COL. FREMONT^S KNOWLEDGE OF WALKER’S PASS. 
17 
was, I believe, a trapper in California long before the first exploring parties were sent there. 
Of the minutiae of his early history I know but little, but it is not relevant to the subject. He, 
however, in one of his numerous expeditions, found a very good pass in the Sierra Nevada, 
which he thought would answer admirably for a wagon-road. This he reported when he was 
in Missouri, or some one of the (now so-called) Eastern States. In August, 1845, Colonel 
Fremont started on an expedition to the Pacific, by the way of the headwaters of the Arkansas, 
White river, Great Salt lake, and Mary’s or Humboldt river, and he engaged the services of 
Walker as guide. Mr. E. Kern, whose lamentable death with Captain Gunnison and party is 
known to all, was topographer or draughtsman to the expedition, as also was Mr. Charles 
Preuss. Mr. Alexander Godey, of whom Colonel Fremont speaks in the highest terms, was 
also of the party. When Colonel Fremont reached the eastern base of the Sierra Nevada, 
which he did in the vicinity of Walker’s lake—say latitude 38° 30' north—he found that his 
party would soon be out of provisions. He therefore separated from the main party, and 
proceeded as rapidly as possible to Sutter’s Fort to obtain a supply of live stock, flour, &c., 
with the understanding that the main party, under Walker and Kern, were to follow south¬ 
wardly the eastern base of the Sierra till they came to the pass Walker had discovered ; and 
here, in the mountains, on a stream flowing west from the pass, they were to remain in camp 
till relieved by Colonel Fremont. At this time very little was known of this part of the 
country. Walker drew a rough sketch of the route to be pursued by Colonel Fremont in order 
to find his camp. The main point in his instructions was, that he should pass the San Joaquin 
river and continue on southeasterly till he came to a large stream. This he was to ascend till 
he found a branch coming in from the east, and in the valley of this branch he would find the 
camp. 
Colonel Fremont succeeded in obtaining the provisions he required, and started in search of 
Kern and Walker. Following Walker’s directions, he crossed the San Joaquin, and farther 
on came to a large stream answering in every respect the description. It is the one now known 
as King’s river, and called on some of the maps Lake Fork, and is a hundred miles north of 
the place where Walker was encamped. This stream he ascended, and searched for a long 
time in a very rugged country, in many places covered with snow, but could find no trace of 
the party; and, thinking they had gone in to the settlement, he gave up the search and went 
to Monterey. It is possible (indeed almost certain) that Walker did not know of the existence 
of King’s river when he was directing Colonel Fremont where to find him, for, when he arrived 
there on his way to Monterey, he mistook it for the San Joaquin. 
Walker reached the pass late in December, and, passing the divide, made his camp in the 
valley of the stream flowing from it. Here he waited till the 18th of January, 1846, when he 
gave up all hope of seeing Colonel Fremont, and, his provisions being nearly exhausted, he 
started for the settlement, and subsequently rejoined the Colonel at Monterey. 
From these circumstances the pass in which Walker and Kern were encamped was called 
Walker’s Pass ; and, as no name was known to Colonel Fremont for the stream which flowed 
from it, he named it Kern river. This stream was, and is now, known to the native Califor¬ 
nians as the Po-sun-co-la, a name doubtless derived from the Indians. When I was at the 
ordinary crossing-place of the river, and preparing a small raft to cross, three Californians rode 
up to the opposite bank, and asked, in Spanish, if this was the Po-sun-co-la. 
This pass, in which Walker made his camp, is undoubtedly Walker’s Pass. 
Colonel Fremont, in April of the preceding year, (1844,) had crossed the Sierra about half a 
