Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1849-04-27
from Nrm 4tlesito.
From The National Inielligencer.
Letter from Col. Fremont.
AUTHENTIC PARTICULARS.


mont, covering the two months (rrom the last
Of November to the End Of February that he .
was no, heald Of, and giving The terrible events
Of that time. They are written from Taos and
Santa Fe, New Mexico, and addressed TO Mrs.
Fremont, at Washington; and, in her absence,
(for il was deemed probable that she might have
SC, Off to California, by sea before they could
arrve,) to Senator Benton, and in his absence
TO William Carey Jones, Esq. The letters
came from St, Louis last night, having been
brought TO that place Mr.. St. Yrain. Mrs. FIRE.
mont, fortunately, was gone; Senator Benton
had delayed his departure for Missouri, conf.
dent that letters were on the way; and in his
hands we have seen the originals, aud we pro.
pose TO give extracts in the order of their dates.
The first is dated
Taos, New Mexico, JANUARY q, 1919.
write TO you from the house of our good
friend Carson. This morning cup of choco.
late was brought to me while in bed. To an
overworn, oyerworked, fatgued, and starving
traveller, these liulo luxures Of the world offer
an lHi6iCSA NulNul III uOulGg II
is not possible for youto conceive.
have now the unpleasant task of telling YOU
how came here. had much rather speak of
the future, (wiIh plans for which am already
occupied for the mind turns from the scenes
have Witnessed and the suiFerings we have en-.
dured; but as clear information is due to you,
and 10 your father sill more, | will give you the
story, now, instead OF waiting to tell il TO you in
California, but | write in The great hope that
you will not receive this letter. When il reach
es Washington you may be on your way to
California.
Former letters will have made you acquain.
ted with our progress as far as Bent's Fort, and,
from report, you will have heard the circum-
stances Of our departure from the Upper Pueblo,
near the head Of the Arkansas. We left that
place on the 25th Of November with upwards
of one hundred good mules and one hundred
and thirty bushels of shelled corn, intended to
support our animals in the deep SHOWS of the
high mountains aud down 10 the lower parts of
the Grand rivert tributaries, where usually the
snow forms no obstacle TO winter travelling
At Pueblo had engaged as a guide an old trap.
per, we'll known as "Bill Williams" and who
had spent some twenty-five years of his life in
trapping in various parts Of the Rocky Noun.
tains.
The error Of our expedition was committed
in engaging this man. lie proved never TO
have known, or entirely to have forgotten, the
whole country through which VIC wero to pass.
We occupied (aller passing gthemouniain) more
than half a month in making the progress Of u
few days, blundering along torluous course,
through deep snow which already began TO
choke up the pnsses, and wasting our Time in
searching the way. The 1th Of December we
found ourselves at the mouth of the Rio del
Noyte canon, where that river issues from the
Sierra San JHdn-onc of the highest, most rug
ged, and impracliCablc Of all the Rocky Noun
tain ranges, inaccessible 10 lrappers and hunters,
even in summer. Across the point of this Gle.
yaled range our guide conducted us; and, hav.
ing still great confidence in this mans knowl-
elge, we pressed onwards with fatal resolution.
Even along the river bottoms, the snow was al
ready breast deep for the mules, and falling lre-
quonIly in the valley and almost constantly on
tho mountains. The cold was extraordinary
Al the warmcsl hours of the day between Que
aud lwo) the thermometer (Fahrenhoit) stood,
in the shade OF tree trunk, at zero; and that
was favorable day, the sun shining and mode
rate breeze. Judge Of tho nights and the
storms!
We pressed up towards tho summit, the snow
deepening as we rose, and in four or five DAYS of
this struggling and climbing, all on foot, we
reached the naked ridges which lie above the
line of the timbered region, and which form tho
dividing heights between the waters of the At.
lantlc and Pacific oceans. Along these nukef'
heights ii storms all winter, and the raging wind
sweeps with romorsecss fury. On our first ut
tempt 10 cross we encountered pOuderie-(dry
snow driven thick through the air by violent
wind, and in which objects are visible only at a
Shorl disahce)-Ond were driven back having
some Ten or twelve men yariously lrozcn--face,
hands, or feet The guide came near being fro
zen 10 death hero, and dead mules were alroa-
dy Iylng about tho camp fires. Meantime il
showed steadily. The next day Dec, i we
senewed Ihe attempt 10 scale the summit, and
were more fortunate, us it then seemed. Max
ing mules, and beating down n road, or trench,
through the deep snow, we forced the ascent in
defiance oI the driving pOHderie, crossed the
crest descended little, and encamped immedi-
aleIy below in the edge O.! the limbored region.
The trail showed as if defeated party had
passed by-packs, pack saddles, scattered arti.
eles OF clothing, and dead mules strewed along.
We were encamped about lwove thousand feet
above tho level Of tho sea. Westward the
country was buried in snow. The storm con.
unued. All movement was paralyzed To
advance with the expedition was impossible: TO
get back, impossible. Our fate stood revealed.
We were overaken by sudden and inevitable
rum. Tho poor ANIMALS were TO 90 FIRST The
only places where grass could be had were the
extreme summils Of the sierra, where the sweep.
ING winds kept herocky ground bare, and where
the men could not live. Below, in The timber.
Cd region, the poor animals could not get about.
me snow being deep enough to bury them alive.
h was Instantly apparent that we should lose
every one. took my resolution Immediately,
and determined 10 rc.croas tho mountain bnck
10 the valley Of the Rio del Norle, dragging or
packing the baggage by men. With 9rens In.