The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-06-25
LAND OPERATIONS OF OUR NAVAL FORCES.

Extract from hs Notes Of Officer the Land Operations
ofe Ndpal Force Of The United STATES Il. California and
Sonora during hs Var Nth hezieo.
On the 2sd of July 1896 Commodore Stockton assumed
command of the United States naval forces the west
coast of Mexico.
In taking this important responsibility the obligations
Of justice the importance Of discipline well rs the
ward Of merit and virtue the rule of his
duct BY the union Of beaity and justice he gained the
love aud confidence OF his officers and men, and firmly
abshed the affections Of that portion OF the inhabitants
who were disposed to be friendly cause, aud in
spired all with portion Of his noble spirit He incuca
ted the sautary lesson hn the forces Of the State should
compose body, and be animated by one soul" The
utility Of such instruction manifested events
shortly proved
The restless and disconnected part Of Californians
knowing the Commodore's force to be SMALL and expect
ing succor from Mexico secretly organized Instruction
with General Flores their head which broke out early
10 October 1896 in all the country south Of the bay Of
San Francisco and commenced their operations by instant
" expeng the small deachments Of troops stationed at
Santa Barbara San Diego San Pero and the Cudsd de
los Angeles
Nearly all the country thus suddenly retaken by
the enemy and measures were Immediately adopted by the
Commodore for queling this unexpected movement and
chastisng its authors His force consisted Of about
hundred seamen and hundred marinesbeng all that
could be safely taken from the shpand two small
panies OF mounted rhomen composed OF hardy western
pioneers who had emigrated to that country before the
war. That Of the enemy over eight hundred men,
equipped and mounted excellent horses The battalion
drilled for several weeks by Breve Captain (now Bre
vet Maor) zen, Of the United States marine corps nm
der the supervision Of the Commodore himself Lieuten
ants acted field officers passed midshpmen captains
and midshipmen as lieutenants
The preudces which sailors usually entertain against
the performance Of the duties Of soldier soon
come and in short time they able perform the
daily duties of camp, Of the evoluops Of bat
talon form and reduce square and the various load
ings and frings with the regularity prompness and pre-
cision Of regular troops
But when the Commodore had proceeded thus far,
other obstacles presented themselves for IL in
numbers only that the weakness Of his little army
sisted but in proper arms ammunition tents provisions
and clothing Its deficiency was in fact such to rem
der Il inadequate to the great purpose for which IL was
intended and inferior in all these respects TO the enemy
which il destined TO encounter In addition TO these
depressing and unpromising circumstance there
general want Of commissays and quartcmastefs stores
money, and artillery.
Amidst all these disheartening circumstances the hope
Of conqueng and restoring peace in California appeared
minds less vigorous less sangune and less brave Than
Socktons 10 be chmerca aud the attempt both useless
and dangerous The force under his command not
sufficient in numbers or quality TO render success even
probable according principles Of calculations
and the prospect Of its being diminished might ressonabiy