The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-05-07

Ilcuf- Theaslarc Tnlhot.

applause 1t will be interesting to his TRENDS and those
Of his family to learn that he accompanied COL Fremont
in his expeditions to the Rocky mountains and Caifor.
MIA, displaying, though boy, those high qualities
and that ability which secured the respect, confidence
and esteem of his intrepid and distinguished command
err and we hope, have marked him out for future em.
hence He is the of the late Hon. Mr.. Talbot, Uni
ted States Senator from Kentucky. His mother and sis
ter reside in this city, where Theodore modest and
handsome youth, of great merit was brought up, as
well known TO large circle of respectable friends The
following extract from of his late letters, gives some
details of recent in which he performed promi.
nent and responsible part and, in giving publicity 10
these passages from his private correspondence but
due to him to state that his letter intended to
be made public 1t is, to ALL of honest pride to
contemplate the heroism and talent which the present
war with Mexico-of but short years DURATION
has developed whenever and wherever the slightest op
porunity has been afforded for their display
Extract from letter of Lieut. Theodore Talbot, dated
Gerry OF THE ANGELS, CALIFORNIA,
January Is, 1877
"Since last wrote you have had an active life Col
command OF Capt A. H. Gillespie with thirty odd rife.
men, the commodore having entirely withdrawn his
forces and proceeded with his squadron to San Francisco
We moved to the north, the colonel having with him
only forty (hs old party the rest of the force
having in part preceded us, and part been dsbanded
with the exception OF two small parties stationed south
of the City of the Angels: | was left as military com.
mandan of the town and jurisdiction OF Santa Barbara.
pretty place lying the ocean one hundred miles north
OF the City of the Angels, and the principal town be-
tween that place and Monterey. There were only nine
cruit the north and return Immediately. The Project
the principal civil authority Of the southern department
resided there's and was LETT for the purpose OF support
ing him. My position was very pleasant one; Santa
Barbara being the residence OF some of the stateest
Dons and preties Seforas in all California had been
here however, but few days when received Coneo,
haste bs .obe ts p tns
rounded by 500 of the Californlans under arms. The
courier had barely escaped with his life, and brought me
Giespies motto SEAL concealed in clgarlta to voush
for the truth of what he told Having warned me he
hurried to the north give this TO the colonel and
commodore. spent several anxious days-every momen!
expecting to be attacked in ny barracks; hearing only
in the hour of need would give me such little inorma.
ton they could obtain with regard to the motions OF
the insurgents.
much, in my little intercourse with the Mexcans as the
humanity and charity of the women as compared with
the almost brutal ferocity Of the You will recoect
that Kendall sustains the same opinion with reference
Although my position was very precarious, kept
firm upper lip in order to keep down the people OF Santa
B ls.Ssr, Which has 70 fighting 1 and
from the north. succeeded in this until the City Of
the Angels was taken, and Gillespie forced TO captu,
late Manuel Garps, the commander, then marched
with two hundred men on Santa Barbara. They
surrounded the town. and sent in letter demanding my
surrender. and guaranteeing our lives, &c. &c. They
gave two hours to deliberate We had all determined
not to surrender our arms and finding the place we then
occupied untenabe, with small force, we determined
TO push for the hills, (our best ground for fghng
die in the attempt accordingly marshaled my little
FORCE and marched out OF the town without opposition
those who lay the road rereatng to the main force
which was on the lower side of the town. The few
foreigners living in the town dared not assist me and
the Calfonians, all of course, took arms against
Having Unexpectedly been allowed pass their force
camped In the hills overlooking the town, and deter
mined to remain there few days, and cooperate with
any force which might be landed at Santa Barbara.
remained here eight days, when the Calfornians having
discovered my whereabouts finally determined to route
out Not knowing my exact position, they had divided
some forty men, happened 10 strike upon the very spot
where | was. was aware Of their coming, and had
given my men orders not to fire until they in among
them who were posted the aoy, ravne, nearest the
enemy forgetting my Instructions fired just they
came marching in on They had fired too far
Tor Their own shots even to be effective killing only the
horse OF one, and woundng the horse and grazing the
mp OF another OF the enemy But the Califonans fed
nor would they again come within reach OF rifles
pouring hrc from their long carbnes from the neigh
boring hills They sent foreigner me- offering to al
low me to retain my arms and freedom, giving my parole
OF honor not to interfere farther in the about to be
waged
81 sent the man back with word that preferred to
light Finding would not give up, they put fire in all
round me, and succeeded in burning me out | eluded
them however; and after lingering another day. in hopes
that force would arrive, determined push for Mon
terey. came down on a rancho called San Marco
where we got something to eat for had been starving
Tor several days We also so fortunate to find
an old soldier of General Micheltorena who was natu
rally nmIcal to the Cafornans He ploted the
coast mountain which here ninety miles wide and very
rugged into the head of the Tulare valley the Lake Of
buena VISTA Here was familiar with the country and
after months travel. coming some 500 miles mostly
ai0ot enduring much hardship and suffering al length
eileGed junction with Colonel Fremont at Monterey
They were all very glad see u.s. for they certainly
thought we were all killed In fact the Caonians had
circulated that report You excuse me for dwelling
on my little adventures for the fact is, suffered more
from downright starvation, cold max edness and every
SOFT OF Prvaton Than IN any trip have yet had 10 MAKE
and have had some rough ones Colonel Fremont had
started from San Francisco in the ship Sterng but after
being out twenty days. and much bad weather he was
compelled to put into Monterey found him recruiting
more men from the new emigrants and preparing to 60
by land to the south day or two after arrived part
OF Two companies under command of Captains Burrows
and Thompson, were attacked by the Caifornans som
number. the Americans having 81! they fought Amer.
among the killed We marched to their assistance
10 the mission OF St Johns from which place they were
AFRAID to move as they had cavaada of 400 head Of
norses we left St Johns for the south the Goth Of
November and arrived at San Fernando IN The nth Of
January ~ ~
"Ihs place is 25 miles from the City of the Angels,
Whch we heard the commodore and General Kearny,
WIN WIN ny men, were IN possession Of The commands
OF the Cailformans Don Andres Pico, finding it impo.
GERS Offering to surrender to Colonel Fremont Their
surrender was accepted, and marched into the city the
i4h OF january. The volunteer force was soon dis
banded, and will have chance of returning home,
hope"
THEODORE TALBOT"
Texas Mail Routes.