Christopher Carson by John S. C. Abbott

Christopher Carson by John S. C. Abbott 1805-1877


PREFACE


It is a prominent object of this volume to bring to light the wild
adventures of the pioneers of this continent, in the solitudes of the
mountains, the prairies and the forests; often amidst hostile Indians, and
far away from the restraints and protection of civilization. This strange,
weird-like life is rapidly passing away, before the progress of
population, railroads and steamboats. But it is desirable that the memory
of it should not drift into oblivion. I think that almost every reader of
this narrative will be somewhat surprised, in its development of the
character of Christopher Carson. With energy and fearlessness
never surpassed, he was certainly one of the most gentle, upright, and
lovable of men. It is strange that the wilderness could have formed so
estimable a character. America will not permit the virtues of so
illustrious a son to be forgotten.

JOHN S.C. ABBOTT.




CONTENTS.


CHAPTER I.

Early Training.

Birth of Christopher Carson.--Perils of the Wilderness.--Necessary
Cautions.--Romance of the Forest.--The Far West.--The
Encampment.--The Cabin and the Fort.--Kit an Apprentice.--The
Alarm.--Destruction of a Trading Band.--The Battle and the
Flight.--Sufferings of the Fugitives.--Dreadful Fate of Mr.
Schenck.--Features of the Western Wilderness.--The March.


CHAPTER II.

Life in the Wilderness.

A Surgical Operation.--A Winter with Kin Cade.--Study of the
Languages and Geography.--Return towards Missouri.--Engagement with
a new Company and Strange Adventures.--The Rattlesnake.--Anecdote
of Kit Carson.--The Sahara.--New Engagements.--Trip to El
Paso.--Trapping and Hunting.--Prairie Scenery.--The Trapper's
Outfit.--Night Encampment.--Testimony of an Amateur Hunter.


CHAPTER III.

Among the Trappers.

The Discomfited Trappers.--The New Party Organized.--A Battle with
the Indians.--Trapping on the Colorado.--March to the
Sacramento.--The Friendly Indians.--Crossing the Desert.--Instinct
of the Mule.--The Enchanting Valley of the Colorado.--The Mission
of San Gabriel.--Vast Herds of Cattle.--The Mission of San
Fernando.--Adventures in the Valley of San Joaquin.--The Meeting of
two Trapping Bands.--Reasons for Kit Carson's Celebrity.--A
Military Expedition.--The Indian Horse Thieves.--The Pursuit and
Capture.


CHAPTER IV.

Conflicts with the Indians.

The American Trapper.--The Trapper of the Hudson's Bay
Company.--The Return Trip.--Polished Life in the Wilderness.--The
Spanish Gentlemen.--Council of the Trappers.--Self-possession of
Kit Carson.--The Camp Cleared of Intruders.--Robbing the
Robbers.--Sale of the Furs.--Mr. Fitzpatrick's Expedition.--Pains
and Pleasures of Rocky Mountain Life.--Pursuit of Indian Horse
Thieves.--Extraordinary Battle.


CHAPTER V.

Marches and Encampments.

The Encampment Among the Rocky Mountains.--The Attempted
Stampede.--Retreat and Pursuit by the Savages.--The Alarm.--Loss
of the Horses.--Their Recovery.--Enterprise of Kit Carson.--Fight
with the Indians.--The Litter for the Wounded.--Union of the two
Trapping Parties.--Successful Return to Taos.--Carson joins a
Trading Party.--Chivalric Adventures.--Attacked by Bears.


CHAPTER VI.

The Rendezvous.

Fair in the Wilderness.--The Encampment.--Dispersion of the
Trappers.--Hostility of the Blackfeet.--Camp on the Big Snake
River.--The Blackfeet Marauders.--The Pursuit.--The Calumet.--The
Battle.--Kit Carson wounded.--The Rencontre with Shunan.--The
Defeat and Humiliation of Shunan.--Remarkable Modesty of
Carson.--Testimony to Mr. Carson's Virtues.


CHAPTER VII.

War with the Blackfeet Indians.

Unsuccessful Trapping.--Disastrous March to Fort Hall.--The Feast
upon Horse-flesh.--The Hunting Expedition.--Its Rare
Attractions.--Dogged by the Blackfeet.--Safe Arrival at the
Fort.--All their Animals Stolen by the Indians.--Expedition to the
Blackfeet Country.--Winter Quarters with the Friendly
Indians.--Sufferings of the Animals.--Return to the Blackfeet
Country.--Battle with the Indians.--Incidents of the Battle.


