A pretty strong detail of men was now placed on duty at head-quarters on the Fresno, principally drawn from Captain Dill’s Company. Adjutant Lewis had really no duties in the field, nor had he any taste or admiration for the snowy mountains--_on foot_. His reports were written up at head-quarters, as occasion required, and often long after the events had transpired to which they related. I was an amused observer upon one occasion, of Major Savage’s method of making out an _official_ report, Adjutant Lewis virtually acting only as an amanuensis. CHAPTER VII. Campaign against the Chow-chillas--The Favorite Hunting Ground--A Deer Hunt and a Bear _Chase_--An Accident and an Alarm--A Torch-light Pow-wow--Indians Discovered--Captain Boling’s Speech--Crossing of the San Joaquin--A Line of Battle, its Disappearance--Capture of Indian Village--Jose Rey’s Funeral-pyre--Following the Trail--A Dilemma--Sentiment and Applause--Returning to Camp--Narrow Escape of Captain Boling. Major Savage now advised a vigorous campaign against the Chow-chillas. The stampeding of our captives was one of the incentives for this movement; or at least, it was for this reason that Captain Boling and his company most zealously advocated prompt action. The commissioners approved of the plan, and decided that as the meddlesome interference of these Indians prevented other bands from coming in, it was necessary, if a peace policy was to be maintained with other tribes, that this one be made to feel the power they were opposing; and that an expedition of sufficient strength to subdue them, should be ordered immediately to commence operations against them. Accordingly, a force composed of B. and C. companies, Boling’s and Dill’s, numbering about one hundred men, under command of Major Savage, started for the San Joaquin River. The route selected was by way of “Coarse Gold Gulch,” to the head waters of the Fresno, and thence to the North Fork of the San Joaquin. The object in taking this circuitous route, was to sweep the territory of any scattered bauds that might infest it. We made our first camp on the waters of “Coarse Gold Gulch,” in order to allow the scouts time to explore in advance of the command. No incident occurred here to claim especial notice, but in the morning, while passing them, I made a hasty examination of one of the “Figured Rocks” to the left of the trail.