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diff --git a/16274.txt b/16274.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..32b7ba3 --- /dev/null +++ b/16274.txt @@ -0,0 +1,15009 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Life and Adventures of Kit Carson, the +Nestor of the Rocky Mountains, from Facts Narrated by Himself, by De Witt +C. Peters + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: The Life and Adventures of Kit Carson, the Nestor of the Rocky Mountains, from Facts Narrated by Himself + + +Author: De Witt C. Peters + + + +Release Date: July 12, 2005 [eBook #16274] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LIFE AND ADVENTURES OF KIT +CARSON, THE NESTOR OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS, FROM FACTS NARRATED BY +HIMSELF*** + + +E-text prepared by Alicia Williams, William Flis, and the Project +Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team (https://www.pgdp.net) + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 16274-h.htm or 16274-h.zip: + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/6/2/7/16274/16274-h/16274-h.htm) + or + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/6/2/7/16274/16274-h.zip) + + + + + +THE LIFE AND ADVENTURES OF KIT CARSON, THE NESTOR OF THE ROCKY +MOUNTAINS, FROM FACTS NARRATED BY HIMSELF + +by + +DE WITT C. PETERS, M.D., +Late Assistant Surgeon U.S.A. + +With Original Illustrations, Drawn by Lumley, +Engraved by N. Orr & Co. + +New York: +W.R.C. Clark & Co., +348 Broadway. +W.H. Tinson, Stereotyper and Printer, +Rear of 43 & 45 Centre Street, N.Y. + +MDCCCLVIII + + + + + + + + "All are but parts of one stupendous whole, + Whose body nature is, and God the soul." + + + + +[Illustration: KIT AND HIS FAVORITE HORSE "APACHE."] + + + + +TO + +COL. CERAN ST. VRAIN, + +OF NEW MEXICO. + + +DEAR SIR, + +You were first among the brave mountaineers to discover and direct the +manly energy, extraordinary natural ability, and unyielding courage +which have attached to the subject of this volume; and, as among the +first Americans who put foot on the Rocky Mountains, you are perhaps +best acquainted with the history of the men, who, for fifty years, +have lived there. CHRISTOPHER CARSON, after a long life, now crowned +with successful and honorable achievements, still looks upon you, +sir, as his earliest patron, and places your name on the list of his +warmest friends. Through a life of unusual activity and duration, +which, reflecting honor and renown upon your name, has given you a +distinguished position among your countrymen, you have never been +known to forget a duty to your fellow man. + +For these considerations, the dedication of this volume to you cannot +but appear appropriate. That he may continue to merit a place in your +confidence and esteem is the earnest desire of + +THE AUTHOR. + + * * * * * + + + + +FERNANDEZ DE TAOS, NEW MEXICO. + +SIR: + +We, the undersigned citizens of the Territory of New Mexico, have been +acquainted with Mr. CHRISTOPHER CARSON for a number of years, indeed +almost from the time of his first arrival in the country. We have been +his companions both in the mountains and as a private citizen. We are +also acquainted with the fact that for the past few months, during his +leisure hours, he has been engaged dictating his life. This is, to +our certain knowledge, the only authentic biography of himself and his +travels that has ever been written. We heartily recommend THIS BOOK +to the reading community for perusal, as it presents a life out of the +usual routine of business, and is checkered with adventures which +have tried this bold and daring man. We are cognizant of most of the +details of the book, and vouch for their accuracy. + +Very respectfully, + +CERAN ST. VRAIN, LIEUT. COL. N.M. VOLUNTEERS. + +CHARLES BEAUBIEN, LATE CIRCUIT JUDGE. + + + + +THE AUTHOR'S PREFACE. + + +The pages here presented to the public form a book of facts. They +unfold for the student, as does no other work yet extant, the great +interior wilderness of the territories belonging to the United States. +The scenic views, though plainly colored and wrought by the hand of +an unpretending artist, inasmuch as they portray a part of the North +American continent which is unsurpassed by any other country on the +face of the earth, will not fail to interest the American public. In +addition to this, the reader is introduced to an intimate acquaintance +with the Indian races of the countries which He east and west of the +Rocky Mountains. The savage warrior and hunter is presented, stripped +of all the decorations with which writers of fiction have dressed +him. He is seen in his ferocity and gentleness, in his rascality and +nobility, in his boyhood, manhood, and old age, and in his wisdom and +ignorance. The attentive reader will learn of his approximations to +truth, his bundle of superstitions, his acts at home and on the war +path, his success while following the buffalo and engaging the wild +Rocky Mountain bear, that terror of the western wilderness. He will +also behold him carrying devastation to the homes of the New Mexican +settlers, and freely spilling their best blood to satiate a savage +revenge. He will see him attacking and massacring parties of the white +men traveling across the prairies, and trace him in his savage wars +with the early settlers and frontiersmen. + +In order to acquire these important _data_ that they might be added +to the pages of American history and form a reliable record, it was +necessary that some brave, bold and determined man should become an +actor on the scenes and among the races described. Such an actor +has been, and yet is, Christopher Carson, the Nestor of the Rocky +Mountains; and, it is the experience, as well as the acts, of his +stirring life, which the following pages present. + +In olden times there existed, in the Rocky Mountains, a race +familiarly known by the name of "Trappers and Hunters." They are now +almost extinct. Their history has not yet been written. Pen paintings, +drawn from the imagination, founded upon distant views of their +exploits and adventures, have occasionally served, as do legends, +to "adorn a tale." The volume now offered to the public, gives their +history as related by one whose name as a trapper and hunter of the +"Far West," stands second to none; by a man, who, for fifteen years, +saw not the face of a white woman, or slept under a roof; who, during +those long years, with his rifle alone, killed over two thousand +buffalo, between four and five thousand deer, antelope and elk, +besides wild game, such as bears, wild turkeys, prairie chickens, +etc., etc. in numbers beyond calculation. On account of their +originality, daring and interest, the real facts, concerning this race +of trappers and hunters, will be handed down to posterity as matters +belonging to history. + +As is the case with the Indian, the race of the "Simon Pure Trapper" +is nearly run. The advance of civilization, keeping up its untiring +march to the westward, is daily encroaching upon their wild haunts and +bringing the day close at hand when warrior and trapper will depart +forever to their "Happy Hunting Grounds." + +With the extinction of the great fur companies, the trappers of "Olden +Time" disbanded and separated. + +The greatest number of these men, to be found at the present day, +reside in the Territory of New Mexico; which, in the time of their +prosperity, was the country where they located their head quarters. In +this Territory, Christopher Carson now resides. His name, in the Rocky +Mountains, has been familiarly known for more than a quarter of a +century; and, from its association with the names of great explorers +and military men, is now spread throughout the civilized world. It has +been generally conceded, and the concession has become strengthened +by time, that no small share of the benefits derived from these +explorations and campaigns, as well as the safety of the commands +themselves, was and is due to the sagacity, skill, experience, +advice and labor of Christopher Carson. The exploring parties, and +expeditions here referred to, are those which he accompanied in the +capacity of chief guide and adviser. + +His sober habits, strict honor, and great regard for truth, have +endeared him to all who can call him friend; and, among such may be +enumerated names belonging to some of the most distinguished men whose +deeds are recorded on the pages of American history. His past life has +been a mystery which this book will unveil. Instead of Kit Carson as +by imagination--a bold braggart and reckless, improvident hero of the +rifle--he will appear a retired man, and one who is very reserved in +his intercourse with others. This fact, alone, will account for the +difficulty which has hitherto attended presenting the public with an +accurate history of his life. + +A few years since, the writer of this work first met Christopher +Carson. It needed neither a second introduction, nor the assistance of +a friendly panegyric, to enable him to discover in Christopher Carson +those traits of manhood, which are esteemed by the great and good to +be distinguishing ornaments of character. This acquaintance ripened +into a friendship of the purest stamp. 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. For a long period, in common with hundreds--and, we might +with truth add, thousands, the writer has desired to see Christopher +Carson's wonderful career made public for the world of readers; but, +while this idea was germinating in his brain, he did not, for an +instant, flatter himself that the pleasant task would ever be assigned +to him. Finally, however, at the urgent solicitation of many personal +friends, Christopher Carson dictated the facts upon which this book +is written. They were then placed in the writer's hands, with +instructions to add to them such information as had fallen under his +observation, during quite extensive travels over a large part of the +wide expanse of country, which has been Christopher Carson's theatre +for action. + +The book is a book of solid truth; therefore, the faults in the style, +arrangement and composition, become affairs of minor consideration. +For this reason, the writer makes no apologies to embarrass the +critics. + +Christopher Carson, physically, is small in stature, but of compact +frame-work. He has a large and finely developed head, a twinkling +grey eye, and hair of a sandy color, which he wears combed back _a la +Franklin mode_. 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 conduct, no man on the American continent +is better skilled. + +The writer, while on a foreign tour, once had the opportunity and +pleasure of hearing Gordon Cumming and other hunters of less note, +discourse on their hunting exploits; furthermore, in our own country, +while seated around camp-fires and in log houses, he has listened to +the adventures of ancient and modern Nimrods in the chase; besides +these facts, he has both seen and read much of hunting exploits; but, +no hunter ever filled his fancy so perfectly, as does Christopher +Carson, a man who acts and never boasts. + +Without further comment, the reader is presented with the work, while +the writer cherishes the hope, that the facts, which for the first +time are given to the world, will prove to be both interesting and +important as jottings of history. + +The author begs leave to return to his friend, C. HATCH SMITH, A.M., +of Brooklyn, New York, his acknowledgment for valuable assistance in +revising, correcting and arranging his manuscript. + +196 Twenty-third street, New York. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + +CHAPTER I. + +Carson's Birthplace--His Emigration to Missouri--Early Prospects--Is +an Apprentice--Stories of the Rocky Mountains--He Enlists to go +there--Adventures on the Prairies--Broaders is Wounded--Carson's Nerve +put to the Test--Rude Amputation--Safe Arrival at Santa Fe--Goes +to Taos and learns the Spanish Language--Early +Vicissitudes--Disappointment and Attempt to return to Missouri--Is +employed as an Interpreter, Teamster, etc., 13 + + + +CHAPTER II. + +The news of the Defeat of Mr. Young's Trapping Party by the Indians +reaches Taos--Young raises a Party to chastise the Indians--Kit Carson +becomes a Conspicuous Member of the Expedition--The Indians are found +on Salt River--The Fight--Trapping Exploits--A new Country--Trials +and Vicissitudes--Sacramento Valley--California and its Roman +Catholic Missions in 1829--Another Indian Fight--Sale of Furs--Indian +Depredations--Kit Carson and Twelve Trappers engage with the Indians +in a Battle--Return to the Camp with recovered Property, 30 + + +CHAPTER III. + +The Return from California to New Mexico--San Fernando and the Peublo +of Los Angelos--Description of these Peublos--Passports demanded at +Los Angelos--Trouble with the Mexican Authorities--Kit Carson sent on +with the Pack Animals--One Trapper shoots another--The Mexicans become +frightened--Indians come into Camp with their Weapons concealed--Cool +Reception, by Kit Carson--Arrival at Santa Fe and Taos--Money realized +soon parted with--Carson joins another Expedition--The Rivers trapped +on--Four Men Killed by Blackfeet Indians--Kit Carson joins Gaunt's +Party--The Parks--Winter Quarters--Crow Indian Depredations--Kit +Carson and his Party in Pursuit--the Fight--Winter on the +Arkansas--Another Expedition--Two Deserters--Kit Carson sent +in Pursuit--The Fate of the Runaways--Adventures with +Indians--Hair-breadth Escape made by Kit Carson, 42 + + +CHAPTER IV. + +Kit Carson and two Companions plan a Hunt for themselves--The Great +Success met with--Return to Taos--Sale of the Beaver Fur--Kit +Carson joins Captain Lee and goes on a Trading Expedition--Winter +Quarters--Kit Carson is sent in Pursuit of a Thief--Overtakes and +is obliged to shoot the Runaway--Property recovered--The Return to +Camp--The Sale of Goods--Kit Carson joins Fitzpatrick and Party--Kit +Carson organizes a Hunting Party--His Encounter with two Grizzly +Bears--The Summer Rendezvous--Kit Carson joins fifty Trappers and +goes to the Country of the Blackfeet Indians--Annoyances received from +these Indians--Winter Quarters in 1832--Horses Stolen--Kit Carson +and eleven Men in Pursuit--A Parley--A Fight--Kit Carson severely +wounded--His great Sufferings and Fortitude--His Convalescence--The +Retreat--A New Expedition--A Braggadocio--Kit Carson Fights a Duel and +Wounds his man--Duels in the Rocky Mountains in Olden Times, 68 + + +CHAPTER V. + +The Fall Hunt--McCoy of the Hudson's Bay Company organizes a Trapping +Party which Kit Carson joins--The Hunt--Scarcity of Beaver on Humboldt +River--The Party is divided--Kit Carson with a majority of the +Men goes to Fort Hall--Hardships and Privations met with--Buffalo +Hunt--All their Animals stolen in the Night by a Party of Blackfeet +Indians--Arrival of McCoy from Fort Walla Walla--The Rendezvous--Kit +Carson joins a strong Band--The Small Pox among the Blackfeet +Indians--The Crow Indians on good terms with the Whites--Intense +Cold--Immense Herds of Buffalo--Danger of their goring to death the +Horses--The Spring Hunt--The Blackfeet Indian Village overtaken--A +desperate Fight with these Indians--The Rendezvous--Sir William Stuart +and a favorite Missionary--Kit Carson goes on a Trading Expedition to +the Navajoe Indians--The Return--He accepts the post of Hunter of the +Trading Post at Brown's Hole, 106 + + +CHAPTER VI. + +Bridger and Carson trapping on the Black Hills--The Main Camp--The +Rendezvous--Winter Quarters on the Yellow Stone--Carson with forty men +in a desperate fight with the Blackfeet Indians--A Council--Sentinel +posted--One Thousand Warriors come to punish the Trappers--The War +Dance--The Courage of the Savages deserts them--Winter Quarters--The +Spring Hunt--Another Fight with the Blackfeet--Continued +Annoyances--The Trappers abandon the Country--The Rocky Mountains +and Alps compared--Other Trapping Expeditions--Beaver becoming +scarce--Prices of Fur reduced--Kit Carson and the Trappers give +up their Vocation--The Journey to Bent's Fort--Mitchell the +Mountaineer--His Eccentricities, 127 + + +CHAPTER VII. + +Kit Carson is employed as Hunter to Bent's Fort--His Career for +Eight Years--Messrs. Bent and St. Vrain--The commencement of his +Acquaintance with John C. Fremont on a Steamboat--Is employed as +a Guide by the Great Explorer--The Journey--Arrival at Fort +Laramie--Indian Difficulties--The business of the Expedition +completed--Return to Fort Laramie--Kit Carson goes to Taos and is +married--He is employed as Hunter to a Train of Wagons bound for the +States--Meeting with Captain Cook and four companies of U.S. Dragoons +on Walnut Creek--Mexicans in Trouble--Kit Carson carries a Letter +for them to Santa Fe--Indians on the Route--His safe Arrival--Amijos' +advance Guard massacred by the Texians--The one Survivor--The +Retreat--Kit Carson returns to Bent's Fort--His Adventures with the +Utahs and narrow escape from Death--The Texians disarmed--The Express +Ride performed, 147 + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +Kit Carson visits Fremont's Camp--Goes on the Second +Exploring Expedition--The Necessary Arrangements--Trip to Salt +Lake--Explorations there--Carson is dispatched to Fort Hall for +Supplies--Their Operations at Salt Lake--The Great Island--The Journey +to the Columbia River in Oregon--Incidents on the Route--Tlamath +Lake--The Journey to California--The Trials and Privations met with +while crossing the Sierra Nevada Mountains--Mr. Preuss is lost +but finds the Party again--Arrival at Sutter's Fort in a Destitute +Condition--Two of the Party become deranged--The Route on the Return +Trip--Mexicans come into their Camp asking Aid and Protection--Indian +Depredations--Carson and Godey start on a Daring Adventure--The +Pursuit--The Thieves overtaken--These Two White Men attack Thirty +Indians--The Victory--Horses retaken--The Return to Camp--One of their +Companions killed--The Journey continued--Arrival at Bent's Fort--The +"Fourth of July" Dinner, 178 + + +CHAPTER IX. + +Kit Carson concludes to become a Farmer--He is joined in the +Enterprise by a Friend--They build a Ranche on the Cimeron +River--Descriptions of Mexican Customs and Country--Fremont once more +at Bent's Fort--Express sent for Kit Carson to join the Expedition as +Guide--The Ranche Sold, and the Departure--The Third Expedition and +its Explorations--Difficulties with the Mexican-Californians--General +Castro's Orders to leave the Country--Determination to Fight--Fremont +goes to Lawson's Fort--Fremont and his Men encounter a Thousand +Indians--The Battle and the Victory--The news that War had +been declared between the United States and Mexico reaches +Fremont--Lieutenant Gillespie rescued from the Indians--Three of the +party killed in the Night by Indians--The Savages repulsed--The Burial +of Comrades, 232 + + +CHAPTER X. + +Fremont en route for California--His men are anxious to punish the +Tlamath Indians--Kit Carson, in command of ten Men, is sent on ahead +to reconnoitre--He discovers the main Village of these Indians--The +Attack and the Victory--Beautiful Lodges--The Trophies mostly +destroyed--Fremont saves Kit Carson's Life--The Journey resumed--The +Sacramento Valley--An Indian Ambuscade--One Savage defies the +Party--Kit Carson shoots him--The Tlamath Indians still on the War +Path--Another Lesson given to them--A Thief is shot--Arrival at +Lawson's Trading Post--A period of Inactivity--A Detachment sent +to capture Sonoma--Prisoners taken--The Mexicans come to punish +the Americans--Their Courage deserts them--The Retreat--The +Pursuit--Fremont goes to Sutter's Fort and establishes a Military +Post--Monterey is taken by the American Squadron--Fremont marches +there--Further Operations--The taking of Los Angelos, 261 + + +CHAPTER XI. + +Kit Carson is sent Overland as Bearer of Dispatches to +Washington--The Preparation and the Start--The Journey--Privations and +Sufferings--Meeting with General Kearney--The General takes Carson +as his Guide and sends on the Dispatches by Fitzpatrick--The +March--Arrival at Warner's Ranche--Mexicans on the Road--Preparations +for a Battle--The Battle--Disastrous Consequences--Kit Carson and +Lieutenant Beale offer to run the lines of the Mexican Sentinels and +carry Information to San Diego of Kearney's critical position--The +Daring Undertaking--The Sufferings they encountered--Their +Arrival--Reinforcements sent out--Lieutenant Beale is Delirious from +the Privations he has undergone--Gen. Kearney and his Command finally +reach and join the other American Forces in California, 274 + + +CHAPTER XII. + +A Command of Six Hundred Men is sent against Los Angelos--The Mexican +Army evacuates the Town--Its Capture--Rumors of an Attack to be made +on Fremont's Command--The Mexicans surrender--The Winter +Quarters--Kit Carson is ordered to carry Dispatches overland to +Washington--Lieutenant Beale accompanies him--A Night Attack made by +the Indians--Arrival in the United States--Kit Carson's Introduction +to Col. Benton and Mrs. Fremont--Hospitality offered to him at +Washington--Kit Carson receives the Appointment of Lieutenant in the +Rifle Corps of the U.S. Army from President Polk--He is ordered to +carry Dispatches to California--The Journey--A Brush with the +Camanche Indians--Arrival at Santa Fe--More trouble with hostile +Indians--Arrival at Los Angelos--Dispatches delivered--Kit Carson +is assigned to do Duty with the Dragoons--Is ordered to Guard Tajon +Pass--The Winter spent there--Is ordered again to carry Dispatches to +Washington--The Journey and its Adventures--The return to New Mexico, +297 + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +Kit Carson at his Home--The Apache Indians become hostile--An +Expedition sent against them--It is not successful--Another is +organized, with which, Kit Carson goes as Guide--Two Indian Chiefs +captured--Other Incidents of the Trip--Colonel Beall attempts to force +the Indians to give up Mexican Captives--Two thousand Savages on the +Arkansas River--The Visit to them--Kit Carson emigrates and builds a +Ranche at Rayado--Description of the Valley--The Massacre of a Santa +Fe Merchant--His Wife is made Prisoner--The Expedition sent to rescue +her--The Indians overtaken--Bad Counsel and Management--The commanding +Officer wounded--Mrs. White's Body found--Severe Snow-storm on the +Plains--One Man frozen to Death--Kit Carson returns to Rayado--The +occupation of a Farmer resumed--The Apaches steal from the Settlers +nearly all their Animals--Kit Carson with thirteen others in the +Pursuit--The Surprise--A running Fight--The Animals recovered--A +gallant Sergeant and his Fate--Kit Carson and Goodel go on a Trading +Expedition to meet California Emigrants at Fort Laramie--Humorous +Adventures--The Dangers that beset the Road to New +Mexico--Hair-breadth Escape--Arrival at Taos, 322 + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +Kit Carson reaches Home--Himself and Neighbors robbed by the +Apaches--Major Grier goes in Pursuit of, and recaptures the stolen +Stock--A Plot organized by White Men to murder two Santa Fe Traders +for their Money--The Disclosure--Kit Carson goes to the Rescue of the +Traders--The Camp of United States Recruits--Captain Snell with twenty +Men joins Kit Carson and they two make the Arrest of Fox--Gratitude +expressed by the Traders--Money offered but refused--The Prisoner +taken to Taos and incarcerated--Kit Carson receives a magnificent Pair +of Revolvers as a Present from the grateful Traders--The return +to Rayado--A Trading Expedition to the United States--The return +Journey--An Encounter with the Cheyenne Indians--A State of +Suspense--The Deliverance from Danger by a Message sent by a Mexican +Runner--The arrival at Rayado, 361 + + +CHAPTER XV. + +Kit Carson's last Trapping Expedition--He embarks in a +Speculation--His Trip to California with a large Flock of Sheep--The +Method employed by Mexicans in driving Herds and their Dexterity--Kit +Carson goes to San Francisco--Its wonderful Growth--Maxwell joins Kit +Carson at Sacramento City--The Lucky Speculation--The Return Trip to +New Mexico and its Adventures--The Mormon Delegate to Congress informs +Kit Carson of his Appointment as Indian Agent--Kit Carson enters +upon the Duties of his Office--Bell's Fight with the Apaches on +Red River--Kit Carson's Interview with the same Indian--High-handed +Measures on the Part of the Apaches--Davidson's desperate Fight with +them--The Soldiers defeated with severe loss--Davidson's Bravery is +unjustly questioned--Kit Carson's Opinion of it--The Apaches elated by +their Victory--Their Imitations of the Actions of Military Men, 389 + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +A fresh Campaign set on foot--Col. Cook in Command--Kit Carson goes +as Guide--The Apaches and Utahs leagued together--The Roughness of +the Country and the Privations to which the Command was exposed--The +Indians overhauled--A running Fight--The Advantages gained--The Chase +resumed--The Apaches resort to their old Tricks--Col. Cook is obliged +to return to Abiquiu--A Utah taken Prisoner through Mistake--Kit +Carson goes to Taos and has a Conference with the Chiefs of the Utah +Nation--Cook's second Scout--He is caught in a furious Snow-storm and +obliged to return to Rio Colorado--Major Brooks and Reinforcements +come to the Rescue--Major Brooks on the Lookout, but fails to find the +Indians--Carleton's Expedition--Kit Carson goes with it as Guide--The +Adventures met with--Kit Carson's Prophecy comes true--The Muache Band +of Utahs summoned by Kit Carson to a Grand Council--Troubles brewing +among these Indians--The Small Pox carries off their Head Men, 434 + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +The Commencement of a formidable Indian War--High-handed Measures +on the Part of the Indians--The Governor of New Mexico raises five +hundred Mexican Volunteers and places them under the Command of +Colonel St. Vrain--Colonel Fauntleroy placed in Command of all +the Forces--Kit Carson is chosen as Chief Guide--The Campaign +commenced--The Trail found--The Indians are met and the first Fight +and its Consequences--An Excitement in Camp--The Indians again +overtaken--The return to Fort Massachusetts--Intense Cold Weather +experienced--The Second Campaign--Colonel Fauntleroy surprises the +Main Camp of the Enemy--The War and Scalp Dance broken up--Terrible +Slaughter of the Indians--The Great Amount of Plunder taken and +destroyed--Another small Party of Indians surprised and routed--St. +Vrain equally fortunate in his Campaign--The Indians sue for +Peace--The Council held and Treaties signed--Kit Carson opposes the +making of them--The poor Protection Indian Treaties usually afford +to Settlers--Kit Carson's House at Taos and his Indian Friends--His +Attachment for his Family put to the test--Cowardice of a Mexican--Kit +Carson's Friends as they look upon him--His influence over +Indians--General remarks--Conclusion, 466 + + + + +LIFE OF KIT CARSON. + + +CHAPTER I. + + Carson's Birthplace--His Emigration to Missouri--Early + Prospects--Is an Apprentice--Stories of the Rocky + Mountains--He Enlists to go there--Adventures on the + Prairies--Broaders is Wounded--Carson's Nerve put to the + Test--Rude Amputation--Safe Arrival at Santa Fe--Goes to + Taos and learns the Spanish Language--Early + Vicissitudes--Disappointment and Attempt to return to + Missouri--Is employed as an Interpreter, Teamster, etc. + + +It is now a well-established fact, that no State in the American Union +has given birth to so many distinguished pioneers and explorers of +its boundless Territories, as the commonwealth of Kentucky. An Author, +whose task is to tell of a Hero, his bravery, endurance, privations, +integrity, self-denial and deeds of daring, carries the _morale_ with +which to gain at once for these characteristics the assent of the +reader, by the simple assertion, "My Hero was born a Kentuckian." +Indeed, in America, to be a native of the State of Kentucky, is to +inherit all the attributes of a brave man, a safe counsellor and a +true friend. It is, at least, certain that this State, whether the +fact is due to its inland and salubrious climate, or to its habits of +physical training, has added many a Hero unto humanity. + +Christopher Carson, by his countrymen familiarly called "Kit Carson," +was born in the County of Madison, State of Kentucky, on the 24th day +of December, 1809. The Carson family were among the first settlers +of Kentucky, and became owners of fine farms. Besides being an +industrious and skillful farmer, the father of Kit Carson was a +celebrated hunter. When the Indians of Kentucky became quieted down, +putting an end to the calls upon his courage and skill as a woodsman, +he settled into a simple, respectable farmer. This monotonous life +did not suit his disposition; and, as the tide of emigration into the +wilds of Missouri was then commencing, where both game and the red man +still roamed, he resolved to migrate in that direction. It was only +one year after the birth of his son Christopher, that Mr. Carson sold +his estate in Kentucky and established himself, with his large family, +in that part of the State of Missouri now known as Howard County. At +this time Howard County, Missouri, was a wilderness, on the remote +American frontier. At his new home, the father was in his element. His +reputation of carrying an unerring rifle and always enacting the deeds +of a brave man, was not long in following him into this wilderness. +Mr. Carson's only assistant, on his first arrival in Howard County, +was his eldest son, Moses Carson, who was afterwards settled in the +State of California, where he resided twenty-five years before the +great California gold discovery was made. + +For two or three years after arriving at their new home, the Carson +family, with a few neighbors, lived in a picketed log fort; and when +they were engaged in agricultural pursuits, working their farms, and +so forth, it was necessary to plough, sow and reap under guard, +men being stationed at the sides and extremities of their fields to +prevent the working party from being surprised and massacred by wild +and hostile savages who infested the country. At this time the small +pox, that disease which has proved such a terrible scourge to the +Indian, had but seldom visited him.[1] + +[Footnote 1: This disease has probably been the worst enemy with which +the red man of America has had to contend. By terrible experience he +has become familiarized with its ravages, and has resorted to the most +desperate remedies for its cure. Among many tribes, the afflicted are +obliged to form camps by themselves; and, thus left alone, they die by +scores. One of their favorite remedies, when the scourge first makes +its appearance, is to plunge into the nearest river, by which they +think to purify themselves. This course, however, in reality, tends +to shorten their existence. When the small pox rages among the +Aborigines, a most unenviable position is held by their "Medicine +Man." He is obliged to give a strict account of himself; and, if so +unfortunate as to lose a chief, or other great personage, is sure +to pay the penalty by parting with his own life. The duties of the +"Medicine Man" among the Indians are so mixed up with witchcraft +and jugglery, so filled with the pretence of savage quackery, so +completely rude and unfounded as to principle, that it is impossible +to define the practice for any useful end. About five years since, a +young gentleman of scientific habits, who was attached to an exploring +party, accidentally became separated from his companions. In his +wanderings, he fell in with a band of hostile Sioux Indians, who +would quickly have dispatched him, had he not succeeded immediately +in convincing them of his wonderful powers. It so happened that this +gentleman was well informed in the theory of vaccination, and it +struck him that by impressing on the savages his skill, he might +extricate himself. By the aid of signs, a lancet and some virus, he +set himself to work, and soon saw that he had gained a reputation +which saved him his scalp. He first vaccinated his own arm, after +which all of the Indians present solicited his magic touch, to save +them from the loathsome disease. The result was, that he found he had +enlisted himself in an active practice. After a few days, the Indians +were delighted with the results, and began to look upon their prisoner +as possessed of superhuman knowledge. They feared to do him injury, +and finally resolved to let him go; of which privilege, it is almost +unnecessary to say, he was delighted to avail himself, and was not +long in finding his friends.] + +The incidents which enliven and add interest to the historic page, +have proved of spontaneous and vigorous growth in the new settlements +of America. Nearly every book which deals with the early planting and +progress of the American colonists and pioneers, contains full, and +frequently glowing, descriptions of exploits in the forest; strifes of +the hunter; fights with the savages; fearful and terrible surprises of +lurking warriors, as they arouse the brave settler and his family +from their midnight dreams by the wild, death-announcing war-whoop; +hair-breadth escapes from the larger kinds of game, boldly bearded in +their lair; the manly courage which never yields, but surmounts every +obstacle presented by the unbroken and boundless forest; all these +are subjects and facts which have already so many counterparts in +book-thought, accessible to the general reader, that their details +may be safely omitted during the boyhood days of young Carson. It is +better, therefore, to pass over the youthful period of his eventful +life, until he began to ripen into manhood. + +Kit Carson, at fifteen years of age, was no ordinary person. He had at +this early age earned, and well earned, a reputation, on the basis +of which the prediction was ventured in his behalf, that he would not +fail to make and leave a mark upon the hearts of his countrymen. Those +who knew him at the age of fifteen, hesitated not to say, "Kit Carson +is the boy who will grow into a man of influence and renown." + +The chief points of his character which elicited this prediction were +thus early clearly marked. Some of his traits were kindness and +good qualities of heart, determined perseverance, indomitable will, +unflinching courage, great quickness and shrewdness of perception, and +promptitude in execution. The predictions uttered by the hardy rangers +of the forest concerning a boy like Carson are seldom at fault; and +Kit was one who, by many a youthful feat worthy the muscle of riper +years, had endeared himself to their honest love. It was among such +men and for such reason, that Kit Carson thus early in life had won +the influence and rewards of a general favorite. + +His frame was slight, below the medium stature, closely knit together, +and endowed with extraordinary elasticity. He had, even then, stood +the test of much hard usage. What the body lacked in strength was more +than compensated for by his indomitable will; consequently, at this +early age, he was considered capable of performing a frontier man's +work, both in tilling the soil and handling the rifle. + +It was at this period of his eventful life that his father, acting +partially under the advice of friends, determined that his son Kit +should learn a trade. A few miles from Kit's forest home, there lived +a Mr. David Workman, a saddler. To him he was apprenticed. With Mr. +Workman young Carson remained two years, enjoying both the confidence +and respect of his employer; but, mourning over the awl, the hide +of new leather, the buckle and strap; for, the glorious shade of the +mighty forest; the wild battle with buffalo and bear; the crack of +the unerring rifle, pointed at the trembling deer. Saddlery is an +honorable employment; but saddlery never made a greater mistake than +when it strove to hitch to its traces the bold impulse, the wild +yearning, the sinewy muscle of Kit Carson. Harness-making was so +irksome to his ardent temperament and brave heart, that he resolved to +take advantage of the first favorable opportunity and quit it forever. +With him, to resolve has ever been followed by action. During the +latter part of his stay with Mr. Workman, many stories of adventures +in the Rocky Mountains reached the ear of the youthful Kentuckian in +his Missouri home. The almost miraculous _hyperbole_ which flavored +the narratives were not long in awakening in his breast a strong +desire to share in such stirring events. The venturesome mind at last +became inspired. He determined to go; and, giving his restless spirit +full sway, in 1826, joined a party bound for his boyish fancy-pictures +of the Elysian Fields. The leader of this expedition required no +second request from young Carson before enrolling his name on the +company-list. The hardy woodsman saw stamped upon the frank and open +countenance of the boy who stood before him those sterling qualities +which have since made his name a household word. These formed a +passport which, on the spot, awakened the respect and unlocked the +hearts of those whose companionship he sought. + +The work of preparation was now commenced by the different parties to +the expedition. All of the arrangements having been finally completed, +the bold and hardy band soon started upon their journey. Their route +lay over the vast, and then unexplored territory, bounded by the Rocky +Mountains on the one side, and the Missouri River on the other. Before +them lay, stretched out in almost never-ending space, those great +prairies, the half of which are still unknown to the white man. +Crossing the plains in 1826 was an entirely different feat from what +it is at this day. Where, then, were the published guides? Where were +the charts indicating the eligible camping grounds with their springs +of pure water? These _oases_ of the American Sahara were not yet +acquainted with the white man's foot. The herds of buffaloes, the +droves of wild horses, knew not the crack of the white man's rifle. +They had fled only at the approach of the native Indian warrior and +the yearly fires of the prairie. It was a difficult task to find a man +who had gazed on the lofty peaks of the mountain ranges which formed a +serpentine division of the vast American Territories, or who had drank +the waters at the camping places on the prairies. The traveller +at that day was, in every force of meaning which the word extends, +literally, an explorer, whose chosen object was the task of a hero. +The Indians themselves could give no information of the route beyond +the confined limits of their hunting ranges. The path which this +pioneer party entered was existent only in the imagination of the +book-making geographer, about as accurate and useful from its detail, +as the route of Baron Munchausen to the icelands of the North Pole on +the back of his eagle. The whole expanse of the rolling prairie, to +those brave hearts, was one boundless uncertainty. This language may +possibly be pronounced redundant. It may be in phrase; it is not in +fact. The carpet-knight, the holiday ranger, the book-worm explorer, +knows but little of the herculean work which has furnished for the +world a practical knowledge of the western half of the North American +continent. We shall see in the progress of this work whether the +adventures of Kit Carson entitle him to a place in the heart of the +American nation on the same shelf with his compeers. + +In that day, the fierce red-man chief scoured the broad prairies, a +petty king in his tribe, a ruler of his wild domain. Bold, haughty, +cautious, wily, unrelenting, revengeful, he led his impassioned +warriors in the chase and to battle. Even to-day, the lurking Indian +foeman is no mean adversary to be laughed and brushed out of the way, +notwithstanding disease, war, assassination and necessary chastisement +have united rapidly to decimate his race, thereby gradually lessening +its power. Thirty years ago the rolling plains were alive with them, +and their numbers alone made them formidable. It is not strange that +the untutored savages of the prairie, like those of their race who +hailed with ungovernable curiosity the landing of the Pilgrims on +Plymouth Rock, should have been attracted by the wonderful inventions +of the white-man intruder. A very short period of time served to turn +this ungovernable curiosity into troublesome thieving. Knowing no law +but their wild traditionary rules, they wrested from the adventurous +pioneer, his rifle, knife, axe, wagon, harness, horse, powder, ball, +flint, watch, compass, cooking utensils, and so forth. The result was, +sanguinary engagements ensued, which led to bitter hostility between +the two races. Doubtless the opinion may be controverted, but it +nevertheless shall be hazarded, that, until the weaker party shall be +exterminated by the stronger, the wild war-whoop, with its keen-edged +knife and death-dealing rifle accompaniments, will continue, from time +to time, to palsy the nerve, and arouse the courage of the pioneer +white man. The Indian, in his attack, no longer showers cloth-yard +arrows upon his foe. He has learned to kill his adversary with the +voice of thunder and the unseen bullet. + +The bold traveller, whose pathway lies over those great highroads +which lead to the Pacific, must still watch for the red man's ambush +by day; and, by night, sleep under the protecting vigilance of the +faithful, quick-sighted sentinel. The savage never forgives his own or +his ancestor's foe. Every generation of them learns from tradition the +trials and exploits of its tribe. From earliest boyhood these form the +burden of their education in history; and, on performing the feat of +courage or strength which admits them to the councils of the braves, +their nation's wrongs are uppermost in their thoughts, causing them to +thirst for a revenge which sooner or later gives them a grave, making +themselves, in turn, an object of revenge. + +It has already appeared that when Kit Carson entered upon his first +expedition, game was to be had in abundance. His route lay across the +western wilds to Santa Fe. All this distance the bulk of provisions, +consisting of a small quantity of flour and bacon, had to be +transported by himself and his companions. These articles were kept +as a reserve, and were looked upon as luxuries; for, that man was +estimated to be a very poor shot who could not obtain, with his rifle, +all the animal food he required for his individual sustenance. These +hunters, however, well understood the laws which govern and the +advantages which follow division of labor. Everything was so arranged, +both for this and subsequent expeditions, by which a regular hunter +was appointed, and each man assigned some particular duty according +to his capacity. These appointments were usually made by the leader +of the party, whose supervision was acknowledged by general consent on +account of his known experience and capability. This plan was the more +necessary in order to avoid confusion. + +The caravan had hardly launched out on its long and tedious tramp, +when an accident occurred which came very near proving serious in its +results. For several days the men had been greatly annoyed by wolves +who appeared more than usually ravenous and bold.[2] + +[Footnote 2: There are two species of these animals found on the +western prairie. One is small, called the Jackal; the other much +larger. The latter, or larger species, are found of various, colors, +but more frequently grey. The color, however, varies with the season +and often from other causes. Many of their habits are strikingly +similar to those of the domestic dog, with the simple difference +that the wolf is unreclaimed from his wild state. The connecting link +between the prairie wolf and the domestic dog is the cur found among +the Indians. The Indian cur, by a casual observer, could be easily +mistaken for a prairie wolf. Near the Rocky Mountains, and in them, +these animals are found of immense size; but, being cowardly, they are +not dangerous. The first night a person sleeps on a prairie is ever +afterwards vividly impressed upon his memory. The serenade of the +wolves with which he is honored, is apt to be distinctly remembered. +It is far from agreeable, and seldom fails to awaken unpleasant +forebodings concerning the future; and, the idea that these fellows +may be soon clearing his bones, is not very genial to the fancy. To +the wolf the graveyard is anything but consecrated ground; and, if a +person is very chary of his cadaver, he had better not leave it on the +Western Plains. The wolf is quite choice in his viands whenever the +opportunity offers, and will, at any time, leave the carcass of an +Indian for that of a white man. Old frontiersmen, speaking of the +wolves, usually style them as "their dogs;" and, after a night when +these animals have kept up an incessant barking, they will express +wonder by asking what has been disturbing "their hounds." The flesh of +the mountain wolf, when cooked, has something of the smell and taste +of mutton, but it is very rank.] + +In order to frighten the wolves, the teamsters would occasionally +shoot them. One of the members of the expedition was obliged to take +a fresh rifle from a wagon. In taking the gun out, the hammer of the +lock caught against some projecting object, which caused it to be +partially set. Having become freed, however, before it was fully set, +it came down and fired the gun. The contents of the barrel were sent +through the man's arm. No member of the expedition was conversant with +surgical knowledge. Here was an occasion to shake the nerves of any +feeling man; and, beneath the rough exterior of the western ranger, +there runs as deep a stream of true humanity as can be found anywhere +on the American continent. Every suggestion was offered and every +effort was put forth which heart feeling chained to anxiety and the +terrible necessity, could offer. Every remedy which promised a good +result was duly weighed; and, if pronounced worthy of trial, it was +adopted. The sufferer had kind, though rough nurses; but, the absence +of scientific skill, under such emergency, proved a sad want for the +unfortunate man. Notwithstanding their united efforts, Broader's arm +grew alarmingly worse. It soon became manifest to all that he must +part with his arm, or lose his life; perhaps both. At this critical +period, a consultation was held, in which the suffering patient +joined. Due deliberation was extended to all the symptoms. The giving +of advice in such a council by men who could only give judgment from +an imaginary stand-point, must strike the heart of true sympathy +as having been painful in no ordinary degree. After every possible +argument had been offered in favor of saving the arm, the final +decision of the council was that it must come off. The next difficulty +which presented itself was quite as formidable as the expression of +a correct judgment. Who should perform the office of surgeon, was the +knotty question? Again the consultations became exciting and intensely +painful. The members of the council, however, took it upon themselves +to designate the persons, and chose Carson with two others. These +immediately set at work to execute their sad but necessary task. The +arrangements were all hastily, but carefully made, and the cutting +begun. The instruments used were a razor, an old saw; and, to arrest +the hemorrhage, the king bolt taken from one of the wagons was heated +and applied to serve as an actual cautery. The operation, rudely +performed, with rude instruments, by unpractised hands, excited to +action only by the spur of absolute necessity, proved, nevertheless, +entirely successful. Before the caravan arrived at Santa Fe the +patient had so far recovered that he was able to take care of himself. + +Besides this unfortunate affair, nothing worthy of note transpired, +beyond the general record of their route, during the remainder of +their journey. The latter would be too voluminous for the general +reader, and has already served its purpose as an assistant to other +exploring parties, both from published account and conversational +directions. The party entered Santa Fe in the month of November. Very +soon after, Kit Carson left his companions and proceeded to Fernandez +de Taos, a Mexican town, which lies about eighty miles to the +northeast of the capital of New Mexico. During the winter that +followed his arrival in the territory of New Mexico, Kit lived with an +old mountaineer by the name of Kin Cade, who very kindly offered him a +home. It was at this period of his life that he commenced studying +the Spanish language. His friend Kin Cade became his assistant in this +task. At the same time Kit neglected no opportunity to learn all he +could about the Rocky Mountains. He little thought, then, that these +earth-formed giants were to become his future home, and so gloriously +to herald his name throughout the entire civilized globe. + +The pinching effects of want now attacked poor Kit. He could obtain no +employment. His expectations in this respect, as well as his earnest +efforts, received so little encouragement that he began, finally, +to despond. Extreme poverty is a wet damper on the fires of the best +genius; but, as was the case with Kit, it does not effectually put +it out. Kit saw with sorrow that he must retrace his steps. To obtain +means to carry out his ardent desires, in the spring of 1827 he +started on a backward trip to Missouri. Every step he took in this +direction was accompanied with such displeasure, that had it not been +his best and surest policy, he would have mastered any difficulties +of another and better course, had such offered. Four hundred and fifty +miles from Santa Fe, being about one half the distance across the +prairies, had been accomplished by the party Kit had joined for this +homeward trip. The fording of the Arkansas River had been reached. +Here Kit's party met with some traders bound for New Mexico. They +offered him employment, which he gladly accepted; and, in their +company, retraced his steps back to Santa Fe But when arrived at +Santa Fe, Kit found himself again without money. He was afforded +an opportunity to obtain a wardrobe, but to the mountaineer, such +property would be entirely a superfluity. He feels nearly independent +on the score of clothing, as he considers that he needs but little +raiment, and that little he is always proud to owe to his beloved +rifle. This brings to his hand buckskins in plenty, and his own +ingenuity is the fashion-plate by which they are manufactured into +wearable and comfortable vesture. There is one article of clothing, +however, for which the frontiersman feels an ardent predilection. It +is a woollen shirt. This article, Kit really needed; and, in equal +pace with his necessity, ran his anxiety that something should offer +by which to obtain one. The reader may smile at this; and, so does Kit +at this day, as he recounts the fact in his own inimitable style. But +Kit says that to obtain a woollen shirt then, was, to him, no laughing +matter. At a moment when he almost despaired of gaining employment, he +received an offer to go as a teamster with an expedition bound to El +Paso. This opportunity was a chance for success not to be lost, and +he closed with the proposition. After faithfully performing his +engagement, he, however, returned to Santa Fe, where he made a short +stay, and then proceeded to Taos. In this town Kit entered into the +service of Mr. Ewing Young, who was a trader and trapper. The reader +may prepare again for a smile, as he will now learn that Kit became +a cook. Mr. Ewing Young has the satisfaction of boasting that the +renowned Kit Carson once performed the responsible and arduous duties +of a master cook in the culinary department of his establishment; and +that, for these valuable services, labor, care and diligence, he gave +to Kit, as a _quid pro quo_, his board. In this way Kit supported +himself in his straitened circumstances until the following spring. + +What was the bright thought which made the bold, the ardent, the +energetic Kit Carson accept this menial office? Surely the brain metal +which was so brightly polished when he set out from Howard county, +Missouri, must have been sadly rusted. Not so! The hope which buoyed +up his spirits while he attempted to rival French pastry and English +beef with American venison and Buffalo meat on the table of Mr. Ewing +Young, was that some trapper, or hunter, would come into Taos, their +favorite place of resort; and, by being ready for an emergency, he +would obtain an opportunity for gaining a permission to join them. His +intention was certainly good, but it lacked the bright crown of good +intention--success. In the spring of 1828, much chagrined with his, +so far, continued bad luck, and no prospect of gaining his object +appearing, he again joined a homeward-bound party and with it, +sorrowfully, started for Missouri. But, as on the former trip +homeward, he met on the route a party bound for Santa Fe. That +indomitable ingredient in his composition, an iron will, caused him +once more to turn his face westward. He joined this party and returned +to Santa Fe, in order again to tempt fortune for an opportunity +to reach the Rocky Mountains. But during all these changes and +counterchanges Kit had not been idle. He had picked up considerable +knowledge, and, to his other stock of accomplishments, had added the +ability to speak the Spanish language. + +On arriving once more at Santa Fe, he fell in with Col. Tramell, who +was at that time a well-known trader. Col Tramell needed a Spanish +interpreter. Kit obtained the post, and set out with him for +Chihuahua, one of the Mexican States. Here again Kit made a change in +his employment. In Chihuahua he fell in with Mr. Robert McKnight. +To him he hired out as a teamster, and in this capacity went to the +copper mines which are found near to the Rio Gila. Amid the weary +necessities of this humble but honorable calling, Kit's heart was +constantly alive with ambition to become a hunter and trapper. He knew +that he was expert with the rifle, which had been his boyish toy, and +felt confident that he could rely upon it as an assistant to gain an +honest living. His constant thought at this time was, let him now be +engaged in whatever calling chance offered and necessity caused him +to accept, the final pursuit of his life would be as a hunter and +trapper. Here, then, is presented a fair example of the strife, both +inward and outward, through which a young man of courage and ambition +must expect to pass before he can win position, influence, and the +comforts of life, whatever the scene of his action, or whatever the +choice of employment suitable to his talent and genius. Kit Carson +was determined, no matter what might be the obstacles which presented +themselves, to be a hunter and trapper. + +The reader will have made a sad mistake if he has concluded, that +during the time which has intervened since Kit started from Missouri, +he has been roaming in a country where there was less danger than when +he was in the picketed fort with his father. Such a supposition would +be greatly at fault. The towns in New Mexico, at this early period, +were almost entirely at the mercy of the Indians. The Mexicans were +nearly destitute of means to defend themselves. Very few of the +Anglo-Saxon race had entered this territory, and those who had +were, in turn, exposed to the vacillating wills of the proverbially +treacherous Mexicans. A man like Kit Carson, however, born and bred in +danger, cared but little about this state of affairs. The dangers did +not enter into his calculations of chance to overcome the difficulties +which beset the pathway which the alluring hopes of his ambition had +marked out. Not long afterward, he left the copper mines, and once +more bent his steps to Taos, in company with a small party. At Taos, +he found a band of trappers which had been sent out by Mr. Ewing +Young. While _en route_ for the river Colorado of the _west_, in +pursuit of game, they had been attacked by a band of Indians. After +fighting an entire day, they had been compelled to retreat, and +returned to New Mexico. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + The news of the Defeat of Mr. Young's Trapping Party by the + Indians reaches Taos--Young raises a Party to chastise the + Indians--Kit Carson becomes a Conspicuous Member of the + Expedition--The Indians are found on Salt River--The + Fight--Trapping Exploits--A new Country--Trials and + Vicissitudes--Sacramento Valley--California and its Roman + Catholic Missions in 1829--Another Indian Fight--Sale of + Furs--Indian Depredations--Kit Carson and Twelve Trappers + engage with the Indians in a Battle--Return to the Camp with + recovered Property. + + +The news of the attack and defeat of his men by the Indians, was +brought to Mr. Ewing Young at Taos by a member of the unfortunate +expedition. On learning the causes which brought this unpleasant +termination to his enterprise, Mr. Young raised a party of forty men, +consisting of Americans, Canadians and Frenchmen, and put himself at +its head. Kit Carson was received into the party, and soon became +one of its most prominent and efficient aids. Mr. Young's object was +two-fold: first, to chastise the Indians; and, second, to make all he +could out of the expedition by employing the men in their calling +as trappers. Under the Mexican laws, licenses were required from the +government to all Mexicans who set out on trapping expeditions. These +were not granted to citizens of the United States. This was not +the mere will of governmental officials; the Mexican statutory law +prohibited the granting of licenses to citizens of the United States. +This law was, however, often made a dead letter by Americans; for, +they frequently, but stealthily evaded it. In order, therefore, to +hoodwink the Mexican authorities, Mr. Young had to resort to various +expedients. His preparations were so carefully and secretly made, that +the real business he had in contemplation did not transpire, or even a +suspicion gain currency as to his intended whereabouts. + +In April, 1829, the party set out, eager to bring about results equal +to their anticipations. At first, to avoid the curiosity and inquiring +disposition of the Mexicans, they traveled northward, as if their +destination was into the territory of the United States. Hints had +been sufficiently freely bestowed upon the Mexicans to lead them to +believe that such was the destination of the party. After journeying +fifty miles in this direction, and feeling themselves free from the +scrutiny of the Mexican authorities, they changed their course to the +southwest, and travelled through the country occupied by the Navajoes, +who are an interesting and dangerous race of Indians, even to the +trader of this day. On their route, the company passed through Zuni, +a Peublo town; thence they traveled to the head of Salt River, one +of the tributaries of the Rio Gila. Here they discovered the band of +Indians who had attacked and defeated the former party. As soon as the +Indians discovered the party of trappers, they became eager for the +affray. The usual preliminaries for such fights were, therefore, +quickly made on both sides. Young directed the greater part of his men +to lie in ambush, for he felt confident that the Indians did not know +his strength. The bands of savages who covered the hills round about +mistook the halt necessary to complete the ambush for cowardice and +fear on the part of the whites. At this their courage arose, to such +a degree, that they made a bold charge against, as they supposed, +the small party of white men who were visible. They were allowed to +advance well into the trap, until, by the position of the trappers +in ambush, they came under a cross fire. At the word of command, a +general volley was fired into the advance column. Fifteen warriors +fell dead, and many others were wounded. The Indians became +panic-stricken, and the trappers immediately following up their +advantage, advanced from cover. The warriors did not rally for a +second attack, but fled in every direction, leaving Young, with his +party, masters of the field. Strange as it has ever seemed, to the +inquiring mind, in those days and for many succeeding years, companies +of white men from fifty to sixty in number could wage successful war +against whole tribes of Indians, who could easily muster a thousand +fighting men. A reason often given for this is, that the trappers of +the western wilds are invariably "dead shots" with the rifle and +well versed in Indian strategy. On the other hand, the red men were, +comparatively speaking, poorly armed, and could not travel together +for any length of time in large parties, because they depended for +food chiefly upon hunting. Had there existed no other cause, the means +of obtaining provision being limited, must have compelled them to +separate. Very frequently whole tribes are reduced to depend upon +daily hunts. The bravery of the Indians is of a different stamp from +that which is exhibited by the whites, especially where the white man +is a Simon-pure western trapper. The white man on the prairie or in +the mountains, knows but too well that if attacked by Indians he +must conquer or die. It was, and is, seldom that a company out on an +expedition has any place of refuge to which it may retreat. Here is +the principal reason why the trapper is so seldom defeated. He cannot +afford to lose his life to a certainty, and consequently will not +allow a defeat. + +After this fight, Young's party trapped down the Salt River to San +Francisco River, and thence on up to the head of the latter stream. +The Indians failed not to hover on their pathway, and to make nightly +attacks upon their party. Frequently they would crawl into camp and +steal a trap, or kill a mule or a horse, and do whatever other damage +they could secretly. At the head of the San Francisco River the +company was divided. It was so arranged, that one party was to proceed +to the valley of the Sacramento in California. Of this detachment +Kit Carson was a member. The other party had orders to return to New +Mexico for the purpose of procuring traps to replace those stolen. +This latter party was also commissioned to take and dispose of the +stock of beaver already on hand. The party bound for California was +eighteen in number. Of this party Mr. Young took command. Previous to +setting out, a few days were devoted to hunting. They only succeeded, +however, in killing three deer. The meat of these animals they +prepared to take with them, as they were about to journey into a +country never before explored. The skins of the three deer were +converted into tanks for carrying water. They had learned from some +friendly Indians that the country over which they had to pass _en +route_ was destitute of water. The red men told them additionally +that the valley (meaning the Sacramento) was beautiful, and that the +streams were full of beaver. All of this information the trappers +found was true. For four days they travelled over a barren country, +where not one drop of water could be found. At each night's +camping-place, small allowances of water from the tanks was +distributed by the commander to each man and animal. A guard was then +stationed over the remainder to prevent any accident from depriving +the company of this now precious article of sustenance. At the close +of the fourth day, however, they again found water. The instinct +exhibited by the pack mules on this occasion was truly remarkable. +Long before any member of the party thought that water was so near, +the mules, with unerring certainty, had smelt it, and each one, +according to his remaining strength, had hurried on to partake of it. +The result was, that when the first mule had reached the water, the +remainder were scattered along upon the trail for a great distance. +The company encamped here, and remained two days to recruit. + +The journey was renewed on the third day, the route being still over a +similar kind of country, necessitating both man and beast to submit to +similar privations as to water. In four days more they came in sight +of the great Canon of the Colorado, which failed not to awaken a +thrill of delight in every member of the party. Just before reaching +the Canon they met a party of Mohave Indians, of whom they purchased +an old mare. She was killed and eaten by the party with great gusto. +The party remained three days on the banks of the Colorado recruiting +their strength. While remaining here, another party of Mohave Indians +visited them, from whom they procured a small quantity of corn +and beans. Leaving the Colorado they recommenced their journey and +travelled southwest. In three days they arrived at a stream which +rises in the coast range, runs northeast and is lost in the sands of +the Great Basin. About two years previous to their arrival here, three +trappers by the names of Smith, Sublett, and Jackson, with a large +party of men, had a desperate fight in this neighborhood with hostile +Indians. They, also, had learned from friendly Indians of the wonders +of the Sacramento Valley, and were _en route_ to explore it when +attacked. Four only out of their entire company escaped with their +lives. These succeeded in making their way to the nearest Mexican +settlements, which they reached in a state of complete destitution, +after many hardships. Young and his party followed the dry bed of this +river for several days before they came to any visible water. It may +be interesting to some of our readers to know that there are many of +these curious rivers in western America, which, for miles disappear +from the surface of the earth, and, probably, run through the +quicksand beneath, as they reappear again. The outline of the river +usually exists between the place of its disappearance and the place +where the water again comes to the surface of the earth. By digging +a few feet into the sand within the outline, the water is generally +obtained. It takes but a short time, however, for the hole thus made +to fill up again. On quitting this river, the party journeyed to the +westward, and, in four days, came to the Mission of San Gabriel. Here +they found one Roman Catholic priest, fifteen Mexican soldiers, and +about one thousand Indians. Belonging to this little colony were +eighty thousand head of cattle, fine fields and vineyards. Literally +the work and life of the Jewish patriarchs were here being reenacted. + + "A shepherd on the mighty plain he watched his roving store." + +To the half-starved followers of Mr. Young, this Mission appeared to +be a "Paradise of Earth." They remained here, however, but one day. +Having nothing else to trade, they parted with their butcher knives, +receiving for four of them one fat ox. It would all appear a fabulous +tale, were we to incorporate into this narrative a history, or even a +slight description of the immensity of the herds of horses and cattle +which once roamed over the plains and valleys of California and New +Mexico. It is but a few years since, that some wealthy Mexicans +owned herds in these parts of America which they numbered by tens of +thousands. They were, however, almost valueless for want of a market; +and, until the tide of emigration poured in, developing the resources +of the country by its demand for provisions and labor, horses and +cattle were sold for a mere trifle. In one day's march from San +Gabriel, Young and his party arrived at another Roman Catholic +Mission, called San Fernando. This establishment was on a much smaller +scale than the first. Young and his hardy followers, however, stopping +only for a few hours, pushed on for the Sacramento River, which proved +to be distant only a few days' march. Their course from San Fernando +was northeast. The last part of their journey led through a delightful +tract of country, where water, grass and game existed in abundance, +seemingly a foretaste of the success which awaited their further +advance. Selecting an eligible camping site, Young here rested his +party for some time. When they were fully recruited, the party started +for the San Joaquin, and commenced trapping down the river. What gave +the men great surprise, they discovered unmistakable signs of another +trapping party. In a short time it appeared that they were close to a +party belonging to the Hudson's Bay Company, commanded by Peter Ogden. +Young's men, however, continued setting their traps on the San Joaquin +and its tributaries. The two parties were near each other for some +time, and as deer, elk, and antelope existed by thousands around them, +which it was no trouble to kill in any numbers desirable, they +fared well. On again reaching the Sacramento River, the two parties +separated. Mr. Ogden, with his party, set out for the Columbia River, +while Mr. Young's party encamped where they were, for the remainder of +the summer. As the season for trapping had passed, they employed their +time in hunting and preparing meat for future necessity. + +It was here that Kit Carson soon distinguished himself as a superior +hunter, which reputation he has maintained ever since, no matter who +have been his antagonists. Not but that Kit may have had his equals; +but that it is next to an impossibility to find his superior. At all +events, the world has given Kit Carson the title of "Nestor of the +Rocky Mountains," for his reputation as a hunter alone; and as his +biographer, we take pleasure in recording the facts by which the title +has been earned and maintained. Let the reader possess himself of the +facts, as they shall appear divested of any and every picture which +fancy or partiality may accidentally cause us to paint, and even then +Kit Carson will not lose the title. On the contrary, it will become +the more indelibly stamped upon his brow. + +During the sojourn of the trappers on the Sacramento, an event +occurred which exhibited the readiness with which these men responded +to calls upon them for aid in a just cause. A few of the Indians +belonging to the Mission of the San Rafael, after committing some +excesses, deserted from those to whom they had pretended friendship. +The priest having charge of the Mission sent a strong force to search +for the fugitives. They were found secreted in an Indian village, +the inhabitants of which were not on friendly terms with the priest's +party. A demand was made that the deserters should be given up, which +being refused, a fight ensued, and the priest's party was defeated. +Assistance was now asked from the trappers. The request was complied +with by Carson and eleven of his companions, who volunteered for the +occasion. Thus reinforced, the vanquished party returned and resumed +the fight, but with a far different result. The Indian village was +captured and one third of its inhabitants killed. The day following +a second demand to deliver up the deserters was complied with. Carson +and his companions then left the priest's party and rejoined their +camp. A short time after this affair had happened, Mr. Young carried +the furs he had on hand to the Mission of San Rafael, where he was +so fortunate as to find a captain of a trading schooner to whom he +succeeded in disposing of the entire stock. With the money accruing +from the sale, he purchased horses and then rejoined his company. + +A circumstance occurred a few days after Mr. Young's return, which +proved to be a good warning to the party for their future vigilance. +During one dark night, some Indians, eluding the watch of the +sentinels, succeeded in entering the camp and moving off sixty horses. +As soon as the robbery was discovered, which had been the more easily +accomplished because the trappers, not apprehending danger, had +allowed the animals to take care of themselves, Mr. Young directed +Kit Carson to take twelve men with the remaining horses, fourteen in +number, and pursue the thieves. Carson, in obedience to his orders, +immediately started for the Sierra Nevada Mountains, following the +trail of the Indians. After travelling one hundred miles he came up +with the robbers, and discovered them in the act of feasting upon +horse-flesh, six of their own animals having been killed to supply the +viands. Doubtless stolen fruit made the feast all the sweeter to the +savages, but Kit determined to mingle a little of the bitter as a +condiment to the roasted flesh. Gathering his men well together, and +approaching very close to the foe without being discovered, he gave +the order to charge. His men needed no second command. They fell upon +the feasting savages like a thunderbolt, scattering them right and +left without mercy. Eight of the warriors were killed in the short +conflict which ensued. The remainder were allowed to escape. With some +difficulty they next succeeded in recovering all their horses, except +the six which had been killed. With their horses, and three children +taken prisoners, they returned to camp. It is unnecessary to add that, +to men thus isolated in the wilderness, Kit and his party were hailed +with joyful greetings when their complete success became known. To +them their horses were like the good ship to the hardy sailors on the +mighty ocean. The joyful reaction which followed such complete success +was in ratio to the fears which the continuing suspense had excited. + +Kit Carson, though at that day a youth in years and experience when +compared with the other members of the party of which he was then an +associate, had risen rapidly in the estimation of all, and had excited +the admiration and enlisted in his behalf the confidence of the entire +band. When called upon to add his counsel and advice to the general +fund of knowledge offered by the trappers concerning any doubtful or +difficult enterprise, his masterly foresight and shrewdness, as well +as clearness in attending to details, alone gave him willing auditors. +But it was the retired manner and modest deportment, which he +invariably wore, that won for him the love of his associates. Such +characteristics failed not to surprise, in no ordinary degree, those +who could boast a long lifetime of experience in Indian countries. +Kit Carson's powers of quickly conceiving thoughts, on difficult +emergencies, which pointed out the safest and best plans of action, +"just the things that ought to be done," and his bravery, which, in +his youth, sometimes amounted to rashness, were the component parts of +his ability which thus caused his companions to follow his leadership. +His courage, promptitude, willingness, self-reliance, caution, +sympathy, and care for the wounded, marked him at once as the +master-mind and safest counsellor. His first trapping expedition +gained him so much credit, that from the time it was concluded, he +found no difficulty in joining any band of trappers, no matter how +select the party. In this respect the mountaineers resemble sea-faring +men, who invariably dislike new and untried hands, because such are so +apt to give more trouble than assistance. Green hands, therefore, are +treated with indifference when they apply to be admitted as members on +a contemplated hunt. The reader will here see one difficulty which +had to be overcome by Carson, and which kept him so long in want of +employment. From this time Kit carried a rifle and worked from an +experience which commanded admiration, respect, and esteem wherever +he went, and with whatever party he became connected. Like the great +Napoleon, when he joined the army for his first campaign, he was a +hero in spite of his youth among men grown grey with experience. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + The Return from California to New Mexico--San Fernando and the + Peublo of Los Angelos--Description of these Peublos--Passports + demanded at Los Angelos--Trouble with the Mexican + Authorities--Kit Carson sent on with the Pack Animals + One Trapper shoots another--The Mexicans become + frightened--Indians come into Camp with their Weapons + concealed--Cool Reception by Kit Carson--Arrival at Santa + Fe and Taos--Money realized soon parted with--Carson joins + another Expedition--The Rivers trapped on--Four Men Killed + by Blackfeet Indians--Kit Carson joins Gaunt's Party--The + Parks--Winter Quarters--Crow Indian Depredations--Kit + Carson and his Party in Pursuit--the Fight--Winter on the + Arkansas--Another Expedition--Two Deserters--Kit Carson + sent in Pursuit--The Fate of the Runaways--Adventures with + Indians--Hair-breadth Escape made by Kit Carson. + + +In September, Mr. Young, having accomplished all that he had intended, +informed his men that he was going to New Mexico. The homeward +route was through most of the country over which they had previously +traveled. The preparations for the journey having been completed, the +party started, touching on the way at the Mission of San Fernando, and +thence through to the Peublo of Los Angelos. Scattered over various +parts of the dominion of Old Mexico are these Peublos, or Indian +villages, called so because they are inhabited by Indians who bear +that name. These are the true descendants of the ancient Aztecs, who +were once the subjects of the Montezumas. They are usually a quiet +and industrious race, and are most devout in their religious worship, +according to the principles, forms, and ceremonies of the Roman +Catholic Church. They have not failed to inherit the superstition of +their forefathers. Not withstanding the changes which time, with its +cohorts of emigration, books, religious teachings, association with +other races, mechanics, science and art, in greater or less degree, +has introduced into their country, and accomplished under their eyes, +they still believe that some day their great chief will return to +them; accordingly, in each and every one of their towns, they keep a +watch-fire burning, in order, on his advent, to let him know where his +children live. + +At Los Angelos the Mexican authorities came to the trappers and +demanded their passports. On finding that such articles of paper +authority did not form any part of a trapper's outfit, they determined +to arrest them. Fear, however, prevented their determination from +assuming any very formidable action. Former experience in a similar +matter of official duty had taught those Mexicans that the American +trappers were men of a peculiarly resolute nature. Fair and legitimate +means were therefore laid aside, and a foul policy adopted. They +commenced supplying them with "firewater," thus attacking them in a +weak point. When they should become fully inebriated they considered +the matter of their arrest both easy and certain. + +Mr. Young, seeing the intentions of the authorities, and their +underhanded method of carrying them out, determined to thwart them. +He directed Carson to take three men, the loose animals and the camp +equipage, and move on, with the instructions, that if he did not soon +join him, to push on; that if he did not eventually overtake him, to +report in New Mexico that the main party had been massacred. Young +succeeded in collecting his men as best he could, for they were yet +sufficiently sober to retain a little of their reason. The treacherous +Mexicans, however, continued annoying the commander of the trappers by +gratuitously offering the men all the liquor they desired. One by one, +the trappers were allowing themselves to be easily conquered, as the +effects of the liquor began to be more active. They would soon have +fallen a complete prey to their enemies, had not a most singular +circumstance put the Mexicans to flight. One of the trappers, named +James Higgins, without any provocation and without any excuse, except +that he was intoxicated, shot a man named James Lawrence, inflicting +a slight wound. Such conduct so terrified the Mexicans that they took +sudden and precipitous leave. This happened, very fortunately, before +the party arrived at the mission of San Gabriel, where they would +all have been arrested, and perhaps killed, by the Mexicans, aided by +parties and reinforcements at the mission. + +About dark, Young, by urging his half-drunken men into a forced march, +succeeded in overtaking Carson. At the first supply of water, they +went into camp. A night of sleep soon set the brains of Young's +trappers once more to rights. The next day the party, most of them +sufficiently ashamed of their drunken debauch, commenced with vigor +the homeward march. They continued nine days almost upon their former +track, when outward bound. On the ninth day, they once more stood on +the banks of the Colorado River. + +While encamped on this stream, a band of five hundred Indians made +their appearance and entered the camp. The rascals professed the +greatest friendship for the trappers, but their actions not fully +measuring their words, the white men looked to Carson for advice. He +had discovered that beneath their articles of dress their weapons were +very carefully concealed; and from this circumstance it became quite +clearly apparent the Indians intended to massacre the entire party. +Here Carson's boldness proved, as it had before, and did many a time +afterwards, the safety of himself and friends or associates. At the +time the Indians entered the camp, Carson, with only a few of the +party, occupied it; the rest were out visiting their traps, which it +was their general custom to set whenever they arrived at a suitable +stream. Kit having thus become satisfied concerning the design of the +savages, and feeling that the salvation of the entire party rested +upon his courage and wisdom, made up his mind that boldness was the +wisest policy he could adopt. He found present among the warriors one +who could speak the Spanish language. Through him he ordered the +red men "to leave the camp. In the event of their not doing so +immediately, he and his friends would, without further parley, +commence hostilities, and would be sure each in killing his man, +although they might all in the end lose their own lives." + +The Indians had been accustomed to act about as they chose with such +small parties of Mexicans as they chanced to meet, and consequently +were taken completely by surprise at Kit's unusual boldness. Seeing +that they would inevitably lose several of their braves if they +made any hostile demonstration, they chose the discreet part of best +policy, and departed. As a general rule, no matter what the profit or +urgent necessity which chance offers, these Indians will not hazard a +contest when, to a certainty, they must expect their own killed will +equal the number of scalps which they can obtain. This rule, and +doubtless some fearfulness on the part of the Indians, saved the lives +of the entire band. + +As has already appeared, the trappers were on the banks of the +Colorado at the time this affair happened. They continued their work +on it, descending the south side until they reached tide water, when +they changed their camp on to the Gila, and continued trapping up this +river as far as the mouth of the San Pedro. Near the outlet of this +river, they discovered a large herd of horses and mules; on a closer +examination, they found that they were in the possession of a band +of Indians who had formerly given them some of their gratuitous +hostilities. Not having forgotten their former troubles with these +people, they determined to pay them off in their own coin by depriving +them of the herd. A short search sufficed to discover the Indian camp. +Without waiting an instant, they put their horses to their speed and +charged in among the huts. The Indians were so completely taken by +surprise, that they became panic-struck and fled in every direction. +They, however, rallied somewhat, and a running 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 a 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 in the mountains a man's gun rests in the same +blanket with himself on all sleeping occasions--they sallied forth to +reconnoitre, and discovered a few warriors driving along a band of at +least two hundred horses. The trappers comprehended instantly that the +warriors had been to the Mexican settlements in Sonora on a thieving +expedition, and that the horses had changed hands with only one party +to the bargain. The opportunity to instill a lesson on the savage +marauders was too good to be lost. + +They saluted the thieves with a volley from their rifles, which, with +the bullet-whizzing about their heads and bodies, so astonished them, +that they seemed almost immediately to forget their stolen property, +and to think only of a precipitous flight. In a few moments, the +whites found themselves masters of the field, and also of the +property. To return the animals to their owners was an impossibility; +Mr. Young, therefore, selected as many of the best horses as he needed +for himself and men, and game being very scarce, killed two and dried +most of the meat for future use, turning the remainder loose. Such +either became wild mustangs or fell again into the clutches of the +Indians. The company then renewed their trapping, and continued it up +the Gila to a point opposite the copper mines of New Mexico. Here they +left the river and proceeded to the copper mines, where they found Mr. +Robert McKnight engaged in trading with the neighboring Indian tribes. +These mines were not then, and ever since have not been, worked. The +holes which had many years before been made by the miners--but who +they were is unknown--formed a safe hiding-place for their skins. The +stock of beaver was therefore placed under the care of Mr. McKnight. +Young and his men then renewed their march, and in due time arrived +safely at Santa Fe. Here they purchased licenses to trade with the +Indians who live about the copper mines. With these licenses as +protection papers, they returned to where the skins were concealed. +Having once more recovered their fur, they returned with it to Santa +Fe. The deserted mines of New Mexico show incontrovertible signs +of having been successfully and extensively worked, at some remote +period, for various kinds of metals. They have proved a knotty +historical problem to many an investigating mind; for their authentic +history has fallen, and probably will ever remain in oblivion. It +may have been that about a century ago the Spaniards, with Indian +assistants, worked them; and the savages becoming hostile to their +employers, in some sudden fit of frenzy may have massacred the +Spaniards. There is a legendary story circulating, similar to the +traditions of the Indians, giving this explanation. The more probable +hypothesis, however, is that the Indians themselves, many centuries in +the past, were versed to some extent in the art of mining, and carried +on the business in these mines; but from indolence or, to them, +uselessness of the metals, the work was abandoned, and their +descendants failed to obtain the knowledge which their ancestors +possessed. These mines, and those which exist nearer to the large +towns, will some day render New Mexico a profitable and rich field for +the learned antiquary. + +The ruse which Mr. Young found absolutely necessary to employ, in +order to blind the Mexican authorities, succeeded so well, that when +the fur arrived at Santa Fe, every one considered the trappers had +made a very good trade. The amount of beaver thus brought in amounted +to two thousand pounds. The market price was twelve dollars the pound. +The proceeds, therefore, of the entire trip were nearly twenty-four +thousand dollars. The division of this handsome sum gave to each man +several hundred dollars. It was during the month of April, 1830, that +Mr. Young's party again reached the town of Taos. Here they disbanded, +having completed their enterprise. Like as Jack, when he returns +from his battles with old ocean, having a pocket well lined with hard +earnings, fails not to plunge into excess, with the determination to +make up for the pleasure lost by years of toil, the brave mountaineers +courted merrymaking. From their own accounts, they passed a short +time gloriously. This similarity of disposition between trappers and +sailors, in regard to pleasure's syren cup and its consequent draft +upon their treasures, causing them to forget the risk of life and +limb and the expense of their valuable time, is most remarkable. These +hardy trappers, like reliable old salts, proved to be as true to the +bowl as they had been to their steel; for, most of the party, in a +very brief space of time, were penniless and ready to be fitted +out for another expedition. Young Kit, at this period of his life, +imitated the example set by his elders, for he wished to be considered +by them as an equal and a friend. He, however, passed through +this terrible ordeal, which most frequently ruins its votary, +and eventually came out brighter, clearer and more noble for the +conscience-polish which he received. He contracted no bad habits, +but learned the usefulness and happiness of resisting temptation, and +became so well schooled that he was able, by the caution and advice of +wisdom founded on experience, to prevent many a promising and skillful +hand from grasping ruin in the same vortex. + +The scenes of pleasure lasted until the fall of 1830. Kit then joined +his second trapping expedition. This band had been formed for the +purpose of trapping the principal streams of the Rocky Mountains. Mr. +Fitzpatrick, a trapper well known and respected by the mountaineers, +had charge of the party. He was, at that time, well acquainted by +experience with the Rocky Mountains, and has, since then, gained an +enviable fame as an Indian Agent. The new party travelled North and +commenced operations on the Platte River, which they followed down +stream to one of its tributaries, the Sweet Water River. From +here they worked on until they reached the Green River. Hence they +journeyed to Jackson's Hole, which is a fork of the Great Columbia +River. After making a short stay at this point they started for the +Salmon River. Here they were joined by a band of their own party, who +had left Taos some days in advance of the main body, and for whom they +were then hunting. The whole party, as now organized, remained where +they were throughout the winter of 1830 and 1831, employed in killing +only the amount of game necessary for their sustenance. An unfortunate +affair here happened to them. Four of their men, while hunting +buffalo, were attacked and killed by a party of Blackfeet Indians. +No other incident occurred during the winter to change the everyday +routine. In April of 1831, they recommenced trapping, shaping their +course for Bear River. This is the principal stream that empties into +GREAT SALT LAKE. Thence they returned to Green River, where they found +some Trappers under the command of Mr. Sinclair, who left New Mexico +soon after Mr. Fitzpatrick's party and had wintered on the Bear River. +Among many other facts, they learned from this party that Captain +Gaunt, who was an old mountaineer well known to most of the whites +present, had passed the winter on the Laramie River, and that he +was then with his men in the New Park. Kit Carson and four of his +companions determined to join him. For this purpose they started, and, +after ten days of steady travel, found his party. + +There are two of these natural Parks in the Rocky Mountains. To +distinguish them they are called the Old Park and the New Park. As +their names imply, they are fair natural examples of the manufactured +parks of civilization. In some things nature has lavished upon them +charms and beauties which no human skill can imitate. These parks are +favorite haunts of the deer, antelope and elk, while the streams which +run through them are well stocked with otter and beaver. Kit and +his companions were graciously received by Gaunt; and, with him they +trapped the streams in the vicinity of the New Park and the plains of +Laramie to the South fork of the Platte. Having finished here, they +left for the Arkansas, remaining there while their captain went to +Taos to dispose of their stock of furs and to make such purchases of +necessaries as the men required. Gaunt returned after an absence of +two months; when, trapping operations were resumed on the Arkansas +River, which they trapped until it froze over. The party then went +into Winter Quarters. + +The business of trapping for beaver is no child's play. A person +unaccustomed to it may possibly look upon it as no very difficult +task. A single trial is usually sufficient to satisfy the uninitiated +on this point; for, the beaver, above all other wild animals of +America is endowed with an extraordinary amount of instinct. His +handiwork and habits sufficiently attest this. + +There are bands of Indians living in the Northwestern part of America +who really believe that the beaver has almost as much intelligence as +an Indian, holding and maintaining that all the difference that exists +between a beaver and an Indian, is, that the latter has been endowed +by the Great Spirit with power and capabilities to catch the former. +Some of the stories which old mountaineers occasionally inflict upon +an inquisitive traveller are somewhat startling; nevertheless, what +this amphibious animal really performs is truly astounding, and +oftentimes the truth fails to gain credence. + +During the winter the trappers had many very pleasant times, for they +had little work beyond the task of making themselves comfortable. +The snow fell to a great depth, which proved rather hard for their +animals. By dint of cutting down cottonwood trees and gathering the +bark and branches for fodder, they managed to prevent them from dying +of starvation. The buffalo existed about there in great abundance; +and, early in the winter, they had taken the precaution to kill and +prepare a large supply of this kind of game, while it was in good +condition. As the season advanced therefore, the trappers found +themselves living quite sumptuously. + +In the month of January, the daily routine of their lives was +rather unpleasantly disturbed. A party of fifty Crow Indians made an +unfriendly visit to their camp on one very dark night. They succeeded +in stealing nine of their loose animals, with which they escaped +unperceived. Early the next morning, the _signs_ of the Indians were +discovered. Kit Carson, with twelve of his companions, immediately +saddled their horses and started in pursuit. It was very difficult +to follow the trail of the Indians from the fact that many herds of +buffalo had crossed and repeatedly recrossed it during the night, +making the tracks very indistinct. Having traveled forty miles, their +horses, which were very poor in flesh, became fatigued, causing them +to think of making a halt. After due consultation, it was agreed that +they had best go into camp. With this object in view they traveled +towards some timber which was near by. On arriving at the woods, +the advance of the party, to their surprise and not less to their +satisfaction, discovered the smoke of their enemies' fires. The +distance between the parties was inconsiderable; but, in order that +their movements might be made unobserved, the trappers retreated to +a secluded spot where they awaited the night, judging it best to take +the party by surprise. Their first care was to secure and provide for +their animals. The second was to prepare their arms. As soon as it +would do for them to move, they started, eager for the strife. It was +judged best first to make a half circuit and then approach the Indians +from the direction they themselves were travelling, as from this +source, they wisely judged the red men would be less apprehensive of +an attack. Their movements were made slowly and with great care in +order not to alarm the savages. Having obtained a position close +enough to observe the strength of their enemies, they stopped to +reconnoitre. The men then crept for a long distance on their hands and +knees until finally they obtained a full view of the Indians, which +showed them that the savages had erected two rough forts and that they +were now divided into two parties. A dance was in progress in honor of +the robbery so recently perpetrated, which proved conclusively, that +they were without even a suspicion of danger. Just outside one of the +forts, the nine stolen animals were securely tied. This sight did not +tend to allay the wrath of the trappers. They resolved that come what +might the attempt to regain their property and punish the Indians +should be made notwithstanding their strength. To insure success in +spite of their weakness, they determined to conceal themselves and +wait quietly until the Indians had lain down for sleep. During this +time of suspense the trappers were subjected to great suffering +for the weather was intensely cold and they possessed but a scanty +allowance of clothing fit for such work. But as there is an end to all +things, there was an end to the dance and other festivities and the +savages sought their rest. At last the time for action arrived. Kit +Carson and five of his companions commenced crawling towards the +stolen horses, which, on reaching, were easily set free by cutting +their halters. They then threw snow-balls at them and by this means +drove them away without disturbing the sleeping Indians. The trappers +who acted as a reserve party soon after joined Kit and his companions; +and, after retreating some distance in order to be out of the hearing +of the enemy, they held a council to obtain the views of each member +of the party as to their next step. It appeared that a difference of +opinion existed; some of the men were in favor of returning, having +recovered their property and sustained no damage. The remainder, +those who had lost no animals, wanted satisfaction for the trouble +and hardship they had undergone while in pursuit of the thieves. +Kit Carson and two others composed this latter party and thus were +determined to punish the thieves, let the consequences of the attempt +be ever so fatal. The more peaceful party, seeing this earnestness, +could not do otherwise than lend their aid in the fight and cheerfully +did so. + +There always existed such a feeling of brotherly love among the old +trappers of the Rocky Mountains, that the hour of peril was never the +hour for separation or desertion. This instance affords a fair example +how the minority could easily rule the majority when the minority held +to the side of danger. The whole band were now unanimous in favor of +the attack. + +Kit Carson, who had from the first acted as captain, ordered three +men to take the recovered animals back to where they had secured their +saddle horses. Then, with his comrades, he marched directly for the +Indian camp. A dog belonging to the enemy first gave the alarm of +approaching danger to the Indians; but not until Kit and his party +were within a few paces of the first fort. As soon as the occupants +of the fort heard the noise they sprang to their feet, and thus became +fair marks for the unerring rifles of the trappers. The whites did not +throw away a single shot; every ball struck a warrior in some vital +spot. Those who survived retreated to the fort occupied by their +friends, and, as soon as possible, commenced returning the fire; but +without execution, as the trappers, on discharging their first volley, +had well concealed themselves behind trees, from whence they were +shooting only when sure of an object. It was now nearly daybreak; and +as the savages discovered the weakness of the attacking party, they +resolved to charge, feeling sure of success. They did so; but the +white men, who were expert fighters in this kind of warfare, quietly +waited until the Indians were fully exposed. They then fired and +killed five warriors. The remainder immediately retreated into the +fort. + +After considerable deliberation, the Indians decided once more to make +a sortie. On they came, and this time with such determination that +the trappers could not withstand the assault, but were compelled to +retreat. They disputed, however, every inch of ground over which they +trod, as they fell back from one tree to another, continually making +their bullets tell with terrible effect on their foes. The three men +who had been sent back with the horses had joined their comrades soon +after they had commenced retreating. They had heard the incessant +firing and had become convinced that the fight was hotly contested and +that their services were required. On their joining, the whole party +resolved to make one more stand, and as soon as the Indians saw this, +they wavered and finally drew off. Both sides had now, seemingly, had +enough of fighting, and hostilities soon after entirely ceased, the +savages marching back and leaving the whites masters of the field. +Several of the trappers were slightly, but none dangerously, wounded. +The Indians had paid dearly, in numbers killed, for their rascality. +Finding the coast clear, Carson and his men set out and soon rejoined +their comrades on the Arkansas River. In the Spring, after having +_cached_ their fur, the whole band departed for Laramie River on +another expedition. + +While on the south fork of the Platte, two of the party deserted, +taking with them three of their best animals. Suspecting their design, +Gaunt sent Kit Carson and another man in pursuit of the fugitives, who +had one day the start. As was suspected, the two deserters had gone +to the camp where the beaver fur was concealed and buried. They had +succeeded in digging it up and stealing about three hundred pounds of +this valuable property, belonging to the company in general, share and +share alike. Carson and his companion failed entirely in their +efforts to find the two men. Doubtless they never lived to enjoy their +ill-gotten wealth; for, notwithstanding careful search was made, the +men were never heard from afterwards. It is probable that they were +killed by Indians, a fate which they, at least, richly merited. + +This old camp, the reader will please bear in mind, was on the +Arkansas River. Kit Carson and his comrade, after finding that the two +deserters had thus succeeded in stealing the fur which had been buried +by the company, made every further effort which lay in their power +to recover it. As has also been seen, they were unsuccessful. It now +remained for them to determine their future course. The country was so +infested with hostile Indians that it made their position, thus +alone, very precarious. To regain their commander's company was almost +impracticable; at least, without a more important object to make the +risk necessary, it was a foolhardy attempt. Time in learning the loss +was of no great importance either to their leader or their party. +Sooner or later this, as a matter of course, would be fully shown. Kit +and his comrade, therefore, determined to remain where they were, in +the old camp; and, to this end, immediately arranged everything so +that they could make a successful defence in case they should be +attacked by the savages. They did not dare to venture out far from +their fortifications; but, this was no great trial to them, as game +existed in great plenty and came very near their fortifications. While +one slept, the other stood on guard. It was their intention to await +the return of their party; but, at the expiration of one month, +they were quite happily relieved from their perilous position. Mr. +Blackwell, Mr. Gaunt's partner, arrived from the United States. He was +accompanied by fifteen men, and brought with him a complete outfit +for the entire band. Kit and his comrade had been expecting and were +anxiously looking for this party. They were also made quite happy in +obtaining the articles of outfit which would render their wild life +more agreeable and easy. Shortly after this arrival, four men from +the trapping party came into camp and brought the news as to the +whereabouts of Gaunt and his men. They were overjoyed at finding Kit +and his comrade, as they said that they had hunted for them in all +directions; and, finally had given up all hopes of ever seeing them +again. The whole party now began the march to join Gaunt at the Ballo +Salado.[3] + +[Footnote 3: Salt Springs.] + +These Springs form the head waters of the south fork of the River +Platte. When four days' journey had been accomplished, and while they +were partaking of their breakfast in camp, an alarm of Indians was +given by one of the men. He had accidentally discovered the red skin +rascals as they were prowling about the camp. A rush was instantly +made by the trappers, with rifles in hand, to save their horses. +Shots were fired and one Indian fell. The rest of the band made off as +empty-handed as they came, with one exception. One brave had succeeded +in capturing and mounting a horse before the white men could reach +him. Notwithstanding he had a dead brother lying on the ground, he +appeared to be altogether too polite to make the trappers a longer +visit; at least, without a proper introduction. On the contrary, he +galloped off; seemingly, quite proud of his trophy. Had it not been +that the trappers had taken the precaution to hobble their horses +before turning them out to graze, they would have lost them all in +this attempted stampede.