Saturday morning visitor., 1848-08-05
From The 81. Louis Union.
FROM CALIFORNIA.
Arricai Of Lieut.. KIT Carson = Murder Of
Gen. Elliott Lee, Mr.. Charles 7own and
fwo others, in the Ration Mountains.

Lieut.. Kit Carson arrived Tuesday NOR
ming, on board the ST. Joseph, from Fort
Leavenwortb, having made the entire trip
from California ria Santa Fe and Taos, in
eighty days. He brings the melancholy
intelligence of The murder OF Gen. Elliott
Lee, and Mr. Charles Town, (the two
Survivors Of the massacre of Taos, in the
Ration Mountains, by the Apache Indians.
Lieut.. Carson left California on the
oh of May. Governor Mason was IN
command of the military, and all was qni-
et. He arrived at Santa Fe on the l4lh
Of June, and left for Taos OH the 26th.-
There was nothing new at Santa Fe. He
met with no personal adventures of mo-
ment on his whole journey.
At Taos, he heard of the murders above
referred 10. 1t seems that when Messrs.
Lee and Town reached the lower crossing
Of the Arkansas, they lett their company,
who went by the lower route TO Santa Fe.
They took the route by the way Of Bsnt's
Fort and Taos. Some distance above
Bent's Fort, their party was swelIed To
ing 10 Taos. The united party proceeded
on their way, until they had got into the
Ration Mountains, where, on The l4ih OF
June, while passing through deep ra-
vine, they were attacked by over one hun
dred Apache Indians. The ground was
poorly adapted 10 defence, ana the Indians
possessed great advantage. They moi on
ly fired oil the small party, but hurled
heavy stones down the acclivily-by
which means several Of the men and ami
mails were crippled.
The party were compelled to abandon
their property and animals, and attempted
To save themselves Ly relrealing. EARLY
in the engagement, Mr.. Charles Town re-
ceived confusion which fractured his an
kle. His companions for some time en-
deavored to bear him with them, but be-
coming very faint, he requested that they
would leave him. "Take care of your
selves. boys he said, 81 cannot proceed
farther" They left him, and short time
after, saw many Indians approaching him.
Town still possessed his rifle and pistol,
and with them killed two of the enemy,
ere he was inundated.
Shortly after this, Gen. Lee received a
ball in one of his thighs, which shattered
it. He was carried about mile BY his
companions, where, at his own request,
he was left. He said he could not pro-
ceed further, and that il he should not he
oyertaken by the Indians, who were in
pursuit, he would either bleed himself 10
death, or shoot himself. There was but
little life remaining in him when he was
left, as he bled very profusely.
In the course of the action, in which
the small party killed number OF the In
dians, Mexican by the name of Jose
Carman, and Frenchnan by the name OF
Pasear Riviere, companions of Lee and
Town, were killed, and five others were
wounded.
When about fifteen miles from Taos, the
survivors met party of forty men, who,
instead of going in search of Gen. Lee,
returned To Taos.
Lieut.. Carson appears in excellent
health, and proceeds at once to Washing
ton, the bearer OF dispatches.
A younger brother Of Charles Town,
was Of the party who went by the lower
route 10 Santa Fe. Both Lee and Town
have many friends in this community who
mourn their unlimely fate.