Edward Fitzgerald Beale

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Chapter I — Early Days

Birth and Parentage — Born in the Navy — A Fistic Encounter and its Consequences — A Jacksonian Midshipman at Fourteen — On the Schoolship Independence — Passed Midshipman and Ordered to the Congress 44 as Acting Master — Secret Mission for Commodore Stockton — Tradition of the Service — British Designs on California ......

Chapter II — ^The War with Mexico

Secretary Bancroft's Instructions to Commodore Stockton upon Taking Command of the Pacific Squadron — The Situation in California — The Army of the West at Fort Leavenworth — General Wool — Kearny at Santa Fe — The Meeting with Kit Carson — Kearny Pushes on to California — Battle of San Pasqual — Beale Commands the Guns — Mexicans in Overwhelming Force — Kearny in Straits — Beale and Carson Undertake/' Desperate Journey Bringing News to Stockton — The Relief Column — Benton's Speech in the Senate — His Tribute to Beale — Beale's First Visit to San Francisco Bay in the Fall of 1846 — His Letter to Fremont ......

Chapter III — With Carson on the Gila

Beale the Hero of San Pasqual — Commodore Stockton's Despatches and the Praise of his Brother Officers — Beale and Carson Set Out across the Plains to Carry the News to Washington — General Sherman's Picture of Carson — Adventures on the Gila — Dogged by Indians for Eight Hundred Miles on the Central Plains — "Them's Arrers" — Lions in St. Louis and Washington — A Short Holiday — Back across the Plains Again — Incredible Hardships in the Gila Country — Beale Disvi Contents covers or Divines the Santa Fe Trail — The Rev. Colton as Alcalde of Monterey — The Milch Cow " Eschews " to the Court — Sutter's Mill-Race and the Golden Sands — Conditions of Life in El Dorado — The Rev. Colton's Complaint and Prayerful Hope — Beale as a Caricaturist — The Alleged Resentment of Catesby Jones — Story of Gold in California — Competition between the Army and Navy to Get the News East — Beale's Views on the Gold Question ..... 25

Chapter IV — Beale Brings First Gold East

Beale's Daring Journey across Mexico with the First Gold — Gente de Camino — Mexico City and Minister Clifford — Fate of Beale's Guide — Senators Foote and Benton Hear the Wonderful Story — William Carey Jones's Account of Journey in National Intelligencer — Beale Introduced to the United States Senate — Wise " Stay-at-Homes " Show Incredulity — Beale Walks down Wall Street with Mr. Aspinwall — P. T. Barnum Wants to Exhibit the Gold — But Half the Treasure is Fashioned into an Engagement Ring — Courting at Chester — Ammen's Letter to the Young Argonaut — On the Trail Again — Letter from Big Timber — Beale's Description of his Route across the Continent — Along the Thirty-fifth Parallel — Old Trail Develops into Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad — Chronological Table of Beale's Early Travels — Marriage with Miss Edwards — Arctic Expedition Proposed — Letters from Captain Lynch and Commodore Maury — Bayard Taylor Dedicates his Book on California to Beale — Beale Resigns from the Service — He Retrieves the Business Venturesof Commodore Stockton and Mr. Aspinwall . . 42

Chapter V — First Steps in our Indian Policy

Lieutenant Beale Appointed by President Fillmore General Superintendent of Indian Aflfairs for California and Nevada — Congress Appropriates Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dollars to Carry into Effect Beale's Plans — Indian Tribes to be Colonized and Protected on Reservations — Beale's Journey from the Valley of the Mississippi to California along the Central Route as Described by Himself and Mr. Heap — Westport, Kansas, and the "Stirrup Cup" — Fort Atkinson and Pike's Peak and the Huerfano River — Plains of the Arkansas and Fort Massachusetts ........ 64

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Chapter VI — Across the Plains in '53