[4] + +[Footnote 4: 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 Camanches are particularly expert and daring +in this kind of robbery. They even train horses to run from one given +point to another in expectancy of caravans. When a camp is made which +is nearly in range they turn their trained animals loose, who at once +fly across the plain, penetrating and passing through the camp of +their victims. All of the picketed animals will endeavor to follow, +and usually succeed in following, the trained horses. Such are +invariably led into the haunts of the thieves, who easily secure them. +Young horses and mules are easily frightened; and, in the havoc which +generally ensues, oftentimes great injury is done to the runaways +themselves. The sight of a stampede on a grand scale requires steady +nerves to witness without tremor; and, woe to the footman who cannot +get out of the way when the frightened animals come along. At times, +when the herd is very large, the horses scatter over the open country +and are irrecoverably lost; and, such as do not become wild, fall a +prey to the ravenous wolves. Such, most frequently, is the fate of +stampeded horses which have been bred in the States, not being trained +by a prairie-life experience to take care of themselves. Instead of +bravely stopping and fighting off the wolves, they run. The whole pack +are sure to leave the bolder animals and make for the runaways, which +they seldom fail to overtake and dispatch. Four years since, one of +these stampedes occurred on the Plains of a band of horses, in which +there were several hundred valuable animals. It was attended with very +heavy loss to the owners. Through the courage and great exertions of +those who had the animals in charge, many were recovered, but none +without having sustained more or less injury. + +A favorite policy of the Indian horse thieves is to creep into camp, +cut loose one animal and thoroughly 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, when they +are suddenly thrown. Such seldom escape without broken legs or severe +contusions, which are often incurable. The necessity of traveling on, +at any rate, renders it an impossibility to undertake the cure, when +it might be practicable under other circumstances.] + +This day the party travelled fifty miles and thought themselves clear +of Indians, as there were no visible signs of their presence. The +experience of the day, however, had admonished them to be on their +guard against surprise. To make things sure as to their animals, they +fastened them to stakes driven in the earth, sufficient rope being +given them for grazing. The place selected for their camp was a +beautiful spot, being on a small stream which empties into the +Arkansas, the water of which is sparkling and clear. There are many of +these charming little brooks which, emptying into, form this river. +To the general traveler, however, they present one great drawback as +eligible camping sites. Their banks are usually pretty thickly lined +with rattlesnakes. The mountaineer is quite well accustomed and +reconciled to this venomous reptile, as they abound in nearly every +section of his hunting and trapping grounds. Not so however with the +mere visitor of, or casual traveller over, the Western Territories. To +them his rattlesnake-ship is a formidable personage. + +The rattlesnake rarely moves after sunset. The night air is generally +too chilling for him. In the day time they are a noble enemy, always +warning their antagonist of their hostile intentions by springing +their rattles, thus giving a person warning of his danger. By these +two wise provisions of the Creator the power of this otherwise +terrible reptile, is so limited or restrained, that the trapper rarely +gives him a thought unless he comes in direct contact. Although they +are so numerous, it very seldom happens that either the Indian or the +trapper is bitten by them. + +The party had not been long at rest before their suspicions were +aroused that hostile Indians were near them. A faithful dog belonging +to the camp kept up a furious barking, much more lustily than when +wolves annoyed him. An extra guard was therefore immediately posted, +when the remainder of the party lay down; but, not for sleep. They +expected at every moment that their services would be needed to defend +the camp. Everything however passed as usual during the night; and, +with the morning, all suspicion was laid aside. Kit Carson, with three +companions, proposed a visit to a fork of a river close by, to look +for signs of beaver. They had been informed that these animals were +numerous in this particular stream. Carson and the three men had +been absent about one hour when the signs of Indians proved to be +realities, in the shape of a bold and well-sustained charge upon their +camp. The rascals succeeded in running off all of their loose animals. + +Four of the men immediately saddled the fleetest of the remaining +horses and instantly gave chase. After a quick run they came up with +the savages and immediately gave them battle. A sharp skirmish ensued +in which one of the warriors was killed, when the remainder fled, +leaving the property once more in the hands of its rightful owners. +The men however did not come off entirely safe. One of them received +a very severe wound; which, eventually, gave him considerable +difficulty; but from the effects of which he finally recovered. + +Kit and his companions in the mean time, in order to reach their +destination, found it necessary, unless they should take a long and +circuitous route, to cross one of those lofty peaks for which the +Rocky Mountains are so famous. The ascent was however commenced and +successfully accomplished; but, not without labor and an occasional +resting-place being sought for breathing their animals. In due time, +they reached the desired stream; but, the beaver signs did not appear. +Finding their errand had proved entirely useless, they started to +return into camp. Experience had taught them that the longest way +round was, in this case, the quickest way home. Taking therefore a +circuitous route, they avoided recrossing the lofty mountain peak +already alluded to. As they were riding carelessly homeward, beguiling +the time with anecdote and remark upon their future prospects, the +scenery around them, with an occasional sight at some kind of game, +what should appear ahead of them but four Indian warriors, remarkably +well mounted, painted and decked with feathers, showing, conclusively, +that they were out upon the war-path. As soon as Kit and his +companions saw the warriors, and without one word as to their proper +and best action being interchanged, they simultaneously put spurs to +their horses and dashed at the Indians in order quickly to bring +them within range of their rifles. The pace became a hot one; but, as +suddenly as the charge had been commenced, so suddenly the trappers +found that they had, this time "caught a Tartar;" for, as they dashed +on, sixty warriors, fully armed and splendidly mounted, came into view +from beneath a hill where they were awaiting in ambush. + +There was but one course for the trappers to take and that was to run +the gauntlet, which they did in gallant style, although twenty yards +would have frequently measured the distance between them and the +hostile savages. The bullets from the rifles of the Indians flew about +their ears thick and fast, for a heavy fire was opened upon them, +as they passed, and incessantly kept up until they were out of their +reach. The trappers did not return a shot. It would not have been +according to their custom. There is no one thing Simon-pure trappers +consider to be a greater folly than firing their rifles on such an +occasion as is here described. There is nothing they so much dread as +being left on foot with an empty gun and no time to load, when perhaps +a single shot might change defeat into victory; sure captivity into +freedom, or a dead companion into a laughing, jolly and lovable +help-mate, ready for setting a trap or to engage in the next bloody +skirmish. This must inevitably happen if, after the rider has fired, +among the score or so of passing bullets, one of them, perchance, took +a peculiar fancy for a vital organ of his horse. The mortally wounded +animal would make no account of dismounting his master and leaving +him to the tender mercies of the refined savages. In every close and +unequal contest, such as above detailed, they only think of the surest +and speediest method of escape, leaving revenge to be obtained on some +more fitting and favorable occasion. For some unaccountable reason the +savages did not give chase. + +As soon as Carson and his comrades had got out of the reach of the +Indians they began to recall the suspicions concerning signs of +Indians which their faithful dog had aroused. Fears for the safety of +their companions arose accordingly. Therefore, giving spurs to their +horses they pushed on with vigor to know the worst. The facts that +awaited them at camp concerning the attack by the Indians, stealing +and rescue of the horses gave them therefore but little surprise. They +had already surmised the reason why the Indians had thus set a trap +for them. Having been watching the camp during the night and finding +the white men fully on the alert and carefully guarding against any +surprise, they had quietly waited until suspicion of their proximity +had been entirely laid aside. The departure of Carson and his +companions from camp was doubtless seen by the savages and afforded +them a clear proof that the white men had forgotten their fears. As +Kit's departure with the men weakened the camp party the Indians had +gathered together sufficient courage to make a bold charge for the +coveted plunder. The final result, however, which led to their losing +the stolen property, and the life of one of their braves, had caused +them to think of an attack upon Kit's party; thus, obtaining by its +massacre, revenge for their dead companion; and, the horses which Kit +and his comrades rode would have been a consolation for their failure +to retain the horses obtained at the camp. The attack was skillfully +planned and would undoubtedly have succeeded, but for the unexpected +daring and promptitude displayed by Kit and his comrades. The Indians +had not looked for the bold charge upon their advance party; but, +on the contrary, they had been prepared for a chase and fight in the +opposite direction. Had such a skirmish taken place, nothing beyond +an absolute miracle, or change of the laws of nature, could have saved +the little band. Kit and his friends had reason, therefore, to be very +thankful for their safety. They all felt that they had retained their +scalps by a very close shave. To use the expressive language of Carson +employed in narrating the event "The red skins made a good attempt +but, thank God, failed." + +Two of the trappers had received, in this affray, wounds; which proved +to be of a serious nature: much more so than they or their companions +thought on the first examination given them. In consequence, the whole +party was obliged to halt and again go into camp, having accomplished +but a very short remove from their savage foes. It became necessary +to maintain a strong and careful guard during the succeeding night, +notwithstanding the labors of the past day and night had been more +than usually arduous. However, they succeeded in passing the night +without further molestation. The next morning, it was found necessary +to make a litter for one of the wounded men whose condition had grown +to be much worse. + +The method which the mountaineers adopt for making a litter, they have +taken from the Indians, and is as follows. Take two strong poles, six +feet of which, at either extremity, is allowed for shafts, or handles, +while the patient lies in the intermediate space on a buffalo robe, or +strong sacking, which-ever is most convenient. Two mules or horses +of the same size are then selected; and, to saddles upon each of the +animals, the poles, at their extremities, are fastened. Another and +simpler plan, but one not so comfortable to the patient, is to take +the two poles as before and attach them strongly to a saddle on but +one animal, while the two ends are allowed to drag upon the ground. +Directly in the rear of the horse the patient's bed is affixed. If the +poles are long they will act as springs, especially when the wood used +is of a kind which has considerable elasticity. + +Having arranged everything to the satisfaction and comfort of the +wounded men, the party commenced their march and in four days reached +Gaunt's camp where they rested until the wounded men had nearly +recovered. This simple fact shows the careful and sympathizing care +which the mountaineers of the west ever exhibit towards each other in +distress. It speaks more than would volumes of mere praise, concerning +their character for true manhood. + +When the wounded men had so far recovered that they could safely +proceed, the whole party, now quite strong in its numerical power, as +well as skill and mountaineer experience, departed for, and, in due +time, arrived at the Old Park. The coveted beaver however were scarce +there, for other trappers had preceded them; and, to employ trapping +phrase, "had caught all the fur in those streams that could be taken +that season." This was an unpleasant condition for their business +prospects; but, as the old adage hath it, "what could not be cured was +quietly endured." Catching beaver is not always a matter of choice. +The beaver themselves have considerable to say on the subject. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + Kit Carson and two Companions plan a Hunt for themselves--The + Great Success met with--Return to Taos--Sale of the Beaver + Fur--Kit Carson joins Captain Lee and goes on a Trading + Expedition--Winter Quarters--Kit Carson is sent in Pursuit + of a Thief--Overtakes and is obliged to shoot the + Runaway--Property recovered--The Return to Camp--The Sale + of Goods--Kit Carson joins Fitzpatrick and Party--Kit Carson + organizes a Hunting Party--His Encounter with two Grizzly + Bears--The Summer Rendezvous--Kit Carson joins fifty Trappers + and goes to the Country of the Blackfeet Indians--Annoyances + received from these Indians--Winter Quarters in 1832--Horses + Stolen--Kit Carson and eleven Men in Pursuit--A Parley--A + Fight--Kit Carson severely wounded--His great Sufferings + and Fortitude--His Convalescence--The Retreat--A New + Expedition--Braggadocio--Kit Carson Fights a Duel and Wounds + his man--Duels in the Rocky Mountains in Olden Times. + + +The fortunes of Gaunt's party in not finding game continued to grow +darker and darker as they traveled from stream to stream. The men +began to grow disheartened at this succession of failures. Kit Carson, +finally, became so tired of going empty handed, that he resolved to +try a hunt upon his own account. On stating his intentions to the +party, two of his old companions offered to join him. These were +gladly accepted by Kit; and, had they not been deterred by the +consideration that their dangers would be greatly augmented if they +worked with so small a party, others would most willingly have joined +his company. With the good wishes, therefore, of Gaunt and his entire +band, Kit and his two brave comrades boldly and confidently commenced +their march. + +The plan Kit adopted was to confine his operations exclusively to the +mountain streams and not to venture out upon the Prairie. By taking +this course he hoped to avoid much of the danger to be apprehended +from Indians.[5] + +[Footnote 5: The mountain Indians, during the Summer season generally +come down from their secure retreats and are engaged either in hunting +buffalo, or marching on the war-path. When they are at peace with the +Indians of the Plains, which is rarely the case, they join them, and, +together, with their united strength and skill, they make piratical +excursions into the Settlements of the Mexicans. While out on this +business, they leave their families in some secluded spot for abundant +caution, placing them under the guardianship of the old men, assisted +by some of the younger members of the tribe.] + +For several months they followed the business of trapping without +being in any way annoyed by the Indians. Their success was abundant. +At the end of the season they had gathered together a splendid stock +of beaver fur and began to think of a homeward trip. Having made +everything ready, they finally started for Taos. True, their party +was small and the risks they ran of attacks from hostile and covetous +Indians were imminent; but, fortune, or Providence favored them and +there was finally a satisfactory end to their anxieties; for, after a +quick march over the plains, they arrived safely at Taos. Beaver fur +was, at the time of their arrival, in great demand and prices ruled +correspondingly high. Kit and his comrades obtained the benefit of +this state of the market and disposed of their fine stock to great +advantage. + +The money realized, so far as Kit's two comrades were concerned, was +soon expended in fleeting pleasures and a new outfit for the next +trapping expedition which might offer. Kit's former experience had +been sufficient on this score, and he had become impressed with the +highly important fact that there existed a much wiser course to be +pursued. With his characteristic consistency, Kit acted upon this +conviction and wisely saved his hard earnings. + +While remaining at Taos, Kit Carson met with Captain Lee, formerly of +the United States Army; but, at this time, a partner of Bent and +St. Vrain, two names as familiarly known to the mountaineers as the +household words of their boyhood days. + +Captain Lee was purchasing goods for the purpose of trading with +and supplying the trappers. He desired Kit Carson to join in his +enterprise and made him an offer which was accepted. + +In the latter part of October 1832, with their goods well packed +and properly fitted for the rough transportation which they must +necessarily be subjected to, they set out to find the trappers. They +traveled for some distance on a route well known as the "Old Spanish +Trail." This is nothing more than a mule path which leads from New +Mexico to California. + +Having arrived safely at White River, they continued their march down +stream, following the windings of the river until they came to Green +River. Green River, they forded and then struck across the country for +the Winty River which is a branch of the Green River. + +Here they found Mr. Robidoux who had a party of twenty men in his +employ and who was engaged both in trapping and trading according as +opportunity presented itself. Soon after these parties met, snow +began to fall, indicating the approach of the cold season. A mutual +understanding having been arrived at, the two parties joined together +and began to establish Winter Quarters suitable for the whole. + +They selected a site for their permanent camp on the Winty River, at +its mouth, where the men made themselves as comfortable as possible +under such circumstances. They were provided with skin lodges, so +common among the Indians of America, and which according to Kit's +mountaineer experience are very comfortable substitutes for houses. + +During the winter Mr. Robidoux lost six of his most valuable and +high-priced horses, in the following manner. Attached to the camp +there was a California Indian who was employed by Mr. Robidoux, a keen +and shrewd savage: and one, whose acquaintance with the trappers had +enabled him to gain the confidence of Mr. Robidoux. He was also an +expert with the rifle and possessed undoubted courage with great +bodily strength and activity. These qualifications made him a +troublesome customer in a skirmish. + +This Indian's education on the score of property rights had not been +as well attended to as the methods of attack and defence in the chase +and on the war path. By some, not strange, personal argument, he +concluded to appropriate the six valuable horses above mentioned, in +the law wordy vocabulary of civilization, "to his own, use, benefit +and behoof, without asking the consent, good-will, approbation, +permission and personal, directions of the said owner, to wit Mr. +Robidoux." + +As these horses were worth, even at that remote spot on the great +American Continent, the just and full sum of two hundred dollars each, +making a round sum total of twelve hundred dollars, Mr. Robidoux was +not content to pocket the loss; or, much less, to allow the rascal to +enjoy ill-gotten wealth on the principle that "stolen fruit is sweet." +He determined, if possible to show him that some stolen fruit is +bitter. + +Knowing Kit Carson's reputation for skill and his fearless +disposition, as soon as he had discovered his loss, he came and +requested him to pursue the Indian. Kit Carson is a man who never +works without orders except when he is leader. He therefore informed +Captain Lee of Mr. Robidoux's request and asked permission to serve +his friend. This, as a matter of course, was readily granted by +Captain Lee; when, Kit instantly made his preparations for the +adventure. He was very soon on horseback, well armed and well prepared +for hard and close work. + +There chanced, near by to the camp, to be an Indian village belonging +to the Utah Tribe. The whites were on friendly terms with the +inhabitants of this village, which determined Carson to seek out, from +among their warriors, one active and intelligent brave, and get him to +join in the chase. This was the more easily accomplished as Carson's +reputation for skill, courage and experience was already well known in +this tribe. He, himself, had made a large circle of acquaintance among +the braves, and many of them had become strongly attached to him. Some +of these attachments have existed for years and are still maintained; +for, a fact well known, the American Indian warrior, as a general +rule, is true and unchangeable in his friendships. With this object +in view, Carson, putting his horse to his speed, started for the Utah +village. On making his errand known to such of the braves as enjoyed +his confidence, he found no difficulty in engaging a well-known +warrior, and one on whom he knew he could rely, to accompany him. The +wily savage was soon ready for the march, when Kit gave the word to +start. Both men were splendidly mounted. Their pace was that of no +sluggard. The high-conditioned animals which they rode seemed to +catch the eager spirit of their masters, and entering into it, bent +themselves to their work with determination accordingly. To discover +the trail of the deserter and to study its various characteristics, +a science of no mean or useless order in the matter of a woodman's +education, required the two men to slacken their pace for a short +time. The tracks made by the stolen animals, however, were well +marked; and, to such practised eyes, afforded a certain indication +as to their route. Again putting their horses to their speed, with +compressed lips and eyes directed to the trail before them, Carson and +the Indian warrior dashed on, feeling confident, that, if the rascal +escaped with his ill-gotten booty, the sin would not be laid upon +their shoulders. The trail led down the Green River. This fact made +Carson conclude that California was the destination aimed at in the +deserter's calculations. Kit and his Indian brave had accomplished +about one hundred miles, having, not once, lost sight of the trail, +when, most unfortunately for Kit, the horse of the Indian was suddenly +taken sick and his strength gave out completely. The Indian could go +no further except on foot, and this mode of travel he was unwilling to +adopt, refusing absolutely Carson's request made to him to do so. This +was an unpleasant predicament, especially as the rascal, who formed +the chase, was a dangerous antagonist even to an experienced fighter +and in an honest cause. Goaded on by the fear of punishment for theft, +Carson well knew that he would require all of his own address to +purchase success; for, the rascal would not fail to make a most +desperate resistance. But Kit Carson's courage arose, as the +difficulties of the adventure seemed to multiply. With a farewell word +to his Indian companion, he put spurs to his horse and entered boldly +upon the trail alone, being determined to run every hazard, which the +unhappy accident to the Indian's horse seemed to require at his hands. +The spectacle here presented to the reader, is one which exhibits Kit +Carson in his true character both as a faithful and earnest friend, +and a determined and dangerous adversary. Such is his character. A +life of most singular events has never yet found him false to his +friend or his manhood. While he is not rash in judgment, he is +consummately skillful, quick and brave. Onward he dashed, never for an +instant taking his eagle eye from the tracks which formed his compass. +Think not that such tracks are easily traced. None but a practised and +ready eye can follow them to any advantageous end. To trace them even +at a snail's pace, for an unpractised eye, is like the child putting +pen and ink to paper through his first copy-book of penmanship. Many +and many an awful blot and horribly crooked line will doubtless carry +the simile fully and strikingly to the mind. But the result which +crowned Kit's effort showed conclusively that, notwithstanding he had +followed the trail for over one hundred and thirty miles, he had made +no blots or crooked lines. At the distance of thirty miles from the +place where he parted with his Indian companion, Kit discovered the +chase. His pace now became tremendous. The wily savage had descried +him almost at the same instant that he was discovered by Kit, and +instantly prepared for a desperate encounter. With this object in +view, the savage turned to seek a cover from whence he could fire upon +his adversary and reload long before he should himself become exposed +to a shot. The rascal's plan was good enough, but he was too slow in +its execution to overcome Kit's activity. Kit had unslung his rifle as +soon as he saw his enemy. Anticipating the object of the savage, he, +instantly, covered him with his rifle. His horse was now at full speed +and he was rapidly nearing the Indian. At the moment he discovered +that the Indian had reached his cover and before he could take +advantage of it, without relaxing his horse's speed, he fired. The +ball from Carson's rifle was so well directed that the Indian, as it +struck him, gave one bound and then fell dead in his tracks. At the +same instant the rascal's rifle went off with a sharp report, sending +a bullet whizzing at some distance from the line of Carson's approach. +The fact of the Indian's rifle being fired at all is a sufficient +explanation of what was his intent, had his career not been so +suddenly cut short, thereby preventing its fulfillment. + +The words of an old trapper are here very much to the point. The +author was, on a fitting occasion, questioning him in regard to Kit +Carson's capabilities with the rifle. Said he: "If a man has a serious +quarrel with Kit Carson, he had better not let him get the _first +sight over his rifle_; for, if he succeeds in this, his adversary is +as good as dead." + +An intimate acquaintance and tried friendship with Kit Carson has, +since then, repeatedly furnished occasions which have confirmed this +trapper's statement; although, in the first instance, a person will +find it no easy task to render an altercation necessary, for Kit +Carson holds his passions fully under control; and, besides, they are +of a very conciliatory type. No man will sooner shun a difficulty when +justice, honor and necessity do not warrant strife. + +The work of collecting the horses was soon accomplished, when Carson +immediately commenced his journey back to the camp. This he reached +in safety, after overcoming a few minor difficulties caused by his +charge; and, had the satisfaction of returning the six horses to Mr. +Robidoux in as good condition as they were the night on which they +were stolen; and, also, of informing him that there was one rascal +less in the world to prey upon honest people. + +This event served to interrupt the monotony and routine of winter camp +duty, affording a basis for many a long yarn during the evening +hours around the camp fires. These trappers, especially whenever a +green-eyed bundle of curiosity chances to seek their company, can spin +yarns most wondrous. The habits of the beaver and their remarkable +instinct, form a fit subject for their active imagination. It would +doubtless add very much to the interest of these pages if we could set +down a few of these anecdotes and tales for the general reader; but, +the task would be hopeless as to its accomplishment. To give them +life and reality, they require all the surroundings of time, place and +occasion; there should be the dark night; the wild whistling wind; the +shaking tent with its covering of skins; the roasted venison, bear's +meat, or horse flesh; the rifles standing in the corners; the lamp of +bear's grease; in fine, all the similitude of camp life. Then the wild +stories of bear fightings, beaver intelligence, Indian deviltry, and +hairbreadth escapes, become intensely real. The auditor hangs upon +each word which falls from the lips of the supposed sage orator with +eager earnestness, while curiosity never becomes satisfied. + +"Ah! Jones, that is a whopper." + +"Sure as I live, but the beaver slept every night with the trapper, +and in the day time, if he left the tent, the beaver would fall to +work and make a dam across the floor of the tent, using the chist, +skins, arms and everything." + +"Oh! Jones!" + +"But, I tell you it is true. Tame a beaver once, and you'll find I'se +tellin' a plain statement as true as ever a Padre made." + +"Padre! who'd believe a Mexican priest? Mr. Jones, that tame beaver +of your'n must have been born in the States, where he hadn't trees and +mud to build dams with, and had to resort to furnitur." + +"That beaver," responded Jones, "was as near like a human bein' as any +man present." + +"How do you make that out, Mr. Jones?" + +"Why, one day his master died. Well, they tried all they could to +console the beaver, but it 'twant no use. He wouldn't be consoled. +All he did was to git an ole shoe belonging to his master, an' if he +didn't haul that ere shoe around day after day wherever he went. Well, +the beaver 'gan to grow thin, and one night they found he was a dyin', +jest from starvin' himself to death and a huggin' the ole shoe." + +"Oh! Jones," said the greenhorn, "you don't expect I'll swallow all +that yarn?" + +But Mr. Jones and all of the other trappers present preserved an +imperturbable dignity of mien, as if the very reference to the animal +mentioned demanded from them all due reverence. + +"Well, but that was not doing as a human being would do. I never seen +a man carry an old shoe around till he died from starvin'." + +"That is neither here nor there," continued Mr. Jones. "It was when +the trapper first made the beaver's acquaintance that he showed he +knew as much as a human critter. At that time he had one wife and +lived with her all alone in a hole, side o' the dam. They had two sons +and a darter. The darter the old beaver had married to a fine lookin' +young beaver who lived t'other side the dam." + +The whistle which the neophyte here gave seemed to give great +dissatisfaction to all of the trappers present. One of them quietly +asked him-- + +"Is that the way, youngster, you'se bin eddicated in perliteniss of +manners? If it is, I know a beaver who kin larn you sumthin'. In the +fust place, if a young beaver ever kums inter the presence of the ole +uns, especially if she's, that is the ole uns, a female beaver, the +young un 'mediately fetches his right fore paw up to his forehead, +jest 'hind the right eyebrow, an' makes a reverintial bow of cerimony +in salute. I'se seen that ar' oftener than you've put one leg ahead of +t'other yit, young un." + +The trappers present all confirmed the truth of this statement by +a solemn nod of assent to the query, "Ain't that true, gentlemen?" +which, at least, served to prevent unceremonious whistling. + +It is thus that we might go on and fill page after page with this +picture-talk of the trappers. Some of their yarns are pretty tightly +strained, but most of them contain a capital hit and are usually +founded on the facts. It is a well authenticated fact that the beaver +has but one mate; and, that they live together a loving couple, as if +husband and wife. As to their _liaisons_, coquetry, flirting and so +forth, doubtless the society in some parts of the human family will +bear a faithful resemblance in these respects also. As an example of +industry the world will look in vain for a better one than is afforded +by the little beaver of the Western Rivers. Look at them patiently +felling the tallest trees; and, so nicely adjusting their fall and +calculating their height, that they strike the opposite bank of their +stream gaining a fixed and permanent lodgment. It is thus that these +wonderful little creatures will often erect dams across wide rivers +and effectually stop the rushing torrents. + +As has appeared, after collecting the six horses, Kit Carson returned +with them safely into camp. A few days subsequent to this occurrence, +a band of trappers belonging to another party _en route_, entered the +camp. These men reported that Fitzpatrick and Bridger were encamped +on Snake River distant about fifteen days' journey. This was too good +news for Captain Lee and Kit to warrant their remaining any longer +idle. They doubted not but that they should be able to dispose of +their goods to these parties. With this object in view, they prepared +for the march and started. Their journey, although perilous and +laborious, was successfully accomplished. Messrs. Fitzpatrick and +Bridger received and entertained them very hospitably, and purchased +their entire stock, paying therefor in beaver fur. Kit Carson then +joined Fitzpatrick's band, but remained with it only one month. +His reason for separating from it was, that there were too many men +congregated together either to accomplish much, or to make the general +result profitable in the distribution. He, accordingly, arranged +an enterprise upon his own account; and, from his well-established +reputation, found more men than he wanted ready to join him. From +those who applied, he selected but three. These were men of the best +material; and, no man could judge a trapper's qualifications better +than Kit Carson. + +With his three men he immediately set out for the Laramie River. On +this stream and its tributaries, he spent the summer. Perhaps our +readers will look for a full description of the course which the +American trapper pursues in order to catch beaver. It is very simple +in its detail but difficult and tedious in its application. The trap +is the common steel trap made in the usual form; if there is any +difference, it is larger and more powerful. It is set in the haunts +of the beaver with a particular kind of bait[6] known chiefly among +trappers. It is a singular fact that, frequently, old beavers will be +discovered springing the traps, by the aid of a stick. If discovered +at his work, he seems to enjoy hugely the vexation of the trappers +which they sometimes exhibit. An old trapper, however, especially if +he be a Frenchman or Mexican, feels so much pride in the matter, that +he will cover up his vexation under assumed politeness, as if the +beaver could understand and appreciate his language. + +[Footnote 6: Animalium patris testiculum.] + +But to escape from these pleasing digressions, Kit Carson and his men +concluded their summer's work with unusual success. Their exertions +had been crowned with rewards which surpassed their fondest +anticipations. As the wintry months were again fast coming on, Kit and +his men determined to rejoin Bridger's' command. The return trip, +was therefore commenced and duly prosecuted. Late one afternoon, +just after the little party had gone into camp, Kit, having lingered +somewhat behind, suddenly rode into the camp ground and leaped from +his horse, giving it in care of one of the men. With his rifle, he +then started in pursuit of game for supper. He walked on about one +mile from the camp and there came upon the fresh tracks of some elk. +Following up the trail he discovered the game grazing on the side of +a hill. In the neighborhood of the animals there were some low and +craggy pine trees. Moving along with great care, he finally gained the +cover of the trees, which brought him in close proximity to the +elk, and within certain range of his rifle. This care was the more +necessary as his party had been without meat diet for some time and +began to be greatly in need thereof. These ever wary animals saw, or +scented him; or, at any rate, became conscious of approaching danger +from some cause, before he could reach the spot from which he desired +to take his aim. They had commenced moving; and, in another instant, +would have bounded away, out of all reach of his rifle. His eye and +piece, however, were too quick for them; for, bringing his piece into +position and without dwelling upon his aim, he sped a bullet after the +largest and the fattest of the noble game before him. He had wisely +allowed for the first leap, for his shot caught the nimble animal in +mid air and brought him to the earth, writhing in his death agony with +a fearful wound through the heart and lungs, from which there was +no escape. One quiver ran through the frame of the beautiful animal, +when, he breathed his last. The echoing sound of the rifle shot had +hardly died away, to which the true hunter ever listens with unfeigned +pleasure as the sweetest of music on his ear, whenever he has seen +that his game is surely within his grasp, the last faint melody was +broken in upon and completely lost in a terrific roar from the woods +directly behind him. Instantly turning his head to note the source +of this sound, the meaning and cause of which he well knew by his +experienced woodman's ear, educated until its nicety was truly +wonderful, he saw two huge and terribly angry grizzly bears. As his +eye first rested upon these unwelcome guests, they were bounding +towards him, their eyes flashing fiery passion, their pearly teeth +glittering with eagerness to mangle his flesh, and their monstrous +fore-arms, hung with sharp, bony claws, ready and anxious to hug his +body in a close and most loving embrace. There was not much time for +Kit to scratch his head and cogitate. In fact, one instant spent in +thought then would have proved his death warrant without hope of +a reprieve. Messrs. Bruin evidently considered their domain most +unjustly intruded upon. The gentle elk and deer mayhap were their +dancing boys and girls; and, like many a petty king in savage land, +they may have dined late and were now enjoying a scenic treat of +their ballet troupe. At all events Kit required no second thought to +perceive that the monarchs of the American forest were unappeasably +angry and were fast nearing him with mighty stride. Dropping his +rifle, the little leaden bullet of which would now have been worth +to him its weight in gold if it could by some magic wand have been +transferred from the heart of the elk back into its breech, he bounded +from his position in close imitation of the elk, but with better +success. The trees! he hoped and prayed, as he fairly flew over the +ground with the bears hot in chase, for one quick grasp at a sturdy +sapling. By good fortune, or special Providence, his hope, or prayer, +was answered. Grasping a lower limb he swung his body up into the +first tier of branches just as passing Bruin brushed against one of +his legs. Bears climb trees and Kit Carson was not ignorant of the +fact. Instantly drawing his keen-edged hunting knife, he cut away for +dear life at a thick short branch. The knife and his energy conquered +the cutting just as Messrs. Bruin had gathered themselves up for an +ascent, a proceeding on their part to which Mr. Carson would not give +assent. Mr. Carson was well acquainted with the Messrs. Bruin's pride +in, and extreme consideration for, their noses. A few sharp raps made +with the severed branch upon the noses of the ascending bears, while +they fairly made them to howl with pain and rage, caused them hastily +to beat a retreat. This scene of ascending, getting their noses +tickled and again descending howling with pain and rage now kept +Mr. Carson and Messrs. Bruin actively busy for some time. The huge +monsters and monarchs of the mountains were determined not to give it +up so. Such a full and fair chase and to be beaten by a simple +white man on their own domain! This evidently galled their sensitive +natures. It is true the roaring of the bears in his rear had +stimulated Mr. Carson in the race, so much so, that he undoubtedly +ran at the top of his speed; and, being naturally, as well as by long +practice, very fleet of foot, he had managed to outstrip his pursuers +in the race. It is true he had made short work of climbing the tree +and here again had very innocently beaten the bears at their own game +and one in which they took great pride. It is more than probable that +the bears were in too good condition to run well. Had it been early +spring time they would doubtless have been much lower in flesh. That +was their own fault too; they should have known that racing time +cannot be made on high condition. After leaving their hibernating +quarters they should have been less given to a sumptuous habit at the +table. + +[Illustration: Two huge and terribly angry grizzly bears were bounding +towards him, their eyes flashing fiery passion, their pearly teeth +glittering with eagerness to mangle his flesh, and their monstrous +forearms, hung with sharp, bony claws, ready and anxious to hug his +body in a close and most loving embrace.--PAGE 83.] + +Affairs were, however, by no manner of means settled. They had the +daring trespasser on their domain treed, and almost within their +reach; and, indeed, to keep out of the way of their uncomely claws, +Kit was obliged to gather himself up in the smallest possible space +and cling to the topmost boughs. The bears now allowed themselves +a short respite for breathing, during which they gave vent to their +wrath by many shrill screeches. Then they renewed their endeavors to +force the hunter from his resting place. Mounted on their hind paws +they would reach for him; but, the blows with the stick, applied +freely to their noses, would make them desist. In vain did they +exhaust every means to force the man to descend; he was not to be +driven or coaxed. The hard knocks they had sustained upon their +noses had now aroused them almost to madness. Together they made one +desperate effort to tear Kit from the tree. As in all their previous +attempts, they were foiled, and their ardor dampened and cooled by the +drumming operations upon their noses, which this time was so freely +and strongly applied upon one of them as to make him lachrymate and +cry out with pain. One at a time they departed; but, it was not +until they had been out of sight and hearing for some time that Kit +considered it safe to venture down from the tree; when, he hastened to +regain and immediately to reload his rifle. + +Thus ended an adventure in which Kit Carson considers that he failed +to lose life and limb by the narrowest miss that ever occurred to him. +Although he has killed much more than his _quantum_ of this kind of +game, and has gained what is a practical advantage to every western +hunter, to wit: a knowledge of all their abilities with which they +enforce sway, Kit Carson regards this adventure in the light of a +warning. It is a warning too which he never allows himself to forget; +consequently, whenever he has hunted since, he watches as closely +for signs of Mr. Bruin as he does for the game he seeks; it would, +therefore, be a difficult matter for the bears again to surprise him. +Some of the most desperate battles on record between hunters and wild +animals are narrated of encounters with the bear tribe. + +Several years ago, a Mexican by the name of Armador Sanchez, still +well known in the Rocky Mountains as a brave and skillful hunter, had +a fight with a bear which lasted several hours. This terrible battle +ended by both the combatants being laid prostrate upon the ground, so +completely exhausted as to be utterly unable to reach each other from +the want of physical strength. In this condition they spent one night; +and, on the following morning, when the brave Mexican hunter had +recovered sufficiently to be able to creep to his antagonist, he found +him dead. This close conflict grew out of the hunter's noble daring +in endeavoring to save the life of a Mexican boy, whom, at the instant +the hunter attacked the beast, the bear was about to tear into pieces. +At one time the bear had the youth in his terrible clutches in such +a manner that it was impossible for him to plant a shot in any vital +organ. But nothing daunted, with his rifle and revolver, he lodged +several bullets in other parts of the fierce monster. Still the +savage animal clung to the unfortunate boy, endeavoring to tear him to +pieces, and horribly mangling him in every part of his body. The noble +hunter could resist no longer, and dropping his pistols and rifle, he +drew his sheath-knife and slung shot, and, after winding his blanket +around his left arm to protects it, rushed in and compelled the animal +to turn upon him. Wounds were freely given and returned; but, the wary +Mexican fought with such dexterity and determination, that the bear +finally became so mad with pain and rage that by a tremendous effort, +with one blow of his powerful paw, he knocked the brave hunter +headlong upon the ground, where he lay some time before recovering his +breath. Instead of following up this advantage, the brute, doubtless +being deceived because the man did not move, commenced examining and +licking his own bleeding wounds. But the brave hunter had now got his +spirit so completely up, that he determined to conquer his antagonist +or die. Early in the fight, by a blow from his slung-shot, he had +succeeded in breaking the bear's lower jaw. This had greatly disabled +the animal and undoubtedly was the successful wound which eventually +gave Sanchez the victory. When he felt himself sufficiently rested, +he renewed the fight; and, by adopting various manoeuvres, in which he +was greatly assisted by some adjacent trees, succeeded in putting in +several telling blows with his knife. Again the animal became aroused +to madness unendurable, and, gathering himself up for a final effort, +succeeded in planting a terrible blow on the hunter's head, which once +more brought him to the ground. From this blow and the previous loss +of blood, the brave man fainted entirely away. How long he remained +in this state he could not tell; but, on becoming again conscious, +he found that the victory was on his side, for the bear had already +breathed his last. The poor boy, notwithstanding his wounds, as soon +as the battle was decided; and, as he supposed, at the cost of his +friend's life, started for a neighboring fort, and, reaching it the +following morning, reported the affair. A party of men well armed +immediately marched to the rescue. They found the brave hunter in a +most pitiful condition, with his flesh terribly mangled, his clothes +torn into ribbons, and his back and shoulders one mass of lacerated +wounds. His reason had already become unseated. In his native language +he would call out to his now visionary foe, "If you are a brave man, +come on." Although the most delicate care and assistance was rendered +to Sanchez, it was many weeks before he was able to resume his +occupation; and, even then, he owed his life to the wonderful +recuperative powers of his healthy and iron constitution. Had the +fact been otherwise, he could not have survived his injuries. One more +brave heart must have yielded its last drop of heroic blood in defence +of youthful weakness. This picture, because it does not exaggerate the +facts, we leave with regret; for, it is a pleasure to contemplate +such nobility of character, whatever be the name which declares the +governmental allegiance of the hero. + +It is not going beyond the bounds of truth to assert that the grizzly +bear of the Rocky Mountains is as formidable an enemy as the hunter +is called upon to meet, wherever the hunting-ground and whatever the +animal which opponents to our assertion may set up. When caught out on +the open prairie, where he can be attacked on horseback and lassoed, +the chances are against the bear; but, in a broken country, woe to his +assailants, unless life is saved by some trick; or, happy fortune; a +lucky shot; a telling blow, like Sanchez's with his slung-shot; +or, the fanciful drumming, such as was Kit's, on the noses of +his antagonists; or, some other equally singular and unlooked-for +expedient. The weight of one of these monsters often runs as high as +fifteen hundred pounds; and, their fore paws, which they can manage +with the greatest dexterity, frequently measure fourteen inches. The +courage, sagacity and skill invariably evinced by this species of +bear, when engaged in a fight, is not equaled by any other wild animal +on the face of the globe, not excepting the lion. + +We take pleasure in here giving further publicity to the careful +research and plain truths which have emanated from the pen of that +distinguished and successful traveler Dr. Livingston. The new ideas +which appear in his pages in regard to the courage of the "King of +Beasts," have served, in a measure, to correct the general impression, +and to bring down from its high-stilted hyperbole the courage, +sagacity and terrible power of the lion, which, he states, are +overrated. We do not desire to contradict published statements any +farther than our own personal knowledge extends; hence, we give +our authority for our statements in regard to the lion, very well +satisfied ourself with Dr. Livingstone's love of truth and earnest +candor. So much for the lion. Our statements in regard to the Rocky +Mountain grizzly bear rest upon our own knowledge and investigation, +gathered in his own haunts and on his own wild domain; and, as such, +are given upon our own responsibility. Because brave American woodsmen +can readily conquer the monarch of the American forest; and because +the chicken-hearted Afric son, or dweller, trembles before the steady +glare of the Afric King of Beasts, _ergo_ his bearship must in popular +opinion, play subordinate to his lionship. For the sake of truth, +we should like to see the Spanish arena once open for a fighting +encounter between a Rocky Mountain bear and an African lion, full and +native grown specimens of each. The bull-fights all good men abhor; +but, such a battle would serve to set at rest a fast-growing doubt +among naturalists; and, so far, would prove available to science and +the cause of truth. We would readily stake a purse on the bear. + +With the Indians of the West, who live mostly by hunting, among whom, +nine out of ten would, single handed, readily face a score of native +lion spearsmen and, we verily believe, put them to flight; a man is +considered a great brave who, alone, will undertake to kill a grizzly +bear. If he succeeds, which is very rarely the case, his fortune in +his tribe is made, once and for all. The reputation he gains will +cling to and follow him into his grave and form one of the chief +burdens of the tradition which bears his name to posterity. The +Indians usually hunt and attack him in large parties; and, when the +contest becomes really earnest, it requires a most immoderate amount +of yelling, and fierce cry for the onset, to keep their bravery up in +fighting trim. The victory is seldom gained without the sacrifice +of several lives. The mounted hunter almost invariably finds it a +difficult task to bring his charger even within shooting range of this +kind of game. On an untrained or young horse the accomplishment of +this feat is next to an impossibility; for, instinct seems to teach +them the true character of the game even though they approach it for +the first time.[7] + +[Footnote 7: The author once saw thirty brave and determined men in +pursuit of an old grizzly bear and her two cubs near the head waters +of the Arkansas River. In vain they urged their horses to the chase. +Not a single steed in the entire band could be induced to run for the +game. The old bear was quite thin and her young nearly half grown and +were very fleet of foot. The chase lasted for about three miles, but +not a man present was able to obtain a shot, because their riding +animals were so completely frightened as to be almost unmanageable; +consequently, the bears made good their escape. The last that was seen +of them was their dim outlines as they traveled leisurely up a deep +ravine.] + +Darkness closed in about Kit Carson before he could reach his camp; +and, indeed, the sky was so cloudy that it was with great difficulty +he found his way to it. The idea of sending out a pack animal for +the elk was out of the question; therefore, the whole party went, +supperless, to bed. In the morning they breakfasted upon a beaver +found in one of their traps; for, they well knew that, long before +daylight, the prowling wolves had feasted upon the elk; hence, they +resigned it without a visit. The flavor of the meat of the beaver is +not very palatable and the trappers rarely use it; never when they can +do better. Not so with its tail. To this they are very partial; and, +when properly boiled, it is, indeed, a great delicacy. + +Believing that Bridger would visit this place, Kit ordered his men +to make a permanent camp. Kit's sagacity was not at fault in this +hypothesis; for, in fifteen days, this famous old mountaineer made his +appearance accompanied by his whole band. The two parties once +more consolidated and started for the summer rendezvous, which was +appointed to be held on the Green River. + +Upon their arrival at this place, they found congregated, all the +principal trappers of the Rocky Mountains. They were divided into two +camps, and numbered about two hundred men. The objects which brought +them thus together were, the disposal of their fur and the purchase of +supplies. + +When all the parties had reported their arrival, the trading commenced +and was conducted upon a basis which gave general satisfaction. The +most exorbitant and fabulous prices ruled for such articles as the +mountaineers required. Sugar and coffee brought two dollars the pint; +powder, the same; and ordinary blankets were sold at fifteen and +twenty-five dollars each. + +Coffee, sugar, and even flour, were luxuries not every day indulged in +by the hardy mountaineers. They seldom partook of such dainties; not +more frequently than two or three times in the year, and then, merely +as rare treats. Their standard food was game and wild vegetables when +in their season. + +This meeting of the trappers continued in progress during two months. +It was then dissolved; and, once more the bold mountaineers formed +into bands of a size convenient for trapping, and started out to +engage in the fall hunt. Kit Carson joined a party of fifty men which +was bound for the country occupied by the Blackfeet Indians, and which +lies on and adjacent to the head waters of the Missouri River. The +party met with very poor success in catching beaver, but had their +fill of annoyances from the tribe of savages already referred to. +Finally the state of affairs between the trappers and the Indians +became so desperate, that a white man could not leave his camp and +go a distance of a single mile alone without being fired upon, so +completely and untiringly was their camp surrounded and watched by +this wily and dangerous tribe of Indians. + +This state of affairs led them to the determination to quit the +country, as the trapping season was far advanced. With this line of +policy they began the march; and, in the month of November, 1832, +arrived on the banks of the Big Snake River where they established +winter quarters and remained until the subsequent February. + +During these winter months, the quiet monotony of their life was +unexpectedly broken in upon by a band of their old enemies, the +Blackfeet Indians. Taking advantage of an unusually dark night they +entered the camp and succeeded in running off eighteen of their +horses. In consideration of their leniency displayed towards them when +they were engaged trapping in their own country, then merely acting +on the defensive, this act on the part of the savages appeared to the +trappers to be more than they ought peaceably to bear. Such appeared +to be the general opinion, and it was determined that a party should +be sent out to recover the property and inflict a chastisement upon +the hostile savages which they would not soon forget. Kit Carson with +eleven men to accompany him was selected for this delicate but highly +important service. Having prepared everything for the route, the party +started and after fifty miles of sharp riding through the snow, +came up with the savages. The progress of the Indians had been, +fortunately, considerably retarded by the necessity of breaking a +path through the deep snow, which had but very recently fallen. The +trappers instantly made an attempt to recover their animals which were +found grazing on the side of a hill, the Indians having previously +come to a halt. In doing this, shots were exchanged by both parties +without effect. The savages had on snow shoes which gave them +considerable advantage over the trappers. After some manoeuvering, the +Indians asked for a parley which was granted. On these occasions, it +is customary for one man from each party to advance to a spot about +halfway between the contending parties and there have a talk. The +rascals, through their representative, informed the trappers through +their representative, that they had supposed that they had been +committing a robbery upon the Snake Indians; and, that they did not +desire to steal from the white men. + +The trappers, believing these tales to be false, considered this a +mere ruse on the part of the Indians to make them unwary of passing +events. However, they put the very natural query to them, why, if they +were so friendly disposed, they did not follow out their usual custom; +and, on seeing them approach, lay down their arms and advance to meet +their white brothers, so that they might have a smoke together and +talk over their difficulties and thus amicably settle matters. + +Their replies to this query contained nothing but evasions. Finally, +however, it having been mutually agreed upon, both parties disarmed +and marched to the place where their representatives were talking. The +Calumet was then prepared, lighted and handed around to each person +present, it being puffed once or twice by every one of the savages +and every one of the whites. The council then commenced. The head +men among the savages led off by making several lengthy and unmeaning +speeches. In their replies, the trappers came directly to the point, +and said they could hear no overtures for peace, until their property +was restored to them. The Indians, upon hearing this demand several +times repeated, began to presume upon their strength, assuming an +overbearing demeanor. After considerable talk among themselves, they +sent out and brought in five of the poorest horses, declaring that +it was the only number they could return. The trappers, upon hearing +this, ran for their arms; when, the Indians instantly started for +theirs. The fight was now renewed by both parties. Kit Carson, in the +rush made for the rifles, and one of his companions named Markhead, +succeeded in getting hold of their weapons first; and consequently, +they formed the advance in the return to the contest. They selected +for their antagonists, two Indians who were close together; but, who +were partially concealed behind separate trees. As Kit was on the +point of raising his rifle to fire he saw by a quick side glance at +Markhead, that he was working at the lock of his gun without paying +attention to his adversary who was aiming at him with, almost, a +certainty of killing him. Kit instantly changed the direction of his +rifle and fired, sending a bullet through the heart of Markhead's +adversary; but, in thus saving the life of his friend, he was obliged, +for the instant, to neglect his own adversary. A quick glance showed +him the fellow sighting over his rifle and that the mouth of the +Indian's gun covered his breast. Upon the instant he endeavored to +dodge the bullet, but he was unsuccessful in doing so completely. It +struck him in such a way that, first cutting the skin of his neck and +glancing, it passed through his left shoulder. The head of the bone, +of the arm in the shoulder was shattered; but, fortunately, the +main artery of the arm escaped injury. Notwithstanding his wound Kit +immediately endeavored to reload his rifle. In this effort he was +unsuccessful, for his left arm hung powerless by his side. He was +obliged, therefore, to remain a mere spectator during the remainder +of the fight; when, being overcome by the loss of blood and the +consequent fast increasing weakness, he threw himself upon the ground. +The fight continued to be hotly contested by both the trappers and +Indians until, gradually, the firing ceased, when the trappers drew +off and went into camp. They did not dare to light any fires, as they +would inevitably bring the Indians upon them. With nothing but their +saddle-blankets to protect them from the bitter cold, even the safe +and sound members of the party suffered severely. Kit's condition +failed not to arouse the heartfelt sympathy of his friends, for there +was not one among them who would not have readily risked life and limb +to save Kit's. But his condition was most critical; at the least, he +was in a most unenviable condition. His wounds bled profusely, +and, the blood, as it oozed out, froze to the rude dressings. This, +undoubtedly, in the final result, was beneficial to him, as the cold +acted as a partial check upon the hemorrhage. It was, however, none +the less painful to endure. He bore his agonizing sufferings without +a single murmur, exhibiting in patient fortitude and resignation the +same brave spirit and dauntless courage which distinguished him in +every action. Not once did a single complaint escape from his lips. +Had he received this wound within the pales of civilization with its +concomitant constitution, he might never have recovered the use of +his arm. In the pure air, and with a constitution in the best possible +trim, after all danger from hemorrhage had passed, his chances to +recover were favorable; and, finally, resulted in giving him once +more, the full use of his arm. + +That night the trappers held a council. It was decided, that, although +the result of the fight had been that they had given the Indians a +sound thrashing, there having been several braves killed while they +had suffered only in one wounded, they were, nevertheless, not then +strong enough to pursue the savages farther. They adopted therefore +the policy of returning to the camp and reporting their progress. + +On their arrival, a council was immediately called and their +adventures duly rehearsed. The result was that a second party was +immediately organized comprising thirty men. Under the command of +Bridger, this party followed the trail for some days, but returned to +camp without finding the savages. They, after their late engagement, +had made their way as fast as possible into distant parts. A short +time after this, the weather moderated and it was time for the spring +hunt. + +This was now commenced and continued quite active for several weeks on +the Green and Snake Rivers. The success of the trappers was far beyond +their most sanguine expectations. Beaver fur seemed absolutely to +rain down upon them. The season having passed, they went into summer +rendezvous on the banks of the Green River. This was brought about +by the arrival of the traders with their supplies. The whole force of +trappers, therefore, again rested until the first week of September; +when, they again broke up their camp for the fall hunt. + +Some time previous to this last named event Kit Carson, having +recovered from the effects of his wounds, was very reluctantly drawn +into an "affair of honor." The circumstances of this occurrence we +give in detail for two reasons. It was an event in Carson's life, +and therefore is required at our hands; but, it serves to exhibit the +manner of the duello among these western mountaineers which throws +around the circumstance the importance of an example in their manners +and customs. By itself, so far as Kit Carson was concerned, it was of +very little importance, serving but little, in his opinion, to adorn +the story of his life. + +Among the men congregated at the rendezvous, there was a Captain +Shunan, a powerful Frenchman. The Captain was exceedingly overbearing +in his intercourse with all around him. Upon the slightest pretext, he +was sure to endeavor to involve some of the trappers in a quarrel. +The result was that he was heartily despised by all, although, for the +sake of peace, he was allowed to go unmolested. One day his conduct +was particularly offensive to the entire command; for, after having +had two fist fights with a couple of weak and inoffensive men, +he commenced boasting that he could easily flog all the Frenchmen +present; and, as to the Americans, he said that "he could cut a stick +and switch them." Such actions and manners, at last, attracted Kit +Carson's notice and caused him to be greatly annoyed. He thought the +matter over and concluded that if Captain Shunan was allowed to gather +many more such detestable laurels, he would soon become even more bold +and troublesome. As no other member of the company seemed disposed to +put a check upon such unmanly behavior, he quietly determined to make +the affair his own. + +An opportunity soon presented itself. A number of the company had +congregated together and were engaged in conversation, when Captain +Shunan began anew his bullying language; this time a little more +boisterous than usual. Kit Carson advancing into the centre of the +company and placing himself in front of the Captain thus addressed +him: + +"Shunan, before you stands the humblest specimen of an American in +this band of trappers, among whom, there are, to my certain knowledge, +men who could easily chastise you; but, being peaceably disposed, +they keep aloof from you. At any rate, I assume the responsibility of +ordering you to cease your threats, or I will be under the necessity +of killing you." + +To this Captain Shunan did not reply; but, immediately after Kit +Carson had closed his remarks, he turned upon his heel and walked +directly for his lodge. + +Kit Carson was too well versed in trapper rules not to read the +meaning of this action. He, therefore, walked off also; but, in +the direction of his own lodge. In a brief space of time, both men +appeared before the camp, each mounted on their respective horses. The +affair had drawn together the whole band, and they were now, quietly, +so many witnesses of the facts here recorded. + +Captain Shunan was armed with his rifle. Kit Carson had taken merely +a single-barrel dragoon pistol which happened to be the first weapon +that had fallen in his way, because of his hurry to be on the ground. +The two men now rode rapidly towards one another, until their horses' +heads almost touched, when both horsemen reined up, and Kit Carson +addressed Captain Shunan as follows: + +"Am I the person you are looking for?" + +Captain Shunan replied, "No!" + +It was apparent that this reply of Captain Shunan was a falsehood; +for, while giving it utterance, he raised his rifle in the act of +shooting, bringing it to his shoulder and covering his antagonist. +Before, however, Captain Shunan could discharge his gun, the ball from +Kit Carson's pistol shattered his forearm, causing the rifle to tilt +upwards, which changed the direction of its contents in such a +way that Kit Carson received a wound in his scalp while the powder +severely burnt his face. + +[Illustration: Before, however, Captain Shunan could discharge his +gun, the ball from Kit Carson's pistol shattered his forearm.--PAGE +100.] + +It was the universal opinion of the spectators of this unhappy scene +that both parties fired nearly at the same instant. The facts of the +case show very plainly, first, that Captain Shunan's intent was to +kill his antagonist. Why did he aim at Kit Carson's breast? Second, +that Kit Carson's shot was delivered perhaps a second or two in +advance of Captain Shunan's; third, that Kit Carson did not desire to +kill his antagonist, but merely to save his own life, by disabling +his adversary. The fact that his shot struck first and hit Captain +Shunan's right arm is sufficient proof of this. When Kit Carson's +well-known and indisputable skill with all kinds of fire-arms is taken +into the account; and that, notwithstanding this skill, he hit his +adversary in one of only two places (his right or left arms) which +would have rendered his aim with the rifle uncertain, the statement +that Kit Carson did not intend to kill his adversary becomes an +incontrovertible fact. Last, had Kit Carson not gained a second in +advance in the firing, he would have lost his own life, inevitably; +and, the emphatic "No!" the lie of his antagonist, would have been +crowned with success. Such plain deception seldom is allowed to +triumph by an all-wise Providence. + +In judging Kit Carson in this matter, the reader will commit an +ungenerous error if he fails to allow to be placed, in the balance of +judgment, the stirring deeds and daily hair-breadth risks Kit Carson, +during so many years of his eventful life, was constantly called upon +to take a part in and undergo. We take leave of this unfortunate scene +in his life, feeling confident a just public opinion will see in it no +cause to pluck from the brow of Kit Carson any of the laurels which it +has been called upon to place there. As a man of truth, honor, virtue, +and reverence for the laws of his country, Kit Carson has few equals +and no superior among Americans. It needed not this incident to +establish his courage; that had long been proven to be undoubted. Nor +did the result elate his feelings in the least. He met his companions +without a smile, and invariably expressed his regrets that he felt it +to be his duty, for the good order and peace of the camp, to interfere +in the matter. On the other hand, when he espoused the cause of the +majority in maintaining the right, he was not a man to be easily +thwarted. When the affair was ended, Kit was congratulated and +received the thanks of nearly every individual present; for, each felt +that a load of most vexatious and troublesome responsibility had been +taken from his shoulders. The good fellowship immediately introduced +into the camp was also a circumstance of mark. + +The wounded man was carried to his quarters and every attention shown +him in the power of his companions. His punishment had the effect +completely to subdue him. + +These duels among the old trappers of the Rocky Mountains were not +very unfrequent occurrences. Men, situated as they were, beyond the +reach of the mighty arm of the law, find it absolutely necessary to +legislate for themselves. It is not within our province to advocate +either the right or wrong of duelling; for, with the best of +reasoning, there will always exist a difference of opinion on the +subject. In the case of these mountaineers, when any serious offence +was given, the man receiving the injury to body or fame held the right +of demanding satisfaction. The interests of the entire band required +an immediate settlement of difficulties, so that their future plans +could be carried out in concert. In their dealings with each other +they were strictly honorable; and when by any mischance a rogue crept +into their ranks, if detected in any rascality, he was summarily and +severely dealt with. Their duels were serious events; for, oftentimes +both men were killed. In fact, the case could hardly be otherwise. +They were men of unflinching courage, and their weapons were generally +rifles, which, from long practice, they held with a certain and deadly +aim. We cannot better close this passage in the life of Kit Carson +than to quote the language held in 1846 by the Biographer[8] of the +great explorer, JOHN CHARLES FREMONT: + +"He" (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 disinterested.' He is kind-hearted, and averse to all quarrelsome +and turbulent scenes, and has never been engaged in any mere personal +broils or encounters, except 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 or heard of. I +shall tell the story as it is gathered from them both.[9] + +[Footnote 8: Charles Wentworth Upham.] + +[Footnote 9: The reader will easily correct the few discrepancies +of facts contained in this statement, by the narrative which is from +Carson himself, and given with a view to publication.] + +"In the year 1835, the Rev. Samuel Parker made an exploring and +missionary tour, under the auspices of the American Board of +Commissioners for Foreign Missions, beyond the Rocky Mountains, and as +far as the settlements on the Columbia River. In his printed journal +he gives an account of the incident to which I am referring; it +occurred on the 12th of August, at a point on the borders of Green +River, beyond the South Pass, on the occasion of a 'rendezvous,' that +is, on a spot selected for Indians, trappers, and hunters to bring to +market their peltries, and obtain supplies from the agents of the Fur +Companies. There was a large concourse of savage tribes, and all the +various denizens of the wilderness. There were Frenchmen, Spaniards, +Dutchmen, Canadians, and Western backwoodsmen. The Rev. Mr. Parker +happened to be there, to witness the strange gathering. Of course +there were some rude characters, and not a little irregularity and +disorder. Conflicts were liable to arise between quarrelsome persons, +growing out of the feuds among the tribes, and animosities between the +representatives of different nations, all actuated by pride of race or +country. + +"A hunter, named Shunan, a Frenchman, who was well known by the title +of the 'big bully of the mountains,' mounted his horse with a loaded +rifle, and dashing defiantly around, challenged any person, of any +nationality, to meet him in single combat. He boasted of his +exploits, and used the most insulting and irritating language, and was +particularly insolent and abusive towards Americans, whom he described +as only worth being whipped with switches. Kit Carson was in the +crowd, and his patriotic spirit kindled at the taunt. He at once +stepped forward and said, 'I am an American, the most trifling one +among them, but if you wish to die, I will accept your challenge.' +Shunan defied him. Carson at once leaped upon his horse, with a loaded +pistol, and both dashed into close conflict. They fired, almost at the +same moment, but Carson an instant the quickest. Their horses' heads +touched. Shunan's ball just grazed Carson's cheek, near the left eye, +and cut off some locks of his hair. Carson's ball entered Shunan's +hand, came out at the wrist, and passed through his arm above the +elbow. The bully begged his life, and it was spared. + +"This put an effectual stop to all such insolent proceedings, and +Americans were insulted no longer. Carson is still living, being yet, +indeed, in his prime. His faithful commander has recorded his name +on the geography of the continent, by calling after him a river and a +lake, in the great basin they explored together." + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + The Fall Hunt--McCoy of the Hudson's Bay Company organizes a + Trapping Party which Kit Carson joins--The Hunt--Scarcity of + Beaver on Humboldt River--The Party is divided--Kit Carson + with a majority of the Men goes to Fort Hall--Hardships and + Privations met with--Buffalo Hunt--All their Animals stolen + in the Night by a Party of Blackfeet Indians--Arrival of McCoy + from Fort Walla Walla--The Rendezvous--Kit Carson joins a + strong Band--The Small Pox among the Blackfeet Indians--The + Crow Indians on good terms with the Whites--Intense + Cold--Immense Herds of Buffalo--Danger of their goring to + death the Horses--The Spring Hunt--The Blackfeet Indian + Village overtaken--A desperate Fight with these Indians--The + Rendezvous--Sir William Stuart and a favorite Missionary--Kit + Carson goes an a Trading Expedition to the Navajoe + Indians--The Return--He accepts the post of Hunter of the + Trading Post at Brown's Hole. + + +Arrangements for the fall hunt were now in active progress among the +trappers. Though the reader may find some similarity of fact and idea +as we progress in this part of the Life of Kit Carson, the interest +which hangs about it, nevertheless, will not, or should not be +dampened, because this pen-painting of his long and active experience +is a better and more faithful exhibit of those qualifications, +knowledge and skill which afterwards made him, first the guide and +then the bosom friend of the illustrious Fremont, than any assertions +whether authenticated by published record, whether rested upon +statement on knowledge, information and belief of acquaintances and +friends, or, whether facts taken from the thousand allusions to his +exploits which have from time to time flooded the press of the United +States. + +The company of trappers which had been so fortunate as to secure the +services of Kit Carson, for facts seem now to warrant us in employing +this language of just praise, set out for the Yellow Stone River, +which stream they safely reached, and on which they set their traps. +Dame Fortune here seemed to be in unpleasant mood. Crossing the +country from the Yellow Stone to the Big Horn River, they again +courted the old lady's smile with stoical patience, but with no better +results. They next extended their efforts to the three forks of the +Missouri River; also, to the Big Snake River. The fickle old lady +proved scornful on all these streams, and finally, on the latter +stream and its tributaries they wintered. + +In this section of the country they fell in with Mr. Thomas McCoy, +a trader who was in the employ of the Hudson's Bay Company. In his +trading operations Mr. McCoy had been unsuccessful and had concluded +to organize a trapping expedition. The inducements which he held out +led Kit Carson and five of his companions to become members of his +party. With him they traveled to Mary's River,[10] from whence reports +had circulated that beaver existed in great abundance. The party +struck upon this stream high up and slowly followed it down to +where it is lost in the Great Basin. Their success here was not +satisfactory; consequently, the party returned to the Big Snake River. +By McCoy's direction the party tarried upon this river for some time +when it was divided. McCoy and a small escort started for Fort Walla +Walla. Kit Carson and the majority of the men took up their line of +march for Fort Hall. While en route, the latter division was subjected +to the greatest privations imaginable. Among the worst of these was +hunger, as their trail led through a barren region of country. For a +short time, they managed to subsist upon a small supply of nutritious +roots which had been provided in advance. This source finally gave +out, when their affairs assumed a most desperate attitude. To keep +from starving, they bled their mules and drank the warm red blood with +avidity, so acutely had the days of fasting sharpened their appetites. +This operation, however could not be repeated without endangering the +lives of their animals. These also were on a short allowance of food, +for the grass was very poor and scanty. The whole party had become +frightfully reduced in strength, and began to think it necessary to +kill some of their animals, which at this time they could but ill +spare. In this terrible condition they met with a band of Indians who +proved to be of a friendly disposition. The party was then only +about four days' journey from Fort Hall. Most unhappily, the Indians +themselves possessed but a scanty supply of provisions, and no more +than their immediate wants required. It was not without considerable +manoeuvering and talk, during which all the skill and Indian +experience possessed by Kit Carson were brought into active +requisition, that the savages were prevailed upon to trade with the +trappers. By the trade the half famished men obtained a fat horse, +which was immediately killed, and on which they regaled with as much +relish as the epicure in the settlements enjoys his "joint of roast +beef." + +[Footnote 10: We give the name which was applied to this river at the +date of the facts related in the text. It is now called the Humboldt +River.] + +To a man not accustomed to this kind of meat, mule flesh and horse +flesh would not be likely to prove over tempting or appropriate +viands. Let him feel the pangs of hunger very sharply, and his ideas +of lusciousness and propriety in respect to food will rapidly change. +The civilized world has condemned the practice as belonging to +barbarians. A mountaineer, not being quite so fastidious, scouts these +ideas, considering them foolish prejudices of people who have never +been forced by necessity to test the wisdom of their condemnation. Let +the epicurean sages have their choice, eat horse flesh or starve, +and, they confidently maintain, horse flesh would gradually grow to be +considered a dainty, the rarer over beef, in proportion to its greater +cost. + +The trappers of the western prairies, who wander thousands of miles +over barren as well as fertile lands, where game cannot exist from +stern necessity, are compelled to submit to all kinds of vicissitudes; +but, with buoyant spirits, they conquer results, which, a faint heart +and yielding courage would behold almost in their grasp but fail to +reach. + +An emergency calls forth skill and great energies; and, in an +unexplored country where, as in the case here recorded, everything +living suddenly disappears, it is then that the wits of a trapper save +his life when an ordinary traveler would lie down and die. + +Kit Carson and his men, at last, succeeded in reaching Fort Hall. They +were kindly received and amply provided for by the whites who then +occupied it as a trading post. Here they rapidly recruited their +strength, and in the course of a few days felt able to start out upon +a buffalo hunt. Reports had come in that large numbers of buffalo +existed in close proximity to the Fort. Kit Carson and his men were +not the kind who live upon the bounty of others when game can be had +in return for the necessary effort to find. They were also not the +men to hoard their stock of provisions whenever they met parties in +distress. The first query which different bands of trappers offer +to each other on meeting in the wilderness, is, "Does game exist in +plenty," or "is game plenty in such and such sections of country?" +This takes precedence over the commonplace question, "What's the +news?" Oftentimes, when venturing into distant and unexplored +districts of territory they were obliged to take their chances of +finding sustenance; but, they hardly ever neglected an opportunity +to inform themselves on the subject: on the contrary, they often +sacrificed both time and profits in order to secure correct details. +Any other course would have been fool-hardy rashness, just fit for +parties of over-bold inexperience to take the consequences of. + +Hunting the buffalo is a manly and interesting sport; and, as Kit +Carson on this occasion engaged in it with successful results, it +might be interesting to the general reader, and, in this place the +unity of the narrative seems to require, a complete and practical +description of the manner of taking the buffalo. We have, however +deferred this part of our duty to an occasion when Kit Carson had +his friend John C. Fremont upon his first buffalo hunt. We shall then +permit the bold Explorer to tell the story of a buffalo hunt in our +behalf.[11] + +[Footnote 11: See page 161.] + +During their sojourn at Fort Hall, the hardy trappers were not idle. +Besides the calls upon them by the hunt, they set to work with great +industry repairing their saddles, clothing and moccasins. With the +aid of a few buck-skins, usually procured from Indians, and a few rude +tools, they soon accomplished wonders. + +To give the reader an appropriate view of the genius to conquer +obstacles displayed by the mountaineers, he must picture one of them +just starting upon a long journey over the prairies and through +the mountains. His wagon and harness trappings, if he chances to be +possessed of worldly effects sufficient to warrant him in purchasing a +first-class outfit, present a neat and trim appearance. Follow him +to the point of his destination, and there the reader will discover, +perhaps, a hundredth part of the original vehicle and trappings. +While en route, the bold and self-reliant man has met with a hundred +accidents. He has been repeatedly called upon to mend and patch both +wagon and harness, besides his own clothing. Though he now presents a +dilapidated appearance, he is none the less a man; and, if his name +is known as a regular trapper and mountaineer, he is immediately a +welcomed and honored guest. If the broadcloth of a prince covered his +back, spotless, scientifically shaped and foreign woven, his reception +would not be more heartfelt and sincerely cordial. It is amusing to +see the raw-hide patches of harness, wagon and clothing, now become +dry and hard as oak. To have dispensed with the use of buckskin on his +route, would have been like cutting off the right arm of the gallant +pioneer. Buckskin and the western wilds of America are almost +synonymous terms; at least, the one suggests the other, and therefore +they are of the same brotherhood. The traveler in these regions of +this day fails not to learn and appreciate its value. It has not only +furnished material for clothing, but has been used to repair almost +every article in daily use. Even the camp and tea-kettle, as well as +the frying, milk and saucepan, bedstead and hammock, chair and table, +all have had their buckskin appendage, as fast as any of them have +become injured or broken. + +Everything being in readiness, Carson set out with his followers for +their hunting-grounds. Their pace was one of so much rapidity, that +after one day's march they discovered signs of the buffalo. On the +following morning immense herds were in sight. A suitable place for a +camp was soon selected, and everything which could impede their work +well stowed away. The best marksmen were selected for hunters, and the +remainder of the party detailed to take care of the meat as fast +as the hunters should bring it in. Poles were planted on the open +prairies, and from one to the other ropes of hide were stretched. Upon +these ropes strips of the buffalo meat were hung for curing, +which consists of merely drying it in the sun's rays. After it is +sufficiently dried, it is taken down and bound up in bundles. +During the time of hunting and curing, the trappers feasted upon +the delicacies of the game, which consist of the tongue, liver and +peculiar fat which is found along the back of the buffalo. Their past +sufferings from hunger had made them so determined in the work of +procuring game, that in a few days they possessed meat sufficient to +load down all their pack animals. They now thought about returning to +Fort Hall. Their pace, however, rendered so by their weighty game, was +very slow. Their old enemies, the Blackfeet Indians, had discovered +them while engaged in this hunt. They followed them on the march to +the Fort, the trappers being wholly unaware of their presence; in +fact, the idea of hostile Indians had not troubled their thoughts. + +Two or three nights after they arrived at the Fort, taking advantage +of a dark evening, the Indians deprived them of all their animals. +This was the result of carelessness on the part of one of the men, +which, under the circumstances, was excusable. The party had encamped +just without the pickets of the Fort, but had taken the precaution to +secure their horses and mules while they slept, by placing them in the +_corral_[12] belonging to the station. A sentinel was put upon duty +over the corral, in order to make everything doubly secure. In the +latter part of the night, nearly at daybreak, the sentinel saw two +persons advance and deliberately let down the bars leading into the +yard and drive out the animals. He mistook these men for two of +his companions who were authorized to take the herd out to graze. +Concluding, therefore, without going to them, that he was relieved, +he sought his resting-place and was soon fast asleep. In the morning, +anxious inquiries were made for the horses and mules, when a +very short investigation revealed the truth of matters. It was, +undoubtedly, very fortunate for the sentinel that he fell into the +error alluded to. It was very apparent that the two advanced Indians +who let down the bars were backed up by a strong party. The signs +of Indians, discovered afterwards, proved this beyond a doubt. Their +reserve party were posted where the least resistance on the part of +the sentinel would have been followed by his quick and certain death. +This successful theft was, no doubt, considered by the Indians a cause +for great rejoicing. It may have formed the basis of promoting the +brave who planned and directed it, as the animals had been obtained +without the loss of a man or even the receiving of a wound. The +parties living at the Fort were equally as poorly off for horses +and mules as were now the trappers. The same Indians had recently +performed the same trick upon them. The loss was most severely felt by +the trappers, inasmuch as they had not a single animal left upon which +to give chase. Nothing remained for them to enact, except a stoical +indifference over their loss and await the return of McCoy, who had +agreed, after finishing his business at Fort Walla Walla, to rejoin, +them at Fort Hall. + +[Footnote 12: _Corral_, a barnyard.] + +This tribe of Indians, the Blackfeet, whose meddlesome dispositions +have so frequently brought them in contact with Kit Carson in such and +dissimilar affairs, occupy the country on the Yellow Stone River and +about the head waters of the Missouri. There are other tribes in close +proximity, the most important of which is the tribe called the Crows. +When Kit Carson first entered upon his wild career the Blackfeet +Indians numbered nearly thirty thousand souls. They were greatly +reduced in numbers within the next six or seven years, between 1832 +and 1839. In the last-named year, in consequence of the ravages of +the small pox, heretofore alluded to and which prevailed the +year previous, they had lost at least fifty per cent. The Indian +computations of 1850, according to Brownell, give their numbers at +only about thirteen thousand. They are one of the finest races of the +American Aborigines. Powerful in frame and development; well trained +in horsemanship, although in this they are surpassed by the Camanches; +capable of great endurance; and, usually well fitted as to arms, +dress, horse trappings, _et caetera_, they generally prove knotty +customers as enemies. We ought not to pass by this notice of the +Blackfeet Indians without calling the attention of the inquisitive +reader to a remarkable proof which is afforded by the whole +intercourse of these western trappers with the Blackfeet Indians, as +thus detailed by Kit Carson, of an assertion hazarded some years ago +by Charles De Wolf Brownell, in his admirable work upon the Indian +races of North and South America. On pages 465-6, Mr. Brownell comes +to the defence of the Crow tribe of Indians, which, up to that time, +had been characterized as a "lawless, thieving horde of savages." +"But," says Mr. Brownell, "those best acquainted with their character +and disposition, speak of them as honest and trustworthy." The +adventures of Kit Carson among both the Crow and the Blackfeet +Indians, we think, demonstrate pretty conclusively which of these +contiguous tribes are the horse stealers. The Crows, it will be +remembered, are more particularly inhabitants of the mountainous +regions. The Blackfeet have ever been their sworn and implacable foes. +Their burials of the hatchet have been few and far between, and +never in deep soil. It is not, therefore, to be wondered at that +the Blackfeet reputation should extend to the Crows; but, although +circumstances exist which condemn the latter, they are few in number +compared with the sins laid by the traders and trappers at the +tent-doors of the former. + +After the lapse of one month McCoy made his appearance and, most +opportunely, brought an extra supply of animals. The camp was soon +struck and the whole band started for the rendezvous, which had been +appointed to convene at the mouth of Horse Creek on the Green River. +They reached this place after several days of hard travel. As usual, +trading operations did not commence until all the regular bands +of trappers had arrived and reported. They were then commenced and +continued through a period of twenty days. Here Kit Carson left the +company under McCoy and joined a company under the management of a +Mr. Fontenelle which numbered one hundred men. This party went to and +trapped on the Yellow Stone River. On commencing operations the party +was divided into fifty trappers and fifty keepers. The duties of the +former were to take the beaver and provide game for food. The latter +to guard their property and cook. The trappers were now in the midst +of their sworn foes, the Blackfeet Indians. They felt themselves +sufficiently strong and were desirous to pay off old scores. They +therefore trapped where they pleased, being determined to dispute +the right of possession to the country if attacked. They were not, +however, molested. A good reason appeared for this, soon after, +brought by some friendly Indians belonging to the Crow Tribe. They +informed the whites that the small pox was making terrible havoc with +the Blackfeet Indians. Thousands were dying and fears were entertained +that the whole tribe would be cut off. In order to attend to their +sick they had secluded themselves. The trapping season being nearly +over, as the streams began to freeze, the party commenced looking out +for a camping site. + +In conjunction with the main body of the Crow nation they proceeded to +a well protected valley and erected their lodges, making themselves +as comfortable as possible under the circumstances. As the season +advanced, the cold became more severe, until at last, it was more +intense than ever before experienced by the trappers or Indians. Fuel, +however, was abundant, and, excepting the inconvenience of keeping +unusually large fires, they suffered but little. Not so with their +animals. It was with the greatest difficulty that they preserved +them from starvation. By the most unwearied exertions, however, they +succeeded in obtaining food enough barely to keep them alive until the +weather became more mild and auspicious. At one time the crisis was +so imminent, that the trappers were compelled to resort to cottonwood +trees, thawing the bark and small branches, after gathering them, by +their fires. This bark was torn from the trees in shreds sufficiently +small for the animals to masticate. The Indians of the Rocky +Mountains, when suffering from hunger, are often driven to the +extremity of eating this material. For miles, not unfrequently, the +traveler discovers these trees denuded of their bark, after a party +has passed through on their way to find the buffalo. The rough, +outside cuticle is discarded, and the tender texture, next to the body +of the tree, is the part selected for food. It will act in staying the +appetite, but cannot, for any great length of time, support life. +It is dangerous to allow starving animals to eat freely of it; the +trappers, therefore, feed it to them but sparingly. + +The intense cold operated to bring upon them another serious annoyance +in the shape of immense herds of starving buffalo, which, goaded on +by the pangs of hunger, would watch for an opportunity to gore the +animals and steal their scanty allowance of provender. It was only by +building large fires in the valleys and constantly standing guard that +the trappers succeeded in keeping them off. + +During the winter, to beguile the time, the whites vied with +their Indian allies in many of their sports. As game existed in +superabundance, always ready for a loaded rifle, both parties were +contented and happy. Time flew away rapidly and soon brought again the +sunshine of spring with the buds and blossoms, gay wild flowers, green +herbage and forest verdure. For the purpose of procuring supplies, +the trappers dispatched two messengers to Fort Laramie. They did not +return and were never again heard from. The conclusion which gained +belief was, that they had been murdered by the Sioux Indians. The +party waited as long as they possibly could for the return of their +two companions, but, finally, were compelled to commence the spring +hunt without them. They trapped a short time on the Yellow Stone +River and then went to the Twenty-Five-Yard River. From thence +they proceeded to the head waters of the Missouri, and, on the most +northern of its forks, remained some time, meeting with considerable +success. Here they obtained news of the Blackfeet Indians, which +showed that the ravages of the small pox had been greatly over +estimated. They were still nearly as strong, and in character, had not +at all become subdued. Upon drawing near to the source of this river, +they discovered that the main village of these savages, their old +foes, was in close proximity. This was pleasing intelligence to the +trappers. They had suffered too many unprovoked insults at their hands +not to desire the avenging of their wrongs and to punish them by way +of retaliation. During the whole winter, and, in fact, from the +time the party was first organized, they had anxiously abided their +opportunity to meet and punish the rascally Blackfeet warriors. The +old scores, or sores, had been festering too long, and here was a +chance to probe them satisfactorily. + +The party cautiously followed upon the trail which led to the Indian +encampment until within one day's journey of it. Here they came to a +halt. Kit Carson, with five men, was sent in advance to reconnoitre. +Upon approaching the Indians, the reconnoitering party discovered them +busily engaged driving in their animals to saddle and pack, and +making such other preparations necessary to the effecting of a hurried +decampment. Kit and his companions hastened back and reported the +results of their observations. A council was immediately held which +decided to send out forty-three picked men to give battle; and, for +the commander of this party, Kit Carson was unanimously elected. The +fifty-five men left behind under Mr. Fontenelle had the onerous duty +of guarding the animals and equipage. It was a part of the programme, +also, that the latter force should move on slowly and act as a reserve +in case of need. + +Kit Carson and his command were in fine spirits and lost no time in +overhauling the village. In the first charge they killed ten of the +bravest warriors. The savages quickly recovered from this blow and +commenced retreating in good order. For three consecutive hours they +heroically received a series of these furious and deadly assaults +without offering much resistance. At the end of this time the firing +of the mountaineers began to slacken, as their ammunition was running +low. These experienced and brave, though rascally Indians, soon +surmised the cause of this sudden change of affairs. Rallying their +forces, they turned upon their assailants in right good earnest and +a desperate hand-to-hand engagement ensued. The white men now had an +opportunity to use their small arms, which told with such terrible +effect upon their foes that they were soon driven back again. They, +however, rallied once more and charged so manfully that the trappers +were forced to retreat. In this latter engagement a horse belonging +to a mountaineer by the name of Cotton, fell, throwing his rider +and holding him on the ground by his weight. This happened as he was +passing a point of rocks. Six of the warriors, seeing the accident, +instantly hurried forward to take Cotton's scalp. But Kit Carson's +eagle eye was watching every part of the battle-field and discovered, +in time to be of service, the danger to which his friend was exposed. +Although some distance off, Kit sprang from his saddle, and, with +the leap of an antelope and the rallying cry for his men, was on the +ground, ready to make a certain shot. His aim and the crack of his +rifle almost belonged to the same instant of time. It was none the +less sure. The foremost warrior, a powerful savage, whose fingers +evidently itched for the scalp of the mountaineer, fell, shot through +the heart. By this time others had followed the bold example of their +leader, when the five remaining warriors, seeing the imminent danger +which threatened them, turned to run back into their band. But two of +them however reached a place of safety. The remainder, caught in +their fleet career by the unerring and death-dealing bullets of the +mountaineers, measured their lengths upon the battle-ground, stricken +with wounds which demanded and received from them their last wild +war-whoop. + +[Illustration: Kit Carson's eagle eye was watching every part of the +battle-field and discovered, in time to be of service, the danger to +which his friend was exposed. Although some distance off, Kit sprang +from his saddle, and, with the leap of an antelope and the rallying +cry for his men, was on the ground ready to make a certain shot.--PAGE +120.] + +When Kit Carson fired, his horse, being under no restraint, became +frightened and dashed away, leaving his brave rider on foot. Kit +however instantly comprehended his position. The fallen horseman had +succeeded in extricating himself, but not without difficulty, for +the ground was very uneven. He had received a few pretty severe +contusions, but was, notwithstanding these, worth a dozen Indians yet, +and failed not to show the fact. Seeing Cotton thus all right, Kit +Carson made his way to one of his companions, and, as the fighting +had, apparently by mutual consent, ceased for a few moments, mounted +up behind him and thus rejoined the main body of his men. The runaway +horse, after quite a chase, was soon captured by a trapper and +returned to his captain. A period of inactivity now reigned over the +battle-field, each party apparently waiting for the other to again +open the ball. During this resting spell, the reserve division of the +trappers came in sight, having been anxiously expected for some time. +The Indians showed no fear at this addition to the number of their +adversaries. On the contrary, being no doubt carried away by their +recent success in making a stand, they commenced posting themselves +among the rocks about one hundred and fifty yards distant from the +position taken up by the trappers. The arrival of the reserve was +a great relief to the advance, because, they were tired of fighting +without ammunition. Having well filled their ammunition pouches they +once more became eager for the affray. Everything being in readiness, +with a cheer, they started on foot to attack and dislodge the enemy. +In a few moments was commenced the severest skirmish of the day. It +became so exciting that frequently a trapper would occupy one side, +and a stalwart warrior the other, of some large rock, each intent +upon the life of his adversary. In such cases it required the closest +watchfulness and the utmost dexterity to kill or dislodge the bold +savage. The power of powder in the hands of skillful men soon began +to assert its superiority in the battle, and when once the Indians +commenced to waver, it was all over with them. Their first wavering +soon broke into a complete rout, when they ran for their lives. As +they scattered in every direction, the pursuit which followed was +short. In this battle the trappers considered that they had thoroughly +settled all outstanding accounts with the Blackfeet Indians, for they +had killed a large number of their warriors and wounded many more. On +their side three men only were killed and a few severely wounded. + +Fontenelle and his men camped for a few days in the vicinity of the +scene of their late engagement, burying their dead and repairing +damages. They then resumed the business of trapping, traversing the +Blackfeet country whenever they chose without fear of molestation. +The success in their late engagement seemed to follow them in their +business, for their stock of fur accumulated rapidly. + +While they were encamped upon Green River, an express rider, sent by +the traders, came into camp and informed the party that the rendezvous +would be held on Mud River. With a large stock of beaver, the party +started for that place, arriving in eight days. + +Besides the usual traders and trappers, the party met at this +rendezvous some missionaries and a distinguished English nobleman, Sir +William Stuart. Of this latter gentleman, Kit Carson says: "For the +goodness of his heart and numerous rare qualities of mind, he will +always be remembered by those of the mountaineers who had the honor of +his acquaintance." + +Among the missionaries was "Old Father De Smidt," as he afterwards +came to be familiarly called. This gentleman is at present well known +as being a leading literary and religious man at St. Louis, Missouri. +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 +the path. He worked during a long series of years in these dangerous +localities, and accomplished much good. When, at last, he returned to +civilization, he left an indelible name behind him. + +In twenty days after the camp at the rendezvous was formed, it broke +up again into small parties. Kit Carson, with seven companions, went +to Brown's Hole. This was a trading post. Here they found two traders +who were contemplating getting up a business expedition to the Navajoe +Indians. This tribe exhibits more traces of white blood than any other +of the wild races in North America. They are brave and fond of owning +large possessions. These consist chiefly of immense herds of fine +horses and sheep. In this respect they are not unlike the ancient +inhabitants of the earth, who "watched their roving store" on Syrian +soil and the contiguous countries. The parties who desired to trade +with them usually carried a stock of trinkets and articles of use, for +which they received horses, mules, blankets and lariets.[13] + +[Footnote 13: A lariet is a beautifully made rope, manufactured from +hides and used for picketing horses out upon the prairies. They are +worth, in New Mexico, about two dollars each.] + +Navajoe blankets are very celebrated in the far west of America, and +especially in old Mexico, where they are in great demand and command +high prices. Many of these articles are really beautiful, and, from +their fine texture, together with the great amount of labor spent in +their manufacture, are expensive, even when purchased of the Indians. +The art of weaving these blankets has been long known to the Navajoe +Indians; and, all the female children belonging to the nation are +taught the art during their earliest years. It is only after much +practice, however, that they become expert. + +Kit Carson joined the two traders, whose names were Thompson and +Sinclair, and made the trip with them which they had planned. They +realized very handsomely from it, bringing back a large drove of very +fine mules. The animals were driven to the Fort on the South Fork +of the Platte, where they were disposed of at fair prices. Having +received his share of the profits, Kit returned again to Brown's +Hole. The season was too far gone for him to think of joining another +trapping expedition that fall. He therefore began to look about for +some suitable employment for the winter. As soon as it became known +that his services were open for an engagement, several offers were +made him, all of which he rejected. The reader will doubtless see a +contrast between the Kit Carson renowned as a trapper and hunter and +the Kit Carson who, at Taos, only a few years before, was glad to hire +out as a cook, in order to gain his daily sustenance. For some time, +strong inducements of high wages had been held out to him by the +occupants of the Fort, in order to prevail upon him to accept the +responsible and arduous office of Hunter to the Fort. The task of +supplying, by the aid of the rifle, all the flesh twenty men would +naturally consume during an entire winter, formed the duty required +and expected from this officer. The inducements were so tempting, +the task so congenial with his feelings, and, withal, the urgent +persuasions of the men so pressing, that Kit Carson finally accepted +the offer and entered upon his duties. He soon showed the company that +he knew his business, and could perform it with an ease and certainty +which failed not to elicit universal esteem and commendation. When +the time arrived for him to resign the office in the Spring, he left +behind him golden opinions of his skill as a marksman. