 
 I can not think of receiving one cent of money/' 
 
 They all met that night gratefully and joyously, 
 around their camp fires. With the exception of the 
 guilty wretches who had been plotting murder, all 
 were very happy. The emotions excited were too 
 deep to allow of jollity. Indeed Kit Carson was 
 never a jolly man. He had no taste for revelry. As 
 in every man of deep reflection and true greatness, 
 the pensive element predominated in his character. 
 
 It was a brilliant night, calm, serene and starlight. 
 As Carson lay awake at midnight, thanking God for 
 what he had been enabled to accomplish, it must 
 have been an hour of sublimity to him, such as is 
 rarely experienced on earth. While most of the nu 
 merous party were sleeping soundly around him, 
 nothing could be heard but the howling of packs of 
 prairie wolves, and the heavy tread of the guards, as 
 they walked their beats. 
 
 We can not doubt that Mr. Carson was in heart 
 thoroughly a religious man. It is the element of re 
 ligion alone, which, in the midst of such temptations, 
 
282 
 
 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 could form a character of such remarkable purity. 
 He was too reticent to speak of his own feelings and 
 there were but few, if any, of the thoughtless men 
 around him who could appreciate his Christian emo 
 tions. 
 
 Messrs. Brevoort and Weatherhead made a 
 graceful acknowledgment of their obligations to Mr. 
 Carson for the invaluable service which he had ren 
 dered them. In the following spring they present 
 ed him with a pair of magnificent revolvers. Upon 
 the silver mountings there was engraved a brief nar 
 rative of his heroic achievement. Mr. Carson on his 
 return to Razado, found pleasant and constant em 
 ployment in carrying on his farm and providing 
 many hungry mouths with game. His hospitable 
 home was ever crowded with guests. 
 
 Early in the summer he set out with Mr. Max 
 well and a large train of wagons, for the States. 
 Leaving his animals and wagons on the Kansas 
 frontier, he descended the river to St. Louis in a 
 steamboat. Here he purchased a large stock of 
 goods, and reascending the river, transferred them 
 to his caravan. He then started with his long train 
 to return to New Mexico. His route was through 
 the rich pasturage to be found on the way to Bent's 
 Fort. Just before reaching the ford of the Arkansas, 
 he fell in with an encampment of Cheyenne warriors. 
 
THE CHIVALRY OF THE WILDERNESS. 283 
 
 They were greatly and justly exasperated by an out 
 rage inflicted upon them by a preceding party of 
 United States recruits. Kit Carson, though uncon 
 scious of this, perceived at once that something was 
 wrong. These Indians had been very friendly. 
 
 With his customary caution, he ordered the cara 
 van to press forward as rapidly as possible, through 
 the country of the Cheyennes, while every man was 
 ordered to be constantly on guard. Having ad 
 vanced about twenty miles, he saw that the savage 
 warriors were rapidly gathering around him, in ever 
 increasing numbers. Throwing up an intrenched 
 camp, he rode out to within hailing distance of an 
 advanced party of the warriors, and proposed a 
 council. His friendly words in some degree concil 
 iated them. They were soon seated in a circle, and 
 they smoked the pipe of peace. Carson had ad 
 dressed them through an interpreter. They did not 
 suppose that the pale face could understand their 
 language. But he did understand it perfectly. 
 
 The savages began to talk very loudly among 
 themselves. Carson, understanding every word they 
 said, listened eagerly, hoping to ascertain the cause 
 of their unexpected hostility. Openly, but as they 
 thought secretly, they discussed their plot, treacher 
 ously to 'disarm the whites of their suspicion, and 
 then to arise and massacre them all. With true In- 
 
284 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 dian cunning, they ha4 arranged matters so that it 
 would appear that the Sioux Indians, had perpetrated 
 the massacre, and that the white man's vengeance 
 might fall upon them. 
 
 Suddenly Carson sprang to his feet, ordered every 
 man who attended him, to be ready for immediate 
 action. Then to the astonishment of the savages, in 
 pure Cheyenne, he said to them : 
 
 "You see that I understand all that you have 
 said. Why do you wish for my scalp? I have ever 
 been the friend of your tribe. No one of you has 
 ever been injured by me. There are some here 
 whom I have met in past years. If they will turn to 
 their memories, they will recall the former hunter 
 of Bent's Fort. I have eaten and drank with them. 
 And now without any provocation from me, you 
 treacherously seek my life. If you do not instantly 
 leave this place, I will order you to be shot." 
 
 The warriors disappeared on swift feet. Kit Car 
 son's change of dress had so altered his appearance, 
 that they did not at first recognize him. But they 
 had not forgotten his reputation. Though they had 
 counted his armed teamsters, and saw that they num 
 bered fifteen, the Indian warriors held a grand coun 
 cil, and probably the decision was to withdraw with 
 out an attack. Perhaps they remembered their 
 former friendship for Carson ; perhaps they were in- 
 
THE CHIVALRY OF THE WILDERNESS. 285 
 
 timidated by his military prowess. At all events, he 
 was not again molested. The remainder of the 
 journey to Razado was accomplished in safety, 
 though the vigilance of this distinguished leader 
 was not intermitted in the slightest degree for a 
 single mile of the way. 
 
CHAPTER XV. 
 Recollections of Mountain Life. 
 
 Character of the Native Indian. The Caravan. Interesting Incident. 
 Effects of Cholera. Commission of Joe Smith. Snow on the 
 Mountains. Government Appointment. Adventure with three 
 Bears. Journey to Los Angelos. Mt St. Bernardino. The 
 Spring. Character of Men. Insubordination Quelled. Suffer 
 ing for Water and Relief. A Talk with Indians. 
 
 IN writing the life of Kit Carson, my object has 
 been, as has been mentioned, not merely to record 
 those remarkable traits of character which Mr. Car 
 son developed, but also to portray and perpetuate 
 the great features of that wild and wondrous moun 
 taineer life, which the discovery of this continent 
 ushered in, but even the memory of which is now 
 rapidly passing to oblivion. 
 
 It so happens that I have an intimate friend 
 who passed ten years of his early manliood roving 
 through these solitudes. I have spent many an 
 evening hour, listening to his recital of the adven 
 tures which he encountered there. This friend, Mr. 
 William E. Goodyear, is a man of unusual native 
 strength of mind, of marvellous powers of memory, 
 
RECOLLECTIONS OF MOUNTAIN LIFE. 287 
 
 and I repose implicit confidence in his veracity. At 
 my earnest solicitation, he has furnished me with 
 the following graphic narrative of the scenes which 
 he witnessed nearly a score of years ago, when these 
 regions were rarely visited save by the wild beast 
 and the Indian. 
 
 In the year 1852 I, then a young man, in all the 
 vigor of early youth, and of unusual health and 
 strength, when the wildest adventures were a pleas 
 ure, was led by peculiar circumstances to undertake 
 a trip across the continent. Our journey from Inde 
 pendence, Missouri, to Salt Lake was accomplished 
 without any incident worthy of especial record. 
 Along the route we were accompanied by almost an 
 incessant caravan of wagons, horsemen and footmen, 
 some bound to the Mormon city, some flocking to 
 the recently discovered gold mines in California, and 
 some on hunting and trapping excursions, to the 
 vast prairies and majestic valleys of the far west. 
 Here we met several men whose names had attained 
 much renown among the pioneers of the wilderness, 
 such men as James Bridger, Tim Goodell, Jim Beck- 
 with, chief of the Crow Indians, William Rogers, a 
 half breed, and Arkansas Sam 
 
 Our company numbered but four, consisting of my 
 uncle, then and now resident in California, who was 
 returning to his home, from a visit to the States ; 
 
288 
 
 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 myself, who was crossing the continent mainly for the 
 love of ad venture; another young man, and an In 
 dian boy, about sixteen years old, called Joe. The 
 boy had been brought from the Indian country, and 
 was about as wild and ungovernable a spirit as ever 
 chased a buffalo or shouted the war-whoop. 
 
 My uncle had often during the previous twenty 
 years, crossed the mountains, on trapping expeditions 
 with an elder brother. In these adventures my 
 uncle, whom I was accompanying, had become quite 
 familiar with the peculiarities of the Indian, and had 
 become acquainted with many of the chiefs of the 
 different tribes. Neither he nor his brother had 
 even been afraid to enter the camp of the Indian ; 
 for they had never deceived nor defrauded him. 
 
 Let it be remembered that these excursions of 
 my uncle had taken place nearly forty years ago, 
 before unprincipled traders had carried whiskey into 
 the country and robbed the Indians in every possible 
 way. The native Indian seems to have been the 
 soul of honor. But now how changed ! contaminated 
 by vagabond white men. 
 
 Our company had about a dozen horses and 
 mules. We rode the horses and the well packed 
 mules carried our luggage. We had also a light 
 two horse spring wagon. Behold us, then, three of 
 us, mounted in half Spanish saddles, with our rifles 
 
RECOLLECTIONS OF MOUNTAIN LIFE. 289 
 
 in front lying crossways between our persons and 
 the horn of the saddle. The never-failing revolver 
 and hunting knife were in our belts. The young 
 man drove the wagon which contained many of our 
 most valuable effects. 
 
 It was without much thought that we set out on 
 the emigrant trail to California, a distance of about 
 three thousand miles. As on our journey we were 
 one day descending the hills into the valley of the 
 Platte river, near a place called Ash Hollow, our 
 keen-eyed Indian boy exclaimed, " I see Indians." 
 Looking around with a rapid glance and seeing 
 nothing, I said, " I think not." " Yes," he replied, 
 " there certainly are Indians," and pointed to some 
 specks far away before us, on the meadows which 
 skirted the stream. 
 
 Sure enough, there was a band of Indians quite 
 distinctly discernible. My uncle looked at them for 
 a moment quite intently and in silence. Then he 
 said : 
 
 " Boys ! there is a band of Indians on the war 
 path. I wish you to obey my instructions exactly. 
 Do not stop your riding animals or the team. Keep 
 straight ahead, unless I tell you to halt. Do not 
 fire a shot unless I fire first. Then take deliberate 
 aim and kill as many as you can before you go 
 under." 
 
