The Life of Kit Carson (Classic Reprint): Hunter, Trapper, Guide, Indian Agent, and Colonel U. S. A

by Edward Sylvester Ellis

Excerpt from The Life of Kit Carson: Hunter, Trapper, Guide, Indian Agent, and Colonel U. S. A
Christopher Carson, or as he was familiarly called, Kit Carson, was a man whose real worth was understood only by those with whom he was associated or who closely studied his character. He was more than hunter, trapper, guide, Indian agent and Colonel in the United States Army. He possessed in a marked degree those mental and moral qualities which would have made him prominent in whatever pursuit or profession he engaged.
His lot was cast on the extreme western frontier, where, when but a youth, he earned the respect of the rough and frequently lawless men with whom he came in contact. Integrity, bravery, loyalty to friends, marvelous quickness in making right decisions, in crisis of danger, consummate knowledge of woodcraft, a leadership as skillful as it was daring; all these were distinguishing traits in the composition of Carson and were the foundations of the broader fame which he acquired as the friend and invaluable counselor of Fremont, the Pathfinder, in his expeditions across the Rocky Mountains.
Father Kit, as he came to be known among the Indians, risked his life scores of times for those who needed, but had no special claim upon his services.
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Genres: History, Biography

270 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1889

About the author

Edward Sylvester Ellis was an American author who was born in Ohio, and died at Cliff Island, Maine. He served as editor of Public Opinion (a daily newspaper), Golden Days and Holiday (both children's magazines). He specialized in boys' stories, inspirational biography, and history for both children and adults. He was a major author during the era of inexpensive fiction of the nineteenth century (dime novels).

Besides books published under his own name, Ellis' work was published under various pseudonyms, including:

Captain James Fenimore Cooper "Bruin" Adams
Boynton M. Belknap
Captain Latham C. Carleton
Capt. R.M. Hawthorne
Lieut. Ned Hunter
Lieut. R.H. Jayne
Captain H.R. Millbank
Billex Muller
Lieut. J.H. Randolph
Seelin Robins
Emerson Rodman
E.A. St. Mox

Reviews

[Thom Swennes · Rating 3 out of 5]

The United States has more than its share of folk heroes and Kit Carson was one of these. Christopher Houston “Kit” Carson (1809-1868) was a frontiersman, Indian fighter, explorer, hunter and trapper. He roamed all over the middle and western territories of the United States. As with most of these men, most of the accounts were passed around many campfires, making them impossible to believe on face value. That Kit Carson was an extraordinary plainsman, I have no doubt and Edward S. Ellis’s account is both highly readable and really entertaining. Much of the information related is in the form of accounts by John C. Frémont (1813-1890) about his explorations into the west. My one major criticism about this book is that it tends to stray from Carson’s life and ultimately leaves many gaps and questions unanswered.

[scott d. smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting brief account of an authentic piece of history. Not well written.

I believe that the author could have been much more selective of the material. Very brief even where he should have spent some time. Overall very interesting.

[Toni Clarkson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Educational and entertaining

This book will take you back to a times almost forgotten by most except for a footnote in history. This book tells the true story of a most special man, who without formal education conquered the west by his intelligence, honesty, friendliness and most of all fairness rarely seen in men of his time. Without Kit Carson I dare say our history of the conquest of our untamed country would be much different. It most certainly would have taken much longer. It is hard to believe one man could have accomplished so much! I highly recommend this book to those interested in history and those who wish to get a true feeling as to what the untamed west was like before it was tamed. I sincerely wish someone will make a movie about Mr. Kit Carson but without the "Hollywood" and keep it faithful and true as he was!

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kit Carson

A narrative of the mountaineer who knew the plains and mountains of the western frontier. His life was that of trapper and guide to the men who mapped the western territory for the U. S. government. Carson was a man of integrity and compassion. He fought the hostile Indians , but he also worked on their behalf. It is not for us who live far removed from those days to judge him in terms of today's prevailing mores. The author of this book imposes his views in the narrative to the point of being sycophantic at times, instead of presenting a straight forward account of Carson's life. Still it is an interesting story well worth reading.

[Trudy Pomerantz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Librivox edition - not available as a choice. Laura Victoria did an excellent job reading this.

Pluses: the sections lifted from what I assume were the diaries of John C. Fremont as he explored the west.

Negatives: the description of the Native Americans as basically savages while the whites and Mexicans seemed to not do any wrong. I find the history of the West fascinating but found this biography shallow and trivializing as to the complexity of the situation.