The Life of Kit Carson: Hunter, Trapper, Guide, Indian Agent and Colonel U.S.A.
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CHAPTER XXXI.
Hostility of the Apaches--Colonel Beale Sends an Expedition Against Them--Nothing Accomplished--Colonel Beale Leads an Expedition with Carson as Guide--Capture and Release of Two Chiefs--March to the Arkansas--Another Failure--Carson and Maxwell Build a Ranche--Fremont's Fourth Expedition--The Murderous Apaches--A Fruitless Pursuit.
Kit Carson was one of those whose destiny seems to be that of stirringincident and adventure. No man possessed such an intimate knowledge ofthe manners, customs and peculiarities of the tribes in the southwest,and with his exceptional woodcraft, skill and high courage his serviceswere always indispensable.
While he was at Taos, the Indians around him were restless until thewhole country was seething and on the verge of a general revolt.Colonel Beale, commanding officer of the district, had established hisheadquarters at Taos. The Apaches committed so many outrages that hebelieved the only course open was to administer a thorough chastisement;but it was tenfold easier to reach such a conclusion than it was tocarry it out. A strong force having been despatched to bring them toaccount, pursued them to the mountains from which they were compelled toreturn without accomplishing anything at all. The subsequent history ofthese Apaches and of General Crook's campaign against them arefamiliar enough to all to justify the declaration that they have proventhemselves the bravest and most formidable tribe that has defied theUnited States government during the past half century.
Disappointed that the officer whom he sent failed to do anything,Colonel Beale took command himself and employed Kit Carson as guide.Instead of stopping in the mountains because they were blocked withsnow, as the former expedition had done, Colonel Beale forced his waywith great difficulty through them. The search for the Indians was longbut fruitless. The cunning red skins were at home in their fastnessesand not a solitary warrior was bagged.
As the supply of provisions was running low, Colonel Beale was forced toreturn and retrace his steps. On their return, they came upon a villageof Apaches into which the soldiers charged; but the nimble warriorseasily got away, with the exception of a couple of chiefs who fell intothe hands of the Americans. Hoping to rouse the chivalry and gratitudeof their nature, Colonel Beale lectured them kindly and after theirpromise to behave themselves, allowed them to depart. As soon as theywere beyond rifle shot, they must have grinned with exultation, for itwas not their nature to repay kindness with anything but cruelty.
As Colonel Beale could not accomplish anything during the winter months,he returned to Taos, where he remained until February, when, learningthat a large force of Indians were congregated on the Arkansas, with anumber of Mexican captives, he went thither intending to retake themby force, if they could not be secured by peaceable means. He had twocompanies of dragoons, and as before, engaged Carson as guide.
When he reached the Arkansas, he found himself confronted by twothousand Indians who had gathered to meet their agent and probably toconsult as to their future movements. The agent was present and was aman of practical sense and experience. He told Colonel Beale that itwould never do to demand the prisoners, for the Indians were in uglytemper and if aroused, would massacre the whole command. Colonel Bealehimself was resentful, and very much disposed to give the red menbattle, but he suffered himself to be dissuaded from carrying out hisoriginal purpose.
When Carson returned once more to Taos, he reflected that he wasapproaching middle life, and as he now had quite a family, he wasanxious to provide something for them. Though he had rendered servicesbeyond value to the United States government, and to differentindividuals, he had not received enough compensation to place themabove want should he become disabled. About this time, his old friend,Maxwell, proposed that they should build a ranch in a beautiful valleysome distance north of Taos. The site was a most charming one, though itwas so much exposed to the attack of Indians that until then no one haddared to settle there.
Handsome, roomy and substantial structures were erected, and many of themost enjoyable days of their lives were spent on this famous ranche. Itwould be a pleasant farewell to leave them there to end their daysin comfort and peace, but it was to be far otherwise with both andespecially with Carson.
In 1848-49, Colonel Fremont made a fourth exploring expedition acrossthe continent, he bearing all the expense, as he did in the case ofhis fifth expedition made in 1853. The fourth was an appalling failure,marked by an extremity of suffering that is incredible. The guideemployed was wholly ignorant and the command became entangled among thesnows of the mountains, where some of them lived not only on mulesbut on each other. The strongest lay down and died, and the horriblefeatures of Fremont's fourth expedition were only approached by thatof Lieutenant Strain on the Isthmus of Darien. When the few ghastlysurvivors staggered out of the mountains they tottered to Carson'sranche, where they received the kindest treatment from him who hadserved Fremont so faithfully on his former expeditions.
Carson had been on his ranche but a short time, when news reached him ofa most atrocious murder by the Apaches. A wealthy merchant was returningin his private carriage with his wife and child from the United Statesto Santa Fe. He was accompanied by a small escort and the wagon traincarrying his goods. When he believed all danger past, he hurried forwardwith his family, who were becoming tired of the journey.
At a point where there was no suspicion of danger, the Apaches firedupon the carriage, killing every one who accompanied it, including themerchant himself. The wife and child were made prisoners and carriedaway. Shortly after the little one was tomahawked and thrown into theriver.
When news of the outrage reached New Mexico, a party was hastilyorganized and started out in the hope of saving the woman and punishingthe wretches who had committed the murders. When Carson learned of whatwas contemplated, he offered his services. They were accepted, but muchto the surprise of his friends, he was given an inferior position. Itwas characteristic of the splendid scout that he did not show by word orlook that he felt the slightest resentment on account of the slight.
With a less skilful leader than himself, Carson galloped withthe company to the scene of the murder. The sight was frightfullysuggestive: pieces of harness, band boxes, trunks, strips of bloodstained clothing, and fragments of the carriage attested the untamableferocity of the Apaches who had swooped down on the doomed party like acyclone.
From that point the trail was taken and the infuriated mountaineersurged their steeds to the utmost, knowing the value of every hour andthat in the case of a fight with the Indians a surprise is half thebattle.
Day after day the pursuit was maintained until nearly two weeks had goneby, before the first glimpse of a warrior was obtained. The trail wasone of the worst imaginable, and, had the pursuers been less skilful,they would have been baffled almost from the first. At certain points,the Apaches would break up into parties of two or three that would takedifferent routes, reuniting at some place many miles beyond where waterwas known to be. This was done repeatedly, with a view of disconcertingany avengers who might take their trail, and it is a tribute to theability of the mountaineers that the cunning artifice failed, so far asthey were concerned, of its purpose.
At last the Apaches were descried in the distance. Carson was thefirst to discover them, he being some distance in advance. Knowing hownecessary it was to surprise them he shouted to his companions to chargeat once. Not doubting he would be followed, he dashed ahead with hishorse on a dead run, but looking over his shoulder when he had gone partway, he saw to his consternation he was alone.
Angered and impatient, he rode back to learn what it meant. The chiefguide had directed the men to wait as there was no doubt the Apachesdesired to hold a parley. It meant the next moment in the shape ofa bullet from the Indians which struck the leader in the breast andrendered him senseless. As soon as he recovered, he ordered his men tomake the attack and leave him to himself.
He was obeyed, but the delay was fatal. On charging into the camp theywere able to kill only one warrior. The body of the woman was f
oundstill warm, showing that she had been slain only a brief while before.
All those acquainted with the particulars of this sad affair agreed thathad the advice of Carson been followed the poor lady might have beensaved.