Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1856-08-01

posed toward the Americans nc
house was substantial edidce Of
two stories. surrounded by corral,
with a stout gateway the house
hold consisted Of some twenty per
sons.
We had al retired to rest. and
were wrapped in slnmber when the
loud barking Of dogs and holloing
Of men aroused us suddenly from
our dreams Expecting an attack
from the bear party "a band Of law
less desperadoes who iniest The
couuiy) all rushed to the courtyard,
armed as well as the time permitted,
and in costumes the most pictures
que, as primiveness is usually con
sldered so. The General, sabre in
hand, came last he challenged the
intruders with :
" Quiem IS In 2" (Who is ihcrc.)
" Americdqos amigos abr0 Ia
puerto" (Americans aud friends,
open the gate was the response,
blow accompanying the words that
made the floor shake again
The demand was per(orce compl-
ed with aud a band of some fifty
men were presented TO our view,
mounted and arrayed as irappers and
hunters, and armed to the teelh.-
Foremost among them, on black
mustang, was a small, sinewy, dark
man, evidently their leader, with
% an eye like Mars to threaten and
command" u counienance express
siye of the greatest determination,
aud a bearing that, Notwithstanding
his rough d,ess, stamped HIN as one
born to command-to lead.
This was Fremont.
d" am an officer Of the United
States" said he 5" 81 am on MY
way to Los Angeles ! must !iaye
horses" "
" But -" said Vallelo.
" sall, sir, | must have them
you will be recompensed by my gov
ernmenL order you, sir, to deIv-
er TO my men what horses YOU may
have in corraIl"
Finding remonsIrance would be OF
no avail with such d man, Vallejo
called his yaqueros and gave the re-
qulste direct tons. In the meanwhile
my friend D. made himself known
to Fremont, having met hun in
Washington
" have information of Castro S
Intention to attack Los Angelos. |
have six days to reach there before
the outbreak, Tor that need these
horses for must oe IN At the
death
" But the distance six hundred
miles said d. rhe roads"
| shall do it, he replied, and
turned away 10 supervise his arrange
menls.
r. half an hour they departed as
uuceremomously as the came, taking
VIM tuvm some tnrev hundred tur-
scs, and leaving US aslouuded at this
raid, to wonder # we were yet a
wake, or wi ether 1t was an unsub-
stauual dream.
" Los diabLoS," exclaimed the
General, they have even taken my
wile's saddle horse ~ so thoroughly
had Fremonts lieutenant executed
hls order.
From Sonoma to Yerba Buena,
the htle hamlet where now stands
the queen city Of the Pacific, San
Francisco, he augmented his stock TO
the number OF fifteen hundred, COM
plelely clearing the country and
then commenced one of the most
peculiar races for a fight ever proba-
bIy known. Barely pulling birdie TO
devour a steak cut from The quarter
OF scarce dead bullock, driving
before them their spare horses-On,
on they went the roads at all times
bad, at this season were horrible (;
fifty miles beiug hard days Journey
even for Californian.
As their exhausted beasts dropped
under them, they tore off the sad
dies, and, placing them on others,
hurried on, leaving the poor animals
to be devoured by the cayoles, or re-
cover, as chance might bung about.
Ever at the head--the last to dis
mount aud the first 20 leap INTO the
saddle, was this mounlaneer, this
companion OF Kit Carson this pit
oneer of empire Fremont -
Rarely speaking but to urge on hls
men, or to question some pusslng
native, taking the smnllesi mOdicuu
Of reireshmenl, aud Watching while
Others suatchtd moments repose,
he was wrapped up IN his project,
and determined 10 hare some Of The
fght
Though San Pablo, and Monte
and Josepha, they dashed like the
phantom riders Of line Ilarlz Noun
talns, startling the inhabitants, and
making The night watcher cross hun
sell IN terror as their band flew on.
The river Sacriclos was reached,
swollen by the rams, 1t rolled on, a
rapid muddy sIrean-his men paus-
cd
Forward, forward !" cried he,
and dashed in himself the struggle
was fierce one, but his gallant mus
tang breasts the current, aud lie
reaches The opposite shore IN safety /;
his men alter Time Join him, two
brave fellows finding watery grave,
and many horses beng carried down
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