The Life of Kit Carson: Hunter, Trapper, Guide, Indian Agent and Colonel U.S.A.
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CHAPTER XXVIII.
Retaliatory Measures--Fremont's Return to California--Capture of Sonoma--Sutter's Fort Placed Under Military Rule--Monterey Taken by Commodore Sloat--Capture of Los Angeles by Fremont and Commodore Stockton--Carson Sent East as a Bearer of Despatches--The Meeting with Apaches--General Kearney--Bravery of the California Mexicans.
The indignation over the action of the Indians was so great thatretaliatory measures were determined upon. Fremont moved around LakeKlamath until nearly opposite where his command had been attacked. Thefollowing morning, Carson and ten men were sent forward to searchfor the Indian village that was believed to be somewhere in theneighborhood. If the discovery could be made without detection on thepart of the Indians, Carson was instructed to signal to Fremont whowould hasten forward with reinforcements.
The mountaineer had not gone far, when he struck a broad, clear trail,which speedily carried him in sight of a village of some fifty lodges.As it was evident that the Indians had detected their danger, Carson andhis companions made an impetuous attack before which the red men fled inwildest panic. A number were shot, when, finding pursuit useless, Carsonreturned to the village where all the lodges were destroyed.
Because of the war with Mexico, Fremont decided to return to California.On his way thither, the Tlamath Indians continually dogged them and anumber of collisions followed, though none was of particular moment.After suffering many hardships, Lawson's Fort was reached and severaldays were spent in hunting, while Fremont awaited instructions as to thecourse he was to take in the war then going on between the United Statesand Mexico.
As the days went by without bringing him any despatches, he wearied ofinactivity and decided to assume the aggressive. Accordingly he senta force to a Mexican military post known as Sonoma, which with littletrouble was taken.
Fremont sent out a couple of messengers to inform the American settlersof what had taken place, but the messengers fell into the hands ofGeneral Castro who put both to death.
General Castro sent one of his captains, with quite a force to destroythe Americans, but the officer changed his mind when he found himselfin the neighborhood of the detested invaders. Fremont pursued him fornearly a week, and captured much of his stock and property, but theMexican was so skilful in retreating that he could not be brought to bayand Fremont returned to Sonoma.
The little force under Fremont now became the rallying point for theAmerican settlers, and before long the Captain had several hundred underhis command. Leaving a garrison at Sonoma, he marched to Sutter's Fort,which was placed under military rule, and then made his way towardMonterey with the purpose of capturing that town. On his arrival,however, he found the place had already been taken by CommodoreSloat and the American squadron. The Commodore leaving shortly after,Commodore Stockton succeeded him.
While at Sonoma, Fremont and his comrades had declared the independenceof California and adopted the Bear Flag, which was proffered toCommodore Sloat and the Star Spangled Banner hoisted over the camp.
As the Mexican General, Castro, was known to be at Los Angeles, Fremontasked for and obtained a ship on which his force was taken to SanDiego. Then with a much inferior force, he set out to give battle to theMexican leader; but the latter no sooner learned of his coming, thanhe fled with all his men. Finding it impossible to force him to givebattle, Fremont encamped near the town, where he waited until joined byCommodore Stockton and a company of marines.
The junction effected, they marched upon Los Angeles which immediatelyfell into their hands. Long before this, Fremont had become impressedwith the necessity of having some communication with Washington. Inone sense it may be said he was all at sea, for he was without positiveinstructions, at a critical period, when it was most important that hisline of policy should be clearly defined by his government.
But the matter of communicating with headquarters, thousands of milesaway, was infinitely more difficult and serious than it is today. Avast, wild, perilous and almost unknown tract stretched between thePacific and Atlantic, across which it required weeks and sometimesmonths for an express rider to make his way. To send despatches aroundCape Horn took a much longer time; but the necessity was so urgentthat Fremont sent Carson with fifteen picked men across the plains,instructing him to complete the journey if possible in sixty days.
Carson started in the middle of September, 1846, and by the exercise ofhis consummate skill he passed rapidly through a most dangerous sectionwithout running into any special danger until the third day. Then, whenin the neighborhood of the copper mines of New Mexico, he suddenly cameupon an encampment of Apaches, one of the most hostile tribes and themost daring of fighters in the whole southwest.
This was another of those critical occasions where Carson's wonderfulquickness of mind enabled him to make the right decision without asecond's delay. He understood the language, customs and peculiaritiesof the people, and he knew them to be splendid riders and tiger-likewarriors. The least evidence of timidity would invite an overwhelmingattack: a bold front and what may be called indomitable "cheek" were allthat was likely to take them through.
Telling his men to halt, Carson galloped forward until within a few rodsof the warriors, when he reined up and called out that he wished to holda parley with them. Thereupon, a number advanced to hear what he hadto say. The mountaineer stated that he and his friends were simplytravellers through the Apache country; while they were prepared for war,they desired peace, and as their animals were tired out they wished toexchange them for fresh ones. The Apaches expressed themselves satisfiedwith the proposal, and Carson carefully chose a camping site, where theycould best protect themselves against treachery. Then the exchange wasmade, both parties being so well satisfied that they parted with manyexpressions of good will.
It was impossible to carry any extended stock of provisions, the partydepending upon their rifles to supply their needs in that direction; butgame proved to be very scarce and they suffered much until they reachedthe first Mexican settlement. Although those people were at war with theUnited States, their friendship for Carson led them to supply abundantlyall the wants of himself and friends.
With unremitting diligence and skill, the party pushed on day after dayuntil the sixth of October, when, as they were riding across a treelessprairie, several moving specks were observed in the far horizon. As theycame closer, they resolved themselves into horsemen, and, with adelight which may be imagined, Carson speedily observed that they werea detachment of United States troops under the command of General S. W.Kearney, who was highly pleased to meet Carson.
The detachment was a strong one and was on its way to operate inCalifornia. After that officer had obtained all the important newsCarson had to give, he decided to send the despatches to Washington byanother, while he employed the mountaineer to guide him back.
This delicate duty was executed with such admirable skill that GeneralKearney commended Carson in the highest terms. So rapidly did they movethat California was entered early in December, and they were approachingSan Diego, when the scouts brought news that a large party of Mexicanswere intrenched a short distance ahead with the intention of disputingtheir advance. Fifteen men under Carson were sent forward to drive inthe outposts and capture such loose animals as could be found.
A fierce fight followed, the Mexicans showing far more daring and skillthan was expected. General Kearney was compelled to send two companiesof dragoons and twenty-five California volunteers to charge the enemy.Carson was in the front column, and was riding at high speed, when hishorse stumbled, throwing him so violently as to shatter the stock ofhis gun. He lay partly stunned but speedily recovering, he caught up therifle of a dead dragoon and rushed into the fight. Though the Mexicanswere finally driven out, they inflicted frightful loss on the Americans.Nearly every man who was in the front column, where Carson was ridingwhen his horse threw him, was killed by the deadly bullets of the enemy.
The Mexicans soon rallied and attacked the Americans with suchfierceness that the
advance guard was driven back and forced to act onthe defensive. No soldiers could have fought with greater gallantrythan did the assailants. Before the two mountain howitzers couldbe unlimbered, almost every man around them was shot down. Then theMexicans charged forward, lassoed the horses, captured one of the gunsand turned it on the Americans. From some cause or other it could notbe discharged. Finally, the Americans took refuge among the rocks, wherethey were surrounded by three or four times their number, seemingly withthe choice of two courses before them--to surrender or starve to death.