PREFACE

THE second and third chapters of this work, embracing the period covered by the first two expeditions, have substantially the value and authority of an autobiography. Fremont tells his own story in passages extracted from his Reports. This part of the volume, barring a slight omission, gives a perfectly authentic account-as good as can be found— of the interior of the North American continent, its great features, and the races that occupy it. The Rocky Mountains, the parallel range of the Sierra Nevada, with the Basin-so full of strange interest, and not yet wholly made known to geography-between them; and the Pacific regions, are here described, in his own fresh and effective style, by their explorer.

The topics of the work, generally, are regarded by the writer as having an interest and dignity entirely independent of any of the excitements and political operations of the day; and it has been prepared with no other feeling than to present what men of all parties and sections will hereafter recognize as a true picture of a character and a life that have justly attracted attention and will occupy a permanent place in our annals.

The facts have been, in part, gathered from public records and sources open to all. Many of the details and dates, with some very interesting documents, were obtained from Colonel Fremont. But for all the sentiments and opinions advanced in the work the writer is wholly and exclusively responsible.

JOHN CHARLES FREMONT

CHAPTER I

Parentage. Education.-Early History.

JOHN CHARLES FREMONT was born on the 21st The usual residence of his fam

of January, 1813.

ily was in the city of Charleston, South Carolina. His father, who bore the same name, was deeply interested in studying the character and condition of the North American Indians, and spent the last years of his life in visiting many of their tribes. On these excursions he took his family with him, and moved slowly, stopping leisurely at the larger towns and points of chief interest. It was on one of these tours that the subject of this memoir was born, in the city of Savannah. The father, following his favorite pursuit, subsequently visited with his family, and remained for greater or less periods of time in various parts of Georgia, Tennessee, the Carolinas, and Virginia. The mother, celebrated for her beauty and worth, was Ann Beverly Whiting, a native of Gloucester County, Virginia. Her family

was connected with many distinguished names, including that of Washington, to whom she was nearly related.

The father died in 1818, leaving a widow and three children, two sons and a daughter. Colonel Fremont is the sole survivor of his family, with the exception of an orphan niece, the daughter of his brother, who since nine years of age has been a member of his family. The mother died in 1847, at Aiken, South Carolina; the brother and sister some years before.

After the death of her husband, Mrs. Fremont remained some time in Virginia, where John Charles received the rudiments of his education, at Dinwiddie Court House. She then removed back to Charleston, where she fixed her residence, and the education of her children was continued. Although born and reared in affluence, and accustomed to the free and liberal expenditures of the hospitable and generous class to which her Virginia relatives belonged, she was left with her young charge in very limited circumstances, but, fortunately in a community which appreciated her claims to respect, sympathy, and all kind offices. She is still remembered by many faithful friends in Charleston as a lady of great piety and worth.

When John Charles was about thirteen years of age, John W. Mitchell, a lawyer in Charleston, a gentleman of great respectability, in no way connected with the family, but actuated only by benevolent impulses, although perceiving it is not unlikely the bright promise of the lad, took him into his office