Kit Carson is sent Overland as Bearer of Dispatches
to Washington--The Preparation and the Start--The
Journey--Privations and Sufferings--Meeting with General
Kearney--The General takes Carson as his Guide and sends on
the Dispatches by Fitzpatrick--The March--Arrival at Warner's
Ranche--Mexicans on the Road--Preparations for a Battle--The
Battle--Disastrous Consequences--Kit Carson and Lieutenant
Beale offer to run the lines of the Mexican Sentinels
and carry Information to San Diego of Kearney's critical
position--The Daring Undertaking--The Sufferings
they encountered--Their Arrival--Reinforcements sent
out--Lieutenant Beale is Delirious from the Privations he has
undergone--Gen. Kearney and his Command finally reach and join
the other American Forces in California.


On the 15th day of September, 1846, Kit Carson was placed in the
command of fifteen men, with orders to make an overland journey to
Washington, as bearer of very important dispatches.

At the time of which we write, there was no steam communication, as
now, _viâ_ the two great oceans, consequently, the intercourse between
our brave countrymen in California and the government at Washington
was attended with extreme difficulty. Fortunately, Fremont had in Kit
Carson just the man to make such a journey through an enemy's country.

Kit Carson was instructed to use his utmost endeavors to make the
journey in sixty days, which was no small undertaking, when we
consider the great distance to be traveled over and the obstacles that