sure would some day possess
this territory, to impress these savages with the power and bravery of
the white men. Whatever was the object to be gained, it matters not
in relating the particulars. The next morning he sent Kit Carson on
ahead, with ten chosen men, giving him orders to the effect that if he
discovered a large village of Indians, which was the general surmise,
without being himself seen, he was to send back word; when he
(Fremont) would hasten on with reinforcements, in order to make the
assault. If it should happen that the Indians were the first to be
apprised of his near approach, then, without delay, Carson was to
engage them as he thought best. Acting under these instructions, Kit
Carson, with his detail of men, set out, and fortunately soon found
a fresh trail that led directly to where the savages had established
their village. This Indian village numbered fifty lodges; and, to
each wigwam, the mountaineers estimated three braves, as this is the
complement of men who live in one of these huts on the prairies and in
the Rocky Mountains; thus making the force of the Indians to be in the
neighborhood of one hundred and fifty. From the commotion noticed in
the village, it was evident to all present that the tribe had become
aware of danger, and that there was no time to be lost in sending back
the desired information. Kit Carson, notwithstanding the strength
of his enemies, determined to hazard an attack; and, after a brief
consultation with his companions, he decided to take advantage of the
confusion that was existing among the red men by charging right in
among them. If ever there is a time when Indians will stand their
ground, it is when defending their families; therefore, on this
occasion, the white men were warmly received; but, they fought with
such a degree of desperation, as they themselves had never done
before. The result was, that the savages became panic stricken, and
soon afterwards fled, leaving everything they possessed behind them.
The victors, after pursuing the Indians for some distance, and adding
a few more to the list of killed, returned to the village, which they
found to be rich in booty. The lodges here taken, Kit Carson describes
as being the most tasty pieces of handiwork that Indian skill could
devise, and surpassed anything of the kind that he had previously
looked upon. They were made of the broad leaves of the swamp flag,
which were beautifully and intricately woven togeth