Washington sentinel., 1854-01-12
from the Alta California. /


SAN DfEao December s, 1S53.-On the third De-
cember, a party of twenty from the force of Amer
leans al Encinada made an attack upon the rancho
of La Grulla, inhabited by some half dozen iami-
lies, and carried of beef and provisions. This
place is but one league from Santa Tomas, and upon
tidings Of the above invasion reaching there all
thsinhabitants turned out and Went in pursuit of
the party, whom they overlook and engaged in a
slight sliirmish which resulted in the loss of two
killed on the part OF the Americans and TWO taken
prisoners.
The Americans continued their retreat 10 Enci-
NADIA in good order and with the rest Of the force,
entrenched themselves in the adobe house AT that
place. Here the fighting continued, our account
says, with the loss Of ten or twelve Americans.
The Mexicans surrounded the house, and prevent
ed all ingress egress, and effectuay cut of the
retreat 10 the vessel, by destroying all their boats.
This was the aspect of affairs on The 9th, the
date of our informants letter He makes allusion
10 the killing Of the Mexican party, but does not
state the number or circumstances
II is deemed impossible that the American party
escape ii, indeed, any remain yet alive.
+ The character of their assaants render il inn
probable that any quarter will be shown. The
Mexican force is commanded by Negreta, the mill
tary chiefs at Santa Tomas, who singularly enough,
was liberated from prison 10 take command of the
suddenly raised forces. il appears that a noted
robber and outlaw, named Melenores, who was
banished 10 the mountains by decree of the mill
tary commandant collected sufficient body OF
cnOlce EplrltS ike nlmsell, maze SuccesSIul ue-
scent upon the town, and imprisoned his old ene-
my, and all the other authorities beside. This en-
terprise was hardly consummated, when an ex-
press from La Grua brought intelligence of the
attack upon that place by the Americans.
The imprisoned authorities were Immediately
liberated, and all joined in the pursuit of the COM
mon enemy. Some of our prominent citizens,
who are large owners of stock in that country,
manifest considerable alarm at the present aspect
Of affairs in that country; one, perhaps having the
greatest amount Of property of that kind at stake,
Don Juan Bandini, has set out with aconsiderable
force to visit his different ranches there and take
the proper steps for the preservation Of such por
tons of his property as have not yet been sacri-
feed. His reported losses OF cattle, horses and
men are very great, but are, without doubt, very
much overrated
A rumor has been circulated that the entire
party had surrendered at discretion, and We're
taken Santa Tomas but is not generally believed,
the report coming from persons who had recently
arrived in town from places but little distance
from here, and many miles from Encinada. The
impression with people here is that good deal of
sharp fighting must be done before the Americans
will give themselves up.
Struggling travellers, in squads of two ndihree,
have arrived in town, at different times of the day
and night, and silently have departed forthe lower
country, saying little nothing about the bnsl-
ness they are engaged upon. but they are, without
doubt an auxiliary force TO the Americans quietly
passing into the Mexican territory, in order 10
avoid the interference of the United States mill
tary authorities in this neighborhood.