 '3 
 
2QO CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 " Go under!" this was the almost invariable 
 phrase, in the language of the mountains, for death. 
 I well remember my thoughts as we neared them. 
 It was indeed a formidable looking band of Aripa- 
 ho Indians, hideously painted, and looking more like 
 demons than men, armed for a fight. They were all 
 mounted, and each warrior carried in his hand a 
 long spear and a strong shield, impervious to arrows, 
 made of rawhide. Their bows and arrows were 
 slung to their backs. To my inexperienced eye 
 they seemed incarnate fiends. We had met several 
 small bands of Indians before, but no war party like 
 this. 
 
 When we had approached within a few hundred 
 yards of each other, my uncle said : 
 
 " Boys ! do not forget what I have told you." 
 
 Then pressing his large Mexican spurs into the 
 sides of his horse, he darts away towards them upon 
 the full gallop, at the same time shouting something 
 in the Indian language which I did not understand. 
 Their ranks opened and he rode into the centre and 
 instantly dismounted. There was the chief on a 
 splendid charger. He also alighted, and for a 
 moment both were concealed from our view, buried 
 as it were, within the ranks of the plumed warriors. 
 They were, as we afterwards ascertained, fraternally 
 embracing each other. Both remounted their horses, 
 
 i 
 
RECOLLECTIONS OF MOUNTAIN LIFE. 29! 
 
 the ranks opened again and they two, my uncle and 
 the chief, rode out upon the full run towards us as 
 our little cavalcade were steadily pressing forward on 
 the trail. 
 
 When they reached us, the chief held out his 
 hand to me, and said in broken English, " How do, 
 brother?'' I shook hands with him, returning the 
 salutation of " How do." My uncle then turning to 
 me said, " Have you plenty of tobacco with, you ? " 
 " O yes," I replied rather tremblingly, for I was ill 
 at ease. " You can have it all if you want it.'' " I 
 don't want it all," uncle replied. " Give me one 
 plug." I gave it to him and he handed it to the 
 chief. 
 
 The war party was directly on the trail. Four 
 hundred mounted warriors occupy much space, 
 composing a formidable looking band. Following 
 the directions which had been given us, we continued 
 on the move. The chief waved a signal to his men, 
 to which they promptly responded, opening their 
 ranks and filing to the right and to the left. We 
 passed on through this living wall bristling with 
 spears, meeting with an occasional greeting of " How 
 do." Having passed through the long lines of the 
 band my uncle said to me, " Keep straight on till 
 night. I will then rejoin you. I am going to have 
 a big smoke with the chief." 
 
2Q2 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 With alacrity we obeyed this mandate, glad 
 enough to leave such customers behind us. I con 
 fess that I was half frightened to death, and feared I 
 should never see my uncle again. In the evening 
 he joined us and laughed very heartily at me for 
 wishing, in my trepidation, to give the chief all my 
 tobacco. 
 
 In after life, in my intercourse with the Indians, I 
 got bravely over being scared by any sights or 
 sounds emanating from them. We pressed on with 
 out molestation to Salt Lake, passing continually the 
 newly made graves of the dead. The cholera had 
 broken out with awful fatality, along the whole line 
 of the emigrants' march, consigning thousands to 
 burial in the wilderness. 
 
 We reached the Great Salt Lake, the home of 
 the Mormons, in safety. Here we remained for 
 nearly a month. I called on Brigham Young, and 
 also on the old patriarch Joe Smith. From the lat 
 ter I received a commisson, or power of attorney, 
 for the consideration of two dollars, authorizing me 
 to heal the sick, to raise the dead, and to speak all 
 languages. Perhaps my want of faith left me as 
 powerless as other men, notwithstanding my commis 
 sion. We spent our time here in strolling around 
 the city, visiting the tabernacle, bathing and fishing 
 in the river Jordan, which empties into the lake, and 
 
 
RECOLLECTIONS OF MOUNTAIN LIFE. 293 
 
 in making sundry purchases for the continuation of 
 our journey to the Pacific. 
 
 Again we started upon our journey. After weary 
 days of travel, without encountering any adventure 
 of special interest, we reached the vast-ridge of the 
 Sierra Nevada mountains. Up, up, and still up, the 
 trail led us over the gigantic cliffs. On the summit 
 we found snow hundreds of feet deep, and apparently 
 as hard as the rock which it surmounted. We 
 crossed the ridge by what is called the Carson route. 
 Descending the mountains on the western side, we 
 find ourselves in California, and pressing on through 
 Sacramento, to Benicia, are at our journey's end. 
 
 We left Independence on the third of June. It 
 is now the latter part of September. We have spent 
 almost four months on the road. And here let me 
 say, that had I given a description of the country, its 
 rivers, its mountains, its scenery, its abundance of 
 game, among the noblest of which, are the buffalo, 
 bears of different kinds, deer, antelope, mountain 
 sheep ; its numerous rivers abounding with a great 
 variety of fishes, had I endeavored to give a full 
 description of all these, it would have demanded a 
 volume rather than a chapter. 
 
 Here I was at Benicia, and winter was at hand. 
 I decided not to go to the mining districts until the 
 spring sun should return. Provisions commanded al- 
 
2Q4 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 most fabulous prices. Packers got a dollar a pound 
 for packing flour, sugar, rice and other things which 
 the miners must have. 
 
 But an unexpected opening presented itself to 
 me. Mr. Frederick Loring was about to set out on 
 a surveying tour in behalf of the government. I se 
 cured a position in the party as chain-man. 
 
 We set out for San Rafael, which is in Marin 
 county, on the coast of the Pacific, just north of San 
 Francisco. We had been out but five or six weeks, 
 when Mr. Loring's health began seriously to fail 
 him. One day he called me to him, and said : 
 
 " I wish you now to quit chaining and to carry 
 my instrument and to watch me, that you may learn 
 to use it yourself. I shall probably not be able to 
 finish this contract. I ought to be on my bed 
 now." 
 
 Very readily I fell in with this arrangement. 
 Having studied navigation while a boy at school, 
 which is somewhat similar to surveying, it did not 
 take me a great while to learn to adjust the instru 
 ment, or to take the variations at night, on the elon 
 gation of the north star. I will here remark in pass 
 ing, that Mr. Loring soon became so enfeebled that 
 he returned to San Francisco, where he died. 
 
 One day while surveying in the coast range, we 
 had descended a mountain, and upon a plain below 
 
RECOLLECTIONS OF MOUNTAIN LIFE. 2Q5 
 
 had found a dense chaparral or thicket of bushes, 
 so closely interwoven that we could not penetrate it 
 with our pack animals. We therefore sent the boys 
 down the plain, along the edge of the thickets, to find 
 some better place to go through. Mr. Loring, our 
 chain-man and I prepared to make a triangulation, in 
 order to get the distance from the point we were at, 
 to a white stone on our line of survey, which was on 
 the side of the opposite mountain and across the 
 chaparral. 
 
 Having finished the triangulation, Mr. Loring and 
 I endeavored to cross the chaparral by a direction 
 different from that which the main body of the party 
 was pursuing. Suddenly Mr. Loring dropped his 
 instrument and in a tone of terror exclaimed : 
 
 " Look at that bear.'' I looked as he pointed in 
 the direction of a large rock, and there were three 
 huge grizzly bears. Loring, being longer legged than 
 I, left me like a shot from a gun. I ran to a tree, 
 near by, from four to six feet in circumference, and 
 very speedily found myself perched among its 
 branches. I looked for the bears. One had not left 
 the spot where we discovered them. Another was 
 growling and snarling at the foot of the tree which I 
 had climbed. The other was going after Loring at 
 no very slow pace. 
 
 We had got through the chaparral and our party 
 8 
 
296 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 with the mules had also come across and were many 
 rods farther down the valley, coming up to meet us. 
 As Loring fled with the speed of an antelope, he met 
 the first animal, which happened to be the kitchen 
 mule. He was so called, because he had very large 
 open bags or panniers, into which we put all our 
 cooking utensils. Loring sprang upon the back of 
 the mule. At the same moment the animal caught 
 sight of the grizzly bear. Frantic with terror, he 
 turned and fled as mule never fled before. Down 
 went the mule on the back track along the edge of 
 the chaparral. Once in a while, as the bags flew 
 around, they would catch on the bushes, and tear a 
 hole. Soon the tin cups and plates began to fly, the 
 mule kicking at them with every jump, making such 
 a din as to set all the rest of the animals flying 
 through .the bushes, and down the trail in the wildest 
 imaginable stampede. The huge bear in mad pur 
 suit was rushing after them. 
 
 It was a sight I shall never forget. Loring on the 
 cook's mule hanging on with all his might. The tin 
 ware flying in all directions. All the boys as well as 
 your humble servant, up in the trees looking on. I 
 laughed so heartily at the ludicrous scene, that I was 
 in danger of falling, in which case the bear would 
 have torn me to pieces right quick. 
 
 But who is this coming towards me? He is an 
 
RECOLLECTIONS OF MOUNTAIN LIFE. 
 
 old hunter of our party who used to make shingles 
 in the Red-woods. He has had two sons killed by 
 bears. Now he has joined our party to provide us 
 with game. Deliberately, he walks up to within ten 
 feet of the bear who is growling at the foot of my 
 tree. Bruin turns on his new foe, and rising on his 
 hind feet, with appalling howlings, prepares for battle. 
 But in an instant the old man's rifle is at his 
 shoulder. His eye runs quickly through the sights, 
 an explosion follows, and the bear is dead. The 
 hunter knew well where to strike a vital point. 
 Satisfied that the monster was powerless, I came 
 down from the tree. 
 
 The other bear, apparently dismayed by the com 
 motion he had created, turned into the chaparral 
 and disappeared. It required all the rest of the day 
 to re-collect our party and to repair damages. 
 
 Let us now pass from these scenes to the spring 
 of the year 1854. Here we are then in San Fran 
 cisco, all ready to start on board the Sea Bird. " Cast 
 off the lines." " Aye, aye, sir." Off we go around 
 North Beach. You will see Point Boneta on the 
 north, and Point de los Lobos on the south. 
 Through the straits we go out at the Golden Gate. 
 Onward we glide past Farallones de los Frayles, and 
 here we are out on the broad Pacific. 
 
