Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1856-08-21

81 am an officer of the United States, said
he; 81 am on my way to Los Angeles; l
must have horses"
but" said Vallejo.
Il said, sir, mast have them you will
be recompensed Uy my Government l order
you, sir, to deliver TO my men what horses
you may have in corral"
Finding that remonstrance would be of no
| avail with such a man, Vallejo called his
vaqueros and gave the requisite directions.
In the meanwhile my friend D. made himself
known to Fremont, having met him in Wash
ington.
l have information of Castro's intention to
attack Los Angeles. l have SIX days to reach
there before the outbreak-for that l need
these horses; for l mast be in at the death.
But the distance; six hundred miles,
said d. 1.-The roads
81 shall do it, he replied, and turned
away to superintend his arrangements.
In half an hour they departed as uncere-
enormously as they came, taking with them
some three hundred horses, and leaving us
astounded at this raid, to wonder if we were
yet awake, or whether it was an unsubstan-
tai dream.
"Los djabios," exclaimed the General,
"they have even taken my wifes riding po-
n.y. so thoroughly had Fremonts lieutenant
executed his order.
From Sonoma to Yerba Buena, the little
hamlet where now stands the queen city of
the Pacific, San Francisco, he augmented his
stock to the number of fifteen hundred, com
pletely clearing the country and then COM
menced one Of the most peculiar races for a
fight ever probably known. Barely pulling
bride to devour a steak cut from the quarter
of a scarcely dead bullock driving before them
their horses, on, on they went.
The roaks, at all times bad at this season
were horrible, fifty miles being hard day g
| journey even for native Californian.
As their exhausted beasts dropped under
them, they tore off the saddles, and, placing
them on others, hurried on, leaving the poor
animals to be devoured by the cayotes, or re-
cover, as chance might bring about
| Ever at the head, the last to dismount, and
the first to leap into the saddle, was this
companion of Kit Carson, this pioneer of en-
| pire, Fremont!
Rarely speaking, but to urge on his men, or
to question some passing native, taking the
smallest modicum Of refreshment, watching
while others snatched moments repose, so
much was he wradped up in his project, and
determined TO haze some of the .fght.
Through San Pablo, Monterey, and Joseph S
they dashed like the phantoms of the Hartz
Mountains, startling the inhabitants, and
making the night watcher cross himself in
terror. as their band flew on. The river Sa-
rifcios was reached; swollen by the rains it
! rolled on, arapid, muddy stream his men
paused.
FORWARD forward !" cried he, and dashed
in himself; the struggle was fierce one but
his gallant mustang breasts the current, and
he reaches the opposite shore in safety; his
men after a time join him ; two brave fellows
| l.
earned down the stream, but nothing can
stop him-the heights adjacent to the Puebla
appear-now smile might be seen on the
implacable visage of the leader-'sis the Sirth
day, and tile goal is aoon.
With ninety men on the last of his caravan
of horses, he fell like thu.lderbolt on the rear
of the Mexicans. The day was with them !;
the little band of stout hearts guarding the
| preside, taken by surprise, and not having
the advantage of the Mexicans in regard to
horses, were beginning to waver. But cheer
| up, cheer again -succor is at hand. On come
the riders of Fremont-nothing can withstand
their shock. With shout OF triumph they
change the battle to a rout. The field IS aoon
The rout was complete one; and had not
| Fremont's men been utterly exhausted, none
would have escaped. So ended the Rsde of
the one Hundred.
their usual speed in such matters, passed an
appropriation to satisfy Gen, Vallejo and 9TH
ers for losses sac gears after.
| This put virtual end TO tho war, for though
/ thoy made stand at the San Pascal headed
! by Pico, still they were dispirited, and Gen.
Kearney with his mounted men, defeated
them with great loss. The governorship OF
! the country being decided, which had long
been source OF dispute between Kearney,
Stockton, and Mason, affairs became more set
tied, and the American force now largely
augmented, was placed on such a footing as to
"crush the head of the rank rebellion and
Pico and Castro fed to the lower country. to
fight for time longer against inevitable fate.