Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-07-23
cI.EARFIELD, WEDNESDAY, JULY %, 1856

I and a band OF some fifty. men we're presented
! TO our view, mounted and arrayed as trappers
| and hunters, and armed to the teeth For
NEST among them, on black mustang, was
! small, siEewy, dark man, evidently their lead
ser, with San eye like Mars to threaten and
command, - countenance expressive of the
greatest determination, and a bearing that,
uotwith sanding his rough dress, stamped him
as one bornto command--to lead. -zsaEgai5
This was Frem ont. at#5 Eef
81 ann an officer Of the United States,'' said
he. II am ON my way to Los Angeles |
must have horses.'' aaa
sBut-'' said Vallejo. 9 i
ssI said, Sir, must have them you will be
rccompenced by my Government. | order
you, Sir, to deliver to my men what horses
you may have in eorral.' 20 &
Finding rcmonstrance 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. n ai,z
81 have Information of Castro's intention
10 attack Los Angeles. l have six days to
reach there before the outbreak, for that |
need these horses for | mast be in at the
death. .'if a @
- ..But the distance; six hundred miles, I" said
D. .sThe roads ..-.-s-rs -.-.t
81 shall do it, he replied, and turned away
to supervise his arrangements. 80 @
In half an hour they departed as unceremo-
riously as they came, taking with them three
hundred horses, and leaving us astounded at
this ride, to wonder if we were yet awake, or
whether it was an unsubstantial dream.
s.Tos diabIos!t'' exclaimed theGeneral, s.they
have even taken my wife's saddle-horse!" SO
thoroughly had Fremont's lieutenant cxecu-
ted his order.
From Sonoma to Yerba Bucna, the little
hamlet where now stands the queen city OF the
Pacific San Francisco,he augmented his stock
to the number Of about fifteen hundred, com
, pletely clearing the country; and then COM
mcnced one OF TIM most peculiar racesJor a
G.l war I.,.nI,lI i@r-. ID I,"--lsa f-lllli4e i-"'
die 10 devour a steak cut from the quarter OF
dead bullocli's carcas, driving before tAem
their spare horses-2n, on they went The
> roads at all times bad, at this season were hor-
= rible-ffty miles being hard days Journey:
= even for Californian. f-.f .a.z-azs
AS their exhausted beasts dropped undel
them they tore off the saddles, and, placing
them on others, hurried on, leaving the pool
= animals to be devoured by the cayotes, or re-
. cover, as chance might bring abeut. Ever a
Z the head, the last to dismount, and the flrst t'
leap into the saddle was this mountaineer, TIM
;. companion OF Kit Carson this pioneer
4 the empire Fremont! Rarely speaking bu
a to urge on his men, or TO question some pas
=, sing native, taking the smallest modcum Q
"A refreshment, and watching while others snatch
" ed a moments rcpose, was he Wrapped mp II
-, his project and determined to hare some G
The fight. 2 .ssH ssa ztrE5
~ Through San Pablo and Monterey, and Jose
n pha, they dashed, startling the iniiabltants
as and making the night-watch cross himself /
a terror as their band flew on. The river Sacri
s. ficos was reached swollen by the rains 1t ro
q led on, rapid, muddy stream; his menpauseo
.. Forward, forward - cried he, and dashe
90 in himself, the struggle was fierce one, b,
nd his gallant mustang breasts the CURRENT an
ed he reaches the opposite shore in safety; h
he men after time join him, two brave folio"
he finding watery grave, and many horses bein
lr carried down the stream but nothing can no
OIL stop hiln-the heights adjacentfto the fuee
he appear-new a smile might be seen on the IN
nr placable visage of the leader--'hs ihs sac
an eiay and the goal is aeoa aa ~
. With ninety men on the last OF his caraY'
I'D of horses, he fell like thunderbolts on ii
ma rear,of the Mexicans. The day was with then
ho the little band of stout hearts guarding Il
rn presidio, taken by surprise and not having Z
Ia. advantage of the Mexieans in regard to he
ire ses, were beginning to waver But cheer
md cheer again-succor is at hand. On cor
at those riders of demonstrating can wit
stand their shock.asWith shouts OF trium
of they change the battle to q rout. IheEJt'
by IS le0n ssT ssEzE s-s11s2 - az
be The route was a complete one aud had
ms. Fremont's men been utterly eNhausted' no
two would. have escaped. SO ended the Ride
ono The One Hundred.
no Iwould state that the Government, w
their usual speed in such matters, passed
nod appropriation to satisfy General faileJo a
oos others for their losses, sir gears atfer.z al
,nly This put Virlnai emu 70 'no
rom they again made a stand at the San L as
dos headed by Pico, still they were dispirited,'
n. Gen. Kearney with his mounted men deiea
-. them with great loss The GoyernorshiI
NIT the country being decided, which had 4
:, as been a. source of trouble between kearn
The Stockton and Mason, affairs became more
hal tleo' ana the Alelisa ,,, footin 5
80 sscr,s sh The head of rank rebcllion," and
r and Castro fled to the lower country, to II
NOR ! for n time longer against iBeUifGbtc fate.