CHAPTER VIII.

Encampments and Battles.

The Renewal of the Battle.--Peculiarities of the Fight.--The
Rout.--Encampment in the Indian Village.--Number of Trappers among
the Mountains.--The New Rendezvous.--Picturesque Scene of the
Encampment.--The Missionary and the Nobleman.--Brown's Hole.--The
Navajoes.--Kit Carson Purveyor at the Fort.--Trapping at the Black
Hills.--Again upon the Yellowstone.--Pleasant Winter
Quarters.--Signs of the Indians.--Severe Conflict.--Reappearance
of the Indians.--Their utter Discomfiture.


CHAPTER IX.

The Trapper's Elysium.

Trapping on the Missouri.--Attacked by the Blackfeet.--The
Battle.--Persevering Hostility of the Indians.--The Trappers
driven from the Country.--Repair to the North Fork.--Cheerful
Encampments.--Enchanting Scene.--Village of the Flatheads.--The
Blessings of Peace.--Carson's Knowledge of Languages.--Pleasant
Winter Quarters on the Big Snake River.--Successful
Trapping.--Winter at Brown's Hole.--Trip to Fort Bent.--Peculiar
Characters.--Williams and Mitchel.--Hunter at Fort
Bent.--Marriage.--Visit to the States.


CHAPTER X.

Fremont's Expedition.

Carson's Visit to his Childhood's Home.--On the
Steamer.--Introduction to Fremont.--Object of Fremont's
Expedition.--Joins the Expedition.--Organization of the Party.--The
Encampment.--Enchanting View.--Fording the Kansas.--The Stormy
Night.--The Boys on Guard.--The Alarm.--The Returning
Trappers.--The Homeless Adventurer.--Three Indians join the
Party.--First sight of the Buffaloes.--The Chase.


CHAPTER XI.

The Return of the Expedition.

Beautiful Prairie Scene.--Fate of the Buffalo Calf.--Vast Buffalo
Herds.--The Fourth of July on the Plains.--Journey up the South
Fork of the Platte.--Visit to Fort St. Vrain.--Remonstrance of the
Chiefs.--Second Marriage of Mr. Carson.--New Engagements.--Perilous
Ride to Santa Fe.--The Successful Mission.--The Noble Mexican
Boy.--Conflict with the Savages.--Discomfiture of the
Indians.--Fremont's Second Expedition.--Carson joins the
Party.--Course of the Expedition.--Arrival at the Great Salt Lake.


CHAPTER XII.

Marches and Battles.

Entering the Lake.--Dangerous Navigation.--The Return to
Camp.--Feast upon Horse Flesh.--Meeting the Indians.--Joyful
Meeting.--Return to Fort Hall.--Feasting at the Fort.--The Party
Diminished.--The Journey down Snake River.--Crossing the Sierra
Nevada.--Carson Rescues Fremont.--Fort Sutter.--Heroic Achievement
of Carson.--Disbanding the Party.--The third Expedition.--Crossing
the Desert.--Threatened by the Mexicans.--Fight with the
Indians.--The Surprise.--Chastisement of the Indians.


CHAPTER XIII.

The Dispatch Bearer.

Colonel Fremont.--Hazardous Undertaking of Kit Carson.--Carson's
Courage and Prudence.--Threatened Danger.--Interview with General
Kearney, and Results.--Severe Skirmish.--Wonderful Escape of
Carson.--Daring Adventure.--Fearful Suffering.--Lieutenant
Beale.--Carson's Journey to Washington.--Adventures on his Return.


CHAPTER XIV.

The Chivalry of the Wilderness.

Injustice of the Government.--Heroic Resolve of Mr. Carson.--Indian
Outrages.--The valley of Razado.--Barbaric Murders by Apaches.--An
Exciting Chase.--An Attractive Picture.--Plot of Fox
Overthrown.--Gift of Messrs. Brevoort and Weatherhead.--Adventure
with the Cheyennes.


CHAPTER XV.

Recollections of Mountain Life.

Character of the Native Indian.--The Caravan.--Interesting
Incident.--Effects of Cholera.--Commission of Joe Smith.--Snow on
the Mountains.--Government Appointment.--Adventure with three
Bears.--Journey to Los Angelos.--Mt. St. Bernardino.--The
Spring.--Character of Men.--Insubordination Quelled.--Suffering
for Water and Relief.--A Talk with Indians.