 After sailing about three hundred miles south we 
 
298 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 arrive at San Pedro. We go ashore at once and 
 secure seats in the stage for Ciudad de los Angelos, 
 which is situated about twenty-five miles from here 
 in a northerly direction. There is now, after the 
 lapse of twenty years, a railroad, instead of Banning's 
 stages, by which one can be transported to the City 
 of Angels. We shall be obliged to stay here for a 
 few c'ays, to prepare our outfit. Let us see what we 
 want. Mules and jacks, pack-saddles, saddles for 
 ourselves- to ride, in fact every thing pertaining to 
 camp-life. Here we can get almost any thing we 
 wish for man or beast. 
 
 Well then we will suppose that now we are ready 
 to start. Away we go towards San Bernardino. We 
 pass the finest of vineyards where thousands of gal 
 lons of wine are made. On, on we go, and at last, 
 after a ride of about seventy miles, we arrive at San 
 Bernardino. One of the first things which attracts 
 our attention is the mountain of the same name. It 
 rises seventeen thousand feet above the level of the 
 ocean, attaining an altitude two thousand feet above 
 that of Mont Blanc, the monarch of the Alps. 
 
 The inhabitants of the towns are, with few ex 
 ceptions, Mormons. It was from this place that we 
 started on a survey, commencing east of the coast 
 range of mountains, and extending our operations to 
 the extreme boundary line of California, on the east, 
 
RECOLLECTIONS OF MOUNTAIN LIFE. 299 
 
 The Colorado river was then the line which separated 
 California from New Mexico. 
 
 The party employed in this surveying tour con 
 sisted of about forty men. The first day we went as 
 far as the mouth of the Cahon Pass, by which we 
 were to penetrate through the coast range of which 
 I have spoken. At this spot we found a large farm, 
 which they call a ranche, where provisions can be 
 purchased, and also poor whiskey. We rested here 
 for the night, sleeping in the open air, and at an early 
 hour in the morning, sprung from our blankets ready 
 dressed. The cook speedily prepared our breakfast, 
 we ate like hungry men and then packed our mules 
 and jacks, and were on our way. Our pack animals 
 will carry from two to three hundred pounds with 
 out any trouble. 
 
 Nearly at the eastern end of the pass we came to 
 water. This I claim that I discovered, or at least 
 that my horse discovered it for me. It is called in 
 Spanish Guilliome Bobo, or " William I Drink." No 
 one would see the spring unless narrowly looking for 
 it. It trickles down the almost perpendicular side 
 of the mountain. We encamped at the spring, and 
 in the morning made an early start, as we had some 
 forty or fifty miles to go that day. But we had a 
 serious job to encounter before we could get out of 
 this defile. It is so steep at its eastern extremity, 
 
300 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 that we had to unpack and send up very small loads 
 at a time. In some places we had to use ropes, to 
 haul up our goods. 
 
 But after a while everything is ready for another 
 start. On, on we go, through a barren cactus coun 
 try, till we reach the Mohave river. The day is far 
 spent, we are all very weary, men as well as animals. 
 So, boys, off with the packs of provisions, and let 
 your mules go with their long hair ropes. Let one 
 of the men be sent to look out for the animals. This 
 was no sooner said than done. I was captain of my 
 men. A harder set could not be found, in any 
 prison in this or any other land. 
 
 My lieutenant, whose name was Texas, had but 
 one eye and he was covered with scars. But not 
 withstanding the company was a hard one, it was the 
 best I could get for my use. Almost all of them 
 had been in many a fight. Before they had been 
 with me three months, I have reason to believe 
 every one of them loved me, and I know that they 
 feared me. Only two instances of mutiny occurred 
 in over two years and a half. Both of these I will 
 here relate. 
 
 On one occasion I observed that some of the 
 jacks had been kicked severely. I said to my pack- 
 "master, " Mr. Williams, how is this? Those jacks 
 have been shamefully used. The skin is off and the 
 
RECOLLECTIONS OF MOUNTAIN LIFE. $01 
 
 wounds are bleeding. I, as you well know, hold 
 you personally responsible for every animal. Don't 
 let me ever see this again, sir." 
 
 As I turned to go from him, I heard him mutter 
 something. I at once, with my hand upon my re 
 volver, came back towards him and inquired, " what's 
 this you're saying, sir?" 
 
 He replied, " I kicked the jacks myself and I will 
 do it again if they bother me." 
 
 I walked to within perhaps ten paces of him and 
 said, " If I ever catch you at it, I will shoot you like 
 a dog." 
 
 " Two," he replied, " can play at that game," and 
 his hand neared the butt of his revolver. I jerked 
 out my pistol and fired at his arm. His pistol drop 
 ped to the ground. 
 
 " Don't shoot again, captain. I will do as you 
 wish in the future.'' 
 
 " All right," said I. " Let me see your* arm." 
 
 I had shot him through his wrist. I bound up 
 the wound as well as I could, and it soon healed. 
 He remained in my employ nearly four years after 
 that, and to my knowledge was never guilty of doing 
 me or my animals a wrong. 
 
 Another instance happened a long time after this. 
 I was getting short of provisions, and had got to do 
 just so much work within a certain time. So I 
 
302 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 resolved to run two instruments. As we were then 
 running sectional lines, I could take the variations at 
 night. So I fixed another instrument and gave it 
 into the hands of a young man by the name of Bid- 
 dleman. I assigned to him his part of the line then, 
 and set him at work within three miles of the camp. 
 Returning to camp about two o'clock in the after 
 noon, to do some traverse work around a small lake, 
 what was my astonishment, to see that Biddleman's 
 party was already in camp. Upon asking him what 
 it meant, he told me that upon running a random 
 line, he stopped to correct the error at the half mile 
 corner, and that his men on getting to the mile cor 
 ner, instead of coming back and reporting the error 
 as they should have done, started for camp. He, of 
 course, followed on, as he could not do anything 
 alone. 
 
 at once called his party of men, told them to 
 get 'heir chain and pins, put the stakes, pickaxe and 
 shovJ on the line animal, and follow me. This they 
 did. When we got to the corner where Biddleman 
 left off work, I set my instrument, gave them an 
 object to run by, and sent them off. They went and 
 returned to me. I then ran another mile north, set 
 my instrument and started them east again on ran 
 dom. They went and I followed them to the half 
 mile corner, to which place they returned. 
 
 
RECOLLECTIONS OF MOUNTAIN LIFE. 303 
 
 I said : " Boys, we will now go to camp. In 
 future whether with me or Biddleman, you will con 
 tinue at your work until you are directed to return." 
 
 Plad I allowed either of the above transactions 
 to have passed unpunished, I might as well have 
 started for the States, for all order would have been 
 at an end. 
 
 Sometimes we would see a small party of Indians 
 at a short distance from us. I would step to my 
 instrument, and turn the glass towards them. They 
 would at once commence to scamper, throw sand, 
 turn into all manner of shapes, lie down, roll over, 
 thinking no doubt it was a gun or something that 
 would destroy them. At one time, I attempted to 
 cross from the sink of the Mohave river to Provi 
 dence, some sixty miles, expecting to find water at 
 Washburn's well. This was a hole which I after 
 wards found dug down about ten feet in the white 
 sand that covers this desert. , On this sand not any 
 thing grows, but musquit bush, which bears a bean 
 that the Indians eat. 
 
 After travelling to within twelve miles of the 
 mountain, my animals and my men all gave out. 
 We did not have a drop of water, and my chart said 
 that there was none short of the mountain. I told the 
 boys that evening was coming on, and I would take 
 some leather bottles we had and go and get some 
 
304 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 water as quickly as I could. So just before dark, I 
 started with bottles enough to hold twenty quarts. 
 I had a trail to follow in the dark, not over a foot in 
 width. After what seemed to me the longest twelve 
 miles I ever travelled, I arrived at the mountain. 
 After following the ravine through the top, I found 
 the spring, drank heartily, filled my bottles, and 
 started on my return trip. I arrived at the place 
 where I had left my men, just as the day was break 
 ing. After giving them a good drink, I gave some 
 to each of the animals, any one of which would drink 
 from a canteen or bottle. 
 
 We then all immediately started on towards the 
 mountain, at which place we finally arrived. When 
 within about fifty yards of the spring, I saw a small 
 party of Indians camped just above it. One of them, 
 the chief, stepped forward, and in Spanish ordered 
 me to stop. And here let me say, that almost all of 
 the Indians, especially their chiefs, can talk Spanish. 
 When he ordered me to stop, I burst out into a 
 laugh, and asked him " what for.'' My boys in the 
 meantime were preparing for a fight. I told them 
 to put up their weapons, as I did not wish to com 
 mence fighting the Indians here, as there were lots 
 of them, and we had a good deal of work to do in 
 that vicinity. Though we might kill or capture all of 
 this party, a larger band might attack us in the 
 
RECOLLECTIONS OF MOUNTAIN LIFE. 305 
 
 future. So I told the boys that if they would keep 
 still, I would bother the Indians a little, and then let 
 them go. This was agreed to. Upon my asking 
 the chief what for, he said, 
 
 "This water belongs to the Indians.' 5 
 
 I replied, " Do you call yourselves Indians ? You 
 are nothing but squaws and papooses. I was here 
 last night, and got water under your very noses, and 
 you did not know it." 
 
 " The white captain," the chief replied, " talks 
 with two tongues. He lies." 
 
 " You are the one that lies," I rejoined. " Has 
 the chief lost his eyesight ? Is he so old that he can 
 not see the white man's trail? Let him come 
 forward and meet his white brother alone, and he 
 will show him his trail." 
 
 He at once advanced as I did myself. We shook 
 hands. I pointed out my last night's trail. He saw it 
 at once, and turning to his companions, said to them, 
 
 " The white captain has told the truth." 
 
 So we shook hands all around. I gave them 
 some hard bread, also some bacon, and we had a 
 good time generally all day resting at this spring. 
 At nightfall they all departed, as silently as shadows, 
 leaving us in full possession of the spring of water. 
 
CHAPTER XVI. 
 Recollections of Mountain Life. 
 
 Position of The Spring. The Cache. Kit Carson's Character and 
 Appearance. Cool Bravery of a Mountain Trapper. Untamed 
 Character of Many Hunters. The Surveyor's Camp in an In 
 dian Territory. Terrors from Indians. Joe Walker. A Moun 
 tain Man. Soda Lake. Optical Illusion. Camp on Beaver 
 Lake. The Piyute Chief. Conversation with Him. An alarm. 
 A Battle. 
 
