Life of Kit Carson, the great western hunter and guide ... with an account of various government expeditions to the far West

Front matter

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Preface

In offering to the public a revised and complete history of the most remarkable of American frontiersmen, we perform a pleasing task. All the attainable circumstances connected with his life, adventures and death are fully set forth, and we offer this in confidence as a reliable authority for the reader.

No one should hesitate to familiarize himself with the exploits of the subject of this volume. They evince a magnanimity and an uprightness of character that is rarely found in one leading so daring and intensely wild a life, and cannot but contribute their share of luster to the interesting records of the Far West. We regret that his modesty, equally proverbial with his daring, prompted him to withhold many of the exciting incidents of his career from the public.

We have compiled a portion of this work from such official reports of his great skill, indomitable energy, and unfaltering courage as

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have been communicated by Ms friend and commander, Colonel Fremont, who has invariablyawarded to him all the best attributes of manhood, when opportunity afforded. Added to these, our hero had been prevailed upon by a few of his friends to communicate some of the records of the most important passages in his extraordinary and eventful life, which are embodied in this volume.

His has indeed been a life of peculiarly exciting personal hazards, bold adventures, daiing coolness, and moral and physical courage, such as has seldom transpired in the world, and we have been greatly impressed, in its preparation, with the necessity for a thorough work of this kind. All are aware that the young, and even matured, often seek for books of wild adventure, and if those of an unhurtful and truthful character are not found, they are apt to betake themselves to trashy and damaging literature. In this view, this work has a purpose which, we trust, will commend it to every family through out the land.

Chapter I. Page

Hero of the narrative — from what race descended — his fame — theater of his exploits — nativity — his father eaiigrates to Missouri — father's occupation — Kit's apprenticeship — dissatisfaction with his trade — joins an expedition to Santa Fe — surgical operation — Santa Fe, its situation, business, style of buildings, water, appearance, altitude, scenery, population — spends the winter at Taos — learns the Spanish language — joins a party bound to Missouri — returns to Santa Fe — becomes a teamster — El Paso, its grape culture, style of living of its people, name — youth of traveler — new occupation for the winter — becomes interpreter for a trader 1

CHAPTER n.

Chihuahua, cathedral, statues, public buildings, convent, mint, trade, age, population — Carson longs for the prairie — changes employment — returns to Taos — joins a party of hunters and trappers to punish the Indians — result of the affray — Indian style of fighting — method of trapping for beaver — beaver signs — setting the traps — bait — fastening the traps — caution in setting the traps. 9

Chapter III

Carson's qualifications for a trapper — starts for California — desert in the route— Mohave Indians, non-intercourse with whites, appearances, dress, ornaments, painting their bodies, money— Mission San Gabriel, cattle. horses, sheep, mules, vineyards, income— other Missions in

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California— when founded, laborers— Missions of Upper California— Missionary subscriptions— management of the fund— Commandante-general— the Monks— golden age of the Missions 17

Visit to a ranche — likes California, but likes buffalo better — leaves Los Angeles, and traps on the Colorado — in a tight place, but gets out of it 54

Chapter VIII

Trapping with Young upon the Colorado — captures cattle and horses from the Indians — goes to Santa Fe, disposes of furs, and sows his wild oats — coureurs des &ozs,travels, dress, habits — joins Mr. Fitzpatrick trapping among the Nez Perces — winters in the New Park — punishes the Crow Indians for horse-stealing — pursues and punishes robbers of a cac/ie— flies from a party of sixty Indians. 64

Chapter IX

Hunts with two companions — saving his money — trading with Captain Lee — pursues an Indian horse-thief and recovers the horses without assistance — traps on the Laramie — fight with two grizzlies — description of the

CONTENTS.

grizzly bear, his food — traps among the Blackfeet — unsuccessful attempt to chastise Blackfeet horse-thieves — Carson is wounded— Bridger's pursuit without finding them 71

Chapter X

Carson, recovered, attends summer rendezvous on Green River — description of the rendezvous — camp, traders, charges— British Fur Company — the Indians bringing in furs — appearance of Montreal at a fair for the Indians — trappers and traders from the States — purchases of the trappers, necessaries, luxuries, Indian wife 82

Chapter XI

Green River rendezvous again — the backwoodsman — Carson the peace-maker — Sherman the bully, his punishment -cause of the duel — trapping and parley with the Blackfeet — on Humboldt River — explores the desert — discovers the river afterwards named for him 90

Chapter XII

Dreary prospect on the Humboldt — Humboldt Lake — sinks of others rivers — overflow of Humboldt Lake and River — station at the sink, the traders — Humboldt Indians — Fourth of July on the Humboldt— Humboldt sinkingland available for agriculture on this river 98

Chapter XIII

Carson on the Humboldt — sufferings of the return party — Pyramid Circle — a horse purchased for food — buffalo hunt, meat jerked — horses stolen by the Indians — extent of buffalo ranges — buffalo upon the Platte in 1857, numbers, trails crossing tlie river, animals killed 106

Chapter XIV

Carson traps with a party of a hundred in the Blackfeet country — winter camp among the Crows — Indian lodges — winter life of the trappers — fight with the Blackfeet — Carson saves the life of a friend, dislodges the Indians

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from a rocky fastness, and compels their flight — no more molestation — the rendezvous — trade with the Navajos Indians — fort at Brown's Hole — goes again against the Blackfeet, a thousand warriors assemble, retire without an engagement — traps on the Salmon River — among the Blackfeet, another fight, leaves their country — Chinook apHd Flathead Indians — process of flattening the head. . 116