CHAPTER XVI.

Recollections of Mountain Life.

Position of The Spring.--The Cache.--Kit Carson's Character and
Appearance.--Cool Bravery of a Mountain Trapper.--Untamed Character
of Many Hunters.--The Surveyor's Camp in an Indian
Territory.--Terrors from Indians.--Joe Walker.--A Mountain
Man.--Soda Lake.--Optical Illusion.--Camp on Beaver Lake.--The
Piyute Chief.--Conversation with Him.--An Alarm.--A Battle.


CHAPTER XVII.

Frontier Desperadoes and Savage Ferocity.

Original Friendliness of the Indians.--The River Pirates, Culbert
and Magilbray.--Capture of Beausoliel.--His Rescue by the Negro
Cacasotte.--The Cave in the Rock.--The Robber Mason.--His
Assassination.--Fate of the Assassins.--Hostility of the
Apaches.--Expedition of Lieutenant Davidson.--Carson's Testimony in
his Favor.--Flight of the Apaches.


CHAPTER XVIII.

The Last Days of Kit Carson.

The Hunting Party.--Profits of Sheep Raising.--Governmental
Appointment.--Carson's Talk with the Apaches.--His Home in
Taos.--His Character.--Death of Christopher Carson.


CHAPTER XIX.

The Last Hours of Kit Carson.




CHRISTOPHER CARSON.




CHAPTER I.

Early Training.

Birth of Christopher Carson.--Perils of the Wilderness.--Necessary
Cautions.--Romance of the Forest.--The Far West.--The
Encampment.--The Cabin and the Fort.--Kit an Apprentice.--The
Alarm.--Destruction of a Trading Band.--The Battle and the
Flight.--Sufferings of the Fugitives.--Dreadful Fate of Mr.
Schenck.--Features of the Western Wilderness.--The March.


Christopher Carson, whose renown as Kit Carson has reached almost every
ear in the country, was born in Madison county, Kentucky, on the 24th of
December, 1809. Large portions of Kentucky then consisted of an almost
pathless wilderness, with magnificent forests, free from underbrush, alive
with game, and with luxuriant meadows along the river banks, inviting the
settler's cabin and the plough.

There were then many Indians traversing those wilds. The fearless
emigrants, who ventured to rear their huts in such solitudes, found it
necessary ever to be prepared for an attack.

But very little reliance could be placed even in the friendly
protestations of the vagabond savages, ever prowling about, and almost as
devoid of intelligence or conscience, as the wolves which at midnight were
heard howling around the settler's door. The family of Mr. Carson occupied
a log cabin, which was bullet-proof, with portholes through which their
rifles could command every approach. Women and children were alike taught
the use of the rifle, that in case of an attack by any blood-thirsty gang,
the whole family might resolve itself into a military garrison. Not a tree
or stump was left, within musket shot of the house, behind which an Indian
could secrete himself.

Almost of necessity, under these circumstances, any bright, active boy
would become a skilful marksman. A small garden was cultivated where corn,
beans and a few other vegetables were raised, but the main subsistence of
the family consisted of the game with which forest, meadow and lake were
stored. The settler usually reared his cabin upon the banks of some stream
alive with fishes. There were no schools to take up the time of the boys;
no books to read. Wild geese, ducks and other water fowl, sported upon the
bosom of the river or the lake, whose waters no paddle wheel or even keel
disturbed. Wild turkeys, quails, and pigeons at times, swept the air like
clouds. And then there was the intense excitement of occasionally bringing
down a deer, and even of shooting a ferocious grizzly bear or wolf or
catamount. The romance of the sea creates a Robinson Crusoe. The still
greater romance of the forest creates a Kit Carson. It often makes even an
old man's blood thrill in his veins, to contemplate the wild and wondrous
adventures, which this majestic continent opened to the pioneers of half a
century ago.

Gradually, in Kentucky, the Indians disappeared, either dying off, or
pursuing their game in the unexplored realms nearer the setting sun.
Emigrants, from the East, in large numbers entered the State. Game, both
in forest and meadow, became scarce; and the father of Kit Carson, finding
settlers crowding him, actually rearing their huts within two or three
miles of his cabin, abandoned his home to find more room in the still more
distant West.