From Coochatope Pass to Grand River — A Taste of Mountain Sheep — The Great Divide — Murderous Work of Utah Indians — Arrival at the Uncompagre River — The Swollen Fork of the Colorado — Raft Built and Abandoned — The Slough of Despond — Building a Canoe — Forlorn Plight of Pack Mules — Shipwreck and Inventory of Losses — Expedition Separated by River but United by Common Misfortunes — Gallant Swimmers — Beale Decides to Send to Taos in New Mexico to Replenish his Supplies— Mr. Heap's Journey to the Settlements — A Miserable Night — "Peg-Leg" and the Venerable Utah — The Lonely Squaw — Arrival at Taos — Mr. Leroux and Supplies ......... 84

Chapter VII — Beale's Separate Journal

Hunting Prowess of the Delaware — Indians Appear in Camp — Banquet of Venison and Boiled Corn — The Beautiful Valley of the Savoya — The Indians Race their Horses — A Taste of Rough Riding — The Return of Mr. Heap . . . .112

Chapter VIII — On the Verge of Hostilities

Shaking Hands with Utahs — Picturesque Encampment on the Big Uncompagre — Lieutenant Beale and the "Capitanos" — A Stiff Demand for Presents — A Pair of Game-cocks — Crossing the Fallen River — Indians in Paint and Feathers — Beale's Ultimatum — The Delaware's Long Memory — Grand River Canyon — The Crossing — The Indians Attempt a Stampede — The Mormons near the Vegas of Santa Clara — Paragoona — Brigham Young — Why the Mormons Settled at Parawan — Little Salt Lake — Strict Vigilance over Strangers — Colonel Smith — The Practice of Polygamy — Views on the System of " Spiritual Wives " ........ 122

Chapter IX — The Desert Journey

The Mormon Wagon Trail — Joy of the Pah-Utahs — Famous Horse Thieves — The Traffic in Children — Rio de la Virgen — The First Jornada — Muddy Creek and the Spring of Gaetan — Pah-Utah Billingsgate — The End of a Mormon Explorer — The Second Jornada — Twenty Hours without Water — The viii Contents

Oasis of Tio Meso — The Mohaveh River — The Valley of the Santa Ana — San Bernardino Mountain — The Settlements and Los Angeles — Benton's Letters and Congratulations . . 147

Chapter X — Indian Affairs

State of the Indians in the Pacific Coast Territories — Indians Held to Peonage by the Whites — Fifteen Thousand Die of Starvation — Spaniards and Mexicans as Slave Drivers — Beale's Plan of Protected Reservations for the Nation's Wards — Mr. Sebastian Supports the Plan in the Senate, and Secures the Desired Appropriation — Beale's Indian Policy Endorsed by the Military and Civil Officials in California — General Hitchcock's Letter — Opposition of Indian Agents — Massacres in Shasta and Scott Valley — General Rising of the Indians Feared — Beale Commissioned Brigadier -General — ■, As Peace Plenipotentiary Brings the Warlike Tribes to Terms — Beale's Defence of the Modocs . . . .174

Chapter XI — The Forgotten Camel Corps

Transportation Problems of the Fifties — To Provision Army Posts in Southwest, Beale Suggests Camel Trains to the War Department — Enthusiastic Reception of the Novel Idea by Secretary Jefferson Davis — David Dixon Porter Sent to Tunis and Syria to Secure the Camels — Camel Corps in the Scinde Campaign — Beale's Report to the War Department of his Camel Journey from San Antonio to El Paso — San Francisco Papers Enthusiastic over the New Beast of Burden — Davis Resigns from the War Department and the Camels are Neglected — Beale Herds the Survivors on his Ranch — A Camel Tandem — Value of Beale's Journals to Future Historians of the Southwestern and Pacific States . . . .198

Chapter XII — The Wagon Road Survey from Fort Defiance to California

General Beale's Report to the Secretary of War — From Zuni to the Banks of the Little Colorado — Praise of the Camels, Especially their Swimming — Extracts from Beale's Journal — Howard's Spring, Famous for Indian Massacres — Water Shortage — Mount Buchanan and Mount Benton — Indian Adventure of a Geologist — Captured Indians Retained as Guides