 MR. GOODYEAR in his interesting narrative contin 
 ues : Here let me speak a word or two about water. 
 The springs, as a general thing, are found near the 
 summit of the mountains. In some cases I have had 
 to pack the water a distance of forty miles, for 
 months at a time. From a lake where it bubbled up 
 from the bottom as warm as you would like to hold 
 your hand in, the process of evaporation in the leath 
 er bottles rendered it soon, almost as cool as ice 
 water. 
 
 Let us now return to our first camping-ground on 
 the Mohave river. Here I cached or buried for con 
 cealment, some of my provisions, to relieve the ani 
 mals of their heavy load. If Mr. Indian does not 
 
RECOLLECTIONS OF MOUNTAIN LIFE. 307 
 
 find the cache, it will be all right on our return. I 
 will explain how we do it. First, then, we send out 
 two or three men as scouts, to see if they can dis 
 cover any signs of Indians, such as footprints or trail, 
 or smoke, or anything of that kind. Men that are 
 used to it, can distinguish between the footprints of 
 an Indian and a white man. They can also, at a 
 long distance off, tell an Indian fire from a white 
 man's. 
 
 Any mountaineer can tell by the trail, how long 
 since persons have passed, the number of the party, 
 as well as the number of animals. An Indian, when 
 he makes a fire, uses half a dozen little sticks as big 
 as your thumb, and very dry, and all the smoke the 
 fire makes, will ascend straight up in one steady col 
 umn. The white man will use, if he is a novice, the 
 dry to kindle with, and then he will chuck on the 
 wet wood, which will cause a great smoke. 
 
 But to return to my cache. I keep out my scouts 
 all the time we are to work. " Boys, get your shov 
 els, and dig a hole about four or five feet deep, by 
 ten feet in length. Put a lot of wood or branches in 
 the bottom. In with the provisions, canvas over 
 the top, or more bushes. Cover over all with earth. 
 Then take ashes from previous fires, and scatter over 
 the top ; then build fires over them, so as to dry the 
 sand. 
 
308 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 It was here in this camp that I first met Chris 
 topher Carson, or Kit Carson, as he was called. From 
 his wide acquaintance with the Indians on both sides 
 of the Rocky mountains ; from his personal knowl 
 edge of the many tribes of the red men; from his* 
 bravery under all circumstances in which he has 
 been placed, Kit Carson stands at the head of all the 
 hardy pioneers of the Great West. It is now more 
 than twenty years, since I first met him on the Mo- 
 have river, about eighty miles from San Bernar 
 dino. 
 
 He was accompanied by an American and half a 
 dozen Mexicans or half breeds, who were assisting 
 him to drive some sheep. As he rode up, he saluted 
 me with Buenos dias Senor, which means 'good 
 day sir.' I answered the salutation in the same lan 
 guage, at the same time clasping his hand as he dis 
 mounted, and introduced himself as Kit Carson. He 
 is about five feet eight or nine inches high, and 
 weighs about one hundred and sixty pounds. He 
 had a round, jolly looking face, a dark piercing eye, 
 that looked right through you, and seemed to read 
 your every thought. His long brown hair hung 
 around his shoulders. His dress consisted of buck 
 skin coat and pants, with leggins coming up to his 
 knees, and in which he carried, in true Mexican style, 
 his Machete or long two-edged knife 
 
RECOLLECTIONS OF MOUNTAIN LIFE. 309 
 
 His coat and pants were heavily fringed, in which 
 the quills of the porcupine bore a conspicuous part. 
 A cap of fox-skin surmounted his head, with four 
 coon's tails sticking out around the edges of the cap. 
 On his feet were moccasins. His never-failing rifle 
 was strapped to his back, as also a powder-horn and 
 bullet-pouch, which latter contained bullets, lead 
 and moulds. Around his waist there was a heavy 
 belt, which was fastened by a large, highly polished 
 silver buckle. Attached to the belt, were a pair of 
 revolvers and a hunting knife. 
 
 The noble steed by which he stood, was gayly 
 caparisoned, in true Mexican style. In many places 
 his trappings were covered with gold and silver. His 
 bridle also glittered with silver ornaments and 
 buckles. 
 
 Thus Kit Carson stands before you, the beau 
 ideal of a. mountain man, or trapper, always ready to 
 help every one in distress, or to avenge an injury, 
 and no matter what the odds, would fight to the 
 death, believing that if he went under, fighting for 
 his friends, it was all right. 
 
 Kit Carson was a host in himself. It is my be 
 lief that he was feared, singly and alone, more than 
 any other trapper in the Indian country. For my 
 own part, in an Indian fight, many a one of which I 
 have been in, I would rather have Carson than 
 
310 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 twenty common men. His name struck terror to an 
 Indian. And if it were known that Kit, with a com 
 panion or two, was on their trail, they would flee 
 faster than they would from a whole regiment of 
 Uncle Sam's men. If Kit was after them, they 
 might as well commence their death song at once, 
 and prepare for their happy hunting grounds, for he 
 would surely catch them any where this side of that. 
 
 But I must not forget the names of other brave 
 trappers, with whom I became acquainted, and who 
 often shared with me my camp in the Indian country, 
 such as Peg Leg Smith, Joseph Walker, and a host 
 of other brave men. I will here tell you how Smith 
 got his name of Peg Leg. 
 
 Thirty years ago, he and some of his companions 
 were trapping in the Indian country. They had 
 made a hut in a ravine. For a-camping place, it was 
 so well concealed, that for a long time they were un 
 disturbed. One day, however, Smith and three or 
 four of his party were discovered by Indians, about 
 two miles from camp. A fight took place, in which 
 Smith was struck by a rifle ball, that shattered the 
 bone below the knee. He fell, and during the 
 melee managed to crawl into a thicket, unobserved 
 either by the Indians or his own men. Here, after 
 tying up his own leg with buckskin thongs which he 
 cut from his hunting shirt, he very coolly and delib- 
 
RECOLLECTIONS OF MOUNTAIN LIFE. 3! I 
 
 erately went to work with his own knife, and cut his 
 own leg off. After this he crawled to his camp, 
 where he found his companions who supposed he 
 was dead, and who were expecting the next morn 
 ing to go and find his body. 
 
 This is said to be a true story, and who of thoes 
 who were in California twenty years ago, do not re 
 member Peg Leg Smith and his horse John. He 
 would come into San Francisco, or Benicia, riding 
 like the wind, his long grey hair floating about his 
 shoulders, and then that never-to-be-forgotten war- 
 whoop ! And now here in Benicia, he dashes up to 
 the Vallejos hotel. 
 
 "John," he says to his horse, "down sir, quick. 
 I'm mighty dry." Down goes the horse ; old Peg 
 gets off. " Boys, how are you. I say there," address 
 ing the bar tender, " make me a whiskey toddy.'' 
 
 This is done at once. No pay is expected. No 
 one expects Peg Leg Smith to pay for any thing, 
 where he is known. 
 
 Most of these men possessed many noble im 
 pulses, and would prove true to the death for their 
 friends. But they considered the killing of an In 
 dian as justifiable, whenever they met with one. 
 
 I was at this time at work under Colonel Jack 
 Hayes, of Texas. Every one familiar with the his 
 tory of that State in its infancy, will remember him 
 
312 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 as an old Indian fighter. He was one who never 
 turned his back on friend or foe. At this time, he 
 was United States Surveyor-General of California. 
 
 Some may like to know how we camp in an In 
 dian country. I will give a brief description of our 
 camp. First our pack saddles are placed in a circle, 
 enclosing a pretty large space. Our provisions and 
 goods are then stored inside of the circle. Our ani 
 mals are picketed at our heads, the pack saddles serv 
 ing as pillows, and our feet being towards the centre 
 of the circle. When there is danger to be appre 
 hended, the animals are placed within the circle. 
 But ordinarily, they graze to the extent of their 
 picket ropes upon the rich grass outside. Generally 
 inside the circle there is a rousing fire. Those of us 
 who are not on guard, lie down in our blankets, feet 
 towards the fire. Our rifles are placed in the hollow 
 of the left arm ; our revolvers at our back, ready for 
 instant use. The sky is our covering, the earth our 
 support. The guard patrols on the outside the cir 
 cle, outside the horses. We go to sleep to dream of 
 home and friends, and often to be awakened by the 
 quick sharp bark of the cayote, the howling of the 
 grey wolf, or what is far worse, the almost infernal 
 war-whoop of the Indian. 
 
 My orders to each man, in case of an attack, were 
 not to rise. The guard also, as they came inside the 
 
RECOLLECTIONS OF MOUNTAIN LIFE. 313 
 
 circle of pack saddles, were to throw themselves flat 
 on the ground. Those that were in their blankets 
 were to roll over on their stomachs, and then when 
 they saw an Indian to ' blaze away.' When we were 
 on the line and expected trouble, we would build a 
 fire and at dark, after supper, move away slowly for 
 one or two miles, and lie down without any fires, 
 and in this way cheat Mr. Indian. 
 
 Sometimes after working all day we were obliged 
 to fight for our lives all the latter part of the night ; 
 for this is the time which the Indian chooses for his 
 fighting, as a general rule. Notwithstanding these 
 apparent drawbacks, I must say that the life of a 
 mountain man or trapper, had ever indescribable 
 charms Yor me. 
 
 And now in conclusion, let me give you an 
 account of my last Indian fight, which happened in 
 the year 1859, on the Colorado river, near what is 
 now called Fort Mohave. At that time the Indians 
 in that region had seen but few white men, and they 
 had obtained but about half a dozen old guns. I, 
 having surveyed a large portion of the country 
 previously, was chosen to act as guide to Colonel 
 Hoffman, who was to be escorted by fifty dragoons 
 from Fort Tejou, near Los Angelos, to Fort Yuma. 
 I, not then being acquainted with the country upon 
 the Colorado river down to the fort, the celebrated 
 
3*4 
 
 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 scout and trapper Joe Walker, was to go with us, to 
 act as guide after we had passed through that por 
 tion of the country with which I was acquainted. 
 
 Joe was a tall, large man, six feet high and weigh 
 ing over two hundred pounds. We slept together 
 in the same blankets, and many a night have I laid 
 awake, listening to his stories of fights with the 
 Indians and his hair-breadth escapes. 
 
