Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1847-05-07
OFFICIAL.
California.---Gen. kearny's Letters.
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crossed to the bank a the Del Notte an Albuoueroue
(6S miles below Santa FeJ continued down that bank
ul the 9th October, when met Mr. Kit Carson with
party OF 10 men, on his way Washington city with
mail and Papcn-sn express from Commodore Stockton
and Lieut. Cot Fremont reporting that the Caliornians
already IN possession OF the Americans under their
command; that the American flag was yinr from every
important position in the Territory and that the country
forever tree from Mexican control; the ended aud
peace aud harmony established among the people. In
sequence OF this information directed 400 dtagoons
under Major SUMNER should remain in New Mexico and
that the other lOO with mountain howitzcrs, under
Captain Moore, should accompany me as guard to uppcr
California. With this guard. we continued our march
to the south, the right bank of the Del Nore to the
lance oi about 800 miles below Santa Fe when
that the 18th October about 33i deg OF
utudc marched westward the Copper mines which
we reached ON the 18th. and tho Goth reached
Gs proceeded down the Ga crossing and rccrossng
often distinctions in front rendered necessary;
the llth Nov reached the Pmos village about 50 mos from
the settlements IN sonora These Indians found hon
est and living comfortably, having made good crop
year; and remained with them two days. to rcsi our
men, recruit our animals, and obtain provisions. On the
gid November, reached the mouth the CHA In latitude
about 81 degrees-our whole march this river having
been nearly 500 miles, and. with but very hte
| between the 32d and 33d parallels OF latitude.
This rivcr (he Gia the northern side
bounded nearly the whole distance by range OF lofty
mountains and IT tocrablc wagon road TO its mouth
ON the Del Norte is ever discovered, be on tho
south side The country destitute Of timber, producing
but few cottonwood and mesquite trees and though the
sl the bottom lands generally good, yet found
but little vegetation consequence OF the
yness Ol the climate aud the little which falls here
Toe Pimos Indians who make good crvps of wheat
vegetables, &c, nTgate the land by Gia
as did the AI'ecs he former inhabitants OF the country
the remains OF whose scquias, little canals,
by well the position OF many of their engs
aud large quantity o broken pottery and earhenware
used by them
| We crossed the Colorado about 10 miles below the
mouth OF the Ga and, marching it about 30 miles
further. turned OIL and crossed the descr-a distance
| about 80 miles-without water or grass
On the 2d December, reached Warmers rancho qua
Calenie the frontier settlement IN California the
leading To Sonora GA the ith, marched Mr. Stokess
rancho San sabela,l and the 5th by small
party OF volunteers under Capt t;ispic sent from San
Diego, by Commcdore Stockton, give what infor-
they possessed of the enemy, 600 200 whom
said TO be and in the field throu the
Territory, determined upon opposing the Americans and
resisting their authority in the country Encamped
night another rancho [San Marial of Mr. Stokes
about 30 miles from San Diego.
The journals and kept and prepared by Capt John
son my aid camp and those by Lieut. Emory, topog
raphical engineers, which will accompany follow re
port will render anything further from this subject
| unnecessary.
Very respectfully your obedicnt servant,
J. w. kEARNY. Brig Gen. u. 5. A.
Brig. Gen. X. JONES, AdJuiani General u. 5. A.
HEADQUARTERS. ARMY OF rHE WEST,
san Diego, Upper California Dec. l3. 1916.
SIR In my communication TO you OF yesterdays date
brought the reports OF the movements my guard up
the morning OF the 9Th instant camp a rancho of
Mr. Stokes, San MaTa about 10 miles from San Diego
Having learned from Capt Glispc. Of the volunteers
that there AIMED party OF Caiornaus with num-
Der extra San Pasqua three leagues distant
a road leading this place, Lieutenant Ham
mOnd LIST dragons with few make reconnois-
sance Of them lie returned in The morning OF the
9th reporting that he had found the party IN the
place mentioned aud that he had been SEEM though not
pursued by them then determined that would march
for and attack them by break day. Arrangements were
accordingly made for the purpose. My ad-de-camp Capt
Johnson, Dragons assigned the command of the
advanced guard OF twelve Dragons mounted the
horses had then followed fifty Dragons under
Capt Moore mounted with but few exceptions the tired
mules they had ridden from Santa Fe, New Mexico
l.O5O miles y then about twenty volunteers Capt Glib
sons company under his command and that Of Captain
Gillespie then followed our two mountain howiizers with
Dragons TO them, and under the charge Of Lieut.
