[Illustration: KIT CARSON.]
LIFE
OF
KIT CARSON,
THE
GREAT WESTERN HUNTER AND GUIDE:
COMPRISING
WILD AND ROMANTIC EXPLOITS AS A HUNTER AND TRAPPER IN
THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS; THRILLING ADVENTURES AND
HAIRBREADTH ESCAPES AMONG THE INDIANS AND
MEXICANS; HIS DARING AND INVALUABLE
SERVICES AS A GUIDE TO SCOUTING
AND OTHER PARTIES, ETC., ETC.
WITH AN ACCOUNT OF VARIOUS GOVERNMENT EXPEDITIONS
TO THE FAR WEST.
BY CHARLES BURDETT.
ILLUSTRATED.
PHILADELPHIA:
PORTER & COATES,
NO. 822 CHESTNUT STREET.
Copyright, 1869, by JOHN E. POTTER & CO.
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 lustre 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 have
been communicated by his friend and commander, Col. Fremont, who has
invariably awarded 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, daring 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 throughout the land.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
PAGE
Hero of the narrative -- from what race descended -- his fame
-- theater of his exploits-nativity -- his father emigrates 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. 13
CHAPTER II.
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. 21
CHAPTER III.
Carson's qualifications for a trapper -- starts for California
-- desert in the route -- Mohave Indians, non-intercourse with
whites, appearance, dress, ornaments, painting their bodies,
money -- Mission San Gabriel, cattle, horses, sheep, mules,
vineyards, income -- other Missions in California, when
founded, laborers -- Missions of Upper California --
Missionary subscriptions -- management of the fund --
Commandante-general -- the Monks -- golden age of the
Missions. 29
CHAPTER IV.
New Mexico and Arizona -- their desert prairies -- Carson in
California -- traps on the San Joaquin -- the valley of the
Sacramento. 40
CHAPTER V.
The Digger Indians, a description of them, and their mode of
living -- Carson's visit to a ranche in search of a cow -- his
journey to the camp with his prize. 45
CHAPTER VI.
Carson at the Mission San Gabriel -- recovers sixty stolen
horses after a fight with the Indians -- "Los Angelos" --
climate of California. 54
CHAPTER VII.
Visit to a ranche -- likes California, but likes buffalo
better -- leaves Los Angelos, and traps on the Colorado -- in
a tight place, but gets out of it. 66
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 bois_, 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
_cache_ -- flies from a party of sixty Indians. 76
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 grizzly bear, his
food -- traps among the Blackfeet -- unsuccessful attempt to
chastise Blackfeet horse-thieves -- Carson is wounded --
Bridger's pursuit without finding them. 83
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. 93
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. 101
CHAPTER XII.
Dreary prospect on the Humboldt -- Humboldt Lake -- sinks of
other rivers -- overflow of Humboldt Lake and River -- station
at the sink, the traders -- Humboldt Indians -- Fourth of July
on the Humboldt -- Humboldt sinking -- land available for
agriculture on this river. 109
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 the river, animals killed. 116
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 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 and
Flathead Indians -- process of flattening the head. 126
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 -- fulfills the early hopes of him -- knowledge of the
country -- regard shown him, especially by the Indians --
diplomatist between the Sioux and the Camanches -- marriage --
death of his wife -- takes his child to St. Louis for
education -- changes at his old home -- reception at St. Louis
-- meets Col. Fremont -- engages to guide Fremont's exploring
party to the South Pass in the Rocky Mountains. 139
CHAPTER XVI.
Party of explorers starting -- style of encamping -- defense
-- morning in camp -- ford of the Kansas -- India-rubber boat
-- accident from overloading the boat -- Carson ill -- lies in
camp on the prairie. 152
CHAPTER XVII.
Road over rolling prairie -- Pawnee country -- 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 chase. 157
CHAPTER XVIII.
Fremont divides his party -- attempt to lasso a wild horse --
Maxwell prevents an Indian attack -- Indians on a buffalo 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. 179
CHAPTER XX.
Party returns to Fort Laramie -- Carson remains -- marriage --
joins Fremont -- a second exploring expedition -- object of
the expedition -- Great Salt Lake -- Fremont's description --
current impressions in regard to the lake -- Beer Springs --
Hot Springs -- Standing Rock. 188
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. 208
CHAPTER XXII.
Fremont's story of the difficulties and exposures 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 -- 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 Indians -- glorious sunrise. 217
CHAPTER XXIII.
Thunder storm -- view of the Sacramento, and Bay of San
Francisco -- mauls to path the snow -- Carson saves Fremont
from drowning -- rapid river, snow, grass, pines, live oak,
mistletoe -- division of the party -- horses lost -- members
of the party wander, return -- horses killed for food --
country improving in beauty -- arrival at Sutter's Fort --
description of a _cache_. 237
CHAPTER XXIV.
