Blood and Thunder

1. Kit Carson: A Complex Figure in a Brutal Era

He was also a natural born killer.

Contradictory Nature. Kit Carson embodies the contradictions of the American West: a celebrated hero and a ruthless killer, a friend to some Native Americans and a foe to others. His life reflects the era's moral ambiguities, where survival often demanded violence.

Skills and Traits:

• Expert tracker and frontiersman
• Illiterate but multilingual
• Loyal friend but fierce enemy
• Celebrated for bravery but capable of brutality

Moral Ambiguity. Carson's actions, viewed through a modern lens, are often troubling. However, he was a product of his time, and his choices must be understood within the context of the brutal realities of the 19th-century West.

2. The Navajo: Culture, Conflict, and Resilience

The sheep is your mother, the sheep is life.

Pastoral Society. The Navajo were primarily a pastoral people, their lives revolving around sheep and weaving. This unique adaptation shaped their culture, economy, and relationship with the land.

Adaptability and Raiding:

• Skilled raiders, targeting Spanish and Mexican settlements for livestock
• Borrowed and adapted elements from other cultures
• Deep-seated fear and revulsion of death

Enduring Identity. Despite centuries of conflict and displacement, the Navajo have maintained their cultural identity and spiritual traditions. Their resilience is a testament to their strength and adaptability.

3. Manifest Destiny: Justification for Western Expansion

It was, O’Sullivan suggested, her “manifest destiny.”

Ideological Driver. Manifest Destiny provided a moral justification for American expansion, framing it as a divinely ordained mission to spread democracy and civilization across the continent. This belief fueled the war with Mexico and the displacement of Native Americans.

Key Tenets:

• American exceptionalism
• Belief in the superiority of American institutions
• Desire for territorial expansion

Consequences. Manifest Destiny led to the annexation of Texas, the Mexican-American War, and the forced removal of Native Americans from their ancestral lands. It also created deep divisions within the United States over the issue of slavery.

4. Kearny's Army: Conquest and Control in the Southwest

An army is a mob of the worst kind unless properly governed & restrained.

Military Objective. Kearny's Army of the West was tasked with conquering and occupying vast territories in the Southwest, including New Mexico and California. This was a key component of President Polk's expansionist agenda.

Kearny's Leadership:

• Disciplined and pragmatic leader
• Sought to minimize bloodshed and win over the local population
• Understood the importance of controlling alcohol and maintaining order

Challenges of Occupation. Kearny faced numerous challenges, including logistical difficulties, hostile Indian tribes, and the need to establish a new government in a conquered territory. His success was due to his experience, diplomacy, and iron will.

5. Fremont and Carson: Exploration, Ambition, and Legend

He was also a natural born killer.

Fremont's Charisma. John C. Fremont, the "Pathfinder," was a charismatic explorer and politician whose ambition and self-promotion helped shape the narrative of the American West. His expeditions, guided by Kit Carson, played a key role in opening up the West to settlement.

Carson's Role:

• Expert guide and frontiersman
• Loyal to Fremont but often caught in the middle of his schemes
• Became a national legend through Fremont's writings

Unequal Partnership. Fremont's ambition and Carson's skill created a powerful partnership, but it was often an unequal one. Fremont received the lion's share of the credit, while Carson remained a more humble and grounded figure.

6. The Long Walk: A Tragedy of Displacement and Loss

Though forbidden to rise from my bed, I was free to meditate on the follies and wickedness of man!

Forced Relocation. The Long Walk was the forced relocation of thousands of Navajos from their ancestral lands to Bosque Redondo, a barren reservation in eastern New Mexico. This event remains a deeply traumatic experience in Navajo history.

Suffering and Death:

• Harsh conditions and inadequate supplies led to widespread suffering and death
• Loss of cultural identity and spiritual connection to the land
• Breakdown of traditional social structures

Enduring Memory. The Long Walk is a powerful symbol of the injustices inflicted upon Native Americans by the U.S. government. It serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving cultural heritage and fighting for self-determination.

7. The Clash of Cultures: Misunderstandings and Violence

The United States will conquer Mexico, but it will be as the man who swallows the arsenic which brings him down in turn. Mexico will poison us.

Cultural Differences. The clash between American and Navajo cultures was marked by misunderstandings, mistrust, and violence. Differing views on land ownership, warfare, and social organization contributed to the conflict.

Breakdown of Communication:

• Language barriers and cultural misunderstandings
• Conflicting views on treaties and agreements
• Escalating cycles of violence and reprisal

Tragic Consequences. The clash of cultures led to the Navajo Wars, the Long Walk, and the near destruction of the Navajo people. It also exposed the dark side of American expansionism and the devastating impact of cultural imperialism.

8. Bosque Redondo: A Failed Experiment in Assimilation

The ruling hand of Providence has interposed and by an abortion deprived us of the fond hope of mortals.

Carleton's Vision. General Carleton envisioned Bosque Redondo as a model reservation where the Navajos would be transformed into sedentary farmers and assimilated into American society. This vision was based on a belief in the superiority of American culture and a desire to "civilize" Native Americans.

Reasons for Failure:

• Poor location with limited resources
• Lack of understanding of Navajo culture and traditions
• Inadequate support from the U.S. government

Devastating Impact. Bosque Redondo was a humanitarian disaster that resulted in the deaths of thousands of Navajos. It also failed to achieve its goal of assimilation, as the Navajos resisted attempts to change their way of life.

9. The Enduring Legacy: Memory, Myth, and Reconciliation

I follow the scent of falling rain
And head for the place where it is darkest
I follow the lightning
And draw near to the place where it strikes

Rebuilding and Resilience. Despite the trauma of the Long Walk, the Navajo people returned to their homeland and rebuilt their nation. They have preserved their cultural identity and spiritual traditions while adapting to the modern world.

Lessons Learned:

• The importance of respecting cultural differences
• The need for just and equitable treatment of Native Americans
• The enduring power of the human spirit

Continuing Challenges. The Navajo Nation still faces numerous challenges, including poverty, unemployment, and environmental degradation. However, the Diné people continue to strive for self-determination and a brighter future.

Last updated: April 13, 2025