Chapter XV

Carson continues trapping — the trade becomes unprofitable — war of extermination upon the beaver, silk for hats prevents — Carson's experience enables him to aid one who should explore in behalf of science — knowledge of the country — comes to Bent's Fort, forsaking trapping — becomes hunter for the fort — his employers — his business — reputation as a hunter — fulfils the early hopes of him — knowledge of the country — regard shown him, especially by the Indians — diplomatist between the Sioux and the Caraanches — marriage — death of his wife takes his child to St. Louis for education — changes at his old home — reception at St. Louis — meets Colonel Fremont — engages to guide Fremont's exploring party to the South Pass in the Rocky Mountains 129

CHAPTER XVL

Fremont crosses the Ford of the Kansas — India-rubber boat — accident from overloading the boat — Carson ill — lies in camp on the prairie 143

Chapter XVII

Road over rolling prairie — Pawnee countiy — false alarm of the presence of Indians — Carson rides to discover the cause — coast of the Platte River — party of trappers from Fort Laramie — one of this party joins Fremont's company — buffalo — appearance of the herds — feasting in the camp — Carson's mishap in the hunt — Carson, Maxwell, and Fremont join in the cliase 147

Chapter XVIII

Fremont divides his party — attempt to lasso a wild horse — Maxwell prevents an Indian attack — Indians on a

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buif alo hunt— return laden with meat — Cheyenne village — tripod support for their weapons — Fremont entertained by the chief — tribute to the Great Spirit on taking the pipe — Jim Beckwith — other settlers on the mountain streams — St. Vrain's Fort — Fort Laramie — Carson's camp — excitement in the company — hostile intentions of the Indians — preparations for continuing the explorations— one of the command dismissed 167

Chapter XIX

The growth of Artemisia — fate of the Indian party so much dreaded — cache of wagons and other effects — value of Carson's aid to Fremont — propriety of calling this an exploring party — ascent to the South Pass — exploration up a tributary of Green River — lake at its source — continue to explore in the mountains — Fremont climbs the highest summit — why Carson was not with him 169

Chapter XX

Party returns to Fort Laramie — Carson remains — marriage — joins Fremont — a second exploring expedition — object of tlie expedition — Great Salt Lake — Fremont's description — current impressions in regard to the lake — Beer Springs — Hot Springs — Standing Rock. ... .... 178

Chapter XXI

A part of Fremont's men return East — leave Fort Hall, en route for the valley of the Columbia — difficulty of finding camping places — Carson kills buffalo — melancholy looking country — crossing Snake River — fish-eating Indians — refitting equipage at the Dalles — proposed return route — spirits of the party — Tlamath Lake — sufferings of the party 198

CHAPTER XXH.

Fremont's story of the difficulties and exposui-es of his party — hot springs — explorations for grass — mountain lake — central ridge of the Sierra Nevada — Indians — talks by signs — Indian guide — encouragement afforded by Carson's descriptions of California — ^provisions low—

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snow deep — animals weak — Indian harangue — guide deserts — Carson recognizes Sacramento valley and the coast range — taking the horses through the snow — sleds for the baggage— pine nuts the food of the Indiansglorious sunrise 207

Chapter XXIII

Thunder storm— view of the Sacramento, and Bay of San Francisco — mauls to j^ath the snow — Carson saves Fremont from drowning— rapid river, snow, grass, pines, live oak, mistletoe — ^division of the party — Tiorses lost — members of the party wander, return — horses killed for food — country improving in beauty— arrival at Sutter's Fort — description of a cache 227

Chapter XXIV

Carson at home in Toas — decides to commence farming — preparations — Fremont requests his service for a third expedition — meeting at Bent's Fort — head-waters — Great Salt Lake — expedition divides — Horse-Thief Indians — the skirmish 240

Chapter XXV

Arrival at Sutter's Fort — command of General Castro to leave the country — his march against Fremont — Fremont departs for Oregon — Indians instigated by the Mexicans, Fremont's march against them — he returns to California — another Indian fight 254

Chapter XXVI

Loss to Fremont's party — Carson's attack upon Indian village — start for the Sacramento — Fremont's campaign against the Mexicans — captures Sonoma — calls American settlers into his service — General Castro leaves San Francisco — Fremont garrisons Sutter's Fort — marches to Monterey — Commodore Sioat in possession — hoists the flag of the United States 263

CHAPTER XXVIL Fremont marches on, and occupies Los Angeles — ap-

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pointed Governor of California — Carson starts for Washington as bearer of despatches — unexpected meeting with Apache Indians — meets the expedition of General Kearney — returns to California as guide 270

Chapter XXVIII

March to California — Mexicans intercept Kearney's troops — American attack on the Mexican force— disastrous result — Carson and Lieutenant Beale reach San Diego — reinforcements sent by Commodore Stockton — capture of Los Angeles — Mexicans surrender to Fremont — want of harmony in the American camps 275

Chapter XXIX

Graphic description of the entrance into Monterey, of Fremont, Carson, and party — indiscretions of American officers — Kearney's despatch to the War Department — Fremont's extraordinary ride „ . . . 293

Chapter XXX

Fremont visits his Mariposa purchase — grand hunt and ball — the fandango — Carson and Beale ordered to Washington — kind reception — appointed to a lieutenancy — encounter with Camanches — arrival at Los Angeles — sent to the Tejon Pass — again to Washington — arrival at home — the warlike Apaches — Carson entertains Fremont and suffering explorers 307

Chapter XXXI

Dreadful sufferings endured by Fremont and party— error in engaging a guide— Fremont's letter to his wife— horrible details