Contents ix to the Colorado — First Sight of the Sierra Nevada — Winter at Fort Tejon — The Return Journey — First Steamer on the Colorado — Last Entry in the Journal — "We Have Tested the i^ Value of the Camel, Marked a New Road to the Pacific and Travelled Four Thousand Miles" 211

Chapter XIII — The Journey along the 35TH Parallel

Beale's Official Report — Railway Surveys from Fort Smith, Arkansas, to the Colorado — Choteau's and the Valley of the Canadian — The Rio del Norte at Albuquerque — Advantages of this Route for Wagon or Railroads — Extracts from Beale's Journal — Inscription Rock — Breakfast of Wild Cat — A Visit to Zuni — Advice to the Chief — "A Merrie Jest of Ye White Man and Ye Indian" — Indian Rumors and a Treaty of Peace — Civil War and the Close of the Wagon Road Period — "Wanderer" Writes about it from Gum Springs to the Philadelphia Press — The Pacific Railroad as a Government Project — Santa Fe Traders — Praise of Beale as Pioneer and Road Builder 230

Chapter XIV — General Beale as Surveyor-General

Lincoln Appoints Beale Surveyor-General of California and Nevada — Plans of the Secessionists — Beale Persuades Lincoln not to Enforce the Draft in California — Weathering the Crisis — Beale's Letter to the President Volunteering for Service in the Field — His Views on the Cause and Probable Consequences of Civil War Published by the Philadelphia Press — "The Fate of the Commons of the World Depends Upon the Issue of the Struggle" — Beale's Letter to Secretary Chase Favoring Acquisition of Lower California by United States — Chase's Reply — Letters from the Mexican General Vega — Beale's Sympathies With the Liberal Though Fugitive Government across the Border — Grant and Beale Contrive to Send Muskets to Juarez — President Diaz's Recognition in after Years of Beale's Assistance in this the Hour of Need . . 256

Chapter XV — Life on the Tejon Rancho

Beale Resigns as Surveyor-General and Retires to Tejon — Purchases more Land from Absentee Landlords — Description of the Bakersfield Country when Kern County Was a Wilder-

Contents ness — The Spring, the Fig-trees and the Live Oaks — A Rodeo — Robber Bands — Nearest Justice 150 Miles Away! — Sale of Sheep in San Francisco — Mexicans Who Panned for Gold Before the Forty-niners — Lincoln and Beale Anecdotes — "Monarch of all he Surveys" — Charles Nordhoff's Visit to Tejon — Description of Life there — His Praise of what General Beale Had Accomplished — Kit Carson's Ride by Joaquin Miller — Beale Falls Foul of the Poet — Sad Scenes on the Rancho .......... 272

Chapter XVI — Last Years

General Beale Purchases the Decatur House — Its Distinguished Occupants and Ghost Story — Beale's Political Activity — His Untiring Efforts to Help the Negro — Appointed by Grant Minister to Austria — Newspaper Comment in California — A Bill of Sale from Slavery Days — Awkward Diplomatic Situation — The Emperor and Count Andrassy — Friendship of Grant and Beale — Their Correspondence Published — Arthur Fails to Appoint Beale Secretary of the Navy — Grant's Resentment — Beale Ends the Grant-Blaine Feud — Last Days — Beale's Death — Scenes in Washington and on the Tejon Rancho .......... 291

Index 307

ILLUSTRATIONS

PAGB

General Edward Fitzgerald Beale . Frontispiece

From a Woodcut

Commodore Robert F. Stockton . . . 8

From an Engraving by H. B. Hall After a Painting on Ivory by Newton in 1840

The City AND Harbor OF Rio de Janeiro . , 10'^

The Harbor of Valparaiso . . . , 20 ^

The City of Lima . . . . 30 ^

The Harbor of San Francisco in November, 1849 38

Mazatlan 42^

The Volcano Diggings 60

General Beale's First Camp in the Sangre de

Cristo Mountains . . . . .76"^

Grand Riverj below the Junction of the Uncom- i^ xu

Illustrations

The Lower Bar, Mokelumne River .

