“But Carson was ordered by the U.S. Army to relocate around 8,000 Navajo men, women and children 300 miles from Arizona to Fort Sumner, New Mexico, on what’s called the “Long Walk.” An estimated 200 Navajos died from cold and starvation after traveling in brutal and harsh winter conditions for almost two months.”
The article doesn’t mention that he was out of the army and back home at the time of the ‘Long Walk’.
KC married into and lived with the Indians. It was tough back in those days but he fought against the Indians and at the same time tried to treat them in a humane manner.
KC was a good man and shouldn’t be vilified in this manner.
Actually, only 200 out of 8,000 is not a bad number
for that place and time, surprising really.
Kit Carson was a product of his times and was a “progressive” when it came to Indians (I’m not intentionally slandering him LOL). Like TexasGator said, he was involved with the US Army and to some degree, the Long Walk. But it was in the balance for the best that he was. He was an advocate for Indians, but had a practical and realistic view of what could and could not be done at the time.
I was taught that Carson was basically the Devil. That was wrong.
Oldplayer
Oklahoma Choctaw