The Belmont chronicle, and farmers, mechanics and manufacturers advocate. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1848-1855, 1854-01-20
Defeat and Capture of he,Wa alker party.


By the steamship Southerner, intelligence
from San Diego and Los Angeles to the 10th
of Dec. has been received at San Francisco.
The most important intelligence is the defeat
and reported capture of the Sonora expedi-
ton, under the command Of Mr.. Walker, Of
whose seizure and abandonment of La Paz,
and proclamation of himself as President of
Lower California, we have already published
an account. The details are communicated
in the following extract from letter to the
Alta California, dated San Diego, December
ST.
On the Sd December a party of twenty
from the force of Americans at Enc:nada
made an attack upon the ranch of La Grulla,
inhabited by some half dozen families, and
carried off beef and provisions. This place
is but one league from San Tomas, aud upon
tidings Of the above invasion reaching there,
all the inhabitants turned out and went in
pursuit OF the party, whom they overlook g.
engaged in a slight skirmish, which resulted
! in the loss of two killed ON the part of the
Americans, and two taken prisoners.
/ The Americans continued their retreat to
Encinada in good order, and with the rest of
the force entrenched themselves in the adobe
house at that place. Here the fighting con-
tinued, our account says, with the loss of ten
or twelve Americans. The Mexicans sur
rounded the house, and prevented all ingress
or egress, and eifectually cut off the retreat
to the vessel, by destroying al, their boats.
! This was the aspect Of affairs on the 9th,
. the date OF our informan.'s letter. He makes
ausion to the killing of the Mexican party,
but does not state the number or circum-
stances.
II is deemed impossible that the American
party can escape, if indeed any yet remain
alive.
The character Of their assailants renders
it improbable that any quarter be shown. The
Mexican force is commanded by Negreta, tho
military chief at San Tomas, who, singularly
enough, was liberated to take command of
the suddenly raised forces. 1t appears that a
noted robber and outlaw, named Melendres,
who was banished to the mountains by de-
cree of the military commandant, collected a
sufficient band of choice spirits like himself,
made successful descent upon the town, and
imprisoned his old enemy, and all the other
authorities beside. This enterprise wls
hardly consummated, when an express from
La Gruta brought intelligence OF the attack
upon that place by the Americans.
The imprisoned authorities were immediate
ly liberated, and all joined in the pursuit o.
the common enemy.
A rumor had been circulated that the cen.
tire party had surrendered at discretion, anc
Il were taken to San Tomas, but it is not gen.
orally believed, the report coming from per
sons who had recently arrived in town from
}, places but little distance from here, ant
d many miles from Encinada. The impression
u with the people here is that good deal o
: sharp fighting must be done before the A.
i mcricans give themselves up.
= Struggling travellers, in squads OF two o
d three, have arrived in town, at different time
}: Of the day and night, and silently have dc
y parted for the lower country, Saying little o
nothing about the business they are eng.gei
s upon, but they are, without doubt, an suxiliar,
e force to the Americans, quietly pa ssing int
s. the Mexican territory, in order to svoid tn
8, interference of the U. S. Military authorities
a' in this ncighborhood
a- The military force now In this vicinit,