Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1849-04-26
FREMONT'S EXPEDITION.
Terrible SulcringS and Death.
Taos, New Merico,
January 81, 184V.

CduusJy ~ 4O4v.
Iwrite from the house of our good
friend Carson. This morning cup of
coffee was brought to me while in bed
10 an overworn, overworked, fatigued
and starving traveller, these little luxu-
ries of the world offer an interest, which
in your comfortable home, it is not posi-.
BILE for you to conceive.
Former letters will have made YOU &C
quainted with our progress as far as
Bent's Fort, and from report you will
have heard Of our departure from the
Upper Puebla, near the head of the Ar
kansas. We left that place on the 25th
Fof November, with upwards of 100 mules
and 80 bushels of shelled cord to fed
them with in the mountains. At Puebla
l had engaged as guide an old trapper,
we'll known as Bill Williams who had
spent some IS years in trapping in vari-
GUS parts of the Rocky Mountains. The
error of our expedition was committed
in engaging this man. He proved never
to have known, or entirely to have for
gotten, the whole country through which
we were to pass.
We occupied latter passing the noun
tain, more than half month in making
the progress of few days, laundering
along tortuitous course, thorough deep
snow, wasting our time in searching the
way. On the 18th of December we
found ourselves at the foot of the Sierra
San Juan, one of the highest, most rug
ged and impracticable of all the Rocky
Mountain ranges-inaccessible to trap
pers and hunters even in summer. A
cross the point of this elevated range our
guide conducted us: and still having
great confidence in his knowledge, we
pressed forward with fatal resolution.
The snow was still falling and the cold
was intense.
We pressed up towards the summit,
the snow deepening as we rose, and in
four or five days Of this struggling and
climbing, all on foot, we reached the ma
ked ridges which lie above the line of the
timbered region, and which form the d.
viding heights between the waters of the
Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Along these
naked heights it storms all winter, and
the winds sweep across them with re-
morseless fury. On our first attempt to
cross, we were driven back by the storm,
having some twelve men variously frozen
face, hands or feet. The guide came
near being frozen the death here, and
dead mules were already lying about the
camp fires. The next day we succeeded
in scaling the summit, descended little,
and encamped in the edge of the timber
land, 10000 feet above the level of the
sea. Westward the country was buried
in snow. The storm continued. All
movement was paralized. To advance
or retreat was alike impossible. Our
fate stood revealed. View overtaken
by sudden and inevitable ruin. The
poor animals must go first-it being in
stantly apparent that we must lose eve
ry one Of them. I took my resolution
Immediately, and determined to recross
the mountain back to the valley of the
Del Norte, dragging or packing the bag
gage by men. A few days of incredible
labor brought us to the valley.
In this situation determined to send
in party to the Spanish settlements of
New Mexico for provisions, and mules to
transport our luggage. With economy
we had not tive weeks provisions in our
camp. I asked for volunteers for the
service. From the many that offered, 1
chose King, Breckenridge, Cruetzfelt,
and the guide, Williams and placed the
party under the command of King. 1t
was the day after Christmas that this lit
tie party set out for relief. That day,
like many Christmas days for years past,
was spent by me on the side of the win
try mountain, my heart filed with anx-
ious thoughts and gloomy forebodings.
You may be sure we contrasted it with
the Christmas of home, and made warm
wishes for your happiness. You remem-
Der the volumes Of Blackstone's Com
mentaries which took from your faith
er's library when we were overlooking it
at our friend Brant's? They made my
Christmas tamusements' l read them
to pass the time, and to kill the con-
sciOasness of my situation. Certainly
you may suppose that my first law les
sons viii be well remembered.
Now the tedium of waiting the return
Of the relief party. Day after day pass
ed, and no news from them. The snow
fell necessarily in the mountains. Life
was losing it's charm to those who had
not reasons beyond themselves to live.
In sunshine day, and having with him
the means to make o fire. Proue threw
his blanket down on the trail, laid down
upon it and froze to death
Sixteen days passed away, and no IT,
lings from the party sent for relief. !
'ecame oppressed with anxiety, weary
4 delay, and determined to 60 myself
10th In search Of the absent party, and
d relief in the Mexican settlements.-
leaving the camp in charge Of the bag-
gge, under the command Of Vincentha-
ID, with injunctions to follow me in three
dys, | set off down the river with small
prty, consisting Of Cooley. bis young