The Method of Crossing Lacuna Creek

A View on Grand River in 1852 .

San Francisco in 1846 . .

Sacramento City, from the South, in 1849

Portsmouth Square, San Francisco .

From a Lithograph in 1850

Kit Carson Statue ....

Frederick MacMonnies, Sculptor

A View of Monterey ....

Kit Carson's Gun . . .

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CHAPTER I Early Days

Beale's Birth and Parentage — Bom in the Navy — ^A Fistic Encounter and its Consequences — A Jacksonian Midshipman at Fourteen— On the Schoolship Independence — Passed Midshipman and Ordered to the Congress 44 as Acting Master — Secret Mission for Commodore Stockton — Tradition of the Service — British Designs on California.

EDWARD FITZGERALD BEALE was bom on his father's estate in the District of Columbia on February 4, 1822. He was the son of Paymaster George Beale' who served with distinction under McDonough in the Battle of Lake Champlain and of Emily the youngest daughter of Commodore Truxtun of the Constellation. As the son and the grandson of distinguished naval officers, young Beale had what was regarded in the old Navy as a prescriptive right to enter the service and this was also his wish from earliest years. With the advent of Jackson and

* See note on next page.

with Democracy installed in power as never before since the foundation of the Government, the prescriptive rights of the old naval families were, however, being brushed aside and the claims and hopes of young "Ned" Beale might also have been overlooked but for a fortunate and characteristic incident which I shall relate as it is recorded in the family archives.

The boys at the Capital, where the Beales spent their winters at this time, were much given to politics, and their ranks were divided by allegiance to antagonistic statesmen.

Fortunately for himself, our hero at this moment was a stalwart Jacksonian. There were many adherents of Adams at the Capital and after hot disputes it was agreed to have all political differences settled by the ancient test of battle.

"Ned" Beale was chosen by the Jacksonians, while the Adamites were represented by a boy named Evans, who has since become a distinguished citizen of Indiana. A day or two later, the fistic encounter took place under a long white

Navy Department,

Feb. lo, 1820.

Sir:

In compliance with a resolution of Congress, I am directed by the President to present to you a silver medal as a testimony of the high sense entertained by Congress of your gallantry, good conduct, and services in the decisive and splendid victory gained on Lake Champlain on the nth of September, 1814, over a British squadron of superior force.

Yours most respectfully.

Smith Thompson, Secretary of the Navy. To George Beale, Esq., Paymaster U. S. Navy.

Early Days 3

arch which at that time marked the southern entrance to the grounds of the White House. While the battle raged and the enthusiastic spectators shouted encouragement to their respective champions, a tall figure appeared on the scene, scattered the boys, and seizing Beale by the collar asked him what he was fighting for. He replied that he was fighting for Jackson and that his opponent, the Adams boy, had expressed a poor opinion of the President's politics and personality.

"I am Jackson," said the newcomer. "I never forget the men or boys who are willing to fight for me, but of course I do not wish them to do it all the time. Now put on your coats."

Several years now elapsed which Beale spent at Georgetown College, but when he reached his fourteenth year, the desire to enter the Navy became overwhelming. One afternoon he called at the White House with his mother to see General Jackson and put in an application for a midshipman's warrant. Mrs. Beale told her story, insisting upon the fact that her boy was the son and the grandson of men who had served their country and had been wounded in battle.

Jackson listened with courtesy and with interest, but seemed somewhat uncertain as to how he should act upon the request. Suddenly the boy interrupted his mother and said, "Mother, let me speak to General Jackson in my own behalf." He then approached the General, in a moment reminding him of the fight and the promise he had made, at least by implication, to serve him should the opportunity present. Without a word, General Jackson tore off the back of a letter lying near him (this was before the days of envelopes) and wrote to the Secretary of the Navy, "Give this boy an immediate warrant," and handed it over to Mrs. Beale. A few hours later, Ned Beale's name was on the Navy list and soon he was on his way to the receiving ship at Philadelphia, which then served as a Naval School.