 I shall pass rapidly over our journey across the 
 mountains and along the valley of the Mohave 
 river. Away we go across Soda Lake, which is dry, 
 and the surface of which as far northward as the eye 
 can extend, is covered with saleratus, white as the 
 driven snow. If you should see at a distance any 
 thing coming towards you, it would seem to ap 
 proach bottom upwards ; if an animal, the feet would 
 be in the air. 
 
 But on we go to the Granite springs, thence we 
 pass on to Piyute Creek. Slowly we ascend the 
 mountains from which we are to descend to the 
 Colorado river. Colonel Hoffman orders a halt, for 
 the smoke of Indian fires is seen ascending for miles 
 along the banks of the majestic river. Having got 
 all things prepared for either peace or war, we march 
 down into the valley. The Indians have un 
 doubtedly caught sight of us, for suddenly the 
 smoke disappears, all the fires apparently being ex- 
 
RECOLLECTIONS OF MOUNTAIN LIFE. 315 
 
 tinguished. We press on and soon reach the banks 
 of the river. 
 
 Following down the stream a mile or two, the 
 colonel searches for a good spot for a camping- 
 ground. As we are on the move, all mounted, well 
 armed and in military array, about thirty Indians 
 showed themselves. Moving cautiously at first, they 
 gradually became emboldened and ran along our 
 lines asking sundry questions. But we returned no 
 answers. Having selected the spot for camping- 
 ground, we lay out our camp in the form of a triangle. 
 On the one side is a bluff from six to ten feet high, 
 on the opposite side is a lake called Beaver Lake, 
 about five hundred yards wide. Here, upon the rich 
 grass which borders the lake, we tether our animals, 
 each one having the range of a rope about thirty 
 feet long. Here we considered them safe, as the 
 Indians would hardly attempt to attack them. It 
 was early in the month of January, 1859. 
 
 The third side of our triangle was a dry swamp, 
 covered with a dense growth of willow bushes. By 
 order of the colonel, these bushes were cut down 
 for a distance of sixty or eighty yards, so that no foe 
 could approach unseen. By four o'clock in the after 
 noon, the labor of establishing our camp was com 
 pleted. At some distance from us there was a large 
 and constantly increasing band of Indians, curiously 
 
3l6 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 watching our proceedings. They were all well 
 armed with their native weapons of lances, bows and 
 arrows. 
 
 As I was talking in one part of the camp with 
 Joe Walker, Colonel Hoffman approached us and 
 said, 
 
 " I want one of you to go and have a talk with 
 the Indians." 
 
 <c Very well sir,". I replied, and turning to Joe, 
 added, " will you go, or shall I ? '* 
 
 "You had better go, I guess," Joe replied. 
 
 I at once set out towards the Indians, and when 
 I arrived within speaking distance, hailed them in 
 Spanish, saying that I wished to see their chief and to 
 have a talk. I had left my rifle in the camp, but still 
 had my revolvers, and my knife. A young fellow, 
 tall, of splendid proportions, and one of the fiercest 
 looking Indians I ever saw, stepped out towards me, 
 with his bows and arrows. He was entirely naked 
 except his breach clout and a small plaid shawl thrown 
 over his shoulders. The ends were fastened down by 
 a piece of black tape. On this tape was strung a 
 pair of common shears, apparently as an ornament. 
 
 His color was like a new piece of copper, clear, 
 brilliant and exceedingly beautiful, like one of the 
 most majestic statues in shining bronze. " How do 
 you do ? " said he, in Spanish, as he approached me 
 
RECOLLECTIONS OF MOUNTAIN LIPE. 317 
 
 and held out his hand. I took his hand, returning 
 the salutation in the same language. 
 
 " Why do you come here ? '' he then promptly 
 said. " This is our country. We have nothing to 
 give you, for yourselves or your horses." 
 
 I gave him some tobacco in token of good will, 
 and then replied : " We have come to look at the 
 country. We do not wish you to give us anything. 
 If you are friendly, we shall give you presents. If 
 you attack us, we shall kill you." I then added : 
 " Some of the Indians of this country massacred a 
 party only a year ago. We shall have no more 
 killed by them. We shall build a fort here, to pro 
 tect our emigrants." 
 
 He replied a little angrily, " I am a Mohave. 
 My people own this country. I shall kill whoever I 
 please/' I had not any doubt that the shawl and 
 the shears came from the party they had massacred. 
 I pointed to the shawl and said : 
 
 " Where did you get that?'' 
 
 " I bought them," he replied, evidently annoyed. 
 " I bought them from the Piute Indians." 
 
 " My brother,'' I replied, " does not talk with a 
 straight tongue. It is forked, and his words are 
 crooked.'' He now added, with considerable 
 warmth : 
 
 " Go to your own camp, and prepare for war, I 
 
318 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 will not kill you. Your guns are short. I will take 
 your horses, and my men shall have a big feast 
 Your horses are fat and good. I have many men 
 many braves. You have but few. Go to your camp 
 and prepare for war.'' 
 
 " Indian," said I, " I go, but remember that our 
 short guns kill an Indian every time. We never 
 stop to load them.'' 
 
 I turned to go back to the camp. It is not eti 
 quette on such an occasion to back out, watching your 
 opponent, as though you were a coward and feared 
 an attack. I turned squarely round, with my back 
 to the Indian, when I saw the boys at the fort sud 
 denly raise their rifles with their muzzles directed to 
 wards us. At that moment, an arrow whizzed 
 through my buckskin shirt, just making a flesh wound 
 on the shoulder. I had slightly turned as the arrow 
 left the bow, otherwise I should probably have re 
 ceived my death-wound. Instantly, with my revol 
 ver already in my hand, I discharged in quick succes 
 sion, two shots at the savage, who was distant but a 
 few feet from me. The first bullet broke his arm ; 
 the second passed through his heart. I instantly 
 seized the shawl and shears and taking a little of his 
 hair to remember him by, started on a jump towards 
 our men, who were rushing towards me as fast as 
 possible. The arrows flew so thick and fast, that 
 
RECOLLECTIONS OF MOUNTAIN LIFE. 319 
 
 you would have thought it was hailing. Night soon 
 came on, and the Indians retired, probably to get re 
 cruits and to renew the battle in the morning with 
 the certainty of our destruction. We doubled our 
 guard for the night, during which I was awakened 
 but once. Joe Walker and I slept together. So 
 much used were we both to such little affairs, that I 
 do not believe we should have awakened at all, had 
 we not been called. 
 
 About twelve o'clock, a sentry came to where we 
 were sleeping, and touching me, said : 
 
 " Guide, I believe there is an Indian creeping up 
 behind a bush." Joe says, " Bill, get up and see 
 what it is. My eyes are not as good in the night as 
 yours." 
 
 So out of my blanket I got, grabbed my revolver 
 and went towards the bluff. The sentinel accom 
 panying me, pointed out the bush. I did not like to 
 fire into it, lest I should give a false alarm. I watch 
 ed it about ten minutes, and there was not the least 
 movement. " I guess," I said, " it is nothing but a 
 bush." But at that moment,.! perceived a very 
 slight agitation of the branches. It proved that 
 there must be somebody there. 
 
 " Oho ! Mr. Indian," I exclaimed, " at your old 
 tricks. I raised my revolver, took deliberate aim at 
 the very heart of the bush, and fired. Mr. Indian 
 
320 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 gave a hideous yell, and he had gone to his happy 
 hunting grounds. In the morning, we prepared to 
 leave. The Indians, as we afterwards learned, had 
 fifteen hundred warriors within a radius of five miles. 
 We numbered but about fifty men. But we had 
 rifles, they had only bows and arrows. The superi 
 ority of our arms raised us above all fear. 
 
 It was manifest however, with the earliest dawn, 
 from the large number of warriors assembled, and 
 the menacing cries they raised, that we must have a 
 fight. Colonel Hoffman detached every fourth man, 
 each one to hold four horses. The rest of the drag 
 oons were marshalled on the bluff, which as I have 
 mentioned, lined one side of our encampment. As 
 our rifles could throw a bullet more than twice as far 
 as any arrow could be thrown, the battle was rather 
 a source of amusement to us, than of terror. No In 
 dian could approach within arrow shot of our ranks, 
 without meeting certain death. It must be confessed 
 that we had no more compunctions in shooting an 
 Indian than in shooting a bear or a wolf. As they 
 dodged from tree to tree, assailing us with their im 
 potent arrows, our keen marksmen watched their 
 opportunity to strike them down with the invisible 
 death-dealing bullet. 
 
 Old Joe Walker practiced with our Hawkins' 
 rifles and revolvers, as he said, "just to keep his 
 
RECOLLECTIONS OF MOUNTAIN LIFE. 321 
 
 hand in." After an hour or two of this strange bat 
 tle, in which the Indians suffered fearful carnage, 
 and we encountered no loss, our foe in rage and de 
 spair retired. They left sixty of their number dead, 
 besides taking with them many wounded. We con 
 tinued our march without further molestation. 
 
 And now my friend, if you shall find anything in 
 teresting to you in this short sketch, I shall be satis 
 fied. I have written a great deal more than I ex 
 pected to write, when I began. And yet you have 
 but a very brief narrative of my adventures in Cali 
 fornia. 
 
 Yours truly, 
 
 (signed) WILLIAM E. GOODYEAR. 
 
CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 Frontier Desperadoes and Savage Ferocity. 
 
 Original Friendliness of the Indians. The River Pirates, Culbert and 
 Magilbray. Capture of Beausoliel. His Rescue by the Negro 
 Cacasotte. The Cave in the Rock. The Robber Mason. His 
 Assassination. Fate of the Assassins. Hostility of the Apaches. 
 Expedition of Lieutenant Davidson. Carson's Testimony in 
 his Favor. Flight of the Apaches. 
 
 WE have occasionally alluded to the desperadoes 
 who infested the frontiers. They were often much 
 more to be dreaded than the Indians. Indeed the 
 atrocities which these men perpetrated were the 
 main cause of the hostility of the savages. It is the 
 uncontradicted testimony that the natives were, at 
 first, disposed to be friendly. It was only when ex 
 asperated by unendurable wrongs that they appealed 
 to arms. When seemingly unprovoked assailants, 
 they were seeking revenge for some great outrage 
 which they had already experienced, from the de 
 praved vagabonds of the wilderness. 
 
