CARSON, CHRISTOPHER (generally known as 'Kit Carson') (1509-681. A famous American hunter, trapper, and Western scout. He was born in Madison County. ICy., but when only a year old was taken by his parents to Howard County, Mo., where from 1824 to 1S26 he served as a saddler's apprentice. In the latter year he accompanied a party of hunters to Santa F6, N. Mex., and afterwards devoted himself almost entirely to hunting and trapping. lie accom panied an expedition to California in IS29, and another to the Rocky Mountains in the follow ing year, and from 1832 to 1810 was employed as hunter for the garrison at Fort Bent. at the headwaters of the _Arkansas. He accompanied Fr6mont on the latter's expeditions of 1842 and of 1843-44; then spent some time on a ranch, and in 1846-47 served as a guide in FriAnont's famous expedition to California. In IS53 he, with a few Mexican drovers, succeeded in driv ing 6500 sheep to California, and on another oc casion, this time unaided, he took fifty horses and mules to Fort Laramie. fully 500 miles from his ranch. In IS51 he was appointed Indian agent for the lItabs and Apaches, at Taos, N. :Mex., and in this capacity was able, by reason
of his remarkable influence over the Indians, to he of great service to the United States Govern ment. During the Civil War he served the Gov ernment with great energy in New Mexico, Colo rado, and the Indian Territory. especially against the Confederates in Texas and the Navajo In dians, and in 1865 was brevetted brigadier-gen eral. In the course of his career as a trapper, hunter, Indian-tighten scout, and Indian agent, he met with many remarkable adventures, sonic of which read like romance, and he soon came to be regarded throughout the country as the typical frontiersman. resourceful in danger, an adept with the rifle, and skilled even beyond the Indians in woodcraft and the knowledge of wild animals. Consult: Burdette. Life of Kit Car son, the Great Western Hunter and Guide (Philadelphia. 1809) : and Peters, Kit Carson's Life and .1drontum.s, from Facts Narrated by Ilimself (Hartford, 1574).