Charlotte and Dick Green facts for kids
Charlotte and Dick Green were an enslaved couple who worked at Bent's Fort. This important trading post was located along the Santa Fe Trail in what is now Colorado. Charlotte and Dick, along with Dick's brother Andrew, arrived at the fort with Charles and William Bent in the early 1800s. They became very important people in the fort's history.
Charlotte, sometimes called "Black Charlotte," was famous for her delicious cooking and her lively fandango dancing. Dick Green was especially known for his bravery as a soldier. He helped get justice after Governor Charles Bent was killed during the Taos Revolt. Because of his courage, the Greens were set free and moved back to Missouri.
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Life at Bent's Fort: A Frontier Hub
Many free African Americans, or those who had escaped slavery, often stopped at forts while traveling into the western frontier. Some found work there as laborers, cooks, laundresses, or skilled craftspeople. James Beckwourth, a formerly enslaved man and a respected mountain man, also worked at Bent's Fort. It's likely that other African Americans worked at the fort besides Beckwourth and the Greens.
Bent's Fort was a busy trading post built in 1833. It was a key stop along the Santa Fe Trail, a route connecting St. Louis to Nuevo Mexico (now New Mexico). The fort was located by the Arkansas River. At that time, the river was the border between Mexico and the United States.
Many different people visited the fort. These included explorers, travelers, traders, and soldiers from Spanish, European, French, and African backgrounds. Sometimes, enslaved people traveled with them. Native Americans also came to trade buffalo robes and furs for goods. The fort was a place where travelers could rest, get their wagons fixed, and buy supplies or fresh animals. About 20 people worked to run the trading post.
Charles Bent and his wife, Ignacio Jaramillo, also ran businesses in Santa Fe and Taos, where they had a home.
The Greens' Roles at the Fort
Charlotte, Dick, and Andrew Green traveled with William and Charles Bent from St. Louis to Bent's Fort. Dick was enslaved by Charles Bent, and Andrew served William Bent. Dick and Andrew were in charge of keeping the fort in good shape and doing chores. Charlotte, the Greens, and Owl Woman (William Bent's wife) might have even helped manage the fort. The men may have served guests at large events, and Dick was probably a blacksmith.
Charlotte, known as "Black Charlotte," was famous across the southern Rocky Mountains for her cooking and entertainment. She made delicious pies, pastries, buffalo stew, and vegetables. She used spices like chili peppers, citron, sage, and other herbs to flavor her food. The fort also provided meat like venison and buffalo. Visitors could also enjoy a drink called the "hailstorm," made with whiskey, mint, sugar, and a "special" ingredient.
Charlotte was also known for the dances and parties she hosted. For example, she held a party for General Stephen Kearny that featured a fandango, which she loved to dance. Colonel Henry Inman admired her confident dancing skills. Charlotte's food and parties were a welcome break for mountain men (hunters and trappers) and soldiers who spent quiet and lonely nights on the frontier. Famous explorers like John C. Frémont and George Ruxton remembered her.
The cook's room, next to the kitchen, had books and slates. This suggests that Charlotte might have been responsible for looking after children at the fort.
Andrew, who had very dark skin, was called Black Whiteman by some Native Americans. The Cheyenne people called him Turtle Shell, and he could speak some of their language. He also worked as a cook at the fort. It's possible he was with the Bents as early as 1830, even before the fort was built. William Bent eventually set Andrew free.
Dick Green's Bravery in Santa Fe
When Charles Bent became governor of the New Mexico Territory, he brought Charlotte and Dick Green with him to Santa Fe. In 1846, Bent set up a second home at the Santa Fe Plaza in the Palace of the Governors. This is the oldest public building in the U.S. Dick worked there as his personal servant.
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In 1847, Governor Charles Bent was killed at his house in Taos. Dick Green bravely volunteered to help the troops led by Ceran St. Vrain track down those responsible. St. Vrain assigned Green to drive one of the supply wagons and gave him supplies and a musket. Dick prevented the wagon from being captured and even killed an enemy rider. St. Vrain's troops reported Dick's courage.
Because of his bravery, Dick was given a horse and rode at the front with the regular soldiers. He led the volunteers from Santa Fe. He was an unofficial member of the group, meaning his name wasn't on the official soldier lists. During the Taos Revolt, the enemies hid inside a strong church at the Taos Pueblo. After a hole was made to send a basic grenade into the church, several people were killed, and the air filled with smoke. Some soldiers hesitated to go in, but Dick Green yelled and ran into the church, shooting. Others followed him. Dick was shot in the chest and lost a lot of blood after the bullet was removed from his back. He was taken back to Bent's Fort to recover. For his heroic actions, William Bent set both Charlotte and Dick Green free in 1848.
Later Life and Legacy
The Greens left Bent's Fort in a wagon train heading for Missouri in May 1848. Charlotte was living in St. Louis in 1850. It is believed that both Andrew and Dick died in Missouri. Dick likely passed away before 1850 due to the injuries he received in New Mexico.
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