Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1856-09-11
Extract from the Journal Of Artist the Fifth Expedition
Col. Fremont's Sagacity.

Extract from the Journal Of Artist the Fifth Expedition
Col. Fremont's Sagaoity.
,
9 After decending very steep mountain on
the deep SHOWS of which we passed the coldest
night experienced during oar journey--ther
momcter at daylight being near 80 degrees
we camped creek fringed with willows, and T
interspersed with cottonwood the country in
dicating that there might be game about, our
Delawarcs sailed out in quest Of come. We
at this time were on rations Of meat-biscuit, and
had killed our first horse for food toward night
our hunters returned and brought with them
the choice parts of fine fat young horse that
they had killed. lie was one of three Or four
wild ones which they had discovered grazing
some four miles from the camp, Our men, in
consequence, received considerable addition to
their stock Of provisions, which when cooked
proved much more palatable than our broken
down horses.
8 The Delaware also discovered recent foot
prints of Utah Indians This information caused
Col. Fremont to double the guard and examine
the armes of the whole party, who hitherto had
been warned by him of the necessity there was
for keeping them in perfect order. SudlAnly
it occurred to me that my double-barreed gun
might be out of order had used it as a walk
ing stick, in decending the mountain that day;
the snow was SO deep that was obliged to re-
sort to that course, To assure myself, quiet
ly went to the place where had laid ii down.
and attempted to fire it off-5oth caps snapped;
the quick car of Col Fremont heard the cap
explode. lie approached me very solemnly and
gave Inc lecture setting forth the consequence
which might have resulted from sudden attack
of the Indians on our camp. Under present
. circumstances, Mr.. Calvalho, he said | should
y have to fight for YOU His re5uke wasmeritel
y and had its effect throughout the camp, for al
the men were most particular afterwards ii
. keeping their arms in perfect order.
We travelled that day nearly twenty miles
. and encamped in Utah Indian village, con
: tanning large number of lodges and probabl.,
y several hundred person. The men were mostl
L, armed with rides, powder horns, and also wit
j" their Indian implements Of warfare. On on
P mules was packed the balance Of our fat horst
'' very kindly and during the evening VIC expose
'' our wares, viz, blankets, knives, &C., which "
90 brought along to concilate the Indians, an
" also to trade with them for horses and venson
"' u" We made several punches, &c. About9 9 o'clocl
III after placing double guard round our animal
- and while we were RECALLING on fat deer mea
Nv loud noises were heard approaching the cam
We soun distinguished the voices of women
"1 bitter bewailement. thought it was rc
=, Gus ceremoby of burial or something OF Il
~ y, kind Col. Fremont requested me to see fro
~ w what it proceeded found the procession
" the whole Indian camp the warriors all arm
~ headed by half breed who had been son'
''' time in Mexico and had acquired smatterl
nv of the Spanish language, who acted as interp'
'''' Misunderstanding Spanish, CLEANED From HI
'on that. the horse our Delaware had killed. t
:" evening before, some twenty miles away
longed to one of the squaws, who valued
'''' very highly, and demanded payment On
y informing Colonel Fremont, who had den
=" himself to the Indias, he remarked to
""s women we had no right to kill it without rent
u,a, Grating her for it, and he deputcd the person
''o charge of the baggage to give them what
'"s right, Having seen our assortment, they wa
wv ed part of everything we had, incudin!
- keg of gunpowder. To this demand Colo
'e'I Fremont gave an absolute refusal, and at
'a0' ~ same time expressed his desire that the
should not sell, barter or give away a SIT
grain of gunpowder, on pain OF his severesl
pleasure. The Indians then threatened to
'"' tack us. Col. Fremont defied them
considerable patience We succeeded in paacll.
'o'' them and sending them off. 1t was now
light. We repacked our mules and raised ca
'''"' and at the end of ourday's journey, we 70
e''' ourselves on the Grand River, thirty miles I
our last camp While at supper the guar'
MS the lookout gave the alarm thai Indians, '
'is approaching The word was given to arm
~ prepare to receive them
.'.t About fifty or sixty mounted Indians
49, r;,rs all armed with rides, bows and arr
my displaying their powderhorns and carto
Ai"s boxes most conspicuousy, their horses iu
Il MS mettle and gaily caparisoncd. came gallo
and tearing Into camp They also had con
oowh bo compensated for the horse which had
81 no paid for the night before. They insisted
1 'a'- the horse did not belong to tho woman b
= a"u one of the Indians then present, and thre
'"i"s ed if we did not pay them Ga eat d'
rod cloth and blankets, knives, powder
'''" thew would fall upon as and massacre the
; az marty. On these occasions Col Fremont
nave showed himself, which caused the Indie
ago. have considerable more respect Tor the
am CAPTAIN as they usually called him nc
'dded, he ever communicate directly with them,
eouiO vave him time to deliberate and lent a my
from ours importance to his messages
- Very much alarmed, entered colone
''s u mout's lodge, aud told him their erran
''ee's' their threats. He at once expressed his
'" m;pation not to submit to such impositlsof
-. at the same time laughed at their threa
.,,i Ip0a, - could not comprehend his calmness a
';es. our position most alarming, surrounded