The Widow Beale now returned with her triumphant boy to Chester, Pa., when suddenly the problem presented itself, in what guise should the youngster make his first appearance at the Naval School? She called in her kinsmen, the Porters and the Farraguts, who both were neighbors at Greenbank on the Delaware, and at their suggestion Aunt Polly was called in. Aunt Polly was well known in Chester as an impoverished gentlewoman who had seen better days. She did needlework, and it was thought that with care and by the advice of several of the young officers of the family, who were at home on leave, she could bring together something resembling a uniform, and indeed a most wonderful coat was produced, which was fitted out with the buttons of the great Truxtun, large metal buttons about five times as large as those which were ordinarily worn in this day. In this guise, three days later, Beale presented himself on board the receiving ship. His future mess-

Early Days 5

mates made great fun of the wonderful coat. Many fights ensued, and as a result, the treasured heirlooms, the buttons which Truxtun had worn, it is said, on the occasion of his famous battle when in command of the Constellation^ disappeared. The essential had been achieved, however, and "Ned" Beale had fought his way into the Navy.

Beale's career on the schoolship Independence was creditable and gave promise of his later performance. Before he was sixteen, he had twice risked his life in saving from drowning the lives of others ; he was regarded as pugnacious by his classmates and by his teachers but not excessively so for a midshipman who owed his appointment to the personal selection of Andrew Jackson. Beale made a cruise to the West Indies on the Porpoise and another to the Mediterranean on the Ohio. Returning to the Naval School in Philadelphia he faced his examinations bravely, was commended for seamanship and his ability to write good lucid English, and then received his commission as Passed Midshipman.

In August, 1845, Beale was ordered to the frigate Congress 44 fitting out in Norfolk, Virginia, for the Pacific Coast. He was commissioned Acting Master, a grade since abolished, and now the boyish days were over, and the serious business of life began.

We now approach an episode in Beale's life which is certainly somewhat imsatisfactory to the historian. Few youngsters have been entrusted with secret missions, still fewer have proved so reticent as to carry the secret to their grave, yet this was the case with our young Acting Master. Little is known of the episode beyond the general tradition in the service, of which I shall speak later, and for this I am indebted to Rear- Admiral Harmony and Rear-Admiral Upshur, Beale's shipmates, who happily survive. We must also do what we can with the information which the Reverend Walter Colton, the Chaplain of the Congress, supplied in his book descriptive of this cruise, which was published in New York in 1850 under the title of Deck and Port. One month out from Hampton Roads he makes this entry in his log:

We discovered this morning a brig on our weather bow, standing down for us, and we hove to with our main topsail to the mast. She ran up Danish colors and in an hour hove to at a cable's length under our lee-quarter. We lowered a boat and boarded her. She proved to be the brig Maria, forty days out from Rio Grande in Brazil, and bound for Antwerp. The Captain wished to correct his reckoning, and well he might, for he was seven days out of his longitude. Mr. Beale, our second Master, took passage in her for the United States with despatches. It was arranged between him and the Captain of the brig that he should be put on board the first vessel that they might fall in with bound for an American port, and that if they fell in with none, that he should be landed at Dover, England.

As a matter of fact, the Maria sailed for many weeks through an empty ocean, and without meet-

Early Days 7

ing a sail. Young Beale was finally landed somewhere on the English coast. He went directly to London, and after a few weeks stay there proceeded to the United States. After twenty-four hours in Washington, he set out to rejoin his ship, which he finally overtook in Callao harbor in Peru on the 8th of May.

Neither the Beale papers nor the records of the Navy Department shed any light whatsoever upon the purpose of Beale's mission, or the purport of the despatches which he carried. It is merely stated that he arrived with information from Commodore Stockton who commanded the Congress and was going out to the Pacific Coast to take command of all the naval forces there. Stockton's orders were to do all within his power to prepare for what the inevitable conflict with Mexico meant.

