The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-08-08

FREMONTS DlSASTERS IN THE kOChl MUM
TAINs IN THE WINTER OF ls4s'49
LAMBERTyILLE M, July 81, 1906
Kssas NiehOIson editors Of The Union:
In reading the Life Of Col John Charles Fremont by
Samuel NJ Smucker A NJ which has just appeared, and
which bears marks of having been submitted to the super
vision of that gentleman notice (page Az an account Of
his disasters in the Rocky mountains at the head of the
Rio Grande del Norte while attempting, in the winter Of
ls4sl49 get through to the Pacific ocean, which
with the facts they have been detailed 70 me by
Mr. Richard Ii. Kern, of the Coonels assistants and
opposite the representations OF others with
the matter that refrain from presenting the follow
ing statement This statement given TO me by hr.
Kern while in New Mexico in ls49-50, and tho OBJ
ect any representations which might be madc
by Col Fremont or through his agency in contradiction
Of what he Kern had stated in his Journal extracts from
which had appeared in the papers Of the day shortly after
the disaster and which, he understood, the Colonel
relative of his had taken upon himself TO contradict
feel bound explorer and friend of the noun
tain men, whom became acquainted with in my travels
among the Rocky mountans and who believe have been
traduced by tho biogapher of Fremont in his attempt
shield the Colonel from the responsibility which attaches
him account of the death of eleven of his party by
starvation and of two by massacre to present the state
the public To quote from the biography referred
By the aid of his telescope the bold adventurer could
discover in the snowy distance the depression In the
tans which the old hunters OF the western outskirts assured
him marked the locality of the pass which he sought The
the same erroneous impression And 10 the biua9rS Of these
blind leaders, and not TO his pant Of sagde must De at
ibuted the disasters fatal and so destructive Whch ooueG
the carrying out Of the adUice and counsel they 9dve
Were Mr. Kern or Bill Williams alive to vindcate their
veracity and repuaton the statement which follows might
be unnecessary from me- but both have been killed by
the Utahsthe former while assistant TO Capt Gunnison
in his survey for railroad route across to the Pacific and
the latter while attempting carry the property of Fre
iptn RIGHT
and proper the information has been left in hands to
be used in certain contingency and that contingency has
arrived that should not hesitate to lay it before the pub
lie.
Mr. Kern was an assistant of mine in expedition
which made in the Navgjo country in he fall of ls49,
under Col Washington and to him indebted for the
faithful sketches of scenery and of which
nv my report of that expedition He was ALSO account
of his merit subsequently employed by Capt Stgreavcs
AID Capt Gunnson in their respective expeditions across
to the rscfc If there faihfW and true man
he was ONE aud dying, he did, in he national employ
and in the honest ana praseworhy pursuit OF
fame and distinction feel called uPon who respect
ed and loved him when alive to yndicate his character
for truth and honor that he is deceased
In regard to the guide (Williams) will also state that
the testimony was unanimous in New Mexico, when was
there that he the most competent man. on account or
his familiarity with the country through which Fremont
wished to go, he could have procured and that so far
from his having been the Of the disasters which Fro
mont and his biographer have charged upon him. those
disasters they believe caused by Fremonts not
being willing, and refusing, to be guided by him.
SANTA FE August az, 1850.
DEAR SIR: In fulflment Of a promise made time
ago send you of Femouts defeat in the San
Juan mountains in the winter Of lS4s-49 have com
menced from the day left the base Of the White or
Wet mountains immense range OF snowy mountains "
ing the side of the valley OF the Del Norte
will also throw cursory glance back over the time mme
diaeiy preceding that event
We left the small settlement Of Hard Scrabble the 25th
Of November riding animals being packed with corn
purchased at that place This necessary precauton
the had appeared month earlier than ever known
before We followed the Of HardScrabble creek as
far practicable and the 2sth, we encamPed beyond
the first range of the Rocky mountains and in small
bayou or park that leads into the southern OF the
three great parks On the Sd Of December we passed
through the range Of the Rocky mountains and
encamped sard hills at their base The s
known RobdouIs pass, and the mount"ns are called
the White mountains.
On the sth we passed over the sand hills Col Fremont
had gone with guide old Bill Williams and some 9th
ers 10 visit pass little distance TO the north OF RoGi
dour's pass, but up with US in the evening.
On the 7th descended the last hills at the western
base Of the White mountains and entered the broad valley
Of the Del Nore which here about 40 miles across In
the morning asked Old Bill which Of two gaps (they
about 40 miles apar in the mountains on the western
side of the valley he intended TO take He said the right
hand one unless Fremont turned him from his
He also said he did not intend TO strike the river ss
would be out OF the way The Del Norto comes from the
west passes through the lower gaps ana urbs Boulh,
making nearly right angle at that point Our course
pointed directly toward the gap named by Old Bill until
about o'clock when It diveged TO the left and pointed
TO the southerly
We encamped that night the wide plain and the next
morning sth) struck the Del Norte and, travelling along
its bottom, csmped In fine thick grove Of cottonwood
Our route the 9th still lay in the river bottom, which
IL here finely tmbered with cotton wood. The
very deep and the branches OF the trees white and
heavy with il; and rode along In silence they
seemed TO extend their broad as though warning
back We attempted pass through the gap where the
Del Nore breaks through into the valley but the depth Of
the prevented us and forced to cross tho
hills That night encamped beside the river, and did
not the 10th until noon-some OF the party hav-
ing gone out for elk We moved the river about three
miles further and then camped.
On the llth moved about IL miles the deep dry
ing from the river bottom TO the hops over which
found steep and difficult trail Camped beside tho
river.
On the 18th we left the river aud followed the
Of creek Col Fremonts idea being 10 ascend Il 10 Its
origin the divide and fall the Of Grand
river. We camped a shelving rock several hundred
feet above the bed OF the creek and the in advance
appearing mpractcable II thought that could
not follow il any Mr. King had been riding on the
hills through the day and reported 20 the Colonel that he
had found n wagon road He undertook the pilotage
the l3th and after climbing very steep HILL rendered
tremey difficult Of ascent By falling slee we found to-
erably level road Camped in fine valley after march
| Of miles.
On the 14th had fne cles cold day and our route
lay through valleys and thickly- -mbered
hills. Before making the last descent crossed high
bald hin, from the top Of which had magnificent
mountain view as the eye beheld The whole range
of the Rocky mountains the and southeast could be
seen while the dark timber-lne marked the tortuous
course OF the Del Nore through s broad valley On the
eouth and southwest sides the Sierra Anahuac the