Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1849-04-23
Col. Fremont and his party.
AUTHENTIC PARTICULARS

Letters have been received from COL Fremont cover
ing the two months rom the last of November to the n
Of February) that he not heard Of and giving the
terrible events Of that time They are written says the
lntegencer from Taos and Santa Fe, New Mexico and
addressed 70 Mrs Fremont at Nashingon; and in her
absence (o it deemed probable that size might have
set off 10 California by before they could arrive to
Senator Benton. and in Ills absence 10 William Carey
Jones, Esq. The letters from ST. Louis last nirht
having been brought to that place by Mr. st. Eran Mrs
Fremont, fortunately. gone Senator Benton had de-
layed his departure for Missouri confident that letters
were the way. and in his hands we have seen tile oil
ginalS, and we propose to give extracts in the order of
their dstes The first is dated
Taos. New MExIco January 27. 1919
81 write 10 you from the house Of our GOOD friend Car
This morning cup Of chocolate was brought to me
while in bed. 10 overwon, overworked, fatgued
and starving traveller these little luxuries of the world
offer an interest which, in your comfortable home it IS
not possible for you to conceive
81 have now the unpleasant task OF telling You how
came here. had much rather speak Of the future with
plans for which | am already pied,) for the mind
turns from the scenes have witnessed and the suernrs
have endured but clear information is due TO YOU
and t. your father still more will give You the story
now, instead Of waiting to tell it California: but
write in the grea; hope that you will receive Ibis let
ter. When ii reaches Washington you may be on YOUR
way to California
Former letters will have made You acquainted with
our progress far Bent's Fort and from report. You
Will have heard the circumstances of our departure from
the pper Pueblo, near The head of the Arkansas We
left that place the 25h of November with upwards of
one hundred good mules, and one hundred and thirty
bushels of shelef corn, intended TO support our animals
in the deep Of the high mountains and down the
lower parts of the Grand rver* tributaries where usual
y the snow forms no obstacles to winter travelling. AT
Pueblo had engaged as guide an old trapper well
known as "B Williams" and who had spent some
twenty i've years Of his life in trapping in various parts
Of the Rocky Mountains
The Of our expedition committed in enga-
ging this He proved never have known Or en-
trely to have forgoton, the whole country through
which we 10 pass We occupied (afer passing The
mountan) more than half month in making the pro
gress of few days, laundering along ortuuls course
through deep snow which already began choke up The
passes. and wasting time in searching the way The
ih of December found ourselves the mouth Of the
Rio del Norte canon where that river issues from the
Sierra San .nan-one Of the highest, most rugged ard
mprac able Of all the Rocky Mountain ranges nacces
sble to trappers and hunters, even in Across
the point Of this elevated range our guide conducted US
and having still great confidence in this mans knoul
enge, passed onward with fatal resolution Even
along the river bottoms the already breast deep
for the mules, and falling frequently in the valley and al
most constantly the mountain. The cold was extra
ordinary At the warmest hours of the day (between
one and two) the thermometer (Fahrenheit) stood in
the shade ola tree trunk. and that favora
bic day. the shining and moderate breeze. Judge
Of the nights and the storms.
eve pressed up towards the summit the snow deepen
ing and in four FIVE days Of this struggling
and climbing, all on foot reached the naked ridg
which lie above the line Of the tmbereI region and
which form the dividing heights between the waters Of
the Atlantic and Pacific Along these naked
heights il storms all winter and the raging winds sweep
them with remorseless fury On first attempt
to encountered pouderie-(dry snow driven
thic. through the air by violent wind and in which oh
ecis visible only short distance and we were
driven back, having ten twelve meh variously
fozen-iace. hands, or feet The guide came near be
ing frazen 10 death here and dead mules were already
lying about the camp fires. Meantime 1t showed stead-
ly. The next day (December) renewed the attempt
scale the summit, and fortunate. as it then
seemed. Making mauls, and beating down road. or
TRENCH through the deep snow foiced the ascent in
defiance of the driving poderie, crossed the crest de
scended little and encanptd immediately below in the
edge f the Ii nbered region. The trail showed as if
defeated party had passed by-packs pack saddles scat
tered articles Of clothing. and dad mules stewed along
We were encamped about twelve thousand feet the
level Of the Westward the country was buried in
the snow. he storm continued. All movement was
paralyzed. To advance with the expedition was imPns
sbe; get back, impossible. Our fate stood revealed
We overaken by Sudden and inevitable ruin. The
poor animals g first. The only places where
grass could be had the submits Of the Srr
a fork Of the Colorado Of the Gulf Of California.