The Life and Adventures of Kit Carson, the Nestor of the Rocky Mountains, from Facts Narrated by HimselfPeters, De Witt C. (De Witt Clinton)
History
The Life and Adventures of Kit Carson, the Nestor of the Rocky Mountains, from Facts Narrated by Himself
Peters, De Witt C. (De Witt Clinton)
Carson Kit, 1809-1868; Frontier and pioneer life -- West (U.S.)
Much has been written and said about this sad affair, and much unjust
calumny has been heaped upon the head of the leader of the expedition;
therefore, the opinion of Kit Carson in reference to the matter may
not be out of place; hence, we give it word for word. "I am certain"
says Kit Carson, "that if the Indians had been charged immediately on
our arrival, Mrs. White would have been saved. At first, the savages
were much confused at our approach, and I do not hesitate to say that
she saw us as quick as any one of the redskins did, for it undoubtedly
was the all absorbing topic of her mind that her rescue would be
attempted by her friends and countrymen. On seeing us coming, she
had attempted to run towards us, when she was shot down. Had she been
liberated, she could not have long survived the brutality, hardships
and vicissitudes she had experienced. Words cannot describe the bitter
cup that she had been obliged to drink during her captivity. It was
the will of Providence that, having suffered like a martyr on earth,
she should be taken to himself before we arrived to where her remains
lay; upon coming upon which, we shed tears at thus being defeated in
what had been our cherished hopes even had it cost some of us our own
lives."
By this language it can be readily seen that Kit Carson regretted the
failure of this attempt made to rescue Mrs. White as deeply as any
one, either in the expedition, or among her friends at the home from
which she had so recently, in health and happiness, been torn. "Yet I
cannot," says Kit Carson, "blame the commanding officer, or the other
guide, for the action they took in the affair. They evidently did as
they thought best, but I have no doubt that they now can see, that
if my advice had been taken, the life of Mrs. White might have been
spared for at least a short period." This expedition was far from
being a failure, for the Indians lost all their provisions, camp
equipage and a few animals. Many of these savages ran away leaving
behind them everything they possessed in the world, except the scanty
amount of clothing they had on.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account