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wounded during the damp, cold night, and sleep was denied even after thirty hours of ceaseless exertion and fatigue. The dawn of the 7th called to new efforts and new endurance; the column was now reduced to one-third of its number, worn down with toil, ragged and emaciated, with mules fast falling away, horses dead, and provisions exhausted. By the skill and untiring assiduities of Dr. Griffin, the only surgeon of the party, the wounded men were now capable of being removed in rudely formed ambulances, and General Kearny was enabled to resume the command. Pursuing the San Barnardo road towards San Diego, they found the enemy occupying the hills in their front, but retiring as they approached. At the rancheria of San Barnardo, they watered their horses and procured refreshments for the sick, then moving towards the bed of the river, drove before them many cattle, a much needed supply. These, however, had soon to be abandoned, for the enemy debouching from the hills in the rear, sent forward a party in full gallop to seize a hill commanding the road, and these it became necessary to dislodge. To accomplish this, was but the work of a few moments, and the task of the advance. The Californians had five or six killed and wounded in the skirmish, which entailed on the victors no other loss than that of the cattle, one sufficiently serious under the circumstances. Against a force so numerically superior and so splendidly mounted, it was impossible to move, while the ambulances required the services of half the effective men; and even with the tenderest care in transporting them, the sufferings of the sick were exceedingly distressing. Here, therefore, the general encamped, to wait until the wounded could be carried on horseback, resolved then to cut his way to San Diego.

A flag of truce sent in by Pico on the morning of the 8th, led to a conference; he wishing to exchange four Americans, whom he had captured, for an equal number of Californians. Unfortunately there was but one Californian prisoner in camp; but

this one was well exchanged for Burgess, who was one of those despatched to Commodore Stockton on the 6th. He and his companions had arrived safely in San Diego, and on their return had, previously to their capture, concealed their letters under a tree; but on subsequent examination, it was found that these had been abstracted. That night, Lieutenant Beall of the navy, Mr. Carson, and an Indian, voluntarily went forth, on the perilous attempt of reaching San Diego, nine-and-twenty miles distant, and every pass towards which was now occupied by the

enemy.

During four days' rest in this camp, as for many days before, their food was the meat of the poor worn-down horses and mules; but the wounded were going on well, and on the evening of the 10th all save two were declared by the surgeon ready for the saddle. Orders were given to resume the march next morning. Before daybreak, they were joyously surprised by the arrival in camp of Lieutenant Gray, of the navy, sent out from San Diego by Commodore Stockton, with an escort of one hundred tars and eighty marines. Beall, Carson, and the Indian, had safely arrived in San Diego. The gallant new-comers found glad employment until day, in distributing among the naked and famished soldiers their own clothing and provisions.

By ten in the forenoon of the 11th December, the united force was on its route. Before them the enemy precipitately fled, leaving behind most of the cattle, for which they had so eagerly contested. This day first burst upon their view, from one of the hills, the broad Pacific, henceforth to be their country's western boundary. On the 12th they entered San Diego, having thus terminated the arduous march of one thousand and ninety miles from Santa Fé.

The preparations for the contemplated expedition against Ciudad de los Angelos, distant one hundred and forty-five miles, having been steadily pushed forward, at the request of Commo

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dore Stockton, who had in September assumed the title of Governor of California, General Kearny assumed the command, and went forth from San Diego, on the 29th of December, at the head of about five hundred men. The force was constituted thus: sixty dismounted dragoons consolidated into one company, under Captain Turner; fifty Californian volunteers, commanded by Captain Gillespie; the remainder, sailors and marines, acting as infantry and artillery, with six great guns of various calibre; Lieutenant Emory acted as assistant adjutant-general, and Commodore Stockton accompanied the army.

Progress was slow, the oxen used in the wagons being poor, and the wagons themselves of the miserable construction of the country. No enemy was seen until January the 8th, when they showed themselves in full force, under their acting governor and captain-general, Flores, occupying with six hundred men and four pieces of artillery the heights in front commanding the San Gabriel, and evidently prepared to dispute the passage of that river. The troops were immediately disposed in the order best adapted to meet a wholly mounted force, a strong party of skirmishers being thrown forward to cover the front, the wagons and baggage occupying the centre, and the remainder of the command protecting the flanks. The position of the enemy was highly favourable. A ridge fifty feet high ran parallel with the bank on his side of the river, on which he posted his artillery, and just behind this hill, on either flank, a squadron of his cavalry awaited the favourable moment for a charge. As the leading battalion, deploying as skirmishers, reached the middle of the stream, the battery on the hill opened upon them, and made the water fly around with grape and round-shot. The artillery tars were now ordered forward, the guns were quickly unlimbered, pulled over cheerily by the men, and planted in counter battery on the enemy's side. And soon, and briskly, they sent forth their thundering replies to the hill, making the fire from the latter

wild and uncertain.

Thus covered, the baggage and cattle were with great toil, forced across the river, which flowed one hundred yards wide and about twenty inches deep, over a bottom of quicksand. Under a natural banquette, breast-high, on the right bank, the troops deployed into line, while a heavy shower of round-shot and of grape passed chiefly over their heads. In an hour and twenty minutes the baggage-train had all crossed, the artillery of the enemy was silenced, and the troops were in full charge upon the hill. Half way between the bank and the hill, the foe made a furious charge on the left flank, while the right was menaced at the same moment. A volley or two repulsed the hot assailants, and in ten minutes more the heights were carried, and our troops masters of the field. Pursuit was impossible, from the wretched condition of the wagon-train, which, bearing provisions for the garrison intended to be left in the city of Los Angelos, could not be abandoned. On the battle-field the army encamped that night.

Next morning, the cattle but little refreshed, the route was leisurely pursued across the Mesa, a wide plain, lying between the San Gabriel and the stream, called indifferently the Rio San. Fernando, and the Rio de los Angelos. The enemy hung continually on the front and flanks for a distance of about six miles, then concentrated their force at a crest and ravine, that commanded the road on the right. Here General Flores addressed his men, urging them to make one more bold and determined charge, to which he promised certain success. Deviating to the left of the road, to deprive him of the vantage-ground for his artillery, the army steadily pursued its march, disregarding the fire which the enemy opened with his artillery from a distance. Flores now deployed his force, making a horse-shoe in the column's front, and opening with his nine-pounders a galling fire on the right flank. A halt was called to silence this annoyance, which was a fifteen minutes' work, and the order was again