 When St. Louis was under Spanish rule, there 
 had sprung up quite a brisk commerce between that 
 settlement and New Orleans. But the shores of the 
 
FRONTIER DESPERADOES SAVAGE FEROCITY. 323 
 
 majestic Mississippi were then infested by large 
 bands of robbers, watching to attack and plunder 
 boats, as they ascended and descended the stream. 
 There were two leaders of one of these large bands, by 
 the name of Culbert and Magilbray, who, occupying 
 commanding points, were carrying on a regular sys 
 tem of river piracy. 
 
 In the year 1739, a merchant by the name of 
 Beausoliel, had sailed from New Orleans, in a barge 
 richly freighted with goods, bound for St. Louis. 
 The robbers, pushing out from the shore in their 
 light canoes, and well armed, captured the boat with 
 out a struggle. They ordered the owner and the 
 crew into the little cabin and fastened them in. 
 
 There was a negro on board, a very remarkable 
 man, by the name of Cacasotte. Though carved in 
 ebony, he had great beauty of countenance, and 
 wonderful grace and strength of person. His native, 
 mental endowments were also of a high order. This 
 man, Cacasotte, as soon as the barge was taken, as 
 sumed to be greatly overjoyed. He danced, sang 
 and laughed, declaring that he would no longer live 
 in irksome slavery, but that he would join the band, 
 and enjoy liberty among the freebooters as their 
 attendant. 
 
 He was so jovial, and so attentive, in anticipating 
 aU their wants, that he won their confidence, and 
 
324 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 they all thought that he would be a valuable addi 
 tion to their company. He was thus permitted to 
 roam over the boat, unmolested and unwatched. 
 He formed a plan in all its details, for the recapture 
 of the boat, and the liberation of the crew. This 
 plan he succeeded in communicating to his master. 
 Mr. Beausoliel had his earthly all in the boat, and he 
 also expected that the pirates would take their lives. 
 He was therefore ready to adopt any plan, however 
 desperate, which gave any promise of success. We 
 have the following account given in " The Great 
 West," of the plan the negro formed and of its suc 
 cessful accomplishment. 
 
 " Cacasotte was cook, and it was agreed, between 
 him and his fellow conspirators, likewise too negroes, 
 that the signal for dinner should also be the signal 
 for action. When the hour arrived, the robbers as 
 sembled in considerable numbers on the deck, and 
 stationed themselves on the bow and stern and 
 along the sides, to prevent any rising of the men. 
 Cacasotte went among them with the most uncon 
 cerned demeanor imaginable. As soon as his com 
 rades had taken their assigned stations he placed 
 himself at the bow, near one of the robbers, a stout 
 herculean fellow, who was armed cap-a-pie. Caca 
 sotte gave the preconcerted signal, and immediately 
 the robber near him was struggling in the water. 
 
FRONTIER DESPERADOES SAVAGE FEROCITY. 325 
 
 With the speed of lightning he ran from one robber 
 to another, as they were sitting on the sides of the 
 boat and, in a few seconds' time, had thrown several 
 of them overboard. Then seizing an oar he struck 
 on the head those who had attempted to save them 
 selves by grappling the running boards. He then 
 shot with rifles, which had been dropped on deck, 
 those who attempted to swim away. In the mean 
 time his companions had done almost as much exe 
 cution as their leader.'' 
 
 Thus every one of these robbers found a watery 
 grave. Mr. Beausoleil had his property restored to 
 him, and pressing all sail went on his way rejoicing. . 
 
 A few years after this, about the year 1800, there 
 was a noted robber named Mason, who occupied 
 what is called, " The Cave in the Rock.'' This 
 renowned cavern was about twenty miles below the 
 Wabash river. Its entrance was but a few feet 
 above high water-mark, and opened into a very 
 remarkable chamber, two hundred feet long, eighty 
 feet wide and twenty-five feet high. Throughout 
 the whole central length the floor was quite level, 
 and on each side of this central aisle the sides rose 
 in tiers, like the seats of an amphitheatre. 
 
 This remarkable cave is connected with another 
 a little above. Here this Mason, a man of gigantic 
 stature, and of inferior education and intellect, had 
 
326 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 his concealed retreat, with two sons and several 
 other desperadoes, organized into a band of land 
 and water pirates. With great skill they prosecuted 
 their robberies, plundering boats as they descended 
 the river, but more often watching the return boats, 
 to rob the owners of the money which they had 
 received from the sale of their cargoes. 
 
 As the population of the Ohio valley increased, 
 Mason deemed it expedient to abandon the Cave in 
 the Rock and established himself with his gang, on 
 a well known and much frequented trail called the 
 Nashville and the Natches Trace. Here his gang 
 became the terror of the whole travelling community. 
 Sometimes, with his whole band decorated in the 
 most gaudy style of Indian warriors, with painted 
 faces, and making the forest resound with hideous yells, 
 they would swoop down upon a band of travellers, 
 inflicting outrages which savages could not exceed. 
 
 The atrocities of which this desperate gang were 
 guilty, at length became so frequent and daring, 
 accompanied with the most brutal murders, that 
 Governor Claiborne, of the Mississippi Territory, 
 offered a large reward for the capture of Mason dead 
 or alive. But the wilderness of prairie, forest and 
 mountain was very wide. Mason was familiar with 
 all its lurking places. For a long time he baffled all 
 the efforts of the authorities for his capture. 
 
FRONTIER DESPERADOES SAVAGE FEROCITY. 327 
 
 Treachery at last delivered him to the hands of 
 justice, or rather brought his ignominious career to a 
 close, inflicting upon him the violent and bloody 
 death which he had so often inflicted upon peaceful 
 and innocent merchants and travellers. Two of his 
 own band, tempted by the large reward which was 
 offered, and perhaps maddened by his tyranny, for 
 he ruled his gang with a rod of iron, conspired to 
 kill him. They watched their opportunity and one 
 day, as Mason was counting out the money he had 
 just gained by the robbery of some merchants, one 
 of them advancing from behind him, struck a hatchet 
 into his brain. The accomplices then cut off his 
 head, and carried it to the Governor at Washington, 
 which was the seat of the Territorial government. 
 They received their reward. They, however, received 
 another reward which they had not anticipated. 
 
 The proclamation of the governor had contained 
 no promise whatever of pardon to any of the gang. 
 These two men were immediately arrested, as rob 
 bers and murderers. They were tried, condemned 
 and hung. The robber band, thus deprived of its 
 leader and of two of its most desperate men, was 
 broken up and the wretches dispersed, to fill up the 
 measure of their iniquities in other regions. 
 
 But let us again cross the Rocky mountains, and 
 contemplate some of the strange scenes of violence 
 
328 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 and blood which were occurring there. We have 
 mentioned, that Kit Carson had been appointed, by 
 Government Indian Commissioner. This gave him 
 much satisfaction, for it was an office he felt perfectly 
 competent to fill. It also was an evidence that, at 
 last, his ability and services had been appreciated. 
 He at once accepted the appointment and entered 
 upon its duties. 
 
 He soon found the office no sinecure. The 
 Apaches began to commit depredations upon the 
 property of the settlers in the northern part of New 
 Mexico. Some of the citizens fell a sacrifice to their 
 barbarity. Mr. Carson at once sent Lieutenant Bell, 
 a United States officer, with quite a force of drag 
 oons, in pursuit of them. Although the red men 
 were quite willing to scalp peaceful and unarmed cit 
 izens, when they found their own ranks torn and 
 bleeding by the balls of their foes, and their chiefs 
 biting the dust in the death agony, then courage 
 gave place to terror, and flight became their re 
 source. 
 
 Not long after, news came to Mr. Carson that 
 another insurrection had appeared among the 
 Apaches. They were encamped about twenty miles 
 from Taos, upon quite a little ridge of mountains. 
 Mr. Carson proceeded unattended, to their lodges, 
 to meet the chiefs for a friendly talk. Having been 
 
FRONTIER DESPERADOES SAVAGE FEROCITY. 329 
 
 among them for so many years, he was well known 
 by nearly all the Rocky mountain tribes. Mr. Car 
 son, by his gentle words and his personal influence, 
 succeeded in pacifying them, and obtaining promises 
 of friendly relations. Hardly had he left their 
 lodges, when the treachery of the Indian became 
 manifested in new crimes and barbarities. Carson, 
 distrusting them, was not unprepared ; but with a 
 band of tried men inflicted such blows as were not 
 soon forgotten. 
 
 Lieutenant Davidson was not long after this sent 
 with a force of sixty United States Dragoons, to at 
 tack and dislodge an encampment in the mountains. 
 They were all men who understood Indian character 
 and warfare. Repairing to their fastnesses, they 
 found the Indians well posted, and expecting a visit 
 from the white men. Two hundred and more war 
 riors were on the highest crags of the hills. 
 
 The Indian loves a palaver or talk ; and the 
 Lieutenant sent one or two men to endeavor to 
 settle affairs thus amicably. But the savages, per 
 ceiving the inferior numbers of the white men, were 
 not inclined to be communicative, or to listen to 
 peaceful terms. Fight, blood, scalps, they thirsted 
 for, and those they would have. 
 
 Perceiving that no pacific measures would avail, 
 Lieutenant Davidson tried the effect of powder and 
 
330 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 lead. Many of the warriors fell dead, but the sava 
 ges were so many and so fierce, that the odds were 
 against the troops. In danger of being surrounded 
 and of thus sacrificing the whole of his little army, 
 Davidson decided to retreat down the mountains. 
 Being hotly pursued he was obliged to contest every 
 foot of his way. Trees, rocks, stumps were, as usual, 
 Indian breastworks. With their unerring aim, they 
 laid low twenty of the soldiers. Most of the other 
 forty of Davidson's command were more or less 
 severely wounded. Bravely the poor fellows fought, 
 though unsuccessfully. They however escaped to 
 Taos. 
 