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + Bridger and Carson trapping on the Black Hills--The + Main Camp--The Rendezvous--Winter Quarters on the Yellow + Stone--Carson with forty men in a desperate fight with the + Blackfeet Indians--A Council--Sentinel posted--One Thousand + Warriors come to punish the Trappers--The War Dance--The + Courage of the Savages deserts them--Winter Quarters--The + Spring Hunt--Another Fight with the Blackfeet--Continued + Annoyances--The Trappers abandon the Country--The + Rocky Mountains and Alps compared--Other Trapping + Expeditions--Beaver becoming scarce--Prices of Fur + reduced--Kit Carson and the Trappers give up their + Vocation--The Journey to Bent's Fort--Mitchell the + Mountaineer--His Eccentricities. + + +In the spring, Kit Carson joined Bridger. With four companions they +went to the Black Hills to hunt. In the streams adjacent to that +country, the beaver existed in large numbers and their success in +trapping was excellent. + +Soon after arriving, however, the party broke up. Kit Carson and a +trapper named Owens made a hunt by themselves and were very fortunate +in obtaining a large stock of the fur. After which they joined the +main camp of the trappers on Green River. When the summer was pretty +well advanced, the camp was broken up and all of its occupants started +for the Rendezvous, this year held on the Popoayhi, a branch of the +Wind River. + +In the fall, most of the trappers went to the country which lies in +the immediate neighborhood of the Yellow Stone River. Having trapped +all the streams there, they went into winter quarters on that stream. + +Nothing was heard of their sworn enemies, the Blackfeet Indians until +about the middle of the winter. A party who were out hunting suddenly +came upon some signs which, looking suspicious, attracted their +attention. To these signs they gave a close investigation, and fully +made up their minds that they were close to the stronghold of their +foes. Without waiting to follow up the signs they immediately retraced +their steps and informed their party in camp of their conviction that +trouble was brewing. A command of forty men was instantly detailed to +seek out the Indians and give them battle. Kit Carson was once +more called upon to lead the brave trappers in this expedition, and +everything was left to his direction and good judgment. Soon after +commencing their march, the company fell in with a scouting party of +the enemy in the vicinity of the spot where the fresh signs had been +discovered. To this party the trappers gave chase, wisely concluding +they would run for their main body. The result satisfied their +anticipations. In a short time they found themselves opposed to +a strong band of the Indians, when, a regular fight was instantly +commenced. After quite a spirited contest, the Indians gave way and +retreated, but in good order, to an island in the Yellow Stone River +where they had previously erected strong barricades. Night put a stop +to the scenes of the day and further action was deferred until +the next morning. As soon as the light would again warrant it, the +trappers plunged into the stream and made for the island, being +determined to dislodge the Indians. To their great dismay the brave +savages had already retreated having quietly given them the slip +during the night. + +The result of the battle the day before was now made apparent. It was +evident that not much powder had been wasted in the action. The snow +within the fortification was red with fresh blood, and from the place +a bloody trail led to a hole in the ice of the stream where a large +number of lifeless bodies had been sunk. There was nothing now to +be done except to return to camp. Upon their arrival a council was +convened to devise measures and plans for their future conduct. It was +quite evident to all that the campaign had but just commenced. It was +the general impression that the main village of the Blackfeet tribe +had been located within a few miles. When therefore the news of their +recent severe loss should be carried there by the survivors in the +battle, active measures would be set on foot to seek revenge. It was +the decision of the council that the trappers should act chiefly on +the defensive. Measures were immediately set on foot to guard against +surprise. To make everything doubly secure, none but the most trusty +and well-tried men were detailed to perform sentinel duty. Near their +camp there was a very lofty hill which commanded a fine view of +the surrounding country. Upon this eminence they posted a sentinel +throughout the day time. Their arrangements having been all determined +upon and plans laid, the execution of them, to men so well skilled in +frontier life, occupied but little time. Notwithstanding this celerity +in their movements they had been none too quick. Soon after their +preparations were fully made, the sentinel on the hill gave his signal +indicating the approach of the Indians, showing that their precaution +in this respect had been a wise one. The order was immediately +given to erect strong breastworks. This task was so successfully +accomplished, that, in a few hours, they had prepared a little +fortress, which, covered with their unerring rifles, was impregnable +against any force the Indians could bring against it. The advance +party of the savages soon appeared in sight, but when they discovered +the strength of the trappers, they halted and awaited, distant about +half a mile from the breastwork, the arrival of the rest of the band. +It was three days before the whole force of the Indians had arrived. +They mustered about one thousand warriors. It was a sight which few +white men of the American nation have looked upon. Arrayed in their +fantastic war costume and bedaubed with paint, armed with lances, bows +and arrows, rifles, tomahawks, knives, etc., some mounted and some on +foot, they presented a wild and fearful scene of barbaric strength +and fancy. Soon after their last company had reported, the frightful +war-dance, peculiar to the American savages, was enacted in sight of +the trappers' position. The battle songs and shouts which accompanied +the dance reached the ears of the whites with fearful distinctness. +Any other than hearts of oak with courage of steel would have quailed +before this terrible display of savage enmity and ferocity. This +dance, to men so well skilled in the ways of the Indian warrior, was +a sure signal that the next day would be certain to have a fearful +history for one party or the other and doubtless for both. The odds, +most assuredly, were apparently greatly in favor of the savage host +and against the little band of hardy mountaineers. + +The following day the expectations of the trappers were realized. The +Indians, at the first dawn of day, approached the breastwork, +eager for the battle. They were, evidently, very much astonished at +beholding the invincibility of the trappers' position. It was what +they had not calculated upon and seemed to cast a perfect damper upon +their courage. After firing a few shots which did no harm, and seeing +that nothing could be accomplished except by a charge, they commenced +a retreat. The trappers, though only sixty strong, were filled with +disappointment and chagrin at the course taken by their wary foes. +They began to shout to their enemies in derisive terms, hoping +the taunts would exasperate and draw them into an attack. Nothing, +however, would tempt them to face the danger, for they withdrew to a +spot about one mile from the little fort and sat down in council. The +speeches appeared to be generally opposed to risking an assault; for, +after the council was dissolved, the Indians divided into two nearly +equal parties and immediately marched off. One band took the direction +of the Crow country and the other shaped their course in the direction +from whence they came. + +The trappers remained at their little fort during the winter and were +not again disturbed by the Indians. Early in the following spring, +they set their traps on one of the tributaries of the Missouri River +and finished the hunt on the head of Lewis' Fork. They then departed +for the rendezvous which was held on Green River near the mouth of +Horse Creek, remaining there until the month of August and until the +meeting was dissolved. + +Kit Carson, on the breaking up of the camp at the rendezvous, +accompanied by five other trappers, went to Fort Hall and joined +a party attached to the "Northwest Fur Company." With this band he +trapped to the head of Salmon River. Thence they went to Malade River, +trapping down it to where it empties into the Big Snake River. They +continued on up this latter river, and then, after trapping on Goose +Creek and Raft River, returned to Fort Hall. Their stock of fur was +quite extensive on their arrival here and, an opportunity offering +to dispose of it, they sold out at a fair valuation. After recruiting +their strength at the Fort for one month, Kit Carson, accompanied by +most of the trappers, set out to join Bridger, who was still in the +country of the Blackfeet Indians. Upon striking the Missouri River, +signs of trappers were discovered, indicating that, whoever the party, +or parties might be, they were now above the place where Kit and his +party then were. With fourteen companions Kit started in advance of +the main party to overtake, and report who these men were. Towards +evening of the same day, the advance party came up with the trappers +and found that they were under the charge of Joseph Gale and in the +employ of Captain Wyatt. + +Gale informed Carson that his command had recently been engaged in a +closely contested fight with the Blackfeet Indians; that several of +his party had been wounded, and one, by the name of Richard Owens, was +at first thought to be mortally so; but, eventually, he had begun to +recover and now was doing well. + +Kit and his men remained one night with Gale. On the following day his +party commenced setting their traps, intending to proceed up the river +at a slow pace in order to allow the main party to overtake them. The +men sent out to set their traps had not gone from the camp over two +miles before they were fired upon by a party of Blackfeet Indians +and compelled to retreat. They did so, succeeding in joining their +comrades without the loss of a single man. The pursuit had been close +and well sustained by the savages; hence, it became necessary to take +instant measures in order to insure the safety of the advance. Kit +Carson, who was the commander of the party, after quietly surveying +the scene, gave orders for the men, with their animals, to conceal +themselves, as best they could in the brush. His orders had been +issued but just in time, for the concealment was barely attained, when +the Indians were upon them. They were received with a well-directed +volley from the rifles of the little party, which brought down several +of the fierce assailants. They recoiled and retreated for a moment. +The moment was golden to the few white men. Like men who were fighting +for their lives but who were cool in danger, they made no mistakes +in reloading their rifles. They were but just ready, however, for the +second charge. This time the savages came on with unearthly yells and +desperate courage, seemingly well satisfied that before them stood the +men whose faithful rifle-talk they had heard before. Kit warned his +men to keep cool and fire as if shooting game, a warning which was +entirely unnecessary, for the result was that the savages were again +driven back with a brave bleeding or dying for nearly every shot +fired. It was very fortunate that Kit had chosen this position, for +the engagement lasted nearly the entire day. The loss on the part of +the Indians was very severe. They did everything in their power to +force Kit and his party from their cover, but without avail. Every +time they attempted to charge into the thicket the same deadly volley +was poured in with never-failing aim, which invariably caused the +savages to beat a hasty retreat. Before the next attack the trappers +were ready for them with reloaded rifles. At last, as if driven to +desperation, the Indians set the thicket on fire, hoping to burn out +their foes. Most providentially, in this also they were foiled. After +consuming the outer shrubbery, the fire died out. This was the last +act attempted by the savages. Seeing the ill-success of their effort +to dislodge the trappers by fire, they departed. They may have been +hurried in this leave-taking somewhat by news brought in by their +spies of the near approach of the main body of the trappers, which +had arrived at a point about six miles distant from the battle ground. +They had been prevented from hearing the reports of fire-arms by +adverse winds, and knew nothing of the fight until informed by the +trappers engaged in it. When sufficient time had elapsed for the +Indians to be well out of sight, Kit Carson and his companions left +their cover and soon found their way into the camp of their friends. + +Gale was so continually annoyed by these Indians that he joined the +other trappers and together they concluded to leave their country. +Their combined forces, though able to cope with them so far as +defensive measures were necessary, was utterly powerless to overawe +them. This made it next to an impossibility for them to continue in +their country with a hope of success in business. For the purpose of +getting rid of them, they moved off, some distance, to a small creek +where beaver were plenty. Trouble followed them, however. The first +day of their arrival, one of the party was killed by the Blackfeet +Indians within a short distance, only, of the camp. During the +remainder of the stay made by the party on this stream, the rascals +hovered around and worried them to such a degree that a trapper could +not leave the camp without falling into an ambuscade and being forced +to fight his way back again. + +It became evident to all interested that so long as such a state of +affairs existed they could not employ their time with just hope of +advantage. After a short council, it was decided to abandon this +region of the country and go to the North Fork of the Missouri. They +soon accomplished their journey and began the business of trapping. +Proceeding up the river, on the fourth day, they came, suddenly, upon +a large village of Flathead and Pondrai Indians who were encamped upon +its banks. These Indians were friendly to the whites. A chief of the +Flatheads and several of his people joined the trappers and went +with them to the Big Snake River where they established their winter +quarters. The winter passed away so quietly that not a single incident +occurred beyond the usual routine which the imagination of the reader +can easily supply. It was quite cold that season, and the snow fell +to a great depth. Everything however was arranged as best conduced to +comfort, and the trappers found a pleasant and congenial exercise in +hunting to supply their daily wants. + +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, even those which are low being impracticable +either for man or beast. As a set-off to all this, the scenery is most +grand provided the beholder is well housed. If the case is otherwise +and he be doomed to combat these terrible storms, his situation is +most critical. During the summer months the lofty peaks of this mighty +chain of mountains, like those of the Alps, are covered with white +caps of snow. As time, the bright sun and the south wind wear out +these old-lady head-gearings, no matter what be the part of the year, +whether the cold days of January, or the hot days of August, the snow +storms are faithful in replenishing them. It affords a contrast of the +elements of the grandest conception to stand in the shade of some wavy +verdure of the valley wiping off the unbidden perspiration from +the brow, and, at the same instant, look upon a darkly threatening +storm-cloud powdering the heads of the hoary monster mountains from +its freight of flaky snow. So far these American giant mountains +are unsurpassed by their Alpine neighbors of Europe. Not so in +the glaciers. Throughout the great range, there are none of those +beautiful glaciers to be found that can compare with those possessed +by their compeers in Europe. + +To the traveler whose taste has led him to wander along the "Great +back bones," or vertebrae, of the two hemispheres, preparing the mind +to draw truthful contrast, his pleasantest reveries will find him +drawing comparisons between them. He is never tired, for the subject +he cannot exhaust. When, supposing that his conclusions are at last +made and that the Alps have won the highest place in favor, some +forgotten scene from America will assume the form and shape of a vivid +recollection, rife with scenic grandeur and sublimity, restoring the +Rocky chain to its counterpoise; then, an hour of peril and fearful +toil will come to memory, and, until the same mental process shall +bring them again to an equilibrium, the far-famed Alps will descend +in the balance. Each have their attractions, each their grandeur, each +their sublimity, each their wonderful, awful silence, each their long +and glorious landscape views, while, to each, the general contour is +the same. In the point of altitude, the Rocky chain, as is well known +to science, has the advantage; but, in historical science and lore, +the famous Alps stand preeminent. True, it is from ignorance that +we are led to concede this, because no man can give to the world the +reminiscences of the Rocky Mountains. Their history, since the first +red man entered them, must forever rest in oblivion. In scenery these +mountains of the Western Continent again carry off the palm; for, +they strike the observer as being more bold, wild and picturesque than +their formidable rivals. To the foot-worn traveler, who has journeyed +thirty or forty days upon the level prairies, seeing nothing to +break the monotony of a sea of earth, the dark outlines of the Rocky +Mountains, gradually coming into the view, never fail to prove a +refreshing sight both to the physical and mental eye. They appear +as if descending from the heavens to the surface of the earth, +perpendicularly, as though intended to present a perfect barrier over +which no living thing should pass. This view never fails to engross +the earnest attention of the traveler, and hours of gazing only serve +to enwrap the mind in deeper and more fixed contemplation. Is there +not here presented a field, such as no other part of this globe can +furnish, in which the explorer, the geologist, the botanist may +sow and reap a rich harvest for his enterprise? As yet scientific +research, on questions concerning the Rocky Mountains, is +comparatively speaking, dumb. But science will soon press forward +in her heavenly ordained mission, borne upon the shoulders of some +youthful hero, and once more the wise book-men of the gown and +slipper, who, surrounded with their tomes on tomes of learned digests, +are fast approaching the hour when they had better prepare their last +wills and testaments, will again be distanced in the race and +doomed to argue technicalities. To the hunter, the real lover of +and dependent upon the chase, there can be no comparison between +the mighty Alps and the huge Rocky Mountain Barrier of the American +Prairies. The one is destitute of animal life while the other bears +a teeming population of the choicest game known to the swift-leaden +messenger of the white man's rifle. He who wishes to behold in the +same gaze, beautiful valleys, highly cultivated by a romantic and +interesting race, in rich contrast with wonderfully moulded masses +of earth and stone, covered with a medley of green foliage and white +snow, let him go to the Alps. + +In the following spring Kit Carson, accompanied by only one trapper, +started out to hunt the streams in the vicinity of Big Snake River. +The Utah nation of Indians inhabit this country; and, with them, +Kit Carson stood on a friendly footing. The business of trapping was +therefore carried on without fear of molestation. The labors of the +two were crowned with great success. + +Loaded with a full cargo of fur they soon after set out for Robidoux's +Fort, which they reached in safety, selling out their stock to good +advantage. + +Kit Carson made only a short stop at this Fort. As soon as his fur was +disposed of, he immediately organized a small party consisting of five +trappers and made a journey to Grand River. After thoroughly trapping +this river, he established himself at Brown's Hole on Green River for +the winter. Early in the spring he returned with the same party to the +country of the Utahs and hunted there for some time. He then went +to the New Park, where they finished their trapping operations and +returned to Robidoux's Fort. Here Kit again found a purchaser for his +furs; but, the prices at which he was obliged to sell them, did not +at all please him. Within a few years, the value of beaver fur had +greatly deteriorated. This was caused by the slow demand which had +gradually ruled at the great emporiums of Europe and America. The +skill of the manufacturer had substituted a material for the making +of hats which, while it was cheaper, pleased the great race of +hat-wearers. The beaver itself was becoming scarce, owing to their +being so diligently hunted. It was evident to Kit Carson and many +of his mountaineer companions that their occupation was gradually +becoming less profitable and that it would soon drive them into other +employments. Acting upon this impression Kit Carson, accompanied +by "Old Bill Williams,"[14] William New, Mitchell and Fredericks, +a Frenchman, started for Bent's Fort, which was then located on the +Arkansas River near a large forest of cotton wood trees, and which +is, even at this day, known as the "Big Timbers." The party struck +the river at a point about one hundred miles above the Fort, where, in +later years, was built a settlement called St. Charles.[15] + +[Footnote 14: William Williams was a most celebrated character in the +Rocky Mountains, where he lived for many years. At one time he was +a Methodist preacher in the State of Missouri, which he frequently +boasted of in after life. Whenever relating this part of his eventful +career, he used to say that he was so well known in his circuit, that +the chickens recognized him as he came riding past the farmhouses. +The old chanticleers would crow "Here comes Parson Williams! One of us +must be made ready for dinner." Upon quitting the States, he traveled +extensively among the various tribes of wild Indians throughout the +far West and adopted their manners and customs. Whenever he grew weary +of one nation he would go to another. To the Missionaries, he was +often very useful. He possessed the faculty of easily acquiring +languages and could readily translate most of the Bible into several +Indian dialects. His own conduct, however, was frequently in strange +contrast with the precepts of that Holy Book. He next turns up as a +hunter and trapper; when, in this capacity, he became more celebrated +for his wild and daring adventures than before he had been for his +mild precepts. By many of his companions, he was looked upon as a man +who was partially insane. Williams proved to be a perfect enigma and +terror to the Mexicans, who thought him possessed of an evil spirit. +He once settled for a short time in their midst and became a trader. +Soon after he had established himself, he had a quarrel with some of +his customers about his charges. He appeared to be instantly disgusted +with the Mexicans, for he threw his small stock of goods into the +street of the town where he lived, seized his rifle and started again +for the mountains. His knowledge of the country over which he had +wandered was very extensive; but, when Colonel Fremont put it to the +test, he came very near sacrificing his life to his guidance. This +was probably owing to the failing of Williams' intellect; for, when +he joined the Great Explorer, he was past the meridian of life. After +bequeathing his name to several mountains, rivers and passes which +were undoubtedly discovered by him, he was slain by the red men while +trading with them.] + +[Footnote 15: Five years ago this settlement contained, about thirty +inhabitants, mostly Mexicans. It was frequently subjected to various +kinds of annoyances from Indians. On one occasion it was attacked by +the hostile Utahs and Apaches, who killed and carried off as prisoners +a total of sixteen settlers. Among the slain was a Canadian who fought +so skillfully and desperately before he was dispatched, that he killed +three of his assailants. When his body was found, it was literally +pierced through and through with lance and arrow wounds, while the +hand, with which he had caught hold of some of these weapons, was +nearly cut to pieces. Around his corpse, there were a dozen horses' +tails which had been cut from the horses which were owned by the dead +warriors, and left there, as a sign of mourning, by the Indians.] + +On reaching the river, two of the party, Mitchell and New, concluded +to tarry awhile in order to gratify their humor for hunting. But Kit +Carson, with the remainder of the mountaineers, continued on their +course, and, in three days time, were safely lodged within the walls +of the Fort. One week subsequently, Mitchell and New followed their +companions to the Fort, but in a sad plight. They had not suspected +danger, and, consequently, had failed to guard against it. They had +been surrounded by Indians and deprived of everything they possessed +except their naked bodies. In this denuded state they arrived at the +Fort. They were kindly received and provided for by its noble-hearted +proprietors; and, for some time enjoyed a respite from all their +troubles. + +This mountaineer Mitchell, full of eccentricities of character, has +seen the ups and downs of a frontiersman during a long and eventful +life. He once joined the Camanche nation and became one of their +braves.[16] + +[Footnote 16: White men have frequently enrolled themselves as +warriors among the American Indians; but they have rarely gained the +full confidence of the Indians, who, naturally very proud of their +birthright, view with a jealous eye all intruders.] + +In this capacity he won great renown by the efficient and active part +he took in several engagements between the tribe of his adoption and +their enemies. His real object in turning Indian was to discover the +locality of a gold mine which was said to have an existence in some +of the mountains of northern Texas. Having convinced himself that the +story of the gold mine, like many of the tales and traditions which +gain currency in Indian countries, was entirely without foundation, +Mitchell, with some plausible excuse, bid his red friends good bye and +sought out his old comrades, the trappers, to whom he ever afterwards +proved faithful. About two years since, Mitchell paid a trading visit +to the States. On his route, it became necessary that he should pass +over the Kansas Territory, just at a time when political difficulties +there were exciting the people to the highest pitch of anxiety. The +consequence was, that his views upon the all-absorbing questions at +issue were frequently asked for by members of both parties. To all +these queries he invariably replied, professing his ignorance of +everything that appertained thereto. This caused him to be regarded as +a dangerous man, and one not to be trusted. He was accordingly treated +with indifference and silent reserve. This to a mountaineer, who, +during a long period of years, had met every "pale face" as a brother, +was insupportable usage. In all haste he finished his business, +relinquished his contemplated journey through the States, and +started to return to his home in New Mexico. While upon the road, he +accidentally fell in with a friend; and, in reply to the question, +where have you been? said: + +"After a lapse of many years, I thought I should like to see the +_whites_ again; so, I was going to the States. But the sample I've +seen in Kansas is enough to disgust _a man_ with their character. They +do nothing but get up war parties against one another; and, I would +much rather be in an Indian country than in civilized Kansas." +Mitchell is full of dry humor and commands the faculty of telling a +good story, which makes him a pleasant traveling companion. + +Since the time when Kit Carson first joined a trapping expedition, +up to the time of his arrival at Bent's Fort, a period of eight long +years, he had known no rest from arduous toil. Not even when, to the +reader, he was apparently idle, buried in the deep snows of the Rocky +Mountains and awaiting the return of Spring, has he rested from toil. +Even then his daily life has been given up to bodily fatigue and +danger, frequently in scenes which, although of thrilling interest, +are too lengthy for this narrative. It has been our purpose thus far +to present Kit Carson undergoing his novitiate. We regard, and we +think a world will eventually regard, this extraordinary man as one +raised up by Providence to fulfill a destiny of His all-wise decree. +It is premature for us, at this stage of our work, to advance the +argument upon which this conclusion, so irresistibly to our mind, +is deduced. We have yet before us an array of historical fact and +incident to relate, without parallel in the history of nations, and in +which Kit Carson plays no insignificant part. For these eight years +of stirring practical life, Kit Carson, relying upon his beloved rifle +for his sustenance and protection, had penetrated every part of the +interior of the North American Continent, setting his traps upon every +river of note which rises within this interior, and tracing them from +the little springs which originate them to the wide mouths from which +they pour their surcharged waters into the mighty viaducts or drains +of the vast prairies, and the mighty leviathan ranges of the Rocky +Mountains. In this time he had wandered over a wild territory equal +in its dimensions to nearly all of the empires, kingdoms and +principalities of Europe combined. His journeys, as it has already +appeared, were made sometimes on foot and sometimes on horseback. By +themselves, his travels will be called no trivial undertakings. +Each fresh adventure led him into regions where but seldom, and more +frequently never, had a white man trod the soil. He was, therefore, +now an explorer in every sense of that distinguishing word, with the +single exception that he had not produced the results which the early +culture and advantages of a scientific and classical education +might have brought about. But the history of the world furnishes few +examples, if indeed any, where the physical training, practical skill +and knowledge of a country, as possessed by Kit Carson, have been +united with scholastic lore. At all events, in the wisdom of that +special Providence which was intending the gold mines of California to +be consecrated to the advancement of American civilization, with +its religious freedom, personal liberties and sacred literature, +the novitiate of Kit Carson was decreed to be wholly of a practical +nature. But while Kit Carson, with his rifle, was thus reared up +in character, courage and experience, the same All-wise hand was +directing the pathway of a mind, equal to accomplish His call, through +all the labyrinths of Science, History and the Arts, endowing that +mind with a keenness of intellectual grasp in strange contrast with +the practical skill of its future guide. Those who see no God in +nature, no God in events, may batter away at this proposition. The +record of Kit Carson's future tasks will prove it to be an invincible +stronghold of theory. + +Kit Carson's mind had now become well stored with facts and localities +which were destined to be made known to the world through his +connections with others. It is not detracting from the merits of +any one to assert that, without frontiers-men like Kit Carson, the +numerous scientific expeditions which have been sent out by the United +States Government to explore the far West would have returned but +sorry and meagre records for their employers. After reading some of +the many printed accounts which parties of a more recent date have +gathered from their experience while making their way overland to the +Pacific, and also the sad fate of some brave men with noble hearts +who have fallen a sacrifice upon the altar of science under the fatal +blows of hostile savages, attributable no doubt in some measure to +bad advice, we can thus more easily form a correct judgment of the +hardships which Kit Carson has been called upon to endure and the +wisdom or skill which he has displayed in surmounting every obstacle +on his wild and solitary pathway. The hardships which fell to the lot +of the "trappers of olden time" also stand out in bolder relief. Out +of the whole catalogue of labors, from which man, to gain an honest +livelihood has selected, there is not one profession which presents +so many formidable obstacles as that under consideration; yet, it was +with difficulty that the mountaineers could wean themselves from their +calling even when forced by stern necessity. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + Kit Carson is employed as Hunter to Bent's Fort--His Career + for Eight Years--Messrs. Bent and St. Vrain--The commencement + of his Acquaintance with John C. Fremont on a Steamboat--Is + employed as a Guide by the Great Explorer--The + Journey--Arrival at Fort Laramie--Indian Difficulties--The + business of the Expedition completed--Return to Fort + Laramie--Kit Carson goes to Taos and is married--He is + employed as Hunter to a Train of Wagons bound for the + States--Meeting with Captain Cook and four companies of U.S. + Dragoons on Walnut Creek--Mexicans in Trouble--Kit Carson + carries a Letter for them to Santa Fe--Indians on the + Route--His safe Arrival--Amijos' advance Guard massacred by + the Texians--The one Survivor--The Retreat--Kit Carson returns + to Bent's Fort--His Adventures with the Utahs and narrow + escape from Death--The Texians disarmed--The Express Ride + performed. + + +It has already appeared that Kit Carson was now at Bent's Fort. Also, +that his occupation as a trapper of beaver had become unprofitable. +His services were however immediately put into requisition by Messrs. +Bent and St. Vrain, the proprietors of what was called Bent's Fort, +which was a trading-post kept by those gentlemen. The position which +he accepted was that of Hunter to the Fort. This office he filled from +that time with the most undeviating fidelity and promptitude for eight +consecutive years. During all of this long period not a single word +of disagreement passed between him and his employers, which fact +shows better than mere words, that his duty was faithfully and +satisfactorily performed. It is but seldom that such a fact can be +stated of any employee, no matter what the service. Here, however, was +an example in which, the nature of the employment would of itself, at +times, present cause for discord, such as scarcity of game, bad luck, +and men hungry in consequence. But Kit Carson was too skillful in his +profession to allow such reasons to mar his fortunes. With the effort +the game always was at hand; for, it was not his custom to return from +his hunts empty handed. + +Of course Kit Carson's duties were to supply the traders and their +men with all the animal food they wanted, an easy task when game was +plenty; but, it would often happen that bands of Indians, which were +always loitering about the trading post, would precede him in the +chase, thereby rendering his labors oftentimes very difficult. From +sunrise to sunset and not unfrequently during the night, he wandered +over the prairies and mountains within his range in search of food for +the maintenance, sometimes of forty men who composed the garrison of +the Fort and who were dependent on the skill of their hunter; but, +rarely did he fail them. He knew, for hundreds of miles about him, the +most eligible places to seek for game. During the eight years referred +to, thousands of buffalo, elk, antelope and deer fell at the crack of +Kit Carson's rifle. Each day so added to his reputation that it is not +to be wondered at, considering the practice of his previous life, that +he became unrivalled as a hunter. His name spread rapidly over the +Western Continent until, with the rifle, he was the acknowledged +"Monarch of the Prairies." The wild Indians, accustomed to measure a +man's greatness by the deeds which he is capable of performing with +powder and lead, were completely carried away in their admiration of +the man. Among the Arrapahoes, Cheyennes, Kiowas and Camanches, Kit +Carson was always an honored guest whenever he chose to visit their +lodges; and, many a night, while seated at their watch-fires, he has +narrated to them the exciting scenes of the day's adventures, to which +they have listened with eager attention and unrestrained delight. When +arrayed in his rough hunting costume and mounted upon his favorite +charger Apache, a splendid animal, Kit Carson was a picture to behold. +The buffalo were his favorite game, and well were they worthy of +such a noble adversary. In the eyes of a sportsman, the buffalo is a +glorious prey. To hunt them is oftentimes attended with great danger; +and, while thus engaged, many a skillful man has yielded up his life +for his temerity. + +The American bison or buffalo seems to demand at our hands a short +episode from the narrative of Kit Carson's life. This animal has +several traits of character peculiarly his own. If alarmed, he starts +off almost instantly and always runs against the wind, his sense +of smell appearing to be better than his eyesight. What is a most +remarkable fact, a herd of buffalo, when grazing, always post and +maintain a line of sentinels to warn the main body of the approach of +danger. When a strange object comes within sight or smelling distance, +these sentinels immediately give the alarm by tossing up their heads +and tails and bellowing furiously. The whole herd instantly heed the +warning and are soon in motion. Buffalo run with forelegs stiff, which +fact, together with their ugly-looking humps and the lowness of their +heads, gives a rocking swing to their gait. If a herd, when in full +motion, have to cross a road on which wagons are traveling, they +change their course but little; and, it sometimes happens, that large +bands will pass within a stone's throw of a caravan. At night they are +quite systematic in forming their camps. In the centre are placed the +cows and calves; while, to guard against the wolves, large numbers +of which always follow them, they station on their outposts, the old +bulls. The age to which a buffalo may attain is not known; but, it is +certain that they are generally long-lived when not prematurely cut +off. When their powers of life begin to fade, they fall an easy prey +to the small, carnivorous animals of the plains. The attempt has been +made to domesticate and render them useful for agricultural purposes. +Hitherto such efforts have invariably failed. When restrained of their +freedom, they are reduced to mere objects of curiosity. + +In hunting buffalo the most important matter for the attention of the +hunter is to provide himself with a suitable horse. The best that can +be selected is a trained Mexican or Indian pony. Their familiarity +with the game and the prairies, over which the hunter must ride at +full speed, renders these horses quite safe. On the other hand a green +horse is sure to be terribly frightened when called upon to face these +ugly-looking animals, and the rider will find he has his hands full +to manage him without thinking of his game. One great danger to be +apprehended is the being led into a prairie-dog town. Here a horse +needs experience to carry his rider through with safety. Upon +reaching the herd, the hunter dashes in at the cows, which, are easily +recognized by the fineness of their robes and their smaller forms. The +white man hunter, of all weapons, prefers a revolver; but, the red man +uses the lance, and bow and arrows, which he handles with remarkable +dexterity. The place of election to make the deadly wound is just +behind the fore shoulder where the long, shaggy mane of the hump +is intersected by the short hair of the body. The death-wound being +given, the blood gushes out in torrents and the victim, after a few +bounds, falls on her knees with her head bunting into the ground. If, +by chance, a vital organ is not reached, the pain of the wound makes +the stricken animal desperately courageous. She turns upon her pursuer +with terrible earnestness ready to destroy him. It is now that the +horse is to be depended upon. If well trained, he will instantly wheel +and place himself and rider out of harm's way; but, woe to both horse +and hunter if this is not done. The lives of both are in imminent +danger. In case the buffalo is killed, the hunter rides up, dismounts +and makes his lariet fast to the horns of his game. He next proceeds +to cut up the meat and prepare it for his pack animals which he should +have near by. By their aid he easily carries it into camp. + +It would doubtless afford many a page of exciting interest could we +carry the reader through all the varied scenes of the chase in which +Kit Carson has been the principal actor. To transmit to our narrative +a choice fight with the fierce old grizzly bear; or, perchance, a fine +old buffalo bull turning on his destroyer with savage ferocity; or, a +wounded panther, with its inevitable accompaniment in the shape of a +hand-to-hand encounter for dear life, each of such could not fail in +giving interest to the general reader. We are forced, against our +own conviction of the duty we owe the public as Kit Carson's chosen +Biographer, to pass by all such acts of his personal daring +and triumph because of his own unwillingness to relate them for +publication. Notwithstanding our urgent requests, backed up by the +advice and interference of friends, Kit Carson is inflexibly opposed +to relating such acts of himself. He is even more willing to speak of +his failures, though such are few, rather than of his victories in +the chase. While the description of these adventures could not fail +to furnish useful and interesting data, most unfortunately, Kit Carson +considers that they are uninteresting minutiae which have pertained to +the every-day business of his life and no persuasion can induce him to +enter upon their relation. Not so when he is entertaining some of the +brave chiefs of the Indian nations whose friendship he has won by his +brave deeds. If they are his guests, or he himself theirs, then their +delight to hear kindles a pride in his breast to relate. He knows that +he will not, by them, be called a boaster. + +Before quitting the mountains, Kit Carson married an Indian girl to +whom he was most devotedly attached. By this wife he had one child, +a daughter. Soon after the birth of this child, his wife died. His +daughter, he watched over with the greatest solicitude. When she +reached a suitable age, he sent her to St. Louis for the purpose of +giving her the advantages of a liberal education. Indeed most of Kit +Carson's hard earnings, gained while he was a hunter on the Arkansas, +were devoted to the advancement of his child. On arriving at maturity +she married and with her husband settled in California. + +The libertine custom of indulging in a plurality of wives, as adopted +by many of the mountaineers, never received the sanction, in thought, +word or action, of Kit Carson. His moral character may well be held up +as an example to men whose pretensions to virtuous life are greater. +Although he was continually surrounded by licentiousness he proved +true to her who had first gained his affections. For this honoring of +virtue he is indebted in a measure to the present sway which he holds +over the western Indian races. While their chiefs are seldom men of +virtuous act or intent, they are high in their appreciation of, and +just in their rewards to those whose lives are patterns of honor +and chastity. The Indian woman, concerning whom no truthful tale of +dereliction can be told, when she arrives at the requisite age, is +invested with great power in her tribe. One of their ancient customs, +well authenticated, was to honor the virtuous women of their tribe +with sacred titles, investing them, in their blind belief, with power +to call down the favor, in behalf of the people, of their Manitou, or +Great Spirit. But every woman who aspired to this honor, was required +upon a certain day in the year, to run the gauntlet of braves. This +was sometimes a terrible scene. All the warriors of the tribe, arrayed +in their fiercest war costume and armed at every point with lance, bow +and arrow, knife, tomahawk, etc., were drawn up under command of the +principal chief, in single line. At the head of this line was placed +a kind of chaplet, or crown, the possession of which by any woman was +supposed to confer the power of necromancy or magic, rendering her +able to heal diseases and to foretell events. The line having been +formed, all of the young maidens of the tribe were drawn up in a body +at the further extremity and any of them who aspired to the possession +of the chaplet was at liberty, having first uncovered her back and +breast as far as her waist, to march before the line of warriors +within ten paces of their front and, if she lived to reach it, take +possession of the crown. On the other hand, it was the duty of any +warrior, who knew aught by word or deed against the virtue of the +advancing maiden, to kill her upon the spot. If one arrow was shot at +her, the whole band instantly poured a flight of arrows into her bare +and defenceless bosom until life was extinct. Again, it was the belief +of the untutored savage that whatever warrior failed to make his +knowledge apparent, if he possessed any, by sending his arrow at the +aspirant, would always be an object of revenge by the Great Spirit +both here and hereafter; and, that he would always live in the +hereafter, in sight of the Happy Hunting Grounds, but never be allowed +to enter them. This latter belief made it a rare thing for young girls +to brave the attempt; but, sometimes, the candidates were numerous +and the horrible butchery of the young girls which took place formed +a terrible expose of their lewdness. To kill an innocent girl was +equally a matter which would be forever avenged by the Great Spirit. + +The warm friendship which sprang up between Kit Carson and the +proprietors of Bent's Fort, under whom he held his situation +as Hunter, is a sufficient index of the gentlemanly conduct and +amiability of heart evinced towards him on their part. The names +of Bent and St. Vrain were known and respected far and near in the +mountains, for, in generosity, hospitality and native worth, they were +men of perfect model. + +Mr. Bent was appointed, by the proper authority, the first Civil +Governor of New Mexico, after that large and valuable country +was ceded to and came under the jurisdiction of the United States +Government. He held this distinguished position however only a short +time; for, in the year 1847, he was most foully and treacherously +murdered by the Pueblo Indians and Mexicans. A revolution had broken +out among this turbulent people, and, in his endeavors to stem it, +Governor Bent was frustrated. At last, being driven to his own house, +he barricaded the doors and windows. The rascally rioters, after a +severe contest, succeeded in breaking open his doors; and, having +gained access to their victim, murdered him in cold blood in the +midst of his family. The only crime imputed by the mob against this +benevolent and just man was, that he was an American. His untimely +death, which was mourned by all the Americans who knew him, cast a +settled gloom over the community in which he resided. The Mexicans +were afterwards very penitent for the share they took in the committal +of this black crime. Although several of the guilty party are still +living, they have left the country; for, the mountaineers have not +forgotten the friend whom they esteemed and respected, and will avenge +his death if ever the opportunity offers. + +Cerin St. Vrain, the surviving partner of this celebrated trading +firm was equally noted. Upon the declaration of war between the United +States and Mexico, St. Vrain took an active part on the side of his +country, and, from his extensive knowledge of the Mexican character, +was enabled to render important services. At the close of the war, +he became extensively engaged in mercantile pursuits within the New +Territory, and, by his untiring industry amassed a large fortune. He +was the first man who discovered and recognized the superior skill of +Kit Carson as a hunter; and, for his subsequent success in life, +Kit Carson is much indebted to him. St. Vrain is one of the oldest +mountaineers now living; and, as such, he is viewed by his old and new +associates in the light of a father. + +As the reader can now easily compute, sixteen years had elapsed since +Kit Carson commenced his exploits in the Rocky Mountains. During this +long period, as frequently as once every year, he had sat down to a +meal consisting of bread, vegetables, meat, coffee, tea, and sugar. +When dining thus sumptuously, he considered himself as greatly favored +with luxuries of the rarest grade. Few men can say, with Kit Carson, +"During sixteen years, my rifle furnished nearly every particle of +food upon which I lived." Fewer can say with equal truth, that "For +many consecutive years, I never slept under the roof of a house, or +gazed upon the face of a white woman." + +It was after such an experience as we have endeavored to paint by the +simple tale of his life thus far, that Kit Carson longed, once more, +to look upon and mingle with civilized people. For some time before +he determined to visit the United States, this desire had taken +possession of his mind and had been growing stronger. The traders of +the Fort were accustomed, yearly, to send into the States a train of +wagons, for the purpose of transporting their goods. The opportunity, +therefore, presented for Kit Carson to gratify his wish. In the spring +of 1842, one of these caravans started with which Kit Carson traveled +as a supernumerary. When it arrived within the boundary lines of the +State of Missouri, he parted from his _compagnons de voyage_ and went +in quest of his relatives and friends, whom, now, he had not seen for +over sixteen years. The scenes of his boyhood days, he found to be +magically changed. New faces met him on all sides. The old log-cabin +where his father and mother had resided was deserted and its +dilapidated walls were crumbling with decay. The once happy inmates +were scattered over the face of the earth while many of their voices +were hushed in death. Kit Carson felt himself a stranger in a strange +land--the strong man wept. His soul could not brook either the change +or the ways of the people. While he failed not to receive kindness and +hospitality, to which his name alone was a sufficient passport among +the noble-hearted Missourians, nevertheless, he had fully allayed his +curiosity, and, as soon as possible, bid adieu to these unpleasant +recollections. He bent his steps towards St. Louis. In this city he +remained ten days; and, as it was the first time since he had reached +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 passage upon the first +steamboat which was bound up the Missouri River. + +We cannot resist the impulse which here struggles for utterance. Look +upon that little steamboat as it ascends the mighty Missouri bearing +in its bosom the man who was destined to point out the hidden paths of +the mighty West; to mount and record the height of the loftiest peak +of the American monster mountain chain; to unfold the riches of +the interior of a great and glorious empire to its possessors, and, +finally, to conquer with his good sword, preparing the way for its +annexation to his country, the richest soil and fairest land on earth, +thus adding one more glorious star to the original thirteen of 1776; +a star, too, of the very first magnitude, whose refulgent brightness +shines clear, sparkling and pure for the Truth of Sacred Writ and +American Liberty. On the deck of that little steamboat, the two men, +the one the master mind, the giant intellect, the man of research and +scholastic strength, the scientific engineer; the other, than whom +his superior as an American mountaineer was not living, stood, +uninterested spectators of each other; and, each, unconscious why they +had been permitted to enter the same cabin. The Christian student +of American history cannot pass by this simple circumstance without +seeing Heaven's wisdom in such a coincidence; namely, Kit Carson for +the first time in sixteen years bending his steps to his boyhood home +just as his sixteen years of mountaineer skill and experience were +required by one of the master workmen of American Engineering, about +to enter upon the exploration of inland North America. + +Kit Carson wandered over the boat, studying its mechanism, admiring +the machinery, which, so like a thing of life, subserved the interests +of human life; watched with quiet reserve the faces and general +appearance of his fellow-passengers; occasionally, modestly addressed +an acquaintance, for some present were known to him; and, finally +singled out from among the strangers a man on whose face he thought +he discovered the marks of true courage, manhood and nobility of +character. The impression which Kit Carson had thus received, +was nothing fleeting. The eagle eye, the forehead, the form, the +movements, the general features, the smile, the quiet dignity of +the man, each and all of these attributes of his manhood had been +carefully noted by the wary and hardy mountaineer, and had not failed +to awaken in his breast a feeling of admiration and respect. While on +this boat Kit Carson learned the fact that the man, whom he had +thus studied, was Lieutenant John C. Fremont of the U.S. corps of +topographical engineers; also, that Lieutenant Fremont had been +earnestly seeking Captain Drips, an experienced mountaineer, but, +that he had been disappointed in finding him. Upon learning this, Kit +Carson fell into a deep reverie which lasted some little time, when, +having brought it to a conclusion, he approached Lieutenant Fremont +and modestly introducing himself, said: + +"Sir! I have been some time in the mountains and think I can guide you +to any point there you wish to reach." + +Lieutenant Fremont's answer indicated his satisfaction in making the +acquaintance which Kit Carson had offered him and that he would make +inquiries concerning his capabilities of performing the duty for which +he offered himself. + +The inquiries which the then lieutenant instituted, or, at least, may +be supposed to have instituted, must have been favorable; for, soon +afterwards, Kit Carson was engaged by Colonel Fremont to act as guide +to his first exploring expedition at a salary of one hundred dollars +per month. Upon arriving in Kansas the party prepared for a long +and dangerous journey which lay before them. The objects of this +expedition was to survey the South Pass, and take the altitude of +the highest peaks of the Rocky Mountains, besides gathering all the +collateral information which they could. The party had been chiefly +collected in St. Louis. It consisted of twenty-two Creole and Canadian +voyageurs; Mr. Charles Preuss, a native of Germany, whose education +rendered him a master in the art of topographical sketching, and, +towards whom, Colonel Fremont has always extended high and just +encomium; Henry Brant, a son of Colonel J.H. Brant, of St. Louis, +nineteen years of age; young Randolph Benton, a son of Colonel Benton, +twelve years of age; Mr. L. Maxwell, a mountaineer engaged as the +hunter of the party; and finally, Kit Carson, as guide, making, +including the commander of the Expedition, twenty-eight souls. On the +10th day of June, 1842, the party commenced their march. The daily +routine usually observed on the march was as follows: + +At daybreak the camp was aroused, the animals led out and turned loose +to graze; breakfast about six o'clock, immediately after which, the +line of march was resumed; at noon there was a halt of one or two +hours; the march was then again resumed and kept up until within an +hour or so of sunset, when the order was usually given to encamp; the +tents were then pitched, horses hobbled and turned loose to graze and +the cooks prepared supper. At night all the animals were brought in +and picketed, carts set for defence and guard mounted. + +[Illustration: BUFFALO HUNT.--PAGE 161.] + +The party had only accomplished a few miles of the march when they +fell in with the buffalo. Before we pursue the narrative of Kit +Carson's life we must redeem our promise and allow Col. Fremont to +describe his own impressions in his first Buffalo Hunt, in which Kit +Carson and Mr. L. Maxwell were his companions and guides. Col. Fremont +says: + +"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 noted them as large groves of timber. In the +sight of such a mass of life, the traveler 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 everywhere they were +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, +each the scene of some obstinate fight. Indians and buffalo make +the poetry and life of the prairie, and our camp was full of their +exhilaration. In place of the quiet monotony of the march, relieved +only by the cracking of the whip, and an '_avance donc! enfant de +garce!_' shouts and songs resounded from every part of the line, +and our evening camp was always the commencement of a feast, which +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 _en appolas_, on sticks around the fire, and +the guard were never without company. With pleasant weather and +no enemy to fear, and abundance of the most excellent meat, and +no scarcity of bread or tobacco, they were enjoying the oasis of a +voyageur's life. Three cows were killed today. 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; +and Maxwell, who was mounted on a fleet hunter, 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. Animals are frequently +lost in this way; and it is necessary to keep close watch over them, +in the vicinity of the buffalo, in the midst of which they scour off +to the plains, and are rarely retaken. One of our mules took a sudden +freak into his head, and joined a neighboring band to-day. As we are +not in a condition to lose horses, I sent several men in pursuit, +and remained in camp, in the hope of recovering him; but lost the +afternoon to no purpose, as we did not see him again. Astronomical +observations placed us in longitude 100 deg. 05' 47", latitude 40 deg. 49' +55". + +"_July 1._--As we were riding quietly along the bank, a grand herd of +buffalo, some seven or eight hundred in number, came crowding up from +the river, where they had been to drink, and commenced crossing +the plain slowly, eating as they went. The wind was favorable; the +coolness of the morning invited to exercise; the ground was apparently +good, and the distance across the prairie (two or three miles) gave +us a fine opportunity to charge them before they could get among the +river hills. It was too fine a prospect for a chase to be lost; and, +halting for a few moments, the hunters were brought up and saddled, +and Kit Carson, Maxwell and I started together. They were now somewhat +less than half a mile distant, and we rode easily along until within +about three hundred yards, when a sudden agitation, a wavering in the +band, and a galloping to and fro of some which were scattered along +the skirts, gave us the intimation that we were discovered. We started +together at a hand gallop, riding steadily abreast of each other, and +here the interest of the chase became so engrossingly intense, that we +were sensible to nothing else. We were now closing upon them rapidly, +and the front of the mass was already in rapid motion for the hills, +and in a few seconds the movement had communicated itself to the whole +herd. + +"A crowd of bulls, as usual, brought up the rear, and every now and +then some of them faced about, and then dashed on after the band a +short distance, and turned and looked again, as if more than half +inclined to stand and fight. In a few moments, however, during which +we had been quickening our pace, the rout was universal, and we were +going over the ground like a hurricane. When at about thirty yards, +we gave the usual shout (the hunter's battle cry) and broke into the +herd. We entered on the side, the mass giving way in every direction +in their heedless course. Many of the bulls, less active and less +fleet than the cows, paying no attention to the ground, and occupied +solely with the hunter 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. + +"My horse was a trained hunter, famous in the west under the name of +Proveau, and, with his eyes flashing, and the foam flying from his +mouth, sprang on after the cow like a tiger. In a few moments he +brought me alongside of her, and, rising in the stirrups, I fired at +the distance of a yard, the ball entering at the termination of the +long hair, and passing near the heart. She fell headlong at the report +of the gun, and checking my horse, I looked around for my companions. +At a little distance, Kit was on the ground, engaged in tying his +horse to the horns of a cow which he was preparing to cut up. Among +the scattered bands, at some distance below, I caught a glimpse of +Maxwell; and 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, and giving my horse +the rein, we dashed after them. A thick cloud of dust hung upon their +rear, which filled my mouth and eyes, and nearly smothered me. In +the midst of this I could see nothing, and the buffalo were not +distinguishable until within thirty feet. They crowded together more +densely still as I came upon them, and rushed along in such a compact +body, that I could not obtain an entrance--the horse almost leaping +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, and 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 dangerous ground. A prairie-dog village, so +thickly settled that there were three or four holes in every twenty +yards square, occupied the whole bottom for nearly two miles in +length. Looking around, I saw only one of the hunters, nearly out of +sight, and the long dark line of our caravan crawling along, three or +four miles distant." + +The trail which the party left behind them now forms the emigrant +road to California via Fort Laramie, Salt Lake, etc. On reaching Fort +Laramie, Fremont found a fearful state of affairs existing among the +Sioux Indians through whose country his route lay. An encounter had +recently taken place between a war-party belonging to the Sioux nation +and a party of trappers and Snake Indians. In the fight the Indians +had been worsted and several of their braves killed. To revenge +themselves the Sioux chieftains had collected their warriors; and, +while the nation was encamped to the number of one thousand lodges, +they had gone forth to seek and punish their enemies. + +At Fort Laramie the exploring party met several trappers and friendly +Indians who used their utmost endeavors to dissuade Colonel Fremont +from venturing into such inevitable danger. There was but one opinion +expressed, viz.: that, as sure as he entered upon the journey, +the entire party would be massacred. To all these admonitions and +warnings, Colonel Fremont had but one reply. His government had +directed him to perform a certain duty. The obstacles which stood +in his way, it was his duty to use every means at his command +to surmount; therefore, in obedience to his instructions, he was +determined to continue his march. Finally, he said, that he would +accomplish the object or die in the attempt, being quite sure that if +the expedition failed by being cut to pieces, a terrible retribution +would be in store for the perpetrators of the act. Kit Carson, his +guide, openly avowed that the future looked dark and gloomy; but, he +was delighted to hear this expression from his commander. He now felt +that he had a man after his own heart to depend on, and should danger +or inevitable death be in store for them he was ready and willing +to face either with him. In order to be prepared for the worst, Kit +Carson felt it his duty, considering the dangers apprehended, to make +his will, thereby showing that if he had to fight he was ready to +count it his last battle. Colonel Fremont resumed his journey, and +very opportunely arrived at the South Pass of the Rocky Mountains +without, in any way, being annoyed with Indians, not even meeting any +on the route. + +He had now reached the field where his chief labors were to commence. +Without loss of time he set earnestly about his work, making and +recording such observations as he deemed to be essential and examining +and exploring the country. Having finished this part of his labors, +the ascent of the highest peak of the mountains was commenced. The +length of the journey had jaded the animals. It was very difficult to +procure game. The men had undergone such severe hardships that their +spirits had become almost worn out. The daily fare now was dried +buffalo meat. This was about the consistency of a pine stick; and, +in taste, resembled a piece of dried bark. Besides these rather +uncomfortable prospects, the expedition stood in constant fear of an +attack by the Indians. It was now in the country of the Blackfeet; +and, only a short distance from the encampment, at the foot of the +mountain, there was one of their forts. In the face of all these +obstacles, sufficiently formidable to have deterred most commanders, +the mountain party was detailed, being fourteen in number including +Fremont. A man named Bernier was left in command of the camp which +had been made by felling forest trees in a space about forty feet in +diameter, using the trunks to form a breastwork. The camp was thus +concealed by the trees and their foliage. It was well calculated for +defence, and a few determined men could have maintained it against +almost any Indian force. + +On the 12th day of August the mountain party left the camp. It was +fifteen in number. On the 14th of August some of the party reached an +elevation at which the barometer stood 19.401. On the 15th some of +the party were sent back. Kit Carson had command of this party. The +remainder consisted of Colonel Fremont, Mr. Preuss, Basil Lajeunesse, +Clement Lambert, Janesse, and Descoteaux. The day previous Kit Carson +had alone climbed one of the highest peaks of the main ridge from +which he had a full view of the highest peak, which rose about eight +or ten hundred feet above him. The arduous labors of the 14th August +had determined the commander to ascend no higher. Instead of carrying +out this intention, after Kit Carson with his party had set out, +Fremont made one more effort to climb the highest peak and succeeded. +His own words in describing this ascent are as follows: + +"'At intervals, we reached places where a number of springs gushed +from the rocks, and about 1,800 feet above the lakes came to the +snow line. From this point our progress was uninterrupted climbing. +Hitherto, I had worn a pair of thick moccasins, with soles of +_parfleche_; but here I put on a light thin pair, which I had brought +for the purpose, as now the use of our toes became necessary to a +further advance. I availed myself of a sort of comb of the mountain, +which stood against the wall like a buttress, and which the wind and +the solar radiation, joined to the steepness of the smooth rock, had +kept almost entirely free from snow. Up this I made my way rapidly. +Our cautious method of advancing in the outset had spared my strength; +and, with the exception of a slight disposition to headache, I felt +no remains of yesterday's illness. In a few minutes we reached a point +where the buttress was overhanging, and there was no other way of +surmounting the difficulty than by passing around one side of it, +which was the face of a vertical precipice of several hundred feet.' + +"_Parfleche_ is the name given to buffalo hide. The Indian women +prepare it by scraping and drying. It is exceedingly tough and hard, +and receives its name from the circumstance that it cannot be pierced +by arrows or spears. The entire dress of Fremont and his party, on +their ascent to the 'top of America,' consisted of a blue flannel +shirt, free and open at the neck, the collar turning down over a black +silk handkerchief tied loosely, blue cloth pantaloons, a slouched +broad-brimmed hat, and moccasins as above described. It was well +adapted to climbing--quite light, and at the same time warm, and every +way comfortable. + +"'Putting hands and feet in the crevices between the blocks, I +succeeded in getting over it, and, when I reached the top, found my +companions in a small valley below. Descending to them, we continued +climbing, and in a short time reached the crest. I sprang upon the +summit, and another step would have precipitated me into an immense +snow-field five hundred feet below. To the edge of this field was a +sheer icy precipice; and then, with a gradual fall, the field sloped +off for about a mile, until it struck the foot of another lower +ridge. I stood on a narrow crest, about three feet in width, with +an inclination of about 20 deg. N. 51 deg. E. As soon as I had gratified +the first feelings of curiosity, I descended, and each man ascended in +his turn, for I would only allow one at a time to mount the unstable and +precarious slab, which it seemed a breath would hurl into the abyss +below. We mounted the barometer in the snow of the summit, and, fixing +a ramrod in a crevice, unfurled the national flag, to wave in the +breeze where never flag waved before. During our morning's ascent, we +met no sign of animal life, except a small bird having the appearance +of a sparrow. A stillness the most profound and a terrible solitude +forced themselves constantly on the mind as the great features of the +place. Here, on the summit, where the stillness was absolute, unbroken +by any sound, and the solitude complete, we thought ourselves beyond +the region of animated life; but while we were sitting on the rock, +a solitary bee (_bombus terrestris_, the humble bee) came winging his +flight from the eastern valley, and lit on the knee of one of the men. + +"'Around us, the whole scene had one main striking feature, which was +that of terrible convulsion. Parallel to its length, the ridge was +split into chasms and fissures, between which rose the thin, lofty +walls, terminated with slender minarets and columns, which are +correctly represented in the view from the camp on Island Lake. +According to the barometer, the little crest of the wall on which +we stood was three thousand five hundred and seventy feet above that +place, and two thousand seven hundred and eighty above the little +lakes at the bottom, immediately at our feet. Our camp at the Two +Hills (an astronomical station) bore south 3 deg. east, which, with a +bearing afterward obtained from a fixed position, enabled us to locate +the peak. The bearing of the _Trois Tetons_ was north 50 deg. west, and +the direction of the central ridge of the Wind River Mountains south +39 deg. east. The summit rock was gneiss, succeeded by sienitic gneiss. +Sienite and feldspar succeeded in our descent to the snow line, where +we found a feldspathic granite. I had remarked that the noise produced +by the explosion of our pistols had the usual degree of loudness, +but was not in the least prolonged, expiring almost instantaneously. +Having now made what observations our means afforded, we proceeded +to descend. We had accomplished an object of laudable ambition, +and beyond the strict order of our instructions. We had climbed the +loftiest peak of the Rocky Mountains, and looked down upon the snow +a thousand feet below, and, standing where never human foot had stood +before, felt the exultation of first explorers. It was about two +o'clock when we left the summit; and when we reached the bottom, the +sun had already sunk behind the wall, and the day was drawing to a +close. It would have been pleasant to have lingered here and on the +summit longer; but we hurried away as rapidly as the ground would +permit, for it was an object to regain our party as soon as possible, +not knowing what accident the next hour might bring forth.'" + +This peak was found, by barometrical observation, to be _thirteen +thousand five hundred and seventy_ feet above the waters of the Gulf +of Mexico. It bears the name of the Great Explorer, being called +Fremont's Peak. + +The return trip was now commenced, all of the objects of the +expedition having been successfully accomplished. The party again +reached Fort Laramie in the month of September, 1842. Kit Carson had +served in the double capacity as a hunter and guide. It is sufficient +to say of the manner in which he performed his duties that he won +the friendship of John C. Fremont, and has ever occupied since then a +prominent and permanent place in his esteem. At Laramie, Kit Carson's +labors were done. There he bid his commander good bye and set out +for New Mexico. Fremont returned to the United States in safety. Thus +terminated the first of his great explorations. + +Kit Carson's Indian wife had long since been dead. In the month +of February, 1843, he married a Mexican lady by the name of Senora +Josepha Jarimilla. Of this lady it is sufficient to say that for her +many virtues and personal beauty she is justly esteemed by a large +circle of acquaintance. By this wife Kit Carson has three children, to +whom he is devotedly attached. + +In the following April Kit Carson was employed as hunter to accompany +Bent and St. Vrain's train of wagons, while on their journey to the +United States. On arriving at Walnut Creek, which is about two-thirds +of the distance across the Plains from Santa Fe, Kit and his +companions came upon the encampment of Captain Cook, belonging to the +United States Army--who was in command of four companies of United +States Dragoons. Captain Cook informed Carson's party that in his rear +was traveling a train of wagons belonging to General Armijo, a wealthy +Mexican. + +For the purpose of insuring protection to this richly-freighted +caravan while passing through an Indian country, the Mexican +wagon-master in charge, had hired one hundred men. There were rumors, +currently reported at that time and believed, that a large body of +Texians were waiting on the road to plunder and murder this wagon +party, and thus retaliate the treatment Armijo had been guilty of +in the case of the "famous Muir Prisoners;" but, in order that this +should not happen in Territory belonging to the United States, the +War Department had ordered Captain Cook and the dragoons to guard the +property as far as the fording of the Arkansas River, which was then +the boundary line between the two countries. The Mexicans had become +alarmed for fear they might be attacked on parting with the United +States soldiers; so, on meeting with Kit Carson, who was well known to +them, they offered three hundred dollars if he would carry a letter +to Armijo who was then Governor of New Mexico, and lived at Santa Fe. +This letter apprised the General of the danger to which his men and +property were exposed and asked for assistance to be immediately sent +to them. Carson accepted the offer, and in company with Owens, another +mountaineer, he set out on his express ride. In the course of a few +days he reached Bent's Fort, where his companion concluded not to +go on with him. At the Fort, Kit Carson was informed that the Utah +Indians, then hostile, were scattered along his intended route. He was +not, however, turned from his duty by this danger, but he resumed his +journey immediately. At this last-named place his friend, Mr. Bent, +kindly furnished him with a fleet and magnificent horse, which he led, +so that, should he find himself in peril, he might mount this fresh +animal and make his escape. + +By watching for signs and being continually on the alert, Kit Carson +discovered the Indians and their village without exposing his own +person to view. He immediately secreted himself in an out-of-the-way +place and remained until the coming on of darkness; when, he passed +safely by the camp of the savages. In the course of a few days he +reached Taos and handed his dispatch to the _Alcalde_ of the town +to be forwarded to Santa Fe. As had been previously agreed upon, he +waited here for an answer with which he was to return. At Taos Carson +was informed that Armijo had already sent out one hundred Mexican +soldiers to seek his caravan and that the General himself, in command +of six hundred more, was soon to follow after. It was afterwards +learned that this unfortunate band of one hundred men went as far +as the Arkansas River, but could not find any traces of the train of +wagons, it not having completed that much of its journey; therefore, +they commenced to retrace their steps, but had proceeded only a few +miles, when they were suddenly attacked by the Texians, who succeeded +in massacring all but one man. This survivor had succeeded in +catching, in the heat of the battle, a fully equipped Texan horse +which was loose. Mounting him, he made off in the direction of Santa +Fe; and, at Cold Springs came upon the camp of Armijo, to whom he +reported proceedings. The narration of this sad story so dampened +the courage of the General and his men as to cause them to make a +precipitous retreat. The spot where this slaughter took place has +since gone by the name of the "battle ground" and many are the +bleached human bones that are still to be found there. + +It was during Carson's stay of four days in Taos, that Armijo and +his small army had started out in quest of the enemy; but, before his +departure, he had received the letter and directed an answer to be +sent, thinking perhaps, that Kit Carson might reach the train even +if he himself did not. On the answer coming into Carson's hands, he +selected a Mexican boy to accompany him and was quickly on the road +again. They had left Taos two days' journey behind them and had +reached the River _Trinchera_ (for they were traveling via the +_Sangero de Christo_ Pass and Bent's Fort) when they unexpectedly +met four Indian warriors. Eat Carson immediately recognized them as +hostile Utahs. As yet the red men were some distance off; and, while +Kit and his companion stood meditating what was best to be done, +the latter spoke and said to the former: "I am a boy and perhaps the +Indians will spare my life. At any rate yours is much more valuable +than mine, therefore mount the horse you are leading, without delay, +and make your escape." Carson at first thought this advice to be good, +and was about acting on it, when it struck his equally generous heart, +how cowardly such a course would be--to desert a youth who had in the +hour of peril so manfully borne himself. Turning to the boy he thanked +him and added that "he could not and would not desert him." He said +"we must stand our ground together and if we have to die let us take +with us each his warrior." While this colloquy was going on, the +foremost of the Indians came up. He approached Carson with the air of +a man sure of an easy victory, and, with a bland smile, proffered one +hand in friendship, while, with the other, he grasped Kit's rifle. +A powerful blow from the fist of the latter released his hold and +instantly laid him sprawling upon the ground. The other Indians, +seeing the fate of their companion, hastened to his rescue. When they +reached talking distance, Kit, standing with his rifle brought to his +shoulder, informed them that, upon the first hostile demonstration +they made, he and his companion would fire. The Indians commenced +shaking their priming into the pans of their flint lock guns, and, +while doing so, talked loud and threatened to perform a great many +things. This was a mere ruse to intimidate Kit and his companion +and throw them off their guard. It was, however, well understood and +operated to make them only the more vigilant. This endeavor to draw +off Kit's attention was continued in various ways, but, finally seeing +the determined posture of their opponent, they grew weary of the game, +and, at last, departed. + +The journey was now resumed. After five days of hard traveling, Kit +and his companion entered Bent's Fort, without further molestation. +Here Kit Carson learned that the Texians had been caught by Captain +Cook and his dragoons in United States Territory, and had been +disarmed. This had immediately relieved the conductors of the train +from all anxiety. They had, consequently, continued their route, not +thinking a stop at Bent's Fort necessary as had been anticipated. Gen. +Armijo's letter of instruction was, accordingly, left by Carson with +Mr. Bent who promised to forward it to Santa Fe by the first favorable +opportunity. To pursue and overtake the wagons would be nothing but +labor thrown away. All danger had disappeared. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + Kit Carson visits Fremont's Camp--Goes on the Second + Exploring Expedition--The Necessary Arrangements--Trip to Salt + Lake--Explorations there--Carson is dispatched to Fort + Hall for Supplies--Their Operations at Salt Lake--The Great + Island--The Journey to the Columbia River in Oregon--Incidents + on the Route--Tlamath Lake--The Journey to California--The + Trials and Privations met with while crossing the Sierra + Nevada Mountains--Mr. Preuss is lost but finds the Party + again--Arrival at Sutter's Fort in a Destitute Condition--Two + of the Party become deranged--The Route on the Return + Trip--Mexicans come into their Camp asking Aid and + Protection--Indian Depredations--Carson and Godey start on a + Daring Adventure--The Pursuit--The Thieves overtaken--These + Two White Men attack Thirty Indians--The Victory--Horses + retaken--The Return to Camp--One of their Companions + killed--The Journey continued--Arrival at Bent's Fort--The + "Fourth of July" Dinner. + + +A few days before Kit Carson's arrival at Bent's Fort, Col. Fremont +had passed by and had informed the Traders there that he was bound on +another Exploring Expedition. Having finished up his business with +the Mexicans, Kit thought he would like to see his old commander once +again. Accordingly, he started on his trail: and, after seventy +miles of travel, came up with him. The meeting proved to be mutually +agreeable. Although Kit Carson had made this visit solely from his +desire to see again his old commander and not with a view of joining +his second expedition, Col. Fremont insisted so strongly upon having +Kit accompany him that he acquiesced in doing so. + +For Col. Fremont, Kit Carson has the greatest admiration. He knows, as +well as any man living, his bravery, his talents and the many splendid +qualities of his mind and heart. The question will naturally arise, +does Kit Carson indorse the political creed upon which Col. Fremont +accepted the nomination for the Presidency of the United States? The +best answer and the one which is true, will be: Kit Carson considers +it one of the highest honors and greatest blessings to be a citizen of +the United States. He is willing to incur any danger for his country's +good, even if the sacrifice of his life is the alternative. He has +spent all his life in the wilds of America where news is always as +scarce an article as luxuries of the table and fire-side, and, where +the political strifes of factions and parties are not known. The +inference will therefore be plainly apparent, that his curiosity +does not lead him to examine very attentively the minute workings of +political machinery. He is not a man to be swayed by friendship from +performing any act which the interests of his country seem to require +at his hands. His political bias will, therefore, remain a matter of +conjecture until such time, if his life is spared to see it, when New +Mexico shall be admitted into the Union as a State. So far, he has +never lived where he could exercise the right of franchise. The time +must come which shall entitle him to a Presidential vote before he +decides what political party shall count him as its supporter. + +Soon after Kit Carson was again enrolled under the command of Col. +Fremont, he received orders to return to Bent's Fort and purchase some +mules of which the party stood in need. Mules are valuable animals +in new and mountainous countries. They are often the only beasts of +burden which can be successfully used in crossing the wild mountains. +Being more sure footed and more able to endure great fatigue than the +horse, in such expeditions, they become absolutely necessary. While +he was absent on this duty, the expedition journeyed first to Soda +Springs and thence on to St. Vrain's Fort, which was located on the +South Fork of the Platte. At this point, the expedition was joined by +Major Fitzpatrick with a command of forty men which he had enrolled, +under orders, to assist in the exploration. When Kit Carson had +rejoined the party, the arrangements for the arduous task in view were +nearly complete. + +Colonel Fremont divided his forces, sending one division, with most of +the camp equipage, on the more direct route. This division was placed +under the command of Major Fitzpatrick. The other division under the +command of Colonel Fremont, consisting of a squad of fifteen men and +his guide Kit Carson, struck out up Thompson's Fork. The object of +this expedition had in view by the government was, to have Colonel +Fremont connect his explorations of the preceding year with the coast +surveys of Commander Wilkes on the Pacific. This would give the data +for making a correct map of the interior of the wild lands of the +continent. From Thompson's Fork Colonel Fremont's division marched to +the Cache la Poudre River, and thence to the plains of Laramie until +they came to the North Fork of the Platte. This river they crossed +below the New Park and bent their way to the sweet water, reaching it +at a point about fifteen miles below the Devil's Gate. From this point +they traveled almost the same road which is now used by emigrants and +which leads to Soda Springs on Beaver River. It had been decided by +Fremont to go to the Great Salt Lake and accomplish its exploration. +He therefore started for that direction; but, before doing so, ordered +Kit Carson to proceed to Fort Hall and obtain such supplies as were +required. After procuring these necessities, Kit Carson, with one +companion and his pack animals, set out on the return from Fort Hall +and eventually found Fremont on the upper end of Salt Lake. From here +the party journeyed around to the east side of the lake, a distance of +about twenty miles. At this spot they obtained a good view of the lake +and its adjacent scenery. Before him, and in bold relief, stood out +everything which the explorer desired to examine, even to one of +the several islands which are located in the midst of this wonderful +collection of saline waters. To this isolated land Fremont was +resolved to go. Among the rest of the forethought, supplies, there was +an India-rubber boat. This was ordered to be made ready for a trip +to the island early the following day. No doubt our readers will be +pleased to enjoy Colonel Fremont's account of this lake, its scenery +and characteristics. We insert therefore as much thereof as our space +will admit. It was the twenty-first day of August 1843 that the little +party reached Bear River, which, as has already appeared in another, +part of this work, was the principal tributary of the Great Salt Lake. +At this point of Colonel Fremont's narrative, he says: "We were now +entering a region which, for us, possessed a strange and extraordinary +interest. We were upon the waters of the famous lake which forms +a salient point among the remarkable geographical features of the +country, and around which the vague and superstitious accounts of +the trappers had thrown a delightful obscurity, which we anticipated +pleasure in dispelling, but which, in the meantime, left a crowded +field for the exercise of our imagination. + +"In our occasional conversations with the few old hunters who had +visited the region, it had been a subject of frequent speculation; +and the wonders which they related were not the less agreeable because +they were highly exaggerated and impossible. + +"Hitherto this lake had been seen only by trappers, who were wandering +through the country in search of new beaver streams, caring very +little for geography; its islands had never been visited; and none +were to be found who had entirely made the circuit of its shores; +and no instrumental observations, or geographical survey of any +description, had ever been made anywhere in the neighboring region. It +was generally supposed that it had no visible outlet; but, among the +trappers, including those in my own camp, were many who believed that +somewhere on its surface was a terrible whirlpool, through which +its waters found their way to the ocean by some subterranean +communication. All these things had made a frequent subject of +discussion in our desultory conversations around the fires at night; +and my own mind had become tolerably well filled with their indefinite +pictures, and insensibly colored with their romantic descriptions, +which, in the pleasure of excitement, I was well disposed to believe, +and half expected to realize. + +"'In about six miles' travel from our encampment, we reached one of +the points in our journey to which we had always looked forward with +great interest--the famous Beer Springs, which, on account of the +effervescing gas and acid taste, had received their name from the +voyageurs and trappers of the country, who, in the midst of their rude +and hard lives, are fond of finding some fancied resemblance to the +luxuries they rarely have the good fortune to enjoy. + +"'Although somewhat disappointed in the expectations which various +descriptions had led me to form of unusual beauty of situation and +scenery, I found it altogether a place of very great interest; and a +traveler for the first time in a volcanic region remains in a constant +excitement, and at every step is arrested by something remarkable and +new. There is a confusion of interesting objects gathered together in +a small space. Around the place of encampment the Beer Springs were +numerous; but, as far as we could ascertain, were entirely confined to +that locality in the bottom. In the bed of the river, in front, for +a space of several hundred yards, they were very abundant; the +effervescing gas rising up and agitating the water in countless +bubbling columns. In the vicinity round about were numerous springs +of an entirely different and equally marked mineral character. In a +rather picturesque spot, about 1,300 yards below our encampment, and +immediately on the river bank, is the most remarkable spring of the +place. In an opening on the rock, a white column of scattered water is +thrown up, in form like a _jet-d'eau_, to a variable height of about +three feet, and, though it is maintained in a constant supply, its +greatest height is attained only at regular intervals, according to +the action of the force below. It is accompanied by a subterranean +noise, which, together with the motion of the water, makes very much +the impression of a steamboat in motion; and, without knowing that it +had been already previously so called, we gave to it the name of the +Steamboat Spring. The rock through which it is forced is slightly +raised in a convex manner, and gathered at the opening into an +urn-mouthed form, and is evidently formed by continued deposition from +the water, and colored bright red by oxide of iron. + +"'It is a hot spring, and the water has a pungent and disagreeable +metallic taste, leaving a burning effect on the tongue. Within perhaps +two yards of the _jet d'eau_, is a small hole of about an inch in +diameter, through which, at regular intervals, escapes a blast of hot +air with a light wreath of smoke, accompanied by a regular noise.' + +"As they approached the lake, they passed over a country of bold and +striking scenery, and through several 'gates,' as they called certain +narrow valleys. The 'standing rock' is a huge column, occupying the +centre of one of these passes. It fell from a height of perhaps 3,000 +feet, and happened to remain in its present upright position. + +"At last, on the 6th of September, the object for which their eyes had +long been straining was brought to view. + +"'_Sept. 6_.--This time we reached the butte without any difficulty; +and, ascending to the summit, immediately at our feet beheld the +object of our anxious search, the waters of the Inland Sea, stretching +in still and solitary grandeur far beyond the limit of our vision. +It was one of the great points of the exploration; and as we looked +eagerly over the lake in the first emotions of excited pleasure, I am +doubtful if the followers of Balboa felt more enthusiasms, when, +from the heights of the Andes, they saw for the first time the great +Western Ocean. It was certainly a magnificent object, and a noble +_terminus_ to this part of our expedition; and to travelers so long +shut up among mountain ranges, a sudden view over the expanse of +silent waters had in it something sublime. Several large islands +raised their high rocky heads out of the waves; but whether or not +they were timbered was still left to our imagination, as the distance +was too great to determine if the dark hues upon them were woodland +or naked rock. During the day the clouds had been gathering black over +the mountains to the westward, and while we were looking a storm burst +down with sudden fury upon the lake, and entirely hid the islands from +our view. + +"'On the edge of the stream a favorable spot was selected in a grove; +and felling the timber, we made a strong _corral_, or horse-pen, for +the animals, and a little fort for the people who were to remain. +We were now probably in the country of the Utah Indians, though none +reside upon the lake. The India-rubber boat was repaired with prepared +cloth and gum, and filled with air, in readiness for the next day. + +"'The provisions which Carson had brought with him being now +exhausted, and our stock reduced to a small quantity of roots, I +determined to retain with me only a sufficient number of men for the +execution of our design; and accordingly seven were sent back to Fort +Hall, under the guidance of Francois Lajeunesse, who, having been for +many years a trapper in the country, was an experienced mountaineer. + +"'We formed now but a small family. With Mr. Preuss and myself, +Carson, Bernier, and Basil Lajeunesse had been selected for the boat +expedition--the first ever attempted on this interior sea; and Badeau, +with Derosier, and Jacob (the colored man), were to be left in charge +of the camp. We were favored with most delightful weather. To-night +there was a brilliant sunset of golden orange and green, which left +the western sky clear and beautifully pure; but clouds in the east +made me lose an occultation. The summer frogs were singing around us, +and the evening was very pleasant, with a temperature of 60 deg.--a night +of a more southern autumn. For our supper we had _yampah_, the most +agreeably flavored of the roots, seasoned by a small fat duck, which +had come in the way of Jacob's rifle. Around our fire to-night were +many speculations on what to-morrow would bring forth; and in our +busy conjectures we fancied that we should find every one of the large +islands a tangled wilderness of trees and shrubbery, teeming with game +of every description that the neighboring region afforded, and which +the foot of a white man or Indian had never violated. Frequently, +during the day, clouds had rested on the summits of their lofty +mountains, and we believed that we should find clear streams and +springs of fresh water; and we indulged in anticipations of the +luxurious repasts with which we were to indemnify ourselves for past +privations. Neither, in our discussions were the whirlpool and other +mysterious dangers forgotten, which Indian and hunters' stories +attributed to this unexplored lake. The men had discovered that, +instead of being strongly sewed (like that of the preceding year, +which had so triumphantly rode the canons of the Upper Great Platte), +our present boat was only pasted together in a very insecure manner, +the maker having been allowed so little time in the construction that +he was obliged to crowd the labor of two months into several days. The +insecurity of the boat was sensibly felt by us; and, mingled with +the enthusiasm and excitement that we all felt at the prospect of an +undertaking which had never before been accomplished, was a certain +impression of danger, sufficient to give a serious character to our +conversation. The momentary view which had been had of the lake the +day before, its great extent and rugged islands, dimly seen amidst the +dark waters in the obscurity of the sudden storm, were well calculated +to heighten the idea of undefined danger with which the lake was +generally associated. + +"'_Sept. 8_.--A calm, clear day, with a sunrise temperature of 41 deg.. +In view of our present enterprise, a part of the equipment of the boat +had been made to consist of three air-tight bags, about three feet +long, and capable each of containing five gallons. These had been +filled with water the night before, and were now placed in the boat, +with our blankets and instruments, consisting of a sextant, telescope, +spy-glass, thermometer, and barometer. + +"'In the course of the morning we discovered that two of the cylinders +leaked so much as to require one man constantly at the bellows, to +keep them sufficiently full of air to support the boat. Although we +had made a very early start, we loitered so much on the way--stopping +every now and then, and floating silently along, to get a shot at +a goose or a duck--that it was late in the day when we reached the +outlet. The river here divided into several branches, filled with +fluvials, and so very shallow that it was with difficulty we could get +the boat along, being obliged to get out and wade. We encamped on a +low point among rushes and young willows, where there was a quantity +of driftwood, which served for our fires. The evening was mild and +clear; we made a pleasant bed of the young willows; and geese and +ducks enough had been killed for an abundant supper at night, and for +breakfast next morning. The stillness of the night was enlivened by +millions of water-fowl. + +"'_Sept. 9_.--The day was clear and calm; the thermometer at sunrise +at 49 deg.. As is usual with the trappers on the eve of any enterprise, +our people had made dreams, and theirs happened to be a bad one--one +which always preceded evil--and consequently they looked very gloomy +this morning; but we hurried through our breakfast, in order to make +an early start, and have all the day before us for our adventure. The +channel in a short distance became so shallow that our navigation +was at an end, being merely a sheet of soft mud, with a few inches of +water, and sometimes none at all, forming the low-water shore of the +lake. All this place was absolutely covered with flocks of screaming +plover. We took off our clothes, and, getting over-board, commenced +dragging the boat--making, by this operation, a very curious trail, +and a very disagreeable smell in stirring up the mud, as we sank above +the knee at every step. The water here was still fresh, with only an +insipid and disagreeable taste, probably derived from the bed of fetid +mud. After proceeding in this way about a mile, we came to a small +black ridge on the bottom, beyond which the water became suddenly +salt, beginning gradually to deepen, and the bottom was sandy and +firm. It was a remarkable division, separating the fresh water of +the rivers from the briny water of the lake, which was entirely +_saturated_ with common salt. Pushing our little vessel across the +narrow boundary, we sprang on board, and at length were afloat on the +waters of the unknown sea. + +"We did not steer for the mountainous islands, but directed our course +towards a lower one, which it had been decided we should first visit, +the summit of which was formed like the crater at the upper end of +Bear River valley. So long as we could touch the bottom with our +paddles, we were very gay; but gradually, as the water deepened, we +became more still in our frail batteau of gum cloth distended with +air, and with pasted seams. Although the day was very calm, there was +a considerable swell on the lake; and there were white patches of foam +on the surface, which were slowly moving to the southward, indicating +the set of a current in that direction, and recalling the recollection +of the whirlpool stories. The water continued to deepen as we +advanced; the lake becoming almost transparently clear, of an +extremely beautiful bright-green color; and the spray, which was +thrown into the boat and over our clothes, was directly converted +into a crust of common salt, which covered also our hands and +arms. 'Captain,' said Carson, who for some time had been looking +suspiciously at some whitening appearances outside the nearest islands +'what are those yonder?--won't you just take a look with the glass?' +We ceased paddling for a moment, and found them to be the caps of the +waves that were beginning to break under the force of a strong breeze +that was coming up the lake. The form of the boat seemed to be an +admirable one, and it rode on the waves like a water bird; but, at +the same time, it was extremely slow in its progress. When we were +a little more than half way across the reach, two of the divisions +between the cylinders gave way, and it required the constant use of +the bellows to keep in a sufficient quantity of air. For a long time +we scarcely seemed to approach our island, but gradually we worked +across the rougher sea of the open channel, into the smoother water +under the lee of the island, and began to discover that what we took +for a long row of pelicans, ranged on the beach, were only low cliffs +whitened with salt by the spray of the waves; and about noon we +reached the shore, the transparency of the water enabling us to see +the bottom at a considerable depth. + +"'The cliffs and masses of rock along the shore were whitened by an +incrustation of salt where the waves dashed up against them; and the +evaporating water, which had been left in holes and hollows on +the surface of the rocks, was covered with a crust of salt about +one-eighth of an inch in thickness. + +"'Carrying with us the barometer and other instruments, in the +afternoon we ascended to the highest point of the island--a bare rocky +peak, 800 feet above the lake. Standing on the summit, we enjoyed an +extended view of the lake, inclosed in a basin of rugged mountains, +which sometimes left marshy flats and extensive bottoms between them +and the shore, and in other places came directly down into the water +with bold and precipitous bluffs. + +"'As we looked over the vast expanse of water spread out beneath us, +and strained our eyes along the silent shores over which hung so much +doubt and uncertainty, and which were so full of interest to us, I +could hardly repress the almost irresistible desire to continue our +exploration; but the lengthening snow on the mountains was a plain +indication of the advancing 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 resolved to +terminate our survey here, and remain satisfied for the present with +what we had been able to add to the unknown geography of the region. +We felt pleasure also in remembering that we were the first who, in +the traditionary annals of the country, had visited the islands, and +broken, with the cheerful sound of human voices, the long solitude of +the place. + +"'I accidentally left on the summit the brass cover to the object end +of my spy-glass; and as it will probably remain there undisturbed +by Indians, it will furnish matter of speculation to some future +traveler. In our excursions about the island, we did not meet with any +kind of animal; a magpie, and another larger bird, probably attracted +by the smoke of our fire, paid us a visit from the shore, and were +the only living things seen during our stay. The rock constituting the +cliffs along the shore where we were encamped, is a talcous rock, or +steatite, with brown spar. + +"'At sunset, the temperature was 70 deg.. We had arrived just in time to +obtain a meridian altitude of the sun, and other observations were +obtained this evening, which place our camp in latitude 41 deg. 10' 42", +and longitude 112 deg. 21' 05" from Greenwich. From a discussion of the +barometrical observations made during our stay on the shores of the +lake, we have adopted 4,200 feet for its elevation above the Gulf of +Mexico. In the first disappointment we felt from the dissipation of +our dream of the fertile islands, I called this Disappointment Island. + +"'Out of the driftwood, we made ourselves pleasant little lodges, +open to the water, and, after having kindled large fires to excite the +wonder of any straggling savage on the lake shores, lay down, for the +first time in a long journey, in perfect 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 on +the shore, making our island tremble. I had not expected in our inland +journey to hear the roar of an ocean surf; and the strangeness of our +situation, and the excitement we felt in the associated interests of +the place, made this one of the most interesting nights I remember +during our long expedition. + +"'In the morning, the surf was breaking heavily on the shore, and we +were up early. The lake was dark and agitated, and we hurried through +our scanty breakfast, and embarked--having first filled one of the +buckets with water from the lake, of which it was intended to make +salt. The sun had risen by the time we were ready to start; and it +was blowing a strong gale of wind, almost directly off the shore, and +raising a considerable sea, in which our boat strained very much. +It roughened as we got away from the island, and it required all the +efforts of the men to make any head against the wind and sea; the gale +rising with the sun; and there was danger of being blown into one of +the open reaches beyond the island. At the distance of half a mile +from the beach, the depth of water was sixteen feet, with a clay +bottom; but, as the working of the boat was very severe labor, and +during the operation of sounding it was necessary to cease paddling, +during which the boat lost considerable way, I was unwilling +to discourage the men, and reluctantly gave up my intention of +ascertaining the depth, and the character of the bed. There was a +general shout in the boat when we found ourselves in one fathom, and +we soon after landed.'" + + * * * * * + +We now resume Kit Carson's narrative. When the Indian-rubber boat was +put in order, Colonel Fremont started, taking Carson and three others +as companions. (Their names have already appeared.) The distance from +the main land to the island is computed to be about three leagues, +hence the pull at the oars, for landsmen unaccustomed to such kind of +work, was no small task. However a landing upon the island was safely +accomplished, the boat made fast and the investigations commenced. +After examining most of the island without finding even a spring of +water on it, it was determined to ascend the great hill which was +the highest elevation on it. The party was not long in reaching the +summit, where they found a shelving rock, on which they cut a cross, +their names and the date as signs to after visitors, should any such +follow in their footsteps, that they had been the first persons who +had ever, within the knowledge of man, been on that island. + +The day having been far spent in their labors, orders were given to +camp on the island for the night. On the morrow they departed for +the main land. When they had accomplished about one league, being +one-third of the distance, the clouds suddenly gathered and threatened +a storm. Just as this danger impended, the air which acted in giving +buoyancy to the boat, by some accident, began to escape. A man was +immediately stationed at the bellows and it required his constant aid +to supply the portion which steadily escaped. Colonel Fremont then +ordered the men to pull for their lives and try thus to escape the +danger of the impending storm. In this instance, as indeed in every +hour of peril, an all-seeing Providence guided them in safety to the +shore. Soon after they arrived, the storm came on with such fury that +it caused the water of the lake, according to the natural water mark, +to rise ten feet in one hour. + +The party soon after recommenced their march and proceeded some +distance up the Bear River. Crossing it they went to the Malade +and thence on until they reached Fort Hall. Here they met with the +division under Fitzpatrick and made a short stay. + +Once more Colonel Fremont started with his small party in advance of +his main body. He marched about eight days' journey ahead, Fitzpatrick +following up his trail with the larger division. At this time the +expedition was journeying in the direction of the mouth of the +Columbia River. In due time they arrived safely at the river Dalles. +Here they made another brief halt. Colonel Fremont left Kit Carson +in command of this camp, while he, with a small party, proceeded to +Vancouver's Island and purchased some provisions. On his return he +found that the whole party had become consolidated. The command now +journeyed to Tlamath Lake in Oregon Territory. The descriptions of all +these journeys have already been given to the public in several forms, +all however based upon Colonel Fremont's reports made to the U.S. +Government. It would be superfluous, therefore, for us to fill up the +pages of the life of Kit Carson with matter already published beyond +the occurrences appertaining to him. Having finished the observations +upon Tlamath Lake, the expedition started for California. The route +led through a barren and desolate country, rendering game scarce. As +the command drew near to the Sierra Nevada Mountains, they were found +to be entirely covered with deep snow throughout the entire range of +vision. At this time the provisions had commenced giving out. Game +was so scarce that it could not be depended on. The propositions which +presented themselves at this crisis were to cross the mountains or +take the fearful chance of starving to death. Crossing the mountains, +terrible though the alternative, was the choice of all. It was better +than inactivity and certain death. On arriving at the mountains the +snow was found to be about six feet deep on a level. The first task +was to manufacture snow-shoes for the entire party. By the aid of +these foot appendages, an advance party was sent on to explore the +route and to determine how far a path would have to be broken for the +animals. This party reached a spot from whence they could see their +way clear and found that the path for the animals would be three +leagues in length. The advance party also saw, in the distance, the +green valley of the Sacramento and the coast range of mountains. +Kit Carson was the first man to recognize these, to the snow-bound +travelers, desirable localities, although it was now seventeen years +since he had last gazed upon them. The advance party then returned +to their friends in the rear and reported their proceedings. All were +delighted on learning that they had one man among them who knew where +they were. The business of making the road was very laborious. The +snow had to be beaten compact with mallets. It was fifteen days before +the party succeeded in reaching, with a few of their animals, a place +where the heavy work of the route was ended. During this time, many of +their mules had starved to death, and the few remaining were driven +to such an extreme by want of food, that they devoured one another's +tails, the leather on the pack saddles; and, in fact, they would try +to eat everything they could get into their mouths. The sufferings +of the men had been as severe as had ever fallen to the lot of any +mountaineer present. Their provisions were all used and they were +driven to subsist upon the mules as they died from hunger. But, +commander and all bore these terrible trials in an exemplary manner. + +An incident is related by Colonel Fremont, in which Kit Carson enjoyed +a cold-bath, which occurred during this terrible march. "_February +Twenty-third._--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 _parfleche_ +soles, so slippery that we could not keep our feet, and generally +crawled across the snow beds. Axes and mauls were necessary to-day, to +make a road through the snow. Going ahead with Carson to reconnoitre +the road, we reached in the afternoon the river which made the outlet +of the lake. Carson sprang over, clear across a place where the +stream was compressed among the rocks, but the _parfleche_ sole of +my 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 awhile for my gun, which had been +lost in the fall, but the cold drove us out; and, making a large fire +on the bank, after we had partially dried ourselves, we went back to +meet the camp. We afterwards found that the gun had been slung under +the ice which lined the banks of the creek." + + * * * * * + +It was while undergoing such experience as we have endeavored to +narrate that the characters of men show forth in their true light +and can be fully analyzed. John C. Fremont never was found wanting in +times such as tried men's hearts. He was worthy of the trust reposed +in him. His was no ordinary command. The men he had to deal with, in +their line, had no superiors on the American Continent; yet, he proved +a match for any one of them and gained from them the name of being a +good mountaineer, an encomium they are not prone to bestow lightly. + +The party now commenced descending the mountains. On reaching the +valley beneath, Fremont, taking Kit Carson and six of the men, pushed +on in advance, in order to reach Sutter's Fort, where he would be able +to purchase provisions. Fitzpatrick was left in charge of the main +party, with orders to make easy marches. The second day after this +division was made, Mr. Preuss, Fremont's assistant, accidentally got +lost. His friends began making search for him. This failing, they +traveled on slowly, fired guns and used every means in their power to +let their whereabouts be known to him. After wandering about for four +days, to the surprise and joy of his companions, he came into camp. +During his absence he had subsisted on acorns and roots, and, as a +matter of course, was nearly exhausted both in body and mind. Three +days after Mr. Preuss was restored to them, Fremont, with the advance +party, reached Sutter's Fort. He and his party were very hospitably +received. They were entertained with the best the post could furnish, +by its kind-hearted proprietor. Never did men more deserve such +treatment. The condition of all was about as miserable as it could +well be imagined, for men who retained their hold on life. + +It was at Sutter's Fort, as most of our readers will remember, that +the great gold mines of California first received their kindling +spark, the discovery of that precious metal having been made there. +While some men were digging a mill-race the alluring deposit first +appeared. This event has made the Fort world-renowned. + +At the time we describe Fremont on his second expedition, nothing +whatever was known of the immense fields of treasure over which he +and his men daily walked, although, for many years previous to the +discovery being made, the mountaineers had trapped all the rivers in +that vicinity, and on their banks had herded their animals for months +together. They had drank thousands of times from the pure water as it +flowed in the river's channel, and, no doubt, frequently their eyes +had penetrated through it until they saw the sand beneath in which, +perchance, the sparkling specs may have occasionally allured them +sufficiently to recall the proverb that "all is not gold that +glitters." + +The writer once made inquiry of one of these mountaineers who had +spent two summers in the manner narrated above near and at Sutter's +Fort some twenty years since. He was asked whether he ever saw there +anything in the shape of gold which in any way aroused his suspicions? +His reply was: "Never. And had I, it would have been only for a +brief space of time, as finally I should have been certain that I +was deluded and mistaken, without there had been the _Eagle_ of our +country stamped upon it." + +Provisions were immediately obtained at the Fort and carried to +Fitzpatrick and his party. Great difficulty had now to be encountered +to prevent the men from losing their lives by the sudden change from +want to comparative luxury. Notwithstanding the utmost care was taken, +some of the party lost their reason. The hardships of the journey had +proved too much for them. Fitzpatrick and the main body arrived at +the Fort in a few days, where they were likewise welcomed by its +hospitable and generous proprietor, Captain Sutter. His name in +California has ever been but another term for kindness and sympathy +for the unfortunate. This expedition, in one respect only, can be +called unfortunate. When the terrible sufferings of the commander and +his men have been named, the catalogue of misfortune is ended. Its +results, grand and glorious, have immortalized the name of every man +who assisted, in any way, to accomplish it. "I belonged to the several +Exploring Expeditions of John C. Fremont" is the key note to the +respect and homage of the American nation; the truth would be equally +real, if we add, to the whole civilized world. Every heart which beats +with admiration for the heroic, or which is capable of appreciating +the rich contributions to the sciences, direct resultants from their +terrible sufferings, has thrilled with delight when possessed of the +history which records the brilliant achievements of these Exploring +Parties. + +The band started from the little town of Kansas on the twenty-ninth +day of May, 1843. It returned to the United States in August, 1844. +After traveling seventeen hundred miles, it reached, September sixth, +Salt Lake. On the fourth day of November it reached Fort Vancouver, +on the Columbia River. On the sixth day of March, 1844, it reached +Sutter's Fort in the destitute condition already explained. The +distance from Fort Hall by the route taken is about two thousand +miles. The party remained at Sutter's Fort until the twenty-fourth +day of March, or as Kit Carson expresses the time from his memory, the +expedition remained at this place about one month. At the expiration +of this time, the party was sufficiently recruited to be ready for +their return journey, which they commenced in April, 1844. Just +previous to their taking leave of Mr. Sutter, two of the company +became deranged, owing to the privations and fasting to which they +had been obliged to submit before being ushered into a land of plenty. +They had indulged appetite too freely, and brought on one of those +strange revolutions in the brain's action which never fails to excite +the pity of friend and foe. The first warning which the party had that +one of the men was laboring under a disordered intellect occurred in +the following manner. Early in the morning the man suddenly started +from his sleep and began to ask his companions where his riding animal +was gone. During this time it was by him, but he did not know it. +Unknown to the rest of the party he started off soon after in search +of his imaginary animal. As soon as his absence became known to +Fremont, he surmised the truth and sent persons in all directions to +hunt for him. They searched the neighboring country for many miles +and made inquiries of all the friendly Indians they chanced upon, but +failed to discover him. Several days of delay was caused by this most +unhappy circumstance. Finally, it becoming necessary for the party +to depart without him, word was left with Mr. Sutter to continue the +hunt. He did so most faithfully; and, by his exertions, some time +after the party had set out on the return trip, the maniac was found +and kept at the Fort until he had entirely recovered. He was then, on +the first opportunity, provided with a passage to the United States. +Before we follow the party on their homeward-bound tramp, it is proper +that the reader should be favored with the estimate and views which +the American historian, statesman and scholar, Colonel Benton, has +recorded concerning the perils undergone and results accomplished by +this expedition. His pen is so graphic and life-like that the reader +will doubtless thank us for the extract. Besides presenting a view of +the expedition, it will unfold a fact which shows where the origin of +the expedition had its conception. We give all he says concerning the +expedition.