photo of Kit Carson in the public domain   KIT CARSON'S letter to Asa Bacon Carey

Fort Union, N.M.
March 12, 1866

Dear Colonel

Your kind favor of the 23 ult. came safe to hand per last Santa Fe mail, enclosed find $727 which please hand to W. Hunter taking his receipt for the same. I am sorry you find fault with the picture but consider the circumstance under which it was taken and you must be satisfied with the result - imagine your poor old friend so long used to the wild freedom of the West - rarely mounting anything higher than a horse's back, suddenly transferred to the [illegible] of St Louis, led up a narrow winding stairway three or four stories high, then confined in a close room, in a closer uncomfortable chair with a tall thin gentleman with a pale face, long black hair, and impressive actions and manners flitting round you for full five minutes, arranging and disarranging every thing about your person in the attempt to transform a mountaineer into an exquisite of 1865, he soon grew tired of his vain attempt, fixed my head in position and then turned on his photographic battery at point blank range, with so many a ludicrous action that it excited my visible faculties, when suddenly quick as a flash of swiftest lightning, pop comes the operator's head from behind the little dark blanket and another impressive lecture from that worthy gentleman, "Perfect immobility of feature my dear Sir is necessary to a successful picture" dire concentration of circumstances, mirth must flee my countenance or my picture is spoiled, like a philosopher I accept the alternative, mirth flies away but alas! My countenance is spoiled, but a great act-of-duty has been performed, materialism of the West has performed its last act-of-obeisance to the idealism of the East, rather for me the wild yell of the Indian as he comes charging over the wild prairies, than the studied artistic actions & speech of the gentlemanly photographer - and perhaps after the lapse of a few years, when I have travelled the long journey we all must take, chance may throw one of these portraits in your way and you then can exclaim "Dear old friend he was not so grave and stern as he looks," these last thoughts spring to my mind on just hearing of the sudden death of poor McCabe, I am very sorry for the the unfortunate circumstances.

I have a swelling on the back of my neck and I am afraid a surgical operation will be necessary for its removal but Quien Sabe. Lets hope for something better.

Lt. [?]anfield unites with me in sending our warmest regards and with renewed considerations of esteem and friendship.

Believe me dear Col.

Yours truly

C Carson

Bvt. Brig. Gen'l US Vols

 

Note: Kit Carson signed the letter but it was written for him by someone else.