The Rutland County herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1852-1855, 1854-01-27
CALIFORNIA NEWS,

The Steamer Northern Light arrived on
Tuesday at New York, bringing 3l3 pas
sengers, and Ss50000 in gold.
THE MINEs. weather has been de-
ligh1ul during the fortnight, with the cx
ccption Of one or two days of rain. The
miners are very much disappointed, there
being far from enough water TO fill the
canals, or to permit washing in the small
clutches. The dry weather. however, has
driven the miners to work in the blnks,
which, in some places, have been found
to be very productive. In several cases
by this system, the ancient beds of rivers
and gulches have been discovered under
the hills and have been found 10 be very
rich.
The news from the Klamath mines is very
favorable.
New diggings have been foud on one of
the eastern head branches Of the Sacra-
monto.
Col WALKEK's SrruBiIc.-The fol.
lowing letter is written by one of Walkers
officers engaged IN the expedition against
Lower California -
ENcINApA pE Topos SANTOS.
Fort .hchibben, n. e., Dee. Is, 1853 {
have only time to give you briefsinte-
ment Of the operations Of the command of
Col. WALKcR since the landing of our
forces at this place,
After having taken the town Of I.a Paz
together with two Governors, tEspINosA
and REyoLLEDA.) in the early part Of No
vember, we laudcd at this place on the ID
inst, and remained here in peace until the
morning Of the 9Th, when the command of
MnLENDREs and NIGnETA, surrounded our
position, aud attempted, by a rather well
gotten mp rusc, 10 destroy our party by an
ambnscadc. We fought them in every
way they desired, bot being without horses,
always failed 10 ovcrtakc them when they
made ihcir several desperate charges, until
at length, on the morning of the | TIA, at a
very early hour, when MuLrNpREz's ,par-
~ were nearly frozen with a cold rain which
had fallen very heavy, q detachment Of
twenty Of our men under command Of Lieut.
CRockER. attacked them in their strong po-
sltion, and routed them completely, com
polling them TO udmose the ranch" in such
double quick style as to forget their cloth
ing,hrearms, Indian arrows, horses blankets
etc, to say nothing Of one very pre,lily
monnted brass field picce. and many other
articles peculiar TO the tented field
have not iime to give you fu'l detail.
Of this affair and several interesting Skin
mishes which have occurred in this ylcin-
", between our forces and those Of Mn
LrNDRrz and NioRrrr, bat will be more
particular IN my next. We had only on
man wounded IN the anfay Of the 10Th, and
know that We killed several Of the enemy,
and wounded many Of them
MlLLENDRrz, during the several days
skrnishing, sent three flags oftruce to Col.
WALKER, and tried 10 violate the last two.
by sending scouts around 10 a position
which be could MT Of obtained in any other
way bat 10 this, rs well Us IN blacks uard
note, he failed most signally. His scouts
were headed oil, and bis insoleni, illiicrate
note sent back, md unanswered umh Col.
WLLkEa sent Lieut. cRockfG saith twenty
men, Or above related, 10 whip about one
hundred Of them.
Our Colonel had asked f,f these twenty
men tas volunteer. with the intention Of
commanding them in f,orson, bu, was dis
suaded from doing 30 by the men, ubocon-
ndcred Dds services necessary 20 he de-
fence IF our temporary f1n.
The winter Of this vas ~, one Of the
fighting detail" oa the night Of the lGil
inst, bul wac 10 an excellent position 10 sre
the whole 6ghi, and can say that If was d
beautifully carried oui ahiir, and one
which reflected great credit on me c1ui-
m0nd. Yoan respectfully
SAMUEL rutland,
Second Lieut.. Wh.stfs lndepu. Bsn'u.
Warren Wood sas hung o. CsNshn, Is.