New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-09-24
FREMONT IN CALIFORNIA.
PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS OF ONE OF
HIS MEN.
FREMoNT's SECOND EXPEDITION To THE SOUTH
CAPTURE oF san LUIS OBsPO. SANTA BARBA-
RA. AND TREATv OF PEACE AT COIENGO.

CAPTURE OF san LUIS oBIsro. SANTA BARi'A-
RA, AND TREATt or PEACE AT CoUENGO.
The Winter of 1857 one Of the severcss pc
RODS Of storm and deluge remembered in Cal.
fopa. The rain fen almost incessanily Terrific
"SOu'-easters" swept the coast. The rirers over
flowed their banks and inundated whole districts The
roads were impossible in every direction and the cold
was so unusual and distressing al times as 10 mako
thick clothing ard fires almost indispensable
November, bringing the fr,t rains of the season.
WIS well advanced before Col. Fremont could gather
his scattered band of hores, equip his and pro-
cure supplies for the prosecution of his southern march,
Nv some acknowledgement his noble band Of horses
had been suffered TO escape or be driven OF daring
his frutless expedition by sea. In the face OF every
encouraging aspect of nature he had however. per-
..v.,e5 and sweeping the country norhward as far
a. the upper Sacramento, and backward nom Mco-
,erev 10 the region of the Horsethef Indians he had
collected sufficient supply to enable him to proceed
spsrngly on his way. He had augmented his fcfee
besides TO nearly four hundred men from the FAN enf-
grafton of that year. All had been arranged Tor
final departure, when SAYS the newspaper OF th'S
day che vii sweep the country clear and drive these
.tragelers into heap that they may have an OPP
'rortunity Of proving their vaor by coming out ike
"men as they ought TO do and giving him TAR
battle everything IN readiness when MS
camp was startled bv the arrival of Of his faithful
Delawares bleeding and exhausted and bringing tid-
ngs that an attack had been made party OF voun-
teers near Monterey their way to join his battahon
bv n detachment Of the enemy under his old ae-
qusir,ance de la Tore The volunteers in two cempa-
mics approaching Monterey with fresh band Of
horses, and when encamped at the San Juan Mission,
about 60 miles distant, received news that large force
of the enemy waiting TO intercept them and seizs
their horses on the edge of the Salinas Plains. Tho
night before they had captured Mr. Larkin, the Amer
lean Consul at rancho few miles off. The volUn-
teers were instantly in the saddle, and coming up
with the enemy not far from the identical peak On
which Fremont first hoisted the United States Gag.
calamity charged them though greatly inferior in num-
bcrs The CaEtornians as CALAMITY awaited the onset
untit the rifles poured in their first fire. when they broke
and fed. not, however, without leaving several OF our
foremost men on the ground. The American loss was
third less than that of the enemy, and they retained
besides possession Of the field and the object of tho
struggle, their horses.
An hour had not elapsed after the arrival of the In
dian, before the Adjuant came flying along the line,
delivering rapid orders TO the captains of companies to
strike their tennis and prepare for instant march Tho
horses were driven in and caught up, and division Of
Castro brother of the General, where it was sup
pos.d they would cross the Salinas. At O'Clock tho
bugle sounded march, and the main body Of ths
battalion wheeling into column, rode out of Monterey
in the direction of the volunteer camp. As they passed
over the field of the previous days encounter, Ton
Hill the Delaware, pointed out the positions of the op-
posing forces. The enemys dead stll lay on tho
ground as they had fallen. Fremont rode out from tho
tba featu NJ no in.
The scaping- knife of the Delawares had done asir
work and as the Colonel recognized in the person oone
of the victims notorious vagabond whose life he had
previously spared he remarked the circumstance to
one Of his officers "Never mind" said Tom Hill m
his cultural English, 81 peel his head and ave his
hair"
The volunteers sixty in number, strongly post
ed on an eminence overlooking the plain. Discovering
the advancing column and ignorant whethsrthey were
friends or foes they prepared for the worst when tn
no.es of the buge rising and falling in tic lively sraas
of Yankee Doodle announced the character of the -
preaching force. AS Fremont passed through their
lines paraded to receive him, they could not restrain
three oytu cheers few hours later the volunteers
were enrolled and assigned their places in the tafor-
mia Battalion and the column moving forward oncamped
at the Mission San Juan.
De Ia Tore was not to be taken. Whatever his ar-
prehcnsons may have been of the fate that would be-
fall him if captured he certainly derived from them
degree Of swness in fight that baIled all pursuit The
companies sent OFT 10 cut of his retreat were too iae
and returned with aded horses and bitter maleseons
ON the flying Mexican. At San Juan the Walla-Walla
Indians, with whom Fremont had treated at Fort Sui
ter offered their services and accepted scouts
Also band of native California Indians from the Tu-
sre district whose tribe had been kindly treated By
Col f. came into camp with their bows and arrows TO
aid their friend in the suljugation of their oppressors.
Before leaving San Juan every possible provision
was made by Colonel Fremont for the comfort Of his
men. acquisitions were drawn upon the ships FOE
supplies of woolen clothing and Camp stores. Tents
we've furnished saddles and blankets issued, and fof
every article taken into the service Government Ger.
fcaics were invariably given. Colonel Fremonrs
strict justice and careful attention to the wants Of his
men won their respect and love.
The march began under gloomy and depressing CIR.
cunstances, notwithstanding the excellence of MI Col.
F.'s arrangements. The horses mere skeletons
of his former band, and under the fatigue and scsnt
pesturage of the march, rapidly broke down. Tho
rack mules sank exhausted under their burdens,
soaked by the constant rains sticking fast in the
mud which coggcd every step Of the way refused 10
be extrcated. There scarcity Of provisions
in camp. Flour sugar, salt, and like danties, were
carly washed away in crossing the swollen streams,
and the beef cattle their only subsistence, grew
alarmirgly thin in numbers and flesh every day.
Early in the month Of December the Mission OF San
Luis Obispo was surprised and taken. Fremont had
observed great caution to approach it unseen. Ihu
was very difficult, for the enemy on their fleet horses
were able to ride all around him. and mark each nights
encampment BY dividing his battalion, and makings
forced march in one direction, while he feigned 70
take another Fremont Disconnected his watchful pur.
suers and before his trail could be found the divisions
had mo, at the foot Of low range Of bills separating