Christopher Carson

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Christopher Carson

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Title: Christopher Carson
Author: John S. C. Abbott
Release Date: December 3, 2004 [eBook #14243]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
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CHRISTOPHER CARSON
Familiarly Known as Kit Carson
The Pioneer of the West
by
JOHN S. C. ABBOTT
With Illustrations by Eleanor Greatorex
New York: Dodd & Mead, No. 762 Broadway
1874

[Illustration]

Pioneers and Patriots of America
By JOHN S. C. ABBOTT
Each one volume, 12mo, illustrated, $1.50.
DANIEL BOONE
MILES STANDISH
FERDINAND DE SOTO
PETER STUYVESANT
KIT CARSON
DAVID CROCKETT.
Other Volumes in preparation

[Illustration]

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