Category: Biographies

Life of Kit Carson, the Great Western Hunter and Guide

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...

Chapters

68. CHAPTER XXXIV.

Eighteen years had elapsed, full of eventful history--especially the last ten--since Carson had renounced the business of trapping, and of late there had been an almost irrepres...

56. CHAPTER XXII.

"_January 3._--A fog, so dense that we could not see a hundred yards, covered the country, and the men that were sent out after the horses were bewildered and lost; and we were...

54. CHAPTER XX.

Fremont succeeded, but not without much danger and suffering, in reaching the highest peak of the Rocky Mountains, and waved over it his country's flag, in triumph. The return t...

62. CHAPTER XXVIII.

On the 18th of October, Gen. Kearney took up his march from his camp upon the Rio Grande, having Christopher Carson for his guide, with instructions to lead the party by the mos...

64. CHAPTER XXX.

During the autumn of 1846, Fremont had had no time to visit his Mariposa purchase; but in the winter, while at Los Angelos, inviting Carson and Godey and two of his Delaware Ind...

58. CHAPTER XXIV.

Carson had passed the autumn and winter with his family, in the society of old companions, amid various incidents amusing to the reader if they were detailed, because so unlike...

63. CHAPTER XXIX.

Events transpire rapidly when a country is in a state of revolution. Early in March of '46 the little party of explorers received the "first hostile message" from General Castro...

49. CHAPTER XV.

In the spring, Kit Carson proposed a different plan of operations; he went to hunt on the streams in the vicinage of his winter's camp with only a single companion. The Utah Ind...

48. CHAPTER XIV.

With fresh animals, and men well fed and rested, McCoy and Carson and all their party soon started from Fort Hall, for the rendezvous again upon Green River, where they were det...

57. CHAPTER XXIII.

"We had hard and doubtful labor yet before us, as the snow appeared to be heavier where the timber began further down, with few open spots. Ascending a height, we traced out the...

67. CHAPTER XXXIII.

Arriving again in Taos, to carry into effect at once, the resolution he had formed of establishing for himself a permanent home, he joined his old friend Maxwell in the purpose...

40. CHAPTER VI.

Peters, in his "Life of Carson," tells the story of two expeditions which Carson led against the Indians, while they trapped upon the Sacramento, which give proof of his courage...

52. CHAPTER XVIII.

The encampment of the party on the 4th of July, was a few miles from where the road crosses over to the north fork of the Platte, where a grand dinner was prepared, toasts drank...

65. CHAPTER XXXI.

In the last chapter, we left Fremont in the hospitable mansion of his old and tried friend Carson, after one of the most extraordinary journeys ever performed by any man who sur...

41. CHAPTER VII.

During this brief tarry at Los Angelos, Carson had not been idle, but entirely without thought that his confidence could be deemed presumption, arranging his dress with as much...

51. CHAPTER XVII.

Leaving the river bottom, the road which was the Oregon trail, past Fort Laramie,--ran along the uplands, over a rolling country, upon which were scattered many boulders of red...

37. CHAPTER III.

Carson's previous habits and pursuits had eminently qualified him to become an useful and even a distinguished member of Mr. Young's company of trappers. He had lived in the mid...

43. CHAPTER IX.

In the spring of 1832, Mr. Gaunt's party had been unsuccessful, and were now upon a stream where there was no beaver, therefore Carson announced his intention of hunting on his...

47. CHAPTER XIII.

Through the country we have thus briefly described, Carson and his men had trapped taking some small game, intending to return late in the season when the cold of this high alti...

59. CHAPTER XXV.

The record of Fremont and Carson's journey through this region of country, already so thoroughly explored at such great hazard, and accompanied with such unheard-of sufferings,...

53. CHAPTER XIX.

As our explorers advanced, one of the most prominent features of the country was the abundance of artemisia growing everywhere, on the hills and in the river bottoms, in twisted...

39. CHAPTER V.

No climate could be more congenial to a full flow of animal spirits, than this region, where, upon the vegetation of the rich black soil--often twenty feet deep--game of the bet...

36. CHAPTER II.

Chihuahua, where Carson had now arrived, is the capital of the Mexican province bearing the same name. It is situated on a small tributary of the Conchos river, in the midst of...

55. CHAPTER XXI.

The difficulty, in view of the approaching winter season, of supporting a large party, determined Fremont to send back a number of the men who had become satisfied that they wer...

66. CHAPTER XXXII.

"At last we are drawn to the necessity of killing our brave horses for food. To-day the first sacrifice was made. It was with us all a solemn event, rendered far more solemn how...

35. 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...

44. CHAPTER X.

The Spring hunt opened on the Green river, and continuing there a while, the party went to the Big Snake; and after trapping with extraordinary success for a few weeks, returned...

46. CHAPTER XII.

Capt. McCoy had calculated that he would soon find game in the country through which his route lay, and therefore he had turned over to Carson, and the division of the party und...

45. CHAPTER XI.

Early in the summer the grass is green, but later it is hay made naturally, root and branch dried on the ground--there is no sod--and this, though less agreeable, is more nutrit...

60. CHAPTER XXVI.

Those who have not been in similar dangers cannot properly appreciate the feelings of the survivors, as they watched with their dead and performed for them the last sad rites. F...

42. CHAPTER VIII.

While on the Colorado, Young's party discovered a company of Indians, (with whom they had had a previous skirmish,) as they were coming out from Los Angelos, and charging sudden...

50. CHAPTER XVI.

Fremont was delayed several days at Chouteau's Landing, by the state of the weather, which prevented the necessary astronomical observations, but finally all his arrangements be...

38. CHAPTER IV

Only familiarity with one of like character, by actually seeing it, can give a just idea of the country through which they were traveling. Livingston's descriptions of localitie...

61. CHAPTER XXVII.

With Carson as his constant adviser, as he was now his acknowledged friend, Fremont here obtained the use of the ship Cyanne, to convey himself and his command to San Diego, whe...

15. 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 sho...

1. 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 appren...

14. 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 -- Car...

18. 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 -- tri...

22. 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 -- talk...

19. 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 expl...

8. 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_, travel...

17. 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 fro...

2. 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...

3. 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 thei...

23. 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, m...

9. 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 --...

21. 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 loo...

30. 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 -- encounte...

26. 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 settle...

10. 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 --...

13. 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 o...

28. 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 -- reinforceme...

12. 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 -- Fourt...

11. 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 --...

20. 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 descrip...

25. 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...

27. 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 Indian...

34. 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 Mexic...

24. 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 Sa...

5. 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

16. 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 --...

7. CHAPTER VII.

32. CHAPTER XXXII.

29. CHAPTER XXIX.

6. CHAPTER VI.

4. CHAPTER IV.

31. CHAPTER XXXI.

33. CHAPTER XXXIII.