Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1847-05-06
Progress of General Kearncy---Battle Of
San pascuIa.

u
23d, an interesting letter lrou gentleman attach
ed to Gen. kearney's command, describing some
oil the dangers and difficulties which beset the Gen.
era and his small force in their progress through
California:
SAN DIEGO, Upper California, Jau. 10, ls47.
You will learn by the dispatches with which this
will go to Washington, that we have met with rath.
er different reception in California from what we
anticipated when wrote you last from the Rio del
Norte
Upon arriving at the mouth Of the Rio Gila we
intercepted party Of Californians who were on
their way 10 Sonora and got from them the first
intelligence that counter revolution had taken
place in California; tina, Gen. Flores. with seven
hundred men, had driven out the Americans from
tho Pueblo de los Angles, and were in possession
OF that places and that San Diego had been taken
by Com. Stockton, though the roads leading to il
were strongly guarded by the enemy, so that we
would lind II impossible TO get in without coils.
ION. These people were peaceable families, who
we're moving their cattle, Sc, into Sonora to get
away from the scene of trouble in California
We arrived at Warmers rancho, the first settle.
ment, on the I'd Of December, and here our little
command presented a most pitiable condition.
The men, most of whom had to walk the last five
hundred miles, were nearly broken down with "a.
tigue, and exhausted from an insufIicency of food
Our animals had Just crossed the dreadful "Homa-
do" desert Of ninety miles, without water or
grass, and the few who survived we're scarcely able
10 support their packs. We received here further
intelligence of the state of affairs in California; all
confirming what was told us on the Colorado We
further learned that Andres Pco, an active leader
IN the revolution, had one hundred and twenty well
mounted men in the neighborhood, stationed in the
vicinity of the roads leading into San Diego, so
that, an encounter with this force seeming ineyla-
BILE, it was determined by General Kearaey to at
tack him.
Marching further on, we ascertained, OH the
night Of the 9Th Of December, that this party was
encamped ten miles beyond US, at the Indian village
OF San Pascual, which was our road 10 San
Diego. On the morning OF the 6th the enemy
having heard Of our approach, were drawn up at
tins place, and as our party advanced and charged
upon them, they fired aud retreated about half
mile then ralylng suddenly, they fought with their
lances, surrounding the foremost of our men who
were pursuing them, and did most deadly work.
After desperate and hand-to-hsnd fight, they ere
fairly driven from the field. Our loss in this action
was very severe. Three officers, Captains John
son, Moore, aud Lieut. Hammond, and sixteen men
were killed, and fourteen wounded, including Gen.
Kearney and seven officers Our men fought at a
great disadvantage, being poorly mounted on bro
ken down mules, while the enemy, having superb
horses, and being the most skfn horsemen in the
world, made deadly charges with the lance. II was
with this weapon that all of our side were wound
ed, with one exception; Captain Johnson was shot
through the head
Gen. Kearney exposed himself very much in this
action. He was wounded severely with lance.
and would no doubt have been killed but for the
timely aid of Lieut.. Emory Of the Typographical
party, who gallantly rode up to the rescue, and had
the satisfaction OF shooting with his pistol, the man
who was about TO make another deadly thrust at
him.
Fhe mourniul duty Of burying the dead, and the
attention required TO the wounded caused such de.
lay that our march not resumed from the battle
ground until the next day. As we were then much
encountered with the packs and the wounded men,
who carried along with much difficulty our
progress was very slow, aud as the enemy were ey-
identity watching our movements closely from the
hills around US, where we would occasionally see
few of them, and were no doubt waiting for good
opportunity to take advantage Of our crippled con.
dtion we had TO advance with extreme caution
While moving slowly along, after having made but
nine miles, the enemy suddenly appeared, charging
towards US at furious pace from the rear We
Immediately drew up to receive them when they as
suddenly wheeled off and made for a rocky hill
near by, with The intention of firing down into us.
Gen Kearney, seeing this movement determined to
take the hill and, although some forty or fifty of
the enemy had got up among the rocks and CON-
menced fire upon US, they fled before dozen of
our foremost men. We took the field second
time, and as it getting late in the day, encamp-
ed on the spot. This was an exciting skrmish, in
which none of our party were wounded, though the
bullets flew thick aud fast The enemy had one or
two wounded and lost several horses
1t was now evident tina, Pico intended TO barass
us. by making an attack in every mass Thai afforded
them an adyantage-tbey being enabled by their
sune,;or horsas , o.c,o,, ,i,o,, $50 old ,a