Carson at home in Taos -- 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. 250
CHAPTER XXV.
Arrival at Sutter's Fort -- command of Gen. 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. 264
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 -- Gen. Castro leaves San Francisco -- Fremont
garrisons Sutter's Fort -- marches to Monterey -- Commodore
Sloat in possession -- hoists the flag of the United States. 273
CHAPTER XXVII.
Fremont marches on, and occupies Los Angelos -- appointed
Governor of California -- Carson starts for Washington as
bearer of dispatches -- unexpected meeting with Apache Indians
-- meets the expedition of Gen. Kearney -- returns to
California as guide. 280
CHAPTER XXVIII.
March to California -- Mexicans intercept Kearney's troops --
American attack on the Mexican force -- disastrous result --
Carson and Lieut. Beale reach San Diego -- reinforcements sent
by Com. Stockton -- capture of Los Angelos -- Mexicans
surrender to Fremont -- want of harmony in the American camps. 285
CHAPTER XXIX.
Graphic description of the entrance into Monterey, of Fremont,
Carson, and party -- indiscretions of American officers --
Kearney's dispatch to the War Department -- Fremont's
extraordinary ride. 302
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 Angelos -- sent to the Tejon Pass
-- again to Washington -- arrival at home -- the warlike
Apaches -- Carson entertains Fremont and suffering explorers. 315
CHAPTER XXXI.
Dreadful sufferings endured by Fremont and party -- error in
engaging a guide -- Fremont's letter to his wife -- horrible
details. 330
CHAPTER XXXII.
Mr. Carvalho's narrative -- cravings of hunger -- disgusting
food considered a delicacy -- Death of Mr. Fuller -- Carson
joins Col. Beale as guide -- the Apache and Camanche Indians. 341
CHAPTER XXXIII.
Carson and Maxwell's settlement -- exploits in defense of his
neighbors -- encounter with the Cheyennes -- rescue. 341
CHAPTER XXXIV.
Grand trapping expedition -- the Mountain Parks -- Pike's Peak
-- Carson drives sheep to California -- San Francisco --
appointed Indian Agent -- habits -- services in New Mexico --
his death at Fort Lyon -- summing up. 369
LIFE OF CHRISTOPHER CARSON.
CHAPTER I.
As, for their intrepid boldness and stern truthfulness, the exploits and
deeds of the old Danish sea-kings, have, since the age of Canute, been
justly heralded in song and story; so now by the world-wide voice of the
press, this, their descendant, as his name proves him, is brought before
the world: and as the stern integrity of the exploits and deeds of the
old Danes in the age of Canute were heralded by song and story; so too,
in this brief and imperfect memoir, are those of one who by name and
birthright claims descent from them. The subject of the present memoir,
Christopher Carson, familiarly known under the appellation of Kit
Carson, is one of the most extraordinary men of the present era. His
fame has long been established throughout this country and Europe, as a
most skillful and intrepid hunter, trapper, guide, and pilot of the
prairies and mountains of the far West, and Indian fighter. But his
celebrity in these characters is far surpassed by that of his individual
personal traits of courage, coolness, fidelity, kindness, honor, and
friendship. The theatre of his exploits is extended throughout the whole
western portion of the territory of the United States, from the
Mississippi to the Pacific, and his associates have been some of the
most distinguished men of the present age, to all of whom he has become
an object of affectionate regard and marked respect. The narrative which
follows will show his titles to this distinction, so far as his modesty
(for the truly brave are always modest) has permitted the world to learn
anything of his history.
It appears, from the various declarations of those most intimate with
Christopher Carson, as well as from a biography published a number of
years before his death, that he was a native of Madison county,
Kentucky, and was born on the 24th of December, 1809. Colonel Fremont in
his exhaustive and interesting Report of his Exploring Expedition to
Oregon and North California, in 1843-44, says that Carson is a native
of Boonslick county, Missouri; and from his long association with the
hunter, he probably makes the statement on Carson's own authority. The
error, if it is an error, may have arisen from the fact stated by Mr.
Peters, that Carson's father moved from Kentucky to Missouri, when
Christopher was only one year old. He settled in what is now Howard
county, in the central part of Missouri.
At the time of Mr. Carson's emigration, Missouri was called Upper
Louisiana, being a part of the territory ceded to the United States by
France in 1803, and it became a separate State, under the name of
Missouri, in 1821. When Mr. Carson removed his family from Kentucky, and
settled in the new territory, it was a wild region, naturally fertile,
thus favoring his views as a cultivator; abounding in wild game, and
affording a splendid field of enterprise for the hunter, but infested on
all sides with Indians, often hostile, and always treacherous.
As Mr. Carson united the pursuits of farmer and hunter, and lived in a
sort of block-house or fort, as a precaution against the attacks of the
neighboring Indians, his son became accustomed to the presence of
danger, and the necessity of earnest action and industry from his
earliest childhood.
