Hampton Sides, an author and historian known for his deep dives into American history, takes listeners through the incredible life of Kit Carson, an illiterate trapper turned legendary figure. They discuss how Carson's real exploits rivaled the tall tales spun about him. Sides unpacks Carson's complicated relationships with Native Americans, revealing his respect for some tribes while battling against others. The conversation also touches on Carson's surprising thoughts about his fame and the lasting impact of his actions during a transformative era in American history.
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Kit Carson's Significance
Hampton Sides's book Blood and Thunder uses Kit Carson's life to explore the American West's conquest.
Carson, though illiterate, was involved in major events like mapping the Oregon Trail and the Mexican-American War.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Carson's Early Life and Western Movement
Kit Carson's family moved west seeking untouched land, reflecting the era's westward expansion.
At 16, Carson ran away to Santa Fe, joining the mountain men and trapping beaver.
insights INSIGHT
Unintentional Mapping of the West
Beaver trapping, driven by fashion, inadvertently led mountain men to map the West.
Their knowledge proved valuable for later topographical expeditions.
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In 'Blood and Thunder', Hampton Sides provides a detailed and engaging history of the American West, focusing on the life of Kit Carson, a trapper, scout, and soldier. The book spans over three decades, from the early days of the trappers to the final pacification of the Navajo by General Sherman. It explores the complexities of Carson's personality, his respect for and interactions with Native American tribes, and his role in the devastating conflicts that shaped the region. The narrative also delves into the broader historical context, including the Mexican-American War and the ideology of 'Manifest Destiny', highlighting the brutal and often overlooked aspects of the American West's conquest[1][3][4].
Within the space for just three decades, monumental episodes of exploration and expedition, politics and violence, including the mapping the Oregon Trail, the acquisition of California, and the Mexican-American and Civil wars, forever changed the history of the United States and the shape of the American West. And one man, an illiterate trapper, scout, and soldier, was there for it all: Kit Carson.
In his book Blood and Thunder: The Epic Story of Kit Carson and the Conquest of the American West, author and historian Hampton Sides follows Carson as a through-line in this extraordinary period. Today on the show, Hampton and I discuss how Kit Carson became a living legend through embellished accounts of his heroics, and yet undertook real-life exploits that were nearly as unbelievable as the tall tales told about him. We explore how Carson joined the grizzled fraternity of mountain men in his youth, and the wide array of skills that helped him excel as a trapper. We discuss how Carson then parlayed those skills into becoming a scout on expeditions that took him from St. Louis to California, over the Rocky and Sierra mountains, and all throughout the wild, rugged West. Hampton shares how these expeditions turned Carson into a national celebrity and what this frontiersman thought of his fame. Hampton also unpacks Carson's complex relationship with American Indians, and how he respected and adopted the ways of some tribes, but fought against others. We end our conversation with why he decided to become an officer in the Union Army during the Civil War, his initially reluctant and then brutal campaigns against the Navajos, and his legacy.
The Art of Manliness 