 The people in Taos were much distressed, in 
 learning of this disastrous termination of the battle. 
 The next day they sent wagons to convey the re 
 mains of the fallen soldiers to a proper burial place. 
 On reaching the spot, they found the inhuman sav 
 ages had, as usual, mutilated the remains of every 
 one, and had stripped them of their clothing. Not 
 long after several Apaches appeared in the streets 
 of a small Mexican settlement, clad in the garments 
 of the slain dragoons, and afforded much amusement 
 to the people by their grotesque appearance, and 
 awkward endeavors to imitate military etiquette and 
 courtesy. 
 
 As is always the case in every military disaster 
 
FRONTIER DESPERADOES SAVAGE FEROCITY. 33! 
 
 Lieutenant Davidson's conduct has been assailed. 
 But the evidence of the men of his command was, 
 that his coolness in difficulty, his courage in danger, 
 and his judgment in the retreat entitle him to 
 credit, not censure. Mr. Carson does not justify 
 the unkind accusations against him, but says : 
 
 u I am intimately 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 appa 
 rently unmindful of his own life. It was, however, in 
 the retreat they say that he acted the most gallantly, 
 for when every thing was going badly with the sol 
 diers, he was as cool and collected as if under the 
 guns of his fort. The only anxiety he exhibited 
 was for the safety of his remaining men." 
 
 The Apaches left the region at once, wisely fear 
 ing retribution at the hand of their foes. Mr. Carson, 
 in travelling homeward from Santa Fe, saw no trace 
 of them. But their barbarities were not forgotten 
 and new and more vigorous measures were taken to 
 reduce them to submission. 
 
332 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 Colonel Cook was appointed commander of this 
 new expedition. Mr. Carson accompanied him. 
 Forty Mexicans and several Pueblo Indians joined 
 the party under the command of Mr. James H. 
 Quinn. Passing on in a northerly direction, they 
 came to a small river emptying into the Rio del 
 Norte. This was a wild mountain stream, swollen 
 into a foaming torrent, by melting snows and re 
 cent rains. But it must be crossed. It was perilous, 
 for the bed was rocky and the current rapid. 
 
 Carson took the lead, piloting over party after 
 party in safety. Arriving on the shore, they found a 
 bold perpendicular bluff several hundred feet high 
 confronting them. Pursuing a zigzag trail around 
 the eminence, the top was at last reached, and they 
 emerged into a rough country, broken by ravines 
 and hills. Passing a day at a small Mexican village, 
 they set off, the next morning, in search of the 
 Apaches. Carson's keen, quick eye caught the trail, 
 and rapidly they pursued their way for a couple of 
 days, when they overtook the Indians, leisurely 
 resting in one of their small villages. The horses of 
 the savages were fresh, and remembering the death- 
 dealing rifle of the white man, most of the Indians 
 saved themselves by flight. The steeds of the sol 
 diers were too weary for pursuit. Yet many Indian 
 warriors were struck down by the bullets of their pur- 
 
FRONTIER DESPERADOES SAVAGE FEROCITY. 333 
 
 suers, and the horses and camp furniture of the sav 
 ages, such as it was, fell into the hands of Colonel 
 Cook's party. Mr. Carson describing these events 
 says : 
 
 " To Captain Sykes, who commanded the in 
 fantry, is due the greatest amount of praise ,for the 
 part he acted in our adventures. When his men 
 were almost broken down with sore feet, long and 
 difficult marches, want of provisions, the coldness of 
 the weather, and with their clothing nearly worn out, 
 and when they were on the point of giving up in 
 despair, they were prevented from so doing by wit 
 nessing 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 re 
 lieved them from their sufferings. 
 
 " Although this officer had a riding animal at his 
 disposal, yet never for once did he mount him ; but 
 instead lent the horse to some deserving soldier who 
 was on the point of succumbing to overwork. 
 When the Indian village was discovered, he cheered 
 his men from a limping walk into a sort of run, and 
 dashing through a swollen mountain stream, which 
 was nearly up to their armpits, and full of floating 
 ice, he was, with his company, the foremost in the at 
 tack/' 
 
334 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 Night put a stop to the pursuit. The next 
 morning, at an early hour, Colonel Cook's dragoons 
 were again in motion, following, under the guidance 
 of Mr. Carson, the fresh trail of the routed Indians. 
 On and still on they pressed for many weary leagues, 
 through valleys and over snow-clad mountains, until 
 they found that it was impossible to overtake the red 
 men. The sagacious Indians broke up their party 
 into small squads of two and three and scattered in 
 all directions. To continue the pursuit would be 
 like chasing "a flea upon the mountains." 
 
 The Indians had manifested a great deal, not of 
 cunning only, but of intelligence in their flight. It 
 was their manifest object to lead their pursuers 
 through the most difficult paths, that both men and 
 horses might be worn out by the ruggedness of the 
 way. Very often they would pursue a route so cir 
 cuitous, through wild gorges and over mountain tor 
 rents, that Colonel Cook would often find himself 
 bivouacking at night, but a short distance from the 
 spot which he had left in the morning. The Indians 
 were perfectly familiar with the country and could 
 travel with much greater ease than could the white 
 men. 
 
 Colonel Cook, finding that nothing could be ac 
 complished by the further continuance of the pur 
 suit, turned back and sought a refuge for his sol- 
 
FRONTIER DESPERADOES SAVAGE FEROCITY, 335 
 
 diers from the toils and hardships of their campaign, 
 in the little Mexican town of Abiguire, about sixty 
 miles northwest from Sante Fe, on a tributary of the 
 Rio del Norte. 
 
 On his march back, Colonel Cook had encounter 
 ed and captured an Indian warrior, whom he sup 
 posed to be one of the hostile Apaches. The Indian 
 was deprived of his horse and arms, and treat 
 ed as a captive. He made his escape. Afterwards 
 it was learned that he belonged to the friendly Utah 
 tribe. Colonel Cook, regretting the mistake, and 
 fearing that it might induce the Utahs to join the 
 Apaches, very wisely decided to do his duty, and 
 make an apology and reparation. 
 
 Kit Carson was, of course, employed as the am 
 bassador of peace. He sent an Indian runner to the 
 principal village of the Utahs, with the request that 
 their chief would hold a council with him. They all 
 knew him, loved him, and familiarly called him 
 " Father Kit." 
 
 The council met, Mr. Carson explained the mis 
 take and expressed the deepest regret, that through 
 ignorance, one of their friendly braves had been cap 
 tured, and treated like an enemy. He assured 
 them of his readiness to make ample reparation for 
 the wrong. 
 
 " My countrymen,'' he said, "do not wish to do 
 
336 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 you any injury. They hope that you will overlook 
 this accident. They do not ask this through fear. 
 The warriors of the Utah are but a handful, when 
 compared with those of their Great Father. But 
 they wish to live with you as brothers. The country 
 is large enough for both." 
 
 The Indians seemed ever ready to listen to rea 
 son. They were satisfied with the explanation, and 
 declared that their hearts were no longer inimical to 
 their pale face brothers. Thus another Indian war 
 was averted. Had the Indians always been treated 
 with this spirit of justice and conciliation, humanity 
 would have been saved from innumerable woes. 
 
CHAPTER XVIII. 
 The Last Days of Kit Carson. 
 
 The Hunting Party. Profits of Sheep Raising. Governmental Ap 
 pointment. Carson's Talk with the Apaches. His Home in 
 Taos. His Character. Death of Christopher Carson. 
 
 WE left Mr. Carson at his farm in Razado. Af 
 ter a short time he organized a pleasure hunting- 
 party of eighteen of his most highly esteemed com 
 panions of former years. It was unanimously voted 
 that the excursion should not be one of boy's play 
 but of man's. It was Carson's last trapping excur 
 sion. Each trapper felt that he was bidding fare 
 well to the streams and valleys, where in past years, 
 he had encountered so many exciting adventures. 
 
 "The boldest and one of the longest 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 hunt 
 ing ground by itself. Onward, over the wild and 
 broad plains, this band of stalwart men, brave and 
 kindred spirits, dashed. They soon put several miles 
 
338 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 between them and the comfortable firesides of Ra- 
 zado. 
 
 " In a short time the well remembered waters of 
 the South Platte were descried. Their practiced 
 eyes soon discovered the oft noted " signs of the 
 beaver." The beaver had increased in great num 
 bers. The party continued working down this 
 stream, through the plains of Laramie to the New 
 Park ; and thence on to the Old Park. They trap 
 ped a large number of their old streams, until finally 
 the- expedition was terminated on the Arkansas 
 river. The hunt proved very successful. With a 
 large stock of furs, they returned in safety to Raza- 
 do, via the Raton mountains, which are spurs of the 
 great Rocky chain." 
 
 This expedition occupied several months. Mr. 
 Carson now devoted himself assiduously to farming, 
 and especially to raising flocks and herds. In Au 
 gust, 1853, he drove, aided by many well armed at 
 tendants, a flock of six thousand five hundred sheep 
 to California, where he sold them for five dollars and 
 fifty cents a head. His knowledge of the country 
 was such, that he was enabled to follow a route 
 which gave them good pasturage all the way. 
 
 At San Francisco, Kit Carson found himself an 
 object of universal attention. His renown had pre 
 ceded him. The steamboats gave him a free pass. 
 
THE LAST DAYS OF KIT CARSON. 339 
 
 All places of amusement were open to him. Where- 
 ever he went he was pointed out as the man to 
 whom California was under the greatest obligations. 
 Still he retained his modesty and integrity unsul 
 lied. Soon after his return to Razado, he received 
 the unexpected and very gratifying intelligence, that 
 he had been appointed by the United States Gov 
 ernment, Indian Agent. 
 
 The duties of this difficult and responsible office 
 he performed with remarkable wisdom and success. 
 Whenever his counsel was followed it, was attended 
 with the desired results. Whenever it was rejected 
 disaster was sure to ensue. His knowledge of In 
 dian customs was such, that more than once he pre 
 sented himself entirely alone at the council fire of 
 exasperated warriors, and urged upon them peace. 
 On one of these occasions he learned that an angry 
 band of Apache warriors were encamped among the 
 mountains, but about fifty miles from his home. He 
 knew the chiefs. He was familiar with their lan 
 guage. Though he knew that they were in a state 
 of great exasperation, and that they were preparing 
 to enter upon the war-path, he mounted his horse 
 and rode thither, without even an attendant. The 
 chiefs received him with sullen looks ; but they lis 
 tened patiently to his speech. 
 
