CARSON, THE NESTOR OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS, FROM FACTS NARRATED BY
HIMSELF***


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THE LIFE AND ADVENTURES OF KIT CARSON, THE NESTOR OF THE ROCKY
MOUNTAINS, FROM FACTS NARRATED BY HIMSELF

by

DE WITT C. PETERS, M.D.,
Late Assistant Surgeon U.S.A.

With Original Illustrations, Drawn by Lumley,
Engraved by N. Orr & Co.

New York:
W.R.C. Clark & Co.,
348 Broadway.
W.H. Tinson, Stereotyper and Printer,
Rear of 43 & 45 Centre Street, N.Y.

MDCCCLVIII







  "All are but parts of one stupendous whole,
  Whose body nature is, and God the soul."




[Illustration: KIT AND HIS FAVORITE HORSE "APACHE."]




TO

COL. CERAN ST. VRAIN,

OF NEW MEXICO.


DEAR SIR,

You were first among the brave mountaineers to discover and direct the
manly energy, extraordinary natural ability, and unyielding courage
which have attached to the subject of this volume; and, as among the
first Americans who put foot on the Rocky Mountains, you are perhaps
best acquainted with the history of the men, who, for fifty years,
have lived there. CHRISTOPHER CARSON, after a long life, now crowned
with successful and honorable achievements, still looks upon you,
sir, as his earliest patron, and places your name on the list of his
warmest friends. Through a life of unusual activity and duration,
which, reflecting honor and renown upon your name, has given you a
distinguished position among your countrymen, you have never been
known to forget a duty to your fellow man.

For these considerations, the dedication of this volume to you cannot
but appear appropriate. That he may continue to merit a place in your
confidence and esteem is the earnest desire of

THE AUTHOR.

       *       *       *       *       *




FERNANDEZ DE TAOS, NEW MEXICO.

SIR:

We, the undersigned citizens of the Territory of New Mexico, have been
acquainted with Mr. CHRISTOPHER CARSON for a number of years, indeed
almost from the time of his first arrival in the country. We have been
his companions both in the mountains and as a private citizen. We are
also acquainted with the fact that for the past few months, during his
leisure hours, he has been engaged dictating his life. This is, to
our certain knowledge, the only authentic biography of himself and his
travels that has ever been written. We heartily recommend THIS BOOK
to the reading community for perusal, as it presents a life out of the
usual routine of business, and is checkered with adventures which
have tried this bold and daring man. We are cognizant of most of the
details of the book, and vouch for their accuracy.

Very respectfully,

CERAN ST. VRAIN, LIEUT. COL. N.M. VOLUNTEERS.

CHARLES BEAUBIEN, LATE CIRCUIT JUDGE.




THE AUTHOR'S PREFACE.


The pages here presented to the public form a book of facts. They
unfold for the student, as does no other work yet extant, the great
interior wilderness of the territories belonging to the United States.
The scenic views, though plainly  and wrought by the hand of
an unpretending artist, inasmuch as they portray a part of the North
American continent which is unsurpassed by any other country on the
face of the earth, will not fail to interest the American public. In
addition to this, the reader is introduced to an intimate acquaintance
with the Indian races of the countries which He east and west of the
Rocky Mountains. The savage warrior and hunter is presented, stripped
of all the decorations with which writers of fiction have dressed
him. He is seen in his ferocity and gentleness, in his rascality and
nobility, in his boyhood, manhood, and old age, and in his wisdom and
ignorance. The attentive reader will learn of his approximations to
truth, his bundle of superstitions, his acts at home and on the war
path, his success while following the buffalo and engaging the wild
Rocky Mountain bear, that terror of the western wilderness. He will
also behold him carrying devastation to the homes of the New Mexican
settlers, and freely spilling their best blood to satiate a savage
revenge. He will see him attacking and massacring parties of the white
men traveling across the prairies, and trace him in his savage wars
with the early settlers and frontiersmen.

In order to acquire these important _data_ that they might be added
to the pages of American history and form a reliable record, it was
necessary that some brave, bold and determined man should become an
actor on the scenes and among the races described. Such an actor
has been, and yet is, Christopher Carson, the Nestor of the Rocky
Mountains; and, it is the experience, as well as the acts, of his
stirring life, which the following pages present.

In olden times there existed, in the Rocky Mountains, a race
familiarly known by the name of "Trappers and Hunters." They are now
almost extinct. Their history has not yet been written. Pen paintings,
drawn from the imagination, founded upon distant views of their
exploits and adventures, have occasionally served, as do legends,
to "adorn a tale." The volume now offered to the public, gives their
history as related by one whose name as a trapper and hunter of the
"Far West," stands second to none; by a man, who, for fifteen years,
saw not the face of a white woman, or slept under a roof; who, during
those long years, with his rifle alone, killed over two thousand
buffalo, between four and five thousand deer, antelope and elk,
besides wild game, such as bears, wild turkeys, prairie chickens,
etc., etc. in numbers beyond calculation. On account of their
originality, daring and interest, the real facts, concerning this race
of trappers and hunters, will be handed down to posterity as matters
belonging to history.

As is the case with the Indian, the race of the "Simon Pure Trapper"
is nearly run. The advance of civilization, keeping up its untiring
march to the westward, is daily encroaching upon their wild haunts and
bringing the day close at hand when warrior and trapper will depart
forever to their "Happy Hunting Grounds."

With the extinction of the great fur companies, the trappers of "Olden
Time" disbanded and separated.

The greatest number of these men, to be found at the present day,
reside in the Territory of New Mexico; which, in the time of their
prosperity, was the country where they located their head quarters. In
this Territory, Christopher Carson now resides. His name, in the Rocky
Mountains, has been familiarly known for more than a quarter of a
century; and, from its association with the names of great explorers
and military men, is now spread throughout the civilized world. It has
been generally conceded, and the concession has become strengthened
by time, that no small share of the benefits derived from these
explorations and campaigns, as well as the safety of the commands
themselves, was and is due to the sagacity, skill, experience,
advice and labor of Christopher Carson. The exploring parties, and
expeditions here referred to, are those which he accompanied in the
capacity of chief guide and adviser.

His sober habits, strict honor, and great regard for truth, have
endeared him to all who can call him friend; and, among such may be
enumerated names belonging to some of the most distinguished men whose
deeds are recorded on the pages of American history. His past life has
been a mystery which this book will unveil. Instead of Kit Carson as
by imagination--a bold braggart and reckless, improvident hero of the
rifle--he will appear a retired man, and one who is very reserved in
his intercourse with others. This fact, alone, will account for the
difficulty which has hitherto attended presenting the public with an
accurate history of his life.

A few years since, the writer of this work first met Christopher
Carson. It needed neither a second introduction, nor the assistance of
a friendly panegyric, to enable him to discover in Christopher Carson
those traits of manhood, which are esteemed by the great and good to
be distinguishing ornaments of character. This acquaintance ripened
into a friendship of the purest stamp. Since then, the writer has been
the intimate friend and, companion of Christopher Carson, at his home,
in the wild scenes of the chase, on the war trail, and upon the field
of battle. For a long period, in common with hundreds--and, we might
with truth add, thousands, the writer has desired to see Christopher
Carson's wonderful career made public for the world of readers; but,
while this idea