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Show 476 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF it was probable there might be an opportunity of effecting some advantageous exchanges. The general came up, and found me in waiting with my stock ; we had been acquainted for several years, and he gave me a very cordial reception. "Beckwourth," said the general, "you have a splendid lot of horses, really; they must have cost you a great sum of money." "No, general," I replied, "but they cost n1e a great many miles of l1ard riding." " How so ?" he inquired. "Why, I was in California at the time the war broke out, and, not having men enough at my command to take part in the fighting, I thought I could assist my country a little by starting off a small drove of the enemy's horses, in order to prevent their being used against us." "Ah, Beckwourth, you are truly a wonderful1nan to possess so much forethought," and he laughed heartily. "However," added he, "trade them off as qnickly as possible, for I want you to accompany me. You like war, and I have good use for you now." I informed him that I was ready for service; and, accordingly, I sent all my remaining horses back to my plantation, and went on with the general to Santa Fe, which place submitted without firing a shot. The general sent me immediately back to Fort Leavenworth with dispatches. This was my service during the war. The occupation was a tolerably good one, and I never fai~e~. in getti~g my dispatches through. I enjoyed faCihties supenor to almost .any other man, as I was known to almost all the Indians through whose country I passed. My partner and I had purchased a hotel in Santa JAMES P. BECKWOURTH. 477 Fe, and we transacted a very profitable business there. My associate attended to the business of the hotel, while I carried dispatches, and Santa Fe was generally my starting-place. Many messengers lost their lives on the route, as at times there were dispatches to be sent, and I would not be at head-quarters to carry them. The distance from Santa Fe to Fort Leavenworth is nine hundred and thirteen miles. I have frequently made the trip in from· twenty to twenty-five days; my shortest trip I accomplished in eighteen. I well knew that my life was at stake every trip that I made, but I liked the employment; there was continual excitement in it, indeed sometimes more than I actually cared about, more particularly when I fell in with the Pawnees. The service furnished an escort of fifteen or twenty-five men, but I always declined the company of troops, as I considered myself safer without them. If I had taken troops with me, it would have led to incessant fights with the Indians; and if they had seen rne with white soldiers, they would have been very apt to kill me the first opporttmity. Another thing: I did not think the United States regular troops good for any thing against the Indians, for I knew that the Camanches would stand and fight them almost 1nan for man. I chanced to fall in with !Cit Carson one day, as I was about to start from New Mexico to Fort Leavenworth, and he proposed going with me, as he wished to learn my route. I was very much pleased with his proposal, as I thought that with Kit and his men I should go through strong handed. I told him that I should rest at Taos one day to get my horses shod, and that he could easily come up with me there, or on the road thither. I left with two men, and staid at Taos as |
