Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-06-18

to New Mexico, but the following
| spring, learning that Fremont intend
ed to push his explorations to the Pa
cific coast, he rejoined him and spent
that year as chief guide again.
Officer in War With Mexico
In the middle 40's war between the
United States and Mexico broke out in
California and Fremont began opera
tons by the capture of Monterey. Car
son acted as his chief lieutenant in the
first fighting. but upon Fremont find
ing ii necessary to communicate with
Washington. Carson volunteered to
take Is men and push through to st.
Louis with dispatches. After some
exciting experiences with the Apaches
he reached the grass plains. where he
| met General kearney and a detachment
Of cavalry, headed for California. Car
sons dispatches were sent eastward
by a fur trader and the scout was re-
tanned to guide the troops westward.
Having reached California, Carson
distinguished himself several times in
the fierce fighting incident to the cap
ture of San Diego. and nee he and a
naval lieutenant. Beale, saved kearn-
ey's command from starvation and
capture by creeping at night through
the ranks of the Mexicans. who sur
rounded the Americans in o~verwhelm-
ing numbers. and bringing relief from
the naval detachment on the coast.
Lionized In Washington
In Maarch. 1917 Carson was again
sent with important dispatches to
Washington. making the journey of
1900 miles in three months. His fame
had preceded him. and he was lion
lied by official Washington and %receiv-
ed at the White House by President
Polk. who commissioned him a lieuten-
ant in the United States Rife corps.
On his return to California with i'm
portant dispatches he led a detachment
of 30 cavalrymen and had several fights
with Indians. On reaching Monterey
with his dispatches he was placed at
the head of O. company of dragons to
guard Talon pass, after which he was
once more sent to Washington on an
important mission.
There he found, that because of the
party strife, the senate had refused to
confirm his appointment as lieutenant.
Carson at once left for his home at
Taos, New Mexico, and became a farm
er in one of the most beautiful valleys
Of the southwest. but in 1854, being
appointed Indian agent for New Mexi-
co. he was frequently engaged in am
paigns against hostile bands.
At the beginning of the Civil war,
following the raid of the Confederate
General Sibley from Texas into New
Mexico, the Navajoes and Apaches
ooh the war path. and Carson. com
missioned as a colonel, was engaged for
four years in almost constant fighting
in which he displayed as remarkable
qualities as a military leader as he had
previously as scout and frontiersman.
He commanded a cavalry regiment and
at the end of the war was highly com
plimented and given the brevet rank
of %brigadier general.
Special Indian Commissioner
In August, 1865. at the request of
congress. he was appointed special In
dian commissioner With power to hold
councils with the Comanches, Kiowas,
Cheyennes, and Arapahoes. 1t was due
to his recommendations that the res
e~rvation system for Indians was adopt |
ed. Later he was appointed agent for
the Navajos. He understood the In
dams thoroughly and had their conf
dence and respect.
Carson's Death took place May %,
1868, at Fort Lyon, Colorado, at the
army post, as the result of an injury
to his chest some years before. Be-
tween 1885 and 1850 he was the most
conspicuous and heroic figure of the
''far west" His services to the gov
ernmcnt in his last years were invalu-
able. as the Indian problem of the
southwest was solved in a large meas
ure through his Efforts. .