Part 20 (2/2)

”Once, he remarked: 'What am I to do, I can't get along without a doctor?'

”I replied, 'I'll take care of you.'

”He, smiling, said, 'You must think I am not going to live long.'

”The night preceding death he spent more comfortably than he had for days before. He was obliged to sit up nearly all the time. He coughed up a slight amount of blood during the night, and a very little in the forenoon.

”In the afternoon, while I was lying down on his bed and he was listening to Mr. Sherrick, he suddenly called out 'Doctor, Compadre, Adios!'

”I sprang to him and seeing a gush of blood pouring from his mouth, remarked, 'this is the last of the general;' I supported his forehead on my hand, while death speedily closed the scene.

”The aneurism had ruptured into the trachea. Death took place at 4.25 P.M., May 23rd 1868.

”Mr. Carson was a small man not over five feet six inches tall, with gray eyes, light-brown hair tinged with gray; his head was large; forehead high and broad; his nose somewhat _retrousse_. He had a good broad chest and a compact form. He had been a remarkably quick active man and what he lacked in strength, he made up in agility. It is related of him, that while he was in command of his regiment and on a campaign against the Navajo Indians, he would leave camp very early each morning, taking his Ute Indian scouts, and let his lieutenant-colonel take charge of the regiment; before the command would have time to come up with the fugitive enemy, Carson and his Utes had finished the fighting.

”I am under the impression that the Navajo nation, numbering 8,000 or 10,000 people were so severely pressed by Kit Carson, that they surrendered to him, and were put on a government reservation, where they remained under military control, for several years. Within the last three years they have been permitted to return to the country formerly occupied by them; but I am not positive of the above.

”Carson was made a brigadier-general of volunteers by brevet, at the close of the rebellion.

”Shortly after coming to my quarters he made his will, and left property to the value of seven thousand dollars to his children.

”No post-mortem was made. The pulse at the right radial artery was very indistinct, while the left continued good.

”I have been thus minute, thinking that while writing his life, you had grown to love him, as all who knew him certainly cherished great affection for him.

”Yours Truly, H. R. Tilton, a.s.s't Surgeon U.S. Army.”

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