[17] + +[Footnote 17: Thirty Years View, vol. ii. chap. 134.] + +"'The government deserves credit for the zeal with which it has +pursued geographical discovery.' Such is the remark which a leading +paper made upon the discoveries of Fremont, on his return from his +second expedition to the great West; and such is the remark which +all writers will make upon all his discoveries who write history +from public documents and outside views. With all such writers the +expeditions of Fremont will be credited to the zeal of the government +for the promotion of science, as if the government under which he +acted had conceived and planned these expeditions, as Mr. Jefferson +did that of Lewis and Clark, and then selected this young officer +to carry into effect the instructions delivered to him. How far such +history would be true in relation to the first expedition, which +terminated in the Rocky Mountains, has been seen in the account which +has been given of the origin of that undertaking, and which leaves the +government innocent of its conception; and, therefore, not entitled to +the credit of its authorship, but only to the merit of permitting it. +In the second, and greater expedition, from which great political as +well as scientific results have flowed, their merit is still less; +for, while equally innocent of its conception, they were not equally +passive to its performance--countermanding the expedition after it had +begun--and lavishing censure upon the adventurous young explorer for +his manner of undertaking it. The fact was, that his first expedition +barely finished, Mr. Fremont sought and obtained orders for a second +one, and was on the frontier of Missouri with his command when orders +arrived at St. Louis to stop him, on the ground that he had made +a military equipment which the peaceful nature of his geographical +pursuit did not require! as if Indians did not kill and rob scientific +men as well as others if not in a condition to defend themselves. The +particular point of complaint was that he had taken a small mountain +howitzer, in addition to his rifles; and which he was informed, +was charged to him, although it had been furnished upon a regular +requisition on the commandant of the arsenal at St. Louis, approved by +the commander of the military department (Colonel, afterward General +Kearney). Mr. Fremont had left St. Louis, and was at the frontier, +Mrs. Fremont being requested to examine the letters that came after +him, and forward those which he ought to receive. She read the +countermanding orders and detained them! and Fremont knew nothing +of their existence, until after he had returned from one of the most +marvellous and eventful expeditions of modern times--one to which +the United States are indebted (among other things) for the present +ownership of California, instead of seeing it a British possession. +The writer of this View, who was then in St. Louis, approved of the +course which his daughter had taken (for she had stopped the orders +before he knew it); and he wrote a letter to the department condemning +the recall, repulsing the reprimand which had been lavished upon +Fremont, and demanding a court-martial for him when he should +return. The Secretary of War was then Mr. James Madison Porter, of +Pennsylvania; the chief of the topographical corps the same as now +(Colonel Abert), himself an office man, surrounded by West Point +officers, to whose pursuit of easy service, Fremont's adventurous +expeditions was a reproach; and in conformity to whose opinions the +secretary seemed to have acted. On Fremont's return, upwards of a year +afterwards, Mr. William Wilkins, of Pennsylvania, was Secretary of +War, and received the young explorer with all honor and friendship, +and obtained for him the brevet of captain from President Tyler. And +such is the inside view of this piece of history--very different from +what documentary evidence would make it. + +"To complete his survey across the continent, on the line of travel +between the State of Missouri and the tide-water region of the +Columbia, was Fremont's object in this expedition; and it was all that +he had obtained orders for doing; but only a small part, and to his +mind an insignificant part, of what he proposed doing. People had been +to the mouth of the Columbia before, and his ambition was not limited +to making tracks where others had made them before him. There was a +vast region beyond the Rocky Mountains--the whole western slope of our +continent--of which but little was known; and of that little, nothing +with the accuracy of science. All that vast region, more than seven +hundred miles square--equal to a great kingdom in Europe--was an +unknown land--a sealed book, which he longed to open, and to read. +Leaving the frontier of Missouri in May, 1843, and often diverging +from his route for the sake of expanding his field of observation, +he had arrived in the tide-water region of Columbia in the month of +November; and had then completed the whole service which his orders +embraced. He might then have returned upon his tracks, or been brought +home by sea, or hunted the most pleasant path for getting back; and if +he had been a routine officer, satisfied with fulfilling an order, he +would have done so. Not so the young explorer, who held his diploma +from nature, and not from the United States Military Academy. He was +at Fort Vancouver, guest of the hospitable Dr. McLaughlin, Governor of +the British Hudson Bay Fur Company; and obtained from him all possible +information upon his intended line of return--faithfully given, but +which proved to be disastrously erroneous in its leading and +governing feature. A southeast route to cross the great unknown region +diagonally through its heart (making a line from the Lower Columbia to +the Upper Colorado of the Gulf of California), was his line of return; +twenty-five men (the same who had come with him from the United +States) and a hundred horses were his equipment; and the commencement +of winter the time of starting--all without a guide, relying +upon their guns for support; and, in the last resort, upon their +horses--such as should give out! for one that could carry a man, or a +pack, could not be spared for food. + +"All the maps up to that time had shown this region traversed from +east to west--from the base of the Rocky Mountains to the Bay of San +Francisco--by a great river called the _Buena Ventura_: which may be +translated, the _Good Chance_. Governor McLaughlin believed in the +existence of this river, and made out a conjectural manuscript map to +show its place and course. Fremont believed in it, and his plan was to +reach it before the dead of winter, and then hybernate upon it. As a +great river he knew that it must have some rich bottoms, covered with +wood and grass, where the wild animals would collect and shelter, +when the snows and freezing winds drove them from the plains; and +with these animals to live on, and grass for the horses, and wood for +fires, he expected to avoid suffering, if not to enjoy comfort, during +his solitary sojourn in that remote and profound wilderness. + +"He proceeded--soon encountered deep snows which impeded progress upon +the highlands--descended into a low country to the left (afterwards +known to be the Great Basin, from which no water issues to any +sea)--skirted an enormous chain of mountain on the right, luminous +with glittering white snow--saw strange Indians, who mostly +fled--found a desert--no Buena Ventura; and death from cold and famine +staring him in the face. The failure to find the river, or tidings of +it, and the possibility of its existence seeming to be forbid by the +structure of the country, and hybernation in the inhospitable desert +being impossible, and the question being that of life and death, some +new plan of conduct became indispensable. His celestial observations +told him that he was in the latitude of the Bay of San Francisco, and +only seventy miles from it. But what miles! up and down that snowy +mountain which the Indians told him no men could cross in the +winter--which would have snow upon it as deep as the trees, and places +where people would slip off and fall half a mile at a time--a fate +which actually befell a mule, packed with the precious burden of +botanical specimens, collected along a travel of two thousand miles. +No reward could induce an Indian to become a guide in the perilous +adventure of crossing this mountain. All recoiled and fled from +the adventure. It was attempted without a guide--in the dead of +winter--accomplished in forty days--the men and surviving horses--a +woeful procession, crawling along one by one; skeleton men leading +skeleton horses--and arriving at Sutter's Settlement in the beautiful +valley of the Sacramento; and where a genial warmth, and budding +flowers, and trees in foliage, and grassy ground, and flowing streams, +and comfortable food, made a fairy contrast with the famine and +freezing they had encountered, and the lofty Sierra Nevada which they +had climbed. Here he rested and recruited; and from this point, and +by way of Monterey, the first tidings were heard of the party since +leaving Fort Vancouver. + +"Another long progress to the south, skirting the western base of the +Sierra Nevada, made him acquainted with the noble valley of the San +Joaquin, counterpart to that of the Sacramento; when crossing through +a gap, and turning to the left, he skirted the Great Basin; and +by many deviations from the right line home, levied incessant +contributions to science from expanded lands, not described before. In +this eventful exploration, all the great features of the western slope +of our continent were brought to light--the Great Salt Lake, the Utah +Lake, the Little Salt Lake; at all which places, then deserts, the +Mormons now are; the Sierra Nevada, then solitary in the snow, now +crowded with Americans, digging gold from its flanks: the beautiful +valleys of the Sacramento and San Joaquin, then alive with wild +horses, elk, deer, and wild fowls, now smiling with American +cultivation; the Great Basin itself and its contents; the Three Parks; +the approximation of the great rivers which, rising together in the +central region of the Rocky Mountains, go off east and west, towards +the rising and the setting sun--all these, and other strange features +of a new region, more Asiatic than American, were brought to light and +revealed to public view in the results of this exploration. + +"Eleven months he was never out of sight of snow; and sometimes, +freezing with cold, would look down upon a sunny valley, warm with +genial heat;--sometimes panting with the summer's heat, would look up +at the eternal snows which crowned the neighboring mountain. But it +was not then that California was secured to the Union--to the greatest +power of the New World--to which it of right belonged; but it was the +first step towards the acquisition, and the one that led to it. The +second expedition led to a third, just in time to snatch the golden +California from the hands of the British, ready to clutch it. But of +this hereafter. Fremont's second expedition was now over. He had left +the United States a fugitive from his government, and returned with a +name that went over Europe and America, and with discoveries bearing +fruit which the civilized world is now enjoying." + +On their homeward-bound journey, the party followed up the valley of +the San Joaquin crossing over the Sierra Nevada and coast range of +mountains at a point where they join and form a beautiful low pass. +They continued on from here close under the coast range until they +struck the Spanish Trail. This they followed to the Mohave River. That +stream, it will be recollected, was an old friend of Kit Carson's. +The reader will recall the many times he had caught beaver out of its +waters. They followed the trail up the course of the river to where +it leaves it. At this point an event occurred which somewhat retarded +their progress, relieving the monotony of the route and somewhat +changing their plans. + +Soon after the camp had been formed, they were visited by a Mexican +man and boy; the one named Andreas Fuentes, the other Pablo Hernandez. +They informed Fremont that they belonged to a party of Mexican traders +which had come from New Mexico. They said that six of them, including +in this number two women who acted as cooks, had been left by their +friends in charge of a band of horses. The rest of the party were +absent trafficking. The party of six thus left to watch the horses, +consisted of Santiago Giacome, Andreas Fuentes and wife, and Pablo +Hernandez, together with his father and mother. They were endeavoring +to find better grazing for their animals. For this purpose they had +penetrated the country as far as they dared; and, at about eighty +miles from the camp of Fremont, had resolved to wait for their +friends. Fuentes and the boy Pablo were on guard over the animals when +their camp was attacked by hostile savages. The attacking band was +about thirty in number. + +Their principal object was to seize the horses. To effect this the +more easily, they saluted the little band with a flight of arrows as +they advanced. Fuentes and Pablo now heard Giacome warning them to +start the horses and run for it. Both were mounted. They obeyed the +directions of Giacome and with the entire band of horses charged +boldly into the midst of the Indians regardless of their weapons. The +charge succeeded in breaking their line, through which Fuentes and +Pablo boldly dashed after their animals. The Indians deferred the +chase to attend to a more bloody purpose. Having put sixty miles +between them and the site of the attack, they left their horses +and started in search of their main body. This search led them into +Fremont's camp. Fuentes feared that the worst had overtaken his wife. +Pablo already looked upon himself as an orphan boy. He doubted not +that the bloody savages had murdered both his father and mother. It +was a sad picture to witness their grief. But Kit Carson could not +do so unmoved. The heart of such grief has ever awakened his earnest +sympathy. His sympathy, too, has never been of a wordy nature. He +volunteered to go with Fuentes and make an attempt to deliver the +captives, if such they should prove, or to avenge their death, if that +became the sad alternative. + +Fuentes had left the horses at a spring of water, well known to +Carson. There he had found signs of white men which had led him into +Fremont's camp. There was no difficulty for Carson to find the spring. +The whole company therefore traveled to the spring, which they reached +early the next morning, distant about thirty miles from their last +camp. The horses were not to be seen. A short examination of signs +soon revealed to Carson and Godey that the two Mexicans had been +followed by the Indians and that they had come upon the horses shortly +after they had left them. Of course therefore they had captured and +driven them off. + +Carson and Godey were determined to make one effort to punish the +rascals. They started, taking Fuentes with them, upon the trail of +the Indians. The chase was a severe one, as, in the judgment of the +mountaineers, the Indians would not make a short trail after acquiring +so much booty. The horse which Fuentes rode, most unfortunately, gave +out after a short ride. There was no time to be lost and no means at +hand to supply this important deficiency. To turn back to camp would +supply it, but that course would also lose them their game. Fuentes, +therefore, was requested to return to Fremont's camp, and there await +the return of Kit Carson and Godey. These two had been the only men +in the entire command who had volunteered in this chase. The loss of +Fuentes therefore made their task literally a Don Quixotic adventure. +Two men against thirty. But Kit Carson was not the man to turn his +back upon an adventure as soon as the difficulties began to present +themselves. He well knew that he had one man on whom he could rely. +Richard Godey was his tried and trusty friend, his kindred spirit and +a noble hearted man. Leaving the Mexican to find his way back to camp, +a distance of about twenty miles, they gave him their word that they +would finish the business. The following night was very dark, and in +order to keep on the right scent Carson and Godey were obliged to +lead their horses and frequently to follow the trail by the sense of +feeling. It was seldom, however, that they lost the path, and never +for more than a few moments at a time. Gradually the signs grew +fresher as they advanced, which gave them the assurance that they were +rapidly gaining on the pursuit. Finally, they concluded that only +a few hours separated them from the savages. Having accomplished a +considerable part of their journey during the night, and finding that +both themselves and their horses required rest, they concluded to +halt. Having unsaddled their animals and turned them out to graze, +they wrapped themselves up in their wet blankets and laid down to +sleep. The weather, however, was too cold to permit sleeping in +comfort without a fire. That they dare not make, fearing it would +prove a warning signal to the savages. Having worried through the +remainder of this cold and cheerless night, they arose early in the +morning and went to the bottom of a deep ravine where they kindled +a small fire and succeeded in warming themselves. At daybreak they +re-saddled their jaded horses and once more started upon the trail. +Just as the sun was rising they discovered the Indians. When first +seen they were encamped two miles in advance, and were enjoying a +breakfast on horse steaks, having already killed five of the stolen +animals. Kit Carson and his friend dismounted, and, concealing their +horses near by, held a council of war. They decided to crawl in among +the herd of stolen animals which were grazing, without guard, at a +short distance from the camp of the savages. Upon reaching the horses, +they agreed to be guided by circumstances. First divesting themselves +of all useless apparel, they commenced their task. After much cautious +labor they gained their point and stood among the animals. As soon, +however, as they arrived, one of the young horses of the band became +frightened at the grotesque figures cut by the two creeping men and +exhibited his fear by snorting and kicking up his heels. This alarmed +the remainder of the horses and caused quite a commotion among them, +which had the effect to alarm the savages, who sprang for their arms. +With a yell, Carson and Godey instantly turned towards the savages. As +soon as they were all fairly in view the two white men saw that they +had thirty warriors before them to deal with. When they had advanced +within rifle range Kit Carson halted and, aiming his rifle at the +stoutest looking brave, fired. The fierce savage fell with a cry +of anguish. Godey had also halted and fired, but he missed his aim. +Instantly reloading, he made the second attempt and this time brought +down a warrior. While these events were taking place the red men were +running about in great confusion. Occasionally they returned a few +arrows, but they all proved but harmless missiles. The fact was the +Indians were puzzled what to think of the audacity of the two men. +Evidently they considered them to be an advance party of some strong +force, acting with a view of decoying them into a close fight. Acting +upon this they began to fly in every direction except that from which +danger impended. Kit and Godey, as they had calculated, were thus, +quite unceremoniously, left masters of the enemy's camp. Besides the +recaptured horses, they had two trophies lying upon the ground in +the shape of a brace of stalwart warriors. In order to show their +companions on their return that they were not given to boasting, they +followed the example and practice of the savages and scalped the two +Indians. The common expression now in use is that they proceeded to +"take the hair" of their victims. The performance of this act was a +matter of choice and fell to the lot of Godey, while Kit Carson, +with the two rifles, ascended an eminence near at hand for the double +purpose of standing guard over his companion and also to reconnoitre. +Godey commenced his operations on the savage which he himself had +shot. Having finished with him, he started for the other Indian hit by +Kit Carson. But this fellow after he had fallen had crawled quite out +of view among some rocks. Being only wounded, he raised up and sent +an arrow at Godey as he approached which pierced his shirt collar. +The Indian had already lost a large amount of blood. His last act so +exhausted him that he sank back upon the ground and expired. They next +proceeded to collect the horses. Upon counting them they found the +number stated by the Mexican to be correct with the exception of five +killed by the Indians for their feast. The animals were now driven to +the spot where their own horses had been left.. Here they held another +council and determined to seek out the fate of the remainder of the +Mexican party. They therefore bent their steps towards the late camp +of the Mexicans. There they found the bodies of the two men terribly +mangled. The savage ferocity of the rascally savages had here had full +play as soon as they found that the two who were on guard had broken +through their line and escaped with the horses. Their bodies were +naked and full of arrows. The women were not to be found. The remains +were decently interred by Carson and Godey, and then they set about +looking for the women. After a long search they could discover nothing +of them, and concluded that they had been reserved for a worse fate. +The remains of these two poor captives were afterwards found by some +of Fremont's men. The Indians, not satisfied with killing them, had +staked their bodies to the ground. Kit Carson and Godey having now +accomplished, on this errand of mercy, all that lay in the power of +man to do, set out to return and soon rejoined their friends, whom +they found anxiously waiting for them. Col. Fremont concludes his +account of this affair in the following words: + +"Their object accomplished, our men gathered up all the surviving +horses, fifteen in number, returned upon their trail, and rejoined us +at our camp in the afternoon of the same day. They had rode about one +hundred miles in the pursuit and return, and all in thirty hours. The +time, place, object, and numbers considered, this expedition of Carson +and Godey may be considered among the boldest and most disinterested +which the annals of western adventure, so full of daring deeds, can +present. Two men, in a savage desert, pursue day and night an unknown +body of Indians into the defiles of an unknown mountain--attack them +on sight, without counting numbers--and defeat them in an instant--and +for what? To punish the robbers of the desert, and to avenge the +wrongs of Mexicans whom they did not know. I repeat: it was Carson +and Godey who did this--the former an American, born in Kentucky; the +latter a Frenchman by descent, born in St. Louis; and both trained to +western enterprise from early life." + +The stolen property was restored to the Mexicans without one cent +being demanded or received by either Carson or Godey. + +It was not for the love of Indian fighting as many may suppose, that +Kit Carson was moved to take part in such expeditions; but, when the +life of a fellow-creature is exposed to Indian barbarities, no living +man is more willing, or more capable of rendering a lasting service +than Christopher Carson. A name that, wherever it is known, is ranked +among the "bravest of the brave." + +Soon after the two volunteers came in, Fremont resumed his journey and +continued it without anything transpiring to disturb the equanimity +of the party until they reached a point on the Virgin River where the +Spanish Trail leaves it. It became necessary to change camps here, in +order that the animals might take advantage of better grass. As the +party were enjoying a day's rest, one of the men, a Canadian by birth, +missed his riding mule from the herd. Without informing any of his +friends of his intentions, he started out in quest of the animal. His +absence, at first, was not noticed; but, soon, inquiries were made for +him, and when an unusual length of time had passed without his return, +Fremont became anxious for his safety. He directed Kit Carson to take +three men and go in search of him. On arriving at their last camp, +Kit found a spot where, undoubtedly, the man had fallen from his horse +wounded, as, about the place, there were pools of coagulated blood. +It was now believed that their companion was dead. Kit immediately +ordered the party to search for his body, but they could not find it. +They then followed the trail of the Canadian's horse, which it was +very evident he had caught and mounted before being shot. It led to +where the animal had crossed the river. There, all signs disappeared. +After a faithful search for the trail, Kit returned to camp, and +informed his commander of the result of his day's work. The next +morning the search was renewed by all of the company. They discovered +Indian signs, yet could not trace them to where the body was. After +looking in every conceivable hiding-place in the neighborhood of the +signs, they gave up the hunt. Kit Carson was much affected by the loss +of this man. He had been his friend. They had been associated in many +trapping expeditions, and knew each other most intimately. He felt +assured that, if the Canadian had not been surprised by any enemy in +ambuscade, he would have killed one or two Indians before he himself +fell; for, besides being a very brave man, he was well versed in +Indian mode of warfare, and was considered a fine marksman. + +The party now proceeded on their journey, returning to and keeping on +the Spanish Trail, which was not left until they reached the "Vega +of Santa Clara." There they struck out across the country to the Utah +lake, which, after crossing, they left, and went to the Wintry River, +and thence to Green River, Brown's Hole, Little Snake River, and so on +to the mouth of St. Vrain's Fork. It was here that they traversed +the mountains and came upon Laramie River below the New Park. They +journeyed through this into the Old Park, and thence traveled to the +head waters of the south fork of the Platte. On quitting it, they bent +their way to the Arkansas River, coming on to it at a point just below +the place where it leaves the Rocky Mountains; and, by keeping on +down it, they arrived at Bent's Fort on the 2d of July, 1844. On the +following fourth of July Mr. Bent gave a dinner in commemoration of +the occasion to Fremont and his party. Although hundreds of miles +separated from their countrymen, yet they sat down to as sumptuous a +repast as could be furnished in many towns of the States. + +The exploring party considered their labors finished at this post, +as, in accordance with the tastes of many of the party, they were near +enough to civilization. The command was dissolved, and Colonel Fremont +proceeded on his route to Washington. Kit Carson, about the same time, +started for Taos, where he had been for a long time anxiously expected +by his family and friends. + +The description which Colonel Fremont has given of the country through +which this expedition traveled, seems to be an appropriate and almost +a necessary addition to this work. On the 24th day of May the party, +on their return, reached the Utah Lake. "Early the next day," says +Fremont, "we came in sight of the lake; and, as we descended to the +broad bottoms of the Spanish Fork, three horsemen were seen galloping +towards us, who proved to be Utah Indians--scouts from a village, +which was encamped near the mouth of the river. They were armed with +rifles, and their horses were in good condition. We encamped near +them, on the Spanish Fork, which is one of the principal tributaries +to the lake. Finding the Indians troublesome, and desirous to remain +here a day, we removed the next morning further down the lake, and +encamped on a fertile bottom near the foot of the same mountainous +ridge which borders the Great Salt Lake, and along which we had +journeyed the previous September. + +"We had now accomplished an object we had in view when leaving the +Dalles of the Columbia in November last; we had reached the Utah Lake; +but by a route very different from what we had intended, and without +sufficient time remaining to make the examinations which were desired. +It is a lake of note in this country, under the dominion of the Utahs, +who resort to it for fish. Its greatest breadth is about fifteen +miles, stretching far to the north, narrowing as it goes, and +connecting with the Great Salt Lake. + +"In arriving at the Utah Lake, we had completed an immense circuit +of twelve degrees diameter north and south, and ten degrees east and +west; and found ourselves in May, 1844, on the same sheet of water +which we had left in September, 1843. The Utah is the southern limb +of the Great Salt Lake; and thus we had seen that remarkable sheet of +water both at its northern and southern extremity, and were able to +fix its position at these two points. The circuit which we had +made, and which had cost us eight months of time, and 3,500 miles of +traveling, had given us a view of Oregon and of North California from +the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Ocean, and of the two principal +streams which form bays or harbors on the coast of that sea. Having +completed this circuit, and being now about to turn the back upon the +Pacific slope of our continent, and to recross the Rocky Mountains, it +is natural to look back upon our footsteps, and take some brief view +of the leading features and general structure of the country we have +traversed. These are peculiar and striking, and differ essentially +from the Atlantic side of our country. The mountains all are higher, +more numerous, and more distinctly defined in their ranges and +directions; and, what is so contrary to the natural order of such +formations, one of these, ranges, which is near the coast (the Sierra +Nevada and the Coast Range), presents higher elevations and peaks than +any which are to be found in the Rocky Mountains themselves. In our +eight months' circuit, we were never out, of sight of snow; and the +Sierra Nevada, where we crossed it, was near 2,000 feet higher than +the South Pass in the Rocky Mountains. In height, these mountains +greatly exceed those of the Atlantic side, constantly presenting peaks +which enter the region of eternal snow; and some of them volcanic, and +in a frequent state of activity. They are seen at great distances and +guide the traveler in his courses. + +"The course and elevation of these ranges give direction to the +rivers, and character to the coast. No great river does, or can, take +its rise below the Cascade and Sierra Nevada Range; the distance to +the sea is too short to admit of it. The rivers of the San Francisco +Bay, which are the largest after the Columbia, are local to that bay, +and lateral to the coast, having their sources about on a line with +the Dalles of the Columbia, and running each in a valley of its own, +between the Coast Range and the Cascade and Sierra Nevada Range. The +Columbia is the only river which traverses the whole breadth of +the country, breaking through all the ranges, and entering the sea. +Drawing its waters from a section of ten degrees of latitude in the +Rocky Mountains, which are collected into one stream by three main +forks (Lewis's, Clark's, and the North Fork), near the centre of the +Oregon valley, this great river thence proceeds by a single channel to +the sea, while its three forks lead each to a pass in the mountains, +which opens the way into the interior of the continent. This fact in +relation to the rivers of this region gives an immense value to the +Columbia. Its mouth is the only inlet and outlet to and from the sea; +its three forks lead to the passes in the mountains; it is, therefore, +the only line of communication between the Pacific and the interior of +North America; and all operations of war or commerce, of national or +social intercourse, must be conducted upon it. This gives it a value +beyond estimation, and would involve irreparable injury if lost. In +this unity and concentration of its waters, the Pacific side of our +continent differs entirely from the Atlantic side, where the waters of +the Alleghany Mountains are dispersed into many rivers, having +their different entrances into the sea, and opening many lines of +communication with the interior." + +"The Pacific coast is equally different from that of the Atlantic. The +coast of the Atlantic is low and open, indented with numerous bays, +sounds, and river estuaries, accessible everywhere, and opening by +many channels into the heart of the country. The Pacific coast, on the +contrary, is high and compact, with few bays, and but one that opens +into the heart of the country. The immediate coast is what the seamen +call _iron bound_. A little within, it is skirted by two successive +ranges of mountains, standing as ramparts between the sea and the +interior country; and to get through which, there is but one gate, and +that narrow and easily defended. This structure of the coast, backed +by these two ranges of mountains, with its concentration and unity of +waters, gives to the country an immense military strength, and will +probably render Oregon the most impregnable country in the world." + +"Differing so much from the Atlantic side of our continent in coast, +mountains, and rivers, the Pacific side differs from it in another +most rare and singular feature--that of the Great interior Basin, +of which I have so often spoken, and the whole form and character of +which I was so anxious to ascertain. Its existence is vouched for by +such of the American traders and hunters as have some knowledge of +that region; the structure of the Sierra Nevada range of mountains +requires it to be there; and my own observations confirm it. Mr. +Joseph Walker, who is so well acquainted in those parts, informed +that, from the Great Salt Lake west, there was a succession of lakes +and rivers which have no outlet to the sea, nor any connection with +the Columbia, or with the Colorado of the Gulf of California. He +described some of these lakes as being large, with numerous streams, +and even considerable rivers, falling into them. In fact, all concur +in the general report of these interior rivers and lakes; and, for +want of understanding the force and power of evaporation, which so +soon establishes an equilibrium between the loss and supply of waters, +the fable of whirlpools and subterraneous outlets has gained belief +as the only imaginable way of carrying off the waters which have no +visible discharge. The structure of the country would require this +formation of interior lakes; for the waters which would collect +between the Rocky Mountains and the Sierra Nevada, not being able +to cross this formidable barrier, nor to get to the Columbia or the +Colorado, must naturally collect into reservoirs, each of which would +have its little system of streams and rivers to supply it. This would +be the natural effect; and what I saw went to confirm it. The Great +Salt Lake is a formation of this kind, and quite a large one; and +having many streams, and one considerable river, four or five hundred +miles long, falling into it. This lake and river I saw and examined +myself; and also saw the Wahsatch and Bear River Mountains which +inclose the waters of the lake on the east, and constitute, in that +quarter, the rim of the Great Basin. Afterwards, along the eastern +base of the Sierra Nevada, where we traveled for forty-two days, I saw +the line of lakes and rivers which lie at the foot of that Sierra; and +which Sierra is the western rim of the Basin. In going down Lewis's +Fork and the main Columbia, I crossed only inferior streams coming in +from the left, such as could draw their water from a short distance +only; and I often saw the mountains at their heads, white with snow; +which, all accounts said, divided the waters of the _desert_ from +those of the Columbia, and which could be no other than the range of +mountains which form the rim of the Basin on its northern side. And in +returning from California along the Spanish trail, as far as the +head of the Santa Clara Fork of the Rio Virgen, I crossed only small +streams making their way south to the Colorado, or lost in sand--as +the Mo-hah-ve; while to the left, lofty mountains, their summits white +with snow, were often visible, and which must have turned water to the +north as well as to the south, and thus constituted, on this part, the +southern rim of the Basin. At the head of the Santa Clara Fork, and +in the Vegas de Santa Clara, we crossed the ridge which parted the +two systems of waters. We entered the Basin at that point, and have +traveled in it ever since, having its southeastern rim (the Wahsatch +Mountain) on the right, and crossing the streams which flow down into +it. The existence of the Basin is, therefore, an established fact in +my mind; its extent and contents are yet to be better ascertained. It +cannot be less than four or five hundred miles each way, and must lie +principally in the Alta California; the demarcation latitude of 42 deg. +probably cutting a segment from the north part of the rim. Of its +interior, but little is known. It is called a _desert_, and, from what +I saw of it, sterility may be its prominent characteristic; but where +there is so much water there must be some _oasis_. The great river +and the great lake reported may not be equal to the report; but where +there is so much snow, there must be streams; and where there is no +outlet, there must be lakes to hold the accumulated waters, or sands +to swallow them up. In this eastern part of the basin, containing +Sevier, Utah, and the Great Salt lakes, and the rivers and creeks +falling into them, we know there is good soil and good grass, adapted +to civilized settlements. In the western part, on Salmon-trout River, +and some other streams, the same remark may be made." + +"The contents of this Great Basin are yet to be examined. That it is +peopled, we know; but miserably and sparsely. From all that I heard +and saw, I should say that humanity here appeared in its lowest +form, and in its most elementary state. Dispersed in single families; +without fire-arms; eating seeds and insects; digging roots (and hence +their name); such is the condition of the greater part. Others are a +degree higher, and live in communities upon some lake or river that +supplies fish, and from which they repulse the miserable _digger_. The +rabbit is the largest animal known in this desert; its flesh affords +a little meat; and their bag-like covering is made of its skins. +The wild sage is their only wood, and here it is of extraordinary +size--sometimes a foot in diameter, and six or eight feet high. It +serves for fuel, for building material, for shelter to the rabbits, +and for some sort of covering for the feet and legs in cold weather. +Such are the accounts of the inhabitants and productions of the Great +Basin; and which, though imperfect, must have some foundation, and +excite our desire to know the whole." + +"The whole idea of such a desert and such a people, is a novelty in +our country, and excites Asiatic, not American ideas. Interior basins, +with their own systems of lakes and rivers, and often sterile, are +common enough in Asia; people in the elementary state of families, +living in deserts, with no other occupation than the mere animal +search for food, may still be seen in that ancient quarter of the +globe; but in America such things are new and strange, unknown and +unsuspected, and discredited when related. But I flatter myself +that what is discovered, though not enough to satisfy curiosity, +is sufficient to excite it, and that subsequent explorations will +complete what has been commenced." + +"This account of the Great Basin, it will be remembered, belongs +to the Alta California, and has no application to Oregon, whose +capabilities may justify a separate remark. Referring to my journal +for particular descriptions, and for sectional boundaries between good +and bad districts, I can only say, in general and comparative terms, +that, in that branch of agriculture which implies the cultivation of +grains and staple crops, it would be inferior to the Atlantic States, +though many parts are superior for wheat, while in the rearing of +flocks and herds it would claim a high place. Its grazing capabilities +are great; and even in the indigenous grass now there, an element +of individual and national wealth may be found. In fact the valuable +grasses begin within one hundred and fifty miles of the Missouri +frontier and extend to the Pacific Ocean. East of the Rocky Mountains, +it is the short, curly grass, on which the buffalo delight to feed +(whence its name of buffalo), and which is still good when dry and +apparently dead. West of those mountains it is a larger growth, in +clusters, and hence called bunch grass, and which has a second or fall +growth. Plains and mountains both exhibit them; and I have seen good +pasturage at an elevation of ten thousand feet. In this spontaneous +product, the trading or traveling caravans can find subsistence for +their animals; and in military operations any number of cavalry may be +moved, and any number of cattle may be driven, and thus men and horses +be supported on long expeditions, and even in winter in the sheltered +situations. + +"Commercially, the value of the Oregon country must be great, washed +as it is by the North Pacific Ocean, fronting Asia, producing many +of the elements of commerce, mild and healthy in its climate, and +becoming, as it naturally will, a thoroughfare for the East India and +China trade." + +Col. Fremont, in this beautiful and instructive passage of descriptive +writing, refers to the grass on which the buffalo "delight to feed." +It is eminently proper that we should add a few words for general +information concerning the grasses of the prairies, as also concerning +the timber, flowers, game, face of the country, etc., etc., in which +the whole life of Kit Carson has been spent. + +On the west side of the Arkansas River, and between that stream and +the Rocky Mountains, there are three distinct species of grass found. +The first is the short, curly variety, on which the buffalo are said +to feed, from which fact it takes its name. The second kind is the +Grama grass, which is, I believe, indigenous to only this section of +America. Its stalk grows to the height of about one foot. Near its +top, it gives off, at right angles, another stem, which is +usually from one and a half to three inches in length. From this +last-mentioned stem, hang clusters of seeds which are well protected +by a suitable covering. It is said, and my own observation confirms +the fact, that horses will leave grain, such as corn and oats, to +feed on this grass; and its wonderful nutritious properties cannot be +denied. Wild oats are often seen in the mountain valleys. Along the +low swampy lands which skirt the rivers of the plains, there is yet +another species of grass which grows oftentimes several feet high, +and has a broad blade, similar almost to that of the flag plant. On +approaching the mountains the blue grass is found, which is nearly the +same as that usually met with in many of our western States. The bunch +grass, as spoken of by Fremont, is not confined to the mountains in +New Mexico; it is sometimes met with in the valleys, where it grows +to an immense height; but, in the low lands, it is useless, being too +tough for animals to masticate. Strangers, when journeying in these +parts, often make the mistake of selecting camps in this tall grass, +being deceived by its thrifty appearance; but, one night, thus spent, +will clearly prove its utter worthlessness. + +On the plains there are but few wild flowers; but, as the traveler +approaches the mountains, they greet his eyes in extensive beds and of +variegated colors. As a grazing country, the Rocky Mountains and their +immediate vicinity cannot be surpassed. The timber found there is poor +in quality. It comprises pine, cedar, and cotton wood, with here +and there patches of small and crooked oak bushes. The rivers in +the mountains are formed from melting snows and springs. They come +tumbling down through rough gorges and rocky canons, until they are +free in the valleys, where, they form bold and beautiful rivers. The +brook trout are the fish which mostly inhabit them, and, a singular +fact, in many of these streams this kind of fish treat the presence of +a man with perfect indifference, which has led me to believe, that in +their primitive state, the "shy trout" fear neither man nor beast. The +Indians catch them, and it may be that this fish is first frightened +by them. In the Rocky Mountains, south of the head waters of the +Arkansas, comparatively speaking, there are but few small birds and +squirrels. The raven, the crow, the hawk, the owl, and occasionally +the eagle, are seen. Wild geese, ducks, and cranes, are common. +Pigeons, including the wild dove, are not often seen. The magpie is +found in abundance. Turkeys and grouse are also in abundance. Wild +rabbits and a species of hare are also common. Indeed a man can travel +for days in the Rocky Mountains and never hear the musical notes of a +bird. In these mountains, rattle-snakes are only found in the +valleys, where it is warm. In the summer, the deer and elk live in the +mountains; but, when cold weather sets in, they are driven out of +them by the deep snows. The antelope of the plains seek the mountain +valleys during the winter. The buffalo migrate south as the season +becomes too severe for them. Sometimes they are caught by the storms, +and are obliged to winter also in the mountain valleys. The pine +trees of the Rocky Mountains bear a small nut, which is called by the +Mexicans _pinon_, which, when cooked, are quite pleasant to the taste. +There are many small salt lakes in the mountains, and many marshes, +where the ground is covered white by the salt deposit. The mineral +wealth of the Rocky Mountains is very great, and there is no doubt but +some day, rich veins of gold, silver, and iron ore will be discovered +there. The geological formation of the country is such as to warrant +this belief. Nearly every stream carries down in its floods that +precious metal, gold; but, in such small quantities, as not to attract +the attention of miners. I have found there, on the surface of the +earth, small pieces of material resembling stone coal, which have +probably been thrown up by some volcanic action. Hot and mineral +springs are not unfrequently met with. They are places of frequent +resort by the Indians, who use them for medicinal purposes. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + Kit Carson concludes to become a Farmer--He is joined in the + Enterprise by a Friend--They build a Ranche on the Cimeron + River--Descriptions of Mexican Customs and Country--Fremont + once more at Bent's Fort--Express sent for Kit Carson to + join the Expedition as Guide--The Ranche Sold, and + the Departure--The Third Expedition and + its Explorations--Difficulties with the + Mexican-Californians--General Castro's Orders to leave the + Country--Determination to Fight--Fremont goes to Lawson's + Fort--Fremont and his Men encounter a Thousand Indians--The + Battle and the Victory--The news that War had been + declared between the United States and Mexico reaches + Fremont--Lieutenant Gillespie rescued from the Indians--Three + of the party killed in the Night by Indians--The Savages + repulsed--The Burial of Comrades. + + +In the early spring of 1845, Kit Carson, after weighing the various +occupations which presented, decided to become a farmer. One of his +mountaineer friends, Mr. Richard Owens, came to the same conclusion. +Together they talked over their plans, and concluded that it would +be to them, at least, newness of life to be domiciled in their own +houses. The two hunters carefully marked out their plans, and then set +to work with a will for success to carry them into execution. A +very short time enabled them to choose a farming site, because their +knowledge of the country enabled them to see all of its desirable +localities, as it were at a glance. They decided to purchase a tract +of wild land situated on the little Cimeron River, and improve it. +Their arrangements were soon made, tools and implements, stock and +animals, provisions and necessaries all procured. With the services of +some laborers hired by them, they were soon engaged actively preparing +their land for the reception of seed. The spot which they selected +was forty-five miles east of Taos. They commenced the enterprise by +building some small huts. These afforded both themselves and their +Mexican laborers a comfortable lodgment. They sowed a considerable +quantity of grain, and prepared timber almost sufficient to build good +substantial houses. Their vigorously prosecuted labors began to show +evident results, and in the prospect, it was clearly apparent that +another year would serve to give them profitable reward for their +enterprise. + +It seems appropriate at this point, that we should enable the reader +to look upon and judge of the farming country and habits of New +Mexico; their markets, and some of the manners and customs of the +people who dwell in cities. The town of Taos affords a fair sample of +the markets, and as Kit Carson has many times been exhibited to the +reader at that place, it is very proper that we should describe it. + +The town of Taos is located in a valley called by the same name. The +town consists of a series of villages, which are scattered, and are +known to the Mexicans by various names. The main village is called +Fernandez de Taos, and is located near the centre of the valley, on +a high plateau of ground. The buildings here, as, indeed, in all the +towns of New Mexico, are constructed of adobes, and are one story +high, with what is usually known as flat roofs. These houses are +huddled together without much regard being paid to streets. The main +attraction of the town is the plaza, where all the business, such +as marketing, etc., is carried on. It is here that the stores are +located; and, on a fete day, or in business hours, it is thronged +with Mexicans, Americans, and Indians. Among these there is a large +per-centage of idlers. The houses are mostly covered with a white +material, which is either chalk or lime. The church is the largest +building in the town, and is a rough specimen of architecture, which +is rudely finished within. It has a flat-sounding bell, propped up +in a sort of a belfry. To make a noise on this, a piece of iron, or +several stones are used; and, when an attempt at chiming is made, +it is very laughable. The figures representing saints, and even the +altar, are a strange compound of imitation. On the respective days set +apart by the Catholic church for worship, marriages and fete +services are carried on with a great attempt at pomp, but, under the +circumstances, they leave no lasting impression of grandeur, save on +the inhabitants, who have beheld nothing beyond their own country. The +dignitary most respected in these towns is the Padre (or Priest), who +is looked upon as sacred; and, when so inclined, this class of men +have the power of accomplishing much good; but, oftentimes, they +pervert this power, setting bad examples in their mode of life, and +offering wicked counsel. However, under the management of the present +bishop, who is a very exemplary man, these things are being changed. +The old Priests of New Mexico were formerly educated in Old Mexico. +Their information was very imperfect, and their minds were contracted +down to extreme narrowness, from want of observation; hence, they were +the means of retarding the natural progress of the people. It cannot +be denied but that the Catholic religion has been the pioneer system +in the far West, and that, in the hands of good and pure men, it has +done much praiseworthy work, and has set an example which other creeds +might and ought to follow. The valley of Taos is bounded on all sides +by lofty mountains, which are but continuations of the Rocky chain. +The boundaries of this valley are very irregular, both in the course +they take and in their altitudes. The valley is about thirty miles +wide and some fifteen miles long. The ground has the appearance, at +first sight, of being a plain; but, on closer observation, it is +found to contain many ravines, and to bear the appearance of being +undulating. To the west side of it, rolls the Rio Grande, which +cuts, for most of the way, through a deep and impassable (for fording +purposes) channel. In the valley, there are but few, if any, trees, +which fact gives the villages a barren look. The mountains about are +covered with timber, which is not generally of the first quality for +building purposes. The number of people included within the limits +of this valley, it is difficult to estimate; but, about ten thousand +would include every living soul. The occupation of the people is +farming. Raising horses, cattle and sheep is carried on to a certain +extent; but most of the large herds of these animals owned in this +town are kept at ranches situated at more distant points, where grass +is to be had in abundance, and those retained about the villages are +only kept for immediate use. The reason for this is found in the fact +that most of this valley is not under cultivation, but is covered with +sage bushes. It is around the skirts of the mountains, that the only +valuable grass is found. The people, as a general thing, are quite +poor, but, as they find a ready market through the military posts for +their produce, they manage to realize some money, and thus live quite +comfortably, in contrast with their former destitute condition under +the government of Old Mexico. Some of the inhabitants might be said to +be rich, though but few of this class own ten thousand dollars' worth +of property. It is with great labor that the people of Taos bring +their crops to perfection, as it is necessary to irrigate the +soil, unless the season, which is rarely the fact, is favorable in +furnishing rains to them. There are no fences to divide one man's +possessions from another's; but, by common law, they furnish shepherds +to guard their flocks and cattle and keep them from trespassing. The +climate is very severe during the winter season, but in the summer +it is delightful. The health of this community is wonderfully good. +Indeed, the only severe diseases they have to contend against are +brought on by vices. Excluding small pox, and the lesser complaints +among young children, no epidemics are known. The country is so +elevated and inland, that the air is dry and salubrious, and the "dew +point" is rarely reached so as to amount to anything. It may be well +to add here, that for the consumptive patient, in the early stages of +the disease, there is no such climate in the world to visit, as that +of New Mexico; but, as a matter of course, he must vary his location +with the changes of temperature, being governed by the seasons. The +winter in Taos is too severe for him; then, he must go South, towards, +or even to El Paso, where it is congenial to his disease. I prophesy +that some day our internal continent will be the "Mecca" for pilgrims +with this disease. + +The dress of the New Mexican is the same as in Old Mexico. The peasant +wears his _sombrero_ and his everlasting blanket, which serves him +as a coat, and a covering by night. He rarely has but one suit of +clothes, which are put on new and worn until they are of no further +use. By amalgamating with the Americans, they are gradually +changing their style of dress. The buckskin pants, which were +characteristically cut and ornamented, are giving way to the ordinary +cloth ones of his white companion. It is so with the blanket, which is +being shed for the coat; and, again, this is true with the moccasin, +which is being replaced by the leathern shoe. The dress of the female +has undergone the same alteration. From almost a state of nudity, +they have been raised to a position from which they look upon silk +and satin with a "_connoisseur's_ eye." When New Mexico was part +and parcel of the domain of Old Mexico, Taos was the seat of much +smuggling from the United States, and many an apparent pack of grain +drawn into the town has been nothing less than packages of domestic +goods, the duties upon which, when introduced in the legal way, +were enormous; hence the white men engaged in this business, when +successful, met with ample rewards for their labors. The frontiers +were like the olden sea coasts. The Mexicans kept out scores of +custom-house officers to guard their frontiers, but the shrewd +foreigners, many times, were able to escape them; at others, they +were so fortunate as to find that a bribe would answer as well. An old +trick was to have a double bottom to a wagon, and, in the vacant space +thus formed, were stowed valuable shawls and such light articles as +would meet a sure and remunerative sale. Sometimes the goods were +brought near the frontiers and there hidden in the ground until a +favorable opportunity offered to steal them into the country. When +there was great danger that these secreted goods would be discovered, +the smugglers would so arrange a keg of powder with a loaded pistol +pointing at it, with strings running to the shrubbery near by, so as +to cause it to explode and kill the searchers should the bushes about +be disturbed. One old smuggler once fixed things in this manner, but +performed his task too well; for, on going to remove his property, he +came very near blowing himself up, as the mine was sprung and he was +thrown in the air, but miraculously escaped. Many of the adventures +of these men would be interesting; but they are too voluminous to be +embodied in our work. The valley of Taos is well watered by mountain +streams which flow into the Rio Grande. On one of these creeks and +near the mountains, to the east of Fernandez de Taos, is located an +Indian Pueblo which is very interesting to the traveler. Its houses +are built one on top of another until a sort of pyramid is formed. The +people enter their respective domicils through the roofs, which form +a kind of steps. At the foot of this queer building there is a church; +and around, the scenery is very picturesque, as the whole is bounded +on one side by a gap in the mountains, while on the other is the open +valley. This band of Indians at first offered great resistance and +fought with much bravery against the United States; but now they +are counted among its most faithful allies, and are great in their +admiration of Kit Carson. The farming utensils of the New Mexicans +are rude in the extreme; but the agricultural implements of the +Anglo-Saxon are slowly replacing these articles. The old plough, as +frequently used at the present time by the New Mexicans, is indeed +a curiosity, as it probably was invented in the earliest times. It +consists of one piece of timber which is crooked the proper shape by +nature; the end of this is sharpened, and on it is fastened a single +piece of iron which has an attempt at a sharp point. The force to +propel this farming implement is attached in the usual way, with but +few modifications. Oxen are always employed in this labor, and their +yoke is fastened after the Egyptian fashion, to their horns instead of +by bows. In breaking up the hard prairies, this plough had a difficult +task to perform and was often broken; but, by the assistance of men +employed in clearing obstacles, such as sage bushes, etc., the task +was imperfectly gone through with. The Mexican axe is another curious +tool, which resembles as much the common pick of our laborers as +it does the axe used by American woodsmen. The sickle is used in +harvesting to this day in these parts, performing the duties of the +scythe, the cradle, etc. The most remarkable sight of all is the +Mexican cart, the noise of which, when moving, can, be heard on a +still day at a great distance. The wheels of this vehicle are at least +one foot thick, and consist of pieces of solid wood which are pegged +together and made to approach a circle by the best judgment of the +_eye_, without the aid of measuring. These wheels are very heavy, and +when rolling they go by jerks, owing to their want of proportion, etc. +The body of the cart, as are all of its parts, is made of soft wood, +and seems to be constructed for weight and strength instead of beauty. +The whole affair, when complete, is almost a load by itself; hence, it +is capable of carrying but a small cargo. The grain that Mexicans of +New Mexico grow is corn and wheat, and it is on these crops that they +depend for their support. In converting this grain into flour, +they either use the old water mill which is very primitive in its +construction, or else, when these are not near by, they make use of +two stones and grind it by hand. Their common diet is a sort of thick +gruel made of corn meal, wheat bread, eggs, peas, beans, pumpkins, +which latter articles they roast, and then break holes into them and +with a spoon dip out the contents as they are required; and, to finish +the catalogue, sometimes meat, game and milk. The fruits found in New +Mexico are not various, and are mostly confined to apples, peaches, +plums and grapes. These latter are truly superior, and are raised in +the greatest abundance in the south of the Territory, where, also, +they manufacture a very pleasant red wine, which goes by the name of +El Paso Wine. We take the manners and customs of the people of Taos as +a good type to judge of the manners and customs of the New Mexicans, +for the town is second only in size, in this Territory, to Santa +Fe. The inhabitants of New Mexico, notwithstanding their poverty and +neglect, owing to their remote locality, are perhaps as happy and +contented as any community in the world. They are not over-celebrated +for their chastity or virtue; and, to the disgrace of the white man, +they have not been assisted by him in these cardinal principles; but, +time will work wonders on this score and teach the immorality of such +proceedings. Their great source of enjoyment consists in dancing; and +hence the fandango is always looked for as a time when dull care will +be dispelled. A grand fandango is the event of a New Mexican's life. +These affairs are gotten up sometimes for charitable purposes, when +the money gathered in the sale of refreshments is distributed to the +poor; or else they are started by individuals to make a little money +out of. In a town the size of Taos, during the winter season, hardly +a night passes by without a dance. Written invitations in Spanish are +freely circulated about the town in order to entrap the strangers, +while the inhabitants are invited by other means. The music consists +of a high-strung violin and a species of guitar. This is perambulated +about the town. The players perform light dancing tunes and accompany +the music with their voices, making up the words as they go along. +This music is learned entirely by ear, and is transmitted from one +generation to another through the means of these fandangos. The vocal +music is anything but harmonious to the ear, but some of the airs, +when played on the instruments, are rather pleasing, and one, on +hearing them, finds himself often humming them afterwards. The powers +of music are nowhere better illustrated than among these people. Their +ready ear quickly catches a new tune, and it is not uncommon to hear, +in a Mexican town, a senorita giving vent to a negro melody or a +favorite polka which she has heard some American sing or whistle. At +Santa Fe there are several noted players on the violin and harp who +cannot read a word of music, yet they can play on their respective +instruments with taste and skill. A New Mexican female, in preparing +herself for these balls, is very particular in making, by the aid of +cosmetics, her complexion as light as possible. She first uses a red +berry which stains her face almost to the color of brick and renders +her excessively ugly; this she leaves on several hours, when it is +washed off and chalk is applied so freely as to render it easily +perceptible. In her toilet she is also very particular, as far as the +exterior is concerned, and in the _fandango_ the stranger's eyes are +taken by storm by the gaudy colors he sees rather than the neatness of +the dress. The floor of the dancing-room is usually the mother earth, +which is frequently sprinkled with water to keep down the dust. The +men are in their everyday habiliments, with the addition of any clean +thing they may chance to possess; but, usually they are a motley +crowd, a glance at whom at first leaves the impression that they +are far from being refined. Except when dancing, they cling to their +blankets, and at the least pause in the proceedings, they at once +draw forth the materials and make their cigarettos. Both men and women +indulge in these articles; and oftentimes when the dance is in full +blast, the air of the room is densely charged with the smell of +the burning _punchi_, a species of tobacco, making it anything but +agreeable. The women are seated on benches along the walls of the +building, by themselves, while the men congregate in knots together. +On the commencement of a figure, the Mexican selects his partner and +notifies her that she is his choice by making a signal to her with +his hand, when she takes her position in the dance. The eyes and the +latent smile on the face of the "dark eyed senorita" shows she is +enjoying herself. The men exhibit their pleasure in a more boisterous +manner; that is, by occasionally whooping and cracking jokes. +Gambling[18] is carried on under the same roof; and in this both men +and women join as long as their money lasts. Then they make room for +others who are anxious to try their fortunes. This vice is truly of +a national character, and so given to it are these people, that they +will part with anything to support their appetite. To their credit +it can be said, that the New Mexican women indulge but sparingly in +alcoholic liquor; but the men are prone to the intoxicating cup. They +often anticipate the evil effects of drink, and it is not unfrequent +to see a New Mexican assuming the airs of a drunken man after two or +three mouthfuls of "_aqua-diente_." The spirit of the ball is carried +on well into the short hours of night, when all parties depart for +their homes. Intoxication, that curse to all men, is playing havoc +with this innocent amusement of the people, and causing these scenes +to terminate in riot, and often bloodshed, especially when the +jealousy of the white blood is raised at some imagined insult; and +then, as is always the case, the two races come in fierce contact. It +is hoped that by the aid of schools and education these things may +be ameliorated, but they cannot be cured. The mischief is too deeply +rooted. + +[Footnote 18: The game most frequently played is _monte_.] + +We have thus endeavored to give the reader a view of the people among +whom Kit Carson had determined to become a farmer. But he was not +destined to finish and perfect his plans. + +Near the conclusion of the second exploring expedition, and at the +time when Kit Carson took his departure from the party, Col. Fremont +had received a promise from him to the effect that he would join, +as guide, any party of discovery, for the further exploration of the +Rocky Mountains, which he, Col. Fremont, should command. + +During the active duties of a farmer's life, and just as Kit Carson +had brought his new enterprise into working order, an expressman from +Col. Fremont arrived at his ranche, bearing dispatches to Carson. The +purport of these dispatches was to remind Kit Carson of his promise, +to inform him of the organization of a third expedition, and to +appoint a place where Kit Carson might find his old commander. + +The express found Carson in the midst of so many cares and anxieties +concerning his new project, that it became a very difficult matter for +him to keep his word. But the sacrifice of pecuniary interest was but +a slight consideration with Kit, when weighed in the balance against +his promise. He knew that his promise had not been either lightly +given or received. Col. Fremont, by it, had the first right to his +time and energies, and had formed his expectations accordingly; and +Kit lost, therefore, no time in making preparations to satisfy these +expectations by reporting himself at the appointed place of meeting, +ready for the march. + +But to effect this was attended with no slight difficulties. Kit +Carson had a large sum invested in his improvements, by way of +payments for labor, as well as purchases of stock, provision, farming +tools, utensils, teams, wagons, seed, and stock in general. The +erection of his house, barns, etc., was under an advance which reached +far towards completion. But with Kit Carson, his word was worth more +than prospective losses which its fulfillment would entail. In company +with Mr. Owens, he set himself actively at work to effect a complete +sell-out. After a good deal of anxious inquiry, he found a man who +was willing to pay one half of the real valuation attached to his +property. Notwithstanding this sacrifice, the bargain was closed and +the business details completed. In company with Mr. Owens, Kit Carson +once more bade his family and friends an affectionate farewell. They +took the route for Bent's Fort, and arrived there in the course of +a few days. The meeting between Fremont and Carson was mutually +satisfactory. With his friend, Mr. Owens, he joined the Third +expedition of Col. Fremont, which was the last one which he undertook +by authority of the United States government. + +A long tramp was before them. The arrangements preparatory were, +therefore, made with corresponding care and diligence. The route +led up the Arkansas River to the point where that stream leaves the +mountains; thence they made a circuit by the Ballo Salado, or Soda +Springs, coming back again upon the Arkansas, striking the stream +above its great canon. Thence they journeyed on to the head waters of +the river. Here they left the Arkansas River and took a direct route +for the Piney River, down which latter stream they traveled to a spot +within twenty-five miles of its mouth. From this place they continued +their explorations of the country to the head of White River. +Following down it, they soon reached the mountains. Crossing them, +they proceeded to Prevost's Fork. + +At this spot a desperate fight once occurred between a party of +trappers and a band of hostile Indians. The trappers were commanded by +a man whose name has ever since been applied to the stream. Prevost, +although he had a strong party and fought a most desperate battle, +nevertheless was outnumbered, outgeneralled, and most completely +overpowered. The Indians succeeded in killing the entire party, +including himself, with but four exceptions. These four escaped +only with the greatest difficulty and prudence. Through them the +particulars of the affair became known to the mountaineers. + +Col. Fremont (we should before this have mentioned that Fremont had +been promoted in the corps of Topographical Engineers from the post of +Lieutenant to the rank of Captain by brevet) now examined the country +as far as the south side of the Great Salt Lake, passing on his route +a smaller body of water, which, for many years, has been known as +Little Utah Lake. The command halted at Great Salt Lake a few days +to recruit, preparatory to undertaking the further exploration of the +lake, together with one of its largest islands, which would be reached +by this southern route. The Indians met with on the journey, informed +them that on this island there was plenty of fresh water, and game in +abundance. On arriving at a suitable place, Col. Fremont pitched his +tents for the main camp. On the following morning, taking Kit Carson +and a few chosen men, Col. Fremont started to explore the island. The +reports of the Indians were proven to be true. In addition to plenty +of fresh water and game, they discovered very good timber growing +there. The game, which proved to be antelope, was so abundant that +they decided to kill from the herds a quantity sufficient for future +use. The island was about fifteen miles in length by about five in +breadth. From the main land to the island they were able to ride their +horses, as the water was not deep. Upon the banks of the lake they +found the salt deposit to vary from the thickness of a wafer to the +depth of twelve inches. + +Having made their observations, the small party returned to the main +camp. On the following day the journey was resumed, the route leading +around the south side of the lake, until they reached the last fresh +water to be found in that direction. Before them lay a wide and +unknown desert, over which no white man had ever passed. Kit Carson +had been at this spot several times in previous years, and had often +heard the oldest trappers speak of the impossibility of crossing +it for man or beast. They had always shrunk from a path apparently +endless, which offered appearances of neither grass nor water. Colonel +Fremont had determined to try the formidable desert, and, if possible, +unfold its hidden secrets. His men were equally ambitious with +himself, and were ready to second his efforts without fearing the +trials or sufferings which the desert route might exact. + +Colonel Fremont arranged all of his plans commensurate with the +hardships in expectancy. Early the subsequent morning he dispatched +Kit Carson, Maxwell and two others as an advance party to break the +road and look for a camping site. With his telescope, he then ascended +a neighboring mountain to watch the little party of pioneers. In the +event that water and grass should be found, Kit Carson's orders +were to build a fire, the smoke of which would serve as a signal to +Fremont, who would immediately follow up their trail with the whole +command. + +For sixty miles, Kit Carson with his little party traveled over this +level, barren and sandy desert, without coming to a drop of water or +a blade of grass. At the end of this distance they reached the +mountains, on the west side of the lake, and found both in abundance. +The signal of smoke was now made, according to agreement. Even at this +long distance Fremont discovered it, and immediately set his party in +motion. Kit Carson sent back one of the men to meet the main body, and +guide it across the dreary waste. Before the party had accomplished +more than half the distance to Kit Carson's advance, night set in, +forcing the whole band to encamp without water, grass, or fuel. The +camp became more necessary because the darkness was so great that they +could not follow the trail in a night march. Early the following day +the march was resumed, and a few hours served once more to reunite +the command. They had the misfortune, however, to lose a few of their +animals. The place which Kit Carson had selected for the camp was, to +the weary travelers, in every respect equal to an oasis on the Great +Sahara. There is no one thing which a traveler on the plains dreads +more than being forced to camp without water and grass. + +At this resting-place Colonel Fremont, in order to accomplish as much +as possible, divided his forces into two commands. One of them he gave +into the charge of Mr. Talbot, his assistant, and appointed for his +guide a mountaineer named Walker. To this party Colonel Fremont gave +instructions to shape their course for Mary's River; on striking +which, they were to follow down the stream to where it is lost in the +Great Basin. Colonel Fremont retained with him fifteen men besides his +guide. The route which he pursued lay in the country south of Mary's +River forming a large tract of land, which it was very desirable that +he should explore. After finishing this, he was to join Talbot on the +lake which is formed by the widening of the Carson River. The country +through which Colonel Fremont traveled, he found to be well furnished +with grass, water and wood. It is highly picturesque; but, as +its characteristics are so vividly painted in his reports, it is +superfluous to add our attempt to the same task. Having arrived at the +lake already mentioned, he there awaited the arrival of Talbot. It +was three days before the command was again united. They, however, +remained together only one night. Early the following morning they +separated once more. This time, Talbot's instructions were, to find a +certain pass which would bring him out in the vicinity of the Sierra +Nevada Mountains, which he was to cross, and then keep on his course +for the waters of the San Joaquin. Fremont, with his division, +journeyed up the Carson River, and after traversing the Sierra Nevada +Mountains, he arrived safe at Sutter's Fort, without meeting with any +incidents that were not to be expected on such a trip. Captain Sutter, +with his usual urbanity of manner, kindly received them, and supplied +their wants. Of him, Fremont purchased forty head of cattle and a few +horses, with which he set out to look for Mr. Talbot. In doing so, he +traveled up the valley of the San Joaquin, and forded that river at +about where it is ushered forth from the mountains. Mr. Talbot was not +to be found in this direction, so the party went to Kings River, and +journeyed up it to its head waters. It now happened that the cattle +belonging to the party began to grow foot-sore and weary from travel +over rocky trails and through deep snows. It became evident that the +looked-for men were not in that quarter; therefore, Fremont returned +to the prairies near by, in the hopes of saving his cattle; but, when +he arrived there, he was destitute of these animals, for they had all +given out and died. The party had, previous to this misfortune, killed +some of the best of the oxen, and prepared the meat to carry along +with them; but, in no great quantities, as their riding animals were +not strong enough to bear heavy burdens. The command had hardly left +the mountains and succeeded in reaching the prairies, before they were +obliged to submit to further trials and losses. After going into camp +one night, the men, tired and worn out by much labor, had lain down +to rest. As a guard had been posted, they gave themselves but little +concern about danger. Their sentinels were not on the look-out as +sharply as they might have been. The consequence was, that some +hostile Indians crept within their lines and killed two mules, which +depredation was not discovered until the next morning. + +Fremont had no animals remaining in condition to give chase, and +therefore had quietly to submit to his loss. He now resolved to give +up for the time being his search for Talbot's party and return to +Sutter's Fort, where he could reorganize. While on their road to the +Fort, the men came suddenly upon a band of the same Indians who had +recently annoyed them. These fellows seemed to invite an engagement, +and were gratified by Col. Fremont. In the skirmish that ensued, they +lost five warriors killed. The rest fled. The party, after undergoing +many hardships, finally reached their point of destination. During the +latter part of this tramp, game had become so scarce that the men had +to shoot whatever came in their way. This time it chanced to be wild +horses. When they arrived at the Fort they were on foot, their saddle +and pack animals having all given out and broken down. By the kind +assistance of Mr. Sutter, they were furnished anew. After recruiting a +little their own worn-out bodies, they started on their second trip in +quest of their companions. They traversed the coast range and went to +San Jose to see if they could hear anything through the Mexicans and +Indians who resided there, concerning the whereabouts of the missing +men; as perchance, some of the hunters or traders among these people +might, in their travels, have met or heard something of them. On +making inquiries at San Jose, they were informed that the party was +encamped at a well known place on the San Joaquin. This piece of +intelligence immediately decided Fremont to dispatch Carson and two +companions to that section of country, while he and the remainder of +the men would remain where they were and await his return. Kit Carson +performed his mission with his usual promptness and soon returned with +his charge, when the expedition was once more united under one leader. +Owing to the great trials and privations recently met with, and the +inability to procure at Sutter's Fort all that was wanted in the +matter of an outfit, therefore it was determined upon that the party +should proceed next to Monterey, where they knew they could purchase +the articles that were actually required. While en route, and when +within thirty miles of this last-named town, an impertinent order was +received from Gen. Castro, the Mexican commander of the territory. The +purport of this order was, that Fremont and his party must immediately +vacate the country without further notice, or else the gallant general +would be obliged to drive them out. It was late in the afternoon when +the messenger with this document arrived in Fremont's camp; yet, he +found time the same day to pack up and fall back to a place where he +could fortify his position, as he felt confident that this was but +an empty excuse which the Mexican general had invented to prevent him +from penetrating further into the country. The Americans had hardly +got things in proper trim before the Mexican general, at the head +of several hundred troops, arrived and established his camp and +head-quarters within sight of the former, being deluded with the +belief that he would easily intimidate the exploring party. The +general commenced firing his cannon and making a great uproar. He had +all branches of the service with him, including artillery, infantry +and cavalry. In the intention of intimidation, however, he was greatly +mistaken, though the difference in numbers between the two parties +was in itself almost decisive, should they come to a conflict. Yet the +Mexicans had but poorly estimated the mettle contained in the American +commander and his forty men. They were ready, one and all, to sell +their lives dearly in a cause good as that before them. Unshaken in +their purpose, the little band of intrepid men remained in their camp +for the period of three days. The Americans who were then living at +Monterey sent several expressmen to their countrymen, warning them of +their danger, as they felt that the Mexicans could, without a +doubt, completely annihilate them. Fremont's reply was perfectly +characteristic of the man; he said he had done nothing to raise the +wrath of the Mexicans, who were now treating him disgracefully. He had +come to perform a duty, and could not leave without executing it. In +fact, neither himself nor his men would submit to be driven out of +the country. At the end of three days, Fremont saw that there was no +prospect of Gen. Castro's consummating his threat; and, considering +that he had sufficiently shown his willingness to fight if driven +to it, he therefore concluded to strike his camp and withdraw to the +Sacramento River. The party were not disturbed in their movements, and +on reaching this stream they followed it up until they came to Peter +Lawson's Trading Post, where Fremont intended, since he could not go +to Monterey without being too rash, to purchase the outfit for the +homeward-bound trip. The party remained at this post some ten days, +during which time some American settlers in the neighborhood came in +with the information that one thousand Indian warriors were collecting +for the avowed purpose of destroying their ranches, probably at the +instigation of the Mexicans. The exploring party, and also five white +men from the Post, proffered their services to go to the aid of their +countrymen, and shortly afterwards the whole command under Fremont +moved forward to meet and measure their strength with the savages. +The village of the Indians was in due time found, when the whites +commenced the fight by making an attack on it. The battle was for +a little while stoutly contested; but finally the red men were +completely routed. The number of the killed it was difficult to +ascertain; but Carson is of the opinion that this fight had the +tendency of fixing on the minds of this tribe the truth of their +inability to cope with white men, the convincing evidence of which was +that the battle-ground was strewn with their dead. Having more than +accomplished his chastisement of the Indians, Fremont with his party +returned to Lawson's. + +On finishing his purchases, at this post, whose occupants had done +their utmost to supply his wants and make his stay agreeable, the +explorer once more set his command in motion en route for the Columbia +River. He traveled up the Sacramento and passed near the Shasta +Buttes,[19] and thence on to the Tlamath Lake. While encamped on the +head of this collection of water, news came to the party that war had +been declared between the United States and Mexico. This intelligence +had been sent to Fremont through Lieutenant Gillespie, of the United +States marines, who had with him six men as an escort. After traveling +three hundred miles over bad trails at a rapid pace, his animals began +to succumb to fatigue. The lieutenant saw he would fail to accomplish +his ends with the whole party together, therefore he selected two of +his most reliable men, mounted them on his fleetest horses, and sent +them on ahead to bear the dispatches, while he himself would jog on +slowly. The expressmen overhauled the exploring party after several +days of hard travel and handed to Fremont the communications. As +soon as he had read his letters, Fremont made inquiries in regard to +Gillespie, and found that he was in rather a precarious position; for, +should the Tlamath Indians take the notion, they would murder him +and his men just by the way of pastime. Fremont at once determined +to return with all haste and succor Gillespie from the imminent peril +that surrounded him. With this purpose in view, he selected ten picked +men, leaving orders for the rest of the party to follow on his trail, +and set out. He had traveled about sixty miles when he met the officer +he was in search of coming on. The meeting was very gratifying to +both, but especially so to Fremont, who was fully alive to the dangers +through which Gillespie had passed; for, the lieutenant was not +sufficiently aware how black-hearted in their villainy and treachery +this tribe, through whose country he was passing, were, as he had +heretofore never dealt with them. A camp was selected near by, and all +hands were not long in being snugly seated in it around a good fire, +listening to the important news fresh from the civilized world. + +[Footnote 19: Blunt projecting mountains.] + +Fremont sat up until about one o'clock reading his letters from the +United States. Kit Carson and Owens, wrapped in their saddle blankets, +had picked out their beds near the fire, as the night was cold. On +concluding the reading of his correspondence, Fremont turned in and +was soon sound asleep. All was quiet for awhile, when Kit Carson heard +a noise that awaked him; the sound was like the stroke of an axe. +Rising to his feet, he discovered Indians in the camp. While in the +act of reaching for his rifle, he gave the alarm, to his slumbering +companions; but, two of them were already sleeping their last sleep, +for the fatal tomahawk had been buried in their brains. One of these +victims was the brave Lajeunesse, while the other was a full-blooded +Delaware Indian. As Kit Carson left the fire, where he was too +conspicuous an object, he saw several warriors approaching towards it. +There lay near to it four other Delawares, who, on hearing the alarm, +sprang to their feet. One of them by the name of Crane, seized hold of +a rifle which, unfortunately, was not his own, and was not loaded. The +poor fellow was not aware of this important fact. He kept trying to +fire it while he stood erect, and manfully received five arrows, +all of which penetrated his left breast, and either one of which was +sufficient to cause his death. At last, he fell. On grasping his gun, +Kit Carson remembered that the evening before, he had discharged it +for the purpose of cleaning it, and while doing so had accidentally +broken its cap tube, and consequently he had not reloaded it. As this +flashed across his mind, he threw the rifle down and drew from his +belt a single-barrelled pistol, with which he made at the warrior +who was so safely throwing his arrows into his companion. When +sufficiently near, Kit Carson fired, but as the fellow kept dodging +about, he only succeeded in cutting the string that held the tomahawk +to its red owner's arm. Maxwell now shot at this same brave and hit +him in the fleshy part of one leg; and, as he was turning to run, +which was the case with most of the Indians by this time, a bullet +from the rifle of a mountaineer passed through his heart and arrested +his progress. The whites were now fully awakened to their danger, and +about ready to commence the fight; but the enemy had scattered. If +all the savages had shown the same quickness and coolness as did their +foremost warrior, the probability is that the most, if not the whole +of the party would have been massacred. As it was, the attack was well +planned, but poorly carried out. + +The result of the affair was, that Fremont lost three brave men, and +had one other wounded slightly. It now became evident that the party +had fallen into a snare which was intended for Lieutenant Gillespie +and his small force, but the coming up of Fremont had caused the +assassins to find they had caught a Tartar. + +Fremont and his party apprehended no danger that night; consequently, +they did not post a guard, and as the men were very tired they slept +very soundly. Before lying down, several of them had fired off their +rifles, and, after cleaning them, they had neglected to reload them. +This was the first and last time they were guilty of such a mistake +while in an Indian country. + +Of the three men killed, the one by the name of Lajeunesse was +the most regretted, for he had been with Fremont on his previous +expeditions, and had won the admiration and confidence of his +commander and companions. In a small company of men, such as these +expeditions were composed of, where every member becomes intimately +known and admired by his companions, the loss of one would be greatly +felt; but, when three such were thus suddenly taken, it caused a gloom +to be cast over the remainder, not easily to be dispelled. The only +consolation left to the living was, that they had been instrumental +in saving Lieutenant Gillespie and his four companions; therefore, in +sacrificing their comrades, they had saved more lives than had been +lost. + +There were no more thoughts of sleep in this camp for that eventful +night; but instead, the men selected positions behind neighboring +trees and fallen logs, and were ready to receive the enemy should they +see fit to visit them again. + +The Indians, however, as Kit Carson predicted, had come to the wise +conclusion not to attempt so unsatisfactory a business as another +attack, for the grey light of the following day came without their +reappearance. Before the sun had fairly risen, Fremont had broken +up this camp, which had become odious to the men from its unpleasant +associations. With their packs, and with the bodies of their dead +companions, the party started to find their rear guard. They had +proceeded about ten miles on their journey, when, by unanimous +consent, they resolved to halt and inter the remains, which they had +wished to carry until they united their forces, so that all could +participate in the funeral rites; but, the woods through which they +were traveling were very thick, and already the bodies had become +greatly disfigured, on account of their frequently striking against +the trees, as they were fastened on the backs of three animals. + +Slowly and sadly, in that dense forest, hundreds of miles from their +nearest countrymen, was this funeral procession formed. A spot was +selected on one side of the main trail, at a distance of about one +half mile, where a rude grave was dug, and, wrapped in their blankets, +in the same common house, were deposited all that remained of these +three brave men. An observer of these obsequies, would have seen the +lips of daring men, now and then, giving spasmodic twitchings; eyes +swimming in tears, and a silence and solemnity that bespoke the truest +kind of grief. Among that party, such a one would have been sure to +have marked out the countenance of Kit Carson; for, engraven on it +were the throes which were troubling his kind heart on being thus +obliged to separate from old friends. Not a man left that grave, but +who resolved, secretly and silently, to make these dastardly Indians +suffer for the lives they had thus wantonly taken. In fact, they felt +it an imperative duty they yet owed to their departed comrades; who, +if they but stood in their places, would have sworn to be avenged; +hence, the reader must not judge them harshly if they nourished these +feelings. + +That very day the two parties met and went into camp together. Plans +were concocted to chastise the red men soundly. The next day, on +quitting this last resting-place, a squad of fifteen men was left +concealed in the neighborhood, in order to watch and act against +any Indians who, by chance, might be following them from one camp to +another, in hopes of finding something. The main command then moved on +slowly, and had advanced but a few miles when they were overtaken by +their friends, who came up with two scalps. These were the sum total +of their morning's work. The two warriors to whom they had belonged +were caught following the trail as scouts of their main body. The +unerring rifles of the party in ambush had performed their fearful +duty. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + + Fremont en route for California--His men are anxious to punish + the Tlamath Indians--Kit Carson, in command of ten Men, is + sent on ahead to reconnoitre--He discovers the main Village + of these Indians--The Attack and the Victory--Beautiful + Lodges--The Trophies mostly destroyed--Fremont saves Kit + Carson's Life--The Journey resumed--The Sacramento Valley--An + Indian Ambuscade--One Savage defies the Party--Kit Carson + shoots him--The Tlamath Indians still on the War Path--Another + Lesson given to them--A Thief is shot--Arrival at Lawson's + Trading Post--A period of Inactivity--A Detachment sent to + capture Sonoma--Prisoners taken--The Mexicans come to punish + the Americans--Their Courage deserts them--The Retreat--The + Pursuit--Fremont goes to Sutter's Fort and establishes + a Military Post--Monterey is taken by the American + Squadron--Fremont marches there--Further Operations--The + taking of Los Angelos. + + +The news of war having been declared between the United States and +Mexico, determined Fremont to return to California; and, in doing so, +he decided to enter that country by a new route of his own selection. + +He commenced his journey by traveling around Lake Tlamath, and had not +proceeded far in that direction, before he found himself encamped on a +small stream which empties into the lake, nearly opposite to the place +where his three men were killed. The distance of each day's progress +had been carefully reckoned and noted by the party. Upon their minds +there was still resting a sadness, which, their leader saw, was only +to be effaced by a satisfactory revenge, and that they were eager to +obtain it before quitting the country. Perhaps, also, their commanding +officer thought it best, while the opportunity offered, for the +benefit of his countrymen, whom he felt sure would some day possess +this territory, to impress these savages with the power and bravery of +the white men. Whatever was the object to be gained, it matters not +in relating the particulars. The next morning he sent Kit Carson on +ahead, with ten chosen men, giving him orders to the effect that if he +discovered a large village of Indians, which was the general surmise, +without being himself seen, he was to send back word; when he +(Fremont) would hasten on with reinforcements, in order to make the +assault. If it should happen that the Indians were the first to be +apprised of his near approach, then, without delay, Carson was to +engage them as he thought best. Acting under these instructions, Kit +Carson, with his detail of men, set out, and fortunately soon found +a fresh trail that led directly to where the savages had established +their village. This Indian village numbered fifty lodges; and, to +each wigwam, the mountaineers estimated three braves, as this is the +complement of men who live in one of these huts on the prairies and in +the Rocky Mountains; thus making the force of the Indians to be in the +neighborhood of one hundred and fifty. From the commotion noticed in +the village, it was evident to all present that the tribe had become +aware of danger, and that there was no time to be lost in sending back +the desired information. Kit Carson, notwithstanding the strength +of his enemies, determined to hazard an attack; and, after a brief +consultation with his companions, he decided to take advantage of the +confusion that was existing among the red men by charging right in +among them. If ever there is a time when Indians will stand their +ground, it is when defending their families; therefore, on this +occasion, the white men were warmly received; but, they fought with +such a degree of desperation, as they themselves had never done +before. The result was, that the savages became panic stricken, and +soon afterwards fled, leaving everything they possessed behind them. +The victors, after pursuing the Indians for some distance, and adding +a few more to the list of killed, returned to the village, which they +found to be rich in booty. The lodges here taken, Kit Carson describes +as being the most tasty pieces of handiwork that Indian skill could +devise, and surpassed anything of the kind that he had previously +looked upon. They were made of the broad leaves of the swamp flag, +which were beautifully and intricately woven together. Within the +wigwams, the party found a very large amount of fish in different +stages of preservation for future use. Wishing to do these people as +much harm as possible, and thus be even with them for their recent +savage cruelties on their own party, Kit Carson gave the order to +collect everything in the lodges and arrange the articles in such +manner that fire would either destroy, or completely damage them. +Having accomplished this work, the lighted tinder was applied, when +the flames leaped high up in the air, forming a fit funeral pyre for +their slain companions. Fremont saw the reflection of the fire, and +also the smoke, and at once knew that Kit Carson was engaged with the +Indians; consequently, he pushed on at a very rapid pace to assist +him. He arrived too late for what the men called the sport; but +instead, heard the report of his lieutenant and guide, Kit Carson, +whose words, to use his (Fremont's) own language, "are synonymous with +truth." The gloom which had prevailed over the party, while the men +recounted to their friends the details of the fight was temporarily +dispelled; and, while thus engaged, the command moved on about two +miles from the Indian village. Having here selected a site, they +went into camp. After comfortably stowing themselves away in this +resting-place, another "war talk" was called, and what was best to be +done was canvassed over. After the adjournment of the council, +Fremont decided to send back twenty men, under Richard Owens, to the +neighborhood of the ruins of the village, there to conceal themselves +and await the return of the Indians; who, it was thought, might come +back to look after their dead. He did so; and Owens had not been +secreted a great while before about fifty savages returned, and, by +the moon's light, were quite visible. As had been previously agreed +upon, word was sent by a trusty messenger to Fremont, who, with six +companions, Kit Carson being of the number, hastened on horseback +to join his outpost. For fear of being discovered, Fremont chose a +different route from the one taken by Owens, which was quite +direct, while that of the former was circuitous. On approaching the +smouldering remains of the village, Kit Carson discovered only one +Indian wandering about on the ground. As soon almost as he was seen by +the party, they made a dash at him. Kit Carson was in the advance, and +on arriving within about ten feet of the warrior, he drew up his +horse and brought his rifle to his shoulder to fire, but the gun only +snapped, and left its owner in a very precarious situation, as the red +man had already drawn the string of his bow to plant an arrow in the +body of his adversary. A moment more and, in all probability, Kit +Carson would have been breathing his last. Fremont saw the danger his +friend was in, although Kit had tried to avoid the arrow by throwing +himself on one side of his horse. With much forethought, as well as +personal exposure, he plunged the rowels of his spurs deep into his +riding animal. The noble horse, obeying the impetus thus given by his +rider, made a few extra strides, until he reached, knocked down +and passed over the Indian, thereby causing his arrow to fly in a +different direction from the one intended. Before the savage could +regain his feet, a ball from one of the rifles belonging to the party +had sent him to his last resting-place. Fremont now learned from +Owens, that while the messenger was absent, the rest of the Indians +had decamped, and as he had received orders from him to await his +coming in case he found the enemy, therefore, he was obliged to let +the rascals quietly depart without firing into them, which was much to +his own and his men's displeasure. + +[Illustration: A moment more and in all probability Kit Carson would +have been breathing his last. Fremont saw the danger his friend was +in, although Kit had tried to avoid the arrow by throwing himself on +one side of his horse.--PAGE 265.] + +It was now necessary to return without delay to their own camp, and +thus anticipate the movements of the Indians, as they might conclude +to make an attack in that quarter; but, on arriving there, they +found everything safe; nor were they, during that night, in any way +disturbed. Kit Carson was, and is still, very grateful to Fremont for +thus interposing between him and almost certain death; for it would +have been the work of an instant for the Indian warrior, at ten feet +distance, to have sent an arrow into some vital organ. It was such +noble generosity, bravery, and disinterested exposure in the hour of +peril, in order to serve his men, that strongly cemented Fremont to +them. Indeed, in all of his expeditions, he had such command over his +employees, that little or no trouble ever occurred among them while +on their marches, although they had privations and dangers to undergo +that would often try men of the most even temper. + +On the day following the one on which his party had encountered and +chastised the Tlamath Indians, Fremont started for the Valley of the +Sacramento. The expedition was progressing well, and was four days out +from this last camp; when, as two of the men, whose names were Maxwell +and Archambeau, were out hunting at a distance of about three miles on +one side of their friends, they were surprised at seeing one Indian, +on foot, approaching towards them. + +The hunters, in order to do away with all suspicion, at once halted +and laid down their arms, to show the warrior that they were friendly +disposed. They thought it was best to have a "talk" with him, and +question him in regard to the country they were then in. As he showed +no symptoms of fear, but kept coming on, they supposed that he had +understood their actions; therefore, they paid but little attention to +him, until they saw him stop. Their curiosity was now excited to know +his intentions; and, as they watched his movements, they saw him take +some young crows from his quiver, and, after untying the string that +held them, he concealed them to his satisfaction in the grass, and +again moved forward; but, while doing so, he was busy arranging his +weapons for immediate use. The white men were not astonished at this, +for they concluded that he was only preparing himself against danger. +The Indian slowly advanced to a spot that was within fifteen yards of +the hunters, when he again stopped, and commenced shooting his arrows +at them. At first they dodged about, and made signs for him to desist, +as they were friends; but, to their admonitions he paid not the least +attention. Several of the missiles had come near causing them bodily +injury. After a time, forbearance ceased to be a virtue. Raising his +rifle, one of the men fired; when, to use mountaineer parlance, the +Indian "went under." + +What could have been the foolhardy ideas of this warrior that +compelled him to take such a course as he did, not one of the party, +when they were informed of the adventure, could conjecture; but, a +fact it is, that he lost his life and his scalp by his indiscretion. +In due time the command reached the Sacramento River, and were +proceeding on the trail down that stream, when they came to a +point, not far from a deep canon, the sides of which were almost +perpendicular and composed of cragged rocks. Fremont decided not to +pass through this deep gorge, but instead, to travel around it; and +he did so by crossing the river. It proved afterwards to be a very +fortunate change; for, their old enemies, the Tlamath Indians, had +concealed themselves there, thinking, as a matter of course, that the +white men would keep the trail. Seeing that the white men were +not coming into the ambuscade laid for them, the Indians became so +disappointed that they boldly ventured forth from their hiding-places. +A few, more daring than the rest, advanced into open ground, when +Carson, Godey, and another member of the party, made a dash at them. +They all ran except one warrior, and as the charging party were +mounted on mules, they made but poor progress in overtaking them. +The one Indian who, apparently, had resolved to make war on his own +account, concealed himself behind a rock, strung his bow, putting +several arrows in his mouth, and thus awaited the advance of his foes. +Kit Carson and Godey soon came within shooting distance, when he began +to let fly his arrows, and kept it up so briskly, that the men dodged +about, without being able to do anything else for some moments. At +last, wearying of this dangerous sport, Kit Carson dismounted, and +crept around until he obtained a good sight at the Indian; when, he +drew up his rifle, fired, and sent a bullet through his heart. From +this dead brave, Kit Carson took a beautifully wrought bow and +quiver, which still contained a large number of arrows, and which he +presented, on rejoining the party, to Lieutenant Gillespie. It is a +pity that such a brave man as this savage was, should have met with +such an inglorious death; but, it was his own seeking, for he had +attacked the wrong persons. Another twenty-four hours now passed by +without any further annoyance from the Indians; who, notwithstanding +the late forcible instruction they had received, still continued to +hover around, and follow after the exploring party. On encamping +the next evening, after Kit Carson had killed the Indian, as above +described, the party found themselves entirely destitute of anything +to eat, although they were very hungry. Game had, all at once, become +very scarce, as the hunters whose turn it was to be out that day, had +returned unsuccessful. Two more men were then sent out, in hopes that +by perseverance they might find something. They had not proceeded far +before they discovered an Indian watching their camp, as if awaiting +a favorable opportunity to make a descent on the animals. Step (one +of these hunters) crept unperceived by the red man until he was within +range of his rifle, when he fired, and killed the would-be thief. +No other game could be found, so the hunters returned, and the whole +party retired to rest supperless, and arose the next morning to fast +again. That day, however, they found and killed some game, and for the +time being, their appetites were once more appeased. Fremont was now +on his way to Peter Lawson's Fort, where he arrived safely, after +several days of hard traveling. At this place the party rested +for about one week; but the desire to have an active share in the +approaching hostilities, caused Fremont to delay no longer than was +absolutely necessary; hence, he started and went to a point lower down +on the Sacramento, known to the mountaineers under the name of the +Buttes. Here, a camp was made, and here Fremont had decided to wait +positive orders concerning the war; and, until these instructions +should arrive, he employed his men in hunting. After several days +spent in this way, he began to weary of inactivity. He thought that, +in all probability, war had commenced; and, finally, he decided to +take the responsibility of sending a part of his force to surprise +Sonoma--a Mexican military post that had but a weak garrison. This the +party accomplished to the entire satisfaction of their commander. They +captured and made prisoners of war at this fort, one general and two +captains, besides taking several cannon and quite a quantity of small +arms. It was about this time that news reached Fremont which convinced +him that hostilities had already commenced, and that both countries +were taking active measures to carry the war on with vigor. He set out +immediately, on the receipt of this information, and joined his detail +of men at Sonoma. During his stay at this fort, General Castro +sent one of his captains, with a large force of Mexicans, from San +Francisco, with orders to drive the Americans out of the country. This +command came, and accidentally fell upon and butchered two men whom +Fremont had sent out as messengers to inform all American settlers +that Sonoma had been taken by him, and that thither they could fly +for safety. The gallant Mexican captain, on seeing and hearing that +Fremont's forces were anxious to meet him, becoming disheartened, +began to retreat, and was pursued by the exploring party. For six days +they thus followed the retreating enemy, whose courage had evidently +deserted them though they had triple the force of their pursuers. So +hot was the chase, that the Mexicans deserted many of their animals, +which, as a matter of course, fell into the hands of the Americans. +Fremont, on finding that he could not overtake the enemy, returned +to Sonoma. The captain, with his Mexican command, as was afterwards +learned, did not remain at San Francisco. No doubt he did not like +to trust himself within reach of Fremont, for he continued his march +until he reached the Pueblo of Los Angelos, where he was rejoined by +General Castro, who reorganized the forces and assumed the command +himself. The exploring party had now become a military expedition, and +around this nucleus the Americans, then in California, flocked to +pour out their vengeance against their country's foes. Having quite +a little army at his disposal, Fremont left a strong detachment at +Sonoma, and departed with the rest of his command for Sutter's Fort. +On arriving there, he placed the fort under military rule, and left +his prisoners, General Vallejos and the two captains, who had been +captured at Sonoma. Also an American by the name of Lace, who was a +brother-in-law to General Vallejos, and whose predilections appeared +to lean in favor of the Mexican side. With all his mountain men, +including Kit Carson, Fremont then took up his line of march towards +Monterey, for the purpose of attacking and taking possession of the +town; but, this movement had been anticipated by Commodore Sloat and +the American squadron. Soon after Fremont's arrival at Monterey +(where he was very kindly received by the commodore and his officers), +Commodore Sloat left the country, and the command devolved upon +Commodore Stockton. + +A consultation having been held among the officers, it was the +prevailing opinion that it would be impossible to overtake and engage +the Mexicans by following them up on land; therefore Fremont asked for +a ship to take his force to San Diego, where he could obtain animals +and march on to Los Angelos. The United States vessel Cyane, under +the command of Capt. Dupont, was furnished him for this undertaking by +Commodore Stockton. In four days time the party arrived at San Diego, +where they landed. They there parted with the ship and the gallant +captain, with many pleasant reminiscences of their short voyage. At +San Diego, Fremont found himself at the head of about one hundred +and fifty men, which was not a very strong force to be in an enemy's +country with, especially so far from their homes as they were. +However, nearly every man was a veteran in war, and the whole body +felt themselves invincible, which was a source of great consolation +to their leader. From San Diego, parties of the command were sent +to scour the neighboring country, in order to bring in a sufficient +number of horses to mount the men. This being accomplished, Fremont +set out for Los Angelos, where the Governor and Gen. Castro had a +force of seven hundred men at their disposal. These officials, with +their soldiers, on learning the near approach of the Americans, broke +up and fled, most of them taking the road to Sonora, while the balance +scattered, not apparently caring where they went, as long as they did +not come in contact with the Americans. Fremont marched within about +one league of the town, and encamped to await, as had been previously +agreed upon, the arrival of Commodore Stockton, who soon joined him +at this place with a party of sailors and marines, "As fine a body of +men," says Kit Carson, "as ever I looked upon." + +When the two commands had been consolidated, they marched direct for +Los Angelos, which they easily captured, as its would-be defenders had +some days before deserted it. In this town the command was quartered +for some time; but, as it is our intention to follow the career of +Kit Carson, who, shortly after their arrival, had been detailed +for important duty, which placed him in new scenes; hence, we are +necessitated to take leave of affairs as they transpired there, and +hereafter revert to them casually as they connect with our narrative. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + + Kit Carson is sent Overland as Bearer of Dispatches + to Washington--The Preparation and the Start--The + Journey--Privations and Sufferings--Meeting with General + Kearney--The General takes Carson as his Guide and sends on + the Dispatches by Fitzpatrick--The March--Arrival at Warner's + Ranche--Mexicans on the Road--Preparations for a Battle--The + Battle--Disastrous Consequences--Kit Carson and Lieutenant + Beale offer to run the lines of the Mexican Sentinels + and carry Information to San Diego of Kearney's critical + position--The Daring Undertaking--The Sufferings + they encountered--Their Arrival--Reinforcements sent + out--Lieutenant Beale is Delirious from the Privations he has + undergone--Gen. Kearney and his Command finally reach and join + the other American Forces in California. + + +On the 15th day of September, 1846, Kit Carson was placed in the +command of fifteen men, with orders to make an overland journey to +Washington, as bearer of very important dispatches. + +At the time of which we write, there was no steam communication, as +now, _via_ the two great oceans, consequently, the intercourse between +our brave countrymen in California and the government at Washington +was attended with extreme difficulty. Fortunately, Fremont had in Kit +Carson just the man to make such a journey through an enemy's country. + +Kit Carson was instructed to use his utmost endeavors to make the +journey in sixty days, which was no small undertaking, when we +consider the great distance to be traveled over and the obstacles that +lay in his path; he undertook it, however, with a determination not to +be easily frustrated. + +By judicious management and watchfulness, Kit was making good +progress, and had reached a point within two days' travel of the +Copper Mines in New Mexico without being in any way annoyed. Here he +came into full view of a village of Apache Indians, who were then, as +they nearly ever since have been, at war with the Americans. He had +been discovered by these Indians, and there was but one true way to +act, which was not to show the white feather by attempting to evade +them. Fremont's dispatch bearer had not the least idea of that; he +was too well schooled in Indian stratagem to be out-manoeuvered, so he +rode on as if nothing had happened until he came to some timber that +lay within one hundred yards of their village, when he halted. At +first the Indians were disconcerted at the boldness of the whites, +and were showing it by hurrying to and fro, either for the purpose +of leaving or to be better prepared to offer fight. On arriving near +enough so to do, Kit Carson called to the savages and informed them +that his party were friends and wished a parley. To this an assent was +given, when Kit made them understand that he and his men were simply +travelers, en route for New Mexico; that they carried the olive branch +of peace with them, and had come among them bearing it, in the hopes +of being able to exchange their fatigued animals for others that were +fresh. With this the Indians were satisfied; therefore, Carson chose a +camping-ground for himself and men, and selected the site so that they +could best contend against the treachery of the red men, should they +attempt any. When the camp was arranged, the Indians were allowed to +come in; and, soon after, the trading commenced, which proved to be +very successful, for the men obtained very good riding animals in +place of their old ones. Their intercourse with this band of Apaches +closed early the next day, when both parties bid each other good bye +on the most friendly terms. + +A few days more of travel brought Kit Carson and his men to the first +Mexican settlement which then stood in their road. Their arrival in +the town happened very opportunely, having for the past few days been +suffering severely from hunger. They had started from California with +but a small stock of dried meat and corn, not being able conveniently +to carry more without impeding their progress; therefore, they were +left to depend on their rifles. Game they found to be scarce; and, in +a short time, their meat was expended. Being reduced to the corn, +they were, as a matter of necessity, very sparing of it. The maize was +parched, and for several days they derived their entire subsistence +from it; though, on account of the short allowance, they but poorly +satiated their appetites. About the time succor appeared to them in +the shape of this Mexican town, even the maize was nearly used up. +They were delighted to reach a place where they would be able to +replenish their provisions. It was well known to their commander that, +as a _dernier resort_, he could kill and live upon his riding animals, +but in so doing, he would cripple his means so much, that the business +he was on might prove a failure. While so much depended on it, he felt +that he ought not to leave any other means untried before resorting to +such a procedure. It was true, the Mexicans at that time were at +war; but, there were scattered over New Mexico, in almost every town, +former friends of Kit Carson, who would, he felt confident, serve him +in the hour of trial. At the first ranche they came to, they halted +and made a rest of two or three days, while Kit employed himself +in purchasing supplies, in which he succeeded beyond even his +expectations. + +It was while obeying instructions, in traveling as fast as possible, +that one day, the sixth of October, 1846, the party discerned +something which, at first, looked like a mere speck moving on the +prairies. Watching it with intense anxiety, the little speck increased +in size until they saw it emerge, as it were, from the apparent +junction of the heavens with the earth, and form a visible line; as +the front of this column came nearer to view, they discovered that +it was a strong detachment of United States troops. The truth was now +evident to them all that this was an expedition sent out by government +to operate in California. Spurring on their animals, Kit and his men +soon met the advance guard of the soldiers and learned that their +commander was Gen. Kearney, who was further back in the lines. On +coming to the general, Kit Carson reported himself, informed him +of the business he was on, and also furnished him with all the +intelligence in his power in reference to the disposal of the American +forces in California, besides detailing to him what had already been +accomplished in that quarter. + +After due deliberation, Gen. Kearney determined to send Mr. +Fitzpatrick on to Washington with the dispatches and to order Kit +Carson to join him as guide. In fulfilling this duty, he well knew +that Kit would be invaluable to him. Acting on this decision, he +sent for Kit Carson and informed him of what he wished him to do. Kit +Carson replied, "As the general thinks best." The fact was, that Kit +well knew he could be of great service to the command, and he was too +honest not to confess it, though he was now nearly in reach of his +happy home and its loved inmates, from whom he had been so long +separated and whom he fondly wished to see. In facing about, Kit took +upon his shoulders the prospect of encountering fearful dangers; but, +he undertook his new duties without allowing a murmur to escape his +lips, and without even asking additional pay; though, had he but +mentioned it, the general could not have well refused the demand. A +noble motive engrossed Kit Carson's mind. He has ever labored to win +and wear the confidence and respect of his countrymen, being ambitious +to leave a name behind him that shall be an honor to his friends and +family. + +On the eighteenth day of October, 1846, General Kearney and his +command left the Rio Del Norte, in New Mexico. The services of Kit +Carson in directing the route, proved the wisdom of General Kearney +in making the change in the bearers of dispatches. So true was Kit +Carson's guidance, that the command traveled with so much dispatch as +to reach Warner's Ranche, in California, on the third day of December +following. From this place it took up a line of march for San Diego. + +While on their march, news was brought in by their spies that a strong +command of Mexican Californians had taken up a position on their +route, evidently awaiting their advance with the view of attacking +them. This occurred on the sixth day of the same month. General +Kearney made no change in his route, but advanced to within fifteen +miles of the enemy's encampment. Here he commanded a halt. A +reconnoitering party, consisting of fifteen dragoons, commanded by +Lieutenant Hammond, was sent on in advance to note the position and +force of the enemy. He proceeded upon the duty, but was discovered +by the Mexicans. Nevertheless, he fortunately succeeded in making his +observations previous to being seen. His report to General Kearney, +among other facts, stated that these Mexican soldiers had strongly +established themselves in an Indian village. + +General Kearney determined, without delay to attack them. Orders were +given to resume the march; and, by one o'clock the next morning the +American soldiers had fastened all their packs on their mules, and +were themselves mounted and ready for the command to move. The order +came without delay, and the little army was immediately in motion. +Fourteen miles of the space which separated the two parties were +passed without interruption. When within one mile of the Mexican +position, the advance guard of the Americans suddenly came upon a +small advance guard of the Mexicans, who were evidently posted +to watch their approach and guard the road. As soon as they were +discovered, the trumpets of the dragoons sounded, in quick succession, +the orders to trot, and to gallop. The Americans were so prompt in +making their charge that they came upon the Mexicans, when a sharp +skirmish ensued, in which several of the enemy were killed. The +remainder of the outpost were driven in, bearing the news of the +attack to their friends. Captain Johnson, Kit Carson and fifteen +American soldiers formed the attacking party in this affair. They had +been ordered to secure the loose animals belonging to the enemy. In +this they failed, the animals being too strongly guarded, and because, +upon the first alarm, they were driven out of harm's way. + +This attack, however, proved to be the commencement of a serious +fight. Seeing that his orders could not be obeyed in regard to the +animals of the enemy, Captain Johnson and his party joined a party +under Captain Moore. The force of the latter consisted of twenty-five +American volunteers from California, who had attached themselves to +General Kearney's command since its arrival in the country. Moore's +command also comprised parts of two companies of United States +dragoons. Captain Moore had been ordered to make an attack on the +centre of the enemy, in order to cut their forces in two, and thereby +cause confusion in their ranks. As has been stated, Captain Johnson, +with his little force, joined Captain Moore in making this attack. +While the charge was in progress, and when within one hundred yards of +the Mexican camp, Kit Carson's horse, occupying a leading position in +the column of attack, accidentally fell, and threw his rider with such +force as to break the wood part, or stock, of his rifle into several +pieces, rendering it useless. His position, for a short time, was +precarious. Being foremost in the charge when the accident happened, +the whole troop of horse came galloping over him as he lay upon the +ground. His escape was almost a miracle. When the last horseman had +passed, Kit arose, and was quite happy to find that he had received +only slight contusions, which did not in the least impair his +movements or strength of body. Casting a hasty glance over the field, +he discovered a dead dragoon, not far distant from the spot where +he himself had fallen. Instantly running up to the poor fellow, he +relieved him of his gun and cartridge-box. Being once more armed, he +rushed forward at the top of his speed and plunged into the thickest +of the fight, which was then severely contested. Captain Johnson and +several of the more advanced soldiers had been killed by the bullets +of the enemy, almost at the same instant that Kit Carson's horse had +fallen. It is not at all unlikely, therefore, that the accidental +falling of his horse had been the means of saving Kit Carson's life. +After a desperate and deadly conflict, Moore and his men dislodged the +enemy, causing them to retreat. They were followed by the Americans, +but, unfortunately for their complete success, the large majority of +the latter were mounted on mules. These, when the firing commenced, +became almost unmanageable. But forty of the entire command of General +Kearney were mounted on horses, and these were none the best for +cavalry purposes, having been but recently broken to the saddle. They +had been captured since the arrival of the American forces in the +country, from a party of Mexicans, who were en route to Sonora, by +Lieutenant Davidson and twenty-five dragoons, assisted by Kit Carson. +By the uncontrollable actions of the stubborn mules, Moore's men +became greatly separated and could not act in concert. This rendered +the pursuit, so far as the enemy was concerned, nearly harmless. + +The Mexicans, quickly perceiving the condition of their assailants, +and comprehending the chances, which the apparent difficulty gave +them, at once rallied and turned on their pursuers. The fight was +renewed with most determined courage. The Mexicans fought with a +bravery and success which turned the hitherto, comparatively speaking, +bloodless victory of the Americans, into a terrible slaughter. Every +moment saw some brave dragoon yield up his life to the deadly bullets +or blows of the exasperated Mexicans. Out of the forty dragoons who +were mounted on horses, thirty-six were either killed or severely +wounded. Among the names to be added to the sad list already killed, +was Captain Moore, "as brave a man," says Kit Carson, "as ever drew +breath in any service." As fast as the scattered American soldiers +could reach the scene of carnage, they joined in the battle; but, the +Mexicans, elated by their success, fought like demons, and seemed to +sweep everything before them. + +General Kearney, seeing his officers thus shot down, drawing his +sword, placed himself at the head of his remaining forces; and, though +severely wounded, he made a desperate attempt to cause the enemy, +once more, to retreat. At this crisis of affairs, Lieutenant Davidson +arrived on the ground with two mountain howitzers. Before he could get +his guns unlimbered and ready to commence firing, nearly every man he +had to work them was shot down, being either killed or badly wounded. +Following up their success, the Mexicans charged right up to the guns, +and, with the lasso, unerring in their hands, captured the horses +attached to, and, on the instant, made off with one of the guns. On +reaching a distance of three hundred yards, they halted and prepared +to turn the fire of the howitzer upon the Americans. From some +unaccountable reason, it would not go off. Lieutenant Davidson did +his utmost to prevent the loss of this gun, and after several narrow +escapes from dangerous lance wounds, as his clothing and saddle +sufficiently attested, he was finally stricken down, and nearly gave +his life a sacrifice to his heroism. + +After being thus badly cut up, and with not more than one or two +officers left who had not been either killed or wounded, while the men +had been handled with equal severity, the Americans were obliged to +take refuge at a point of rocks which chanced to be near where +their advance had been defeated. A rally was made at this place. The +Mexicans, however, did not venture to attack them. Both sides were +apparently weary of fighting for that day. The firing ceased, and soon +after, night closed over the scene of the battle field. + +These California Mexicans, previous to the war with the United States, +were considered by the mountaineers as the bravest Spanish blood in +the Mexican provinces. During the war, they proved that they had not +been over-estimated, as they met their foes, at the commencement of +hostilities, with a determination to win, or sell their lives dearly. +The reason of this difference of courage in their favor over their +countrymen who inhabited the internal States, is supposed to be owing +to their opportunities for intercourse with the bold mariners from +different countries who visited them in ships for the purpose of +trade. This commerce consisted in the transporting into the country of +such articles as arms, ammunition, groceries, and dry goods, for which +were bartered, hides, tallow, and furs. The currency of California +at that time was hides, which were estimated as so many dollars. The +raising of cattle and horses was the leading employment of the people, +and occupied most of their time. On the discovery of gold, these +affairs underwent a change, and the rapid strides of civilization has +left this people far in the minority. The horses of California were +celebrated as being larger than the ponies of New Mexico, and also for +being much fleeter of foot. The California rider, at that time, +was looked upon as being unrivaled by those who had witnessed his +performances. However, the intercourse between the two countries was +very limited among the Mexicans, and it was difficult to find a New +Mexican who had seen the Pacific. Their dialects were also slightly +different, as much so as happens in the dependencies of any other +country. It was fear of the Indians that put a damper on the travel +between these adjoining districts. The society of the man who had +had the boldness to make a journey to California from New Mexico was +courted, he being considered a renowned traveler. His amusing stories +of large ships and the men who managed them, and also, of the great +expanse of the ocean, amazed his auditors and made them deeply +interested in his conversation and information. It has become a +strange sight to look upon whole communities of men, who have +only heard of steamboats, telegraphs, railroads and other great +improvements and inventions of the age, yet there are thousands of men +living in the great interior of the North American continent who +have only vague ideas of these things; and many there are, who cannot +realize them, but believe that they are fabulous stories, and will +meet the narrator of them with equal wonders, which they manufacture +to suit the occasion. To give a specimen: we remember one night to +have tried to explain these advancements to an old Mexican of some +eighty winters, while we were the guest of his house. He listened +attentively, but evidently could comprehend but little that we said. +We changed the subject, and began to describe to him the great beasts +of the forest, such as the lion, the tiger, and the elephant, and soon +found that we had struck the theme which pleased him. In reply, he +told us that in his younger days he himself was a famous hunter; and +that, on one occasion, while on the chase, he met _Adam_, who, he +informed us, was the greatest hunter of his age. We were somewhat +surprised to hear this old man thus annihilate time and space, but +not more so than when we heard him relate the conversation that passed +between himself and Adam. It was both short and sweet. The Mexican +demanded of Adam what was the particular game he was seeking in these +parts, and the reply was deer. He said that he wished to kill a few +choice bucks, in order to get their skins to clothe _Eve_ with, and +hence he had come to the Rocky Mountains. The flavor of this yarn +was so good, I attempted to try the old man on another adventure, by +asking him if he ever, by chance, in his travels, met the _Evil One_. +Immediately, he informed me that at one time, that gentleman lived in +a salt marsh, which is to be found in the valley of _San Louis_. The +object of his staying there was to watch a very fine band of horses +which he was raising near by. The Indians and Mexicans one day +determined to deprive Satan of his stock, and arranged things +accordingly; but, on coming upon the horses, they were surprised +to find that they could not overtake them, and that the horses ran +directly into the swamp and vanished by easily sinking out of sight. +While looking for a path that led into this marsh, they were all +at once scared nearly out of their senses by seeing the devil raise +himself up in the midst of the bog. The sequel was, that the Mexicans +and their Indian friends retreated as fast as possible, and never +stopped until they had reached a place of safety. My companions became +vexed to think any man could perpetrate such a story on travelers, who +considered they knew a thing or two, and commenced quizzing the old +gentleman by asking him what the Indians knew of Satan; but the old +Mexican evaded the answer by taking down the little wooden cross which +hung on the wall of the room and expressed the desire to confirm the +truth of his story by swearing to it; this, of course, was said to be +entirely unnecessary. From it, we had learned the lesson never to try +to impress on the minds of the ignorant too weighty matters. This is +true with the Indian also; for, he is incredulous of anything beyond +the grasp of his own mind; which fact is illustrated by the following +incident. An American had some business to transact with a certain +band of Indians, who were celebrated as being very treacherous. Being +a bold man, he thought he would beard the lions in their den, and +accordingly, traveled alone to where the band was located; but, +instead of being received with open arms, as he expected, he was made +a prisoner, and so held until it could be decided what was to be done +with him. At last, a council was formed, before which he was to be +tried. The first question asked by the head chief was, "How do your +white people get gunpowder?" The reply was instantaneous: "We sow it +in a peculiar soil and it grows up like wheat." This was responded to +by a grunt from the examiner. A pause ensued, when the chief looked +the captive full in the eyes, and thus addressed him: "Know you, young +man, that the Great Spirit came into our camp this morning, and after +resting a short time he took yonder large hill and placed it on the +top of its fellow, and after leaving it there two hours, he returned +it to its former site. He then bid his Indian children good bye. Young +man, your tongue is split: one fork is for telling lies, and the other +is for telling truths." This was enough to convince the white man that +he had made a mistake, and, that if he had attempted to presume on too +much knowledge, his scalp might soon be dangling on some lodge-pole. +The Indians admired the brave and manly course he had pursued in +coming to them single-handed, and this, with the importance of the +business he came on, saved his life. + +The California Mexicans were so remote from their capital, that, +although they acknowledged their allegiance to the general government, +yet they were accustomed, in many things, to act with great +independence. Whenever a governor was sent to them who would not +conform to their rules and regulations, or made himself in the least +obnoxious, he was immediately placed on board ship, with orders to +take himself out of the country as fast as possible, which he never +failed to obey, in order to save his life. Attempts were made by the +home department to make them suffer for these disobediences of the +general laws, but, in all of these contests, the Californians came +out victorious, and hence they believed they were beyond the power of +being vanquished. They were taught differently by the Americans. + +These few cursory remarks will serve to show the reader that General +Kearney had no despicable foe to overcome and subdue. His care now +was to attend to the wounded. There was no rest for his command that +night, as, during the hours of darkness, his men were busy interring +their dead and looking after the wants of the sufferers. A sharp +look-out, also, was kept on the movements of the enemy, who were +continually receiving reinforcements. A council of war was held in +the American camp, when Gen. Kearney, after taking the advice of his +remaining officers, decided to move on early in the morning, with the +hope of meeting reinforcements. He had dispatched three men as bearers +of dispatches to Commodore Stockton at San Diego before the battle; +but, whether they had been successful, or not, in reaching the +commodore, the general did not know. Just before the late fight, they +had returned to within sight of their friends, when they were taken +prisoners by the Mexicans. The order of the march on the following +day was as follows: Kit Carson, with a command of twenty-five men, +proceeded in the advance, while the remainder, of the now very much +crippled band of soldiers, followed after on the trail made by their +guide. Steadily and compactly these brave men moved forward, being +continually in expectancy of a charge from the enemy, who would show +themselves, from time to time, on the neighboring hills, and then +again, for a time, disappear. During the previous day, a Mexican +lieutenant had his horse shot from under him and he himself had been +taken prisoner. On a favorable opportunity occurring, General Kearney +ordered the "halt" to be sounded; when, through a flag of truce, he +asked a parley. It being granted, he succeeded in making an exchange +of the lieutenant for one of his expressmen. He gained nothing by +this, for the man stated that he and his companions had found it +impossible to reach their point of destination, and hence they had +turned back. The manoeuvering on the part of the Mexicans, which we +have alluded to as consisting of making temporary stands on the hills, +and then changing their positions as the Americans drew near to them, +continued for the greater part of the day. Finally, as Gen. Kearney +and his men were approaching the water, where they, intended to camp, +and were not over five hundred yards from it, down came the Mexicans, +divided into two separate commands, for the purpose of making a +charge. They were at first warmly received by the Americans, who, +after a time, were obliged to give way to superior numbers; but, in +doing so, they retreated in good order to a hill about two hundred +yards to their left. Here they halted and determined to decide the +battle; but the wary Mexicans, on seeing the strength of the position +taken by their foes, declined to attack them and drew off to a +neighboring height, from which they commenced and maintained a +deadly fire on the Americans. Captains Emery and Turner, with all +the available dragoons, were sent to dislodge them. This they did in +splendid style, after a sharp encounter, and when their companions saw +them take possession of this position, General Kearney, with all +his wounded and luggage trains, joined them there. Here a permanent +resting-place, for the time being, was made. In fact, the men had +no other choice, as they were now pretty effectually used up from +fighting, severe loss and fatigue. The Americans found on this hill +water barely sufficient for their own use, and were obliged to exclude +the idea of sharing it with their animals. Although within sight of +abundance of this much-needed article, yet they did not dare to drive +the latter to it, for they were too weak to defend them from the +assaults of the enemy. The situation of Gen. Kearney's force was now +critical in the extreme; as, besides the dangers that surrounded him, +the men were reduced to living on their mules. That afternoon another +council of war was called, at which desperate efforts to be made for +immediate relief were discussed. When every spark of hope had almost +died within them, and when they were in a dilemma as to what still +remained for them to do, Kit Carson was found to act as the reader +has previously seen him act to parties almost similarly situated--the +right man in the right place. Rising to his feet, he addressed a few +simple words to those present, saying that he was willing to make the +attempt of creeping through the Mexican lines. Should he succeed, he +pledged his word that he could carry information to Commodore Stockton +at San Diego, and thus bring them succor. No sooner had he made this +proposition than he was seconded by Lieutenant Beale, then of the +United States Navy, who, equally as brave and daring as Kit Carson, +volunteered his services in the undertaking. + +This gentleman, since the time he first turned landsman up to the +present date, has been adding fresh laurels to his fame. His recent +career in exploring new routes across the great western girdle of +prairies and mountains is so well known through his valuable and +interesting reports as not to require recapitulation at our hands. His +life has been one series of rare adventures; while, to the scientific +world, he has proved a valuable acquisition. To the United States +Government his services are inestimable; and, as an explorer, he has +but few equals. + +General Kearney at once accepted the noble and generous offers of +these two men, knowing that if he waited until the following day +and then attempted to leave the hill, the consequences would be most +disastrous; for, in so doing, a sanguinary battle must certainly +ensue, with the chances greatly against him. Having made the few +preparations necessary, Kit Carson and Lieutenant Beale waited the +setting in of night, under the cover of which they had both resolved +to succeed in the performance of their mission or die in the attempt. +Having got well under way, and while stealthily crawling over the +rocks and brush, they found their shoes would often, even with the +greatest preventive care being taken, strike against the various +impediments to their progress and make sounds which might lead to +their detection. To avoid this, they took them off and pushed them +under their belts. Slowly, but surely, they evaded the vigilant guard +of the Mexican sentinels, who they found to be mounted and three rows +deep, evidently being determined not to be eluded. So near would they +often come to these Mexican sentinels, that but a few yards would +measure the distance between them and their enemies; yet, with brave +hearts they crept along over the ground foot by foot; they were almost +safe beyond these barriers, when all their hopes came near being +dashed to pieces. This alarm was caused by one of the sentinels riding +up near to where they were, dismounting from his horse and lighting, +by his flint and steel, his cigarretto. On seeing this, Kit Carson, +who was just ahead of Lieutenant Beale, pushed back his foot and +kicked softly his companion, as a signal for him to lie flat on the +ground as he (Carson) was doing. The Mexican was some time, being +apparently very much at his leisure, in lighting his cigarretto; and, +during these moments of suspense, so quietly did Kit Carson and his +companion lie on the ground, that Carson said, and still affirms, that +he could distinctly hear Lieutenant Beale's heart pulsate. Who can +describe the agony of mind to which these brave hearts were subjected +during this severe trial. Everything--the lives of their friends as +well as their own--so hung on chance, that they shuddered; not at the +thought of dying, but for fear they would fail in accomplishing what +was dearer to them than life, the rescue of the brave men whose lives +hung on their success. After quite a long time, the Mexican, as if +guided by the hand of Providence, mounted his horse and made off in +a contrary direction from the one where these bold adventurers were +biding their time to accept either good, if possible, or evil, if +necessary, from the wheel of fortune. For a distance of about two +miles, Kit Carson and Lieutenant Beale thus worked along on their +hands and knees. Continually, during this time, Kit Carson's eagle eye +was penetrating through the darkness, ever on the alert to discover +whatever obstacle that might present itself on which was stamped the +least appearance of danger. Having passed the last visible image in +the shape of a sentinel and left the lines behind them at a suitable +distance, both men regained their feet, and once more breathed freely. +Their first thought was to look for their shoes, but, alas, they were +gone. In the excitement of the journey, they had not given them a +thought since depositing them beneath their belts. Hardly a word had +hitherto passed between these two companions in danger, but now they +spoke hurriedly and congratulated each other on the success that so +far had attended them, and thanked God in their hearts that He had so +mercifully aided them. There was no time for delay, as they were by +no means yet free from danger, though they thought that the worst +was over. Kit Carson was familiar with the country, and well knew +the necessity of avoiding, for fear of being discovered, all the well +trodden trails and roads which led to San Diego, every one of which +was closely watched by the enemy. He chose a circuitous route, over +rocks, hills and wild lands. The soil was lined with the prickly pear, +the thorns of which were penetrating, at almost every step, deep into +their bare feet, which, owing to the darkness and the thickness of the +plants, they could not avoid. The town of San Diego was located many +miles in a straight line from the point from whence they had started, +but, by the round-about route they were obliged to travel, this +distance was much lengthened. All the following day they continued +their tramp and made as much progress as possible. Their mental +excitement kept them in good spirits, though, from previous fatigue, +the want of food during this time, and by the rapid pace at which they +were traveling, they were putting their physical powers to their full +test. Another night closed in around them, yet "ONWARD" was their +watchword, for they thought not of rest while those behind them were +in such imminent peril. Kit Carson's only compass was his eye, which +served him so well that soon the dark outlines of the houses of San +Diego could just be discerned. Both men were ready to leap with joy. +They were challenged by the American sentinels about the town, +and answered in pure English, "Friends," which same English was +unmistakable proof to the guard from whence they came. On stating +their important business, they were conducted into the presence +of Commodore Stockton, to whom they related what we have tried to +describe. Commodore Stockton, with his usual promptitude, immediately +detailed a command of about one hundred and seventy men to make forced +marches in order to reach and relieve their besieged countrymen. With +as much dispatch as possible, this force set out, taking with them +a piece of heavy ordnance, which, for want of animals, the men +themselves were obliged to draw, by attaching ropes to it. Kit Carson +did not return with them, for it was considered that he had seen +service enough for the present; besides, his feet were badly swollen +and inflamed from the rough usage they had recently been obliged to +submit to. He graphically described the position of Gen. Kearney, +so that the relief party could have no difficulty in finding him. He +remained to recruit in San Diego; though, had the commodore expressed +the least wish to have Kit Carson return, every man who knows him +can bear witness with me that he would have been the last person to +object, so long as there was life in his body. Unused then to such +hardships and mental excitements on land, as was his more experienced +companion, Lieutenant Beale, from the trials of the service performed, +became partially deranged; and for treatment, was sent on board the +frigate Congress, which ship lay in the harbor, being one of the +vessels attached to the commodore's fleet. Two long years elapsed +before the gallant lieutenant fully recovered from the effects of this +adventure, which, for the bravery and unselfishness evinced in its +planning, and the boldness with which it was carried out, without +mentioning the good results it produced, was not excelled by any one +feat performed during the Mexican War. Better than all, had these +two men known previously the poor rewards which were afterwards to +be bestowed upon them by their government for this heroic deed, I +hesitate not in saying, that it would have had no effect in changing +their purpose. The reinforcements sent out to meet General Kearney, +by traveling both by day and night, soon reached and released him, +without coming in contact with the enemy. They kept a bright look-out +and were early apprised, through their spies, of what was transpiring +among the Americans; hence, as the naval brigade drew near, they +retreated. The road being now clear, General Kearney, with his +soldiers and the marines, marched on to San Diego, where his wounded +men were comfortably housed and received the attentions of skillful +surgeons. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + + A Command of Six Hundred Men is sent against Los Angelos--The + Mexican Army evacuates the Town--Its Capture--Rumors of + an Attack to be made on Fremont's Command--The Mexicans + surrender--The Winter Quarters--Kit Carson is ordered to + carry Dispatches overland to Washington--Lieutenant Beale + accompanies him--A Night Attack made by the Indians--Arrival + in the United States--Kit Carson's Introduction to Col. + Benton and Mrs. Fremont--Hospitality offered to him at + Washington--Kit Carson receives the Appointment of Lieutenant + in the Rifle Corps of the U.S. Army from President Polk--He + is ordered to carry Dispatches to California--The Journey--A + Brush with the Camanche Indians--Arrival at Santa + Fe--More trouble with hostile Indians--Arrival at Los + Angelos--Dispatches delivered--Kit Carson is assigned to do + Duty with the Dragoons--Is ordered to Guard Tajon Pass--The + Winter spent there--Is ordered again to carry Dispatches to + Washington--The Journey and its Adventures--The return to New + Mexico. + + +One month elapsed before the forces of the United States that were +concentrated at San Diego were entirely recruited, and in fine trim +for taking the field again. At the expiration of this time, a command +of six hundred men was detailed for the purpose of capturing Los +Angelos. The commanding officers of this force were General Kearney +and Commodore Stockton. At Los Angelos was assembled the main strength +of the Mexicans then in California; the number of their fighting men +was about seven hundred. Towards this town the Americans took up their +line of march, and, in the course of a few days, they arrived within +fifteen miles of it. The Mexican forces had taken a strong position +on a hill, near by where they had pitched their tents and strongly +fortified their camp. Between the Americans' and the enemy's camp +ran a small river. It was decided to postpone the attack until the +following day. Early the next morning, General Kearney ordered two +pieces of artillery to be brought to bear upon the Mexican position. +The guns were so well and successfully served, that the Mexicans were +forced to break up their camp. As soon as this state of things became +apparent, General Kearney and Commodore Stockton crossed the river and +marched on the town. On entering Los Angelos, they found that it +had been evacuated by the Mexicans, and that only a few stragglers +remained in or near the place. From some of these they learned that +the retreating army had gone to attack Col. Fremont; who, with a force +of four hundred Americans collected in Monterey, was also on the march +for Los Angelos. It turned out afterwards that the Mexicans succeeded +in finding Col. Fremont, but, for unknown reasons, failed to give him +battle, as they had boasted they would; but instead, they gave him the +preference over the other American commanders by surrendering to him. +Col. Fremont continued his journey, and finally reached Los Angelos, +where he and all the officers and men heretofore spoken of as engaged +in this campaign, rested for the winter, and managed to pass the time +very agreeably, considering their remote position. Carson, who had, +for a great length of time, been rendering valuable services to +Kearney, rejoined Fremont, when that officer arrived in town, and once +more enrolled himself on his old commander's muster roll. + +We have said that the cold and dreary winter days were passed at Los +Angelos as agreeably and happily as the circumstances of the case +would permit. This is only true to a certain extent. It was at Los +Angelos, and during this winter, that the seeds of discord were first +sown between the rival commanders, and the plot carefully laid, +which finally led to Colonel Fremont's court martial. Rank, with its +green-eyed monster, jealousy, which is ever watching with a restless +and caustic determination to snatch from the subaltern his hard-earned +laurels, was actively at work during these winter months. By the +programme, cut and dried, the ambitious young soldier, who was nobly +breasting the conflicts against the enemies of his country, was to +be summarily put down, and his career quickly guillotined. These +ungenerous plans had their birth and were carefully fostered at Los +Angelos; but, the wise decrees of the American people, ever just in +the cause of truth, although tardy, came at last to the rescue, and +stamped the course with its approval and complete indorsement which +had led the bold Explorer to unfurl the standard of his country over +the modern El Dorado. In this view the course of the Mexican forces +at Los Angelos in surrendering their swords to Colonel Fremont becomes +significant. A brave though fallen enemy, seldom fails to admire +a heroic, chivalrous and discreet victor. The choice here plainly +indicated between Colonel Fremont and General Kearney, we repeat, is +sufficiently significant. In Colonel Fremont the fallen chieftains of +the brave Californian-Mexicans discerned all the qualities which make +up true nobility of character. Many of the men under him were well +known to the Mexicans as being upright, honorable and generous. For +many years they had lived among them. Hence we discover the reason of +their preference in laying down their arms in their presence. + +Kit Carson took no active part in these unhappy differences, but, his +simple action in leaving General Kearney's command and reenlisting +under his old commander shows plainly to a discerning public, that he +could not be alienated from his friend by acts of injustice. It also +spoke more significantly than words that he adjudged his friend to +have performed in behalf of his country, meritorious actions and a +great service. Such was Kit Carson's view; and no man was capable of +forming a better judgment in the premises than he. As an occupant of +an inferior rank, he then kept his counsel to himself; the time has +at last arrived when he should fully and appropriately express his +opinion, though that opinion he is well aware has been rendered +entirely unnecessary by the honorable mention since attached to the +name of Fremont by the highest officer in the American service, by +the recommendation to the President of the officers of the court to +commute the sentence, and by the President of the United States in +appointing, unsolicited, the court-martialed Conqueror of California +to the high and important trust of commissioner to run the boundary +line between the United States and Mexico, and finally, by the +spontaneous outburst of enthusiasm which greeted the name of John C. +Fremont, from around the firesides of the American people, when his +name was placed at the head of one of the great political parties of +the nation. + +It is not for or against regulations that these remarks are directed. +The transactions with which they deal have not been forgotten. They +are recorded as historical facts, and, as such, are always open for +investigation or deductions. In the month of March, 1847, Kit Carson +was ordered to carry important dispatches to the war department at +Washington. Lieutenant Beale, who was still a great invalid, was +permitted to accompany him. In order to show the regard which Kit +Carson entertained for this brave officer, and also to portray to the +reader the goodness of heart which has ever been the actuating impulse +in all of Kit Carson's actions, we will give his own words in relating +this part of his adventures. He says: "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 of 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 circumstances. 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 I staid in Washington, which +was more than I had any reason for expecting, and which will never be +forgotten by me." On the river Gila, Kit Carson's party was attacked +by Indians during the night, while they were encamped. These savages +threw a good round number of arrows into the midst of his men, which, +however, did no damage, as, early in the commencement of the assault, +he had directed them to hold up before them their pack-saddles, behind +which they could pretty securely conceal themselves while lying upon +the ground. He also directed the men not to talk, lest they should +indicate their positions. It was very dark, and the Indians, from the +above precautions being taken, were frustrated in their plans. His men +lay very still; and, having previously received the order so to do, +they awaited the near approach of the red men, when they were to use +their rifles as clubs. The reason which made this latter command best +was, because no man could see to shoot; hence, were they to fire at +random, they would only expend their ammunition, a loss they were in +no situation to sustain. However, the Indians became weary of their +shooting after a few hours, and did not hazard a close attack, but +went away to parts unknown. + +Kit Carson and Lieutenant Beale arrived at Washington in the following +June, having accomplished their journey overland, a distance of nearly +4,000 miles, in about three months, a record which shows that they +had not been idle while on the route. With the exception of the Indian +attack sustained on the Gila, they were not again annoyed by the red +men, although, over the vast tract of wild territory which they +had traversed, there roam thousands of savages who often, for the +slightest pretext, and frequently without any reason whatever, will +murder the unsuspecting traveler, as it chances to please them. Hence, +to accomplish this journey, it was not only necessary to know the +direction to shape their course, but also to be familiar with the +haunts and habits of these various tribes, in order to avoid them. All +of this knowledge, Kit Carson, the mainspring of this little party, +was well possessed of, and, as a matter of business, guided himself +and men in a direct and safe course. + +The hardships and privations of this trip were trivial affairs +when compared to most of Kit Carson's previous adventures, and not +considered by him as worthy of mention. Indeed, Kit Carson appears so +hardened in all kinds of vicissitudes, that a man, in his eyes, +must have stood on the brink of death before he has seen much real +suffering; but, probably, if the reader had been one of the members of +this party, he would, unless equally experienced in Western frontier +life, have considered that he had seen something of the world, and the +rough side of it at that. + +It requires no small amount of courage and determination to start out +with but a handful of men to perform the difficult and dangerous task +of threading the American continent from tide to tide, even at the +present epoch; but, eleven years ago, there were few men living who +had ever performed, or were able to perform the feat at all; much less +with the certainty and speed which lay within the power and experience +possessed by Kit Carson. In describing these trips, he now speaks of +them as lightly as a man would after making a journey of a few hundred +miles in a railroad car. He seems to have acted with the idea that +this duty was expected of him, and it required but the official orders +to send him bounding over the country, without regard to obstacles or +dangers. His final object was his destination; which, on reaching, he +was ready to quit at a moment's warning, with as much _sang froid_ as +a Russian courier possesses when doing his master's bidding. Yet so +cautious is he when traveling, that, at first, to a new companion, he +often appears to be wanting in courage. Not a bush, a tree, a rock, +or any other hiding-place on his path, escapes his notice. Towards the +heavens, in search of smoke ascending from, or crows, as they hover +about Indian encampments which are deserted, or for ravens, and back +again to the earth, on the look-out for moccasin or horse tracks, his +eyes are continually turning. There is a nervous action about the man +that shows he is ever alive to meet and be ready for any emergency. +These traits are sure to instill confidence in his followers. + +On starting from Los Angelos, Kit Carson took but a few rations of +provisions with him, as he could not burden the few animals he had, +too heavily; hence, he was compelled to depend on the rifle and the +chances of meeting with game. This, of course, is always an uncertain +mode of supporting life, and, consequently, it not unfrequently +happened, that the party were out of food and went fasting; yet, not +a murmur was heard. On they sped, in the hopes of reaching their homes +and firesides, where kind friends were awaiting them, and where +their cares and troubles would be buried in the past, and appear like +dreams. In the breast of the leader of this expedition, there was +throbbing a heart that was anxious to do its duty well, for he was +approaching, not his family circle, but instead, the fireside of +strangers to whom he was only known by name. Yet, in the common cause +of his country's honor, he recognized in every American with whom +he came in contact his true friend, and therefore he, also, was very +happy as he neared Washington. There he looked confidently forward +to hear the words: "Well done thou good and faithful servant." At St. +Louis, Kit Carson had the honor of an introduction to the Hon. Thomas +H. Benton, who was greatly interested in him, and who kindly invited +him to make his house in Washington his home during his stay there. Of +this invitation Kit Carson availed himself, and since considers that +he was very fortunate in doing so, for the best of everything was +heaped upon him, while he enjoyed the satisfaction of meeting and +conversing with the great men of his country. + +Mrs. John C. Fremont, daughter of Colonel Benton, and wife of the +distinguished explorer, was in attendance at the railroad depot, +when the train of cars in which Kit Carson was traveling arrived +in Washington. It was quite late in the evening when he reached the +terminus of his journey; yet, notwithstanding this, Kit had hardly +landed on the platform of the depot, before he was addressed by a lady +who said that she knew him from her husband's descriptions of him, and +that he must accept the hospitalities of her father's house. + +The distinguished father-in-law of John C. Fremont became, from the +time of their first meeting in St. Louis, the warm friend and patron +of Kit Carson; and, up to the time of his death, he had no cause to +change his first impressions of him. There was not a friendly favor +within his power which would not have been freely given, had it been +asked. It is one thing to make a friend, but another to keep him; and +those who knew the true character of Mr. Benton are cognizant of the +fact, that he was not easily won; but, when gained, that he was true +as steel, as is beautifully illustrated by the able and devoted manner +in which he stood by General Andrew Jackson. + +It is indeed a valuable possession to know that one has friends who +cannot be bought by wealth or other sordid attractions; men, who can +discern through the rough garb of the working, as well as thinking +man, those noble qualities which place them on a par. This acquisition +Kit Carson holds. He easily makes a friend, and never deserts him; +hence, those, with whom he comes in contact, who are worthy of this +name, are enrolled on his side; and he seldom has occasion to call +a man his enemy. Kit Carson was so embarrassed and overcome by the +expressions of kindness and hospitality which greeted his first +arrival at Washington, that he could hardly essay a reply; and yet, +he was almost too happy at the opportunity presented of accepting Mrs. +Fremont's invitation. If there was anything wanted to cement Carson +more firmly in his friendship and admiration for Colonel Fremont, it +was thus to know his accomplished and gifted lady. The situation +of Jessie Fremont has often been comparable with that of the +noble-hearted Lady Franklin. Again and again has she been compelled +to part from her husband when he started out to battle in the cause of +science, and, in the words of the poet, she seemingly said: + + "Go, wondrous creature! mount where science guides; + Go, measure earth, weigh air, and state the tides." + +Kit Carson remained some time in Washington; but had it not been for +the many tokens of kindness which he there received, he would +have grown weary of the restraints of civilization. As it was, he +continually longed to be once more in the mountains and prairies. His +desire, in time, was granted; for, having received the appointment of +lieutenant in the rifle corps of the United States army from President +Polk, he was ordered, as bearer of dispatches, to return across the +continent from whence he had but recently come. Lieutenant Beale +had intended to return with him, but did not eventually proceed any +further than St. Louis. There he became too ill to continue on the +journey. After arriving at Fort Leavenworth, Kit Carson was furnished +with an escort of fifty men, who were volunteers in the war which was +then being carried on against Mexico. With his usual promptness +and dispatch, Kit Carson was soon under way crossing the plains. At +Leavenworth he had learned that the Camanche Indians were at war with +the whites. As he knew them to be a numerous and treacherous tribe, +he had taken this strong escort in order to give them battle, if they +should be anxious for it. However, he arrived at a place called the +"Point of Rocks," which is not far from the Rocky Mountains, and on +their east side, without discovering any signs of these Indians. At +this place they made their appearance. + +The "Point of Rocks" appears to be a favorite place of resort for +the Indians of the plains. It is notorious as being one of the most +dangerous places for the traveler in all the far West. It is a series +of continuous hills, which project out on the prairies in bold relief. +They end abruptly in a mass of rocks, out of which gushes a cold and +refreshing spring, which is the main attraction about the place. The +road winds about near this point, and therefore it is a chosen spot +for the Indians to lurk, in order to catch the unwary pilgrim. Several +encounters with the savages have taken place here, which has caused it +to be pointed out as the scene of bloody tragedies, thereby making it +quite historical. The Indians themselves have made this spot the stage +on which has been enacted several desperate battles. In making the +journey to Santa Fe, when these rocks are passed, the traveler +counts his march as being drawn to a close. Government troops, on the +look-out for Indians on the plains, rarely fail, when they come from +New Mexico, to give this place a visit. + +Kit Carson had arrived at the place with his escort, and was about +establishing his camp. His men were under orders to keep a vigilant +watch for Indians, while Kit Carson's restless eye was searching +the country in every direction to discover their signs. About three +hundred yards distant he discovered white men, and found there was +encamped a company of United States volunteers, under the command of +Lieutenant Mulony. With this company was a large train of wagons bound +for New Mexico. Kit Carson ordered his men to go into camp. The night +passed by without any signs of the Indians; but, early in the morning +of the subsequent day, as Lieutenant Mulony's men were leading out +their animals to picket them in fresh grass, the savages suddenly +made their appearance and began an attack upon the picketing party, +capturing all their cattle and twenty-six horses. Mulony's men had +left their rifles in camp, and therefore, in order to escape being +killed, they retreated to their wagons. The cattle, in the confusion +which ensued, turned and came towards Kit Carson's camp. He and his +men, who were instantly on the alert, made an unexpected charge upon +the Indians and recaptured the oxen. During the skirmish which ensued, +two of his men dismounted, in order to be more certain of a deliberate +aim, but, in so doing, they accidentally let their own horses go +loose, and lost them, as they ran away with those that were being +stampeded by the red men. + +In this affair three of the volunteers were wounded. With the +two horses lost by Kit Carson's men, twenty-eight riding animals, +belonging to the United States government, were stolen by this band of +Camanches. But, had it not been for Kit Carson and his men, Lieutenant +Mulony would have lost his cattle likewise. + +Young oxen, when stampeded, are sometimes lost by the Indians. When +not killed by wolves they usually join with the herds of buffalo and +soon become wild. In this state, they are represented as being quite +fleet of foot. More generally, they fall a prey to the wolves, and +sometimes, again into the hands of the savages. A party was crossing +the plains in the year 1854; the advance of the party sent back word +that the first buffalo was in sight. Many amateur hunters eagerly +volunteered for the chase, and soon, quite a squad of men were +traveling at a good round gallop towards the supposed game. On +approaching the game, it was found to be an old lame ox, which had +been turned out by some caravan to die. The disappointment which +prevailed in this crowd of neophyte hunters, on discovering this +mistake, can be better imagined than described. The poor ox, +apparently, had no idea of giving up the ghost quite yet. He was in +good health and spirits, and showed signs of being pleased to see a +white man again. The little birds of the prairies had used him as a +perch. This office he appeared quite accustomed to perform, for he +did not disturb the flock that was then occupying his back. How he had +escaped the wolves is a miracle. + +From signs discovered after the Indians had decamped, it became +evident that several of the thieves had been mortally wounded; but, +being tied on their horses, they were carried out of sight before they +died. This is a fair sample of many of the Indian fights which have +occurred, and are yet not unfrequent, on the prairies; the object of +the savages is to plunder; therefore, an unguarded moment is selected +for their attacks. In this instance, by the time the whites had got +their firearms and men ready to commence the contest, the Indians had +perpetrated their intended assault and were off. + +[Illustration: CAMANCHE WARRIOR.] + +The Camanches are excelled by no men in the world in their +horsemanship, not excepting the famous Cossacks of Europe. The level +prairies are beautiful fields for them to act on. It is in a skirmish +similar to the one we have endeavored to describe, that they put these +qualifications to the test. The arena where these scenes are enacted +is a very undesirable place for a mere spectator. Kit Carson and party +resumed their march the same day, and arrived safely at Santa Fe, +without meeting with any other adventures. At this town he left his +escort of fifty volunteers, and hired sixteen other men with which +to perform the remainder of his journey. This was in obedience to +the orders he had received at Fort Leavenworth. Pursuing his route on +Muddy Creek, a tributary of Virgin River, he came upon a village of +some three hundred Indians, so suddenly, as his route twisted about +among the hills, that he had to make a bold matter of it, and go into +camp, for the purpose of having a "talk." Kit Carson had learned some +time before that these very red men had massacred seven Americans. For +this reason he determined not to trust them, even if they professed +friendship. The Indians wished to come into his camp, but this +privilege he would by no means grant to them. He posted his men and +selected a place so that he himself could talk, and at the same time +let them see that if the least hostile demonstration was made by their +side, it would be answered by a volley of bullets from the rifles of +the white men. Kit Carson harangued them and informed them that he +knew of the murders they had committed on his people during the past +year. He told them that they bore a treacherous character and could +not be treated as friends, and wound up his discourse by adding, that +he would not allow himself to be deceived, for he knew that their only +object in gaining admission into his camp was to repeat their bloody +acts. He now gave them a limited period of time in which to be off, +at the expiration of which, several lounged about, apparently doubting +his words. He now gave the order to fire. In consequence, a few shots +were aimed at them, which killed one and wounded three or four others. +This had the tendency to hurry the movements of the remainder, who +retired from the dangerous proximity to his camp. This was a case +which required some nerve and great experience in the commander of the +little party. Nothing but the personal courage and promptness of Kit +Carson saved his command. The success of fifteen men against three +hundred Indians in this manner, is chiefly due to their commander. + +The party proceeded on their journey, but soon were troubled for food. +Having used up all the game they could find, they were obliged to kill +two mules, on which they lived until they arrived at Los Angelos. Kit +Carson, finding that the officers to whom he was ordered to deliver +his dispatches were at Monterey, journeyed thither, and having reached +that town in safety, gave the documents to Col. Mason, then of the +First Regiment of United States dragoons, who was in command. Obeying +orders, Kit Carson, now an acting lieutenant in the United States +army, returned to Los Angelos and was assigned to do duty in the +company of United States dragoons commanded by Captain Smith. Kit was +allowed little time to recruit, but his restless disposition did +not ask, nor his habits require it; consequently, he remained at Los +Angelos only a short period. With a command of twenty-five dragoons, +he was ordered to proceed to Tajon Pass, the main outlet through which +hostile Indians went out of California, bearing the proceeds of their +incursions, such as cattle, horses, sheep and captives. Kit Carson's +duty in this place was to intercept the Indians and examine their +_papers_ and _cargoes_. He spent the winter in doing much good in this +service. In the spring, he was again ordered to proceed overland to +Washington, with dispatches. An escort being furnished him, he was +soon under way, and had reached Grand River without encountering any +serious difficulty. At this place an accident happened to his party +while crossing the river on rafts. + +During the early part of summer, the fording of streams which have +their source in the Rocky Mountains is no safe or easy task. When the +sun and the warm south winds begin to melt the immense piles of snow +and ice in the mountains, the water comes tumbling down in torrents; +and, having overflowed the rivers' banks, floods the adjacent country. +By this means, new gullies and ravines are continually forming, which, +when the melting process ceases, are converted into dry beds. With +this rush of angry water, large rocks and masses of earth are swept +from their natural seat, leaving a wreck behind that is fearfully +grand to behold. The roaring of these torrents as they come leaping +past and over every obstacle, resembles a low, rumbling thunder, which +is reechoed through the deep forests and canons. Sometimes travelers +are compelled to wait weeks before these rivers fall sufficiently +to allow a safe transit. Heavy rains have the same effect to enlarge +them; and, in one instance, a body of soldiers, while crossing the +plains, were overtaken by these rains, which fell with such rapidity +and in such quantity as to make the level prairies almost one sheet of +water, while every ravine was converted into a river, swift and deep. +To cross these, the men were obliged to use their best exertions with +very poor means to guard against loss; and, even with the best care, +one man was drowned, while several mules shared the same fate. In the +prospective construction of bridges for highroads and railroad tracks +across the continent, in certain seasons of the year, this sudden +accumulation and explosion of water may cause trouble by sweeping them +suddenly away. + +This accident crippled the resources of Kit Carson's party very much +and caused them afterwards great suffering. The accident occurred +something after the following manner. One division of the men, with +their leader as a companion, had constructed a float of logs, on which +they had crossed the stream in safety; but the second branch of the +party, under charge of Lieutenant Brewerton, then of the United States +army, and who was traveling in company with Kit Carson, were not so +successful with their raft; for, no sooner did they get it into the +swift current than it became unmanageable, and finally precipitated +its contents, among which were included several of the men and their +luggage, into the water. The wrecked men with great difficulty saved +their lives by swimming to the shore from which they had started. The +day was far spent and no attempt to succor them could be made that +evening; so, in their semi-state of nudity, and without the means of +making a fire, they passed a miserably cold night; but, early the next +morning, one of their friends recrossed and carried them an axe, by +the aid of which a new raft was made, on which they embarked a second +time and were soon safe with their companions. Among the very useful +articles that were lost by this mishap there were several saddles and +six valuable rifles. What made this loss peculiarly unpleasant was, +that they could not be replaced until the party could reach the +settlements. The owners of the saddles were now in a sad plight; for, +neither to the rider or his horse is it a very pleasant prospect to +make a long journey without these useful articles. After repairing +their damages as best they could, they struck out afresh. Setting +aside hunger and the suffering experienced from exposure to cold, +they were not again incommoded in any way until they had come to the +vicinity of the Mexican towns. Here they met several hundred Utah and +Apache Indians. These red skins showed some warlike symptoms which +Kit Carson did not in the least fancy; but, to make the best of his +situation, he ordered his men to post themselves in a neighboring +thicket and be ready to act on the defensive. Kit Carson then informed +the Indians that they must keep at a proper distance, or otherwise he +would direct his men to fire into them. He told them that if they were +disposed to be friendly, which they professed to be, towards the white +men, they could show it by leaving and not annoying his party, who, +being nearly naked and in a destitute condition, could give them +nothing. Evidently the savages saw this was true, and so did not +hazard a fight, but departed. Kit Carson traveled that night ten miles +further. It was late in the day when he again ventured on the trail, +but this distance was all that his animals could accomplish without +food and rest, for they were fatigued and poor. His object in thus +resuming his march, was to separate himself and men as far as he +could from the Indians, fearing that they might change their minds and +conclude to attack him. Being too weak, his party was in no condition +for an engagement. At the end of this distance he fortunately met +with a party of volunteers, who had been out in search of these very +savages, in order that they might punish them for some rascality they +had been recently guilty of. The next day Kit Carson reached +Taos, where he allowed himself a short respite for the purpose of +recruiting, and also to have the pleasure of a visit to his family +and friends. These were privileges which, during his life in the +mountains, had been seldom granted to him, though his feelings of +attachment for relatives and intimate acquaintances are not exceeded +by those of any living man. Indeed, his love for his children is +unbounded. We have several times heard him assert, that if there was +any one thing that could make him a coward, it would be the thoughts +of his little ones. When his party was sufficiently recruited, Kit +Carson left Taos and proceeded to Santa Fe. At this time Colonel +Newby, of the Illinois Volunteers, was in command of the United States +forces stationed there. This gentleman informed Kit Carson that his +appointment as lieutenant, made by President Polk, was not confirmed +by the United States Senate. Many of Kit's friends, on hearing this, +came to him and advised him not to carry the dispatches any further; +but, instead, they counseled him to deliver them to the commanding +officer of the post he was at, advising him that he was doing duty as +an officer in the army and yet was not recognized by government. The +language used by Kit Carson on this occasion, in reply to his friends, +is so much to his credit and is so like the man, that every American +citizen ought to know it. It was as follows: "I was intrusted with +these dispatches, having been chosen in California, from whence I +come, as the most competent person to take them through safely. I +would try to fulfill this duty even if I knew it would cost me my +life. It matters not to me, while I am performing this service for my +country, whether I hold the rank of a lieutenant in the United States +army, or am known merely as an experienced mountaineer. I have gained +some little honor and credit for the manner in which I have always +conducted myself when detailed on any special and important business, +and I would on no account now wish to forfeit the good opinion formed +of me by a majority of my countrymen because the United States Senate +did not deem it proper to confer on me an appointment which I never +solicited, and one which, had I been confirmed, I would have resigned +at the termination of the war." + +The reasons why the wishes of the President were not carried out by +Congress in this instance, we know not; but, certain it is, that the +lucky aspirant who eventually received this office at the hands of the +same United States, had no credentials to present that could, as far +as merit was concerned, compare with those held by Christopher Carson. +It is fair to infer, that Kit Carson had but few friends at court, +though it cannot for one moment be supposed that his name was not +well known at Washington, when for five long years he had been the +right-hand man of John C. Fremont in his explorations. The privates +and the hardships which that commander and his guide willingly +submitted to during those years, it is impossible to describe through +reports. The whole newspaper press of the United States, together with +several volumes of well-written books, have attempted it, but all have +failed in giving a true picture of the reality. These things availed +nothing when brought in contact with political moves; and Kit Carson +was doomed to go by the board. He had, however, met, during his +eventful life, with too many disappointments to be much chagrined at +this, and we find him, soon afterwards, making inquiries in relation +to the state of feeling among the Indians who inhabited the country +through which he had to pass. + +The appointment of civilians to the responsible duties of a command in +the United States army has, of late years, become, in many instances, +very unfortunate. Perhaps it is this that has taught our legislators +a lesson. But there is a truth which lies above this difficulty. The +severe ordeal necessary to be gone through with at West Point, in +order to make military men of the proper standard, has very naturally +raised a jealousy between these two classes of men. This is very +healthy for the country, as it stimulates each to noble exertions. +In order to make the army less secluded, it is necessary to appoint +a certain per-centage of men from the walks of private life, and +therefore the most meritorious should be selected. West Point men, as +a body, are a great credit to our country; and, as a scientific corps, +they cannot be surpassed; but, the fact is incontrovertible, that +many, if not most of the leading officers of the United States army, +are self-educated, and have risen to their exalted positions by +untiring industry and distinguished services. For frontier work, men, +to be capable of taking command, are required to have great experience +in Indian strategy, and to become accustomed to endure privations and +vicissitudes. These cannot be taught by schools or books. For these +positions those are best fitted who have been trained to the mountains +from earliest boyhood, and where is the man in North America who has +battled in this service longer or more successfully than Christopher +Carson? But Kit Carson could see no reason why the votes of the United +States Senators, refusing to confirm the President's effort to reward +him for his services to his country, should cause him for one moment +to swerve from his duty. He pocketed at once his disappointment, and +went to work. Colonel Newby informed him that the Camanches had +of late been very hostile, and that they were then roaming in war +parties, numbering from two to three hundred, scattered along the old +Santa Fe road, on which their depredations had, so far, been mostly +committed. On learning this, Kit Carson determined to make a trail of +his own, and endeavor thus to avoid them. He reduced the number of his +escort to ten trusty followers. With them, he returned to Taos, and +after a halt there of two days, once more was on the march. At first, +he traveled to the northward, until he reached a tract of country +which these Indians seldom visited; then, changing his route by +compass, he struck the Bijoux River, which is a tributary of the +Platte River, and followed it down stream. At about twenty-five miles +from the mouth of the Bijoux, he quit that stream, and struck out +diagonally across the prairies, and soon reached the Platte itself, +down which he journeyed to Fort Kearney. Here he again changed his +course for the Republican Fork. On leaving this last-named stream, he +traveled direct to Fort Leavenworth, finally reaching that post with +his men and animals in fine condition, for the journey had been as +pleasant as could have been expected. Here he left his escort, and +set out alone for Washington. After reaching the land of railroads and +steamboats, he was but a few days in bringing the latter part of his +journey to an end. Handing his dispatches to the proper authorities, +Kit Carson turned right about and made his way to New Mexico, where he +arrived in the month of October, 1848. + +It will be seen by following on a map the route which Kit Carson +planned on this occasion, that it was very circuitous, and led him a +great distance out of his way. Indeed he was, at times, far beyond the +roaming grounds of the Camanches, but this was necessary. He was not, +however, free from danger; but was obliged to be on the lookout for +their allies, the Kiowas, who are usually at war whenever the Camanche +nation is. His trail led him through a country which is celebrated as +abounding in game, and also in being well watered, and last, but not +least, the desideratum of finding grass of a good quality, whenever +he desired it, was proved a valuable assistant on the march. It may be +well to mention here, that one of the most curious of the phenomena of +the plains, to the inexperienced traveler, are those mirages which, +on every clear day, are sure to meet and delude his eyes. So wonderful +are these deceptions, that often the vision leads one to believe he is +beholding, in the distance, a beautiful city which is located on the +banks of some attractive lake. The outlines of the palaces, spires of +cathedrals, and even the lesser buildings themselves, all surrounded +with trees, bearing luxuriant and green foliage, together, form +an imaginary picture which throws into the background any of the +realities which are the work of man. The shading is oftentimes very +captivating, and on it the traveler can be entertained for hours, +until a change in the rays of light or intervening clouds, or else by +approaching the delusion itself, the magic scene fades away. A mirage +and a prairie on fire, seen by night, the one a delusion, the other a +fearful reality, are two of the grandest sights to be seen in the far +West; we might add, on the American continent. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + + Kit Carson at his Home--The Apache Indians become hostile--An + Expedition sent against them--It is not successful--Another + is organized, with which, Kit Carson goes as Guide--Two Indian + Chiefs captured--Other Incidents of the Trip--Colonel Beall + attempts to force the Indians to give up Mexican Captives--Two + thousand Savages on the Arkansas River--The Visit to them--Kit + Carson emigrates and builds a Ranche at Rayado--Description of + the Valley--The Massacre of a Santa Fe Merchant--His Wife is + made Prisoner--The Expedition sent to rescue her--The Indians + overtaken--Bad Counsel and Management--The commanding Officer + wounded--Mrs. White's Body found--Severe Snow Storm on + the Plains--One Man frozen to Death--Kit Carson returns to + Rayado--The occupation of a Farmer resumed--The Apaches steal + from the Settlers nearly all their Animals--Kit Carson with + thirteen others in the Pursuit--The Surprise--A running + Fight--The Animals recovered--A gallant Sergeant and his + Fate--Kit Carson and Goodel go on a Trading Expedition to meet + California Emigrants at Fort Laramie--Humorous Adventures--The + Dangers that beset the Road to New Mexico--Hair-breadth + Escape--Arrival at Taos. + + +Being comfortably housed in his own pleasant home at Taos, Kit Carson +made up his mind to treat himself to a more lengthy stay there than he +had for some time enjoyed. While he was quietly enjoying the pleasures +of home, active operations were transpiring about him, for the +neighboring Indians had dug up the tomahawk and buried the calumet, +and were holding in defiance the United States forces, which had been +stationed in New Mexico to protect its inhabitants. Colonel Beall was +at that time commanding officer of the district, and had established +his head-quarters at Taos. The colonel, soon after assuming the +command, being a resolute man, saw that there was but one way to deal +with these Indians, and that was to bring them to a strict account, +and make them amenable for their many crimes. This tribe of Apaches +has given the government of the United States almost as much trouble +as have the Seminoles in Florida, and I hesitate not in saying, that +before they are exterminated, which is the only sure plan of making +a peace with them, they will have surpassed their red brethren of the +swamps of the South in the number and enormity of their crimes. Before +New Mexico came under the jurisdiction of the United States, the +Apaches, for many years, had committed all kinds of heinous offences +against the Mexicans; and, for a period of ten years after that event, +these same savages were continually on the war path, notwithstanding +military expeditions, one after another, were organized and sent out +against them. Their mountain retreats are almost inaccessible to white +men, while the Indians, apparently, play about in them like rabbits. +The amount of physical endurance and the length of the journeys these +red men can make, appear very astonishing to one not accustomed to +them. The Apaches, as an Indian race, are not wanting in bravery, the +best evidence of which statement is, that nearly all their warriors +_die in battle_. Their country is the healthiest in America. +Besides waging war against the whites and Mexicans, they have their +differences to settle with their neighboring tribes, with whom they +are punctilious in vindicating their national honor. Colonel Beall +commenced his operations against these Indians by dispatching a junior +officer, backed by a strong force, with orders to pursue, overtake, +and chastise them. This expedition started; but, on coming to the +mountains, the guides reported that there was too much snow on them +for the command to pass through in safety; so the undertaking was +given up, and the men were marched back to Taos. + +The most famous war chief of the Apaches, during these troubles, +was called by the Mexicans _Chico Velasques_, and his name, for many +years, was a terror to the surrounding country. His savage brutality +knew no bounds, and he was truly in his element, only when he was +tearing the bloody scalp from his half-lifeless victim. He was the +sworn enemy of the Americans and Mexicans, and his hunting-knife was +rarely clean of human blood, until his cruel life, by the wise decrees +of an all-seeing Providence, was suddenly cut short. He fought against +his disease (small pox) with that rashness that had been his ruling +spirit through life, and thus ingloriously terminated his days. The +pride of this man was to strut through the Mexican towns and gloat +over his many crimes. To the gazing crowd, he would point out the +trophies of his murders, which he never failed to have about him. To +his fringed leggins were attached the phalanges (or finger bones) of +those victims whom he had killed with his own hands. On the one side, +he proclaimed to his auditors, were the fingers of the Mexicans, while +on the other, were the same tokens from the Americans; and it gave him +great delight, ironically, to dwell upon the latter name. With whip +in hand, he struck out right and left when anything displeased him. +He met one day more than his match in the person of the famous Mexican +hunter, Armador Sanchez, of whom we have previously spoken. The +circumstances of this rencounter were as follows: The bold Indian, +with but few followers, was on a visit of pleasure to the Mexican +town of Culebro. He had agreed to a temporary peace, to suit his +convenience and ends; and, taking advantage of it, he made his +appearance in the settlements, to lord it over the peaceable +inhabitants. After indulging in a little fire-water, his wicked +propensities could be controlled no longer, and broke forth in minor +cruelties. At last he found himself in the house belonging to Sanchez, +who was quietly conversing with his aged father, for whom he had great +veneration, and also with his son. The Indian peremptorily demanded +that some whisky should be given him. He was informed by Sanchez that +he did not keep the article. A second demand was now made, with the +threat that if it was not forthcoming immediately, he would whip the +person who refused him. This had the effect of bringing Sanchez to +his feet, when the following colloquy, in Spanish, between him and the +Indian transpired: "Chico Velasques, you have long been accustomed to +treat our people almost as you please. You have robbed and murdered us +at your will, notwithstanding we have given you no cause thus to act. +Had you asked for bread, I would have given it to you, for the door of +my house is always open to the friendly red man; but, as for whisky, +you can have none from my hands. Raise that whip but once to strike +me, and I will dash your brains out with this mass of lead." Suiting +his actions to his words, Sanchez drew forth from the pocket of his +hunting-shirt a slung shot that weighed nearly four ounces, which +he always carried to dispatch his game with when it was in the last +agonies of death. With uplifted hand, the Indian hesitated; for, he +knew the character of the man who stood before him, as they had hunted +together during many moons gone by, on the same mountains and on the +same trail. At last, using his own savage dialect, in order that his +words could not be understood by others about him, the savage answered +the Mexican hunter by saying, "that by chance they might some day meet +again;" a threat which fell harmless at the feet of Sanchez. As he +took his departure, the chief added, in Spanish, "I will tell these +things to my father,[20] Kit Carson," as if further attempting to +intimidate the hunter; but Sanchez knew that his own and Carson's +opinions were the same in regard to this man; therefore, he smiled +at the rascal's knavery. _Chico Velasques_ was followed in his +chieftainship by _Blanco_, who did his utmost to walk in the footsteps +of his illustrious predecessor; but, he was not so cunning, and was +less successful in his encounters with the Americans and Mexicans, +and therefore had not that influence with his tribe which the former +possessed. Still, he performed his quantum of mischief, and yet lives +to play his part in the great drama of Indian life. An Apache Indian +is rather small in stature, but everything about him denotes symmetry +and strength. His limbs are almost straight, and their muscles are +as hard as iron. The elasticity of his movements, when in the least +excited, shows a high degree of physical training. His coal-black eye +exhibits an amount of treachery rarely seen elsewhere, proving the +truth of the Chinese adage, that "the tongue may deceive, but the eye +can never play the rogue." + +[Footnote 20: This expression of "father," with these Indians, means +their agent.] + +But to return to the narrative. The commanding officer of the party +sent out against these Indians, on arriving again at Taos, reported to +Col. Beall that the reason he had returned was because, at the present +time, it was impracticable to cross the mountains. That brave +and experienced officer replied, "that there was no such word as +impracticable in the soldier's vocabulary, and that nothing ought +to be impossible for the 1st regiment of United States dragoons to +accomplish." Suiting his actions to his words, Col. Beall reorganized +the command, took charge of it himself, and employed Kit Carson as his +guide. When everything was in proper trim, this expedition set +out, and after surmounting many obstacles and privations, finally +accomplished the feat of crossing the snow-clad mountains, and after +a long and fruitless search for the Indians, the men were obliged to +turn about, because their stock of provisions was running low. As +the command emerged through the "_Sangre de Christo Pass_," on their +return route, they came suddenly into view of a village of Apaches. +As soon as the Indians were discovered the charge was sounded, but the +animals of the dragoons were too much jaded to obey the summons with +the celerity wished for by their riders; the result was that, besides +a considerable amount of plunder, only two persons were taken, but +they, fortunately, proved to be no less than two important chiefs. In +order to impress these Indians with the fairness and liberality which +his government wished to show to the red men, after a long talk, +in which the colonel exacted promises of good behavior, he let the +prisoners go. They departed, to forget as quickly as possible all +their vows and promises; for, seemingly, they will act in no other +way than as their own savage instinct teaches. After this affair, Col. +Beall made a direct march for Taos, where he remained for some time, +attending to the ordinary duties of his garrison. + +In the treaty between the United States and New Mexico, entered into +at the close of the Mexican War, a clause was inserted binding the +former to turn over to the latter all the Mexican captives then held +by the Indians who inhabited territory belonging to the first named +government. The carrying out of this provision of the treaty involved +the United States government in a large and constant bill of expense. +This was, undoubtedly, unavoidable, for even had the clause not been +inserted in the treaty, the maintenance of about the same frontier +military forces would have been necessary. It would have proved a +difficult matter to carry out this treaty to the letter. + +If it had been so carried out to the letter, the Camanches would have +been great sufferers, for at least one third of the blood that now +runs in their veins is Mexican. During the last half century, and +perhaps longer, they have been accustomed to make annual visits into +the Mexican settlements of Old Mexico. The object of these hostile +incursions has ever been to load themselves with plunder. They steal +all the horses that fall in their way, and also take for captives as +many young children as they can lay hands on. The latter are brought +up in true Indian style, and, having cast off all remembrance of their +former habits and friends, they gradually become the wild men of the +plains. The female captives, on arriving at the suitable age, are +married to the young warriors of the tribe, and thus the true Indian +stock, becoming amalgamated with the Mexico-Spanish blood, is fast +becoming degenerated. The reason, therefore, why the fulfillment of +this treaty would have militated strongly against the Camanche Indians +especially, is clearly apparent. + +In the following February, Col. Beall learned that on the Arkansas +River there were congregated a large body of Indians, who had quite +a number of Mexicans in bondage. He felt it to be his duty to visit +these savages and endeavor to have them deliver up all such captives, +using peaceable means to accomplish this result in the first instance; +and, should they fail, he made up his mind to resort to more forcible +and potent arguments. With this determination, and with two companies +of dragoons to back him and Kit Carson as his guide, he set out on +his mission. In due time he reached the Arkansas, and there found +congregated four tribes of Indians who numbered in the vicinity of +two thousand souls. Their object in thus coming together was to have a +grand council and lay out plans for the future, and also to meet their +agent. This agent, who was an experienced mountaineer, informed the +colonel that, considering the present state of ill feeling existing +among these Indians towards the whites, it would be useless to make +the demand for the prisoners; and as to using force, it would almost +certainly prove a failure, when such a large number of well armed +warriors were arrayed against him. It required a great deal of +persuasion to bring the colonel around to this mode of thinking; but, +at last he yielded to the advice of his friends and concluded to make +no demonstration against the Indians at the present time, concluding, +as his anger cooled, that it was the wisest policy to await a more +favorable opportunity, when a treaty could be made with them, in +which there could be an article inserted that would stipulate for the +restoration of the captives. + +In parting with these red men without accomplishing the main object +for which they came, both officers and men felt that their labors had +not been entirely thrown away. Their presence must have left lasting +impressions on the minds of the savages, in showing them that they no +longer had poorly clad and poorly armed Mexican soldiers to deal with. + +On arriving again in Taos, Kit Carson returned to his home to ruminate +over what was best for him to take up as a business for the future. +He revolved in his thoughts his past career, and, in the end, finished +the mental study by resolving to give up his roaming life, as he +rightly considered that now was the time, if ever, that he should be +making a substantial home for himself and family, before old age crept +upon and disabled him from the undertaking. About the time that he was +in this frame of mind, his old mountaineer friend, Maxwell, was about +going to a pretty little valley called by the Mexicans _Rayado_. +Maxwell proposed to Kit Carson to join him in the enterprise of +building a ranche on the site which he had selected. This offer the +latter gladly accepted. Rayado would have, long before, been settled +by the Mexicans, had they not been deterred by its exposure, and +consequent inviting position for Indian depredations. The valley is +about fifty miles east from Taos; and, for its scenery, cannot be +surpassed by anything of the kind in America. Standing at the head +of it on a blunt bluff, you look down and out on the prairies, and +nothing can be more enchanting than the view that is thus presented. +On each side there are lofty hills, which, when green with grass and +foliage, add a magic beauty to the scene. Through the valley, as if it +had been intended for its dividing line, runs a broad mountain stream, +the banks of which are now metamorphosed into beautiful fields. + +We stop here to undeceive the reading public concerning an idea which +has gained currency by the extraordinary imaginative writings of +novelists. These trashy fictions represent the western plains, +or prairies, as flower-beds. In this a great mistake has become +prevalent. A traveler often pursues his way over them for many days +without seeing anything to interrupt the continuity of green grass +except it be the beautiful road over which he is journeying. Near the +slopes of the mountains and on the river banks the remark will +apply. There, fields of wild flowers are often found growing in great +luxuriance. + +The settlement was soon after commenced by Kit Carson and Maxwell, +and, as now completed, is really a beautiful spot. It is located about +midway down the valley. Among its several houses, there are two which +are more conspicuous than the rest. In the finest of these two, the +owner of which has taken great pains and spent much valuable time +with its construction, lives Maxwell, whose honest pride is the being +master of a model farm. In the residence next most to be admired in +Rayado, Kit Carson sometimes sojourns. + +The mansion which belongs to Maxwell would be an ornament to any +country. At one time, it was used as a garrison for American troops, +and on it, the soldiers made many improvements. It is built one story +high, in the shape of a hollow square, and has the size of an ordinary +block in a city. Around the whole runs a fine veranda. With its lofty +ceilings, large and airy rooms, and its fine yard in the centre of the +square, which is well stored with its fowls, pigeons, and other pet +animals, with appropriate kennels; with antlers of noble buck and elk; +hams of venison, buffalo meat, wild turkeys, etc., and near by a +fine vegetable garden; altogether, it presents a picture of sumptuous +living rarely seen within the pale of civilization. Maxwell counts +his steeds and cattle by hundreds, while his flocks of sheep are +enumerated by thousands. Near by stands Kit Carson's ranche, which, +though more modest, yet, when the hunter occupies it, in dead game and +comfort, it fully rivals its compeer. Around these two hunters live +a handful of Mexican friends, who are either engaged in agricultural +pursuits for themselves, or else in the employ of the "lords of the +manor," Carson and Maxwell. + +In this his residence at Rayado, Kit Carson is only kept from spending +his whole time by business for which his tastes are more suited. Soon +after the commencement of the settlement, and while he was engaged +in his vocation as farmer, news reached him that the Apaches had been +committing a most wicked murder, the details of which are horrible +in the extreme. A merchant by the name of White, who was engaged in +business at Santa Fe, had been into the United States for the purpose +of purchasing goods. With his train of wagons and his small escort +of men, traveled his private carriage, in which there were, as +passengers, his accomplished but unfortunate lady and her only child. +On arriving at a point where he anticipated no further danger, Mr. +White started on ahead of his caravan, in order that he might reach +Santa Fe as soon as possible, and thus relieve his family from the +privations of camp life. He had proceeded but a few miles when he was +attacked by some Indians who had concealed themselves in the rocks +on either side of the road. The savages, as the carriage neared their +hiding-place, fired with such accuracy of aim that they killed, by +their first volley, all of the men who were with the carriage before +they were aware of the danger which surrounded them. Mrs. White and +her child were reserved for a worse fate. They were carried off +into captivity. The child proved to be a source of annoyance to the +blood-thirsty savages, and its angel spirit was released from earth by +their cruel ferocity. Before the eyes of its captive mother the fatal +tomahawk was raised, and by one dastard blow its keen edge was made to +mingle with its brains. The horrid work failed not to bring the bitter +woes and anguish of despair to the breast of the unhappy mother. It +was then thrown into Red River, which was the stream nearest to the +scene of the bloody tragedy. + +Red River and its great canon has always been to the Apache Indians a +favorite haunt of refuge, either when pursued, or after the committal +of some terrible crime. There are several streams in the West called +by this name. The one here referred to is the Red River of the plains, +and is one of the upper tributaries of the Arkansas River. In olden +times it went by the name of the Canadian River. Several sharp +conflicts have occurred on this stream between the Apache Indians and +parties of United States troops. It has also formed the stage of many +an Indian tragedy in conflicts between the mountain Indians and the +Indians of the plains. Quite recently, attempts have been made by +whites to use its banks for grazing purposes, but every enterprise +which has been set on foot to establish ranches in its vicinity, +have been warmly contested by the Camanches, who have killed several +persons who have dared to essay such attempts. + +The intelligence of this terrible butchery having been carried to New +Mexico, a command was organized in hot haste, which had for its object +the immediate rescue of Mrs. White from her bondage, worse than death. +Two men went with this party as guides, named Leroux and Fisher. +Watkins Leroux is an old and famous trapper and mountaineer, whose +reputation and skill as a guide in the far West, is second only to Kit +Carson's. A few of his warm partisans, who are ever very warm in their +praise of their friend, at one time considered him superior even to +Kit Carson; but, when the skill of the two men came to be tried in +the same cause, the palm was yielded to Kit Carson. Leroux has +guided several parties over new routes with meritorious success. His +knowledge of Indian character is nearly equal to that possessed by Kit +Carson, and he is endowed with a wonderful amount of forethought and +prudence; but, in an Indian fight, or on any great emergency, his +faculties appear to be less active, and his judgment less certain, +than those exhibited by the great Nestor of the Rocky Mountains. It +is a well well-understood maxim, that there are more or less +narrow-minded persons who are ready and eager to pull down any and +every rising man; and, for this purpose, such must choose a champion. +Kit Carson's association with Colonel Fremont had won him so great +renown, as a mountaineer and guide, that an opposition party was +formed to detract from his merits and capabilities. Leroux, owing to +his popularity, was chosen for the leader of this party, and whenever +the name of Kit Carson was mentioned, the friends of Leroux always +saw fit to compare the deeds of the two men together. This strife, of +course, could not be lasting, and now it is almost forgotten. It is +a just tribute of praise due to both of these brave men, to say +that they do not sanction, by word or deed, either party to the +controversy. They could but appreciate each other, and, as friends, +ever felt elated, the one at the success of the other, and _vice +versa_. They mutually considered that every fresh laurel of glory +added a measure-full of honor and renown to their common brotherhood +of mountaineers, among whom the good reputation of their cloth was as +dear as it was among the knights attached to the orders of chivalry. +Their ranches are located in the same valley, and in the same +town; where, having lived together as fast friends in life, in all +probability they will find their last resting-places in the same +graveyard. Few men can say aught against the character of Watkins +Leroux, but in this estimate of his actions, we are only reviving what +has already been given to the public. + +With Leroux and Fisher employed as guides, the expedition for the +rescue of Mrs. White set out on its route, and, on its journey, passed +by Rayado. Kit Carson immediately proffered his services for the +expedition. They were accepted, but, much to the surprise of many of +the party, instead of being at once placed in the position which his +great experience demanded, he was assigned to an inferior position +under the command of Leroux. Kit Carson, however, was too good a +soldier to exhibit the conduct which the little buzzing talkers so +anxiously looked for from their supposed kindling of his jealousy, +and quietly took the post assigned him, eager to lend a helping hand, +which might even thus be instrumental in saving a valuable life. It +is proper, however, that we should add, that this slight upon his +reputation and experience wounded his feelings. But, especially, as +the life in jeopardy belonged to a woman, he would not, and did not, +think of allowing his actions to partake of his feelings. We have +reason to believe that this slight, at least on the part of the +commanding officer of the expedition, was not intentional. That +gentleman was an honorable man, and would not have committed an act +which he considered would have resulted otherwise than for the best; +and, in appointing Leroux his chief counsellor, he had selected a good +man, but, one whom he afterwards learned, to his sorrow, was every way +the subordinate of Kit Carson in managing Indian affairs. + +A few years subsequent to the transpiring of this murder and the +skirmish which succeeded it, we traveled near to the spot under the +same officer who had the command of the above expedition. He reverted +to the affair with much feeling, and from his actions and remarks, we +could plainly see that his sympathies had been, perhaps, too greatly +enlisted in behalf of his unfortunate countrywoman, and that his +better judgment had been overcome by giving way to the urgent advice +of others. If it had been a battle where either scientific attainments +or manly courage could have succeeded, he would, doubtless, have been +himself, and carried everything through with success. This is no mere +assertion, for his long and well tried military career warrants us +in this belief. We have the greatest respect for this gentleman, and +consider him a very able man; but, as a biographer, we are called +upon to narrate the facts as they come to us. If he had succeeded, +everything would have been considered as well done; but he failed, and +the cause of his failure is plain. + +The party being thus constituted, and no delay having been occasioned +by any unforeseen accident, the party arrived in good season at the +place where the cold-blooded murder had been consummated. Around the +spot, there was strewn, in great confusion, boxes, trunks, pieces of +harness, and many other things, which had belonged to the unfortunate +party, and which the villains did not fancy and carry away with them. +The path taken by these Indians was soon found, and on it, the command +traveled in full chase for twelve days, without seeing the outline of +a savage. Carson describes this as being the most difficult trail to +follow he remembers ever to have undertaken, for the rascally Apaches, +on breaking up their camps, would divide into parties of two and +three, and then scatter over the vast expanse of the prairies to meet +again at some preconcerted place, where they knew water could be had. +In several of these camps the pursuers found remnants of dress and +other articles, that were known to have belonged to Mrs. White. By +these signs, they were led to believe that she still lived. Although +these things would be trifles on ordinary occasions, yet, at the +present time, they were the cause of stimulating the white men to +their utmost exertions; and, as they grew fresher, the excitement +among the party increased. At last, the camp, and even the persons +of the savages, became visible to the foremost of the pursuers; and, +among the first to get a glimpse of them was Kit Carson. At the time +the discovery was made, Kit Carson was considerably in advance of most +of the men. Turning to those near him, he shouted to have the command +come on as fast as possible, for he saw at once that there was no +time to be lost in consultation as to the best mode of assaulting the +Indians. They, already, were in commotion, and were making hurried +preparations to