Rediscovery

Rediscovery

​The traditional American Dream is to find success and live a prosperous life. For Kit Carson, it was rediscovery. Carson wanted to discover what he truly wanted to do in life, regardless of how much money he makes. Hearing tales of the wild west at an early age, he wanted to experience life on the untamed western frontier rather than live a boring life as a saddle maker in Missouri. The young saddle maker would lead a total conquest of the Western front, while not only changing his life, but the fate of American western expansion. ​

Christopher “Kit” Carson was born in Madison County, Kentucky on December 24th in 1809. His family moved to Howard County, Missouri very shortly after his birth. Kit had seven siblings including three other boys and four girls. But his father died when he was a young child so he had to help out his mother take care of the other children and to provide food for the family. Kit liked to explore the surrounding woods of his home and fell in love with the beauty of the woods. He was an apprentice for a saddler for two years, but he was not interested in becoming a saddle maker. In his autobiography, he states: “ The business did not suit me and, having heard so many tales of life in the mountains of the West, I concluded to leave him (1.)”He did not want to become a saddle maker for the rest of his life. He knew the western frontier was a chance for him to rediscover himself. In 1826, Kit fled his home and began his journey out west.

​He traveled along the Santa Fe Trail, working for different merchants. While out on the Santa Fe Trail, he learned how to trap animals in the hostile western environment. This skill helped him dearly as he was hired by a fur trapping company out in California. He made about $1500 annually (2.). Along the trail, he managed to learn new languages including French and Spanish. He spent many years learning Native American customs and cultures and also learned how to communicate with different tribes. Living in the wilderness alone helped Carson to advance his animal trapping skills and learned how to survive in the hostile environment. Hisadvanced trapping skills and knowledge of the wilderness helped him become qualified as a travel guide. Carson was no longer the small saddle maker he used to be. He was now an expert wilderness explorer and trapper. While on a steamboat, he met explorer John Fremont. Fremont hired Carson to lead multiple expeditions through the west.

Carson helped Fremont lead numerous expeditions through Oregon and California.Carson helped them fight off Indians and showed them how to hunt. On a trip through the Sierra Nevada, the group was snow-bounded and were suffering from starvation. Luckily, Carson was able to show them how to hunt and they were able to find food. Fremont published reports of these expeditions which led to Carson becoming wildly famous (1.) These reports spread quickly and Carson became known as the “mountain man”.

Not only was Carson an expert wilderness explorer, he was also a successful military leader. Carson began serving during  the Mexican War in California. He began his career carrying messages between command posts in enemy territory, but was quickly promoted. Carson dominated the battle field, taking victories at the Battle of San Pascual, San Gabriel, and San Diego. Carson would lead numerous campaigns against the Indians such as the brutalcampaign against the Navajos in New Mexico and the campaign against the Comanche and Cheyenne tribes in Texas His conquest of the Indian tribes led him to be labeled a hero by many American settlers (3).

Kit Carson’s journey across the western frontier for a chance of rediscovery is different than the traditional version of the American Dream. He did not care about wealth or success, all he cared about was what truly defined him as a person. His dream was to rediscover himself and to find a life that is worth living no matter what obstacles were in his way. Not only did he rediscover himself, he helped shape the westward expansion of the United States. Carson’s story is an example of the non-traditional American Dream because people should live a life that makes them happy, not a life that pays them the most.

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