Weekly national intelligencer., 1854-01-14
TIE CALIFORNIA FREEBooTERs.

of La Paz and proclamation OF himself as President
of Lower California, we published an account on the
18th December This expedition, it will be re-
membercd, consisted of forty-fve men. They sailed
from San Francisco on the 18th October; reached
and took La Paz Lower California, and up the
volutionary flag the Sd November and at the same
time captured the Governor and his intended successor
the latter before he had placed his foot land On the
9th they had skirmsh with the natives, and on the
same day sailed for San Lucas where they arrived the
sth On the 9th they sailed for Ensenada about one
hundred miles south Of San Diego, the Pacific coast
where they arrived the 2sth. On the 30th they dis
patched their Secretary of State San Francisco for
nforcements their nominal President having about the
time issued the Address the People of the United
States which we published the Sd instant He subse-
quently issued other procamations decrees follows
Proclamation issued The Esd Of NoremJer, 1853.
The Republic Of Lower California is hereby declared
Free sovereign and independent and all allegiance to the
Republic of Mexico isJOrerer renoanesd
Decree No. l, cf7m Norembsr
All duties, whether exports imports, are hereby
abolished. .."
Deere No. ;, Of 7m NOpember
From and after this date the civil code and code of prac
ce of the State of Louisiana shall be the rule of decision
and the law Of the land in all the of the Republic
to be hereafter organized Nothing, however, in this
shall be construed to make organization Of
the courts Of the Republic. WM. WALKER,
President Of Lomr California.
BY the latest accounts from San Diego learn that
the Cd of December twenty of the party started from En-
senada maraudng expedition, and proceeded to a
ranch called LA Grula, about twelve miles distant
inhabited by half dozen families. Having tied
the inhabitants and robbed their houses they returned to-
wards Ensenada, taking with them beef and provisions
and twenty horses. As intelligence of this out
rage arrived at San Tomas, the capital of the military
colony, and which is about league distant from La
Grulla all the Inhabitants of that place turned out and
went in pursuit of the party whom they overlook and
engaged in slight skirmish which resulted in the loss
Of two killed the part Of the invaders and two taken
prisoners The arauders continued their retreat to En-
senada, and, with the of the force enrenched them
selves in the adobe house at that place. Here the fight
ing continued account says with the loss of ten or
twelve of the invaders The Mexicans surrounded the
house and prevented al ngress egress and eectuay
cut off the retreat TO the vessel by destroying the boas
This was the aspect Of affairs the 9th December.
letter from Diego Of the Sth says: ....E ..
.It is deemed impossible that the American party can
their assaans renders improbable that any quarter be
shown. The Mexican force is commanded by Negreta
the military chief at San Tomas
9 rumor has been circulated that the entire party
nau aL VlscreuOH anu were taken to San
Tomas but il is generally believed the report coming
from persons who had recently arrived in town from
places little distance from here and many miles from
Ensenada. .~E. ,..,@
1.-THE impression with people here is that good deal
of sharp fighting be done before the Americans win
give themselves up Struggling travellers in squads Of
TWO and three have arrived in at different times Of
the day and night and silently departed for the lower
country saying little nothing about the business they
are engaged upon but they are without doubt an auxil
into Vi
can territory in order to avoid the interference of the
United States military authorities in this neighborhood
1.-The military force now in this vicinity consists of two
companies OF artillery, under command Of COL Burton
and Lieut.. Stonemans company of dragons all at the
Mission OF San Diego, about ten miles from the Mexican
territory and one hundred from Ensenada. At Fort
Yuma there three companies Of the ID infantry now
about to be relieved from that post and they may
on their march to San Diego should the Government take
any active steps to interfere in this matter"
The New York Journal of Commerce has letter dated
at San Francisco the 10th December in which the
writer states that the busters having matters their
own way on the Pacific coast. He estimates that within
the preceding days less than thousand Of them
have left San Francisco clandestinely by night
ers or sailing craft for the of their future
tons Here is account of the departure of one of
these expeditions, copied from the San Francisco
Times Of December 18th
DEPARTURE OF A SECOND EXPEDITION morning
we are called upon to announce the departure Of a Sc
cond expedition bound for the Republic of the Two
Stars" Between haltpast nine and twelve clock last
evening parties Of from two six each might have
been seen vending their way down town." with blanket
bundles under their upon their backs and rifles
in their hands. Their destination of course evident
They seemed to make secret of their departure, al
though they passed along the streets very silently.
Arrived at the end Of Clay street wharf one might
have two vessels moored outside of the other
The outer one was evidently the object Of interest She
was dingy looking barque deeply laden her decks
cred with barrels Of provisions &C. Gradually the crowd
of Republicans with their intimate friends gathered
about her decks and the end of the wharf
About midnight two carts of unition-rifes pow
der &c-reached the end of the wharf, and backed
up to gangway plank. ....".
All seemed in excellent spirits and two lines were
formed across the deck of the intermediate vessel
pass the pickles board. short time afterwards
Jack, and Barney and Tom, and sundy others call
ed out to 60 up the wharf and bring down the rifles be-
longing to company B.
At last every thing On board and all were ready
for departure. Friends shook hands and bid good bye
fifty times apiece and as the crowd gathered and there
appeared to be show of resistance the part Of the
authorities Federal State, all grew more confident of
successful departure, and with confidence came noise
Nothing was now OBTAINING them but the appearance
Of the steamer Thomas Hunt which had been chartered
to tow the craft with her freight Of glory" the
heads At FIVE minutes after her lights displayed
themselves she rounded the end of Pacific wharf and
approached the scene Of excitement and hope. The
steamer erep slowly alongside and her hawsers were
made fast to the barque delay Of fifteen minutes fol-
lowed. ',' ...@.
The order then given 70 let 90 the bow and stern
nnes the ominous bell of the steamer heard ring
ing from the engne-room; the escaping steam shut
Oh the paddles commenced moving aud the two crafts
swept galanty Of First there came three cheers for