History of the State of California: From the Period of the Conquest by Spain to Her Occupation by the United States of AmericaFrost, John
History
History of the State of California: From the Period of the Conquest by Spain to Her Occupation by the United States of America
Frost, John
California -- Gold discoveries; California -- History
The account of the adventures and skirmishes with which the small
force of United States troops under General Kearny met, while on their
march to San Diego, in Upper California, is one of the most
interesting to which the contest gave birth. The party, which
consisted of one hundred men when it started from Santa Fé, reached
Warner's rancho, the frontier settlement in California, on the Sonoma
route, on the 2d of December, 1846. They continued their march, and on
the 5th were met by a small party of volunteers, under Captain
Gillespie, sent out by Commodore Stockton to meet them, and inform
them of the revolt of the Californians. The party encamped for the
night at Stokes's rancho, about forty miles from San Diego.
Information was received that an armed party of Californians was at
San Pasqual, three leagues from Stokes's rancho. A party of dragoons
was sent out to reconnoitre, and they returned by two o'clock on the
morning of the 6th. Their information determined General Kearny to
attack the Californians before daylight, and arrangements were
accordingly made. Captain Johnson was given the command of an advance
party of twelve dragoons, mounted upon the best horses in possession
of the party. Then followed fifty dragoons, under Captain Moore,
mounted mostly on the tired mules they had ridden from Santa Fé--a
distance of 1050 miles. Next came about twenty volunteers, under
Captain Gibson. Then followed two mountain howitzers, with dragoons to
manage them, under charge of Lieutenant Davidson. The remainder of the
dragoons and volunteers were placed under command of Major Swords,
with orders to follow on the trail with the baggage.
As the day of December 6th dawned, the enemy at San Pasqual were seen
to be already in the saddle, and Captain Johnson, with his advance
guard, made a furious charge upon them; he being supported by the
dragoons, the Californians at length gave way. They had kept up a
continual fire from the first appearance of the dragoons, and had done
considerable execution. Captain Johnson was shot dead in his first
charge. The enemy were pursued by Captain Moore and his dragoons, and
they retreated about half a mile, when seeing an interval between the
small advance party of Captain Moore and the main force coming to his
support, they rallied their whole force, and charged with their
lances. For five minutes they held the ground, doing considerable
execution, until the arrival of the rest of the American party, when
they broke and fled. The troops of Kearny lost two captains, a
lieutenant, two sergeants, two corporals, and twelve privates. Among
the wounded were General Kearny, Lieutenant Warner, Captains Gillespie
and Gibson, one sergeant, one bugleman, and nine privates. The
Californians carried off all their wounded and dead except six.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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