The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-04-15
From the National lnielligencer.

From the National nlellige
Col. Fremont and his Party.-Authensio Particulars
Letters have been received from Col Fremont cover
ing the two months iron the last OF November the ID
OF February that he not heard Of and giving terrible
of that time. They written from Taos and
Santa Fe, New Mexico and addressed 10 Mrs Fremont,
at Washington and, in her absence (for il was deemed
probable that she might have off to California by
before they could arrve to Senator Benton and in his
absence TO William Carey Jones, esq The letters came
nom St. Louis last night, having been brought TO that
place by Mr. ST. Vrain. Mrs Fremont fortunately was
gone Senator Benton had delayed his departure for
Missouri, confident that letters the way and in
his hands have the originals, and propose to
give extracts in the order of their dates The first is
dated
Taos, New Mexico,) January 81, lS49.
write to you from the house of our good friend Car
son: lhls morning cup OF chocolate was brought TO
me whe IN oed. 10 an overwon overworked, iatsued,
and starving traveller, these little uxures OF the world
offer an interest which, in comfortable home 1t is
not possible Tor you 10 conceive.
have now the unpleasant task OF telling you how |
came here had much rather speak of the future with
plans for which am already occupled,) Tor the mind
turns from the scenes have witnessed and the suerinss
we have endured but clear information is due you,
and to your father still more, will give you the story
now, instead oil waiting TO tell to you in California
but write in the great hope that you wall not receive
this letter. When il reaches Washington you may be on
your way 10 California
Former letters will have made you acquainted with
our progress as far as Bents Fort and from report you
the Upper Pueblo near the head OF the Arkansas. We
lett that place the 25,h of November with upwards
of hundred good mules and hundred and thirty
bushels OF shelled corn intended to support animals
in the deep SHOWS OF the high mountains and down TO the
lower parts OF the Grand river tributaries, where usually
the snow forms no obstacle TO winter travelling AT
Pueblo had engaged as guide an old apper, well
known as "BW WWidms. and who had spent some
twenty-five years of his life in trapping in various parts
OF the Rocky mountains.
The error of our expedition was committed in en-
gazing this man. He proved never to have known, or
entirely TO have forgotten the whole country through
which pass. We occupied (after passing the
moun,ain) more than hall a month in making the
progress OF few days, laundering along tortuous
course, through deep snow, which already began to
choke up the passes and wasting time in searching
the way. The 18th of December found ourselves al
the mouth OF the RIO del Note caaon where that river
issues from the Sierra San Juan-one of the highest,
most rugged and lppracilcable oil all the Rocky noun
tain ranges inaccessible to tappes and hunters, even in
sumner Across the point Of this elevated range
guide conducted us and having still great confidence IN
this mans knowledge, we pressed onwarjs with fatal
resolution. Even along the river bottoms the snow was
already breast deep for the mules and falling frequently
IN the valley and almost constantly on the mountains
The cold extraordinary. At the warmest hours Of
the day (between one and two) the thermometer
ttahenhelD stood, in the shade tree trunk, at zero
and that favorable day, the sun shining, and a
moderate breeze Judge OF the nights and the storms
We pressed up towards the summit the snow deepen
ing rose and in four five days OF this strug-
CLING and climbing, all foot, reached the naked
ridges which lie above the line of the timbered region,
and which form the dividing heights between the waters
of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Along these naked
heights ii all winter, and the raging winds sweep
across them with remorseess fury. On our first attempt
10 cross we encountered pouterie-(dry snow driven
thick through the air by violent wind, and in which OBJ
jecs visible only at a short dlstance)-and were
driven back, having some ten or twelve men varlousy
frozen--iace, hands, feet The guide came near be-
Ing frozen to death here and dead mules already
lying about the camp fires Meantime showed seadi-
ly The next day december y we renewed the attempt
to scale the summit and were more fortunate Is 1t then
seemei Making mauls, and beating down road, or
/ franph tha dam
defiance of the driving poudere crossed the crest de-
scended lltle and encamped Immediately below in the
edge Of the .%bered region The trail showed as il a
tered articles OF clothing, and dead mules sewed along
We were encamped about twelve thousand feet above
the level OF the Westward the country was burr
ed in snow. The storm continued. All movement was
parayZed. To advance with the expedition was lmpos-
sble to get back impossible Our fate stood revealed
We were overtaken by sudden and inevitable rum The
poor animals were to go first The only places where
grass could be had were the extreme SUBMITS OF the
Sierra where the sweeping winds kept the rocky ground
BARE and where the could not live Below, IN the
tmbeed region, the poor animals could not get about the
being deep enough to bury them alive II was IN
stany apparent that we should lose every one. took my
resolution Immediately, and determined TO the
mountain back to the valley OF the RtOde NOre dragging
packing the baggage by men. With great labor the
baggage was transported across the crest to the head
springs of little stream leading to the main river. "A
few days sufficient to destroy that fine band OF mules
which you saw me purchase last fa on the frontier OF
Missouri. They generally kept huddled together and
as they Groze, would be to tumble down. and
disappear under the driving snow Sometimes they would
break off, and rush down towards the timber till stopped
by the deep snow, where they hidden by the
pouderie The courage of of the began 10 fail
In this situation determined to send in party TO the
Spanish settlements of New Mexico for provisions and
for mules to transport baggage. With economy and
after should leave the mules we had not two weeks
provisions in the camp and these consisted OF reserve
OF maccaron bacon, sugar. &c, intended for the last
tremity. Ii Indispensable to send for ehet asked
for volunteers for the service From the many that offer
ed chose King. Breckenridge, Creutzfeldt, and the
guide Williams and placed the party under the command
OF King with directions TO send express in OF
the least delay at the settlements 1t the day after
Christmas that this little party set cut for relief Thai
day, like many Christmas days Tor years past was spent
by the side OF the wlntry mountain, my heart filled
with anxious thoughts and gloomy forebodlngs. You
may be contrasted il with the Christmas of home
and made warm wishes for your happiness Could you
have looked into Agrppas glass for few moments only
You remember the volumes of Blackstone's Commenta
ries which took from your fathers library when we
were overlooking it at our friend Brants They made
my Christmas "dmuSemelfs" ! read them TO pass thu
tme and to kill the consciousness OF my situation Ger
tanly you may suppose that my first law lessons will b
well remembered.
The party for relief being gone, we Of the camp oc
cuped ourselves in removing the baggage and equpag
down the side of the mountain to the river in the valley
which accomplished in few days. Now came OF
the tedum Of waiting for the return OF the relief party
Day after day passed, and no news from them. Snow
fell almost necessarily in the mountains. The spirits
the camp grew lower Life losing its charm L
those who had not reasons beyond themselves TO live
Proue laid down in the trail and froze to death In
fire. he threw his blanket down on the TRAIL laid dowr
upon it, and laid there till he froze to death We were
not then with him.
Sixteen days passed away, and no tidings from thu