Georgetown weekly news., 1855-05-03
California Newspaper Antiqrity.

gust, 1910, tne nrst newspaper published I'D
this State. We subjoin a few extracts.
The first paper was that used by Mexi-
cans for wrapping cigaritos.
The first number of the Californian an
nounced the arrival of the U. S. sloop-of-
war Warren.
The movements of Col. Fremont, with
l30 rihemen. are chrOnicled
The Brooklyn, with 40 Mormon immi-
grants on board, arrived at San Francisc
on the Sd inst, august in thirty days
from Honolulu
FIRST BATTLE IN CALIFoRNIA.--Tho
CdlfOrn1an thus describes the first battle III
California between the Americans and Mex
icans:-
"The first battle in California, in which
blood was spilled, was fought on the 24th
day of June, on the plains between Petalu-
mia and st. Raphel, between party OF Cai-
iiOrnians under command of Capt. Del la
Tore, sc strong, and a small detachment
of the Patriot Army, under Lieutenant
Ford, now Captain Ford. % strong. Some
days previous to the battle, Del la Tore
crossed the bay with 20 men, and was JOIN
ed by small party which had been collect
ed by Correo and Padea on the north side
The garrison at Sonoma being informed
that three Americans were prisoners in La
Torres camp, a party of y, under Lieu
tenant Ford. left Sonoma on the 23d. On
their arrival at the Santa Rosa Plains, they
ascertained from some prisoners which they
had taken, that La Tore had gone by the
Laggones towards San Raphel; they follow
ed all night, and on the morning of the 24tl
came up with the enemy, encamped fol
breakfast in the edge Of a plain, bordering
on brIshwoOd Of several acres Lieut.
Ford. with several of his men, charged on
them In such manner as to draw them t.
the edge Of the wood where the remainder
)f his force were stationed; the enemy charg-
ed so clost ly that the fire Of our rifemcn
was very effective. Having several pr $
oners to guard, there were only Is men en-
gagged; they fired only Is or 20 shots, and
from the best Information We can get, thi
enemy lost eight killed and two wounded
while our men were not touched under dis
charge Of near 2G0 muskets The enemy
retired to hill about mile off; our party
then stopped at coral in full view, an1
changed their tired horses for fresh one
from the enemy's cavalcade, with the pris-
Oners whom they had rescued, and those OF
the enemy whom they had previously taken
retired to the garrison at Sonoma. Lieut.
Ford displayed the most perfect GOODNESS
Judgment and daring bravery; the Who'll,
party, with two or three exceptions, dis
tnguished themselves for bravery and dis
cretiOn.
The BATTLE OF SAN GABRIEI.-It NAV be
interesting to recall the occurrences whicl
gave Califcrnia and its vast treasures to the
United States:-
CIUDAD DE Los ANGELES, Jan. 18th, Al.
/ seize the moment to write you few
hasty lines, which may probably reach you
through the agency OF friend In my last
you were informed of the outbreak of tn
insurgents Of California and the trouble We
should have for our Commodore to queI
them. The plan of Commodore Stockton
OF which | informed YOU few weeks since
nas been fully carried out At the head O.
the forces Of his command, amounting to
about 600 including the lst Regiment O.
U. 5. Dragons under Gen. Kearney, ht
left San Diego on the morning of the 29ti
December, determined again to enter the
Capital, take possession and put down tie
lnsurrection. Our line of march was thro
"a rough and mountainous country of near
y 100 miles, with impediments on every
side, to say nothing of the constant appre-
tensions OF attack both day and night by
our enemy on the way. Our march was.
Notwithstanding, rapid, and although per-
formed mostly by sailor troops, would have
done credit to the best trained army in the
world. On the morning of the 8th of Jan
uary, we found ourselves, after several days
hard marching and fatigue, in the vicinity
of the river Of San Gabriel, on the north
bank OF which the enemy had fortified them
selves to the number of 500 well mounted
men, with four pieces Of artillery, and in a
position so commanding that it seemed i'm
possible to gain any point by which our
troops could be protected from the most
calling fire Of their artillery. They had
formed, as | said before, on the north banA
within three hundred yards Of the river, ana
presented front consisting of their whole
force in three divisions-one Oh our ll5h'
and the other on our left, and the third III
front with the artillery. Our whole llno
advanced while skirmish was kept up by
ID party of the enemy and detachment o.
our ritlemen. On reaching the south side
of the river, tie Commodore dsmounted:
liorded the stream, commanded the troops to
pass over, which they did promptly. under
the brisk fire of the enemy artillery on the
opposite bank. The Commodore ordered
tilat the artillery should not unlimber until
the opposite SIDE of the river was gained.
AS soon as that was eifectl d, he ordered a
charge to take the hill directly in the te tn
Of the enemy's guns, which SON resulted in
the entire possession OF the prominent point
they had Just occupied. An attempt was
made by the Caiilornians to cut oIf our
pack-horses and cattle in the rear, all O.