decamp. Riding on at full speed for some distance, Kit +Carson again turned his head and saw, to his dismay, that he was +not followed; but instead, the command had halted. The cause of this +curious order being given, at such a precarious moment, was, as he +afterwards learned, brought about by the advice of the chief guide, +who told the commanding officer that the Indians wished to have a +parley. On seeing what was transpiring behind him, Kit Carson had no +alternative but to rein up his horse also; for, to ride on alone into +the midst of the savages, would have been unjustifiable rashness, and +might, perhaps, have destroyed the plans his superior officers were +concocting. So, he stood paralyzed and confounded at the inactivity of +his companions. Just about this time, a bullet, fired from the Indian +camp, struck the commanding officer in the breast, and bent him +forward. Those around him, for a little while, supposed that he had +received a mortal wound. Still, he retained his seat in the saddle, +but could not speak. Thus again was precious time lost, as the party, +during this time, were virtually without a leader, and did not seem to +be inclined to make one. Fortunately for this officer, just before he +received the shot, he had taken off his thick buckskin gauntlets and +crowded them into a breast pocket. The ball had struck this bundle; +and, as its force was somewhat expended by the distance it had come, +it was unable to more than penetrate the mass and contuse the soft +parts of the chest. + +This accident assisted in preventing this well known military man from +inflicting such a blow on these savages, that they would have been +long in recovering from it. He had undoubtedly seen, soon after he had +halted, that Kit Carson was right in recommending a charge; for, +as quick as he recovered sufficiently from his injury to be able +to speak, he commanded the men to make the attack, and leave him to +himself. Unfortunately, the time had passed to accomplish the desired +effect when this order was given, for, on arriving among the lodges, +the men found only one warrior. He, as a matter of course, was slain. +The body of Mrs. White was also found in the camp. Life was extinct, +though her soul had but just flown to heaven. There was still warmth +in the corpse when the men first discovered it. An arrow had pierced +her breast. Evidently she had been conscious that friends were near, +and was trying to make her escape when the missile of death produced +the fatal wound. + +Much has been written and said about this sad affair, and much unjust +calumny has been heaped upon the head of the leader of the expedition; +therefore, the opinion of Kit Carson in reference to the matter may +not be out of place; hence, we give it word for word. "I am certain" +says Kit Carson, "that if the Indians had been charged immediately on +our arrival, Mrs. White would have been saved. At first, the savages +were much confused at our approach, and I do not hesitate to say that +she saw us as quick as any one of the redskins did, for it undoubtedly +was the all absorbing topic of her mind that her rescue would be +attempted by her friends and countrymen. On seeing us coming, she +had attempted to run towards us, when she was shot down. Had she been +liberated, she could not have long survived the brutality, hardships +and vicissitudes she had experienced. Words cannot describe the bitter +cup that she had been obliged to drink during her captivity. It was +the will of Providence that, having suffered like a martyr on earth, +she should be taken to himself before we arrived to where her remains +lay; upon coming upon which, we shed tears at thus being defeated in +what had been our cherished hopes even had it cost some of us our own +lives." + +By this language it can be readily seen that Kit Carson regretted the +failure of this attempt made to rescue Mrs. White as deeply as any +one, either in the expedition, or among her friends at the home from +which she had so recently, in health and happiness, been torn. "Yet I +cannot," says Kit Carson, "blame the commanding officer, or the other +guide, for the action they took in the affair. They evidently did as +they thought best, but I have no doubt that they now can see, that +if my advice had been taken, the life of Mrs. White might have been +spared for at least a short period." This expedition was far from +being a failure, for the Indians lost all their provisions, camp +equipage and a few animals. Many of these savages ran away leaving +behind them everything they possessed in the world, except the scanty +amount of clothing they had on. + +For six miles they were pursued over the level prairies when another +brave was killed, several wounded and three children taken prisoners. +The horses belonging to the Expedition broke down, one by one, until +at last, the chase had to be given over, after which the Indians made +short work in getting out of sight. Among the trinkets and baggage +found in the captured camp, there was a novel which described Kit +Carson as a great hero who was able to slay Indians by scores. This +book was shown to Kit and was the first of the kind he had ever seen. +After glancing at it he made the remark, "that perhaps Mrs. White, +to whom it belonged, knowing he lived not very far off, had prayed to +have him make his appearance and assist in freeing her. He wished that +it might have been so, but consoled himself by thinking that he had +performed his duty." While on their route back to Taos, the command +was overtaken by a terrible snow storm which was accompanied by a high +wind; as there were no hills to break its force, it amounted almost +to a tornado. The snow was driven with such force into the men's faces +that they became nearly blind, and were bewildered as to the course +they should travel. During its continuance, they wandered about on the +prairies. Finally they were so fortunate that at last they reached a +clump of timber in the neighborhood of _Las Vegas_ in New Mexico; but, +during the tramp, one man had been frozen to death and others had come +near to perishing. + +After arriving in the settlements; the party learned from some +friendly Indians, that the Apaches had suffered severely by being +exposed to this same storm, and the report was that many of them had +since died in consequence thereof. From this, it would appear as if +an all seeing power had protected the whites, while it had dealt out +a fearful judgment upon these wicked savages, who have more than vague +ideas of the sin of murdering, in cold blood, innocent people, sages +and philanthropists far distant and safe in great cities to the +contrary notwithstanding. There are no set of men in the world who can +draw the line between right and wrong based on its first principle, +and taught to them by the great lessons of nature, as can many tribes +of Indians. Among themselves, and especially among their individual +bands, in regard to all crimes, the Indian has his moral code of laws +which, in many respects, is not surpassed by those of his pale-faced +brother. They have their civil chief who is responsible for the peace +and good order of the camp; and, before him, are tried, by the lawyers +of the tribe, all cases worthy of notice. If the parties are found +guilty, the offender or offenders are summarily dealt with--therefore, +"with his untutored mind," in his intercourse with white men, the +Indian is not altogether excusable in committing crime. + +There are many people who believe that the Indians, as a race, have +been greatly sinned against, and to sustain their views, have called +in the assistance of flowery-written romances and the high-sounding +language of prose and poetry. Much of this novelty and interest +rubs off by coming in contact with the savage as he really exists. +Admiration often changes, in this case, into distrust and even enmity. +It is natural that this should be so, for mere book-education biases +the mind always, either for or against, and therefore, it is not +strange that in the far West, we should often meet with men who +unhesitatingly declare that the red man, if capable, is unwilling +to entertain in his character even one redeeming trait; but, on +investigating their individual case, we find that they are but +superficial observers who are prone to find fault with everything that +does not exactly suit their tastes. It is necessary to spend a whole +life with Indians, in order to judge them without prejudice. The Great +Spirit has endowed his red children with reason, the same in quality +as possessed by any other race, but their habits, mode of life and +experience is of such a kind, that, when taken, as a whole, they are +truly original. Looking upon this class of people, either in the light +of an enthusiast or as a detractor, cannot be otherwise than wrong; +for, as is usually the case, the truth lies between the extremes. + +To be caught in one of these winter storms on the plains is a very +serious affair; and one only needs to have been through a fearful gale +on the seas to render him dubious of which to choose. To the faint +heart, death seems inevitable in either case; and, to such a one, a +choice between a watery grave or a bed of snow, when hunger and cold +are his attendants while life is gradually ebbing out, is a question +in which the contrast appears small. During many of the winter months, +a life on the prairies becomes a necessity to the frontiersman and not +a pleasure. The force and power of the winds on the level earth of the +far West, are beyond human imagination. The snow storms there, at +the proper period of the year, are terrific in their grandeur. The +quantity of the snow that falls is not so much a matter of notice as +the force with which it comes, being almost blinding in its effects +and requiring all the physical powers of both man and beast to meet +and contend against it. It but seldom happens, during one of these +seasons, that the roads are so blocked up by snow that human ingenuity +cannot overcome the obstacle; for the wind drifts the snow, rendering +the path clear at intervals which vary in their area. The poor mail +parties are the ones who experience this undesirable life; and, in +their attempts to make their journeys, they are often driven near to +death's door, although every precaution is taken to make the transit +safe. The mules of these parties are well protected with india rubber +coverings which are lined with blankets, and, so snugly are they +made to fit every available part of the animal, that it seems almost +impossible for cold to touch them. Corn and fodder, to a limited +extent, is transported; but, even with these precautions, the mules +now and then succumb to cold. The man covers his body with warm +clothing and carries with him furs and robes enough to be seemingly +able to defy the storms. He can provide himself only with a scanty +amount of fuel, for his means of conveyance are very contracted. When +overtaken by the storms, which may last several days, he is rendered +almost powerless, and is at the tender mercies of the gale; for he +cannot make fires,--and without them he may perish. This is not true +of every trip made across the plains during the winter, for, like +on the ocean, the passage may be frequently gone through with the +encountering of but little real suffering. One thing in favor of +making the journey in this season of the year is, the probability +of not seeing an Indian. They, usually, during the cold months, +stow themselves away in their, comparatively speaking, warm mountain +retreats. In crossing the plains, small parties find the item of +meeting Indians to be of considerable importance, as, even in the +time of peace, they are very exacting and troublesome, demanding that +provisions should be given them, by way of toll. To refuse is apt +to bring down their ire, when they will usually help themselves to +whatever suits their fancy. They are very partial to sugar, which, +when they cannot say the word in English, they call "Shoog." If not +understood, they make their wants known by the Indian sign of touching +with the index finger the tip of the tongue, thereby indicating the +sweetness of the article. Many of them come armed with a piece of +paper, which testimonial of good behavior they have obtained from +their agent or forced from some traveler. As they cannot read, it +makes but little difference what is the sense of the writing so long +as it is _bona fide_ penmanship. I once saw one of these documents +which the owner prized very highly, but, had he known the purport of +his paper, he would have sighed for the scalp of his _kind friend_ +who wrote it. The language was as follows: "Crossing of the Arkansas," +etc. "The bearer, _Young Antelope_, is a good Indian and will not take +anything out of his reach. This is to warn traders and travelers +to beware of his race, breed, seed, and generation." It was signed +evidently with a fictitious name, and answered the purpose for which +it was intended, which was, to get rid of an ugly customer and to put +strangers on their guard against the man who carried it. + +On arriving at Taos, Kit Carson left this party and proceeded +to Rayado, where he was, soon after, actively engaged in farming +pursuits. + +During the subsequent winter, a detachment of ten dragoons under the +command of sergeant Holbrook was stationed at Rayado to protect the +little settlement. In order that their animals might have the benefit +of the good grass which was to be found in the mountains at a place +where but little snow fell, the settlers established there a herder's +ranche, posting two men there to look after and guard the property. +The cold months were passed in peace and quiet, but, in the spring the +marauding Apaches came, and, after wounding both of the herders, stole +all the gentle animals, including both horses and mules. One of the +wounded men made his way to Rayado, notwithstanding his injuries, and +gave information of what had happened to himself and companion. +On learning these facts, Kit Carson, the dragoons and three of the +settlers, immediately proceeded to the ranche. They arrived there just +as the shades of night began to fall. Nothing could be attempted until +the dawn of another day, consequently, a camp was ordered and duly +arranged. As the first faint beam of light gilded anew the mountain +tops, the party were up and moving. They soon found the trail made +by the thieves and commenced a sharp pursuit. The pace at which they +traveled became so rapid, that, at the distance of only twenty-five +miles from the spot where they first struck the trail, the Indians +were discovered moving on the prairie a long way in advance. There +remained nothing but an open chase. + +Orders were issued to accelerate even the hitherto rapid march. Each +man resumed his exertions to put his horse to his best speed. +The chase was growing intensely exciting when four of the animals +belonging to the pursuers gave out, completely ridden down. Their +riders were the most unhappy of any of the party at this circumstance, +for it precluded even the chances of engaging in the expected affray. +Leaving the four men behind, the remainder of the party pushed on in +the pursuit, and every bound made by their horses brought them nearer +to their foes. After several hours of this hard riding, they came near +enough to the warriors to count their numbers. Their force consisted +of twenty well armed and equipped Indians. They showed no fear of +the party pursuing them, but clung to their stolen property with such +pertinacity that they allowed themselves to be overtaken. A running +fight was immediately commenced which became most exciting, as well +as dangerous, to the participants; but, all the more exciting because +thus dangerous. The Indians were all skillful horsemen and fought +with great dexterity. Their animals being comparatively fresh, in +this respect they had the advantage. Notwithstanding this fact, the +pursuing party administered to them a severe lesson. Five of the +rascally Indians were killed and several wounded, while all of +the stolen animals, with the exception of four, were overtaken and +recaptured. The whole of this pursuit and the running fight which +terminated so successfully was accomplished under the advice of Kit +Carson. Each man in the pursuing party felt that the simple fact that +Kit Carson's eagle eye and experienced hand watched and guided their +movements was a guaranty of certain and ample success. Hence, the +labor of the long chase and the demands upon their personal skill, +activity and courage made by the necessities of the fight, were all +met with that kind of readiness and determination which seldom fails +to make the soldier invincible. Every man in that party knew well +that an Indian chase with Kit Carson for a leader, meant fight and win +success or die. + +In referring to this adventure Kit Carson, when speaking of the +gallant men who accompanied him, said, "They all proved themselves to +be men of the very best material." + +Unfortunately, two of this gallant party have since fallen by the +hands of these same Apache warriors. One of these was Sergeant +Holbrook, a brave man, a skillful soldier and a noble friend. He was +one who adorned his profession of arms and who was an honor to the +country whose uniform he wore. He was killed at the well known battle +of Ceneguilla while bravely fighting against overwhelming odds. This +battle was fought in New Mexico in the year 1854. In it, a company +of United States dragoons were worsted and cut to pieces by a greatly +superior force of these Indians who succeeded in drawing them into an +ambuscade. + +The other person referred to as having been since killed by this tribe +of Apaches was a brave and experienced trapper, well known throughout +the range of Indian depredations as a fearless and dangerous +adversary. His name was William New. He was literally murdered at +Rayado by these Apaches. This occurred only a few months after he had +formed one of the party to pursue and recover the animals stolen from +their ranche. When he was attacked, New was engaged tilling the soil +on his own farm. The rascally Indians surrounded him before he became +aware of their presence. Having an empty rifle with him, he succeeded, +for some time, in keeping his assailants at bay, by pretending that +the piece was loaded and pointing it at the foremost warrior as if +he intended to fire it. The savages, however, finally discovered the +truth and immediately made a rush upon him. A most desperate fight +ensued, for William New, even thus defenceless, was not one who +would yield up his life without a struggle. He made almost superhuman +efforts to effect his escape, using the rifle as a club; wound after +wound was given him in rapid succession in return for the desperate +blows which he dealt with the rifle. His efforts, however, proved +futile. Gradually the red blood was gathered from his body and drank +up by the soil to which he looked for the sustenance of himself and +family, until finally, he sank upon the ground fainting from its loss, +literally covered from head to foot with frightful wounds. Thus died +one more of the sparse race of original mountaineers, now fast passing +away, bravely meeting the fate that has hitherto usually awaited this +band of fearless men. + +We again turn to the adventures of Kit Carson. On the fifth day of +May, 1850, accompanied by an old mountaineer named Timothy Goodel, +he started with fifty head of mules and horses for Fort Laramie. This +fort is distant from Rayado, over five hundred miles. The object which +the two men had in view was to trade their animals with the emigrants +who were, at that time, thronging the overland route to California. +The journey was safely accomplished, Kit Carson and Goodel arriving +at the fort, with their animals all in good condition, sometime in the +following June. They remained here about one month disposing of their +animals at good bargains. + +A few rather amusing anecdotes have had their rise connected with +this visit which Kit Carson made to Fort Laramie. Among several other +incidents the following is somewhat laughable and seems to us worth +relating. Among the line of emigrants then on the road, the report was +circulated for some distance back that the famous Kit Carson was at +the fort. The result was that every man, woman and child, as fast as +they arrived at the fort, were eager to gratify their curiosity by a +sight of the man whose name and exploits had already been the theme of +many a conversation among them. If ever Yankee, or American, (which +is the more appropriate term, we will not attempt to decide) +inquisitiveness was exhibited, it certainly could be then seen at Fort +Laramie. The large majority of those who were thus anxious to see the +famous guide, were led astray by the descriptions which they had heard +and read, and picked out some powerfully built trader who chanced to +present himself, especially if the man was tastefully dressed in a +hunting shirt, with buck-skin leggins, and whose appearance indicated +ferocity. Of this kind of personages there were quite a number present +at the fort. Usually they would accost the man whom they had thus +selected. Sometimes, if their address was appropriate and the humor +of the person accosted so inclined, they would get put right, but more +frequently they were left to enjoy and cherish their mistake, or were +made the subject of a joke. Among the rest there came along quite a +rough looking individual fresh from the cane-brakes of Arkansas. He, +also, was seeking to place his eyes upon Kit Carson. Accidentally, or +intentionally, it matters not for the story, he was directed to the +place where the _bona fide_ Kit Carson stood. His powerful frame and +determined looks, as he put his inquiries, made those inquired of, +apparently, cautious how they perpetrated a joke upon the Arkansas +man. At last, standing face to face with Kit Carson, he thus +interrogated him. "I say, stranger, are you Kit Carson?" Being +modestly answered in the affirmative, he stood a moment, apparently +quite taken aback at beholding the short, compact and mild-looking +man that stood before him. Evidently his beau ideal of the great +mountaineer did not compare with the man whom he thus faced. This +momentary hesitation resulted in the conviction that he was being +deceived. The conviction, at last, took form in words. Rolling an +immense quid of his beloved Indian weed from one cheek to its brother +he said, "Look 'ere _stranger_, you can't come that over me any how. +You ain't the kind of Kit Carson I am looking for." + +This was too much for Kit Carson to hear without treating the person +addressed to his _beau ideal_ of Kit Carson, so suppressing a laugh, +and assuming a very meek expression of countenance, as if he was +afraid to impose upon the Arkansas man, he quietly pointed to a +powerfully built trader, who chanced to be passing near by, dressed +in true prairie style. The Arkansas emigrant followed around after the +trader until, seemingly, he was perfectly satisfied, that he had, at +last, found the famous person of whom he had heard so many wonderful +stories narrated. After gazing at the man for some time, he departed, +no doubt with one more perfect description of what sort of personage +Kit Carson was. + +From the time Kit Carson's name began to be heralded throughout the +world up to the present date, impostors have presented themselves in +various cities; and, acting on the credulity of the people, they have +palmed themselves off as the individual of whom we write; but, from +the perusal of this work, it can be seen how seldom the real Kit +Carson has enjoyed the luxuries of civilized life. It is in this way, +many persons have gathered wrong impressions concerning Kit Carson. + +Within the past few years, a stranger one day presented himself in +the quiet town of Taos, and, being a fellow of words, he soon let +everybody there know his business, both past and present. In one of +the principal stores of the town, there happened to be congregated a +small party of friends, among whom was Kit Carson. They were talking +of the important affairs of their section of country, when this +strange individual entered. His familiarity with all things soon gave +him an introduction; and, after a short conversation, a wag present +was tempted, by the fellow's boasting, to quiz him. Addressing the +traveler he asked, "What part of the world, pray sir, do you come +from?" + +The answer was prompt. + +"I kum from the Cheyenne Nation. I've been living with them Injins fur +several years. Indeed, I consider myself more of an Injin than a white +man." + +The conversation then turned upon other matters. The fellow made +some remarks which led the party to believe that he was entirely +unacquainted with the Cheyenne Indians, or any other Indians. When he +was apparently off of his guard, the wag resumed his questioning. + +"I presume, stranger, you accompany the Cheyennes when they go out on +war parties, as you say that you have turned warrior." + +The reply was: + +"When they go out 'gainst t'other Injins, I do; but when they hunt +white men's hair, I am allowed to stay behind. This was one of the +stip'lations when I took a squaw and jined the tribe." + +"Oh ho! that is the way you manage!" exclaimed the wag. + +"Yes! and I've bin the means of saving some scalps for my race too, +fur the Injins believe in me, they do," continued the fellow. + +The wag resumed-- + +"Perhaps, stranger, you have heard of Kit Carson. It is said he is on +the prairies somewhere, either dead or alive." + +The fellow answered: + +"You've got me! Know Kit Carson! I reckon I do. It is strange that you +should ask me that, when Kit was the very last man I laid eyes on as I +left our tribe." + +Here the fellow lowered his voice and said, as if exemplifying +sympathy. + +"Poor Kit was in a very bad way one hour before we parted. The fact +is, you know, he'd bin playin' the papers (meaning gambling) and had +lost everything. However, I made him happy by giving him my gun and +powder-horn. With them, you know, he will git along anywhere!" + +All hands, except Kit Carson, joined in the laugh at the fellow's +impudence. Kit Carson's patience was exhausted in listening to the +barefaced falsehoods which the man was uttering; so, with some excuse, +he left the party. The fellow was unapprised of the farce which he had +been acting; and, shortly after, left the town, believing that he had +acquitted himself as became a hero. + +By way of episode, and while story-telling keeps its hold on our pen, +we may as well relate a short anecdote, which, though it does not +form any close connection with this part of the narrative, seems to +illustrate the practical jokes which are sometimes played off by the +western men upon those who have yet to undergo their novitiate. + +A German accidentally wandered out to and located himself in company +with others on or near the Greenhorn River, which is one of the +tributaries of the Arkansas. Their business was trading with the +Mormons, many of whom at that time traveled to Salt Lake, by what is +known as the Arkansas River route. In so doing, they came near +the vicinity of the site selected for trading purposes. In the +commencement, the German was very inexperienced in matters that +pertained to trading with these emigrants, and, as a matter of +course, in an Indian country, met with many singular adventures. It +so happened that this man was exceedingly afraid of rattlesnakes, +and those he was associated with, by way of amusement, delighted in +augmenting his fears by telling him wonderful stories of what feats +the reptile had been known to perform. On the first trip which he made +to the camp of some Mormons located about nine miles off, his ride +took him through a perfect hot-bed of these snakes. Behind his saddle, +on the horse's back which he rode, he had tied a bag of rice which he +had intended to barter. The German, not being used to riding, was a +poor horseman, while unfortunately, his steed was a spirited animal, +and at once, on his mounting, started off on a trot. The string of the +bag of rice became loosened by the severe jolting, and its contents +came tumbling on the ground in great quantities, but afterwards as the +stock on hand decreased, this was lessened. The German, who had his +hands full to keep his seat in the saddle, heard the rattling noise +behind him, but dared not look around, for fear of being thrown off +from his horse. He supposed he was chased by a ferocious snake, and, +at once, thought only of escape; therefore, seizing the mane of the +horse, he gave him the spurs. He was soon going at a flying gait; +still, the rattling noise pursued him as the increased speed sent the +little grains of rice out of the sack in greater quantities. At last +the sound died away, as the cause of the trouble was expended. The +frightened rider now considered himself safe, and began to rein in his +horse. After a while, he brought him to a stand-still, and turned to +look for his retreating enemy, but instead, found the origin and cause +of the mischief. His loss was irrecoverable, and he could only laugh +at the ridiculous figure he must have cut. This adventure gave his +friends much merriment, and served to open his eyes in reference to +the much vaunted capabilities of this snake. He has since often told +this story of himself, and considers it a capital joke. + +The labor of settling up their business at Fort Laramie was soon over, +when Kit Carson and Goodel took their departure. Goodel started +for California, while Kit Carson commenced his tramp homeward. As a +traveling companion, he took with him a Mexican. They pursued their +journey quite pleasantly and safely enough, but, on their arrival +at the Greenhorn River, the scene of the German's adventure with a +rattle-snake, they were obliged to be very wary in their progress, for +Kit had learned that the Apache Indians were out on the warpath, and +were waylaying the road which, he intended to pursue with the avowed +purpose of attacking, plundering and murdering whoever chanced to fall +in their savage clutches. Kit Carson, therefore, halted for six days +on the banks of the Greenhorn, and spent the time recruiting his +animals. While here and thus engaged, a party of white men, whom he +found encamped on the same river, formed the subject of his earnest +attention. They had come thus far on their route to New Mexico, but, +on learning the news of the hostile attitude of the Apache nation, +their courage had entirely deserted them. They did not dare venture +into New Mexico, and counselled the retracing of their steps. Kit +Carson set himself to work, but found he had a difficult task to talk +courage into these men. By dint of much argument, he succeeded in +persuading one of them to accompany him. On the seventh day, with this +one companion--for the Mexican had left him--he broke up his little +camp on the Greenhorn, and set out upon his dangerous journey. + +By taking a zigzag course, avoiding, in the mountains, all the usually +traveled trails, he advanced on his route forty miles without seeing +any very fresh Indian signs. As often as the moon was unclouded, the +two men embraced the assistance of its pale light to make progress +through the dangers that beset them; and, on the days which succeeded +this night-work, they would conceal themselves and animals in some +out of the way place, where they were not to be easily discovered. Kit +Carson had not sufficient confidence in the quickness of perception +of his companion to trust him as a sentinel, therefore, he had to +take upon himself all of that important duty. While on the lookout, he +usually posted himself in the top limbs of a tree and always took +care to select one that commanded a good prospect of the surrounding +country. After several days passed without having proper rest, Kit, +in the monotony of his position as sentinel, would feel sleep stealing +over him, until it was difficult to keep longer awake. He would close +his eyes and commence to nod, but on these occasions he was sure to +be quickly aroused on almost losing his balance, by which, however, he +endangered his neck. One day, while thus employed, he was perched in +the highest branches of a lofty old cotton-wood on the banks of the +River Timchera and not far off from the "Spanish Peaks." Nearly +ten hours had passed without anything special having attracted his +attention, when, all at once, a band of straggling Apaches came into +view not over one half mile distant. A single look was sufficient to +convince him that, as yet, neither himself nor his companion had been +discovered. No time was to be lost, so Kit, as quickly as possible, +descended and ran to where his friend was, and informed him of their +danger. The animals were soon saddled, and the two men mounting them, +struck out in a direction just the opposite to that in which the +Indians were traveling. Fortune favored them, as, soon after they had +emerged from the timber into the open prairies, night set in, thus +shutting them out from the view of the savages. Profiting by the +darkness and the level country which lay before them, they reached, by +the rising of the next morning's sun, the Mexican town of Red River, +which was sixty-five miles distant from the place they had last +started from. All dangers having been now surmounted, they made a +sufficient stay at Red River to rest themselves and animals. + +On resuming their journey, they jogged along over the now rough trail +and, after a ride of thirty miles, came to Taos, where they were once +more safe from the perils that had so recently surrounded them, and +where they were well provided for by kind friends. + +Rio Colorado, or Red River settlement, is, next to Taos, the oldest +town in northern New Mexico. It is located on a small stream of the +same name, which flows into the Rio Grande. The town itself contains +some two or three hundred inhabitants, and occupies rather a pretty +site, being built on a high bank, while between it and the river +there is a large strip of bottom land, which is under cultivation. +The scenery about is picturesque, embracing lofty and bold mountains, +beautiful wood-land and open prairies. The external appearance of the +village is that of abject poverty; and, on entering it, one readily +sees that his eyesight has not deceived him, but that his first +impressions are fully realized. It was here that Fremont and his men +found a haven of safety after meeting their trying reverses on the +fourth exploring expedition. To them, the sight of this town must have +been hailed with delight. In Red River there live two old trappers, +who have long since been weaned from the habits and manners of +civilization. These two men are Canadians, one of them notorious for +the "yarns" he can spin; but as they are many of them past belief, +they are listened to by the traveler as a help to pass the time while +he is obliged to tarry in the place. A young English nobleman who was +on a visit of pleasure to the western country, once fell into this +man's clutches, and, from the trapper's after boasting, we infer that +he (the trapper) more than surpassed himself in story-telling. Among +other things, he informed this nobleman that he had once mastered +a grizzly bear in a hand-to-hand fight by cramming a stick that was +sharpened at both ends into the bear's mouth in such a way that the +monster could not close his jaws, because it fastened and kept them +open. Being asked by the nobleman how large were the _hare_ in that +vicinity of country, his answer was, that he had seen them of such +a magnitude that one would be a load for a man, and that when strung +across the hunter's shoulder, one part was sure to be dragging on the +ground. He then boasted that he had killed a grasshopper that, with +his head cut off, weighed _six ounces_. Notwithstanding his love of +talk, this old man had once been a brave and famous hunter; but no +confidence could be placed in him, owing to his habituated want of +regard for truth and honor; hence, he has long since been excluded +from the companionship of the mountaineers. The English gentleman +above spoken of was an experienced traveler, and therefore undoubtedly +knew how to weigh the truth of his astonishing information. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + + Kit Carson reaches Home--Himself and Neighbors robbed by the + Apaches--Major Grier goes in Pursuit of, and recaptures the + stolen Stock--A Plot organized by White Men to murder two + Santa Fe Traders for their Money--The Disclosure--Kit Carson + goes to the Rescue of the Traders--The Camp of United States + Recruits--Captain Ewell with twenty Men joins Kit Carson and + they two make the Arrest of Fox--Gratitude expressed by the + Traders--Money offered but refused--The Prisoner taken to Taos + and incarcerated--Kit Carson receives a magnificent Pair of + Revolvers as a Present from the grateful Traders--The return + to Rayado--A Trading Expedition to the United States--The + return Journey--An Encounter with the Cheyenne Indians--A + State of Suspense--The Deliverance from Danger by a Message + sent by a Mexican Runner--The arrival at Rayado. + + +After finishing the pleasant visit which he was thus enabled to make, +while recruiting himself among the good people of Taos, Kit Carson +bent his way to his home at Rayado. He safely reached there and had +but just dismounted at his own door, when he was informed of a recent +calamity that had befallen himself and neighbors during his absence. +It was the old story, viz. that the Indians had come in and boldly +stole all the animals belonging to the settlement--At the time this +depredation had been committed, there was a small detachment of United +States troops stationed in the place, but the soldiers were too few +in number to attempt a rescue of the property from the savages. +The latter had visited the little town with a strong force on this +occasion; the settlers, therefore, made application to the commanding +officer of the territory, who promptly dispatched Major Grier with +a command of dragoons to hunt up the guilty parties and punish them. +This the major did and was so fortunate as to recover nearly all of +the stolen stock which he had the satisfaction of returning to its +owners. + +Kit Carson remained through the following summer months at his ranche +at Rayado, busying himself in efforts to improve his house and lands. + +In his employment Kit Carson had several faithful Mexicans. His task +was to superintend their labors, which occupied only a part of his +time. When anything required it he lent a hand to assist them; but, +these men had to be provided with provisions which, to purchase in +those distant parts, would have entailed a great item of expense; +indeed, more than equal to the profits arising from their labor. +Therefore, a certain amount of time had to be set apart for hunting, +which kind of employment he truly enjoyed. Mounted on a fine horse, +with his faithful gun and dog, early each day, he would start out on +the prairies to engage in the chase. In a few hours he would return on +foot, with his noble hunter loaded down with choice game. Sometimes +it would be antelope or elk; on another occasion, it would consist of +black tailed deer, which are celebrated as being the largest and the +finest species of venison that roam the forests of any country and are +only to be found in the Rocky Mountains; on another, wild-turkeys; and +then mountain grouse and prairie chickens helped to complete the load. +When thus provided for, it is no wonder that Kit's workmen loved their +employment and labored with good will. While thus engaged Kit Carson's +weather eye was always open for Indian signs. His horses, cattle and +sheep which he had bought since the last depredation were watched with +great vigilance, as no one could foretell what the next hour would +bring forth. In his mountain home Kit was often visited by Indian +friends who came to smoke the pipe of peace with him and enjoy his +hospitality. When thus surrounded by rival hunters worthy of his +steel, who had sprung up, like oaks of the forest, he felt truly +happy. This happiness was greatly enhanced and augmented by the +thrifty appearance of everything that pertained to him. + +He saw himself in the possession of fine lands, well watered and well +timbered. Also plenty which was ready for the plow. It was almost a +farm, made to order by the most perfect Workman. 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 +rich harvest in store for him. His stock was the best which heart +could wish; and last, but with him not least, he was within a stone's +throw of splendid hunting grounds, which, to his unerring rifle, as +the reader has already seen, proved as safe an assistant, as would +have been a Wall street bank with a large credit side to his account. + +We have here a picture of Kit Carson enjoying the rewards of a home +congenial to his taste and knowledge of life, while around him are +gathered the objects which his manly soul had learned to love and +live for. The painting is one which we find beautiful to the sight +and which is rich in its lessons of life. But these deductions must be +left for the sensitive and honest hearted imagination to draw. It is +not fitting to add them to these pages, however truthful they may be, +until the last sad rites which are measured out to all, shall have +been performed for the brave man of whom we write, and his noble +soul shall have winged its flight to the happier hunting grounds of +eternity. + +The duties of farming and hunting were only once interrupted during +the summer which Kit Carson thus enjoyed with his family. The exploit +which called him, on this occasion, from his home, was caused by an +effort to save the lives of two well known traders. To accomplish +this, he assumed the character and duties of a detective police +officer. The circumstances of the case were as follows. + +An American, by the name of Fox, had organized a party to accompany as +a guard over the plains, and, while professedly engaged in this duty, +to murder Messrs. Brevoort and Weatherhead, two gentlemen who were +traveling into the United States, as the rascal and party supposed, +with a large sum of money which they expected to expend in the +purchase of goods to be used for trading purposes. Fox played his part +so well that when he offered himself and men as an escort, the offer +was accepted by the intended and unsuspicious victims, as if it had +been a mark of particular favor. Before the route was entered upon, +Fox visited Taos for the purpose of enlisting among his band of +desperadoes, a fellow who resided in that town. He was a person +who bore a very bad character, but for some reason, which has never +transpired, he refused to go; yet, proving true as a wicked confidant, +he waited until he thought his friend Fox was sufficiently advanced on +the road to accomplish his hellish purposes without any chance of his +being overtaken and arrested. He then saw fit to divulge the plot. + +Every new country is the favorite place of resort for desperadoes and +rascals of all grades, who cannot live in their native districts on +account of their many crimes. + +Until the machinery of law and order begins to work smoothly, these +fellows, in their new homes, have every thing their own way unless +they go to too great excesses, when their neighbors will rise +for their own protection and treat them with summary and severe +punishment. Often, by thus making an example of a few, large numbers +are prevented from doing further mischief. In the early history +of nearly every one of our western territories, escaped convicts, +murderers, thieves and the worst sort of humanity, mingled in with +good men, have commenced their nefarious practices on a grand scale. +These things have brought such sections of our country into bad +repute abroad. It needs but time for communities to ferret these +human monsters out and visit upon them a just retribution. The inland +position of New Mexico and the consequent difficulty of intercourse +with the General Government of the United States, made it an inviting +place, from time to time, for men of this stamp to visit; but, as they +have met on most occasions with a reception from the friends of order, +not in the least suited to their tastes, they have almost ceased their +coming, thereby showing what a few resolute men can accomplish at the +commencement of such trouble. The reforming work of mitigating the +evil, which is sure to result among a mixed population under the best +regulations, is slowly progressing, and the day is not far distant, +when New Mexico, in this respect, will compare favorable with her +sister (and older) territories. + +The purport of this diabolical plot accidentally came to the ears of +an officer in the army, who chanced to be in Taos at the time. This +gentleman was one of the first to hear of it, and at once sought Kit +Carson; but instead of directly telling him what he had just heard, +from some strange reason of his own, he demanded of Kit whether +he would be willing to pursue and apprehend Fox for debt. To this +proposition Kit Carson replied in the negative. + +On hearing Kit's indignant refusal to be employed in such a menial +undertaking, the officer concluded to lay the true state of the case +before him, who, he naturally enough thought, could, above all others +in that territory, devise some plan that would result in rescuing +Brevoort and Weatherhead from their impending fate. Here it may be +proper for us to add that the officer who had thus indiscreetly acted, +must have had previously a very slight acquaintance with Kit Carson, +or he would not have selected him as a man ready and anxious for any +dirty job which might offer, as it is entirely foreign to his +true character. Kit Carson, on being apprised of the facts, became +interested, and took the management of the affair, for the most part, +into his own hands; and, on investigating it more thoroughly, he came +to the conclusion that Fox and his companions contemplated committing +the crime on the Cimaron River. + +This river is nearly east from Taos; and the point at which Carson +anticipated overhauling the party was between two and three hundred +miles distant. At this time, the Mountain Indians were unusually +hostile; but Kit Carson was always well informed of their +movements--as much so as it was in the power of any one to be. With +the little command under him he was willing, where so weighty a matter +as saving the lives of two of his countrymen demanded his services, +to march anywhere--even if he had to contest his way. One hour was +sufficient time for him to make ready for the undertaking, but not +so with the soldiers. They had to put their horses and themselves in +trim, for it might be severe and taxing duty. The route taken by the +party was a trail, which leads direct to Rayado, and on which, just +before reaching the last-named place, there are many curious piles +of stones, which are scattered over the side of a mountain, and have +formed a puzzle to many an inquiring mind. By some they are supposed +to be Indian graves; but, by others, they are thought to have been +made as a sort of landmark by the older inhabitants of the plains, +when they started into New Mexico on some marauding incursion. These +latter persons believe that the Indians were unacquainted with the +country they were invading, and had left these marks to assist them in +making their way out again. Most likely the first hypothesis is true, +and that the stones were thus heaped up to protect the corpses from +being devoured by the wolves. On quitting Rayado Kit Carson struck out +on the open prairies. + +By making an expeditious march, Kit Carson felt that the traders could +yet be saved. His party consisted of ten picked men of the dragoons, +and it was splendidly mounted on horses furnished him to assist in the +undertaking. The pace which Kit commanded and required was one which +would try the nerves and courage of most good horsemen. Onward, over +the level prairie, the party galloped--every man feeling proud of the +guide, whose spirit they caught and imitated. The second night out +from Taos they came upon the camp of a detachment of United States +recruits who were under the command of Captain Ewell, and who were +bound for New Mexico, where they were to reinforce the regiments of +the army which were stationed in that territory. + +It is customary to send out, each year, detachments of recruits to +the different departments of the West. These men are enlisted and +collected at the depots within the States; and, whenever a sufficient +force is collected to fill up the requisitions, they are dispatched, +at the proper seasons, to their respective regiments. Those intended +for New Mexico set out during the summer months. They are rarely sent +at the same time, or as the same command of men. These recruits are +a hard set to manage, especially when traveling through the States, +where they are exposed to temptation. On arriving at the commencement +of their hardships, on the plains, it is usually found that many have +deserted, and also that many might have done so with benefit to the +government. Military service with recruits, and the same with old +soldiers, are two different things. With the former, officers are +obliged to command, threaten and punish, to accomplish in one day, +what the latter would perform without much trouble in half the time. +Recruits know little or nothing about marching or camp duty; and, +in taking care of them, an officer has his hands full. Even the most +minute items have to be looked to; for example, they are men rarely +used to fire-arms, being, for the most part, foreigners by birth, and +are just as apt to load a gun with the ball of the cartridge first +down, as with the powder. Old soldiers look upon these new comers as +verdant in the extreme, and the pranks they often play upon them are +very humorous. With patient discipline, they become serviceable men, +and are an honor to the standard which they carry; and, what appears +to be the strangest fact of all, frequently the poorest looking +recruit may make the best soldier. This is a fair picture of the men +Capt. Ewell was commanding. + +Kit Carson at once informed the captain of the duty he was on, when +that distinguished officer, generously determined to assist in putting +a damper on the wicked designs of the wretches. Taking with him twenty +men, Captain Ewell joined Kit Carson, and together they proceeded in +the pursuit. By using every precaution in their power, and forcing +their marches, they entered into the camp of the traders, and arrested +Fox before he had time even to suspect the business upon which +the party had come. After Fox was secured, Messrs. Weatherhead and +Brevoort, were informed of the dangers through which they had passed. +These gentlemen, at first were astounded, but they soon became assured +of the truth of what they heard. They then selected fifteen men whom +they knew to be innocent, and ordered the remainder of their escort, +numbering thirty-five souls, to leave their camp instanter, which +command was promptly obeyed. To Kit Carson, they offered any sum of +money that was in their power to bestow, in return for the invaluable +service he had rendered them. Kit Carson replied, "that it was reward +sufficient for him to have been instrumental in saving the lives of +two worthy citizens, and that he could not think of receiving one cent +of money." + +A long colloquy was held that night around a good camp fire, that was +freely fed with "buffalo chips."[21] At midnight, most of the party +were asleep, and nothing could then be heard except the barking of +wolves and the heavy tread of the guard, as they walked to and fro +on their respective beats. On the first appearance of day-light, all +hands were up and preparing to strike their tents. Soon after the +parties separated, but, before doing so, the traders again expressed +their thanks, and then resumed their journey. Fox was first taken +to Captain Ewell's camp, then he was turned over to Kit Carson, who +conveyed him to Taos, where he was imprisoned for some time; but was +finally released, as nothing positive could be proved against him, +chiefly because he had committed no overt act, but had only, thus far, +engaged in plotting the double murder and robbery. This is always a +difficult crime to establish. In this instance, the difficulty was +greatly augmented from the fact that the witnesses in the case, as +soon as they heard of Fox's capture, scattered and left for parts +unknown. He was finally set at liberty. + +[Footnote 21: Buffalo chips form the principal fuel of the plains. It +is dry buffalo manure.] + +At that day the keeping of a prisoner in close confinement in New +Mexico, or of having him continually under the surveillance of the +military was no ordinary, or easy matter. The only places which +could be converted into jails, were the common _adobe_ houses of the +inhabitants. From these a wide awake and determined prisoner with the +free use of his hands, and the assistance of the smallest kind of +a tool, as a jack-knife or pair of scissors, could dig out of his +dungeon in five or six hours. The large majority of the criminals who +were thus incarcerated, managed to effect their escape. In the case of +Fox, however, he had a man to deal with who was seldom thwarted in any +of his undertakings. With so much convicting evidence of his wicked +intentions, and with so much trouble to bring him to trial, it was +greatly regretted, that he did not receive a suitable punishment. As +soon as he was set free, Fox made his way out of the country; but his +further history is not known. + +The general impression left upon the minds of the people who were +familiar with the minutiae of this affair was, that Fox was guilty. +As he was known to be a finished villain, it was universally believed +that, after murdering and plundering the two traders, he intended to +grasp the "lion's share," and with his portion, to proceed to Texas, +where, as he was there entirely unknown, he hoped to enjoy the rewards +of his rascality. + +This valuable service rendered to Messrs. Brevoort and Weatherhead, +was most gracefully and handsomely rewarded by them. In the course of +the following spring, they presented Kit with a pair of magnificent +revolvers. Upon the silver mountings, there were engraved a very few, +but expressive words, indicating the obligations which the donors +considered themselves laboring under towards their deliverer. Such a +testimonial to an unselfish heart like that which beats in the breast +of Kit Carson, is a prize of greater value than any more substantial +gift, which money could purchase. These beautiful weapons, Kit Carson +prizes very highly; and, the donors may here learn the fact that, in +the hands of their owner, they have since been duly initiated into +active service, and found to perform their necessary duties most +admirably. + +After the task of the arrest of Fox was thus successfully undertaken +and consummated, by his being securely lodged in jail and placed under +suitable guard, Kit Carson returned to Rayado, where he spent the +winter in a very quiet manner. We use the term quiet manner: it should +be qualified with the phrase, quiet manner for him. He found plenty +of employment in looking after his animals, besides spending a large +share of his time in hunting. This, however, although always attended +with paying practical results, he did as much for pleasure as from +necessity. He always found a large number of hungry mouths ready to +relieve him from any superabundance of game; and, as his hospitality +to all classes is unbounded, he took especial delight in feeding and +liberally bestowing his bounties upon his poor Mexican neighbors, to +whom powder and lead were more of a desideratum than to himself, +and with whom his experience and skill as a hunter, were a source of +support which they could only wish for. + +Early the next summer Kit Carson, in charge of a train of wagons +belonging to himself and his friend Maxwell, set out for the United +States. After an unusually pleasant journey, he reached the Missouri +River, and proceeded down it, in a steamboat, to St. Louis. Here he +purchased a large stock of goods. With this freight, he returned to +Kansas, where he had left his caravan, into which, on his arrival, he +transferred his merchandise. He then started on his return trip to +New Mexico. In order that his animals might take advantage of the fine +grass to be found there, he chose the route, known to all traders on +the plains, as well as to the reader, as the road by Bent's Fort. He +was progressing on his journey quite happily, when unfortunately, at +a point that is located about fifteen miles above the fording of the +Arkansas, he fell in with a village of Cheyenne Indians who were just +at that time violently hostile towards the whites and were waiting an +opportunity to wreak their vengeance on them. This state of feeling +had been brought about only a few days previous, and was due to an +officer who was attached to a command of recruits that some ten days +before Kit Carson's arrival had passed by. He had flogged a warrior +for some liberty which the fellow had taken while he was in the camp +of the soldiers. These Cheyennes are very fond of dress and show; but, +as a body, they are as noble and athletic looking men as tread this +earth. Singular though the contrast may appear, a greater set of +rascals never went unhung; yet, they are Indians, and, as such, they +ought to command sympathy and forbearance. + +The young men who belong to the Cheyenne nation, are fond of dress, +and when arrayed in full costume one of them is a picture to look +upon; when thus gilded no man could be prouder. These Indians wear +their hair in a long cue a la Chinese style. They take great pleasure +in ornamenting this cue with innumerable pieces of silver, which are +made from half dollar pieces, and are beat out in the shape of small +shields. With their blue, or red blankets, long ribbons of different +colored flannel, fancy leggins and bead decorations, and finally (as +I once saw one) with a red cotton umbrella, they represent the very +Paris tip of Indian fashion. Their squaws do not possess as regular +and fine features as the men; but, this may be said to be true of most +of the wild tribes of savages in North America, for it requires an +enormous stretch of the imagination to call them handsome, while many +of the men are fine looking. Hard work spoils the beauty of the Indian +women. To admire an Indian woman one must seclude himself from the +society of other females; under such circumstances it may be that +a person might be inclined to change his opinion and think the race +lovely. The lazy brave considers it beneath his station to work; +therefore all camp labor and the packing, saddling and looking after +the ponies devolves upon the squaw. When there is a scanty supply of +horses, she is obliged to give her lord the preference in taking his +ease, and go herself on foot and carry her pappoose. In fact it is +lowering to the Indian's pride to do else than hunt and fight. +Owing to the scarcity of timber on the western prairies the Indians +transport their lodge poles from camp to camp. This is done by +attaching them to the sides of the pack animals while the free ends +drag on the ground, and in time of war this constitutes one of the +signs of the trail by which to follow when in pursuit of them. + +The reason why the commanding officer of this party of recruits +inflicted the summary punishment referred to, is not known to the +writer; but, it surely does appear as if the person who ordered its +execution or perhaps courageously performed it himself, might have +reflected, that a savage, least of all men, allows a supposed injury +done to him or his tribe to pass by unrevenged, and also that it is a +matter of perfect indifference to him as to who the victim is, if he +only gets the chance to strike a blow on the same nation. This revenge +will quench his cruel thirst for blood quite as effectually as if +he had the satisfaction of scalping the perpetrator of his real or +supposed injury. It is a fact--alas too frequently true--that the +parties who are strong in numbers, courage, and equipment, while +crossing the plains, are prone to treat, in an overbearing and +insolent manner, the bands of Indians with whom they chance to come +into contact. For these insults and injuries weaker parties who travel +upon the same road are held to a strict and revengeful account by +being made to suffer even with their lives, as well as effects. Kit +Carson and his small force, unfortunately, or rather, fortunately, so +far as Kit himself was concerned, for no man could be better fitted to +deal with such a crisis of trouble than he, were the first white men +who came along after the flogging of their warrior had wrought up the +temper of the Cheyenne nation to a degree which nearly bordered on +frenzy. + +As soon as the whites were discovered, the Indians went into council +evidently to decide on the best mode of attacking and making away with +them. Kit Carson, though he did not know that this tribe had declared +war, and much less their reasons for so doing, when he first saw them, +was not long in coming to a conclusion, from their actions, that there +was a screw loose somewhere. He, therefore, began to act with more +than usual sagacity and caution. He ordered his men to keep their +wagons close together, to have their rifles in good trim and be ready +for an instant fight. In this manner, with every man on the watch, +he pushed on for a distance of twenty miles. Although he had left +the Indians far behind, he did not relax his vigilance, being still +impressed with the belief that a storm was brewing. His surmises began +to be verified soon after, for the Indians, in parties of two, three, +and four, appeared in sight, arrayed and painted in their full +war costume. Having approached some of them to within a distance +sufficiently near so to do, Kit Carson commenced talking to them in +a conciliatory manner. They were inclined to heed his words; and, in +order to make it appear that he was not intimidated by their actions, +he went into camp, and invited these advance parties of the Indians to +come in and have a talk and smoke with him. The savages accepted the +invitation and were soon seated in a circle. After the pipe had passed +from one to the other, until all present had had a puff or two from +it, they began to talk loud among themselves. + +At the time we now speak of, several years, as the reader can readily +compute, had elapsed since Kit Carson was a hunter at Bent's Fort, and +then well known to most of the Cheyenne nation; but, these few years +had so altered him, together with his new style of dress, that it is +no doubt that, at first, not one of the Indians remembered ever having +seen him before. + +Kit Carson remained quiet and allowed the Indians to open the talk, as +he was watching to find out what had so suddenly aroused their anger, +and he well knew, that if they supposed that he and his men did not +understand what they were conversing about, they might refer to the +cause of the trouble, and thus give him a clue whereby he might take +advantage and form a line of conduct. It was clear to his mind that +the Indians were resolved to have revenge on his party, and that +there was time enough to let himself be known to them, which, in their +present excited state, would serve him but little. The Indians had +at first conversed in the Sioux tongue. The reason for this was, to +conceal their own nationality and thus, if necessary, in the future, +they could shield themselves by laying the massacre, which they were +about to commit, on the shoulders of that tribe. This is a ruse often +employed by the Indians; but, in this case, in their heated state they +forgot their native cunning and commenced conversing in the language +which was most familiar to them. A Frenchman, called in the mountains +Pete, who spoke English fluently and who was with Carson during these +trying scenes, informed the writer, on one occasion, that he never +fully knew or appreciated Kit Carson until this occurrence. "Why," +said he in his enthusiasm, "Kit knew just what was to be done and did +it too. With any other man, we would _have gone under_[22] The Indians +were more afraid of him than all the rest of us put together. There +were red fellows enough there to eat us up, and at one time I could +almost feel my hair _leaving my head_. We had two women traveling with +us and their crying made me feel so bad that I was sartin there was +no fight in me. Women (he added) are poor plunder to have along when +going out on a war party, but Kit talked to them and then to the +Indians, and put them both finally on the right trail. Wah!! but them +were ticklish times." + +[Footnote 22: A trapper phrase for being killed.] + +As soon as the Indians, in their excitement, began to speak their +own language, they became very violent, and so unguarded were they in +expressing their individual sentiments that they treated Kit and his +party with perfect indifference, and openly, though secretly as they +thought, arranged for the massacre. + +Little did they imagine that Kit Carson, whom they had at first sight +selected as the leader of the company, understood every word that was +said. Kit listened attentively to their plans and heard them decide +that the time to kill him was, when he again took the pipe to smoke; +for, in so doing, he would lay down his weapons. They could be +instantly seized, and therefore he would be prevented from doing them +any harm. As to the Mexicans who accompanied him, they said they could +kill them as easily as they could buffalo. Already enough had passed +among the Indians to arouse in Kit Carson's breast the greatest +feeling of alarm as to what would be the result of the position in +which he was placed. He had with him fifteen men, two only of which +number, were men on whom he felt that he could rely. The other members +of the party, who counted thirteen in all, were Mexicans of whom he +had a poor opinion as to their bravery. Nothing daunted by such an +accumulation of unfavorable circumstances, he at once saw that a bold +face was to be put on in order to extricate himself from the grasp +of the Indians. Springing to his feet with his weapons ready for +immediate use, Kit Carson, as he advanced into the centre of the +seated warriors, gave directions for his men to be ready to defend +their lives. Then, turning to the Indians, who sat rooted to the +earth, as it were, with astonishment at the suddenness of such actions +and such coolness, he commenced addressing them. He informed them +"that they might readily see from the fluency with which he spoke +their language, that he had comprehended all that they had been +talking about. What puzzled him most, however, was the cause of their +wishing to have his scalp. Never," said he, "to his knowledge had he +been guilty of any wrong to their tribe; that, on the contrary, +there were braves among those present, who, if they turned to their +memories, would recognize his face as that of an old friend in years +gone by, and who could testify to the many acts of kindness which he +had performed in their behalf." He reminded them "how that, even +now, he had received them into his camp and treated them with all the +hospitality in his power; and yet they persisted in repaying him by +taking his life." In the end, he wound up his discourse by giving +peremptory orders for them to leave his camp, and should any one +refuse, he would be shot. The Indians were completely nonplused, and +not feeling inclined to risk a fight without their usual accompaniment +of a surprise, after saying something about returning, to which they +were answered "that if they did they would be received by a volley of +bullets," they departed to join their friends who were in swarms upon +the neighboring hills. It is supposed that a grand council was called, +in which the proceedings that had transpired in the camp of the +white men were fully reported, and perchance, many of the braves, in +refreshing their memories, began to recollect some of the daring deeds +which Kit Carson had performed when he lived in their country. +This, doubtless, led them to the conclusion that they had caught +an experienced traveler; for, certain it was, that afterwards their +actions became somewhat disconcerted and not so rash as they had +been. No sooner had the savages retired from the camp, than Kit Carson +ordered his men to harness their animals to the wagons so that they +could resume their journey. + +As the train moved on, the Indians were once more left behind, +although they had, by no means, formed the idea of allowing the white +men to depart in peace. They were busy concocting some scheme whereby +they could accomplish their ends without loss to themselves. The +muleteers, as they walked beside their teams, by order of Kit Carson +held in one hand their rifles, while in the other were their whips, +which, from time to time, they were obliged to apply freely to their +animals in order to keep the caravan in compact order. Mounted on a +fine horse, with his rifle and pistols so adjusted that he could lay +his hands on them at a moment's notice, Kit Carson rode from one end +of the line to the other, inspiring his men with his own courage. He +felt that upon him was rested the responsibility of saving the lives +of his companions, and that it was to him they all looked to be +rescued from the perils that surrounded them. As he rode along, his +eyes were busy scanning the prairies in every direction. Now and then +he rested from this duty as his mind became somewhat relieved, when he +could discover nothing except bands of antelope, or, here and there, +a hungry wolf, who, with his white, canine looking teeth, seemingly, +spoke volumes of the empty condition of his stomach. For the remainder +of that day, the train traveled on in apparent safety. When the shades +of evening had fairly set in, a camping-ground was selected on a small +stream. The wagons were formed in a circle, in which were huddled the +men and animals so that both could be protected by the weapons of the +former. Grass was cut with the butcher knives belonging to the +members of the party and was laid before the mules. In this dangerous +locality, they could not be allowed to procure this food for +themselves. As strong a guard as their forces would permit of was +posted. The remainder of the party gathered some wood that had floated +down the stream from the mountains and was sparingly scattered along +the shores of the river near to the camp. This was brought in, when +small fires were made over which their frugal meal was prepared, after +which the men lay down to rest. Many persons there are who would +think that after escaping such perils once, it would take very +great inducements to make them thus expose themselves a second time. +Nevertheless, there exist in our land hundreds upon hundreds of men +who take delight in returning into the midst of these dangers. + +A life on the prairies of the "Far West" has its good chances as +well as its counter chances, and no man can be happier than the +true mountaineer. At first, to one accustomed to luxuries and modern +refinement, nothing can be more unpleasant than a journey over the +plains; but each day thus spent, hardens the traveler until meals, +that a beggar in our towns or cities would hardly deign to touch, are +by him eaten with a relish to which he has long been a stranger. It +is on these long tramps that the dyspeptic and melancholic man becomes +the liveliest of the party; his sociability often increases to such a +degree that he soon can spin a yarn in a true Baron Munchausen style. + +Eat Carson, as he rode silently along all the following day, had been +meditating over the scenes through which he had so recently passed, +and also the most practicable means to be employed for the future. +When the night had fully set in, without saying one word to the other +members of the party, he called to a young Mexican whom he knew to be +very fleet of foot and whose powers of endurance were wonderful. On +his coming to him he led him one side, when, after he had depicted to +the boy their fearful situation in its true colors, he told him that +he held the power of saving the lives of the whole party. + +The New Mexicans of the north are famous as being very fleet of foot, +and the great distance which they can run in a short period of time is +astonishing. As a general rule, they are very partial to horses, +but, when they have no riding animal, they will start on a journey +of hundreds of miles and accomplish it in an incredibly short time. A +journey of forty or fifty miles in a day is an ordinary circumstance +with them, even when the inducement for making it has in its behalf +only a minor consideration. Owing to want of mail routes, it sometimes +becomes necessary to dispatch them on express duty, such as carrying +one, or several letters to some distant point. Their charge is wrapped +up in a handkerchief and tied about their waists to prevent being +lost. Then, on a jog trot, they will start out; and over mountains +and broken country they will not alter the pace for many consecutive +hours, and this for a reward of one or two dollars per diem. It is not +uncommon to meet traveling companions where one is on horseback and +the other on foot; but notwithstanding, they will keep together for +an entire journey, and complete it as quickly as if the horseman +had undertaken it alone. When, by chance, they come to and stop at +a village where there is a fandango or other festive scene in full +blast, they will, notwithstanding their long tramp, join in and +dissipate as hard as any member present. Their healthy climate, coarse +but plain diet, and the great amount of exercise which they take in +the open air, make them capable of a wonderful amount of physical +endurance, under which they seem never to grow weary. In this respect, +the only successful rivals which they have, are the Indians. This was +the kind of material Kit Carson had in the Mexican boy, whom he was +now about to part with, having detailed him for a very important duty. + +That youth had long been known by and had the full confidence of +his employer. He was ready at his bidding to undertake anything. +Therefore, on hearing the mission which Kit proposed sending him on, +he promised to use every exertion in its accomplishment, and at once +set about its execution. Having obtained a few rations of provisions, +he soon rejoined Carson. They then proceeded outside of the camp, +where he was to receive his final instructions. By the dim light of +the moon, Kit pointed in the direction of Rayado, where he was to +travel; and, after warning him of the dangerous places that lay in +his route, and giving him the message that he was to deliver to the +commanding officer at Rayado, he bid him good bye, with the words, "be +sure and leave a good many miles between us, by to-morrow's sunrise." +The distance to the settlement of Rayado, from Kit Carson's camp, was +between two and three hundred miles, yet, this runner was capable +of travelling it in as short a period of time, as could any ordinary +horse. Kit now returned among his men, not to sleep, but to watch. +This he did until the break of the following day, when he summoned +all hands to hitch up the teams and proceed. Until twelve o'clock no +Indians were visible; but, at about that hour, five of the savages +were seen approaching. On they came, and when within speaking +distance, Kit Carson ordered them to halt. They obeyed his command. On +scanning them closer he bade them come nearer, when, he informed +them, "that the night before he had sent an express to Rayado, for the +purpose of letting the troops there know of the annoyances their tribe +were causing him. Among the soldiers," he said, "he had many friends, +who would be certain to come to his relief, and, if they should find +that his party was massacred, which he let the Indians know could only +be accomplished by his men being overpowered, they would be already +informed by whom it was done, and would be sure to visit upon the +perpetrators of the crime, a terrible retribution." The Indians said +they would look for the moccasin tracks made by the messenger, and +thus decide whether that which they had just heard was true, or not. +Kit Carson hearing this, at once considered it as the turning point in +favor of the safety of his party. The Indians immediately went to look +for the trail. Shortly afterwards the entire Indian village passed +within sight, and were evidently making the best of their time in +seeking some safe hiding-place. The five warriors had, therefore, +evidently found the expressman's trail, as they had been informed that +they would, and that the boy had proceeded too far on his journey to +think of pursuing him. On his way to Rayado, the messenger overtook +the detachment of recruits to which was attached the officer who had +caused the trouble. To the commander of these men, the young +Mexican reported the position, as he left them, of his employer and +companions, but that gentleman, for some unaccountable reason, would +not then grant the desired aid; therefore, the boy pushed on to +Rayado, where he found a warm-hearted and brave soldier in the person +of Major Grier, who commanded the post. The major, on hearing +the message sent by Kit Carson, immediately ordered Lieutenant R. +Johnston, his subaltern officer, to take a squad of dragoons and +proceed to the assistance of his countrymen. While on his march, +Lieutenant Johnston met with the command of recruits of whom we +have before spoken. In the course of the conversation which ensued, +Johnston was asked, by the officer in charge of the recruits, what +was the service he was engaged on? and, being informed, that gentleman +probably gave the subject deeper thought, and it may have occurred +to him, and such is the opinion of Kit Carson, that if the affair was +properly managed, there might be some glory accruing from it. At any +rate, he suddenly changed his mind, and ordered a detail of men to +go with the lieutenant. The relief party, as thus reinforced, again +started, and found Kit Carson and his train of wagons at a point that +is some twenty-five miles below Bent's Fort. Under the escort of the +soldiers, Kit and his men travelled in safety to Rayado, where he had +the pleasure of thanking Major Grier for his praise worthy and prompt +action, in succoring him and a few other American citizens who had +thus been exposed to the barbarities of savages, made hostile by the +overbearing conduct of a man whose double blunder was shielded by +power. Although the fighting qualifications of the soldiers were not +called into requisition, yet, they performed a meritorious service +by coming. They might have been instrumental in saving lives while +protecting commerce, and their frequent visits to remote Indian +countries always leaves salutary impressions on the minds of the red +men. + +Kit Carson's thorough knowledge of Indian character and his +established bravery and integrity ought, it appears to us, to have +been a sufficient guaranty to this officer, that he was acting in good +faith when he asked, through the proper channel, that protection to +which he was certainly entitled while pursuing the necessary though +hazardous business, connected with the commerce of the plains. + +Never, throughout his eventful career, had Kit Carson refused to offer +his services in the cause of a countryman who stood in need of them; +and now, when the first time came that he felt it necessary to make +the call for assistance, he could not understand why two valuable days +were allowed to pass, by an officer who could have aided him, without +some notice being taken of his urgent requisition. It is true that by +some, especially those who are not acquainted with the character of +Kit Carson, he is regarded as being ever anxious for an Indian fight; +but, had this been the case, he would have long since paid the forfeit +with his life. To contradict such a statement, we have but to appeal +to the reader of this narrative, and ask him to bear testimony of the +marked discretion that has so far coupled itself with Kit Carson's +fame. An amusing incident which came under the eye of the writer is to +the point. + +In the early part of the so-called gold "fever" of California, when +parties were organizing in the city of New York, to proceed overland +to the Pacific, we chanced to be present at a meeting held by one of +the companies. As most of those present were entirely unacquainted +with the country to be passed over, and as they were anxious to place +themselves in a safe position, some one proposed that Kit Carson +should be employed as a guide, provided his services could be had. +This was ruled out. The amusing part of this incident consists in the +reason which governed this judgment. It was on account of the fear +that he might lead them out of their way in order to engage in some +bloody Indian fight, it being generally represented and believed that +he was sanguinarily inclined. Cheap literature had so ferociously made +the man, that he, of all men most experienced, could not be trusted, +showing thereby how little had been known of the real Kit Carson. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + + Kit Carson's last Trapping Expedition--He embarks in a + Speculation--His Trip to California with a large Flock of + Sheep--The Method employed by Mexicans in driving Herds + and their Dexterity--Kit Carson goes to San Francisco--Its + wonderful Growth--Maxwell joins Kit Carson at Sacramento + City--The Lucky Speculation--The Return Trip to New Mexico and + its Adventures--The Mormon Delegate to Congress informs Kit + Carson of his Appointment as Indian Agent--Kit Carson enters + upon the Duties of his Office--Bell's Fight with the + Apaches on Red River--Kit Carson's Interview with the + same Indians--High-handed Measures on the Part of the + Apaches--Davidson's desperate Fight with them--The Soldiers + defeated with severe loss--Davidson's Bravery is unjustly + questioned--Kit Carson's Opinion of it--The Apaches elated + by their Victory--Their Imitations of the Actions of Military + Men. + + +The expedition into the United States which terminated with the last +chapter, proved to be valuable in its results so far as the parties +engaged in it were concerned. Kit Carson was once more trying hard to +keep quiet in his comfortable home at Rayado. But his restless spirit +was not proof against this inactivity. His stay at home therefore was +short. The memories of other days came upon him, and he longed once +more to enjoy, in company with the "friends of his youth," the scenes, +excitements and pleasures of his old life as a trapper. Throughout his +eventful life, as the reader has been able clearly to see, Kit Carson +seldom spent his time in idle thinking. His thoughts almost invariably +take form in actions. This eager longing resulted, therefore, in the +forming of a regular trapping expedition after the olden style, shape, +etc, which he organized with great care and attention. The members of +the party were selected by himself chiefly with great exclusiveness, +and numbers who wished to join the party were refused, on account of +their inexperience. After a good deal of inquiry, Kit succeeded in +collecting eighteen of his old companions. No one among them was not +entitled to be called a mountaineer. Kit looked upon this party of men +with an eye of real affection. The meeting previous to the start was a +scene to behold. Such a greeting of old friends, well tried and true, +will not soon be again seen on the American continent. The day when +men went trapping was "long time ago." Kit Carson, as he stood among +this band of friends, the acknowledged leader of the party, every +man of whom he knew would have periled his life for either one of the +company, felt that, indeed, the days of his youth had returned unto +him. + +Everything preliminary was arranged in the most approved style. When +all was complete, Kit Carson, mounted on his magnificent charger +Apache, riding to the head of the line, gave the order to march. Kit +had put it to vote and the result was unanimous, that the expedition +should be no boy's play. On the contrary, the boldest and one of +the longest of the routes, known to their experienced footsteps, +was selected. It comprised many of the mighty rivers of the Rocky +Mountains, every one of which was almost a hunting ground by itself. +Onward, over the wild and broad plains, this band of stalwart men, +brave and kindred spirits, dashed. They soon put many a mile between +them and the comfortable firesides at Rayado. But these miles, Kit +Carson has often said, were the shortest he ever traveled. The way +was beguiled by many a recollection in which every man present could +participate with a relish, keen as disuse alone can render the palate +of enjoyment. In a short time the well-remembered waters of the South +Fork of the River Platte were descried. Their practised eyes soon +discovered the oft-noted "signs of the beaver." The camp was formed +and the traps set. The beaver, so long left to mind their +own business, had increased in great numbers. The hunt proved +correspondingly successful. The party continued working down this +stream through the plains of Laramie to the New Park; and from thence, +on to the Old Park. We cannot follow them through this long and +enlivening hunt. They trapped a large number of their old streams +until, finally, the expedition was terminated on the Arkansas River. +Throughout the whole course the hunt proved to be very successful. +With a large stock of furs they returned in safety to Rayado, via the +Raton Mountains, which are spurs of the great Rocky chain. + +The fact that most of the old trappers had given up their vocation +furnishes the reason why the beaver were found, along the entire +route, to be so plentiful. We desire that the reader shall paint for +himself the enjoyment which these men gathered in this renewal of a +pursuit rendered congenial by the experience of long years of activity +in following it. It has been our purpose to enable the reader to +gather a spark of this same enjoyment by the endeavor to make of him +an amateur trapper. He has followed Kit Carson throughout the trapping +expeditions of his earlier life. It is to be supposed that with Kit he +has acquired some experience. With Kit therefore he shall now receive +his final polishing, and if he does not in the end catch a beaver, +he shall at least learn how they are caught, and all the necessary +minutiae of toil which he must expect to encounter and undergo. + +On striking any river, when on the hunt, the trappers are accustomed +to keep a bright lookout for signs, often heretofore referred to. The +word "signs" conveys but a vague idea of its all-important meaning, as +it was received by the trappers. The news of the presence of "signs" +sent a thrill of joy through the hunters of the olden time only +equalled on board of whale-ships when the man at the lookout cries +"_there she blows_". It rarely happens that this cunning, amphibious +animal can be seen moving free, either on the river banks, or in the +water; for nature has given him no powerful weapons with which to +defend himself when surprised and attacked; but, what is better, she +has endowed him with exceedingly sensitive eyesight and hearing, which +enables him to detect the approach of danger in time to escape. The +marks, however, which he leaves behind are, for a time, ineffaceable. +These were only to be detected and used for his own purposes, by the +superior intellect of man. The unequalled industry of gnawing down +trees and cutting twigs, peeling off the tender cuticle of the willow +bushes, digging away banks, and carrying on their shovel-shaped tails +the earth, together with innumerable foot-prints and sometimes dams, +were the items which filled up the catalogue of "signs" on which the +trappers' vision was regaled after long and dangerous tramps in search +of them. These "signs" were not always found together; but instead, +they each could exist separately and thus would arouse the hunter's +suspicions of the game near by. The little twig, as it floated down +the stream, half denuded of its bark, would go unheeded by the casual +observer, but, to the experienced trapper, it was a prize to be +obtained; for, by its freshness, it indicated to his mind how near +he was to the chance of obtaining and adding another pound or so of +valuable fur to his stock on hand. To him, this small event, or one +like it, as for instance, a fresh footprint, with its neatly defined +claw-tracks, as moulded in the moistened earth or sand, was of +a greater importance than the wonderful and striking workmanship +exhibited in a dam; for, the latter might be old and deserted, +whereas, the former was too recent to cause him to be deceived with +such a sign; and in such a vicinity, he hesitated not to set his trap. + +An idea prevails which ought to be exploded. It is boldly asserted +that the beaver builds his dam for the purpose of having a nice +swimming pond in the neighborhood of his residence, which is always +located in the river's bank. This is not true; for, in every stream +which he inhabits, if this was his sole object, he could select many +natural places where the water is without a ripple and where it is +both deep and broad. The animal has a wiser object in view; and, it +consists in providing against the pinching wants of hunger during +winter, when nearly everything green has lost its sap and nutrition, +and is, as a body, without blood and animation. He therefore chooses a +place favorable for obtaining food, and also where his labors will be +assisted by natural formations or accidents in the river's course and +construction. Having pitched upon the right section to build, he +sets to work with his fellows and falls giant trees. In this he again +exhibits his wonderful instinct; for, while one party is cutting +with their sharp teeth the hard wood of one side of the tree, another +division is actively employed on the other side, never forgetting to +make, like unto the woodman, the lowest incision on the side the tree +is to fall, which, to suit their purposes, is always directly into and +across the stream. When a tree is thus fallen, it is attacked in its +branches, which are so turned and woven together in the outline of the +dam as to catch in their meshes any floating material, or receive the +tail-loads of soil and rubbish which they carry to it. Another and +another tree are then systematically fallen and arranged as is the +first, until the work is finished as completely as if it had been +planned and executed by a reasoning mind. The finishing stroke is +the transporting of the mud and laying it. In this labor, they show +themselves to be excellent masons. They now act in concert. A large +gang marches in a line to the bank where they load each other's tails +and swim with their cargoes elevated above and free from the water. +When they arrive at an unfinished point of the dam they dump the mud +and mould it in place. Their houses they have previously built in the +river banks. These consist of holes which lead into large and airy +subterranean rooms, and which are above the water-mark. In these +houses they are said to sleep and live in pairs; and, if we could +believe the story of the trapper related many pages back, they imitate +human beings in managing their household and in keeping house. The +main object they have in staying the progress of the current of the +river is to afford a deep place where, having fallen numbers of trees, +the deep water will preserve tender and fresh the limbs and shrubs on +which to subsist during, not only time present, but also time to come. +It is well known that fresh branches of trees and young willows, when +placed in water, will keep up partial life for a considerable length +of time. On this principle, the beaver acts in submerging his food +deep in the water where it will retain its verdure and where the +freezing process that is going on at the surface of the river will +not bar his efforts in getting at his store of provisions during the +winter season. It is said that the beaver goes so far as to bundle up +small branches of trees and willows which he stows away in the muddy +bottom of the river. The trapper, in his wondrous yarns, insists that +there are grades of society among beavers the same as among men; and +he will have it that they have their "head chiefs," and that often +individuals among them roll in wealth and that they have slaves who +stand ready to do their master's bidding at a moment's warning; for +instance, to bring them a bundle of green twigs on which to feast. +According to their imaginative stories, the life of a beaver cannot +be rivaled in happiness; and if we could put full credence in their +descriptions of the pastimes of the animal, his palaces and luxuries, +we could only compare a beaver to a citizen of Venice in her most +palmy days--the difference between the two being, that the former +enjoyed himself more in the water than the latter did on it in his +favorite _gondola_. + +The beaver, when captured young, can be sufficiently domesticated +to make him a pet; but their unattractive form is anything but an +ornament to the house. With young children, they are very friendly, +though their disposition is amiable to any one. They are very neat in +their person and, when moved from their comrades and domiciled with +human beings, nothing do they so much like as being allowed the +daily privilege of taking a clean bath. When thus engaged, they are +a curiosity to look at, as they are very agile and particular in +removing every particle of dirt. We remember seeing one of these pets +in the Mexican town of _Culebro_ thus enjoying himself. His owner +hesitated not in taking the animal to the river, which was close by, +and giving him his freedom. On finishing his ablutions the beaver +returned to where his owner was standing, without making an effort to +escape, and by a look as much as said, "I am ready to return to your +home." + +The signs having been discovered, the trappers next select a suitable +location for a camp, which they soon occupy. After the pack animals +are unloaded, a part of the men start out to set the traps, while the +remainder busy themselves in looking after their wants and in cooking +and guarding their property, etc. The trap is very much like the +same instrument used in different sections of the United States for +catching foxes, wolves etc, excepting, that it is smaller and perhaps +made with more skill. Old trappers were very superstitious in regard +to the makers of their traps, for they entertained the idea that much +of their good or bad fortune depended on the tools they worked with; +hence, they always had their favorite makers, and would pay more for +their traps than for those of any other maker. This is true also with +their rifles. For many years a rifle was condemned at first sight if +it did not have the name of Hawkins[23] stamped on it, and it was not +uncommon for them, when boasting of the good qualities of their riding +animals, if they considered them of the maximum degree of superiority, +to style them "regular Hawkins _horses_", thereby showing how far, in +this respect, their predilections grounded their opinions. + +[Footnote 23: Mr. Hawkins was the owner of a large gun establishment +at St. Louis, Mo.] + +The setting of the trap required expertness and experience, or else it +availed nothing; for the game to be caught is, as the reader can now +readily conceive, very wary and his suspicions of there being anything +wrong near at hand, had to be allayed by concealing as much as +possible the instrument from view; yet it must not be far from the +surface of the water; and then again it had to be firmly fixed in its +position, by being made fast to something that was firm so as prevent +its being dragged off. The trapper, while thus engaged, is in the +water. About his waist there is a strap to which is attached a pouch +in which is carried the bait. Everything being arranged, the trap is +set and the bait applied, when the man notes the place where he has +been at work so as to recognize it again, and then takes his departure +to return early the following morning. The beaver, during this +interim, is attracted by the peculiar scent of the bait, and, as a +reward for his curiosity, he generally is caught by one of his paws +and thus falls a prey to the hunter's pleasure. The traps, when +visited, are relieved of the contents and then set again. The game is +put out of its misery and carried to camp, where it is skinned, and +where all of the pelts recently taken are stretched out, dried, cured, +and packed in small bales, whenever a sufficient quantity is obtained +so to do with it. The trapper, when in _full dress_ for an expedition, +and especially after having been on one with its concomitant +hair-breadth escapes, Indian and bear fights, etc., cuts, to all +appearances, a sorrowful figure. His wardrobe is meagre in the +extreme, yet it answers all of his purposes and the man would have +no other. When summed up, it would be found to consist usually of +two pairs of moccasins, one (or two pair) of buckskin pantaloons, two +woollen shirts, a loose, fringed buckskin coat and an old slouched +hat (usually made of some kind of skin with the fur on). His baggage, +limited to a very small bundle, comprises his blankets, a buffalo robe +or two, a spare hide of dressed buckskin, his extra garments above +spoken of, and a little tobacco (when it can be had). These, with his +camp kettle and outfit of powder, lead, extra traps, scanty allowance +of provisions, guns, pistols, horses, bridles,[24] saddles, etc. make +up his traveling and working kit; it may be only for a few months or +it may be for years. With them he was ready to penetrate the loftiest +mountains and unexplored regions. This is but a true picture, in a +brief space, of the appearance of Kit Carson and the resources of his +earlier days, the tools he had to work with, the mode of doing his +labor, and the habits of the animal he diligently hunted for several +years in order that his fellow man might convert into a luxury the +products of his toil; yet had he been allowed the choice, he would not +have exchanged situations with the consumer of the commodity. In the +company of his boon companions and enjoying the pure mountain air, he +had often seen as happy hours as ever fell to the lot of any man. And +now he was starting out on probably his last trapping expedition. + +[Footnote 24: These saddles and bridles are queer-looking articles; +but, for use, they could not be surpassed either for durability or +comfort. Their bridle bits are the same as are used by the Mexicans. +They are very powerful and intended for managing wild horses and +mules, particularly the latter. With one in his mouth, an animal +cannot drink or feed. A Mexican only waters his horse twice a day when +traveling, viz. morning and night.] + +The party did not return to their homes until several months had +expired, and, as much of the excitement that used to pertain to their +former exploits had been worn off from the changes brought about by +civilization, they decided that this, as far as they were concerned, +should be their last trapping expedition; therefore, this visit to +their old haunts was a sort of funeral service performed over their +early adventures. On quitting each favorite river, the trappers felt +that they were shaking hands with the streams and bidding them, one by +one, a final good bye. + +Kit Carson, after disposing of his beaver, occupied himself in +attending to his ranche, and was thus employed when news was brought +to New Mexico of the exorbitant prices which sheep were bringing in +California. He made up his mind to embark in a speculation in those +animals by collecting a herd and driving it to that territory. He set +out for the valley of Rio Abajo, which lies to the south of Santa Fe, +and there, to his satisfaction, made his purchases. In company with +two friends, after employing a suitable number of shepherds, he +commenced his journey and traveled northward to Fort Laramie, where +he came to and followed the emigrant road that leads direct into +California via Salt Lake, etc. In the month of August, 1853, after +meeting with very trifling losses, as he traveled very slowly and +understood thoroughly the business he was employed in, Kit Carson +with his flock of sixty-five hundred sheep reached the point of his +destination in California, where he found no difficulty in disposing +of them at the rate of five dollars and fifty cents per head. + +The making of these long journeys with such large herds of sheep, over +a diversified country, sometimes abounding in water and grass, while +on the other hand, and not unfrequently, for many miles, the earth is +barren, is a difficult task. When broad, deep and swift rivers are +to be forded, it requires dexterity and management to prevent heavy +losses. + +The trail which Kit Carson followed to Fort Laramie is now a +well-beaten path. It runs almost due north from Taos, and abounds, in +the proper season, in good grass and water. For about one hundred +and twenty miles, it passes through a broken country, but when that +distance is accomplished, the traveler is ushered on to the plains and +keeps on them for most of the way close under the Rocky Mountains. +The scenery on this route is most magnificent, and at times as grand +perhaps as can be seen in any part of the world. The distance from +Taos, Kit Carson's starting-point, to Laramie River, is counted by +hundreds of miles; and in this great tract of country, there live +several of the largest and most troublesome tribes of Indians in +the far West. The names of these tribes are the Utahs, Apaches, +Arrapahoes, Cheyennes and Sioux. A man with a large drove of sheep is +so conspicuous an object that he is certain to attract their notice +and bring them to him. Kit Carson, however, was well received by +them and allowed to pass unmolested. They were pleased to find so +formidable an enemy moving boldly into their country and bearing +the olive branch of peace. He however forgot not to pay them toll by +presenting them with a suitable number of the sheep. In this way he +prevented them from being tempted to steal from him. This is a usual +custom, and the Indians expect that this sort of attention will be +shown them. They do not like, at all seasons of the year, to have +these herds pass through their country. Being so large, they eat up +much of their grass, which assists greatly to drive away the game. +We remember on one occasion that an American, in charge of several +thousand sheep, started on a journey from New Mexico to California. +Everything went prosperously with the man until he left the Raton +Mountains and entered the country inhabited by the Arrapahoes and +Cheyennes. At first, he was received in a friendly manner by these +Indians; but was commanded by them to rest where he was until they +went ahead and killed their annual amount of buffalo. This, the man +could not do; for the season was so far advanced that if he delayed, +and then attempted to make California, he would be certainly overtaken +by snow-storms which would bury him and his property in the mountains. +In vain he used his best endeavors to impress this state of affairs on +the minds of the Indians. They would not listen to him or sanction +his going on, and threatened to punish him if he undertook to disobey +them. Bidding defiance to these threats, this man started; but had +only proceeded a few miles, when a band of one hundred squaws, mounted +on horseback, overtook him and dashed into his herd, and with savage +delight put to death one hundred and fifty of the sheep before their +owner's eyes and without his being able to stop them. The carcasses +of the slaughtered animals were left to rot on the ground, thereby +showing that the Indians did not stand in need of food, but that +they wished to teach the intruder a lesson which he would be apt to +remember. These women had been sent out by their husbands, who no +doubt were close by in case their services should be needed, to show +to the white man the contempt they had of his power. The result was +that the American was obliged to return to New Mexico from whence he +came. When he set out again, he chose what is known as the Southern +Route, which runs via the Rio Gila and strikes California in its lower +section. + +In the Rocky Mountains, the Indian women are rather small in stature, +but, from their constant exercise they are physically very strong. +They are naturally not wanting in modesty; but, being compelled to +work and even engage in war, they soon become roughened and hardened. +Their dresses consist principally of deer skins, and sometimes they +are very tastefully arranged. They give birth to their children with +great ease, and, as they have not become martyrs to fashions, or +dress, they suffer but little inconvenience from this provision of +nature. The children learn, during their earliest years, to look out +for themselves, and soon become expert at it. The marriage ceremony +amounts to little or nothing, and consists of a mere barter. The +warrior is obliged to pay so many horses to the father for the bride. +We remember, on one occasion, buying a superior pony from a trader, +who said that he had obtained him from his Indian owner with great +difficulty. The facts were as follows: This Indian was in love with a +young maiden of his tribe. The young girl wished some silver ornaments +which the trader had. The only thing the warrior had to exchange for +these trinkets, was his prized pony. An old chief stood by with the +trader and saw the warrior look and sigh at his horse. The chief gave +the trader a wink, and said in a low tone of voice to him: "That man +loves his horse and he loves his affianced bride, but the bride elect +will conquer. Hold on and he will sacrifice the horse to please the +girl. His love for her is the deepest feeling." Sure enough this +came true, and we never regretted that it was so. The pony proved a +valuable addition to our stock of animals. + +Besides the many dangers to his flock which a person runs the risk +of, both from the numerous accidents to which it is liable, and the +unwelcome visits of the Indians when thus traveling, there are others +which may occasionally happen to his own person. He may be, while +standing guard, suddenly attacked and bitten by a mad wolf. On this +event occurring, he is almost certain to be seized with that terrible, +and we might as well add incurable disease, hydrophobia, which renders +him a most pitiful object to behold. From a human being so recently +respected and beloved by his companions, a person, thus unfortunate, +is suddenly changed into an object most dreaded and detested. A party +of Mexicans in charge of a large herd of sheep, a few years since, +were bound to California. One night a large, ferocious wolf entered +the camp, and bit a man in the leg. Symptoms of hydrophobia very soon +set in, and in a short time the victim was a confirmed case of the +disease. His comrades had no proper means of taking care of and +transporting him, as they were hundreds of miles from the nearest +house. They were superstitious, and believed that all would die if +they kept the man's company any longer; accordingly, they drove a +stake in the ground, to which they inhumanly secured him; and, after +depositing a small allowance of provisions near by, they left him to +die. Human bones were afterwards found near the identical spot where +it was said this unfortunate incident happened, which afforded +strong circumstantial evidence that the man had eked out a miserable +existence soon after he was deserted by his so-called friends, and +also, that the truth of this story rested upon strong probability. + +When the Americans first obtained possession of New Mexico, sheep +could be bought at the rate of twenty-five cents per head. The reason +of this was, the want of a market and the ease with which they were +raised. Cheapness of labor, also, assisted in reducing their value. +The wool of these sheep was rather coarse, resembling hair more than +wool. The only use in which it was employed, was for manufacturing +blankets, rough carpet, and in filling mattresses. The valley of +the Rio Grande is wonderful as a sheep growing country. The mountain +districts also cannot be excelled in this respect. Their fitness for +grazing is best exemplified by their abounding in the famous Rocky +Mountain sheep. In many respects this animal resembles the chamois. +They live on the tops of the highest peaks, eat the tenderest grass, +and produce the finest flavored mutton in the world. One of their +heads, with the horns, often weighs one hundred pounds. To shoot +them, requires all of an experienced hunter's skill, and, when he has +brought down one of these trophies, he feels he has done more than if +he had killed ten deer. The sight of one of these mountain sheep, as +perched on a high, rocky peak, is beautiful. The hostile Indians are +the main drawback in New Mexico, to the successful raising of sheep. + +The usual modus operandi employed by Mexican herders, who cannot be +surpassed in their vocation, to which they appear to take intuitively, +although many of them serve an apprenticeship at it, which begins with +early life and ends only by death, is, to send a youth who leads a +goat in advance of the flock. From some strange and unaccountable +reason, the sheep will follow after him even to the crossing of rivers +whose currents are deep and swift. The shepherds, with their dogs to +assist them when necessary, allow the herd to scatter over a space +varying in its size, but always allowing sufficient area so that the +animals can move on at their ease and at the same time be able to +feed. The danger above all others that is to be apprehended and +guarded against, while thus travelling, is crowding; for, in this +manner, when journeying through deep gorges in the mountains and over +the precipitous banks of rivers, hundreds of sheep can be, and not +unfrequently are, smothered. When this crowding commences, it is next +to impossible to arrest it; a sort of panic prevails over the entire +herd, and they rush on, one on top of another, until a mass of dead +and dying is thus piled up and a barrier is made; or else, until, as +most frequently happens, a bridge of carcasses is formed over which +the survivors pass in safety. The Indians who inhabit the country +on the various routes to California, have a strong predilection for +mutton, which is a fact to bear in mind when migrating with this +sort of property. Such accidents as having a few sheep bitten by +rattlesnakes, and also a certain percentage becoming foot-sore and +breaking down from fatigue, are common to every herd that crosses the +Rocky Mountains. Economy in living is the great fundamental principle +among the lower classes of the Mexicans; therefore, when a sheep is +going to die from fatigue, or any simple disease, natural death is +anticipated by the herders with the aid