Beale never enlightened his family as to the details of this mission. He merely answered proudly when repeatedly questioned, "I was a bearer of secret despatches. Commodore Stockton never removed the seal of secrecy from my lips."

The tradition in the service is that while still in the West Indies Commodore Stockton secured information in regard to the movements of a British squadron which he deemed of the greatest importance and detached Beale to carry the news to Washington. It must be borne in mind that at the time in many circles our British cousins were credited with a design to anticipate the course of our manifest destiny and to acquire California themselves. When Stockton reached the Pacific Coast in the summer of 1845 with the return instructions which Beale brought him, covering the contingency of British intervention, Admiral Seymour was there with a large and powerful fleet. However, Seymour behaved in a very friendly manner, observed a waiting attitude, and never by word or action betrayed the fact that American annexation of the coveted territory was not agreeable to his Government.

Commodore Robert F. Stockton

From an Engraving l)y H. B. Hall After a painting on ivory by Newton, in 1840

Chapter II

Secretary Bancroft's Instructions to Commodore Stockton upon Taking Command of the Pacific Squadron — The Situation in California — The Army of the West at Fort Leavenworth — General Wool — Keamy at Santa Fe — The Meeting with Kit Carson — Keamy Pushes on to California — Battle of San Pasqual — Beale Commands the Guns — Mexicans in Overwhelming Force — Kearny in Straits — Beale and Carson Undertake Desperate Journey Bringing News to Stockton — The Rehef Column — Benton's Speech in the Senate — His Tribute to Beale — Beale's First Visit to San Francisco Bay in the Fall of 1846 — His Letter to Fremont.

THE purpose of the Administration at this juncture and the situation in Mexico is well described in the instructions of Hon. George Bancroft, the historian, then Secretary of the Navy, to Commodore Stockton when this distinguished officer was on the point of sailing from Norfolk, Va., on the Congress to take command of the Pacific Squadron.

It is the earnest desire of the President [writes Mr. Bancroft] to pursue the policy of peace, and he is anxious that you and every part of your Squadron should be assiduously careful to avoid any act which could be construed into an act of aggression. Should Mexico, however, be resolutely bent on hostilities you will be mindful to protect the persons and the interests of citizens of the United States, and should you ascertain beyond a doubt that the Mexican Government has declared war against us, you will employ the force under your command to the best advantage.

The Mexican ports on the Pacific are said to be open and defenceless. If you ascertain with certainty that Mexico has declared war against the United States you will at once blockade or occupy such ports as your force may admit.

When Stockton reached the California coast, however, the situation was somewhat different. By June, 1846, war had been declared, and after driving the Mexicans at Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma, General Taylor lay at Matamoras awaiting definite instructions from Washington which were slow in coming.

In the meantime, a small force, somewhat pompously styled the Army of the West, assembled at Fort Leavenworth. It was commanded by Colonel Kearny who was instructed as soon as his preparations were made to march into New Mexico, capture Santa Fe, and then proceed to California. The Army of the Centre, a much larger force under command of General Wool, had assembled at San Antonio, and was making ready to march into Chihuahua.

Kearny, apparently oppressed by the fear that the war would be over before he had fairly placed