 " The course you are pursuing,' 5 said he, " will lead 
 
340 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 to your inevitable and total destruction. Yoi r tribe 
 will be exterminated. Your Great Father has thou 
 sands upon thousands of soldiers. He can easily re 
 place those who fall in battle. It is not so with you. 
 When your warriors are killed, you have no others to 
 place in their moccasins. You must wait for the 
 children to grow up. 
 
 " Your Great Father loves his children. He 
 wishes to give you rich presents. I am his servant to 
 bring those presents to you. We wish to live in 
 peace, that we may help one another." 
 
 This conciliatory speech softened their hearts for 
 a time, and they all, with seeming cordiality, came 
 forward and professed friendship. The great diffi 
 culty, in our intercourse with the Indians, has been 
 that the wilderness has been filled with miserable 
 vagabonds, who were ever perpetrating innumerable 
 outrages, robbing them, and treating them in all re 
 spects, in the most shameless manner. Even civilized 
 men, in war, will often retaliate, by punishing the 
 innocent for the crimes of the guilty. It is not 
 strange that untutored Indians, having received 
 atrocious wrongs from one band of white men, 
 should wreak their vengeance on the next band whom 
 they chanced to encounter. 
 
 Mr. Carson, in addition to his farm at Razada, had 
 what may be called his city residence in the strag- 
 
THE LAST DAYS OF KIT CARSON. 341 
 
 gling old town of Taos. It is said that a traveller 
 upon entering these crooked streets, lined with one 
 story buildings of sun-baked bricks, is reminded of a 
 number of brick-kilns, previous to being burnt, all 
 huddled together without any regard to order. As 
 m all Spanish towns, there is a large public square in 
 the centre. &WX(Xttit LjtepT^ 
 
 Mr. Carson's house faced this square on the west 
 side. Though but one story in height, it spread over 
 a large extent of ground. It was one of the largest 
 and most commodious houses in the place. Every 
 body who went to Taos, Indians as well as white 
 men, felt bound to call upon " Father Kit," as he was 
 familiarly called. To the Indian, particularly, he 
 was ever a true friend and benefactor. He knew, as 
 no other man knew, how terrible his wrongs, -not 
 from the government, but from the vagabond des 
 peradoes of the wilderness. Never was his patience 
 exhausted by their long visits, and never was he 
 weary of listening to their harangues. It has ever 
 been with him a constant effort to warn them against 
 the use of intoxicating drink that " fire water'' which 
 has so long been consuming the Indian, body and 
 soul. 
 
 Whenever the government had any important or 
 delicate mission to preform among the Indians, the 
 services of Mr. Carson were sure to be called into 
 

 342 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 requisition. Thus he entered upon the evening of 
 his days, honored and beloved by all who knew him. 
 These peaceful hours were probably the happiest of 
 his life. We have no detailed account of his last 
 sickness and death. He breathed his last at Fort 
 Lyon, in Colorado, on the twenty-third of May, 1868, 
 in the sixtieth year of his age. The immediate 
 cause of his death, was an aneurism of an artery in 
 the neck. Thus passed away one of the most illus 
 trious of the " Pioneers and Patriots " of America. 
 His name deserves to be held in perpetual remem 
 brance. 
 
CHAPTER XIX. 
 The Last Hours of Kit Carson. 
 
 THE following letter, received since the publication of the first edition, 
 gives an interesting account of the last hours of Mr. Carson from 
 the physician who was with him when he died. 
 
 " FORT WADSWORTH, ) 
 
 NEW YORK HARBOR, V 
 
 January ', >]th, 1874. ) 
 
 "MR. JOHN S. C. ABBOTT, 
 
 FAIRHAVEN, CONN. 
 
 "Dear Sir: 
 
 "I have just read your interesting life of Kit 
 Carson, and write to give you a short account of his 
 last sickness and death. I first met him at the house 
 of a mutual friend, not far from Fort Lyon, C. T., late 
 in the Fall of 1867. He had then recently left the 
 service of the U. S., having been colonel of a regi 
 ment of New-Mexican volunteers during the war of 
 the rebellion. 
 
 " As I was a successful amateur trapper, he threw 
 off all reserve, and greeted me with more than usual 
 warmth, saying, * the happiest days of my life were 
 
344 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 spent in trapping.' He gave me many practical hints 
 on trapping and hunting. 
 
 " He was then complaining of a pain in his chest, 
 the origin of which he attributed to a fall received in 
 1860. It happened while he was descending a moun 
 tain. The declivity was so steep that he led his 
 horse by the lariat, intending, if the horse fell to throw 
 it from him. 
 
 " The horse did fall, and although he let go the 
 lariat, it caught him and carried him a number of 
 feet, and severely bruised him. 
 
 " In the Spring of 1868, he took charge of a party 
 of Ute Indians, and accompanied them to Washing 
 ton and other cities, going as far east as Boston. 
 He consulted a number of physicians while on the 
 trip. 
 
 " It was a great tax on his failing strength to make 
 this journey ; but he was ever ready to promote the 
 welfare of the Utes, who regarded him in the light of 
 a father. 
 
 " I saw him in April, 1868. His disease, aneurism 
 of the aorta, had progressed rapidly ; and the tumor 
 pressing on the pneumo-gastric nerves and trachea, 
 caused frequent spasms of the bronchial tubes which 
 were exceedingly distressing. 
 
 " On the 2/th of April, Mrs. Carson died very 
 suddenly, leaving seven children, the youngest only 
 
THE LAST PI OURS OF KIT CARSON. 345 
 
 two weeks old. Mrs. Carson was tall and spare, and 
 had evidently been a very handsome woman ; she 
 was thirty-eight years old at the time of her death, 
 and he informed me that they had been married 
 twenty-five years. Her sudden death had a very 
 depressing effect upon him. 
 
 " I called frequently to see him ; and as he was 
 living on the south side of the Arkansas River five 
 miles from Fort Lyon where I was stationed, and the 
 Spring rise coming on, making the fording difficult, 
 I suggested that he be brought to my quarters, which 
 was done on the I4th day of May. 
 
 " This enabled me to make his condition much more 
 comfortable. In the interval of his paroxysms, he 
 beguiled the time by relating past experiences. I 
 read Dr. Peters' book, with the hero for my auditor ; 
 from time to time, he would comment on the incidents 
 of his eventful life. 
 
 " It was wonderful to read of the stirring scenes, 
 thrilling deeds, and narrow escapes, and then look at 
 the quiet, modest, retiring, but dignified little man 
 who had done so much. 
 
 " You are perfectly correct in describing Carson as 
 a gentleman. He was one of nature's noblemen 
 a true man in all that consitutes manhood pure 
 honorable truthful sincere of noble impulses, a 
 true knight-errant ever ready to defend the weak 
 
346 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 against the strong, without reward other than his 
 own conscience. 
 
 " Carson had great contempt for noisy braggarts 
 and shams of every sort. 
 
 " His disease rapidly progressed and he calmly con 
 templated his approaching death. Several times he 
 repeated the remark, ' If it was not for this/ point 
 ing to his chest ; ' I might live to be a hundred years 
 old.' 
 
 " I explained to him the probable mode of termi 
 nation of his disease : * that he might die from suf 
 focation or more probably the aneurism would burst 
 and cause death by hemorrhage. He expressed a 
 decided preference for the latter mode. His attacks 
 of dyspnoea were horrible, threatening immediate dis 
 solution. I was compelled to give chloroform to 
 relieve him, at considerable risk of hastening a fatal 
 result ; but he begged me not to let him suffer such 
 tortures, and if I killed him by chloroform while at 
 tempting relief, it would be much better than death 
 by suffocation. 
 
 " Once, he remarked : ' What am I to do, I can't 
 get along without a doctor? ' 
 
 " I replied, ' I'll take care of you.' 
 
 " He, smiling, said, 'You must think I am not going 
 to live long.' 
 
 "The night preceding death he spent more com- 
 
THE LAST HOURS OF KIT CARSON. 347 
 
 fortably than he had for days before. He was obliged 
 to sit up nearly all the time. He coughed up a slight 
 amount of blood during the night, and a very little 
 in the forenoon. 
 
 " In the afternoon, while I was lying down on his 
 bed and he was listening to Mr Sherrick, he sud 
 denly called out ' Doctor, Compadre, Adios ! ' 
 
 " I sprang to him and seeing a gush of blood pour 
 ing from his mouth, remarked, ' this is the last of the 
 general ; ' I supported his forehead on my hand, while 
 death speedily closed the scene. 
 
 " The aneurism had ruptured into the trachea 
 Death took place at 4. 25 P. M., May 23rd 1868. 
 
 Mr. Carson was a small man not over five feet 
 six inches tall, with gray eyes, light-brown hair tinged 
 with gray; his head was largej forehead high and 
 broad ; his nose somewhat retrousse. He had a 
 good broad chest and a compact form. He had been 
 a remarkably quick active man and what he lacked 
 in strength, he made up in agility. It is related of 
 him, that while he was in command of his regiment 
 and on a campaign against the Navajo Indians, he 
 wou^d leave camp very early each morning, taking his 
 Ute Indian 'scouts, and let his lieutenant-colonel 
 take charge of the regiment ; before the command 
 would have time to come up with the fugitive enemy, 
 Carson and his Utes had finished the fighting. 
 
348 CHRISTOPHER CARSON. 
 
 "I am under the impression that the Navajo na 
 tion, numbering 8,000 or 10,000 people were so severe 
 ly pressed by Kit Carson, that they surrendered to 
 him, and were put on a government reservation, 
 where they remained under miflitary control, for 
 several years. Within the last three years they have 
 been permitted to return to the country formerly oc 
 cupied by them ; but I am not positive of the above. 
 
 " Carson was made a brigadier-general of volun 
 teers by brevet, at the close of the rebellion. 
 
 " Shortly after coming to my quarters he made 
 his will, and left property to the value of seven thou 
 sand dollars to his children. 
 
 " No post-mortem was made. The pulse at the 
 right radial artery was very indistinct, while the left 
 continued good. 
 
 " I have been thus minute, thinking that while 
 writing his life, you had grown to love him, as all 
 who knew him certainly cherished great affection for 
 
 him. 
 
 "Yours Truly, 
 
 "H. R. TlLTON, 
 "Ass't Surgeon U. S. Army? 
 
 THE END. 
 

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