Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1847-05-12
CALIFORNIA.

| Extract of a letter dated SAN DIEGO Jan 90
In the encounters at the different places in
which our troops have met the Californians the
latter have always been attacked under the i'm
preston that they had no idea of ghting. In
the case of CAP tain Mervine, Commodore Stock
ton had such contemplate opinion OF them,
that he had no field-pieces sent ashore; and
there were our men on foot under the fire three
or four feld-pieces of the enemy, giving them d
very hard chase, although mounted on splendid
horses. If the chase had continued but q very
short time longer, they would undoubtedly have
been obliged to give up one or more of their
field pieces; but they had killed so many of cur
men that it was deemed most prudent to return.
In the case of the Salinas Plains, our small
party came upon them unawares, and had they
shown themselves men, they would have cut
every one of Our party TO pieces, besides doing
an irrerarable lat the time) damage by taking
away cur horses. Many were the feats OF
bravery which our men disI layed, and 1t wasby
acts OF the most reckless and audacious bod
ness that The officers and men in that engage
ment were killed, and not from anything which
reflects credit on the enemy. For, where sim
ply four white men and two Indians can, BIZ
keeping protected by small wood, and firing
from behind trees, keep away more than 80 OF
the enemy for upward of an hour, it certainly
does not speak well of the bravery of the latter
These few men were an advanced guard, and as
soon as the main body of about forty came I'D.
the enemy immed;aly took to fight
The CALIFORNIA; have, as one Of their weap-
CHS, very thing and beautifully made spear,
kept as sharp as a razor, and attached to long
pole of about five feet. They have, latterly
done all their fighting with it. And it Is by
means of these weapons that they have had such
successes. Our army not being able to attain |
good horses, could not keep clear of them. They
would make their Arab-like charges from be-
hind: and before one of cur riders was able to |
turn his horse to face his foe, he would find him
self horribly cat, or transixei with one of their
spears; and the Californans, well knowing |
where their great advantage lay, never made |
an attack unless they came behind. Thus it |
was with Gen. Kerney's dragons, who were |
mounted on WORKOUT mules, which at the best
is only caricature of Dragon. Beside, they |
had but small body of men, it being the ad- |
vanced guard, opposed to about 600 we'll moun- !
ted men, (they having for a long time reserved
all their best horses and kept them in good or
der, for the purpose of having this great advan-
tage over our Dragoons.) The Dragons had
a great many difficulties to contend with. Their |
swords would not cut through the enemies
clothes, for they had been cutting wood all the |
way across the Continent; their guns would not
go off, from the wet. Beside, their iaded and
worn out bodies were in no plight for fighting;
and it is no wonder that the advance was wors-
ted until the main body came up. / trust the |
last battle will keep things quiet for the future
in this part of the country.-Journat Of Com
nlerce.