Evansville weekly journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 184?-18??, 1848-05-11
VERY LATE FROM CALIFORNIA.
Sailors turned Soldiers /!

We are indebted to the New Orleans Com
mercial Times for the following interesting
sketch of the recent exploits of our gallant ma
Wy on the Pacific.
SAN JOSE, Cape of Lower California; Mar. Is.
You are prepared to learn of my being on
board the Cyanc ere this reaches you. Ijoined
her just as Commodore Shubrick commenced
operations against Mazatlan, Guaymas and San
Bias. Our ship, after performing good service
at MaZatlan In various expeditions by landand
water, was sent to La Paz, l20 miles up the
Gulf of California, on the California side, where
Lieut.. Cononel Burton, with 120 New York
Volunteers, were stationed.
On our way to Mazatlan, (prior to its cap
lure, party of 80 men and officers, with two
9pounders, were landed from the squadron,
with orders to keep our flag flying at San Jose.
The officer commanding this detachment was
Lieut.. Haywood; they qpartered in two houses
constructed with mud walls, at right angles
with each other, in the strogest position in the
town. Soon after Lieut.. Haywood was quar-
tered, an attack was made upon his small force
as also upon Lieut.. Colonel Burton's at La
Paz.
Had any kind of fortune favored the Califor-
MAN cause in San Jose, Lieut.. Haywood, with
all his men, must have fallen into the enemy's
hands-30 men were opposed to $50 men, their
fort simply two houses, the windows and doors
at that time entirely unprotected, save by light
shutters and door work. The Californians had
2 pieces of cannon. Fortunately for our cause,
the leader of the Mexican forces was shot in the
first firing: this caused them to waver, and
finally to break up their position from before
Mr. Haywoods post.
Lieut. Colonel Burton had over 100 Yam
IN
leans and he had no difficulty in keeping off
400, headed by Pinada, the chief, and a regular
officer. In the mean time the sloop of-war
Portsmouth was sent to the relief Lieut.. Hay
wood, and 10 men more were added to hiscom-
mand; the garrison strengthened by connecting
the two houses with a high wall; the doors bas-
toned, windows filledin, and provisions stock
ed for 40 or 80 days He had no water, how
ever, in either yard-the nearest was pistol shot
from the post.
While the sloop of-war Portsmouth remain
ed, all was quiet, though the anemy were 500
to 600 strong under Pinada himself, 200 of them
mounted (you know how famous these Califor-
mans are for riding, going at full speed pick
ing up bat from the ground-even piece of
money have seen them snatch up as the horse
was in motion.) was known to be within 20
miles. As soon as the Portsmouth sailed, the
again frightened off by two whalers, who pass
ed eff for ships of war; furling sails together,
and firing guns &c.
After time, provisions grew scarce in the
little garrison, and it became necessary to send
to us at La Paz. Orders had to come from
Commodore Shubrick, before we could 1.-THE
naval partly leave Col. Burton; in the mean
time, they succeeded in obtaining few pro-
visions from an American schooner in the bay
Vessels cannot approach nearer than two miles
to San Jose. A party of two officers and five
men were surprised and taken prisoners, one
of them Passed Midshipman Duncan, whom
you know; $50 men on horseback took these
few men from Mr.. Haywood's command Pin
ada then sat down, before the little host, with
all his force of about 600 men, and as many as
1000 without arms, but who stood by to relieve.
Among this array was tribe of Indians called
"Yacas, from Mexico. Mr. Haywood had
with him one officer and 80 Americans and 20
California Volunteers. The enemy built two
batteries to command our watering place. Be
hind these batteries were stationed some 20
men, to fire upon our men whenever they came
out forwater. Pinada intended to stGYUe them
out. Passed Midshipman J. McLanahan and
two men were killed the day before we arriv-
ed.
The garrison had now but one weeks pro-
vision left, and starvation was staring them in
the face; still they were inyincible.
1t was dark when our ship dispatched to
their relief came to anchor; we hoisted out
our boats, and were ordered to land at early
daylight, as we did not know the road up TO
the town, two and half miles distant. We
knew also that the enemy were in strong posi-
ton at this place awaiting US. eutHaywood
on our arrival was engaged with them, firing
his cannon and musketry until midnight. At
early dawn we landed 102 men, oil told e. Off
cers) 2 boys as standard bearers. Among our
number were 5 marines. The rest of our ma
rine force had been stationed on shore some
time previous. The remainder of our little ar
my were all sailors. We took one 3-pounder
this was our force.
Ihad the command of the gun with men
given me. We had to pass through low.
thick bushy ground, anda village called Vincen-
te, having about 20 houses with mud wallis
In this place our party received the first fire oil
the enemy. As the ground was well selected
we made up our minds to have the fight there.
So at it we went, in the best manner Jack knew
how. The musket balls and grape ratified about
| like hail-we were in an ambuscade. play
ed grape shot from my small piece into the
village, abovt 30 yards distant.
The enemy shortly retreated, mounting theil
horses and flying in all directions; they would
stand to lire, run OFT, load, then return and lire
again; Being mounted they possessed great
advantages over our party, together with the
knowledge they had of the localities, for there
were no less than places on our march where
500 men could lain hid, and fired upon us at
their pleasure.
We drove about 100 out of the town, where
they had been firing upon Lieut. Haywood;
party, with but two men slightly wounded
(aud also 500 to 600 from their own ground.
We killed from 20 to 80, and marched over
very difficult road, two and half miles, fight
ing every inch of the way, in about 2hours Cor
the march, and relieved our comrades.
The enemy sent us flag of truce, to ask TO
an armistice for the night, to look up thell
missing; the officer said that about $50 to 400
were in the fight.
Now, what do yon think of 'sJack Tar. as
soldier? The enemy have not been seen since
and are 20 to 30 miles up the valley of San 10
seph. We are about to exchange some of Pc
nadas officers for passed Mldshipman Dnncar
and Marley. We have many more prisoners
than the enemy. Does not Haywood deserve
praise for holding out against such odds as hi
did? In the army he would be promoted fo
his conduct. The navy has had but little TO d.
in this war; save our squadron.