Davidson, of the regiment. The remainder of the dra-
groons volunteers, and citizens, employed by the officers
OF the staff &e were placed under the command MAJOR
Swords quartermaser, with orders follow our uai
with the baggage, and 10 To It's safety.
As the day December o. dawned approached the
enemy at san Pasqua who already the saddle when
Captain Johnson made furious charge upon them with
his advance guard, and short supported
by the dragons; after which the enemy gave way
having kept up from the beginning continued FIRE upon
Upon the retreat OF the enemy Captain Moore led of
rapidly IN persu' accompanied by the dragoons
horses and followed, though slowly by the others
their tired mules the enemy well mounted and among
the best horsemcn IN the world after rerealng about
mile and seeing interval between Captain Moore with
his advance and the Dragons coming support rallied
their whole force, charged with their lances and on ac
Of their greatly superior numbers of us IN
front remained untouched for five minues they held the
ground from u.s. when our coming up, again drove
them and they fled from the field, return To H. which
occupied and encamped upon.
A melancholy duty remains for me il is 10 re-
port the death OF aiddeclmp, Captain Johnson who
shot dead the commencement the action Of Capt
Moore who ancsd just previous the final retreat of
the enemy and Of Lieutenant Hammond also anced and
who survived but few hours. We had also killed two
sergeants corporals and priyates the st dra
goons; private Of the volunteers and one man. an en-
gage IN the typographical department Among the wound
ed myself, I'm two Places Lieutenant Warner topo-
graphical engineers, ga three placesJ Captains Gspc
and Gibson oi the volunteers, ho former IN three places
sergeant, bugeman and privates the dra-
goons; many of these surviving two to ten lance
wounds most OF them when unhOrsed and OF re-
sistance.
Our hoiizers brought into the action; but com,
the front the close OF before they were turned
to admit OF being fired upon the reeang enemy the
mules before Of them got alarmed and fleeing
themselves from their drivers, of, and among the enc
my. and thus lost 20
The enemy proved Ia be party Of about 60 Caornans
under Andreas Peo, brother late GOVERNOR the num-
Der Of their dead and wounded have been consdera
BILE, th ugh have means OF asccrtlning many a.
to their final retreat, they carried of all erccpt-
ing SIX.
The great number Of killed and wounded proves that
officers and have fully sustained the high charac-
ter and reputation o troops and the victory thus gain
ed than double our force may assist in formng
the wreath Of national glory.
have To return my thanks many for their gallantry
aud good conduct on the field and particularly Capt Tu
ner l Dragons, assistant acting adutan general and
Lieut. Emory, Typographical engineers, who active IN
the performance Of their duties and conveying orders
the command.
On the morning Of the 7h, hlving made ambuances for
wounded and inferred the dead Proceeded ON our
march, when the enemy showed himself occupying the his
IA our 'front.' but which they left approached till
reaching San Bernado party Of them took possession Of
bill maintained their position until attacked
by advance. who quickly drove them from IT, killing
and woundng five Of their number, with no loss on our
part.
On account Of our wounded men, and upon the report
Of The surgeon that necessary for them we re-
maincd al this place u the morning Of th when It.
Gray, Of the navy, IN command Of party Of sailors and
marines, sent out from San Diego by Com. Stockton
Joined us We proceeded 10 a. M the enemy no longer
showing himself and tho 18th YESTERDAY we reached
this p!acoi and have now offer my thanks 10 Com
Stockton and al of his gallant command for the very
many kind attentions We have received and continue to
receive from them.
Very respectfully, yonr Obcdicnt servant
J. W KEARNY, Brig Cen a. S. A.
Brig Gent X. JoyE', AdIuunt General u. S. A. Wash
ingtOn.
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