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
On the morning of the 12th, at daylight, we discovered that the enemy
had thrown up a breastwork upon the sand, about one hundred and fifty
yards to the north-east of the cuartel, and entirely commanding our
watering place. We fired several round shot at it, with little effect.
We succeeded in getting in being in strong force, and kept a close
watch upon us. Their force was over three hundred, speaking within
bounds. I immediately commenced digging a well in the rear of Mott's
house, which is the lowest ground. I found that we had to go through
rock, and judged we should have to dig about twenty feet. I thought it
imprudent to blast, as the enemy, suspecting our intention, would
throw every obstacle in our way. The men worked cheerfully on this and
the succeeding day against all difficulties. Our situation was
becoming now an imminently critical one, having with the greatest
economy but four days' water. On the 14th we continued digging for
water. We found that the enemy had thrown up a second breastwork more
to the westward, giving them a cross-fire upon our watering place:
there was a continual fire kept up upon the cuartel during the day. At
three o'clock, 30 minutes P.M., a sail was reported in sight, which
proved to be the United Ship Cyane. She anchored after sundown. It
was of course a joyful sight to us to see friends so near; but I was
apprehensive that they could render us but little assistance, the
enemy being so vastly superior in numbers. The enemy continued their
firing upon us during the night. On the 15th at day-light, we became
aware that the Cyane was landing men. They soon commenced their
advance, which for a few moments was opposed only by a scattering
fire; then the enemy opened upon them in earnest. They had
concentrated nearly their entire force near San Vincente. We saw the
flash of musketry through all the hills above the village. There was
the odds of three to one against our friends. Steadily they came on,
giving back the enemy's fire as they advanced. There was still a party
of the enemy occupying the town, firing upon us. I took thirty men,
and sallied out upon them, drove them from cover, killed one and
wounded several of them, and marched out to join the Cyane's men, who,
with Captain Dupont at their head, had now drawn quite near to us.
There were small detached parties of the enemy still hovering about
them, and firing at them, but the main body of the enemy had been
broken, and retired to "Las Animas," distant two miles. The march of
the Cyane's men to our relief, through an enemy so vastly their
superior in numbers, well mounted and possessing every advantage in
knowledge of the ground, was certainly an intrepid exploit, as
creditably performed as it was skilfully and boldly planned, and
reflects the greatest honor on all concerned. It resulted most
fortunately for us in our harassed situation. They had but four
wounded; this cannot be termed any thing but the most remarkably good
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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