At the age of fifteen, Kit Carson was apprenticed to Mr. Workman, a
saddler. This trade requiring close confinement, was, of course, utterly
distasteful to a boy already accustomed to the use of the rifle, and the
stirring pleasures of the hunter's life, and at the end of two years,
his apprenticeship was terminated, for Kit, who, with his experience as
the son of a noted hunter, himself perfectly familiar with the rifle,
and, young as he was, acknowledged to be one of the best and surest
shots, even in that State, where such merit predominated at that time
over almost every other, could not bear in patience the silent,
sedentary monotony of his life, voluntarily abandoned the further
pursuit of the trade, and sought the more active employment of a
trader's life.
His new pursuit was more congenial. He joined an armed band of traders
in an expedition to Santa Fe, the capital of New Mexico. This, at that
period, (1826,) was rather a perilous undertaking, on account of the
Indian tribes who were ever ready to attack a trading caravan, when
there was any prospect of overcoming it. No attack was made on the
party, however, and no incident of importance occurred, if we except
the accident to one of the teamsters who wounded himself by carelessly
handling a loaded rifle, so as to render it necessary to amputate his
arm. In this operation Carson assisted, the surgical instruments being a
razor, an old saw, and an iron bolt, heated red hot, in order to apply
the actual cautery. Notwithstanding this rough surgery, the man
recovered.[A]
In November (1826) the party arrived at Santa Fe, the capital, and the
largest town in the then Mexican province of New Mexico. This place is
situated on the Rio Chiuto, or Santa Fe river, an affluent of the Rio
Grande, from which it is distant about 20 miles. It was then, as now,
the great emporium of the overland trade, which, since 1822, has been
carried on with the State of Missouri. The houses are chiefly built of
_adobes_, or unburnt bricks, each dwelling forming a square, with a
court in the centre upon which the apartments open. This mode of
building, originally Moorish, prevails in all the colonies settled by
the Spaniards, as well as in Old Spain, and the oriental countries. It
makes each house a sort of fortress, as General Taylor's troops learned
to their cost at the siege of Monterey. The front entrance of each
house is large enough to admit animals with their packs.
Santa Fe is well supplied with cool water from springs within its
limits, and from fountains above the city near the neighbouring
mountain. The appearance of the place is inviting and imposing, as it
stands on a plateau elevated more than 7000 feet above the sea, and near
a snow capped mountain, which rises 5000 feet above the level of the
town; but the population is said to be exceedingly depraved. The present
population is about 5000; but at the time of Carson's first visit, it
was comparatively a small town.
Soon after their arrival at Santa Fe, Carson left the trading band,
which he had joined when he abandoned the saddlery business, or trade,
as the reader may choose to term it, and of which we have previously
spoken, and proceeded to Fernandez de Taos. In this place Carson passed
the winter of 1826-7, at the house of a retired mountaineer. And it was
while residing there, that he acquired that thorough familiarity with
the Spanish language, which, in after years, proved of such essential
service to him. In the spring he joined a party bound for Missouri, but
meeting another band of Santa Fe traders, he joined them and returned
to that place. Here his services being no longer required by the
traders, he was again thrown out of employment. He now engaged himself
as teamster to a party bound to El Paso, a settlement, or more properly
a line of settlements, embracing a population of about 5,000, situated
in the rich, narrow valley which extends 9 or 10 miles along the right
bank of the Rio Grande, in the Mexican State of Chihuahua, 350 miles S.
by W. of Santa Fe. Here the grape is extensively cultivated, and
considerable quantities of light wine and brandy, (called by the traders
_Pass wine_ and _Pass brandy_,) are made. The houses are like those of
Santa Fe, built of _adobes_ with earthen floors. With abundance of
natural advantages, the people are content to live without those
appliances of civilized life, considered indispensable by the poorest
American citizens. Glazed windows, chairs, tables, knives and forks, and
similar every day conveniences are unknown even to the rich among the
people of El Paso. The place is the chief emporium of the trade between
New Mexico and Chihuahua, and its name, "the passage" is derived from
the passage of the river through a gorge or gap in the mountain just
above the town.
On his arrival at this place, young Carson might justly be considered
in view of his age, (not yet 18,) more than an ordinary traveler. He had
arrived at a spot where everything was strange to him. New people, new
customs, a new climate, a wine country, a population of mixed breed,
half Indian, half Spaniard--everything wearing a foreign aspect;
everything totally different from his home in Missouri.
He did not remain long in this place, but returned to Santa Fe, whence
he again found his way to Taos, where he passed the winter in the
service of Mr. Ewing Young, in the humble capacity of cook; this he soon
forsook for the more pleasant and profitable position of Spanish
interpreter to a trader named Tramell, with whom he, for the second
time, made the long journey to El Paso and Chihuahua.