Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-06-08
From the Mobile Register, May "a.
EWS FROM CALIFORNIA-LIE

(Signed.) ED. ROBINSON, Pfes't.
From the Mobile Register, May "a
NEWS FROM CALIFORNIA-LIEUTAN
ANT EDWARD F. BEALL.
We had the pleasure Of an interview, yester
day, with Lieutenant Edward F. Beal, Of the
United States service, who is on bis return al
bearer Of dispatches from California TO Wash
ington city. This gallant and energetic young
officer is we'll known for the distinguished ser
vices he rendered in Upper California, in the
campaign Of General Kearney, aud the expedl-
tons of Colonel Fremont. Though attached to
the Navy, he is one Of those adventurous spirits,
whose talenls and energies, the necessities OF
our ,ntler difficulties with Mexico, and the ea
ploratrons Of the West have developed, and
who have been of incalculahIe beneil! 10 our
country. His indomitabe resolution, fertile IN
all conceivable expedients, displayed in the dis
aslrous engagements OF San Pasqual and San
Bernardo, have entered into the permanent his
tory of our country, and were narrated IN most
graphic style, by Colonel Benton, in his cele-
bretel ten days speech 10 the United States Sc
nate. The scrrices of Lieutenant Beall have
been Of such peculiar and invaluable charac'
Ter, that the Government, detaching him from
his position in the Navy, have given him spe-
cies Of AMPHlBious employment, IN the wllds OF
the West amidst the lofliest snow.clad noun
tains, almost impossible rivers, and boundless,
sterile deserts This has been his situation Tor
the last four years, 10 the Elidst OF the most
rugged harkships, during which period, as ne
himself remarked, al would not be difficult for
any one to dciray his bills with the tailor"
Lieutenant Beall was sent early 10 November
last, as bearer Of Dispatches. from our Gov
eminent to the United States officers in Callior.
MIA and upon the Pacific. He was entrusted
with communications 10 Col. Washington at
Santa Fe, Col Mason in California, and Gen.
Lane in Oregon, and was required to pass thro'
the extensive regions beyond the Mississippi TO
reach his destinations. He left Port Leavens-
worth, on The Missouri, the Goth OF November,
with command of seventeen mounted men, al!
raw recruits, and few adrenturers. Alter a
tedious and fatiguing journey, they reached
Bent's Fort, and learned that Col Fremont and
his party had passed about ten DAYS before. In
crossing the Taos or kalons mountains they en-
countered all the seventies Of winter in those
difficult and gigantic passes, covered with the
SHOWS of an unusually cold and Indictment sea.
SON. Many of their mules persisted from the RI
gors of the weather and march, and number Of
the men were frost-bitten and disabled from fur
Their service Upon arriving at Santa Fe, which
he reached on the 35th of December, Lieutenant
Beall gave permission TO such of his men as
were unwilling TO proceed to return, and seven
did so. He was unwilling TO be accompanied in
the dangers and trials before him by any upon
whom be could not rely with implicit confidence.
To supply the deficiency, Col. Mason allowed
,xbt ,J3t;opo al ,nn, MT cd m N tyhn
were DESTROYS Of engaging 10 the expedition.
With his force, Lieut. Beall started from San
"a Fc on the llth OF January, and was soon des-
tined TO encounter the most uyins difteuli'es. :
The Sierra de los Members, vast range Of loi-
~ mountains, were eDveloped 10 snow storms,
and The route was most hazardous and oppres-
siye. So intense was the cold, that several mules
were frozen 10 death, al night, even nnder tents,
and covered with blankets. The fortiude of a
number OF the men tailed, and sergeant and
six privales deserted. OF these, as well as OF The
seven who had previously left, no subsequent in
formation has been received. They no doubt
persisted under the violence OF Inc weather, or
we're assassina,ed by he Indians who iniesl those
regions.
Lieut.. 3 all now pressed on with irdomitah'c
resolution, through inGescribahle din 'u'ilrs -
the head waters 81 the river CHA. Passing 70
the Southern side, he followed The iraii which
wind, in Zig.Zag manner along the preCipous
sides Of the lofty mountains that prevail in this
region This section OF country has been falsely
said 10 furnish opportunities lor good road or
roads to California. From Lieut.. Bealls descrIp
ION. il is a continuance OF the most rugged and
inaccessible mountains, with vast sorges, peaks
and decliyilies, covered perpetually with snow,
and presenting barriers 10 be passed only by in
IL, Tor
anv wheel vehicle, cap ever be made along this
route. The men could only press along me a.
cents by The aid Of their hands as vel as leet, and
even the tenacious mountain mules were oien
nreciriraied from the deciviiies and, ~ linz
down the extensive slopes, were crushed u pie.
COS with cve,y bone broker, and even their sal
dies so destroyed lha, they could not be father
used. This Ioule crosses the head waters of ne
ella frequently, so AS to avoid he barriers which
constantly iut upon and overhans the stream =
That river, in this portion OF II. extent IS mol
susceptible Of evel canoe navigation lis cur
rent is of arrowy swiftness, shooting over ROCKY
and irregular falls, with short serpentine wind
ines, through narrow and dangerous cannones
produce whirlpoos and cascades, which Woule
ensulf any water-cratl entrusted 10 lis control.
After descending The Gia 10 its confluence viii
the Cola RADIO, and the latter stream 10 within MY
miles Of The Gull OF California, Lieut.. Beail an,
his little party struck ont, NorhwaTd, across th'
intervening desert, Tor San Francisco This de
SCI, is very extensive, and more barren than Tia
ufZahara. The weather mere was in.en'eiy hot
and greatly afflicted The men. who had been sui
terng amid he frosty rigoTs OF he mountains, hu
now found themselves in an aitid sandy region
deprived Of water. excert such As they bore VII
them. A travel OF one hundred aud twenty mile
across The desert. brought them again 10 al ee
waited range oil mountains and The regions G
perpetual winter, where through journey 6
eight hupdred miles, they suffered greatly ircn
The cold and difficulties of the route, but, al length
on the LIST OF April, arrived in sight OF The VEL
come dwellings OF San Francisco, and 10 The vi
ciniy of those gold regions that surpass, in proli
fc wealth, the Hesperian Gardens OF antiquity
Gen. Persier F. Smith The Governor, greete
The new corners with hearty wecomei receiV
ed The dispatches intended for himself ana Tor
waEdei The communications Tor Gen Lane, y
Oregon, by speedy CONVEYANCE.
Lieut.. Beah remained but few days al oai
Francisco. but took tine 10 look around MN a
the condition of The country. The rage iof eolo
like the rod OF Aaron, had swallowed up al o'ne
passions. The inhabitants wouiu Dol even ias'
lime 10 erect for themselves inc necessary edincss
bat were residing In tents, ana snan'ees hdsll1
erecled. The extent OF The Gold Region canno
he defined. Il has already been found to cover
territory more than hundred and fifty miles ir
length and from fifty 10 sky in breadth. The
nrecious metal is discovered in perfectly pnrt
slae in the beds Of the streams and IN the hills
and plains adjacent. It's lonna in small part
cles or fakes in the waller, mingled with sand
which has only to be washed away TO leave Z
resi6ue of fine gold; and in The dry diegins" j
exisrs in solid Jumps some weighing eight or Ter
pounds, which are dug up with pick-aIes anc
spades. The laborers generally prefer workins
in the streams, as the other method is the mos
laborious. Every lsborer can certainly secure
Aalla IL Ii.