of the hunting-knife, and the +meat, being dressed and cooked, is unhesitatingly eaten by them. +Next to the Mexican shepherd, his dog, although he is not generally a +handsome animal, is found to be ever faithful in guarding the flocks. +The greatest enemy to the herds is the wolf; and in keeping them at +bay, and preventing their inroads by night, the dog is capable of +performing valuable service; hence, no band of sheep should cross the +plains and mountains without a full complement of them. It was at one +of the frontier towns of California that Kit Carson disposed of his +flock. There having heard of the rapid and marvelous growth of San +Francisco, he made up his mind to verify these reports with his own +eyes, for he was well acquainted with its ancient aspect. + +San Francisco had now had since the year 1848 to grow under the +impulse of the gold fever. Kit Carson remembered it, a Spanish +settlement as it existed in 1845--6--7, then containing not over two +hundred inhabitants. In 1847, the first gold discovery was made at +Sutter's Fort. In two months thereafter, about $250,000 in gold dust +were carried into the town. The next two months $600,000 more. In +February, 1849, the population of the town was two thousand. In the +six months following, it increased to five thousand. In the early +part of the year 1850, the population had increased to nearly twenty +thousand. In 1852, according to the census, it was thirty-four +thousand eight hundred and seventy. The first settlement made at San +Francisco, was commenced in the year 1776. The place was then called +Yerba Buena, or Good Herb, from the fact that an herb of that name, +which was supposed to have great medicinal value, grew in rich +luxuriance over the surrounding country. The houses were at first +built of adobes, or sun dried bricks. It is now one of the most +important cities on the western continent. + +As Kit Carson neared this great emporium of California, possessed of +some of the details of its astonishing growth, and remembering it as +it existed when its inhabitants could be easily counted in an hour, he +was perfectly astonished to behold the great changes which a few short +years had produced. + +Had it not been for the immovable landmarks about the city and the +familiar scenery of the bay, he would have been entirely at a loss in +considering that this was the spot, called San Francisco, which he had +visited in former years. This metropolis, however, like all others, +presented few attractions to Kit Carson's vision, further than its +objects of curiosity, which were a source of interest and amusement to +him. When he had finished sight seeing he was ready and anxious to +be on his way to New Mexico. Previous to his setting out, he went on +business to Sacramento City. While there, he received a message from +his friend and partner, Maxwell, asking him to wait until the latter +could come in with a herd of sheep from Carson River, when they could +join forces and return home together. + +Kit Carson's stay in California was shortened by the annoyance (as +he considered it) of being made a lion. His society was constantly +courted by men whom he had never seen; he was passed free on +steamboats and to all places of public amusement; and, in fact, +the people, in acknowledging his worth, treated him with marked +distinction. He was pointed out wherever he went as a man who had done +the State great service. This reward of his merit was indeed a just +tribute to his worth. Kit felt himself highly honored and favored, +but he did not expect or wish such attention. He felt himself to be a +humble individual, who had honestly and faithfully performed his duty, +as it had been assigned to him, and his modesty would not allow him to +ask or be willing to receive any other than the unexpressed opinion +of the people. There were some men (there always are such persons in +every community) who sought his company expecting to hear him boast +of his deeds and proclaim himself a hero such as had never before +existed; but, what must have been their surprise on seeing his +unassuming bearing, his disregard of notoriety, and his anxiety to +escape that popularity which they themselves would have highly prized. +Tired, by the anxiety and hard work of bringing his property over a +long and dangerous journey to a good market, he had looked for rest +and retirement; but instead, he was everywhere sought out and made +conspicuous. + +And here we pause to speak of the noble qualities of moral character +and good judgment evinced by Kit Carson on this occasion of his +eventful life. He found himself surrounded with the choice spirits of +the new El Dorado; his name a prestige of strength and position, and +his society courted by everybody. The siren voice of pleasure +failed not to speak in his ear her most flattering invitations. +Good-fellowship took him incessantly by the hand, desiring to lead +him into the paths of dissipation. But the gay vortex, with all +its brilliancy, had no attractions for him; the wine cup, with its +sparkling arguments, failed to convince his calm earnestness of +character, that his simple habits of life needed remodeling. To the +storm, however, he was exposed; but, like a good ship during the gale, +he weathered the fierce blast, and finally took his departure from the +new city of a day, with his character untarnished, but nevertheless +leaving behind him many golden opinions. With a hurried farewell and +many kind remembrances of the good people of California, he left their +great city to return to a home where he was certain to find a life +better suited to his tastes. Money-getting had no charms for him. +Had he chosen to accept some of the offers made him while then in San +Francisco, he could easily have amassed an immense fortune. But his +home had now the greater allurements, and a legitimate business gave +him the certainty of comfort. The power merely which wealth assumes, +Kit Carson never has desired to grasp. + +The time had nearly arrived for the appearance of Maxwell. He finally +joined Kit Carson, when the two immediately engaged in the very +profitable work of disposing of their sheep. The market proved to be +quite active--so much so that they disposed of their entire flock at +high cash values without the least difficulty. The speculation thus +proved to be highly satisfactory to all concerned. In a monetary point +of view, the adventure proved to be the most fortunate in which +Kit Carson had been engaged. Heretofore, money had been a second +consideration with Kit Carson. He had directed his energies and +attention to almost everything, or at least to many things besides its +accumulation. + +The sums which he had received for the important services rendered +both to government officers and private individuals, had been +expended on the wants of his family and on his suffering friends and +countrymen. A trifling amount had always sufficed to satisfy his own +immediate desires. The calls upon his purse, at the end of each year +had left, therefore, but little which he could call his own. The snug +sum now at his disposal, Kit Carson determined to lay by; and serving +as a nucleus, around it, he has since accumulated enough amply to +supply those comforts which will tend, in his old age, to make him +happy. Maxwell and Carson decided to return to their homes by the +southern route which runs through the country on and adjacent to the +Rio Gila. Maxwell determined to take a steamer down the coast as far +as Los Angelos, distant from San Francisco about three hundred and +fifty miles, and used his best endeavors to persuade his friend Kit +Carson to accompany him. In this however, he failed. Already one +cruise over a part of the ocean route which Maxwell contemplated +making, had been made by Kit Carson in 1846, and which had so sickened +him of sea life, that he resolved never to travel on salt water again +while it was in his power to obtain a mule to assist him in journeying +by land. Maxwell, by his water conveyance, reached Los Angelos fifteen +days in advance of Kit Carson, and employed himself in making the +necessary preparations for their trip to New Mexico. When Kit rejoined +his companion, everything was in readiness for them to proceed on +their route, and, in a day or so afterwards, they started. Everything +favored them until they reached a village belonging to some Pimo +Indians, and located on the Rio Gila. Here the grass became suddenly +very scarce. They learned from these Indians that the season had been +unusually dry, and that, if they attempted to proceed on the regular +trail, they would do so at the risk of losing their animals by +starvation. While undecided as to which was the best course to pursue, +Kit Carson informed the party that he could guide them over a new +route which, though difficult and rough to travel, he felt confident +would afford sufficient forage to answer all their purposes. At once +the men agreed to be governed by their experienced friend's advice, +and, having signified to him their willingness to do so, they resumed +their march, following up the Rio Gila, until they came to the mouth +of the San Pedro, when they struck out up the latter for three days, +and then parted with it to risk the chances of reaching, at the end +of each day, the small mountain creeks that lay on their contemplated +route. After traveling in as direct a course as the nature of the +country would admit, they arrived seasonably at the copper mines of +New Mexico. + +While pursuing this experimental journey, Kit Carson, who was well +acquainted with the general outline of the country, but was not +equally conversant with it in reference to the certainty of finding +eligible camping-sites, where wood, water and grass presented +themselves in abundance, was frequently made the subject of a +tantalizing joke by the men of the party. + +Occasionally his memory would not solve the question, what is the next +course? He had neither map, chart, nor compass, and depended entirely +upon old landmarks. Occasionally, the resemblance of different +mountains, one to another, would serve to embarrass him. For a time, +he would become doubtful as to the exact course to pursue. At such +moments, the mischievous dispositions of the men would get the better +of their judgment, and they would exert their lungs in shouting to +him, as he spurred his riding animal to keep out of the sound of their +raillery. He was not always successful in this, and occasionally a few +sentences reached him like the following: + +"Hurrah!" + +"I say! are you the famous Kit Carson, who knows this country so +well?" + +"Are you really a good pilot, or are you lost?" + +These and similar expressions saluted Kit's ear--a language to which +he had not been heretofore accustomed--as some impediment, such as a +fallen tree, a rock, a swamp, or a creek staid, for a brief period, +his progress, thus allowing the party to approach within speaking +distance. The remarks might have temporarily chafed his spirit; but, +he had too much good sense to allow his friends to see that they had +gained any advantage over him. He rode boldly on, and answered their +raillery with silence. He knew, however, very well, that his turn +would come; and, when he had brought them in safety to a spot with +which all were familiar, he turned the tables on them by retorting +to their questions in a playful manner, which made their future +interpretation of his occasional doubts, less sweeping in its +conclusions. + +Kit succeeded in guiding the party safely to the Copper Mines, from +whence their route was plain. From the Copper Mines the party traveled +through to the Rio del Norte. This river is 1,800 miles in length and +forms the boundary line between Texas and Mexico. It takes its rise +in the Rocky Mountains and empties into the Gulf of Mexico. It is +navigable for small steamers, sloops and schooners, for a distance of +about four hundred and fifty miles from its mouth. About nine hundred +miles from its mouth, there is a spot where the river is only about +three or four feet deep. Here the Apache and Camanche Indians always +cross when on their depredatory tramps into Mexico. + +Leaving the Rio Grande or del Norte, the party pursued their homeward +route through the settlements of the Rio Abajo and Santa Fe and +finally reached Taos on the twenty-third day of December, 1853. + +Soon after the party entered the Territory of New Mexico, Kit Carson +accidentally met the Mormon delegate to Congress. That person informed +Kit Carson that the appointment of an Indian Agent had been conferred +upon him. + +On learning this piece of intelligence, Kit was much elated. He +felt that the office was perfectly suited to his tastes, and he was +honestly impressed with the belief that he was capable of performing +the duties of this office, and of accomplishing much good. His +happiness and pride were heightened by thinking that, finally, his +services had met the approbation of his government, the substantial +proof of which, was the offering to him of an important trust without +solicitation on his part. Immediately on arriving at Taos, he wrote +an answer to the authorities at Washington, in which he expressed +his willingness to serve the government, and the pleasure he felt +in accepting the office; at the same time he sent the necessary bond +required of persons who hold this appointment. + +Hardly had Kit Carson been ushered into his new duties before the +Jiccarilla Apaches, who formed one of the tribes of his agency, began +to show new signs of dissatisfaction by committing various kinds of +outrages on the property and lives of the citizens of the northern +part of New Mexico. To arrest them in their career and make them +amenable for the crimes they had already committed, Lieutenant Bell, +of the 2d Regiment of United States dragoons, was sent in quest of +them. He found them on the Red River, and at once commenced operations +against them. At first, these red men were equally ready to break a +lance in combat with their foes; but, after the soldiers had made two +charges and penetrated through and through their ranks, they were, +although in superior numbers, glad to give up the mastership of the +field, and run away. In this fight, the Apaches lost, by his being +killed, one of their great chiefs, besides many warriors. On the side +of the soldiers, two men were killed and several seriously wounded. + +A short time after the news of this skirmish had reached Taos, +Kit Carson found it necessary, in order to attend to some official +business, to proceed to Santa Fe; but, just as he was on the point of +setting out, he was informed that a large party of these Jiccarilla +Apaches had recently arrived at a place in the mountains only about +twenty miles from Taos, and were there encamped. With the view of +pacifying them if it was possible, Kit Carson immediately +posted thither; and, with no small degree of peril attending his +movements--for he went unattended, and among Indians who were at the +time very bitter against the whites--he confronted their "head men" in +their den. He needed no introduction, for, during many years, he had +been well known to them. Therefore he proceeded, at once, to business. +After passing through the usual Indian salutations, he commenced by +haranguing them, in a style that most pleases their fancy, thereby +fixing their attention on what he was saying. Among other things, he +forewarned them that the course they were pursuing, if persisted in, +would prove the cause of their being exterminated, as their "Great +Father," the President, had at his disposal thousands of soldiers +to replace those who fell in battle, while, when their warriors were +killed, they could not immediately place others in their moccasins. +When a warrior was killed, they were compelled to wait until their +children grew up. He added, that the "Great Father" loved his red +children, and through him, whose servant he was, he wished to give +them annuities and otherwise aid them in living at peace. These +Indians, on learning that Kit Carson was their agent, expressed great +pleasure, and, at his earnest solicitation, came forward and professed +friendship. So little reliance, however, was to be placed in this +tribe, that Kit Carson doubted their sincerity; although he exacted +every pledge which he thought would in the least tend to bind them to +their promises, he feared they would not prove true. Having finished +his business, Kit bent his way to Santa Fe; but, he had not more than +reached there before he heard that the Jiccarillas had already become +tired of the restraints which he had placed upon them, and had broken +out in open defiance of the authorities. From this time onward, +so thick and fast did their wicked crimes increase, that coercive +measures became necessary to put them down. This finally resulted, in +as sanguinary a battle being fought between a small band of soldiers +and this tribe, as was ever recorded. A rapid sketch of it must +suffice to illustrate to the reader what kind of a fight this was, and +what plucky fellows these Apaches are. Lieutenant J.W. Davidson, +with a command of sixty men belonging to F and I companies of the 1st +Regiment of United States dragoons, was ordered out to seek and act +against these red men. Both the soldiers and their officers were +renowned for their bravery and experience in Indian mode of warfare; +hence, more than ordinary deeds were expected to be performed by +them. The result will show that they did not disappoint any reasonable +expectation. Lieutenant Davidson marched to the "_Embuda Mountains_" +(which range lies between fifteen and twenty miles southwest of Taos), +as he had been informed by good authority that the Indians were to be +found there. + +On reaching the mountains he soon came upon the savages and found them +fully prepared to meet him. They had selected their ground with great +skill. The site which they had chosen was upon a high elevation, and +at the first glance, to get at them, appeared to be an impossibility +on account of the roughness of the country. If the Indians had hunted +over the whole of the Rocky Mountains they could not have hit upon a +place that offered them so many advantages for the use to which they +intended to put it; but, as the red men had, by great labor, reached +the tops of the crags, therefore, the soldiers resolved not to be +outdone, even if they had to be the assaulting party. + +The strength of the Apaches amounted to eight lodges, or two hundred +and forty warriors; and, as they were on foot and without their +families, they were entirely unencumbered. Lieutenant Davidson's first +manoeuvre was to send in advance a small party, whose duty it was to +act as spies, while at the same time they endeavoured to engage the +Indians in a talk, of which they are usually so fond; but, the courage +of the red men was apparently much elevated on seeing the smallness +of the whole force sent against them; therefore, they received the +advance with such coldness that the latter soon after gladly retreated +to their companions, who were halted on the little creek that runs by +the foot of the mountains. Lieutenant Davidson now saw that his only +course was to commence the attack and trust to fortune and the bravery +of his men. Therefore he ordered the gallant fellows to dismount, and +after leaving their horses with a small guard, they commenced the work +of scrambling up the rocks so that they might get at, and dislodge +the enemy. In this they succeeded, notwithstanding they met with a +powerful and determined resistance. In the attempt, five soldiers were +killed; and when the dragoons had reached the highest eminence of the +mountain, they found, to their disappointment, that the Apaches had +not taken to flight according to their anticipations, but instead, +they were scattering and surrounding them. There being great danger, +as already demonstrations were visible in that quarter, that the +Indians would capture the horses of the soldiers, therefore Lieutenant +Davidson placed himself at the head of his men and led them back +to the spot where the animals were congregated. In so doing, he was +obliged to fight his way, as every foot of ground he passed over was +stoutly contested; but at last he arrived, just in time to save them. +The fight then became desultory, but desperate, on the part of the +soldiers; for the Indians, by concealing themselves behind rocks, +trees and whatever came in their way, were quite secure against injury +from the carbines and revolvers of the whites, while, from their +side, came a deadly fire that fast diminished the numbers of their +adversaries. In vain did the dragoons charge them and cause the +foremost of the enemy to retreat to their friends in the rear. +Lieutenant Davidson soon found his party so much crippled in strength +that he saw he could no longer protect his horses and at the same time +carry on the combat against such great odds. When there was little +left that he could do except to offer himself and men as targets to be +shot at, Lieutenant Davidson reluctantly ordered his men to retreat. + +In obeying this command, the soldiers had not more than wheeled about, +when down came the foe in full pursuit, making the very air ring +with their war-whoops and unearthly shouts. So bold did these Indians +become from the victory which they had achieved, that they charged +so hotly and so near the soldiers that the latter were compelled, in +self-defence, to turn and, in a hand to hand contest, beat them off. +After resisting a succession of these assaults, the command finally +gained the main road. Upon counting his men, Lieutenant Davidson found +that twenty of them were killed and left behind on the battle-field; +and that, out of the surviving forty, hardly one man had escaped being +wounded, thereby showing, considering the numbers engaged, how +bravely the fight had been maintained, and how gallantly each one had +endeavored to turn the tide of affairs to a more favorable result. + +The course pursued by, and even the bravery of, Lieutenant Davidson in +this affair, has been unjustly assailed and questioned by some persons +who have probably been misinformed on the subject. Judging from the +evidence of his companions, there was not a more courageous man +on that ground than the officer in command. Kit Carson refutes the +accusation made against his friend in the following strain: "I am +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 apparently entirely unmindful of his own +life. It was, however, in the retreat they say that he acted the most +gallantly, for, when everything was going badly with the soldiers, he +was as cool and collected as if under the guns of his fort. The only +anxiety he exhibited was for the safety of his remaining men." + +The Indians must have lost many of their warriors in this fight, but +the exact number has never been ascertained. The news of the defeat +was brought by the retreating soldiers themselves to the town of Taos, +where on hearing it, for short time, consternation seized hold of its +inhabitants; but slowly they calmed down, and a party, consisting +of Americans and Mexicans with wagons, was sent out to bring in the +mutilated remains of the fallen. On reaching the field, the dead were +found, but they were all mutilated and stripped of all their clothing. +The Indians had left nothing which they thought might be turned to the +least account. One poor fellow had escaped the rigid scrutiny of the +red men by crawling to an obscure place where he had died from his +wounds. On his body was found a belt that contained three hundred +dollars in gold--his hard earnings that he had been saving up against +a day of need. Had the savages known of this money, they would not +have left it, for they are quite familiar with the use, if not with +the real value of gold. A few days later, the Apaches made their +appearance in a small Mexican settlement which was far distant from +the scene of their success. They were dressed in portions of the +uniforms and accoutrements taken from the dead dragoons; and, as they +sauntered about the town, they would salute each other in military +style, and otherwise mock the actions of the military men. Calling +for a piece of paper, one fellow, with a bit of charcoal, pretended +to write on it an order. No doubt, by so doing, he thought he was +imitating something of the kind which he had seen done at a military +post. After making a few scratches on the paper, he handed it to one +of his red companions, and, with a smile on his rough countenance, +addressed to him some directions in reference to the document. +Although the Mexicans were much amused at these burlesque actions +of the Indians, yet they did not dare to show their mirth until the +latter had departed and left them in possession of their lives. + +The day following the one on which the fight had taken place, Kit +Carson returned from Santa Fe and passed near to the spot where the +soldiers had been so roughly handled; but he did not see a visage of +an Apache. They had, by that time, traveled to the west side of the +Rio del Norte. Indeed, he anticipated no danger to himself, as he was +well aware, that the safest time to travel through any section of an +Indian country, is just after the savages have been guilty of some +highhanded act. They are then, instinctively, as some may say, but, as +the fact appears to us, by use of their reasoning powers, well aware +that active measures will be set on foot to repay them for their +rascality. + +The trail which, on this occasion, Kit Carson traveled over in coming +from Santa Fe, is one of the most interesting routes, in safe times, +that the mere traveler can select. It comprises some of the most +beautiful scenery in New Mexico. The length of the trail is about +seventy-five miles, and so many windings and turns does it make +through mountains, forests and gorges, that every hundred yards +furnishes a suitable place for an Indian ambuscade. The largest part +of the country which lies between Taos and Santa Fe, is mountainous; +therefore, this trail is one series of ascents and descents. The +greatest pitch is near the scene of the fight in which Lieutenant +Davidson and his command were engaged, where the path, in order to +avoid an almost perpendicular declivity, makes a zig zag course. To +accomplish the ascent of this mountain on a good riding animal, it +takes, at least, two hours; therefore, the height of the mountain +can be easily imagined by those accustomed to mountain climbing. On +reaching some of these immense eminences, the scenery is principally +formed by the broken country, studded here and there with mountains, +which appear as if in miniature, as well as real. Between are valleys, +rivers, creeks, canons, etc., which render the views truly grand. +There is sufficient woodland, plenty of pure air, and different +species of game, in great abundance, playing about, and filling up the +picture with life. To use the words of romance, this does not fail to +make the scenery perfect. The trail runs through hamlets and villages, +which come in at the proper distances and form great auxiliaries to +the traveler, when fatigued by horseback riding; for, at most of these +places, the traveler can find rest for the night, always provided that +he be willing to submit to a multitude of inconveniences. + +The most desirable place at which to stop, on this trail, is a town +nearly midway between Taos and Santa Fe. It is called Rio Arriba. In +this village, the traveler can obtain many comforts which are denied +him even in the larger towns. At the present time it is a very +difficult matter for loaded caravans to pass direct from Santa Fe to +Taos; but the United States government has taken the matter in hand +and has appropriated large sums of money for making a good road +between the two places; therefore, it will not be a long time before +the transit will be accomplished with ease and safety. Scattered over +the country adjacent to this trail now under consideration, there are +many hamlets and villages which are being greatly augmented by new +settlers yearly. Many of these have been seldom, if ever, visited by +white men, and the minute geography of this tract of country is still +in the embryo. Perhaps a new El Dorado is there in store for mankind, +and that some day its resources will receive an impetus and be +developed by the sudden discovery of valuable mines therein. This is +no chimerical illusion; it scarcely rests upon an uncertainty; for, +the mineral wealth of New Mexico, we are firmly persuaded, is still in +its infancy. To use trapper language, judging from "signs" which exist +there in abundance, we shall not be surprised to hear, in time, that +this territory has turned out to be a second California. Rumors of +gold, and even specimens of the article itself, are frequent in many +parts of the country; but the poverty of the inhabitants keeps them +from searching as they ought in order to make the discovery. The +Americans find a more profitable business in commerce and trade, +therefore they but seldom indulge in speculations designed to develop +the mineral wealth of the country; but nevertheless, they have faith +that gold, in immense quantities, exists there, and believe that, in +time, scientific men will disclose the fact and position. We have seen +_quills_ full of gold dust which has been collected there, and we are +well acquainted with men who have washed out from several streams +in the northern part of the Territory, the value of two and a half +dollars per diem; but, with the high prices of living, this rate of +produce cannot be made to pay unless the work shall be carried on by +the assistance of capital. + +On this trail to Santa Fe, there are several small Pueblos which are +inhabited by the descendants of the ancient Aztecs. These settlements, +generally, are quite thrifty, and exhibit many external appearances +of comfort. To prepare and cultivate the soil, it takes much labor +in irrigating and bestowing other farming operations upon the land in +order to bring crops to perfection. Hence these people, like the New +Mexicans, can realize from their toil but little beyond their own +subsistence. This trail, as it approaches Santa Fe, enters through +groves of small pines which are many miles in extent. In such places +the ground is sandy and the vegetation poor in the extreme. It has +proved an exceedingly difficult problem, for more than one mind, to +solve the reason why the capital of the Territory should have been +located in such a barren section of the country. Perhaps it was +because this was the most central spot that could be selected, +although such a reason can hardly be offered in sober earnestness. The +most charitable reasoning which we can offer for it, is because the +Mexicans knew no better. It is true there are valuable silver mines +near by; but this could only cause a town to be raised to suit the +miners and not to form the attraction where the _elite_ of New Mexican +society should for so many years congregate. + +Santa Fe is located on a plateau of ground which is about seven +thousand feet above the level of the sea. The town itself contains +about five or six thousand inhabitants which includes all races. It +is built of _adobes_, or sun-burnt brick, and occupies both sides of +a small stream which is called the _Rio Chicito_ and which flows into +the Rio Grande nearly twenty miles from the town. The site of Santa +Fe is low when compared with the altitude of the surrounding country, +being bounded on nearly all sides by lofty mountains. One of these +mountains is quite famous. It is the loftiest of all in that section +of country, and is capped during the greater part of the year with +snow. As is invariably the case with the large majority of Mexican +towns, there is but little regularity in the streets of Santa Fe; but +yet, the plaza is easily reached by several avenues. Santa Fe forms +the grand commercial emporium of the great interior continent of North +America; and its trade diverges to every point of the compass. The +extent of this trade can be realized when we assert the fact that with +the State of Missouri alone it amounts annually to several millions of +dollars. In the south it has overland communication even with the city +of Mexico. If the tariff between the two countries could be arranged +upon a more equitable footing than it now is, the Mexican trade would +swell into an enormous sum. Every acquisition of a new territory in +the far west and southwest aids in developing the commerce of Santa +Fe; therefore, until steam shall cause a revolution in the course of +trade, this town must necessarily increase greatly in importance. +The stores in the town are mostly owned, and the mercantile business +chiefly carried on, by Americans. These American speculators are +celebrated for the daring manner with which they launch out their +money upon various enterprises. With them, the greater the risk when +their chances appear that the gain will be large, the more eager they +are in facing the hazard. They sometimes lose, but oftentimes realize +large fortunes. The appearance of these stores is captivating to the +fancy, and many of them would be ornaments to any of the larger cities +or towns of the east. The most expensive articles of luxury and dress +are to be found in them, and in these distant parts, such property +commands a price which would startle and quite shake the nerves of +a prince; but, when the people can obtain the money, they purchase +everything which their fancy dictates. A Santa Fe senorita dashes in +her rich silks which have cost hundreds of dollars with as much grace +as does one of the Washington or Fifth Avenue belles, clothed in the +same luxuriant style. In Santa Fe, we are sorry to say, it requires +vice of the worst shade for women to support such a style of living; +but the morals of the Mexicans are so loose in all classes, that +virtue is boldly parted with by both sexes in a spirit which the +triumphs of natural reason alone ought to prevent, and which no lover +of humanity can admire or tolerate. Gambling, in this town, has +long held its full sway, and many is the victim which this wretched +wickedness has prematurely hurried into a vortex, from which there has +been no recovery. + +The palmy days of gambling, in San Francisco, have been rivaled in +the little town of Santa Fe, and the boldness with which the Mexican +player will part with his last dollar, shows the hardened state +to which the man, and, what is perhaps worse, the woman, have been +brought, by years of habitual playing for money. In olden times, the +Mexicans used to travel hundreds of miles, and bring their money with +them in order to squander it at their favorite game of _monte_. Not +only this fact is true, but men will often sell themselves into the +slavery of debt in order to satisfy their craving desire to gamble. + +The town of Santa Fe is watered by azequias or small canals, which +are used in every section of the Territory, with which to irrigate the +soil. Near the town, and on a hill adjoining, stands the ruins of Fort +Marcy, which was used by the American Volunteers during the conquest +of the country in the year 1846. This fort commands the town; and, for +the purpose which governed its building it answered very well. There +are several good boarding-houses in Santa Fe, and one hotel, which is +well fitted up and well kept. It forms the rendezvous for the +whole town. The commanding general of the military department which +comprises the Territory of New Mexico, with his staff, makes this +town his head-quarters. There is also a garrison of American soldiers +stationed in the town. The governor of the territory, the judges, +surveyor and all the government officials of any importance, make +this place their home. The Territorial buildings, being the halls of +legislation, and such other buildings as are necessary for the State +and Territorial purposes, both finished and under process of erection, +are located in Santa Fe. On one side of the plaza there stands a long, +low building known as the Palace. No one, however, would be aware +of the fact if not informed of it; for the building has more the +appearance of having been intended for a rope-walk than for the +assemblage of _savants_ who were to discuss and arrange matters of +state and public interest. Notwithstanding the small pretensions +in the way of architecture which the Palace presents, nevertheless, +within it, there have lived old Mexican governors who ruled their +people with a rod of iron, and whose fiery impulses went forth as just +and equitable law. These tyrants--for it was very seldom that the +poor and ignorant New Mexicans were favored with a good, wise and just +governor--governed on the principle of self aggrandizement. Being far +separated from their home government, they took care to smother all +evil reports, while the good, only, were allowed to circulate; and +these, so far as the home government was concerned, solely by their +authority, in order to have the desired effect to retain them in +office. In this they were usually successful, as they generally +retained their lucrative positions until cut off by death, or until +they had amassed a fortune which made their tasks burdensome. Many of +these men might have been envied by the richest among Americans, so +far as wealth is considered. They were so envied by the wealthy men at +the capital of the republic. These provinces of Mexico were the Indies +where troublesome opponents were to be sent by government, to suck, +like leeches, the public treasury, and thus obtain their fill +to repletion. When the United States came into possession of the +territory of New Mexico, affairs were somewhat tempered to the state +of reason and justice; but, a people who had so long been kept down, +could not at once appreciate the value of the changes; consequently, +they have been slow in elevating their heads to the proper standard +of men. The legislature of New Mexico, as it has been recognized +under the constitution of the United States, resembles other forms of +territorial governments. This statement is true in theory, but not in +practice; for it is impossible to collect an uneducated people, +unused to self government, and allow them to steer their own bark as +law-makers, without observing that they make many openings for serious +mistakes to creep in, which are and should be severely criticised. +The pioneer laws, as they came from the first New Mexican legislature, +were faulty in the extreme. They seemed to point out wickedness as +a punishment for wickedness. If we desired to afford our readers a +laugh, we should permit them to read many of these laws. The simple +perusal of them would cause merriment equal to the most laughable +comedy. Had it not been for the few white men, who, from time to time, +have found their way into the legislature of New Mexico, the whole +body would long since have lost themselves in the depth of learning +which their untutored minds had undertaken to engraft upon their +statute books. The members of this body, for a long time, turned their +attention more to the emoluments which naturally accrued from their +position, than to endeavors to steady the helm of government for +the good of their country. In order to save their pay, they studied +economy, which caused them to make a beggarly appearance, and, in +the eyes of the white men, they were often contemptibly mean. Greatly +predominating in numbers, the Mexicans of course had no difficulty in +ruling the country; and they naturally preferred their own countrymen +in filling the law-making department of their government. The +consequence was, that they thus obtained a crowd of legislators who +could hardly read. By the aid of a few schools, an enlightened press, +and the examples of a few worthy Americans, they are gradually mending +their ways in this respect; and the time will come in a few years, +when the legislature of New Mexico will compare favorably with +its sister territories; but this, not until education has made her +indelible mark upon the people. + +The town of Santa Fe is provided with a Roman Catholic church, which, +under the judicious management of the present bishop and clergy, is +doing what it can to improve the condition of the Mexican population. +Other religious denominations have not yet been fully developed; +although the attempt is being made to establish churches of the +Protestant faith on a sure and permanent footing; but this, although +we regard it as certain, will take time, for the majority of the +people lean strongly to the Roman Catholic faith. It is a very +singular fact that among a population of seventy thousand souls +included in the limits of the Territory of New Mexico, there have been +such feeble and vain attempts made by Protestant missionaries to +bring the people to their mode of thinking. The task might have been +impossible when the country was under the jurisdiction of old Mexico; +but, since it has changed masters, this excuse does not hold good. The +Mexicans, as a body, learn readily; they easily discern between right +and wrong; and, as the field for Christian enterprise to work in is +large enough for all sects, it is strange that the Protestant church +is not found laboring in the good cause, side by side with its Roman +Catholic friend. It is true, there are a few persons struggling on +under the auspices of the Protestant church; but they are so few that +they are seldom met in the great expanse of the country. Santa Fe has +long been celebrated as having a depraved population; but, as honest +and honorable men are now working with satisfactory success for a +reformation, the day cannot be far distant when this town will redeem +itself. It is true that, not many years back, Santa Fe was filled with +gamblers and desperadoes of all grades; but, at the present time, law +and order is beginning to predominate, and it is to be hoped that the +next generation will see a better state of affairs. The vices which +have characterized the inhabitants have not been confined, by any +means, to the Mexicans; but rather they have been exemplified in those +Americans with bad characters, who have, from time to time, crept in +among the people. These men, in several instances, have set examples +which the most debased Mexican would hesitate to follow. + +The appearance of Santa Fe, from an outside view, is anything but +striking. Its houses, like most Mexican buildings, are seldom higher +than one story, and, with few exceptions, they are entirely wanting +in beauty. They are built after what may be styled a Mexican mode of +architecture, and consist of a series of rooms which encircle an open +square or court, the access to which is through a large portal. These +buildings are usually huddled together towards the centre or plaza, +while, in the outskirts of the town, they are greatly scattered. The +arrangement of the streets appears as if they were mere matters of +accident rather than matters of system or intention. The town is +ornamented by few, if any, trees, while the general appearance of the +adjacent country, as has been seen, is barren. The markets of the town +are but sparingly supplied with a variety, and those articles which +are the most common, bring, comparatively speaking, good prices. Not +many miles from Santa Fe there are famous silver mines, which for +many years were worked almost entirely by hand. Within a recent date +machinery has been introduced by some enterprising Americans, and the +precious silver ore is being brought to light in large quantities. +In point of amusement the people still cling to the pleasures of the +fandango; and, as this town is much in advance of any other in the +Territory, the Santa Fe balls are carried on, sometimes, on quite a +grand scale. The majority of them are the places of resort for the +free classes of society. The more respectable people seldom attend +them, and then only when they are certain that they will find the +ceremonies conducted in the spirit which administers really to +pleasure and not to excess. The distance from Santa Fe to the Missouri +River is in the neighborhood of nine hundred miles. The road, for the +first one hundred miles towards the Santa Fe terminus, is rough and +hilly; but, after that, it strikes out on the open plains, and is as +level as can possibly be for such an immense distance. It is over this +beautiful road that we have several times described Kit Carson as he +traveled to and from the United States, though, more frequently, as +has been seen, he preferred routes of his own selection, which enabled +him, with his small escorts, to elude the vigilant watch of hostile +Indians. The rich merchandise which finds its market in New +Mexico passes over this road; and, during the summer months, the +heavily-laden caravans are continually traversing it. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + + A fresh Campaign set on foot--Col. Cook in Command--Kit Carson + goes as Guide--The Apaches and Utahs leagued together--The + Roughness of the Country and the Privations to which the + Command was exposed--The Indians overhauled--A running + Fight--The Advantages gained--The Chase resumed--The Apaches + resort to their old Tricks--Col. Cook is obliged to return + to Abiquiu--A Utah taken Prisoner through Mistake--Kit Carson + goes to Taos and has a Conference with the Chiefs of the + Utah Nation--Cook's second Scout--He is caught in a furious + Snow-storm and obliged to return to Rio Colorado--Major Brooks + and Reinforcements come to the Rescue--Major Brooks on + the Lookout, but fails to find the Indians--Carleton's + Expedition--Kit Carson goes with it as Guide--The Adventures + met with--Kit Carson's Prophecy comes true--The Muache Band + of Utahs summoned by Kit Carson to a Grand Council--Troubles + brewing among these Indians--The Small Pox carries off their + Head Men. + + +To retrieve the ground lost, and also, to show the Jiccarilla Apaches +that their recent victory had tended only to stimulate the movements +of the Americans to a display of greater activity and energy, after a +brief space of time, a large body of regular troops were made ready to +take the field against them. The commander of this expedition was Col. +Cook of the 2d Regiment of United States dragoons. That officer chose +for his principal guide Kit Carson, whose peace duties as Indian Agent +had been abruptly arrested by the warlike attitude of some of his +Indians. It was necessary, also, that Kit Carson should be on the +ground in case the red men were overtaken, in order to ascertain +whether, or no, the Utahs were mixed up with the operations of the +Apaches. A large branch of the former tribe were part and parcel of +his agency, and the two nations were known to be on very friendly +terms with each other; consequently, it was surmised that they might +be secretly, and under disguise, acting together in the war. + +Col. Cook employed, besides the troops of the line which were under +his command, some forty men selected from among the Mexican and Pueblo +Indians, whose duties were to act as spies and trailers. + +These Pueblos were selected for spies on account of their being +familiar with Indian habits and their mode of warfare. They were taken +from among the best hunters which the Pueblo villages could furnish. +They presented themselves provided with their own horses, rifles, and, +in most cases, with their own ammunition, and were supplied only with +their rations of food. When it was practicable, they were allowed to +kill game; and, being very expert at it, they seldom returned from +a hunt open-handed. Their peaceful mode of life prevented them from +engaging in any deep league with the hostile Indians; but yet, there +is no doubt that when the different tribes were at war with the +whites, the Pueblos harbored the warlike Indians and supplied them, +in many instances, with such articles as they stood most in need of. +Their policy in thus acting might have been to retain the friendship +of these Indians and thus prevent their committing any depredations +on themselves. The Pueblos may have taken advantage of the state of +affairs when war existed, and doubtless frequently did, under disguise +of the enemy, become guilty of crimes which could easily have been +proven against them. The Mexicans have often tried to criminate the +Pueblos for thus acting; but they have proceeded with such bungling +policy, that it has seldom happened that anything criminal has been +definitely proven against them. If a part of them have thus acted, +there is not the least doubt but that the majority are guiltless. They +are, as a body, loyal to the government of the United States; but, not +so much from love of the Americans as from being shrewd. They know it +is for self interest to keep good friends with the strongest power. +On these war scouts they rendered valuable service, and in this light, +have been long regarded with favor by the whites. + +The command of these forty Mexicans and Pueblo Indians was conferred +upon James H. Quinn, a well-known and prominent citizen of New Mexico. +This gentleman became intimately associated with the Territory of New +Mexico soon after that country was annexed to the United States. In +politics, military life, farming and mercantile pursuits, he was most +actively engaged, and by his talents and industry took a prominent +position and became an influential member of society. He had some +faults; (who has not?) but his unexpected death came so suddenly +upon his friends that they could only think of him for the many good +qualities both of his head and heart. Hence, his faults were most +willingly passed over in silence. + +All things being in readiness, the command entered upon the pursuit +of the Indians. They marched from Taos, ten miles north, to a stream +called the Arroya Hondo. Thence, following the banks of this stream +down through its deep and rocky canon, they came to the Rio del Norte. + +On the first-named stream, there is a small and unattractive +settlement, which bears the same name. Several years since, there was +a large distillery in full operation at this place. This establishment +was owned by an American, and was very extensive. The building was +celebrated as being the place where several Americans were slaughtered +by the Mexicans during the revolution, in which Governor Bent lost his +life, heretofore spoken of. On the plain which is contiguous with the +south bank of the Arroya Hondo, there are to be found the remains of +a large Aztec town, which was, at some remote period, the largest +settlement inhabited by that interesting people to be found in +northern New Mexico. At the present day, can be seen the size and +almost the number of houses which formed the town--which are very +numerous. The building material, as here used by the Aztecs, was small +cobble-stones which undoubtedly were mixed with mud and thus formed +the structure. Pieces of pottery, flint arrow-points; stone pipe and +rude tools have been, from time to time, found on the site of the +town, going to prove that the people were not wandering in their +habits, but that instead, they occupied their time in farming, raising +cattle and mining. The wild Indians may have murdered the inhabitants, +and then destroyed the town; or, civil war and pestilence might have +caused it to become deserted, when, as a natural result, it fell to +decay. The most plausible theory to entertain is the former, as every +old Mexican town of the north contains relics which could not have +been designed merely in case of an emergency. Not one of these towns +in olden times was without a large well, which, in most instances, +was bountifully supplied with water. In time of peace, these extensive +reservoirs were covered over and concealed from view, and therefore, +but few strangers could be made aware of their existence. On the +breaking out of war, these wells were thrown open for public use, and, +being located in the centre of the towns, the inhabitants escaped that +danger in procuring water which necessarily would have surrounded them +in case they had been obliged, as they are now, to bring it from the +neighboring streams. As time rolled on, and danger was lessened, +these wells were almost forgotten, until the timber which covered them +rotted and allowed their fragments and the earth to cave in, when +the object of the digging these reservoirs became apparent. It is an +established fact in history, that the town of Taos once withstood +a long and fearful siege, but finally escaped, as did its people, +uninjured. The besieging party, in this instance, was composed of +the Indians of the plains; they were present to the number of many +thousand, and were at last compelled to depart, as is supposed, in +consequence of their provisions giving out. Reasoning from analogy, +it is no more than proper to suppose, that if the early settlements of +the Mexicans were thus annoyed, the case of the Aztecs must have +been still harder, and that being overcome by numbers, they were +necessitated to succumb; and hence, were swept, by the Indians of the +plains, from the face of the earth, leaving but a dim outline of their +ancient grandeur. + +The party found the stream very much swollen by the melting of the +snows in the mountains. When they arrived at its fording-place, +notwithstanding a torrent rolled before them, the command was, of a +necessity, given to cross. There was no shrinking. Without a single +murmur, the entire command set themselves about the perilous task. The +bed of the river at this place is rocky and shelving. At low water, +these facts offer no great obstacles in crossing. The case is very +different when the torrent has reached high-water mark--then, a single +step will often plunge horse and rider into the angry waters beyond +their depth. Kit Carson boldly took the lead, and before the infantry +had all passed, the horses of the dragoons had to be sent back to +assist them. To facilitate this fording, Kit Carson crossed and +recrossed the stream at least twenty times. No serious accident +occurred, although three of the dragoons came near being swept down +the current, which, at the time, was very swift and strong. Had they +gone below the fording-place, they would most assuredly have been +drowned, as the river there takes a fearful leap through a cut in the +rocks. Having safely gained the opposite shore, the men found +that their labors had but just commenced. In front of them stood a +precipice that was, at the least calculation, six hundred feet in +height, of solid rock, and almost perpendicular. Up this ascent the +command had to mount, by following a zigzag trail. With much trouble +and toil, the summit of the height was reached, when they once more +commenced their journey over a diversified country, made up of plains +and ravines. No grass or water was found until the expedition arrived +at a small Mexican town called Sirvilletta. Here an encampment was +formed for one night, and here their animals were to have their last +rations of corn and forage. The sale of these latter articles proved +a windfall to, and made glad the hearts of the inhabitants of the +settlement; for the money which they received, in exchange for their +produce, was the largest sum they had ever possessed. Thus, in more +ways than one, these campaigns in the mountains caused good results. + +These settlements on the remote frontiers of the territory of +New Mexico are composed of very poor people, who, for many years +succeeding their first efforts on establishing their small farms, find +great difficulty in doing more than to feed themselves. Their distance +from markets such as Taos affords, prevents them from transporting +thither more than their small surplus of grain; but, as in this +case, on thus finding many hungry horses and mules to feed, their +corn-stalks and wheat-straw come into demand, and bring them in a +remuneration in ready money, in sums which they have not even dreamed +of before. The only difficulty in trading with such people is to fix a +fair price on their produce; for they are so fearful of not receiving +enough, that they often overshoot the mark, and charge so much as to +prevent other expeditions of the same sort from visiting them. With +the few dollars in their pockets thus gained from the party, these +Mexicans for once felt themselves rich men. + +Early on the subsequent day the whole force was again in motion, and +continued an active march for two days over a rough country. At last +Kit Carson struck the Indian trail. The course was instantly made to +suit this trail, when the party marched on two days more at a rapid +pace. On the second day's march, the Indians were overhauled. The band +of Apaches had been jogging on slowly, and consequently, their animals +were in good order. The case was far different with their pursuers; +their horses were much used up by overwork and privations. Thus, when +their strength was most needed, it was found wanting. The Indians +espied the soldiers in time to make good their flight, but not quick +enough to save the lives of all their warriors. Several of them were +killed and many more were wounded. They also lost a few of their +horses, and nearly all their camp equipage. The roughness of the +section of the country where they were overtaken, assisted the savages +in escaping, notwithstanding every effort was made by the Americans +to prevent their leaving so easily. Kit Carson, when describing these +events, says: "To Capt. Sykes, who commanded the infantry, 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 with despair, they were prevented from so doing by +witnessing the noble example set them by their captain. He showed them +what a soldier's duty really was, and this so touched their pride that +they hobbled along as if determined to follow him until death relieved +them from their sufferings. Although this officer had a riding animal +at his disposal, yet never for once did he mount him; but instead, +he lent the horse to some deserving soldier who was on the point of +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, that was nearly up to their +arm-pits and full of floating ice, he was, with his company, the +foremost in the attack." + +Two soldiers of Captain Sykes's company[25] were wounded, and one +of them afterwards died. The other man was severely injured, but +eventually recovered. The Indians, on being routed, were pursued +through a deep canon for about four miles. A few who had been +previously wounded were overtaken and slain. Night now came on; +therefore, the men had to give up the chase, and on returning to their +own encampment they found their friends had located it on the same +ground which the Indians had occupied when they were first discovered. +The next morning the surviving wounded man, with an escort, was sent +back to the nearest military post, so that he could receive proper +attention. The pursuit at an early hour was then resumed, by the +soldiers' taking the fresh trail of the Indians. Away went both +parties through valleys, canons, and over snow clad mountains, until, +in the end, the Americans saw that it was impossible to overtake +the red men, who began to break up into squads of two and three and +scatter in every direction. During the latter days of the chase, the +routes which the Indians traveled were the worst they could select; +their object being, entirely to use up the animals of their pursuers, +who were thus vigorously driving them from one haunt to another. Very +often, at night, the soldiers would find themselves bivouacked but +a short distance from the place which they had left on the previous +morning; and this happened, when not once during the whole day, had +they missed the trail or ceased travelling; but the fact was, that the +enemy were so familiar with the country that they made these crooked +trails with impunity. Finally, the Indians saw that in this trial of +muscles and nerves they gained nothing, and could not thus shake +off their pursuers, but that it was necessary for them to try +other expedients; therefore, they separated, to meet again at some +preconcerted rendezvous. On this occasion, as so often heretofore, the +Apaches did not belie the character formed of them by some of our most +experienced military men, and of which we have before spoken: viz., +that they have no equals for endurance, and such a thing as overtaking +them when once put to flight is almost out of the category of the +white man's feats. + +[Footnote 25: Company D, 2d Regiment U.S. Artillery.] + +There being nothing more that could be accomplished by the pursuit, +consequently, Col. Cook ordered his men to face about, and they having +done so, he made a direct march to Abiquiu, a Mexican village that is +located on the Rio Chamo, a tributary of the Rio del Norte. The +design he had in going there was to recruit his men and animals. Their +sufferings had been severe. Although performing constantly more than +double duty, the entire command was put upon half allowance of food, +and that little could not be properly cooked. For this reason, the +trials and hardships which they experienced were of no ordinary +character. + +The town of Abiquiu, where Colonel Cook arrived, is about sixty miles +northwest from Santa Fe, and a traveler can make a journey through +valleys from one town to the other. It stands next to Taos in point +of magnitude and importance in the matter of townships in the north of +New Mexico. The scenery about this settlement is very attractive, and, +as it lies on the borders of the Utah Indian country, it is frequently +visited by these Indians. The neighbors of the Utahs, the Navajoes, +occasionally make their appearance in the town. The Mexicans of +Abiquiu, from their continued intercourse with bands of the Utah +Indians, are more or less linked in with them; and, in time of war, +the Americans can place but little confidence in the inhabitants of +Abiquiu on this account. The grazing and farming facilities of the +country adjacent to this town are quite progressive, and were it not +for the Indians, its resources would be much more rapidly developed +than they now are. + +Utah was originally part of the territory of Upper California. The +United States came into possession of it by treaty with Mexico in +1848. The population is chiefly Mormon. The new territory, as set +off by the United States in 1850, includes an area of one hundred and +eighty-seven thousand, nine hundred and twenty-three square miles, or +one hundred and twenty millions, two hundred and seventy thousand and +seven hundred and twenty acres. Near the eastern base of the Sierra +Nevada range there are several lakes which receive the waters of the +eastern slope of these leviathan mountains. One of these lakes bears +the name of Kit Carson, having been named Carson Lake by Colonel +Fremont. + +In one respect this country has characteristics seldom met with in +any part of the globe. Large numbers of the lakes and rivers have no +outlets. Such is the fact in regard to Carson Lake. The only means by +which their waters are reduced is by evaporation. The Great Salt Lake +of Utah, to the traveler is of great interest. It may well be called +the Dead Sea of Utah. + +As has been seen, Col. Cook and party were now halted at a Mexican +village on the Rio Chama, a tributary of the Rio Grande or del Norte. + +The party that had been sent back with the wounded man, while on their +journey met and captured an Indian. Supposing him to be an Apache, +they deprived him of his horse and arms and otherwise treated him as +a prisoner. While they were en route, the Indian made his escape and +joined his tribe. This captive they afterwards learned was a Utah, +whose tribe had the external appearance of being friendly towards the +whites, although there were existing good reasons for doubting their +sincerity. Col. Cook, fearing that such treatment might offer the +Utahs a plausible excuse for openly declaring war, determined to clear +himself of censure by making such reparation as was in his power. +Accordingly, he dispatched Kit Carson to the head-quarters of his +Agency, in order to settle matters. On reaching Taos, Kit Carson sent +an expressman to the Utah village with the request that their chiefs +would come and have a talk with him. They obeyed his summons, and when +they were seated in Council with their "Father Kit," he explained to +them how that the soldiers had taken prisoner their _brave_ through +mistake and ignorance. He informed them, that his countrymen did not +wish to do their tribe any injury, and he trusted that they would +overlook the affair; advising them that the best way to show to the +white men that their intentions were honest would be by not rendering +aid to the Apaches. He said that he had not sent for them through +fear, as their warriors were but a handful when compared to the +soldiers of their "Great Father;" but the main object, always to be +held in view in their deliberations, was to cultivate friendship, as +the country was large enough for both parties to live in. The Indians +replied that they were satisfied with the explanation made to them, +and declared that their hearts were not in the least inimical towards +the whites. On hearing this, Kit Carson restored to them the captured +property, and also made to the chiefs themselves a few useful +presents. + +Col. Cook, after granting a sufficient rest to his men, and after +obtaining supplies at Abiquiu, started out again to hunt the +Jiccarillas. He was so fortunate soon after as to find a fresh trail, +and in hot haste followed it for several days, when, unfortunately, he +was caught in a furious snow-storm which obliterated the tracks of the +Indians, besides otherwise greatly damaging his resources. The fair +prospects of a successful termination to the expedition being so +suddenly frustrated, the commander had no other alternative open to +him but to return. This he did by going to the Rito Colorado, a small +town that lay on his route. Here the command was joined by Major +Brooks of the 3d Regiment of U.S. Infantry, who had marched to the +relief of Col. Cook with reinforcements. As soon as the necessary +preparations were gone through with, another scout was undertaken +under charge of this last-named officer, while Col. Cook and his men +retired from their active service. + +Major Brooks, without much difficulty, struck upon a recent path made +by the enemy, and on it, gave them chase. The Indians were making +their way to the Utah country, and on arriving there, the plans of +the major were completely balked, owing to the great numbers of fresh +trails that he discovered in those parts. They were so numerous that +they crossed and recrossed one another at all points, and were so +similar that his best guides could not distinguish the one made by the +Apaches from those belonging to the Utahs. The result was that this +command, after being in the field for fifteen days, was compelled to +return without accomplishing anything. + +These two nations, the Utahs and Apaches, have been so long intimate, +that many of their habits and customs are the same, and very often it +requires them to speak their respective languages, before they can +be recognized; but, usually, the Utahs are cleaner and better dressed +than their faithful allies, the Apaches, whom they use, in time of +peace and war, as tools. + +After allowing sufficient time for the Apaches to collect and +reorganize so that they would be more accessible, a third expedition +was made ready and placed under the command of Major Carlton of the +First Regiment of United States dragoons. Major Carlton employed as +his guide, Kit Carson. + +This command, at first, traveled to the north one hundred miles, until +it reached Fort Massachusetts. Here it halted for one day until the +final arrangement could be finished. Major Carlton then divided his +party, sending one division, which consisted of his spy company, under +Captain Quinn, to examine the country on the west side of the White +Mountains, while he took it upon himself to inspect the territory on +the east side of the same range. + +Captain Quinn followed up the valley of San Luis. When he reached the +Mosco Pass, he turned off through it, in order to get into the Wet +Mountain Valley, where it had been previously agreed upon that he +should meet with and report progress to his commanding officer. + +The Mosco Pass is a narrow opening in the White Mountains, which +latter is but another name for a branch of the Rocky Chain. This pass +has been traversed by Col. St. Vrain, many years ago, with +wagons; but, at the present time, such a feat would prove to be an +impossibility, as the mountain streams have washed down large rocks +and other obstacles, which now present difficulties which simply men +and animals cannot overcome. The pass itself is but a few miles in +length. It is but a deep cut through very lofty mountains. Its sides +are rocky, craggy and very rough, defying, in many places, the most +experienced climber to ascend them. It is a favorite route, which +the Apaches delight to take when hotly pursued, as it offers them the +saving of many miles of difficult and circuitous traveling, when they +wish to reach the open prairies. + +On reaching the place of rendezvous, Carlton, while in the Sangre de +Christo Pass, by the aid of his guide Kit Carson, discovered a trail +made by three of the enemy, and on following it up, it was found to +join the main path on the Huerfano Creek. On the arrival of Quinn, who +had discovered signs which indicated the direction the Indians were +taking, a conference was called, when all the old guides and spies of +the party agreed in believing they were on the right scent. The skill +shown by men accustomed to the business of tracking Indians, either +for friendly or warlike purposes, is oftentimes truly wonderful, and +especially is it so to a person brought up in a civilized community, +only familiar with the reports of such things. The age of the trail, +the haunts the red men are bound to, their object in going there, the +numbers on the trail, and the tribe, or tribes to which they belong, +can, in the majority of cases, be told with the greatest accuracy. It +is by philosophizing on minute things, which in ordinary life would be +considered mere trifles, and hardly worth a consideration, that this +knowledge is arrived at. Thus, it takes but a minimum amount of +wisdom to realize that a spear of grass, when trodden upon, is usually +crushed to the earth; but, few reflect that the attempt is made by +nature to restore the blade to its naturally upright position, and in +doing so, requires a certain period of time to accomplish the task. +This process, to the trailer, is an index by which he judges the age +of the visit made by the Indians, to that section of country. The +shape of the sole of the moccasin, or the carvings on arrows when they +are found, which not unfrequently happens, and many other like things, +are sure signs in guiding the experienced trailer to the particular +party he is seeking. + +Carleton and his men became flushed with the prospects of success on +finding the main trail, and they lost no time in following it up. For +six days they made rapid progress, and at the end of that time espied +the Indians encamped on "Fisher's Peak" in the Raton Mountains. +Although the mountain was none the easiest to climb, yet the soldiers +went at its performance with a determination that brought them upon +the Indians before they could collect their animals and be off, and +the consequence was, that many a brave warrior then and there drew +his last breath. However, the most of the Indians ran away, but were +pursued and a few were overtaken and shot. + +The mountain on which the Apaches were concealed, as described in +this adventure with them, is devoid of trees, and hence, is what, in +western language is known as a "bald mountain." Its summit contained +a dry basin; which, besides the open lookout that the eminence +commanded, formed another inducement to these Indians in selecting it +for a hiding-place. The route from New Mexico to the United States, +which we have before spoken of as the Bent's Fort road, runs through, +or rather, close to, the Raton Mountains. On account of its being well +timbered, and offering somewhat of a protection, this route is often +chosen late in the autumn and early in the spring, as the safest for +caravans to travel. As a hunting district it cannot be surpassed, +especially in the seasons of the year above mentioned, as the game +collects there for shelter from cold and storms. + +At night, a squad of men under command of Lieutenant R. Johnston, of +the First Regiment of United States Dragoons, secreted themselves in +the camp lately occupied by the Indians, in the expectancy that some +of them would return to reconnoitre and see what had been done there. +Along with this detachment, there was a man belonging to the spy +company who could counterfeit the call used by these Indians when they +wish to find each other and collect their forces. At about midnight, +when all was still, this peculiar-toned whistle was sounded, when +lo and behold! two warriors and two squaws came forth and commenced +groping about in the darkness. They were fired upon, but as no +accurate aim could be taken, only one of the men was mortally wounded. +There is no reason to doubt that there were more of these Indians +concealed in the neighborhood, but the report of the rifles and +the yells of their exposed brothers, caused them to cling to their +hiding-places; and, as the shades of night advanced, they thought it +was best to be on the move to distant parts. Hence, they escaped. The +Apaches, in this affray, parted with forty head of horses and also +their scanty allowance of camp equipage; for, by prosecuting the war, +they were fast becoming poverty stricken; but, to do them as much harm +as possible, all the articles that could be of any service to them +were collected and destroyed. + +A spectator, not used to seeing Indians in all phases, on beholding +these Apaches in their most nourishing condition, would at once decide +they had but little else to lose than their bodies, for they usually +have but a small quantity of clothing on them; but this is but an +instance where human eyes can be easily deluded. As long as he has his +rifle with plenty of ammunition, or even when he is reduced to his bow +and arrows, the Apache still considers that he is amply provided to +carry on war. Least of all the Indians in the far West does this race +prepare for the future. When deprived of his horse, which he is ready, +at a moment's warning, to convert into food by killing, his spirits +are as buoyant as if he was mounted on the fleetest charger. He is +equally careless about partaking of his last morsel of nourishment, +although his rashness may drive him, and often does, to the +alternative of subsisting on roots and bark, or such other articles as +may fall in his way. + +On the morning of the day that the Apache village was discovered and +captured, Kit Carson rode up to his superior officer and said, "Major, +if no accident shall happen to prevent us, we are certain to overtake +the Indians by two o'clock this afternoon. The signs are becoming so +fresh that I feel confident that I will not be mistaken." Carleton +replied that if his words came true, he would present him with the +finest hat that could be purchased in the United States. Strange as +it may appear, the Indians were found at the hour which the guide had +predicted. Sometime afterward, as it required quite a length of time +to write and have the commission executed, Kit Carson was +presented with a superb hat, in which there was a very appropriate +inscription--viz. + + +----------------+ + | AT 2 O'CLOCK. | + | | + | KIT CARSON, | + | | + | FROM | + | | + | MAJOR CARLETON.| + +----------------+ + +This prophecy was not guesswork. On the contrary, it was a matter of +calculation, made on the same principle which any experienced workman +would adopt, in reference to some undertaking that was within the +range of his calling. A few years later, an officer, who had been an +eye-witness of this incident, had the opportunity of trying Kit Carson +a second time on the same business, but Kit was not mistaken. The +Indians were overtaken within five minutes from the time he had +foretold they would be. + +Major Carleton, having performed all that lay in his power, commenced +his homeward-bound march. While _en route_ he traveled by the head +waters of the Canadian River and its tributaries, and passed over bold +and lofty mountains, and through a picturesque country. Finally he +reached Taos. His command was in a very good condition, considering +the hardships to which it had been exposed. + +Although we say, in common parlance, that this command returned in +good condition, yet it must not be presumed by this assertion that +they came back making a fine appearance, like that presented by +soldiers on a parade. When out on these campaigns, the comfort of the +men is considered to be of more importance than either pomp or show; +hence, those military trappings which are not particularly essential, +are left behind, while there is just enough uniformity of dress +remaining, to make them recognizable as soldiers. But little luggage +can be transported on these trips, hence, the soldiers are obliged to +limit their wants to actual necessity, which seldom amounts to more +than the clothes they have on. When about starting out, the soldiers +bear the appearance of being ready for hard work; which, after +finishing, they are glad to return, even if they present themselves +at their quarters in rags. It is wonderful what a change in personal +appearance a few weeks can make by traveling in the mountains. The +person thus exposed partially conforms to the habits of the wild +Indians, both in appearance and mode of life. Such toilet articles +as mirrors and razors, with their paraphernalia, are dispensed +with, personal beauty being a thing the most to be despised. In lieu +thereof, robust health shows itself in the cheek, the eye, and the +whole economy of the man. The blood courses through his veins as pure +as the water in the mountain streams about him. By this training, the +mind becomes clear and well balanced, and the whole system reaches a +condition which far surpasses the finest constructed machinery. This +happy state of the body does not, however, communicate itself to the +fantastical appearance of the soldiers as they come marching along. +Were they to enter a town belonging to a civilized community, when +arrayed in this mountain costume, they would be at once judged as a +band of desperadoes. + +On arriving at his home, Kit Carson resumed the duties of his office +as Indian Agent, which occupied his time during the remainder of +the year. Soon after, another expedition was organized and sent out +against the Apaches, but it returned unsuccessful. + +We have used this word "organizing," when speaking of the fitting out +of various expeditions against the Indians, and it seems proper that +here we should give the reader an idea of what kind of preparation is +necessary to put one of these commands in proper trim. The company, or +companies, of soldiers will be first detailed for the arduous +duties of the field to castigate the Indians. This matter is easy to +accomplish; but the next thing to be thought of is to take care of +these troops, which is not quite so puerile a task. The quartermaster +estimates from the number of the soldiers how many mules will be +required to transport their luggage, equipments and provisions. This +having been determined upon, he collects the animals and has them +provided with pack-saddles. The task of shoeing the horses and mules +is also no easy matter, for they cannot go until after they have been +properly shod. A certain weight of freight is assigned to each pack +mule, and a suitable number of men are employed to take care of, load +and unload these animals when in camp. When on the march, these +men perform duty as drivers, and otherwise look after their charge. +Notwithstanding their proverbial obstinacy, these pack mules quickly +learn the labor which they have to perform. After finishing their +usual day's work, they often exhibit impatience to be relieved of +their burdens. In the morning they are correspondingly reluctant about +being loaded, and by their hostile demonstrations, they plainly show +their unwillingness to engage in further labor. Especially is this +true, when, by careless management, their backs have become injured; +or when, from the steadiness of pressure from the "_dead_ weight" of +their cargoes, the same result has been brought about. The Mexicans +understand the art of packing animals to perfection, hence they are +preferred before other men to serve in this capacity. It is often a +laughable scene to witness a mule who is used to the business, having +his load strapped on and otherwise arranged in proper place. The +packer, with the lashing rope in hand, and with his foot braced +against the side of the animal, by the assistance of a kind of pulley +arrangement in the saddle gearing, uses his utmost endeavors to make +things as firm as possible. Every effort which he thus put forth, is +strenuously and obstinately resisted by a trick which we will call a +straining process that is resorted to by the mule. The animal seems +to know when his pack is securely and properly adjusted; for, if it is +not, he is ready to dump it on the first opportunity occurring. When +the mules are loaded, they start out in a drove, but are allowed to +select their own path, provided they follow on after the command. +It generally happens that one of them is more ambitious than his +companions. This one taking the lead, the others resign to him +their right to the place, and are content to keep his company at a +respectful distance in the rear. One of the duties of the Commissary +Department in fitting out such expeditions is, to provide a sufficient +quantity of rations for the men, such as beef, bacon, beans, sugar +and coffee. These form the reliable subsistence of the soldiers while +absent from their posts or the settlements. The estimate is judged of +by the number of days which the expedition will require to be absent, +in order to perform a certain amount of work. From this result is +calculated the weight and number of the rations required, always, +when practicable, allowing a small surplus. In this respect old and +experienced soldiers are far superior to volunteers. The former will +allow of no waste. They are accustomed to be methodic in their modes +of life, while the volunteer is usually ignorant of such teaching; +hence, he is wanting in making little things go a great way. While +out on one of these campaigns, it is often practicable to a certain +extent, provided the undertaking is not a hotly contested chase, to +drive along beef cattle, which can be killed and used at discretion. +Bacon, however, is the soldier's sheet anchor; and, the variety of +forms in which he can cook and prepare for eating this article, while +in the field, would astonish even a French _chef de cuisine_. It very +frequently happens, however, that in an Indian country, he is not +allowed to exercise his talent, for, making large fires might have the +effect of apprising the enemy of the near approach of danger. In such +a case he is obliged to make his coffee in a tin cup, over a very +small fire, the fuel of which consists of a handful of dry twigs, +which are carefully and cautiously replenished as the first supply is +consumed. This coffee, together with the remains of his last frugal +meal, serves to stay his appetite for the time being, _nolens volens_. +The organization is said to be complete and fit for service when the +soldiers are judiciously provided with arms, ammunition, and riding +horses. When the party consists of mounted men, they also are provided +with such other articles as are deemed necessary, which are included, +usually, under the heading of an outfit for the especial business in +which the soldier is to engage. + +In the latter part of the summer, Kit Carson departed from the agency, +on a visit to the band of Utahs, one of the tribes who were placed +under his special charge. Although, usually, he went to their country +several times in a year, yet, more frequently, these Indians came to +him in order that they might enjoy the hospitality of his house, and +receive from him presents of tobacco and other little commodities +which he was always sure to give them--articles which he generally had +to pay for himself. In visiting them at their home on this particular +occasion, Kit Carson had the double object in view of notifying them +of the _moon_ when they must meet the superintendent of the Indian +affairs of the territory at Abiquiu, a town adjacent to their +hunting-grounds, and one which they often frequented, and also, to +inform himself of the schemes which they had on foot and their actual +wants, so that he could report to the proper authorities the necessary +articles of which they stood most in need. To define the actual wants +and requirements of Indians, is a subject which has puzzled many a +person who has endeavored thoroughly to investigate their character, +and who has understood their mode of life. If the question was left to +themselves, it would be readily settled; for, they desire to possess +everything which in the least pleases their active fancy; and, so +extensive are their demands in this respect, that they know no limit, +provided their own inclinations are consulted. By some, it is supposed +that the presents of blankets and trinkets which they annually receive +from government, are more than sufficient rewards for depriving them +of parts of their country. Others there are who charitably add to +these things, presents of weapons and ammunition, arguing that thus +they can kill their game, and gain their own subsistence without +resorting to plunder; but alas! this latter argument is not found, +in the majority of instances, to be the peaceful manner in which +they employ these gifts. Very often the weapons which they have +but recently received, are turned upon their donors with a view +of destroying them. The reasoning of the Indian in regard to these +presents is perhaps right and just, yet it is by no means pleasing to +the exposed frontiersman. The Indian argues that these gifts are but +rights which he is forced to receive in lieu of his hunting grounds, +with which he is very loath to part, no matter what be the terms or +consideration offered. The inference which he draws is, that he can +use these presents as he pleases. Money, in the hands of wild Indians, +is almost worthless to them, and paying it for their lands by way of +annuity, is extreme folly. Some of them in time, as they have become +half civilized, begin to appreciate the value of money. Such only, +should be allowed to receive or accept it. They sometimes desire it by +way of ornament. Then by the usual means of exchanging property, they +know how, easily, to obtain it. Every tribe has its own peculiarities +in respect to its wants, and the best judge of these is the agent, who +should be first chosen for his honor, integrity and skill, and then +allowed a large discretion in his decisions. + +The distance to be traveled over while on this duty was in the +vicinity of two hundred and fifty miles, and was performed, like all +of Kit's previous journeys, on horseback. Indeed, there are but +few men living or dead, who have ridden in the saddle over as much +territory as the man we write of. On his way to the Utah village, Kit +accidentally fell in with the Apaches; but as he was constantly on the +look out, and therefore first in making the discovery, he lost no time +in effecting his escape from them, by changing his course. He thus +was able to pass around them in perfect safety. Kit Carson met with +no difficulty in finding the Utahs, among whom he spent two days +investigating their affairs. Just before parting with them, he left +directions for them to be at the council at the time appointed, which +was in the _new moon_ of October. Notwithstanding his path was beset +with the same perils that existed on his outward journey, yet by +careful traveling he surmounted them all, and arrived at his home safe +and sound. Little or nothing worth noting transpired until the +time arrived for him to set out for Abiquiu, where all parties soon +assembled in grand council and proceeded to business. Speeches were +made by the superintendent, by Kit Carson, and also by the head +chiefs. After these interesting proceedings were gone through with, +the annuities, to which the band were entitled according to their +treaty, were presented to them, which they received with outward signs +of friendship, though the knowing ones who were on the ground could +see, lurking beneath that stoic appearance which a savage usually +assumes when facing his white brother, that the red men were not +entirely satisfied with past events. However, every means had been +employed to pacify the band, who, on first coming into the council, +had succeeded in showing that they had been greatly outraged and +injured, and that they had sufficient cause for resentment. The +following circumstances will show the truth of this. + +Just previous to the holding of this council, one of the warriors who +was much esteemed by his tribe, had been waylaid and murdered by a +small party of Mexicans. The only excuse offered by the latter for +committing this bloody deed was, that they wished to deprive the +warrior of an old coat, which, by some means, had come into his +possession. + +The killing of a human being to deprive him of a garment which +was almost worthless, is perfectly characteristic of the depravity +exhibited by the lower classes of Mexicans. It is a singular fact that +these people love to steal trifling articles, or, sums of money. We +remember two instances where this trait is singularly illustrated. An +American, on one occasion, left on a table, in his log house, a large +sum of money in gold. He sent a Mexican into this room to bring him +something which he wanted, but the man returned saying he could not +find it. The American now went himself to look for the article, and, +while in the house, recounted his money and found one of the smallest +coins missing. He at once called the thief and charged him with the +crime. The Mexican knew this American to be very resolute; when, +therefore, he heard him threaten him with severe and summary +punishment if he did not, at once, produce the money, he knew there +was no escape, and accordingly drew from its hiding-place, on his +person, the missing coin and restored it to its owner. The American, +being used to such every-day occurrences, passed by the affair without +further notice. In the other instance an American was traveling and +had occasion to stop at a Mexican's house during the night. On going +to pay his bill for his lodging in the morning, he noticed that two +pieces of his money had been abstracted while he was sleeping. These +coins had been taken one from either end of his purse. This was what +drew his attention to the fact of his having been robbed. The host +was informed of what had happened and at once proceeded to restore the +missing money. He called his son to him, a boy twenty years of age, +and after threatening a good deal, he made the lad take his choice +between owning the theft or submitting to the risk of being discovered +by a search of his person for the missing coins. This had the desired +effect, and at once the stolen property was returned to its rightful +owner. + +Both of these facts are simple, and perhaps, uninteresting; but they +serve to exhibit a characteristic of the lower classes of Mexicans. +Doubtless, such paltry thieving is the result of a want of animal +courage, easily discernible by the close observer of the Mexican race. +Of course there are many exceptions to this statement. + +The white men interested in the council had their hands full in +their endeavors to smooth over this affair, for the Indians were +much dissatisfied with such treatment. At first they demanded that +reparation should be made them by their agents giving them a certain +number of horses. The Superintendent explained to them that he had not +the power to do this, but he assured them that the murderers should +be arrested and dealt with according to law. The Indians willingly +received this promise, but seemed to feel, as finally was the fact, +that they were doomed to be disappointed as far as the punishment was +concerned. It afterwards happened that only one of the murderers was +apprehended, and in a very short time after he was locked up as a +prisoner, he succeeded in making his escape and was never retaken. +This was all that was ever done by those in authority to render the +justice that had been agreed upon and which was richly due to the +Indians. After quitting the council, and while on their way back to +their hunting-ground, the small pox broke out among the red men, and +carried off, in its ravages, the leading men of this band of Muache +Utahs. On the first appearance of this trouble, the Indians held a +council among themselves, and decided that the Superintendent was the +cause of the pestilence that had visited them. They, also, decided +that he had collected them together in order thus to injure them, +and to further his designs he had presented, to each of their +distinguished warriors, a blanket-coat. They found that nearly every +Indian who had accepted and worn this article, had died. + +It so happened that the writer, several years after these events +occurred, visited the camp where this pestilence reigned in its full +vigor. The site of this camp was very beautiful. Perhaps it was this, +aided by other circumstances, which caused the red men to select it as +a refuge for their sick. The place is located on the west side of the +Valley of San Luis, and is about midway between its upper and lower +extremes. Two mountain streams have so joined as to form a peninsula +of tableland which is well shaded by cotton-wood trees. This ground, +when the writer saw it, was literally strewn with the bleached bones +of the Indian victims who had died from the scourge. As we lifted up +one skull and another, the thought struck us that, perhaps, we might +have touched the bones which once belonged to the famous chief, Chico +Velasques, of whom we have before spoken, as it was here that he died. +Had we done so knowingly, on account of that man's many cruel deeds, a +thrill of horror must have run through our veins. The funeral rites of +the dead among the Indians were clearly exemplified here. + +Whatever may be these rites observed among the Indians on the west +side of the Rocky Mountains, I am satisfied that most of the tribes +of Indians on the east side of this same range, use but few, if any, +imposing ceremonies in committing the body to the dust. It is very +difficult to find the bones of an Indian on the plains, and therefore +I believe, and herein I am assisted by the observations of experienced +men, that these Indians burn their dead bodies when they can do so, or +completely hide them in the mountains by covering them with rocks, so +that it is impossible to find them. Such a course would also serve +the purpose of preventing the wolves from digging them up. The +high-colored novels, referred to heretofore, which have, during the +past few years, had for their theme the Indian race, love to dwell +on the imposing and affecting spectacle of an Indian burial. When +stripped of fancy, the truth is, that beyond the lamenting of a few +hysterical squaws and the crackling of the flames of the funeral pile, +there is little else done that is noticeable. + +But to return to results of the council. The Indians naturally enough, +argued and persuaded themselves that these presents were intended as +poisonous destroyers, and that they had been steeped in contagion for +that end. It wanted but the happening of this affair, or a +similar one, to destroy the small amount of confidence which the +superintendent had hitherto enjoyed with these savages. While they +were secretly preparing for war, they anxiously inquired of the +traders who came among them, what was transpiring in regard to the +Mexican prisoners who had wantonly murdered their brave. On each +separate occasion they were answered with intelligence that did not +in the least satisfy them. They, therefore, renewed their energies +in order soon to be ready to take the redress in their own hands. +Kit Carson apprehended difficulty, even at the council; but, after it +broke up, he was early apprised of the trouble which was brewing; and, +to prevent any outbreak, he brought all his Indian experience to bear +upon the task. In him they said that they knew they had a true friend; +but, their nation had received too many wrongs to allow any more to be +thrust upon them without showing to the world that they were worthy of +the names which their fathers had given to them. