My Friend, Kit Carson
By William H. Ryus in 1913
Christopher Carson, a name that resonates with the spirit of the American West, was affectionately known as Kit Carson among his contemporaries. Born in December 1809 in Kentucky, his life unfolded against the backdrop of a rapidly changing frontier. Kentucky at the time was a vast, untamed wilderness, a land teeming with wildlife and offering fertile ground along its rivers. The lush grasses beckoned settlers, encouraging them to carve out homes from the abundant forests.
While small gardens provided a meager yield of corn, beans, onions, and other vegetables, families primarily relied on the bounty of the land for sustenance. The forests teemed with game, while the lakes and rivers teemed with fish. Flocks of wild geese, ducks, turkeys, quail, and pigeons filled the skies, painting a picture of natural abundance. Deer, antelope, moose, beaver, wolves, catamounts, and even the formidable grizzly bear were frequent visitors to the settlers’ homesteads, including that of the Carson family. This challenging yet promising environment shaped the early life of Kit Carson.
Unlike many of his contemporaries, Kit Carson received no formal education. The structured learning environments of schools were absent in his early life. Instead, his education came from the practical school of trapping, a skill that would define his future. He became adept at navigating the wilderness, learning the ways of the land and the habits of its creatures. This practical knowledge, coupled with his innate abilities, transformed him into a skilled trapper, an invaluable Indian guide, and a proficient interpreter, roles that were essential in the expanding West.
History recounts that when Kit was still a young boy, his father undertook a journey, on foot, to Missouri. At that time, Missouri was not yet a state or even a designated territory. It was part of the vast, unexplored regions that France ceded to the United States in 1800, known then as Upper Louisiana. This move placed the Carson family on the very edge of civilization, where they would face both opportunities and dangers.
The Carson family, like other white settlers in the region, found themselves surrounded by numerous Native American tribes, while their white counterparts were relatively few. Recognizing the need for collective defense, the families banded together. They constructed a large log house, designed to serve as both a residence and a fortified structure in case of attack. The one-story building featured strategically placed portholes through which rifles could be aimed. As an added layer of protection, they erected palisades around the house, creating a secure compound. This fortified home was built in what is now Howard County, Missouri, situated north of the mighty Missouri River.
By the age of fifteen, Christopher Kit Carson had never attended a formal school. However, he was considered "one of the Four Hundred," an idiom of the time denoting someone of exceptional ability and standing within his community. He was a skilled marksman, demonstrating accuracy with a rifle that was crucial for both hunting and defense. An excellent horseman, he possessed the agility and control necessary for navigating the rugged terrain. Possessing a strong character and sound judgment, his disposition was quiet, amiable, and gentle. He was the type of boy who quietly excelled, consistently striving to do his best in every endeavor.
At this pivotal stage in his life, his father apprenticed him to learn the trade of a saddler. However, the confinement of the workshop and the intricacies of the craft proved to be a poor fit for the young man. He yearned for the freedom of the open wilderness. A hunter and trapper by training and inclination, he found the sedentary life of a saddler stifling and unsatisfying. His heart belonged to the untamed landscapes and the thrill of the hunt.
One fateful night, about two years later, when Kit Carson was eighteen, a traveler passing by his father’s home shared tales of his adventures. He spoke of the profits to be made by selling buffalo robes, buckskins, and other goods in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He painted vivid pictures of the wealth and opportunity that awaited in the distant Spanish capital, located more than a thousand miles from Missouri.
Inspired by these stories, a group of able-bodied men decided to equip pack mules and embark on a journey to the fabled bonanza. Their plan was to live off the land, hunting game along the way. When Kit Carson heard of their venture, he eagerly sought to join them. The men welcomed his offer, recognizing his value due to his familiarity with the terrain and his knowledge of Native American customs. In fact, Kit soon found himself taking a leadership role in the expedition. He exhibited a natural military demeanor, organizing the mules, ensuring their packs were securely fastened, and leading the march with remarkable precision.
Kit Carson cultivated friendships with several Native American tribes. He learned from them the art of crafting clothing that he considered more aesthetically pleasing and comfortable than the restrictive store-bought suits worn by city dwellers. He held a particular disdain for the "Broadway dude" attire he had once observed.