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The War with Mexico ii

his men in the field, left Leavenworth without awaiting the arrival of one thousand men that the State of Missouri had been called upon to furnish him. Kearny entered New Mexico, and meeting with little or no resistance, reached Santa Fe on the 1 8th of August. After raising the flag over this ancient Spanish stronghold, he issued a proclamation absolving all the inhabitants of New Mexico from their allegiance to Mexico, and declaring the country an integral portion of the United States. Leaving word for the Missouri volunteers to join General Wool on his expedition into Chihuahua, Kearny now pushed on toward California, his force of regulars being reduced to three hundred dragoons. When eleven days out from Santa Fe, Kearny met Kit Carson, the famous scout, who with an escort of sixteen men was on his way to Washington with despatches. In these despatches Commodore Stockton and Colonel Fremont announced the conquest of California by the forces under their command, and the institution of a form of civil government throughout the conquered territory. This information was correct in every sense of the word, but as Kearny's force was soon to experience, the Calif ornians, that is the Mexicans of California, encouraged by the sight of the slender force which the United States then had on the Pacific Coast, revolted and took up arms. Ignorant of the reception that was awaiting him, Kearny sent back East several squadrons, and taking Carson for his guide pushed on with the remainder to the Colorado River which he crossed, and marching northward reached the rancho of Agua Caliente on December 2d.

Kearny had made Carson turn back with him, and had sent another scout on to Washington with the despatches because he desired the services of the best guide. It was not a wise step thus to interfere with the plans of his brother officers, and indeed Commodore Stockton was his superior. From this incident, in itself most trivial, dates the jealousy and the discord which fills the history of the United States for several years with that unseemly wrangling that is known under the name of the Stockton-Fremont-Kearny controversy. In the court-martial which Fremont demanded as a result of Kearny's criticisms, Lieutenant Beale was summoned as a witness. His testimony was most favorable to Fremont, and not helpful to Kearny's reputation. Here his connection with the unhappy affair ended, and there will be no further reference to the controversy in this narrative.

From Agua Caliente, Colonel Kearny sent a letter to Commodore Stockton at San Diego announcing his approach, and three days later, when Kearny was but forty miles distant from the American naval base, he was met by a small force of volunteers under Captain Gillespie, and a score of bluejackets and a field-piece under Midshipman Beale. Though in anything but a secure position himself, Stockton had generously despatched this small force to apprise Kearny of the changed conditions, to warn him of the general revolt of the Calif ornians, and to assist him upon his now perilous march to the coast. The insurgent Californians were at this time encamped at San Bernardo and Stockton contemplated attacking them when reinforced, or when Kearny was out of his dangerous position.

The next news came through a Mr. Stokes, an English pioneer of California, who rode into San Diego and announced that Kearny had attacked the Californians and been worsted. Upon crossexamination Stokes admitted to the anxious commodore that the battle was no concern of his, and that he had left the field while the result was in some doubt because he was convinced that his position as spectator was becoming dangerous. Great uncertainty and anxiety prevailed now at the naval base in San Diego harbor. It was heightened by the arrival of Alexis Godey, the famous scout, who had come through from San Pasqual, where the battle was fought, with a letter from Captain Turner upon whom the command had devolved when Kearny was wounded. Turner stated that eighteen men of the small force had been killed, and that there were many wounded. "General Kearny is among the wounded, but it is hoped not dangerously. Captains Monroe and Johnson, ist Dragoons, are killed, and Lieut. Hammond, ist Dragoons, is dangerously wounded." In conclusion. Turner asked that a considerable force be despatched to meet him on the road to San Diego, via Soledad and San Bernardo.

Commodore Stockton was impressed by the gravity of this news and it led him to believe that the Calif omian- Mexicans were in much greater strength than had hitherto been reported. Godey came in with Turner's letter on December 7th, and Stockton was pushing preparations to march with his whole force, when on the afternoon of the 9th an Indian who was known as a body-servant of Beale's came into the lines and reported that as a result of the battle Kearny's force was in desperate straits. The Indian had hardly completed his story when Beale appeared with a more circumstantial and intelligent report. "Kearny has been defeated," he said, "and his whole force is besieged on a small hill of rocks, or mesa, so completely surrounded by the enemy that it seems impossible for them to escape, or to long maintain their position." Beale also reported that the Calif omians were commanded by Don Andres Pico, the brother of the Governor, who had proven himself to be a very capable and energetic officer, and that Kearny's men, when he started out on his mission to obtain relief, had been reduced for some days to eating mule flesh, and had been without water for sixty hours.