The Old Santa Fe Trail: The Story of a Great Highway
Chapter 3
EARLY TRADERS. Captain Becknell's Expedition--Sufferings from Thirst--Auguste Chouteau--Imprisonment of McKnight and Chambers--The Caches-- Stampeding Mules--First Military Escort across the Plains-- Captain Zebulon Pike--Sublette and Smith--Murder of McNess-- Indians not the Aggressors.