The outfit he favored consisted of a hunting shirt made from soft, pliable deerskin, adorned with long fringes of buckskin dyed in vibrant vermillion or copperas. The trousers were made of the same material, similarly decorated with fringes and porcupine quills of various colors. His cap, crafted from fur, provided complete head coverage with openings for his eyes, nose, and mouth. It was crucial that his mouth remained free to hold his clay pipe, filled with his favorite tobacco. Naturally, he wore moccasins on his feet, embellished with colorful beads.
Prior to 1860, I had no personal acquaintance with Kit Carson. However, after that year, I came to know him well. At Fort Union, New Mexico, he was a captivating figure from April 1, 1865, until April 1866. Everyone sought to hear his tales of adventure and exploits, and he possessed the gift of storytelling. Kit Carson enjoyed playing cards, and while he was known for his honesty, he often emerged as the winner. He preferred not to wager large sums of money, and if his hand was weak, he would readily fold.
Kit Carson, like Colonel A.G. Boone, conducted himself with integrity in his dealings with Native Americans. On several occasions, Kit Carson expressed to me his belief that if Colonel A. G. Boone had remained as the Indian agent, the devastating war with the Indians would never have occurred. Kit Carson was a natural leader, widely known and respected from Missouri to Santa Fe.
Carson was the father of seven children. His wife preceded him in death, passing away in April 1868. He suffered from an aneurysm of the aorta. A tumor pressing on the pneumo-gastric nerves and trachea caused frequent and distressing spasms of the bronchial tubes. He passed away shortly thereafter, on May 23, 1868. His final words, addressed to his physician, H. R. Tilton, assistant surgeon of the United States Army, were "Compadre adios" (dear friend, goodbye). In his will, he bequeathed property valued at $7,000 to his children.
Kit Carson’s first wife was a Cheyenne woman of exceptional intelligence and beauty. They had one daughter together. Sadly, the mother passed away shortly after the child’s birth. Kit Carson lovingly raised his daughter until she reached the age of eight, at which point he sent her to St. Louis, providing generously for her needs. She received a quality education and was introduced to the refinements of society. She later married a Californian and relocated to his home state.
The Native Americans of today [1913] share similar aspirations with their white counterparts. There are now Indian lawyers, doctors, school teachers, and other educators, a far cry from the frontier days when the plains from Leavenworth, Kansas, to Santa Fe, were teeming with Indians. They were often labeled as uncivilized, but they were subjected to severe mistreatment, driven from their homes, and denied the opportunities to become civilized or learn new skills.
The Indians around Maxwell’s ranch were often idle due to a lack of opportunities. Maxwell provided them with food, offered them some work, and provided the women with ample opportunities to weave blankets, a skill in which they excelled. These Indian women were not only skilled weavers but also diligently crafted fine buckskin garments, tanning their own hides, beading them, and embroidering them with intricate designs. They created profiles of Indian chiefs and depictions of brave animals, embellishing the clothing made for the tribal leaders. These garments were often sold to foreigners as souvenirs, fetching prices ranging from $200 to $300. The Indian women also braided fine bridle reins of white, black, and sorrel horsehair for their chiefs and for sale to the white men. These women were always engaged in productive activities, but they also enjoyed watching horse races and celebrating their chief. An Indian woman is an excellent mother. While she may not be considered indulgent, she strives to prepare her children to endure hardships. She trains her young children to withstand cold water, not for hygiene purposes, but to instill hardiness.
By William H. Ryus, 1913. Compiled and edited by Kathy Alexander/Legends of America, updated April 2024.
About the Author: Excerpted from the book The Second William Penn – A True Account of Incidents that Happened Along the Old Santa Fe Trail, by William H. Ryus, 1913. The text, as it appears here, is not verbatim. William "Billy" H. Ryus was better known as "the Second William Penn" by passengers and old settlers of the Santa Fe Trail because of his rare and exceptional knowledge of Indian traits and characteristics and his tactful ability to trade and treat with them. Ryus was one of the boy drivers of the stage company with U.S. Mail contracts, regularly running along the Santa Fe Trail. During this time, he routinely crossed the plains at a time when the West was still looked upon as "wild and wooly," and in reality, was fraught with numerous, and often, murderous dangers.
Also See:
Cimarron -Wild & Baudy Boomtown
Kit Carson – Legend of the Southwest
Kit Carson – The Nestor of the Rocky Mountains
Lucien Maxwell by a Santa Fe Trail Driver
Santa Fe Trail – Highway to the Southwest
Taos – Art, Architecture & History