Editing Kit Carson (section)

=== Santa Fe Trail ===
In August 1826, against his mother's wishes, Kit ran away from his apprenticeship. He went west with a caravan of fur trappers and tended their livestock. They made their trek over the Santa Fe Trail to [[Santa Fe, New Mexico|Santa Fe]], the capital of [[Santa Fe de Nuevo México]], reaching their destination in November 1826. He settled in [[Taos, New Mexico|Taos]].<ref>Guild and Carter 27</ref><ref name=Roberts2>Roberts 56–57</ref>

Carson lived with Mathew Kinkead, a trapper and explorer who had served with Carson's older brothers during the War of 1812.<ref name=Carter2>Carter 42–50.</ref> Carson was mentored by Kinkead in learning the skills of a trapper and learning the necessary languages for trade. Eventually, he became fluent in Spanish and several Native American languages.

Workman put an advertisement in a local newspaper back in Missouri. He wrote that he would give a one-cent [[bounty (reward)|reward]] to anyone who brought the boy back to Franklin. No one claimed the reward. It was a bit of a joke, but Carson was free.<ref name=Roberts2 /> The advertisement featured the first printed description of Carson: "Christopher Carson, a boy about 16 years old, small of his age, but thick set; light hair, ran away from the subscriber, living in Franklin, Howard county, Missouri, to whom he had been bound to learn the saddler's trade."<ref name=Roberts2 />

Between 1827 and 1829, Carson worked as cook, translator, and wagon driver in the southwest. He also worked at a copper mine near the [[Gila River]], in southwestern [[New Mexico]].<ref>Sides 14</ref> In later life, Carson never mentioned any women from his youth. Only three specific women were mentioned in his writing: Josefa Jaramillo, his third and last wife; a comrade's mother in [[Washington, DC]]; and Mrs. Ann White, killed by Natives after the [[White massacre]].<ref>Guild and Carter 26</ref>