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + + The Commencement of a formidable Indian War--High-handed + Measures on the Part of the Indians--The Governor of New + Mexico raises five hundred Mexican Volunteers and places them + under the Command of Colonel St. Vrain--Colonel Fauntleroy + placed in Command of all the Forces--Kit Carson is chosen + as Chief Guide--The Campaign commenced--The Trail found--The + Indians are met and the first Fight and its Consequences--An + Excitement in Camp--The Indians again overtaken--The return + to Fort Massachusetts--Intense Cold Weather experienced--The + Second Campaign--Colonel Fauntleroy surprises the Main Camp + of the Enemy--The War and Scalp Dance broken up--Terrible + Slaughter of the Indians--The Great Amount of Plunder taken + and destroyed--Another small Party of Indians surprised and + routed--St. Vrain equally fortunate in his Campaign--The + Indians sue for Peace--The Council held and Treaties + signed--Kit Carson opposes the making of them--The poor + Protection Indian Treaties usually afford to Settlers--Kit + Carson's House at Taos and his Indian Friends--His Attachment + for his Family put to the test--Cowardice of a Mexican--Kit + Carson's Friends as they look upon him--His influence over + Indians--General remarks--Conclusion. + + +The Muache band of Utahs, under their renowned Chief Blanco, after +trading for all the powder and lead which they required, joined the +Apaches and commenced the war in earnest. They waylaid and murdered +travelers on the roads, attacked towns, killed and made prisoners the +people who inhabited them, and became so formidable that for a length +of time everything was at their mercy. They lost no opportunity in +showing their power and in possessing themselves of the finest herds +of horses, mules, cattle and sheep within their reach. + +This Chief Blanco is a man who stands in his moccasins about five feet +nine inches. He is rather thickset but, to use an Indian phrase, he +is straight as an arrow. The chief attraction about this Indian is his +head, which is finely developed. His lustrous black eye is filled with +animation and shows an active brain, which, unfortunately, is turned +to bad account. His forehead is lofty, yet it is symmetrically +chiselled, and every feature about his face is as regular as if it +had been carved for sculptured perfection. Blanco is a man who, in any +sphere of life, would have become most certainly distinguished; +and, under the influence of education, he might have risen even +to greatness. In his present unreclaimed state, he shows to a +disadvantage. + +It is within my province fully to attest to the earnestness, the +savageness and the brutality with which these Indians commenced this +contest. I was then stationed in their country and came very near +being one of their first victims. The circumstances of this narrow +escape happened as follows. For a considerable length of time the +post to which I was then attached, was kept in a constant state of +excitement by receiving authentic accounts, daily, of murders +and robberies committed by the Indians. While these events were +transpiring, the officers and soldiers were anxious to take the field +in order that they might punish the perpetrators of the crimes; but, +as the force of the Indians was, numerically speaking, very strong, +therefore it required, in order to insure success, a well organized +command to match them and checkmate their plans at once. It required +time and much labor for the officers in charge of the military +district to arrange and complete their plans. Every man who left our +post ran the risk of losing his life; for, the enemy kept an eye on +the road which led away from it to the principal towns of New Mexico, +as often there was rich booty, for them to obtain, passing over it. +Notwithstanding this critical state of affairs, express duty had to be +performed, and it required brave men for the task. There were present, +however, those who stood ready to volunteer to execute all express +orders. Before proceeding with our own case, we will illustrate these +critical times. It was necessary to dispatch an expressman to Fort +Union. This post, from Fort Massachusetts, was one hundred and fifty +miles distant. The ever faithful Mexican, Armador Sanchez, was then +attached to Fort Massachusetts as a hunter and interpreter. On account +of extensive experience with the habits and customs of the hostile +Indians, Armador was selected to perform this dangerous mission. In +his usually quiet manner, this noble hunter soon prepared himself for +the undertaking. By using every precaution, he reached his point of +destination in safety. Having finished up his business, he instantly +began his homeward-bound journey. While on the rough trail which leads +from Fort Union to Taos, he came near being surprised and captured by +the enemy, under the following circumstances. Armador had selected +the night as the safest time to travel; and, as it was quite dark, in +order to pick out his way and prevent his growing sleepy by riding, he +traveled on foot and led his animal. He had made good progress on his +journey when suddenly his hunter-trained ear detected a noise on ahead +of him which sounded like the rolling of stones down the side of +the hills, over which the trail ran. He stopped and listened more +attentively. This time he was certain that he was not deceived, and +thought that he could hear voices singing Indian war songs. This was +convincing proof to him that danger was near at hand; therefore he +turned off from the trail and led his animal as high up the steep +hill as he could, where, fortunately, he found sufficient under-brush, +aided by the darkness of the night, to conceal himself from view. +Hardly had he taken up this position when the noises suddenly became +very distinct. The Indians, while following the trail, had made a turn +round a bluff and were almost beneath him. Now the hunter felt his +situation to be most precarious, for, should his mule bray, as these +animals are apt to do when others are approaching, his own life would +have to pay the forfeit; but, to prevent this, Armador held the mule's +nostrils firmly with his hands and otherwise drew off the animal's +attention by various gentle manipulations bestowed upon him. He +saw the outlines of the Indians as they passed along in single file +beneath him and estimated them to be at least twenty strong. Had these +savages known that a victim was so close by, they would have made +short work of him; but, before they could have killed him, it is safe +to affirm that Armador Sanchez would have had a companion with whom +to draw in his last breath. Fortunately affairs took a better turn and +the expressman finished his journey without further trouble. + +To return to my own case--I was obliged to visit Taos. As an escort, I +was allowed one faithful and brave soldier. We traveled together over +the first half of our journey, and as we had considered, far the most +dangerous part, in perfect safety. At the Mexican town of Costillo, +after our day's ride, we rested for the night. Our fears of meeting +Indians were now almost dispelled; but still, we took the precaution +to question the Mexicans of the town in regard to their knowledge of +their whereabouts. In reply we were invariably answered that no fresh +signs had been discovered and that intercourse was both safe and free +for the remainder of our route. By the first appearance of daylight +on the following morning we were up and preparing for our journey, and +but a little time elapsed before we were leisurely traveling along on +the main road. We had left the town but a few miles behind us when +the morning sun began to make its appearance in all his splendor. The +country through which we were journeying was prairie land, and was +bounded on either side by lofty and picturesque mountains, and the +distance of the one range from the other was considerable, but yet +could fully be taken in by the eye almost at a single view. As we rode +along, we were amusing ourselves admiring the beauty of the morning, +and especially directed our attention to the rising of the sun. All at +once, just as we had reached a high plateau of land, the soldier +made the discovery of a flock of sheep at a great distance off on +the prairie. They appeared to be moving under rather suspicious +circumstances. We reined up our horses, for the purpose of obtaining +a better observation. What puzzled us, was the dim figures of, +apparently, mounted men, who were moving at great speed from one point +of the band of sheep to another, as if hurrying them along. After +taking a searching look, we came to the conclusion that the horsemen +which we saw were hostile Indians, as we had not been accustomed to +see Mexican herders mounted and acting so strangely. + +The herders, near the towns in New Mexico, are usually small boys, who +are under the surveillance of one or two men stationed near by. When +the Apaches and Utahs steal these herds they always take the young +herders along in order to look after the property in their mountain +retreats. They rarely mortally injure these boys, for they say that +it is against their own interest to do so; but instead, they prefer to +save their lives, so that they may be useful in guarding other flocks +which, perchance, may fall into their hands. Most of these youthful +prisoners in time make their escape; and, after a series of hardships, +return safe to their homes. Many Mexicans can give such adventures of +their early experience, but scarcely one of them can recall a single +kind act shown them by their captors save the mere sparing of their +lives. + +As we were viewing the herd, we thought that we noticed the figures of +the horsemen throwing themselves from one side to the other of their +horses, as if very busily employed in frightening the sheep. We now +held a council, and decided that our best policy was to quit the main +road, as it was crooked, and make a straight march across the prairies +for the town of Red River, which was located about twenty miles in our +advance. It was our opinion, which afterwards proved to be correct, +that, if the Indians were stealing the stock belonging to the town of +Costillo, they were also engaged in attacking the place itself. For, +while a strong party were engaged in drawing off the attention of +the people, another would be driving off the cattle, sheep, etc. To +return, therefore, would be almost certain death; so, at a full gallop +we commenced our direct course. As the sage bushes were thick and high +and the ground much broken by various kind of holes, we soon found +that we had our hands full in managing our horses. We had hardly +started afresh before our eyes were attracted to one side of us; and +in the direction of the Rio del Norte, which runs through the +valley, saw, what we at first considered to be, antelope; but which, +afterwards, proved to be Indians in pursuit of us. As we watched +closely these supposed antelope; we remarked that they kept in Indian +file, and that the course they were on would diagonally intercept +our own point of the compass. We began now to suspect that the white +appearance assumed by these objects was owing to the strong sunlight +which dazzled our eyesight, and struck on the dressed side of buffalo +robes, and that in these robes were concealed human beings who had +formed the determination to have our scalps. + +During the cold weather, most of the Indians who dwell in the country +adjacent to the Rocky Mountains, and especially those living on the +eastern side of them, wear buffalo robes with the fur next to their +bodies. These robes serve the double purpose of shirts or coats, and +a covering by night. The wearers make them fast around the waist, and, +in the heat of the day, they are allowed to fold over and hang down; +but, as the cool air of the evening comes on, they are wrapped around +the head and body, something after the Spanish fashion of wearing +a cloak. The Indians, frequently, for the purpose of decoying their +enemies into battle, go out on the prairies, and by turning the fur +side of these robes out, and covering their persons, having previously +assumed a half bent position, imitate the Simon Pure buffalo while in +the act of grazing. In order to keep up the ruse, they move about +with a rocking motion. When taken for the buffalo, which frequently +happens, they are enabled to gain an advantage in approaching a party +or village which they wish to attack. The Cheyenne Indians are very +partial to loose sack-coats which are made out of white blankets. To +these coats a hood is attached, which is thrown over the head at the +wearer's pleasure. In addition to this, during the winter season, they +also resort to the buffalo robe. The squaws of the various tribes +of Indians on the plains are well versed in the art of tanning and +dressing buffalo hides. They frequently ornament them with beads, +porcupine quills and rude paintings. In times long since gone +by, these robes could be purchased, or rather traded for, at good +bargains; but, the unlimited and increasing demand for them has +greatly enhanced their value. Now days they bring standard prices. + +Being satisfied that the Indians were in pursuit of us, we carefully +guided our horses, at the same time using our spurs freely and keeping +them at their maximum speed. As the Indians drew nearer, we could +see distinctly that they were urging on their animals. Our safety, +therefore, depended entirely on outriding them. The race became most +exciting, and demanded the greatest caution, for we well knew, that +one misstep made by either of our horses, would prove fatal to the +rider. We had decided, on commencing the race, that neither of us +should fire a shot except as a last resort, and that we should do +it only on the principle of man for man. While putting our horses to +their speed, our weapons were held in our hands and kept ready for +instant service. The most dangerous point was that at which the two +trails would inevitably intersect. To gain this place in advance of +our savage enemies, all our hopes now centered. For twelve miles we +dashed along, laboring under a state of suspense not to be easily +forgotten. When, at last, we arrived at the desired point, we were +only about two hundred yards in the advance of our savage pursuers; +still, we felt that our lives, for the time being, were saved, and +accordingly breathed a prayer to the Almighty in thanks for our +deliverance thus far. The pace now became tremendous; and here our +grain-fed horses proved to be too much (and their powers of endurance +were fully put to the test), for the grass-fed ponies of the Indians. +After a short run, the savages saw that the advantage belonged to us, +consequently soon after they halted. We, however, kept steadily, but +with slackened speed, on our course, fearing that some accident might +change the happy turn of affairs in their favor. On finding themselves +thwarted in their designs, the Indians fired two or three shots at us, +but even these final compliments did not, to use nautical phraseology, +make us "heave to." We reached the settlement of the Red River in good +season, and concluded that we had traveled the distance in about as +brief a space of time as it ever had been accomplished either before +or since our adventure. Our horses were so used up by this race that +we were obliged to exchange them for fresh ones, on which we finished +our journey without further annoyance. The Indians, in this incursion +stole five thousand sheep, besides other property from the Costillo, +and killed two men who were traveling behind us and on the same +road. When the bodies of these men were discovered, one of them had a +mouthful of bullets, which he had evidently put there in order that he +might drop them into his rifle as he should require them, and not be +obliged to be delayed in taking them from his ammunition pouch; but, +evidently, before he could have used more than one from this supply, +he was shot dead. + +It cannot be denied but that this outbreak on the part of the Indians, +and its subsequent outrages, was the result of mismanagement; and, it +is but justice to the reputation of Kit Carson to assert, that it was +no fault of his that affairs had terminated so disastrously. He had +used every means which human skill could devise to allay the anger of +the Indians. Had his superiors in power acted with the same discretion +and judgment, in all probability the Utahs might have been kept at +peace. It is wonderfully strange that our Government will persist +in placing at the head of Indian affairs men who are not practically +acquainted with Indian habits, which can only be learned by a long +life passed upon the frontiers. If it was a matter where dollars and +cents alone were to be estimated, it might be different; but where +valuable lives are legitimately exposed, it seems to us morally wrong +to give the control of tribes of wild men to politicians, who are +liable to make all kinds of mistakes, and in whom the Indians will not +repose the least confidence. It is because such appointments are +made that, in a great measure, the troubles with these border Indians +arise; and many is the section of country in western America, where +apparently the reward for taking a white man's scalp is a blazing red +or a sky blue blanket, which is paid under the plea of keeping the +peace. This, too, when efficient means and decided measures are the +only hopes of a lasting peace. + +[Illustration: FORT MASSACHUSETTS, NEW MEXICO, IN 1855.] + +While engaged in our travels through the far West, we remember to have +met with an Indian agent who was, both in years and experience, but +a mere boy. To him had been intrusted the affairs of a large tribe, +notorious in the country where they reside, as being great thieves. +These Indians had so little respect for their agent, that they would +openly boast of the crimes which they had committed, in his very +presence. Not only this, but, on horses stolen from the neighboring +settlers, they would ride by him, thus defying his power. The +settlers were loud in their complaints against the Government for thus +neglecting to protect them, and sending them a block of wood for a +king. The young man of whom we speak, bore an exemplary character, +but it was plainly and painfully apparent, that he was, in no way +whatever, fitted for the office he held, and which he had attained +through the influence of powerful political friends. This is but +a fair example by which many of the so-called Indian agents may be +rated, who are the actual managers of Indian affairs on our frontiers. + +The Utahs and the Apaches, having now openly combined, met with such +success in their endeavors to attack the whites, that, during the +course of a few months, they overran almost the entire northern part +of the territory of New Mexico. They utterly defied the power of the +American Government; and, whenever the opportunity offered, boasted to +the Mexicans "that they no longer stood in fear of the white man." +The subsequent cruel and barbarous crimes of which they were guilty, +clearly demonstrated that they had become greatly elated by their +success. It soon became apparent that, unless checked, they would +exterminate the population and burn or otherwise destroy their +settlements. + +At this time, it was only by running great risk, that the whites could +leave their towns and go to the neighboring mountains, for the purpose +of obtaining even a little firewood. Working parties were daily +surprised and murdered; women and children were carried into bondage, +and reserved for a worse fate, and all kinds of business were +receiving a check, which was becoming ruinous to the country. It was +even greatly feared, that the boldness of the savages would carry them +so far as to make them attack Fort Massachusetts. To give them a warm +reception, should they dare undertake that enterprise, the post was +strengthened, by cutting down and removing everything which might, in +the least, tend to aid the Indians, and give them a cover which they +so much like when fighting; all the trees and brush about the post +were cut away. Breastworks were thrown up on the block-house attached +to the fort, so that the soldiers could be well protected in case of +emergency. In these, sentinels were posted, and the strength of the +guard doubled and greater vigilance exacted. Haystacks were removed to +a safe place, for fear they would be fired by the enemy. The sentinels +were ordered to cry out every half hour of the night while on their +posts, and no man was allowed to approach after the shades of night +came on, without giving the countersign. It proved to be well that +these precautions were taken; for, on the neighboring mountains, +Indian watch-fires were seen nightly; and, on several mornings, +Indian moccasin tracks were discovered in close proximity to the +fort, showing thereby that the enemy was watching and waiting for a +favorable opportunity to strike a sudden and overwhelming blow upon +the garrison within. The savages, no doubt, were deterred from making +a bold attack by the prompt precautionary measures which had been +taken by the commander to anticipate their plans. The wagons belonging +to the fort were sent out after wood under a strong escort, and the +government herd of beef-cattle, horses and mules, were well protected +by the soldiery. On one occasion, through a false alarm of Indians, +the whole command of the post, which numbered less than one hundred +men, was put in great and sudden commotion. The cause will appear in +connection with the following circumstances. The party in charge of +the herd had espied a large cavalcade of men and animals approaching +them. At the long distance they were off, the strangers resembled +Indians. The commander of the party, immediately sent an expressman to +the fort to apprise its occupants of the fact. The drums immediately +sounded the rally, which caused the men to rush for their arms. They +quickly fell into their ranks, and the order was given to march. +Headed by a gallant lieutenant, they dashed out of the fort on a fast +run, in order to reach and save their property from being captured by +the enemy. The soldiers were elated at the prospect of having a brush +with the Indians, and, on an open plain, giving them battle, where, +notwithstanding the great numbers which would certainly be arrayed +against them, they felt that they could soundly chastise them. On +reaching the herd, the soldiers scattered, and were soon prepared to +commence the skirmish; but, lo! when the strangers drew near enough +to be discernible, they were recognized as a large party of Mexicans, +under the command of an American. These people had been absent several +months on a trading voyage among the Cheyennes and Arrapahoes, and for +the purpose of returning home in safety, they had formed themselves +into one body. Their dress was similar to that of the Indians, and +therefore at the great distance at which they were first discovered, +it is not strange that such a mistake had been made, especially during +these dangerous times. The reason of the sudden stationing of the +soldiers about the herd, the traders easily surmised; hence, on +drawing near, they began to cry out that they were friends. No set +of men were ever more disappointed than were these soldiers at this +unexpected termination of the affair. + +Matters eventually arrived at such a crisis that the Governor of the +Territory, by and with the advice of the commanding general, felt +obliged to issue a proclamation calling upon the people to volunteer +for the purpose of defending their lives and property. + +The inhabitants of New Mexico promptly responded to this call, by +flocking to the places designated for them to organize. Out of the +great number who presented themselves and offered their services, +there were selected men sufficient to fill six companies, each of +which, when fully organized, contained eighty mounted men. They had +the power of electing their own officers, by and with the advice and +consent of the Governor. These volunteers furnished themselves with +riding horses. The pay which they were to receive amounted to about +thirty dollars per month, which was considered very liberal, inasmuch +as they were provided, in most cases, with arms. Rations were issued +out to them the same as to the regular army. The willingness which +the Mexicans exhibited on this occasion to volunteer, does them great +credit, and clearly proves the fact that they do not always lack in +courage, but that they are prompt to defend their homes when properly +disciplined and aided with the means necessary to do so. + +It is the opinion of many of the most prominent citizens of the +Territory of New Mexico, that, if the chastisement of the Indians, +when it was required, was left to the people themselves, the general +government only supplying them with money and arms, that peace between +the two parties would, in a short time, be firmly established on a +sure and permanent footing. + +In giving currency to such opinions, we risk them, with the knowledge +that the previous experiments made on this policy, which have proved +unsuccessful in the various older territories belonging to the United +States, will be brought to bear as potent arguments against such a +course by a large and powerful opposition. But such facts of Indian +history are exceptions. Indian history clearly demonstrates the +proposition, that well-organized volunteers, under able leaders, have +accomplished more in warfare against the savages than regular troops, +taking into consideration that the same length of time, which each +have been engaged in actual service, has given them equal experience. +The cause of this is plain. These two distinct forces are composed, +entirely, of different material. The one is made up of frontiersmen +who thoroughly understand the effective use of the rifle, and a life +in an Indian country, while the regular soldiers have been, for many +years back, chiefly foreigners who, as has been heretofore stated, +have to be taught these things; and, as it very often happens, they +have never seen one of their enemy until sent out in quest of the +savages. + +As matters usually stand, the Indians are almost the actual, although +not the nominal, masters of the country. In short, they commit +excesses whenever it suits them, paying no regard to treaties. This +has been their habit from time immemorial, and it is found to be a +difficult task to break them from it. Their minor crimes are allowed +to accumulate, and when, at last, they are actuated by increasing +success and consequent boldness, to commit some great and overt +act, it is noticed and expeditions are sent out against them. These, +usually, fail to punish the really guilty parties, but instead, they +recover a small share of the property stolen, and with it the thirst +for revenge must be satiated. The officers and soldiers do their +utmost to accomplish something more, and readily meet hardships and +privations in every shape in order to accomplish the desired end; but, +their time is too limited rightly and efficiently to perform the +work; for the campaign must be ended, when in reality it has but just +commenced. The reason exists in the fact that, those high in authority +are liable to be called to an account for spending a dollar too much +in a good cause. Perhaps this state of affairs has been brought about +by the immense expenses which have attended many of the Indian wars +in which the United States government has been engaged, when +mismanagement and paltry results have characterized the acts of +whole campaigns. This charge cannot, however, reach to the military +department in which New Mexico is included, for the leading officers +who have, from time to time, been stationed there, have invariably +exhibited an unusual amount of discretion and sound judgment, and have +set examples of military science, promptitude and skill which it might +be well for others to follow. + +Under the existing causes for difficulty and peculiarity of +circumstances, it is sometimes hazardous to assume the responsibility +of punishing the hostile Indians as they deserve. + +By punishing the Indians we do not wish to impress the reader with the +idea that they must be collected and butchered, like animals, in order +to bring them to terms. Milder means serve the same purpose; but, when +they dig up the hatchet, battles must be fought in which they ought +to be so closely driven as to cause them to see that it is perfect +rashness to attack the whites. One victory gained by savages over +white men so exhilarates their pride that they forget the past and +believe themselves invincible. In these fights, valuable lives are +sacrificed, but they are necessary sacrifices for the common good. +When one tribe is severely chastised, the surrounding Indians hear +of it, and, becoming alarmed, for a time they behave themselves with +propriety. This happy state of things will continue until some +weak move on the part of government officials counteracts this good +influence, when, misconstruing kind acts for fear, the red men at +once dig up the tomahawk and boldly march upon the war path, to spill +innocent blood. Such results often follow when the power is taken from +the experienced military commanders, and vested in the hands of (often +the fact) inexperienced superintendents. These men pompously +invite the Indians to grand councils, where unmeaning speeches are +manufactured to suit the occasion. Usually when thus summoned, the +wily savages are delighted to go into council, for, as a rejoinder to +the many concessions which are easily obtained from them, and which +they are always ready to make after assuming a little coquetry, they +receive presents which the superintendent informs them are merely +tokens of the high appreciation with which they are regarded by their +Great Father at Washington. + +It is the opinion of Kit Carson "that the Territory of New Mexico will +continue to remain in its present impoverished state during the time +that the mountain Indians are allowed to run at large. The only true +remedy" (he says) "for this great evil is to compel the savages to +form settlements by themselves. Then and there assist and teach them +to cultivate the soil. In time they will be able to gain a maintenance +independent of the General Government; and, to a certain extent, they +will become responsible for their acts." + +The people who form the chief population of the territory have so +often been deprived of their property that it is not strange that they +have become poverty-stricken and indolent. It is enough to strike down +the enterprise of any nation to have been so long badly governed, and +then, without any resources in the way of arms and ammunition, to be +compelled to beat back hostile Indians. Under the provisions of the +government of the United States, they are improving, but yet, even +now, they have not the protection which they require, and should +receive. In their territory it takes a daring man to venture his +small capital in raising stock. To be sure, claims are allowed them by +Congress for the losses by Indian depredations, but these usually fall +into the hands of speculators, and in reality, assist the people to a +very trifling extent. It can be said, to their credit, that Mexicans +bear reverses of fortune with a nonchalance seldom seen among any +other race. Although generally poor they are as happy and joyous as it +is possible for human beings to be. + +The organization of the Mexican volunteers was made complete by the +governor of the Territory, who selected as their leader, Mr. Ceran St. +Vrain of Taos. This gentleman, although he had much important business +which called his attention elsewhere, immediately expressed his +willingness to accept the responsible position which, without +solicitation, had been conferred upon him. The commission received by +St. Vrain gave him the rank of lieutenant-colonel. Without delay +he set about the difficult and important work that lay before him, +bringing to bear upon the details, that sound judgment, gentlemanly +bearing and ready zeal, which have long characterized the man. He had +the good fortune to secure the services of Lieutenant Creigg of +the regular army, whom he appointed one of his aids-de-camp. Having +completed his staff and other arrangements to place his force upon a +military basis, he was ready to take the field. + +The appointment of St. Vrain as commander of the Volunteers, was +hailed with delight throughout the territory. His great experience in +the mountains, his knowledge of the Indian mode of warfare, and the +respect which the people he was called to command invariably paid him, +seemed to convince every thinking mind that something more than usual +was to be accomplished. They felt that the wrongs of their country +would now be certainly redressed. The sequel will prove that the +people were not doomed to disappointment. + +Early in the month of February, 1855, Col. T.T. Fauntleroy of the +First Regiment of United States Dragoons arrived in Taos from Fort +Union, New Mexico. + +Fort Union is the first post met with on entering the Territory of New +Mexico from the east. It lies on the Santa Fe road usually traveled +by parties when crossing the plains, and is about one hundred miles +distant from the capital. The site of this fort, at the first view, is +bold and picturesque, as it is located near the west side of a +broad valley, which is continuous with the open prairies. The houses +composing the fort are built mostly of logs; and, as there are quite a +number of them, the post has the appearance of a small settlement. The +soil about is sandy, and the place being exposed, it suffers when +the high winds spring up. This fort is usually garrisoned by several +companies of soldiers. + +As it has such free access to the mail communication with the States, +it is, comparatively speaking, quite a desirable fort for an officer +to be stationed at. The difficulty of procuring fuel for the fort, and +also other necessary articles, is the great objection to the present +location, but its importance more than counterbalances these; +therefore, the post will probably be kept up either where it is, or in +the immediate vicinity, for many years to come. Colonel Fauntleroy had +received orders from the Department General to proceed to the town of +Taos and take command of the entire expedition. The little force had +been made as powerful as the resources of the country would permit. +The Mexican Volunteers, soon after their enrollment, purchased +woolen shirts and felt hats, the color of which, in each company, was +similar; this fact, with a little drilling, gave them quite a military +appearance. Never were men prouder of the position they now held than +the volunteers under consideration; and a more daring and expert band +of horsemen has been seldom collected. So pleased were they at being +recognized as soldiers, that they could not, when afterwards marching +through their own towns, resist the temptation of jocosely taunting +their countrymen whom they chanced to meet, for being obliged to till +the ground. We have before said that these men were mounted. At first +sight it would appear as though they would soon be on foot, for their +horses appeared to be in a sad plight for so severe a campaign as +that which lay before them. As has often occurred before, looks are +frequently deceptive. In this instance, it was found to be the case; +for, no sooner did these hardy ponies reach the mountains than their +wonderful powers of endurance began to be exemplified. When the noble +dragoon horses began to droop from hunger and overwork, these little +fellows were fresh and strong as the day they started. The reason of +this was that the Mexican horses were well versed in taking care of +themselves, and when the snow fell and prevented their having +free access to the dry grass beneath, they were not in the least +disconcerted; for, with the aid of their fore feet, they readily +pawed the snow away and thus obtained full rations; but, their more +enlightened rivals did not fully understand this science, and, owing +to a want of proper nourishment, their strength would fail gradually +until finally they broke down. + +The only real inconvenience under which the ponies seemed to labor, +arose from tender feet, for, the rocky trails in the mountains rapidly +wore away, and broke off their hoofs. This continued, so that at last, +reaching the matrix of these horny growths, their feet became very +sensitive. Many of the Mexicans had taken the precaution to guard +against this, before leaving the towns and military posts which lay on +their route. They had obtained horse-shoes, with which they shod +the ponies. We remember seeing a large party of them thus engaged as +blacksmiths. It was at night; while some held burning torches, others +were busy with hammers, stones and hatchets in applying all sorts and +sizes of horse and mule shoes, with which they were content, provided +they approached the diameters of the hoofs to which they were to be +nailed. Strange to say, this rough work answered the purpose, and but +few, if any, of the animals so shod, went lame. After the command had +got under full headway, if any of these ponies became so tender in +their feet as to be able to travel only with great difficulty, +their riders resorted to other expedients for relieving them. When +practicable, they obtained the fresh hides of the beef cattle as they +were killed, and, binding the material around the injured feet, and +making it fast about the fetlocks, they allowed it to dry on. In the +morning, thus protected, the horse could journey on. It is customary +regularly to shoe these ponies only on the fore feet, as the weight +of the animal's head and neck, together with that of the rider, comes +harder on these hoofs and causes them, when traveling over sharp +rocks, to wear away quickly. It seldom happens that the hind feet +become tender. The Indians cannot understand the policy of this, +and one of them philosophizing on the subject, while visiting the +blacksmith's shop attached to a military post, made the remark in +Spanish, after apparently having been for some little time engaged in +a deep study, "that it was not right." Said he, "The horse, with +his eyes, can see where to put his fore feet when traveling over bad +places, but he cannot do this with those behind; therefore, you +white men ought to put the moccasins there." The Mexicans had so much +confidence in the powers of endurance of their ponies while out on +this campaign, that they hesitated not to run them on races, whenever +circumstances and the site of the camp would permit such pastime. The +only training required for these trials of speed, consisted in the +rider foregoing the pleasure of riding for a day or two, in order +to allow his horse to recruit. As their walking did not in the least +interfere with the order of the march, they of course were permitted +to race as they pleased, for their services on the march are just as +valuable on foot. + +Col. Fauntleroy's command, when completed, consisted of four companies +of Mexican volunteers, two companies of dragoons, one company of +artillery who were performing duty as a rifle corps, and one company +of spies. The two remaining companies of volunteers were dispatched +to exposed towns on the remote frontiers in order to protect them. The +artillery company was the only one on foot; but the soldiers who then +composed it were known from actual experiment to be more than a match +for the horses in traveling when the party should reach and penetrate +the mountains. Col. Fauntleroy engaged the services of Kit Carson as +his chief guide, and, having arranged all of his plans necessary for a +vigorous campaign, he set out upon its execution. + +The command proceeded at first one hundred miles due north to Fort +Massachusetts, which was to be their depot. Without delay they left +this post and proceeded, encountering snow-storms and severe cold +weather. The mercury of the thermometer, for most of the time, ranged +several degrees below zero. They marched to the Rio Grande del Norte, +and thence, on up this river to where it makes its exit through a deep +canon from the mountains. It was, as will be remembered by the reader, +on the head-waters of this last-mentioned stream, that Col. Fremont, +while engaged in his last great exploring expedition, met with severe +reverses, in which several of his men lost their lives from exposure, +hunger, etc., while he, and the remainder of his party, barely escaped +the same fate. + +While passing over this point of his journey, Col. Fauntleroy sent out +as an advance party the company of spies. Their duty was to seek for +fresh Indian trails. On reaching the mouth of the canon of this river, +the main portion of the soldiers halted for a short time while their +trailers penetrated the mountains in search of the much desired Indian +signs. During this resting spell, an incident occurred which, for an +hour or two, created some little stir and excitement among part of +the men present. A large Newfoundland dog belonging to an officer had, +accidentally, been allowed to follow the soldiers. By his pranks and +his good disposition he had become a general favorite among them. +While attempting to drink, this animal lost his foot-hold on the ice +and slipped into the swift current of the river, which was partially +frozen over. The dog at once attempted to extricate himself, but with +all his efforts he could do no more than stem the flood, making no +progress against it. His situation was very precarious, for, should +his strength begin to give out, he was certain to be carried under the +ice and lost. The sympathies of the men were soon well awakened in his +behalf, and many plans were devised to rescue him, but they all proved +abortive until, at last, a Mexican approached him with a lasso, and +after making several vain attempts, succeeded finally in encircling +the dog's head with the slip noose. On tightening the rope he found +that he had the animal firm, and soon dragged him from his perilous +position. + +The spies were not long in discovering a trail made by the Indians, to +which they led the main portion of the command. This trail had been +so frequently used of late by the Indians in driving stolen bands +of sheep and cattle over it, that it was now a well-trodden road and +therefore there was no difficulty in keeping on it at all hours of the +day and night. + +Being accustomed to perform his duty carefully, and, at the same time, +to use dispatch, the Colonel, in the course of a few days, led his +party to the entrance of the Saquachi Pass, which is the great natural +opening in the mountains that bound, on the west, the valley of San +Luis. As they approached the mouth of the pass, the men were traveling +close under the hills, therefore, on coming to it, and in order to +follow it up, it was necessary to turn off almost at a right angle. +The spies, as was usual when the command was on the march, were +considerably in the advance. They had hardly entered the pass and had +just reached the summit of a knoll which lay in their path, and which +had hitherto prevented their seeing up the valley, when, all at once, +the long looked for Indians were presented to their view. They were +but a short distance off, and as if surprised at thus so suddenly +discovering each other, both parties halted. During this state of +suspense, the white men noticed that the Indians were arrayed in +their war costume, showing that they were bound on another plundering +expedition. Everything went to show that the visit which the white men +were making to their mountain haunts was unexpected by the red men. + +The Indians quickly recovered from their astonishment and began to +form in line of battle by spreading themselves out across the +valley. They were evidently emboldened by the small force with which, +apparently, they had to contend, and felt certain that a victory would +be both easy and sure. Having taken their position, Blanco, their +chief, was easily recognized by the red woolen shirt which he wore. He +was busy, riding along in front of his warriors, occasionally stopping +to give some command. As they were near enough so to do, the Indians +opened a warfare of small talk, in the Spanish language. They charged +their adversaries with being afraid to advance, or to use their +expressive words, the Americans were as cowardly as squaws. To these +taunts no reply was made; but to keep up the decoy, the few soldiers +who were exposed to view, remained stationary, while word was passed +to the rear of what was transpiring in the advance. Thus several +minutes passed by; but they were not thrown away. During this time, +most of the dragoons and volunteers were relieving themselves of +such extra luggage as overcoats, blankets, etc.; saddle girths were +tightened and weapons put in order for immediate use. The Indians were +finely mounted, and about two hundred and fifty strong; and, as their +wild career had gone so long unchecked, their bravery was aroused to +its highest pitch. All things being in readiness, the bugles sounded +the command to charge, when away dashed the gallant soldiers, eager +for the affray, and each trying to be foremost in the fight. As they +came bounding over the knoll before spoken of, the Indians began +to see the delusion under which they had been laboring, and at once +turned to fly, but not in time to escape, for the soldiers were soon +among them and with their revolvers and small arms were fast thinning +their ranks and sending many a brave to his final home. A running +fight ensued, which was continued up the valley for about eight miles, +when a majority of the Indians gained the mountains and made good +their escape. The chase was a splendid affair to behold, and many +feats of horsemanship were performed that would be difficult to excel. +Among the foremost in this skirmish was, as the reader might readily +imagine, Kit Carson. The pursuit was continued far into the mountains +and was only given over when night came on. The soldiers then retired +to their reserve-guard, who had established a camp on a small stream +which runs through the centre of the pass, where their pack animals +and stores could be easily guarded. During this exciting fight, +several of the soldiers were slightly wounded. With this exception, +the command came out of the skirmish unharmed. On the side of the +Indians, affairs in this respect were quite different. Their blood had +well sprinkled the battle-ground, and several of their swarthy forms +were stretched out at full length, sleeping that sleep that knows no +wakening, except it be at the final judgment day. Had it not been that +most of the Indians, as is usually the case with them when in action, +were tied on their horses, this number would have been augmented. The +bloody trails that were afterwards found in the mountains, went +to prove that many of the wounds given to the escaped Indians were +mortal, and, while their horses were carrying them from the danger, +they themselves were sinking from furious hemorrhage. Early in the +pursuit, a fine warrior was thrown from his horse. As he had been +crippled by a ball, he could not recover himself and make off. For +some time he lay alone and neglected, but when the rear guard came +along they noticed that he was playing a game by pretending to +be dead; but he had closed his eyes too firmly for a man in that +condition, and this fact attracted the notice of the passers-by. A +Mexican raised his rifle and fired at the brave; but the bullet only +served to cause another flesh wound. This so irritated the would-be +dead, savage, that, seizing his lance which lay by his side, he +attempted to reach and kill his adversary with it; but, others coming +up, he was soon dispatched. + +While this running fight was in progress, the author met with an +adventure which came near costing him his life. It was my duty to +follow the charging soldiers in order to be near at hand to render +professional services to the wounded, should there be any. I was +mounted on a mule, and when the dragoon horses started off, he became +frightened and unmanageable. I soon found that this mule lacked the +speed of the former animals, hence he was in a short time left far +behind, but not until he had fallen and thrown me into a thrifty bed +of prickly pears, the thorns of which did not, in the least, save me +from being hurt. On regaining my feet, I found that my injuries were +but slight, and that I still retained my bridle rein, therefore +I quickly regained my seat in the saddle and started on again, +remembering the old proverb, which says, "All is fair in war." While +riding on, I was joined by a soldier whose horse had broken down in +the charge. As we now advanced together, our route led us by some +large sand hills, behind which several Indians had sought refuge, +when hotly pursued. Seeing that they had been overlooked during the +excitement of the moment, they remained quiet until we came along, +when they made a dash at us and commenced firing their arrows in +fine-style. We returned their volleys with our revolvers, but, whether +we produced any result further than preventing their coming too +near, it is difficult to say. Several of their arrows came in close +proximity to our bodies, and one struck, the soldier's horse in the +neck and wounded a main artery, which bled, for a time, furiously. As +danger was thick about them, the Indians soon left us to effect their +own escape; when, we halted and attended to the wounded horse, whose +life we were so fortunate as to save, by putting a ligature about the +bleeding vessel. + +The night succeeding the day on which this fight occurred, with a +single exception, passed by quietly. A soldier, who lay near the +centre of the camp, had retired to rest, perhaps impressed with the +belief that he and his comrades would be attacked by the Indians +before morning; this train of thought had led him into dreams of +war, and while reveling in them, he imagined that danger was at hand. +Suddenly starting up, and seizing his rifle, he fired at random. His +bullet came near striking a Mexican sentinel who was on duty, and who +was making his rounds. The sentinel was very naturally startled by +this unaccountable noise in the camp, and supposing that the Indians +had, unobserved, crept within the lines, he returned the compliment +by discharging his piece in the direction of the supposed danger. +The report of these firearms had the effect of arousing the entire +command. The men were quickly on their feet and ready for active +service. In the confusion which ensued, several more rifles were +fired, but fortunately no harm was done, and as soon as the cause +of the trouble was explained, quietness and order was promptly +established. + +At the break of day, on the next morning, the soldiers were up and +preparing for their march. The Indians had, on this morning, made +fires, and even presented themselves to view on the mountains, but +they were few in number, and it was well known that this was only a +ruse to allure the white men to the wrong trail, while their families +should have time to escape in the contrary direction; hence, but +little notice was taken of these demonstrations. + +Col. Fauntleroy here determined to relieve himself of all drawbacks +which should in the least tend to prevent his now giving full chase +to the Indians. Accordingly, he left his baggage and provision train +under escort of the foot company and quartermaster men, the whole +being placed under the command of Lieutenant Lloyd Beall, of the +Second Regiment U.S. Artillery, with instructions to meet him at an +appointed rendezvous in the Wet Mountain Valley. It required but a +short search by his guide, Kit Carson, and his spies, to put him on +the right trail taken by the main portion of the enemy. When it was +found, the pursuit was resumed and kept up vigorously. Late and +early, the soldiers followed on this trail, and although the Indians +purposely led them over the worst conceivable routes, yet they gained +nothing substantial by it. On one occasion, when the men were pushing +on as fast as possible, their advance guard surprised three Indians, +one of them a woman, while they were leisurely watering their ponies. +These Indians attempted to fly, and succeeded in making a good run for +about four miles, but, at the end of that distance, two of them were +overtaken. A Mexican, who was mounted on a very swift horse, was the +first to come up with the savages. He fired and brought the woman to +the ground. Quickly dismounting, he made a trophy of her scalp. The +other Indian, being arrested by a slight wound, was made a prisoner. +On questioning him, it was found that they all belonged to one family. +The man who had made his escape, was the husband of the woman who was +killed, while the prisoner was her brother. These Indians had heard +nothing of the recent fight in the _Saquachi Pass_, and, had the +soldiers dropped down from the heavens, they could not have been +more surprised at thus unceremoniously meeting them. It was very much +regretted by those present that this Indian woman had lost her life; +but, as she was dressed in the disguise of a man, her sex could not +be recognized. There are many of our readers who will perhaps censure +this Mexican for his barbarous action of scalping a human being, but +it must be remembered that the education of his people is different +from our own. The taking of Indian scalps for a long time has been +authorized by the Mexican Government, as a means of lessening +their savage enemies, and handsome premiums have been offered as an +inducement to obtain them. In the case of this Mexican, there were +extenuating circumstances which, if they did not warrant such a cruel +act, yet they rendered him somewhat excusable. He had recently lost +a near and dear relative by the hands of these same Indians, and the +appearance of this mangled body was still fresh in his memory, making +him to thirst for revenge. It must not be supposed for a moment that +the commanding officer of this expedition had sanctioned such a mode +of procedure, for, he had no knowledge of the matter until after it +had been ended. It was not within his province to preach humanity to a +people who had been so greatly outraged by savages. He came to punish +and not to intercede for wild men who had long been a terror to the +surrounding country, and upon whom, in order to reconcile them, every +kind act had been expended in vain. + +It may possibly be asked whether or no a man, who has simply lost his +scalp, can recover. In reply we can safely say that without any other +wound, and under favorable circumstances, with good care the sufferer +stands a chance of being restored to health. There was a man who +formerly was living and working at his trade as a blacksmith in Santa +Fe, who, in a fight with the Camanches while crossing the plains, was +wounded by a lance and then scalped. After a long period of suffering +this person entirely recovered, although the cicatrix of the wound +was ever afterwards a source of annoyance to him, compelling him +continually to wear a skull-cap made of oiled silk. The size of the +scalp, as usually taken off by the Indians, varies. Sometimes they +remove only the back covering of the head. At other times they cut off +the whole, running down even with the margin of the ear. When a man +has died in a manner which the Indians style as "brave"--that is, +desperately fighting for his life, and never for once showing fear, +they take two scalps, one from either side of the head. The object of +this is, to have scalp dances for each, as they consider such a man +as deserving the fate of two ordinary men. These scalps are often +stretched, dried, decorated and frequently kept for years as trophies. +The more scalps a warrior takes, the greater favorite he becomes +with his tribe; and finally, having obtained a given number, he is +considered eligible to fill the office of War Chief, provided he has +other qualifications, such as the power of quickly conceiving the +right plan on which to act in case of emergency. When a party of +Indians in the Rocky Mountains have been on a war trail, met the enemy +and vanquished them, they appoint a brave who is honored as being the +scalp-bearer. This warrior carries a long pole, to which, at suitable +distances from each other, the scalps are attached. When the party +returns to, and enters their own village, this brave is the observed +of all observers. Eagerly, by the old men, women, and children, these +bloody trophies are counted, for each of them offers an occasion for +rejoicing, to be at separate intervals of time. They are, then, each +synonymous with the phrase, a fete day, and the scalp-bearer is looked +upon with the same jealous eye which greets the color-bearer of an +army after having been engaged in some great battle which has proved +successful to his standard. An Indian will not remove, as a general +thing, a scalp which contains grey hairs. This he considers to be a +business fit only for women. The scalp which is to cause a general +jubilee, on an appointed evening, is attached to the top of a long +pole, planted in the earth at a suitable place. The warriors who have +been instrumental in tearing it from the head of its owner, form a +circle around the pole, outside of which are arranged the spectators. +By the aid of one drum-stick, the person who has been detailed for +this duty, keeps up a beating motion on a sort of kettle-drum, the +noise of which serves the purpose of marking time. The voices of the +dancers make the music. At first the song is a mere humming sound, but +after a time, it grows gradually louder, until the participants in the +dance, being excited to the highest attainable pitch with interest +in the ceremonies, it becomes terribly hideous. Almost naked, with +tomahawk and hunting-knife in hand, the warriors imitate the process +of dispatching and tearing off the scalps of their victims. So excited +do the dancing savages sometimes become while reveling in these +fantastical scenes, that they frequently are aroused to a pitch +which borders on frenzy. The spectators of these sights get so deeply +interested that it is not an extraordinary matter for them to appear +as if almost deranged. Their excitement breaks out into exclamations +of encouragement and applause, until at last they can control +themselves no longer, and, on their own account, commence making +bodily demonstrations of joy by jumping about. The scalp dance may +last an entire night, or until, worn down with fatigue, the actors are +willing to forego their pleasure and seek rest. The Mexicans on the +frontiers have fallen into this Indian custom, and they can go into +the spirit of the scalp dance with a relish which fully equals that +exhibited by their savage neighbors. This is not true as a general +rule; but, very many of their people really enjoy these ceremonies. + +[Illustration: INDIAN WAR DANCE.] + +Colonel Fauntleroy and his men traveled at such a rapid pace, that, in +the course of a very few days, they succeeded in once more overtaking +the main village belonging to the enemy. The Indians took refuge in a +steep and rocky mountain. A skirmishing fight immediately commenced, +which lasted several hours. During this engagement, a large number of +the savage warriors were killed, their band completely routed, and the +inhabitants of the whole village made to scatter in every direction +in order to save their lives. At first the braves attempted to make a +stand, but they were driven from rock to rock, until they broke their +ranks and fled. It was about the time of this crisis, and when they +were most needed, that the dragoon horses began to break down and die. + +The word village has many times appeared in our pages, and as it may +prove ambiguous to a few of our readers and render them liable to +confound its meaning with that of a fixed town, we will here stop and +explain its signification when applied to Indians. An Indian village, +as understood in border parlance, comprises the lodges, the women, +children, old men, and such movable property as Indians may chance +to possess. They are usually found in some safe retreat where the old +men, women and children stay while the warriors are engaged following +the hunt or war path. The word has become more generalized since +it was first given to stationary camps of the savages, and may +now include any band of Indians traveling with their families and +property. The village is the home of the red man, where those persons +and things which he most cherishes, he tries to keep intact and sacred +from the spoiler's hand. It is also where the Indian allows his +love, friendship and all the better feelings of his nature to exhibit +themselves. It is where in early youth he has listened to the legends +of his tribe, and where he is taught those lessons and forced to +endure those trials which are to prepare his heart in seeking out +revenge. It is the place where, as he approaches the age of manhood, +he takes those steps which are to make for him the reputation of a +daring hunter and brave warrior. Here he first learns to shoot his +arrows with precision, and to handle the lance with dexterity. His +boyish feats in horsemanship, which he daily performs in the village, +would be witnessed with astonishment by skillful riders. It is here +that he runs to welcome his father when he returns either from +the chase or the war path; and, while he listens to the marvellous +adventures which his sire has encountered, he secretly wishes himself +a man, so that he can emulate his greatness. In fact, the same +feelings exist between parent and child with the Indian race, as +with those who boast of being more civilized. Youth and the vigor of +manhood, are the golden days with the savage. To be doomed to old age, +is considered by him to be a punishment. When he is no longer able to +hunt and seek out his enemy, he loses his desire to live. His life +is then considered an incumbrance to the camp. The old and infirm, +therefore, are often willingly deserted, that they may the more +quickly die. The village is always under the surveillance of men who +are past the middle age, and who no longer can act out the stirring +deeds of the warrior. Their experience renders them capable of giving +good advice, and attending to the less active affairs of the nation. +They hold the power of restraining the rashness and indiscretion +of the younger men, therefore they are selected to watch over the +property of the tribe, while the strong warriors are seeking to +provide the dependent portion of the band with food, or to revenge +their real or imaginary wrongs. Order and good fellowship is made to +prevail in these villages, somewhat similar to the habits found in +civilized communities, for the passions and evil propensities of all +men are found to be alike, no matter what differences of education or +color exist. We find that the Indian tribes have their wise men, whose +voices are heard and heeded on all occasions. When these villages are +located, or, to use soldier phrase; when the Indians go into camp, +care is taken that each lodge shall be placed where it will not +interfere with the common good. The internal economy of these +habitations is arranged on a social system which, in many respects, +is commendable. When one person is poor, generally speaking, the whole +tribe is found to be so. The herds of horses and mules belonging to +the tribe, are turned loose in one body as if they were the property +of one man. If game exists in plenty and danger is not apprehended, +happiness holds complete sway within these Indian homes. The +proverbial caution of the red man rarely allows him to be surprised; +therefore, even in times of peace, he keeps his fleetest horse tied +at the door of his lodge, so that he may make haste and collect his +property, and be away before his enemy can harm him. These favorite +animals are fed by hand. Before trusting his body in sleep, some +warrior, in whom the tribe repose the utmost confidence, must ascend +a neighboring eminence, if there chance to be one, and examine the +country in search of dangers. Parties are always kept out as spies, +and, at the least appearance of suspicious signs, they become easily +aroused and vigilant, and if danger really exists, word is immediately +sent to their village to be ready to move. This is a homely but +literal interpretation of the term Indian village. + +The reader has seen that the dragoon horses gave out before the +fatigues of the march, while the Mexican ponies performed their tasks +so admirably and easily. + +This was a painful subject to contemplate and one which no man who +loves the noble horse could wish to witness the second time. The +dragoon horses, reduced to skeletons from starvation while retaining +all their natural spirit, with tottering limbs, faithfully tried to +perform the labor which their riders, seemingly, asked of them. Long +before the arrival of the time when they could no longer support a +burden, the soldiers had humanely relieved them from this work and +were assisting them, by all the means in their power, to reach a haven +of safety, where food, so essential in restoring their sinking powers +of life, existed in abundance. As their little remaining strength +was leaving them, they would exhibit the fact by staggering. Finally, +breaking down in their hinder legs, they would sink to the ground, but +not until they had made the effort to drag themselves along with +their fore feet. To relieve them from their agonies and prevent their +falling into the hands of the Indians, one by one, they were shot. + +When these horses broke down and began to die off, it was decided to +be best to return to Fort Massachusetts in order to recruit and also +to allow the Indians an opportunity to concentrate their forces, when +another effective blow could be struck against them. On his return, +Colonel Fauntleroy met, at the designated place, Lieutenant Beall, +who had managed the affairs intrusted to him very much to his credit. +Having once more consolidated his command, Colonel Fauntleroy retired +to Fort Massachusetts, which he made, for a time, his head-quarters. + +Kit Carson, the guide of this expedition, when afterwards speaking +of it, says, "During the time our forces were in the field they were +exposed to the most intense cold weather I ever remember experiencing. +We were overtaken by several severe snow-storms which came near +completely using us up." + +For the success that had so far attended the labors of this body of +soldiers, the greatest amount of praise is due to their leader, who +set a noble example to his men. During those hours when hardships and +trials came thickest upon the command, all eyes were turned to the +commander, and, as the result proved, with no lack of confidence. Kit +Carson's services were found to be invaluable. His long experience +and untiring energy proved to be one of the best anchors of the goodly +ship. We should not omit to state, in regard to the severity of the +cold, that it was early in the morning, just before the break of day, +that the cold was invariably found to be the most intense. During this +time, it is the greatest wonder that the Mexicans did not perish, for +but few of them had more than one blanket as a covering by night, and +the remainder were but very little better provided for. When wood was +plenty, and they were allowed so to do, they made large fires and laid +down near to them to attempt sleep. After about one hour thus spent, +they were routed out by being nearly frozen. Getting into close +contact with the fires, they would thaw out and then were ready to +make another endeavor to repeat the sleeping operation. In this manner +they managed to live through each night, and on the following day they +were, apparently, none the worse for wear. A person judging these men +as he oftentimes sees them during the summer season, basking in the +sunlight on the sunny side of their houses in New Mexico, would not, +for an instant, suppose that they could undergo such hardships; and +yet, they can do so, as the above example sufficiently proves, without +allowing one murmur of complaint to escape their lips. With the +regulars, who were amply supplied with blankets and buffalo robes, it +would appear that they could have obtained sound sleep. But this too +proved to be almost an impossibility. The heat of the man's body, +during the early and warmer part of the night, served to melt the icy +covering of the mother earth just under him. When the cold increased, +this was again frozen, rendering the portion of the body nearest to +the ground almost benumbed. By frequently reversing the posture a +little, some relief from suffering was obtained, but not sufficient to +reach a degree which could be called comfortable, or, in the least, be +claimed as desirable. Every member of this expedition can truthfully +assert that they have experienced a foretaste of what the first +symptoms of freezing to death must be. + +Finally, the command reached Fort Massachusetts, where, in ease and +plenty, the half starved, half frozen, half used-up men soon forgot +all their troubles and privations. A few weeks spent at the fort, +acted like a magic charm in recruiting the men and the remaining +animals, when they were once more in a fit condition, and, again eager +to go on the war path, anxiously desiring to surpass the splendid +deeds of their first tramp. + +At the permanent camp, which was made near Fort Massachusetts, the +Mexican Volunteers, especially, enjoyed themselves hugely. From +privations of various kinds, to which they had shown themselves to be +well trained, and which consequently affected them but little, they +were suddenly placed in a state of comparative comfort and even luxury +rarely realized at their own homes. They had not much else to do +beyond guarding their animals and attending to such other minor duties +as were required by camp duties. Had not their hardy ponies required +the rest that was now being given them, these troops would have been +kept in more active service; but, as this could not be, they were +allowed a respite, which they themselves turned into pleasure. Foot +races and various athletic games were concocted and played by them, +making the time pass merrily by. Their discipline and respect for +their officers had reached a degree seldom, if ever, attained by +volunteer soldiers, and which, in many respects, could be imitated +with advantage by regular troops. + +But the time soon arrived for the march to be resumed. + +At a council held among the chief officers, it was decided that the +best and surest course to be followed would be to divide the forces +and send them out in quest of the Indians, as if they were separate +commands. Thus it might happen that being caught between the two, +as they were running from danger they would rush into it and receive +chastisement sufficient to answer all purposes. Acting on this plan, +Colonel St. Vrain, with most of the Volunteers, was ordered to proceed +in one direction, while Colonel Fauntleroy, with the main division, +started in another; while on his route, Colonel Fauntleroy traveled +close in under the mountains, and kept his men as much concealed as +possible, making most of his marches by night. He traveled through the +Valley of San Luis up to its head. + +The Valley of San Luis is about one hundred miles in length. Its +greatest width is fifty miles. On either side, it is bounded +by snow-capped mountains. The scenery of the valley is very +prepossessing, being sure to enchant the eye throughout its entire +length. In the south, the valley is continuous with prairie land, +which extends down as far as the settlement of Rio Colorado. It is +well watered by mountain streams and bears the appearance of being an +excellent farming district; but, the probability is, that its climate +is too cold for raising crops, and that its true value will be found +chiefly to consist in using it for grazing purposes. From time to +time, the Indians have reported that it contains gold mines, but there +are no authentic proofs that this is a fact. + +At one time, the Indians succeeded in making the Mexicans converts +to the belief in the existence of these mines, as they showed them +specimens of gold which they affirmed to have been taken from them. +It was agreed that, for this valuable information, presents, such as +blankets, horses, and guns, should be made to those Indians who had +openly proclaimed the good news, provided they could conduct the +Mexicans to them. A party was formed and started to explore the +valley, but, as nothing was afterwards heard of their success, and, as +many of them, to all external appearances, were as poor as ever when +they returned, it is presumed that they were duped by the Indians. The +bottom land of the Rio Grande which skirts the southern border of the +valley of San Luis, is, judging from the luxuriant hay crops which it +produces, year by year, quite a good farming section; and, no doubt, +ere long, the Mexicans will there establish a new settlement and thus +practically demonstrate the use to which this beautiful valley can be +put. + +While passing up the valley of San Luis, Colonel Fauntleroy came to +the Punchi Pass. This pass is the main opening through the mountains +which bound the valley of San Luis on the north. The pass itself is +less than half a mile wide, but yet, it presents some of the grandest +scenery human eyes ever beheld. The mountains, on either side, are +not so lofty as their compeers close by, but they are rugged and +picturesque. Through the pass runs a bold stream, which, at about +midway (and at this time) was obstructed by a beaver dam, that was so +scientifically constructed as immediately to attract the attention of +the entire party. Near to this dam, there is a very large hot spring, +which is located close under the base of one of the mountain sides, +and which, under the favorable circumstance of a fine day, lends +enchantment to the view. The Punchi Pass is but a few miles long and +leads into a beautiful little valley, called by the Mexicans after the +same name which is given to the pass. + +On arriving at the Punchi Pass, Col. Fauntleroy proceeded on through +it to the head-waters of the Arkansas river, where, fortunately, a +fresh trail made by the Indians was found. This trail was followed +with such assiduity and prudence that the camp of some spies belonging +to the enemy, and which was in their rear, was passed by the Americans +one night without their presence being noticed. Early the ensuing +morning (before the break of day), the main village of the Indians +was discovered. Its occupants were enjoying a war and scalp dance, and +their voices, as engaged in the song which usually accompanies +such festivities, could be heard for a distance of at least a mile. +Unconscious of danger, they were having a merry time. One can imagine, +better than can be described, the scene that followed when three +hundred loaded rifles poured their contents into this crowd. Suffice +it to say, that among those who survived this terrible retribution, +the greatest consternation prevailed; but, as a dernier resort, they +began to fly, when they were hotly pursued by the soldiers. Before +quitting their late camp, some of the savages had managed to get +their own rifles, and with them to fire several shots which did some +execution, as two soldiers were killed and two wounded. + +Thus it will be seen that the main village of these Apaches and Utahs +fell into the hands of the Americans. It proved to be rich in plunder, +for it contained all their stock of dried buffalo meat, besides other +provisions. Also several cart-loads of robes, saddles, weapons, ropes, +skins, blankets, trinkets and camp equipage. Most of this property was +collected and destroyed by fire, being of little use to the command, +whose means of conveyance was limited to their own actual wants. +The number of Indians killed in this surprise has been variously +estimated, as has been also the number of the red men on the ground +when the carnage commenced; but all agree that this was the severest +blow these savages had ever received. + +Among the many other objects of curiosity found by the victors, was +a "Medicine lodge," which had, from appearance, but recently been in +full blast. It was highly (and to Indian eyes it must have been very +artistically) decorated, and contained all the emblems and symbols of +witchcraft. If sickness was to be frightened away, or even coaxed +to dethrone itself from the afflicted, there was sufficient in this +temple of the Indian gods, seemingly, to have answered either purpose. +Some potentate of the magnitude of a great chief had, evidently, but +a few hours since, been its occupant; for, in his hurry to desert +the premises, on hearing the music of the white man's rifle, he had +forgotten his beautiful head-dress of feathers, and other articles +pertaining to his wardrobe, which designated to the captors his high +rank. Perhaps, and the surmise may not be far out of the way, this +chief was suffering from a gun-shot wound inflicted in a recent +fight by his pale-faced enemy, and having received one of their +most dangerous potions of lead, he was not anxious for another, and +therefore made his escape with the activity of a well man. + +In this expedition, a company of artillery,[11] who have before been +described, doing duty as infantry, performed a feat that will compare +well with anything of the same kind on record. These men, under the +command of Lieutenant Beall, who shared all the privations of his +soldiers, marched on foot through a mixture of mud and snow, nearly +ankle deep, over an uneven country, from the Mosco Pass in the Valley +of San Luis, to the head-waters of the Arkansas River, a distance +which is computed at eighty-five miles, in thirty-six hours, including +all their stoppages. This company had been long celebrated as being +expert marksmen, therefore, their services were much needed when +the Indian village was discovered. Although nearly broken down with +fatigue, yet as soon as the electrifying news of the enemy being so +near at hand reached them, it seemed to inspire them with new vigor. +They dashed ahead, and gallantly led the van in this assault which +terminated so favorably to the side of the Americans. + +[Footnote 11: D Company, 2d Regiment U. S. Artillery.] + +Colonel Fauntleroy was not satisfied with the victory already +obtained; but, after having accomplished all that was possible for him +in this quarter, and having scattered the Indians to the four winds, +he determined to make forced marches in order to surprise another band +of them who were supposed to be located in a distant mountain haunt +well known to his guide. His object in thus hurrying away from the +scenes of his late triumph, was to reach and surprise the Indians +before their friends had time to travel to and apprise them of their +defeat. In this manoeuvre he was also successful. He came upon this +second band also before they were aware of their danger. They were +routed, and after severe loss were followed far into the mountains. +At this camp, Blanco, the celebrated Apache chief, was driven to such +close quarters that he evidently began to feel that the safety of his +whole tribe stood in jeopardy. He made his appearance on a high point +of rocks and asked the white men who occupied the plain beneath for a +parley, which was granted him. He said, in the Spanish language, +that he and his Indians wished to make peace; that they were tired of +fighting. In reply, he was informed that the terms he demanded would +be listened to on his coming into the soldiers' camp. He was going on +to say that he was afraid to trust himself there, when a bullet was +sent whizzing by his head, which caused him to decamp in all haste. It +was ascertained, afterwards, that a Mexican, who had great antipathy +to this chief, had, unknown to the rest of the party, crept secretly +up into the rocks. When he had reached a place where Blanco was within +the range of his rifle, he fired; but, as the reader has inferred, he +missed an accurate aim. + +At this latter camp or village, and near the close of this same day, +another incident happened which will long be remembered by those who +witnessed it. Two Indians who probably had been absent to some distant +section of the country, having no knowledge of the matters which had +lately been transpiring, were seen approaching. Gradually, they +drew near to a cotton-wood grove of trees in which the soldiers were +resting, thinking no doubt, that they were there about to meet their +friends. A mountaineer by the name of Stewart, who commanded the Spy +company, and another man, one of the Mexican Volunteers, immediately +on seeing the Indians, sprang upon the backs of their horses which +chanced to be near by, and started out to attack them. Not until these +Indians saw the men advancing, were they made aware of their danger; +when instantly they turned around their animals, and put them on a +keen run for the nearest mountain. They were pursued and the race +hotly contested for at least two miles; but, the Indians succeeded in +making their escape, although shots were fired at them, and returned +by the Indians. In doing so, one of them was obliged to dismount and +leave his horse behind him, which fell into the hands of his pursuers. + +At the time that the chief Blanco was endeavoring to gain a parley, +a stirring scene was being enacted at the soldiers' camp, which was +several miles distant. Most of the soldiers had left it and were then +out engaged in the business of scouring the country. In the camp there +were all the pack animals, provisions, luggage etc., of the command. +To guard this property there were only about fifty men left, who, +anticipating no danger, were employing themselves in cooking and +otherwise providing for the wants of their absent friends against +their return. The herd of mules was scattered about, and grazing under +the charge of a few herders. Suddenly a band of about one hundred +warriors, were discovered coming down the little valley where the camp +was located. The alarm was given, when each man seizing his rifle, +rushed to place himself in the line of sentinels which were forming +around the property. The mules were quickly driven together in a +compact body into the centre of the camp. Hardly had this movement +been performed, before the red men came galloping by. Seeing the +smallness of the force opposed to them, they made two or three +attempts at an attack on the weakest points of the lines. They +were about to succeed, when a shout went up from the Americans, who +descried relief in the shape of the foot company which, having been +left behind for one night in order to make easy marches and thus +partially rest themselves, was now approaching. The Indians saw +the near approach of this powerful reinforcement, and using that +discretion which is often the better part of valor, they started off +and were soon lost sight of. Had not this reinforcement providentially +thus arrived, the Indians would have certainly captured the pack mules +belonging to the soldiers, and got away with them. Never was succor +hailed with more delight, than on this occasion; for, had the red men +succeeded in this endeavor, the benefits of this whole campaign would +have been greatly frustrated. + +Colonel Fauntleroy, after thoroughly scouring the adjacent country in +the hope of meeting with parties of straggling Indians, but, as the +result proved, without success, returned to Fort Massachusetts, where +he had the satisfaction of learning that Colonel St. Vrain, in his +expedition, had caught other bands of these same Indians, and most +severely chastised them. + +The Fort Massachusetts here referred to has recently been abandoned +and another one has been built, distant about six miles from the +original site. The name is retained for the new defences, which are +located on the river Trinchera. The present location is picturesque, +and beautiful in the extreme. + +In one of his fights, Col. St. Vrain had overtaken the red men on +the prairies, where a running battle ensued, in which the volunteers +killed many of the enemy, and made several prisoners. During this +skirmish, the Indians tried the ruse of setting fire to the prairie +grass, and, as the wind was blowing in the direction from which their +foes were coming, they hoped thereby to impede their progress, and +thus give themselves time to escape; but the volunteers boldly rode +through the flames, and successfully continued the chase. + +The time for which the New Mexican volunteers had enlisted, was +fast drawing to a close; but, as the hostile Utahs and Apaches were +scattered to the four winds, it was thought best not to send out +again a regularly appointed force to act against them. Instead, while +awaiting the effect of their late telling blows, it was decided to +be judicious to keep out, in different directions, small scouting +parties, who could better follow the trails of the small parties of +fugitive Indians with some prospect of success. It was now the +season for the richly laden caravans to arrive on the borders of the +territory, and perchance they might fall in with bands of the hostile +savages of sufficient strength to cause them trouble; or, it might +be, the Indians would combine in sufficient strength, being driven by +pressing want, to capture some one of these trains, and thus obtain +the material for renewing the contest. In view of these apprehensions, +it was decided that the regular troops should go out on the plains, +where they could be on hand ready to afford protection in case +of need. Major Blake, in command of the dragoons, started out +and faithfully performed this mission. After this duty was fully +accomplished, he visited the mountains to the northeast of Fort +Massachusetts, and then returned to Taos _via_ the fort and the +intervening Mexican towns. + +While intimating the dangers which may befall trains on their journey +across the plains, especially in time of Indian war, it may be well +to narrate a fatal adventure which once happened to a mail party +while traveling this route. Not many miles from Fort Union, and on +the plains, there is a clump of hills known as the "Wagon Mound," so +called from their resemblance to one of those peculiar wagons which +are used to transport valuable freight across the country. It being +dangerous times, a party of ten picked men had been sent out to insure +the safe transit of the mail. Everything went well with the little +band of travelers, and their prospects were becoming bright for making +a safe journey, when, suddenly, a large band of hostile Apaches +and Utahs hove in sight. The mail party, on making this discovery, +immediately halted and prepared for a fight. The Indians very +soon granted to them this favor. At first, the attack was sharply +maintained, but, at last, fortune favored the whites, for the time +being, and they succeeded in repulsing their foes, who retreated out +of sight. The mail party, being thus freed from the unpleasant society +of the Indians, at once hitched up their teams and proceeded on their +route. It was afterwards learned that the Apaches made the first +attack, but, they were countenanced by the Utahs, who remained close +by. On the return of the unsuccessful war party of Apaches to the +Utahs, the latter at once commenced charging them with cowardice, and +boasted that they could have done better. The true state of the case +was, that the Utahs were using the Apaches as tools by which to gain +plunder, crying "go dog," while they themselves were keeping out +of harm's way. The anger of the Apaches was fully aroused at these +derisive imputations. Under the new impulse, they said to the Utahs, +if you will help, we will return and show you whether we are afraid +to meet these pale-faces. Another attack having been decided upon, +the Indians set out and overtook the mail party once more near to this +"Wagon Mound." It was snowing fast at the time, therefore, the white +men were comfortably traveling in their vehicles and had their guns +protected with suitable coverings to prevent their being injured, for +they anticipated no further danger. The curtains of the mail wagons +were all fastened down, and there was no look-out kept, for it was +considered sufficient to prepare for the furies of the storm. The +Indians accordingly approached unperceived and made such a desperate +attack that all the white men were quickly killed. Not one, if the +boasts of the Indians can be believed, had time to get out from his +seat. Several days elapsed and no tidings were heard of the expected +mail party; therefore, a body of men started out in quest of the +missing men and found them sleeping the last sleep which knows no +awakening. The bodies of the dead were decently interred; and, since +that day, the "Wagon Mound" is pointed out to the traveler accompanied +with a historical account of this awful tragedy. + +During the campaign under consideration, several Indian children were +captured. These were generally under the age of ten years. They could +not stand the kindly-planned treatment which they received while in +bondage, for many of them died from over-eating, after having so long +been accustomed to Indian frugality. One of the women prisoners +taken, openly declared, and there is no reason why she should not be +believed, that many of the younger children belonging to her tribe had +been strangled by their parents and friends in order to prevent +their becoming an inconvenience, and thus prevent their being able to +prosecute the war, thereby showing that their hatred of the white +man was deeply rooted, and that their anger had been aroused to its +highest degree. On the publishing of peace, those Indian children who +still lived, were collected, and, through the Indian agents, restored +to their relatives and friends. The good effect which the moral of +this campaign had on the surrounding Indian nations cannot be denied. +They soon became loud in proclaiming their friendships for the +Americans. Taking advantage of the now crippled condition of the Utahs +and Apaches, their enemies the Arrapahoes and Cheyennes were ready +to pounce upon them at a moment's warning. The opportunity did not, +however, present itself until long after peace had been established +with the white men, when the Utahs and Apaches had been able to +recover from their losses and collect again. + +War party after war party of Cheyennes and Arrapahoes entered the +country of their old enemies the Apaches and Utahs, but returned +unable to find them. Yellow Bear, a head war chief of the Arrapahoes, +did not accompany his braves on these expeditions, and he would +not believe that they could not find either the Apaches or Utahs; +therefore, to show his people that there was one warrior living of the +olden stamp, he started, accompanied only by his youngest squaw, +to meet and fight them. A severe snow-storm compelled this noble +chieftain to come into Fort Massachusetts. While he was there the +commanding officer of the post endeavored to dissuade him from his +rash undertaking. In reply the chief said: + +"Captain, my young men are no longer warriors. They have become +squaws. I sent them to seek our nation's enemies. They went, +discovered their fires and counted their lodges, but were afraid to +attack them. I am now on my way to find the Utah village, where I +intend, either to smoke the pipe of peace, or offer fight to any three +of their chiefs. If they kill me otherwise than fairly, perhaps it +will stir up once more the fire in the breast of the warriors of the +Arrapahoe nation." + +This speech was delivered with so much pathos, and yet with such +an oratorical air, that the interpreter was enabled to catch and +translate every word of it. Yellow Bear was now informed of the recent +campaign against the Utahs and Apaches, but the news made no change in +his determination. The advice was words thrown away, as he was found +conversant with the whole proceedings of the campaign. We have brought +in this incident to show how surrounding tribes are directly affected +and personally interested in the results of all military transactions +with hostile Indians. As we have taken up for a theme the story of +this brave and really noble Indian, it may prove interesting to some +of our readers if we complete the picture. Yellow Bear has always +been the firm friend of Kit Carson both by word and action. He is the +finest specimen of an Indian that the writer ever laid eyes on. He +stands in his moccasins over six feet; is straight and symmetrically +proportioned. The head, however, is the main attraction of this +Indian. Never was a statesman possessed of a better. We once heard him +address a large council of his warriors, and, although we could not +understand one word he said, yet our attention was fixed on the man, +for we never saw either before or since such majestic gestures, mixed +with equal grace, in any speaker. It was a master-piece of acting, +and from the "humphs," or grunts, ejaculated by his auditors, we were +inclined to think that the speech was impressive. There is one great +point about this chief which those who are familiar with the Indian +race, as they now exist, cannot but admire. He has never been known +to beg; rather than do this, we believe, he would actually starve. We +will finish this description of Yellow Bear by adding that he +finally listened to the advice of the then commanding officer of Fort +Massachusetts, and returned to his own nation. + +On the final arrival at Taos of the troops engaged in this brilliant +Indian campaign against the Utahs and Apaches, they received orders +to disband. Those whose calling was arms, returned to their respective +military posts, while the New Mexicans scattered to seek their homes, +where they were received and justly treated as heroes. Before the +forces were dispersed, the Pueblo Indians, who had been employed in +the spy companies, gave, with the aid of their friends, by moonlight, +a grand war-dance entertainment in the plaza of the town. It proved a +fine display of this time-honored Indian custom. + +The combined efforts of the two commanders, Colonel Fauntleroy and +Lieutenant-Colonel St. Vrain, aided by their followers, among whom Kit +Carson played a most conspicuous and important part, had the effect to +compel the Indians to send a delegate to Santa Fe, commissioned to sue +for peace. Peace was finally granted, which formed a most happy and +pleasing termination to this brilliant Indian campaign. + +It proved afterwards that a great mistake was made in hastily allowing +these Indians to evade the punishment they so richly deserved, and +which was being so summarily inflicted, by entertaining so soon +conciliatory measures. At the council that was subsequently held, it +was found that only a part of the Apaches were present to sanction the +proceedings, and that the remainder were still in the mountains and +were either hostile or undecided what course they would pursue. Kit +Carson, their agent, was at the meeting, and earnestly opposed the +policy of making a treaty so long as any portion of the two nations +were insubordinate, as it offered a loop hole for those present to +creep out whenever they were so inclined. He said, "that now was the +time, if ever, when they might, at a small additional expense, and +with the prospect of saving many valuable lives, show these Indians +that they were dealing with a powerful government." His voice and +experience were overruled by the other officials present and the +treaty was made. It stipulated that the Indians should receive certain +sums annually in case they would settle down and commence farming, +and that they should be allowed to select their own locality within +certain prescribed limits. The making of such offers to tribes of +savages half subdued is absurd. The wisdom of this assertion has since +been clearly shown, for hardly one article contained in the treaty +there made has been carried out. The actions of those Apaches present +at the council were trifling in the extreme, notwithstanding which, +they were presented with some cattle. These they objected to receiving +on the ground that they were not fat enough to suit their fastidious +tastes. They insolently addressed the Government officials in the +following strain: "If you do not give us better, we will again take +the road where we can have our choice." + +The fact was that these half-starved rascals saw that the white men +were anxious to make peace, and hence they assumed a haughty air in +order to drive a good bargain. + +The great results which should have been brought about by the +teachings of Colonels Fauntleroy and St. Vrain, by this weak +diplomacy, were more or less frustrated. These gentlemen, however, had +won great renown. They had the savages driven to such extremes that +one more expedition, led by them in person, would have subdued all +their obstinacy and made them over anxious for peace. The Indians had +been seven times caught, and, on every one of the occasions, they had +been greatly worsted. They had lost at least five hundred horses, all +their camp equipage, ammunition, provisions, and most of their +arms, and were indeed almost at the mercy of the whites. Under +these circumstances they should have been shown true magnanimity and +greatness, by forcing them into that course which was and is for their +own welfare as well as the welfare of the country, and against which, +they themselves so blindly contend. Say to an Indian, that ere many +years have passed by the buffalo will all be destroyed, and he will +answer you "that the 'Great Spirit' rains them down in the mountains +for his red children." This is a fair example of the manner in which +most of them listen to the voice of reason. It requires practical and +active demonstrations by means of rifles and other weapons to +teach, them that they will not be permitted to plunder and murder at +pleasure. The wrong of this conduct they are as well aware of as their +white brethren. It is by rifle arguments that their treaties become +worth the value of the paper upon which they are written. + +It is a well known fact that people who live in Indian countries +prefer to have the red men at war, rather than bound to peace by such +slender ties as they are usually called upon to take upon themselves. +In the former case, the settler knows what to expect and is always +prepared for the worst so far as it lies in his power; but, in the +latter position, he is continually exposed to the caprices of a race +who are in many respects as changeable as the very air they breathe. + +In the old Mexican town of Don Fernandez de Taos, as we have before +said, resides at the present time Kit Carson. A stranger entering this +town, and especially at a little distance from it, is reminded of a +number of brick-kilns just previous to being burnt, and all huddled +together without any regard being paid to symmetry. In order to reach +the Plaza, which is the main feature of attraction belonging to +the town, the traveler is obliged to follow the crooks and turns of +several unattractive streets. The home of Kit Carson faces on the west +side of this public square. It is a building only one story in height; +but, as it extends over a considerable space of ground, it makes up in +part this defect, and within, it is surpassed by but few other houses +in the country for the degree of comfort which is furnishes to its +occupants. On most any fair day, around the doors of this house may be +seen many Indians of various tribes who are either waiting for their +companions within, or else for the opportunity to present itself so +that they themselves can enter. + +Business or no business to transact with Kit Carson, they cannot come +to town without visiting "Father Kit," and having a smoke and talk +with him. Kit Carson enjoys himself in their society, for his heart +and hand have long since taught them that, irrespective of the office +which he holds towards them, he is their true friend and benefactor. +Never is his patience exhausted by their lengthy visits. He listens +to their narrations of grievances which they lay freely before him for +his counsel, even in matters exclusively personal. Being familiar with +all those things which will, in the least, touch their feelings and +make them interested, he finds no difficulty in entering into the +spirit of their affairs in a manner that exactly suits their tastes. +This causes them to look upon him in the same light as they would upon +some brave and experienced chief of their own race. + +Kit Carson takes every opportunity to warn the Indians against the use +of intoxicating drinks, and shows them by his own example, that "fire +water" is a dangerous luxury which man does not require and in which +he should not indulge. Notwithstanding his best efforts, now and then +they get under its influence. On becoming sober, they are so ashamed +of their conduct that they often keep clear of their agent until +they think he has forgotten the occurrence. Kit Carson, to a certain +extent, treats Indians as a wise father does his own children; hence, +he has won their respect as well as confidence, which fact has given +him more influence over them, than any other man in the country where +he lives. When Kit Carson enters the various villages of the Indians +under his supervision, he is invariably received with the most marked +attention. Having selected the warrior whose guest he intends to be, +he accompanies him to his lodge, which is known during his stay as +the "soldiers' lodge." He gives himself no concern about his horse, +saddle, bridle rifle or any minor thing. The brave whom he has thus +honoured, considers that he has assumed the responsibility of a +"soldier," and so styles himself. This making of a "soldier" is no +every day business with the Indians. It is only when they are visited +by some great personage for whom they have the greatest respect, that +this ceremony is gone through with. When thus favored, the "soldier," +at once, becomes the sworn friend of the white man who occupies his +lodge, and will fight and die for him even against his own brethren. + +It is the opinion of Kit Carson, that Indians should not be allowed +to come, when it pleases them, into the settlements. Every visit which +they thus make is detrimental to them in many ways. He thinks that +the time thus spent could be better employed in hunting or otherwise +providing for the wants of their families. In the towns of the +frontiers they do nothing but beg and learn the vices of the white +man, which, added to their own, make them as dangerous and wicked as +men can be. In lieu thereof, he advises that mission and agency +houses should be established in their midst, when supplies should +be furnished to them in a time of need. As matters stand now, the +Indians, during a severe winter, or from some unforeseen accident, are +liable to become suddenly destitute. They are then compelled either +to starve or to make inroads upon the property of the settlers on the +frontiers. Besides his Indian friends, Kit Carson is surrounded by +a host of Mexicans and Americans, to whom he has greatly endeared +himself. To his children Kit Carson is a kind and indulgent father, +and to best illustrate his self-sacrificing attachment for them, it +is only necessary to relate one striking incident of its proof. A few +years since, he was returning to Taos from Rayado, whither he had been +on a visit in company with his wife, two children, and two servants +(a Mexican man and woman). The party had completed the first half of +their journey, and were jogging along over a tract of prairie land +that was of considerable extent, when suddenly, Kit Carson discovered, +far off, a band of about forty Indians. Being so exposed, he at once +concluded that he also had been seen, for while he was looking, he +thought he could see the speed of their riding animals increase. The +glaring rays of the sun impeded his view, so that he could not discern +at such a distance, either from their dress or appearance, to +what tribe they belonged. He was in a section of country that was +frequently visited by the marauding Camanches, and, as their signs had +been recently seen in the neighborhood, he made up his mind that it +was a band of this tribe that he now saw. No time was to be lost; so, +dismounting from the very fleet horse he was riding, he placed in +his saddle his wife and eldest child. To the first named he gave +directions "to follow on the trail that led to Taos, and let the +bridle reins be a little slack, so that the horse would know what was +expected of him, when he would travel at the top of his speed. He said +that he intended to ride towards the Indians and engage them at first +in a parley, and then if necessary offer them a single-handed combat. +At any rate, before they could manage to kill him, she would have +sufficient time to lessen her danger. As to the remainder of the party +he added, there was no alternative but for them to take their chances +for life or death." Bidding his wife and boy good bye, with one +heart-rending look, he turned to face his apparent doom. As Kit +approached the Indians, they began to call out his name. As soon as he +heard this, he aroused himself from the agonizing frame of mind he had +been laboring under after parting with all that was so dear to him, +and as he had thought, for the last time. To his joy, Kit quickly +recognized before him, the familiar faces of some of his Indian +friends. They had come, as they afterwards informed him, to see him +and his helpless charge safely lodged in their home, for they had +become aware that he was exposed to great danger. While the friends +were talking, some of the Indians began to laugh, which caused Carson +to turn his head and look in the direction they were gazing. To his +astonishment and disgust, he saw (the truth was too evident to be +mistaken) that the cowardly Mexican man had, on his leaving, pulled +off from her horse Mrs. Carson and her child, and having mounted the +animal himself, was making good his escape. The Indians wished to keep +up the ruse, pursue, Attempt to overtake and punish the poltroon; but +Kit Carson was too thankful that matters had gone so well; therefore, +he said that he felt that he could excuse such dastardly conduct, and +requested the Indians to let it pass unnoticed. It is hardly necessary +to add that with his faithful body-guard who had come to watch over +him from feelings of earnest respect, gratitude and affectionate +regard, the agent accomplished the remainder of his journey in perfect +safety. + +Several years have elapsed, as the reader can easily estimate, since +Kit Carson met, while traveling home from one of his expeditions, +the Mormon delegate to Congress who had first informed him of his +appointment as Indian agent. During this length of time Kit Carson has +retained this office and rendered satisfactory service. The tract of +country over which the Indians roam who are especially connected +with his agency, is about equal in its area, to any one of the larger +States in the American Confederacy. The Indians who are under his +jurisdiction, are large and powerful bands of the Apaches and Utahs; +but, as we have said before, neighboring tribes freely seek his +counsel, aid and protectorate power as they may require it, and they +all, from habit, consider that they have a claim on his services. +To best illustrate this, we have but to cite one instance of which a +thousand similar exist. Two Indian women were taken prisoners by the +red men of the plains from a band of savages not under the immediate +control of Kit Carson, who inhabited a section of New Mexico. These +squaws, while captives, were subjected to the severest labor and the +most brutal punishment which Indian ingenuity could invent. For one +year they submitted without exhibiting any outward symptoms by which +their condition could be known; but, at the end of that time, they +resolved to escape, even if they were killed in the attempt. Watching +a favorable opportunity, they started, and fortunately, so well laid +their plans, that, for some time, they were not missed. On their +prolonged absence being noticed, a party who were well mounted +commenced the pursuit, no doubt believing that, to recapture the +runaways would be an easy task. The squaws however eluded these +horsemen, and, on foot, made their way to Kit Carson's house at Taos. +By him they were hospitably received, entertained and amply provided +for. They had traveled on foot for hundreds of miles, and, while en +route, had lived on roots and such other food as fell in their way. In +their reduced condition, it required kindness, proper diet and rest +to resuscitate them. In the comfortable house to which they had come, +these things were at hand, and were freely given, without hoping for +the rewards which man can give. The pursuers of these unfortunate +Indian women followed on their trail, which, with native instinct, the +squaws had made as indistinct as possible, until they found themselves +at a Mexican settlement, within the boundaries of New Mexico. Here +they were informed that their late captives were safe under the +protection of Kit Carson. This name acted like magic in settling their +future mode of proceedings. They needed nothing more to bid them face +about and retrace their steps to their own homes. The squaws, in the +household of Kit Carson, rapidly recruited, and when the time came for +them to be sent to their own tribe, they went away rejoicing at their +good fortune; first in making their escape, and second, because they +had been so humanely treated by a man whose name they had often heard, +but never before seen. As we have said before and with truth, this is +but one example out of thousands which have passed by unheralded since +Kit Carson first commenced his official career as Indian agent. + +The duties of an agent are not by Kit Carson confined to the mere +letter of the law. His is a heart that could not be happy were he not +daily doing some equitable and humane act to ameliorate the condition +of the Indian race. The strict duties of an Indian agent require that +he should receive and disburse certain sums of money in purchasing +such minor articles as the tribes over which he is placed may require. +He has to give monthly and quarterly reports to the General Government +and the superintendent of the Territory he is in, of the condition, +crimes, practices, habits, intentions, health, and such other things +as pertain to the economy of his charge. How seldom is this knowledge +properly attained and how often are these things intrusted to clerks +while the principal receives the emoluments of his office! Of the +details which make the Indian happy or miserable, he, too frequently, +knows but little about, except from routine. The agent, if he be a fit +man, and the Indian is by no means slow in forming his estimate of +the person he has to deal with, is received into the confidence of +the tribes, when, after sufficient trial, he has been proved worthy of +their esteem and friendship. When once he has gained a foothold in the +affections of the savages, his task assumes the condition of pleasure +rather than severe labor; but, if he is ignorant of the minute +workings of his business, he is generally imposed upon and always +disliked to such a degree that no honorable man would retain such a +position longer than to find out his unpopularity and the causes of +it. The Indian agent, to perform his duties well, must be continually +at his agency house, or among the Indians, in order that he may +personally attend to their wants and protect them from the mercenary +visits and contact of outside intruders, who are continually watching +their opportunity, like hungry wolves, to prey upon and cheat them in +every shape and form. In fine, he is to assist the superintendent in +managing the entire Indian family. . + +The business of Indian agent, which he strictly and conscientiously +attends to, keeps Kit Carson employed during the most of his time; +yet, as often as once each year, he manages affairs so that he can +spend a few weeks in the exciting scenes of the chase. On these +excursions, which are eagerly looked forward to by his friends, he is +accompanied by the crack shots of the country, including his Indian +and Mexican friends. On horseback and on open prairies, Kit Carson is +indisputably the greatest hunter in America, if indeed he is not the +greatest hunter now living. He has killed, in the brief space of three +consecutive hours, with his rifle, twenty-two antelope, at a time when +the game was so scarce, that other men who followed the business of +hunting under pay, and were no ordinary shots, thought themselves +doing well to bring down six of the same animals. It gives the +greatest satisfaction to the people of New Mexico that Kit Carson +is, from time to time, reinstalled in his office of Indian agent, +notwithstanding the other great changes that have been and are +continually making in their politics. His fitness for the position +which he holds cannot be doubted, when the good already accomplished +by his efforts is considered. No one would be so loath to part with +his services as the Indians themselves. His influence reaches far +beyond his own tribes, and is felt by the Cheyennes, Arrapahoes, and +Kiowas, who are fast becoming very chary about visiting, with hostile +intentions, the settlements of northern New Mexico. + +Kit Carson is still in the full vigor of his manhood, and is capable +of undergoing almost any amount of privation and hardship; therefore +we infer that to the country he has adopted; he will be spared many +years to come, as one of its most valuable citizens. And when the time +arrives for his final exit from this stage of life, he will bequeath +to his family and friends a spotless character and an enviable +reputation. + + +FINIS. + + * * * * * + +RECENTLY ISSUED, + +BY W.R.C. CLARK & CO., + +348 BROADWAY, + +APPLETON'S BUILDING. + +GEORGE MELVILLE, + +AN AMERICAN NOVEL. + +One handsome 12mo. volume, nearly 400 pages. Price $1.00 + +CONTENTS. + +I. George Melville and Thomas F. Griswold determine that "Old Sassy" +had better look out. + +II. Horses _versus_ Thorn-Apple Tree Limbs. + +III. "Wait for the Wagon." + +IV. The Boyhood Days of George Melville. + +V. The Excursion Party for Niagara--Astor House--James Mordaunt--The +Plot. + +VI. Aurora--Cayuga Lake--The Pic-nic. + +VII. Clara Edgemonte's Mistake. + +VIII. Melville's and Griswold's Tour--A true Hand and firm Seat always +come in Play. + +IX. Sunset at Niagara--James Mordaunt's Declaration. + +X. The Morning Walk--An Old Friend in Duplicate. + +XI. Hon. B.F. Mortimer--H.B. Edgemonte, Esq.,--James Mordaunt, +Esq.--Frederick Mortimer--Thomas F. Griswold--George Melville--Mrs. +Mortimer--Mrs. Edgemonte--Bell Mortimer--Clara Edgemonte--The +Breakfast Party. + +XII. Bob Shank--The Fire--The Cave. + +XIII. Bell hates the Rain, but finally has no Objection to it--Miss +Blackwood's Party. + +XIV. Various Things material both to the Story and the Reader--The +Catfish Railroad Scheme. + +XV. Ahead--Back again. + +XVI. Who is Uncle Sam--Syracuse--Camillus--Junction--Auburn--A New +York Lawyer obtains a Case (a hard one). + +XVII. The Dinner Party at Aurora--The Telegram--Mrs. Tryon's Glance. + +XVIII. Broadway, New York--James Mordaunt, Esq., at his Office in Wall +street--Is he a Married Man? + +XIX. Rev. John Furnace--The Funeral--The Lawsuit--The Catfish Railroad +Stock at a Premium. + +XX. Arrival of the Liverpool Steamer--New York Firemen--Griswold's +Heroism--The Catfish Railroad Stock falling--Trouble. + +XXI. Short but Interesting. + +XXII. A Sail on Cayuga Lake before Breakfast--Thermometer thirty +Degrees below Zero--Two Miles a Minute under a fair Wind--Bell +Mortimer takes an Observation--The Surprise not a Surprise--The +Race Home--The Ice-Boat too much for the Horses--The Runaway--The +Rescue,--Love told without Words--Death cheated, of his Prey. + +XXIII. Plans for the Future. + +XXIV. Commencement Day at Hamilton College--William Hastings--How a +Clerk in New York City may obtain a Partnership. + +XXV. A Friend in Need. + +XXVI. New York City Corporation Counsel--All Marriage Notices not +Agreeable. + +XXVII. Sarah E. Graham's call at Mordaunt's Law Office--A Cool +Scene--James Mordaunt in trouble. + +XXVIII. George Melville under a Cloud. + +XXIX. The Metropolis of America never sleeps--Scene in Twenty-Third +street late at Night. + +XXX. An Arrest--A Promise made, and a Promise given. + +XXXI. A Station on the N.Y. Central Railroad--Car +Manufactory--Reception of a Convict at the Auburn State Prison--The +Model Prison of the United States. + +XXXII. More about the Prison. + +XXXIII. James Mordaunt, Esq., triumphs. + +XXXIV. Mr. M----l, Chief of the New York Police, puts his Private Seal +upon a Coffin in Greenwood Cemetery. + +XXXV. A Council of War. + +XXXVI. A Smash-up in Broadway, N.Y.--The New York Hospital--The New +York Press--Sarah E. Graham a Lunatic. + +XXXVII. Bell and Charger. + +XXXVIII. An Ante-Breakfast Ride--The Homestead of an American +Statesman. + +XXXIX. Fort-Hill Cemetery--"Who is there to Mourn for Logan?"--How to +carry on a Correspondence with a Convict--Distant View of the Auburn +State Prison--Bell Mortimer in her Sanctum. + +XL. A Change in the progress of Events foreshadowed--Exercise of +Wits--The Statesman proves too much for the Lawyer. + +XLI. An Alumnus of Hamilton College, _nolens volens_, becomes a +Skillful Mechanic. + +XLII. A Ray of Hope. + +XLIII. Woman's Rights--The State Lunatic Asylum at Utica, Oneida +County, N.Y. + +XLIV. The Arrest--Interview with the Governor of the Empire State. + +XLV. A Mountain in Massachusetts--The Home of an ex-President of the +United States. + +XLVI. Another Telegram--Early rising sometimes proves very agreeable. + +XLVII. Bell Mortimer makes the Acquaintance of Sarah E. Graham. + +XLVIII. The Homestead of an American Mechanic--A Proposition. + +XLIX. Trial of the Action "Wilcox against Mordaunt"--Thomas F. +Griswold, Esquire, addresses the Jury--The Utica Asylum again--One of +the Biters bitten. + +L. Death of a New York City Policeman--A Trial, Sentence, and +Execution--Ought Governors hold the Pardoning Power? + +LI. The Island Martha's Vineyard. + +LII. Sunday-school in Prison--The Chaplain and his Convict +Congregation--A Convict who had well earned his position reflects--Two +Deaths. + +LIII. A Wedding--Wedding Tour--Conclusion. + + + +NOTICES OF THE PRESS. + +From the _Boston Traveller_. + +"The language is chaste and dignified, and varies to suit the +different circumstances. A high-toned integrity, clear common sense, +and a true representation of life in its real and sound aspects, +characterize the work." + +"One of the best novels of the day." + +From the _New York Leader_. + +"A work of much power, possessing vastly more of that reality, which +makes the real charm of a romance, than anything which has preceded it +this season." + +From the _Cincinnati Commercial_. + +"A well written volume, spicy with interest, and quite above the every +day average of the flood of works of fiction." + +From the _Chambersburg (Pa.) Independent_. + +"We submit the work to the perusal of our readers, as one replete with +interest and instruction." + +From the _Ladies' Visitor_. + +"'GEORGE MELVILLE,' coming just now, will be even more certain of a +warm reception than if he only swelled the crowd of claimants for the +popular favor." + +From the _Albany (N.Y.) Knickerbocker_. + +"The style is dashing, and the scenes and incidents in the highest +degree interesting. We commend 'GEORGE MELVILLE' to our readers." + +From the _Morristown (N.J.) Banner_. + +"The main features have evidently been actual occurrences, and are +skillfully worked together by a talented writer, who, with an eye to +its good moral influence has made a book which is at once pleasing, +interesting and exciting." + +From the _Constitution_ (Middletown, Ct.) + +"A book of great interest and spirit, and one that brings out, in a +strong light, some peculiar traits of American character." + +From the _Critic_. + +"An unusually well-written and interesting book." + +From the _Boston Saturday Evening Gazette_. + +"There is a deal of promise in a new novel just out called 'GEORGE +MELVILLE.' It is a dashing, clever, well-written story; its characters +talk with animation and plenty of animal spirit, and 'the plot +converges to an issue' according to the most approved rules. It has +the American Stamp, and imitates no transatlantic author--a merit +worth noticing." + +From the _New York Sunday Times_. + +"Its style is graphic, careless, romping and fanciful, and it is +really captivating." + +From the _Albany Evening Journal_. + +"The style is lively; the dialogues frequent and effective; the graver +scenes well drawn and the book wholly what it purports to be--an +American Novel, characteristically descriptive of American Life." + +From the _New York Sunday Mercury_. + +"A book that will repay the reader for the time spent in its perusal. +A pleasant companion for Saratoga, or the sea-shore." + +From the _Educational Herald_. + +"Its descriptions and pictures are very graphic." + +The following notice from the _Toledo Blade_, is so just and true that +we copy it entire: + +"We had almost said, after reading this story, 'The good old days of +Cooper have come again.' It is really refreshing, in the midst of so +much literary pretension, to meet with something of real merit. + +"The conception of the plot is admirable--the characters finely +portrayed--the scenery true to nature and the interest maintained +throughout. Its life-like pictures, as well as the style of its author +must commend it to every one who feels any interest in the revival +of a genuine, home-bred American literature. When such tales as +this reflecting on our own manners, scenery, morals and laws can be +produced, there is little reason that our fiction-writers should be +superseded by foreigners. A tale of equal merit with this, so neatly +told, so entirely American, has not of late been issued from the +press. + +"The scenery of Central New York--a sail on the placid waters +of Cayuga Lake in summer, and across the ice which covers it in +winter--the picturesque views around Auburn and the grand sublimity of +Niagara, are alike portrayed in vivid characters. + +"Character is as well delineated as scenery. Dark and light +shades--gay and corrupt life--vanity, vice and virtue, all perform +their appropriate parts, in making up a goodly number of men and +women, who once fairly introduced, carry themselves very naturally +through plot and counter plot, to the close of a story which aptly +illustrates the elements composing American society, in its various +phases. There are many such victims as Melville, and many such true +hearted girls as Bell Mortimer. + +"We do not pretend that the writer has attained perfection. The book +has faults--but these may be overcome by a writer of so much real +ability, and we hope his pen will not be allowed to remain idle. + +"GEORGE MELVILLE is a pleasant story--written in a chaste style with a +good moral, and we cheerfully commend it to our readers." + +*** Copies sent by mail to any part of the United States, pre-paid, +upon receipt of price. + + * * * * * + +A BEAUTIFUL GIFT BOOK. + +SHELLS + +FROM THE + +SEA-SHORE OF LIFE, + +GATHERED BY + +PEARLY SHELLEY. + + * * * * * + +This work comprises the lighter and more sketchy productions of one +of the most original and distinguished writers in the country. +The "Shells" are symbolical of the various lights and shades of +Life--scattered over its surface or lying deep beneath its ocean. They +embody a series of writings which may be called + +THE PARABLES OF THE WORLD! + +Every one of the series contains a moral which the Christian as +well as the man of the world may bring home to his observation or +experience. They sound the depths of the heart in the womanly as well +as in the manly breast. + +Some of these brilliant sketches symbolized in Shells, were originally +published in many of the first-class newspaper and periodical press; +while others, again, have been republished extensively throughout +the country. They are now "gathered" emphatically not only from the +"Sea-Shore of Life," by the Author, but from the mass of journals +through which they have been scattered broadcast far and wide. + +The "Shells" are published in a style which makes them, in their +typographical and external dress, equal to their intellectual and +moral interest, and renders them one of the most beautiful and +appropriate presents that can be selected for the holidays. + + One vol., 12mo., with twenty-one original + illustrations, cloth, $0 75 + Cloth, full gilt, 1 25 + +W.R.C. 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The imitation of the motion of the sea is admirable. + +Either of the above pieces will be sent by mail, post-paid, upon +receipt of the price, or all of them on receipt of 75 cents. + +W.R.C. CLARK & CO., PUBLISHERS, + +No. 348 Broadway, New York. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LIFE AND ADVENTURES OF KIT +CARSON, THE NESTOR OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS, FROM FACTS NARRATED BY +HIMSELF*** + + +******* This file should be named 16274.txt or 16274.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/6/2/7/16274 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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