Kit Carson

[Mundo Osterberg]

I've always been fascinated with the exploits of the Mountain Men / Trappers that truely were the first to open up the west, but one man always stood out and that was, in my mind, Christopher "Kit" Carson.

I'm reading a book now titled "Blood and Thunder, The Epic story of Kit Carson and the Conquest of the American West" by Hampton Sides and I can't put it down. It came out in 2006 and I wish I had bought it then.

My Pa had gave me his copy of "Kit Carson's Own Story of His Life" many years ago and it was and still is one of my favorite books and the start of my library of over 400 books on Old West topics. It was only 136 pages compared to almost 600 pages in Blood and Thunder so this book really expands on the exploits that Carson merely touches on in biography.

 

The hardships, the battles, the travels and the historical figures that are the basis of this book reads more like a novel than actual events.

I very seldom recommend historical non-fiction books, even though thats all I read, but this is a must read.

[Sue Cauhape]

Kit influenced this area quite a bit when he passed through here. I live in Carson Valley which abuts the steep escarpment of the Carson Range and is just south of Carson City, NV. Other than that, the old boy didn't leave a mark. You'd think he'd at least have moved his family to this beautiful western oasis instead of hiding them in Taos.

[Stan H]

I read Blood and Thunder a couple of times and I use it a lot for reference.

 

Carson was a man of his times, and, good or bad, I don't think he should be judged by today's standards.

[Mundo Osterberg]

Sue I don't know if you've been there, but Taos ain't too shabby.

 

Stan, if I recall, you're married to a Dine' . I don't think you want to bring up Kit Carson at a family get-together

[Terry Boniface (Malpaso)]

Tha sounds an interesting subject Mundo? what about it Stan?

[Sue Cauhape]

Mundo, yes I've been to Taos. Interesting place. I did enjoy touring Carson's home there. I could almost hear the children playing in the interior courtyard. I liked the floorplan of the house and would've liked to see it totally restored or furnished as a home rather than have that large room in the middle used as a museum display for all his military stuff. I guess that's the "girl" in me that wants to see the domestic side of this man instead of the military side. There are so many dimensions to these "American icons" that we don't often see because their military affiliations dominate the public record.

Also, I was intrigued by the use of cloth as a wainscoating to protect the adobe walls from being "eroded" by passing skirts. You don't often think of such things happening to these "fragile" adobe structures. Question: did they really used fabric in this regard or was this a modern way to protect the structure since it's being used as a museum with large numbers of people going through it?

[Dave McGowan]

Stan, I very much appreciate your comment about not judging those of the past by today's standards. When that is done, and it is done a great deal, it upsets me very much.

As for the Mountain Men and early guides, I think they are all important, but most especially, Carson, Bridger and Fitspatrick. There are also very important ones that we know very little about such as Jerry Potts, aka Bear Child.

[Stan H]

Mundo

 

You are correct, I have a Dine' wife,, for 40 years,,,

I have often discussed Navajo history with her and her family, including Carson. Like any other subject, there are always at least 2 sides of the discussion. Most are aware Carson resigned rather than participate in the Long Walk. Many consider him as simply what he was, a warrior doing what warriors do. If you read Blood and Thunder, it shows he resigned during the Canyon d'Chelle campaign, not even completing it.

 

Many think of Carson as anti-Indian but that is simply not true. In fact he had many Indians around him most of his life, even adopting some.

 

Now, if one were to ask a Navajo about Carleton, you may get a differt response, but that's another story.

 

Dave Mc

I have always tried to look at history through the prism of the times and not judge it based on today's standards.

 

I enjoy Mountain man history a great deal. Wish there were a forum like this one to discuss those days.

 

 

 

[anthony martin]

  Sue.

     In situations were one was economizing or wood was scarce oilcloth was often used as wainscoting as it was easy to clean.

[Sue Cauhape]

Anthony: Oilcloth seems to be a handy thing to use in many situations. Also, was it made the same as today's rather colorful oilcloths? Was the fabric different? Was it coarser?

[Gay Mathis]

Mundo, Kit Carson Days (1809-1868)--By Edwin Legrand Sabin-published 1914--Free online, if interested..Read online, download, etc..

http://archive.org/details/kitcarsondays18000sabirich