Christopher was then the youngest child, a babe but one year old. The
wilderness, west of them, was almost unexplored. But Mr. Carson, at his
blazing fireside, had heard from the Indians, and occasionally from some
adventurous white hunter, glowing accounts of the magnificent prairies,
rivers, lakes and forests of the far West, reposing in the solitude and
the silence which had reigned there since the dawn of the creation.

There were no roads through the wilderness. The guide of the emigrants was
the setting sun. Occasionally they could take advantage of some Indian
trail, trodden hard by the moccasined feet of the savages, in single file,
through countless generations. Through such a country, the father of Kit
Carson commenced a journey of several hundred miles, with his wife and
three or four children, Kit being an infant in arms. Unfortunately we are
not informed of any of the particulars of this journey. But we know, from
numerous other cases, what was its general character.

It must have occupied two or three weeks. All the family went on foot,
making about fifteen miles a day. They probably had two pack horses, laden
with pots and kettles, and a few other essential household and farming
utensils. Early in the afternoon Mr. Carson would begin to look about for
a suitable place of encampment for the night. He would find, if possible,
the picturesque banks of some running stream, where there was grass for
his horses, and a forest growth to furnish him with wood for his cabin and
for fire. If the weather were pleasant, with the prospect of a serene and
cloudless night, a very slight protection would be reared, and the weary
family, with a buffalo robe spread on the soft grass for a blanket, would
sleep far more sweetly in the open air, than most millionaires sleep in
tapestried halls and upon beds of down.

If clouds were gathering and menacing winds were wailing through the
tree-tops, the vigorous arm of Mr. Carson, with his sharp axe, would, in
an hour, rear a camp which could bid defiance to any ordinary storm. The
roof would be so thatched, with bark and long grass, as to be quite
impenetrable by the rain. Buffalo robes, and a few of the soft and
fragrant branches of the hemlock tree, would create a couch which a prince
might envy. Perhaps, as they came along, they had shot a turkey or a brace
of ducks, or a deer, from whose fat haunches they have cut the tenderest
venison. Any one could step out with his rifle and soon return with a
supper.

While Mr. Carson, with his eldest son, was building the camp, the eldest
girl would hold the baby, and Mrs. Carson would cook such a repast of
dainty viands, as, when we consider the appetites, Delmonico never
furnished. It was life in the "Adirondacks," with the additional advantage
that those who were enjoying it, were inured to fatigue, and could have no
sense of discomfort, from the absence of conveniences to which they were
accustomed.

If in the darkness of midnight, the tempest rose and roared through the
tree-tops, with crushing thunder, and floods of rain, the family was
lulled to sounder sleep by these requiems of nature, or awoke to enjoy the
sublimity of the scene, whose grandeur those in lowly life are often able
fully to appreciate, though they may not have language with which to
express their emotions.

The family crossed the Mississippi river, we know not how, perhaps in the
birch canoe of some friendly Indian, perhaps on a raft, swimming the
horses. They then continued their journey two hundred miles farther west,
till they reached a spot far enough from neighbors and from civilization
to suit the taste even of Mr. Carson. This was at the close of the year
1810. There was no State or even Territory of Missouri then. But seven
years before, in 1803, France had ceded to the United States the vast
unexplored regions, whose boundaries even, were scarcely defined, but
which were then called Upper Louisiana.

Here Mr. Carson seems to have reached a very congenial home. He found,
scattered through the wilderness, a few white people, trappers, hunters,
wanderers who had preceded him. The Indians, in numerous bands, as hunters
and as warriors, were roving these wilds. They could not be relied upon,
whatever their friendly professions. Any wrong which they might receive
from any individual white man, their peculiar code of morals told them
they might rightly attempt to redress by wreaking their vengeance upon any
pale face, however innocent he might be. Thus hundreds of Indian warriors
might, at any time, come swooping down upon Mr. Carson's cabin, laying it
in ashes, and burying their tomahawks in the brains of his family.

The few white men, some half a dozen in number, who had gathered around
Mr. Carson, deemed it expedient for self-defence to unite and build a
large log cabin, which should be to them both a house and a fort. This
building of logs, quite long and but one story high, was pierced, at
several points, with portholes, through which the muzzles of the rifles
could be thrust. As an additional precaution they surrounded this house
with palisades, consisting of sticks of timber, six or eight inches in
diameter, and about ten feet high, planted as closely as possible
together. These palisades were also pierced with portholes.


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