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Essay on Kit Carson

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Dean Kuhlman | Research Paper HI-315VC | | | | | | |

Kit Carson is best known for his role in the expansion of the West as a trapper, explorer, scout and American soldier. Carson not only spent time carving the path to the west, he defended it in battle as an officer in the U.S. Army. One of the most famous mountain men of the Westward movement, Carson has had several landmarks, cities, and areas named after him. Among these are Carson, Colorado, Carson City, Nevada, Carson Pass and the Carson River. (Sanford & Green) Kit Carson has been a part of American folklore for decades but his fame grew from very humble beginnings.
Born on December 24th, 1809 in Kentucky, Kit Carson was born with a love for the …show more content…

(Sanford & Green) Carson had gained valuable experience with exploring the West and had gained some notoriety as a skilled and brave mountain man through his travels. One of the more famous stories was of a duel that took place between Carson and another man because Carson’s first wife, Singing Grass, had chosen Carson over another suitor. Joseph Chouinard who was known as the “Bully of the Mountains.”, and he was to duel Kit Carson. (Sides) The duel took place at a mountain man rendezvous that was held annually at a different location. (Sides) The irony of the duel that gained Carson so much respect was that Carson luckily escaped a bullet that would have killed him and merely shot Chouinard’s thumb off. There are various legends about what actually happened to Chouinard, but the story gained Carson much fame and respect among mountain men. (Sides) The incident at the mountain man rendezvous and several other tales quickly gained Carson popularity. He was approached by John C. Fremont in 1942; the man who Fremont, Ohio is named after, to be a guide for the Army to survey a path to Oregon along the Oregon Trail. (Sides) Fremont was linked to politics through his wife and was given the assignment of exploring the West. (Sides) This expedition would be critical in providing a more accurate map for settlers moving west. They would successful complete the journey with twenty-five men in five months. (Sides) Fremont was able to document the

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