San Andreas independent., 1858-07-17

eral Aearney, who was one of the flowers of
the American army-at once the perfection of
discipline, the true friend of the soldier, and a
scourge of fire to the enemy. Under Napo-
leon, he would have achieved Marshals
staff. He died a. e. Louis, several years ago.
Col. Mason, of .agoons who was in COM
mand o. the military posts, died shortly after
his retulA 20 Virginia, his native State. Capt.
Kane, Quartermaster of tile post, andi Surgeon
Booth, of a Command, died in the summer of
l849; also, Capt. Joseph Folsom, of San Fran
cisco. OF the Privates and non-commissioned
officers who composed the company in 1876
from memory alone-we can reckon up forty
three who have met death inone form or other
AS the company has been very mueh scattered.
doubtless there are many others belonging to
this list. Yet, as it is the soldiers business
to die, this list is less to be regretted than
smaller one which can not be made up from
the living. Five were sent to the States Prison.
one was hung by mob in Los Angeles; some
are now in the Lunatic Asylum at Stockton.
and many are confirmed invalds. AS some
recompense for this schedule of crime and
misfortune, one has become preacher of the
gospel; two are millionaires, of San Francisco;
one large proprietor in New York city, and
one an editor. Of all the privates and nom
commissioned officers in the enlistment of
1916, but one remains in the company now.-
We shall take the liberty of naming him-Mr
WILLrAM RAFTER. OF all that jovial and dare
devil number, who laughed and joked around
the evening campfire, or mapGuvered through
the stately drill of '46, his is the only name
now spoken at roll-call. On the banks Of the
Colorado, as Orderly Sergeant of the company
he still gracefully and gallantly reports +" Old
Company f." as "present or accounted for"
and with soldiers pride, joins the ranks at
each tattoo and revellie, alone to remember
those absent companions in arms who former
ly stood by his SIDE. the pioneers, in the field
of honor"
Upon the termination of the war, Captain
Tompkins (the original Captain of company
FL, resigned; and to Captain II. S. Burton was
assigned the command. In 1851 they were
removed from Tularc Valley to San Diego, on
a short campaign against the Coyote Indians
thence, in February 1852, to Monterey, where
they remained until March, 1857, when they
were ordered to- Fort Yuma, on the Rio Colo
radO, where they have since been stationed.
We should deem our " glimpse" but fent
light, indeed, should we stop here and fail to
add our testimony to the high and honorable
character borne by Captain Henry S. Burton,
lst Lieutenants, E. o. C. Ord, and William
T. Sherman; and Sergeants Charles Layton,
James Fl. Carson, and John E. Noble. They
combined those rare attributes of character
necessary to form the combination of SOL
der and gentleman. Our respect for them
shall accompany US to the grave.
OF those who once stood by US shoulder to
shoulder in the ranks, now numbered with the
departed, we mention with fearful remem-
brance, our warm and true friend Sergeant
James H. Carson who died in Stockton in the
winter of 1853, being at that time a member
elect to the Legislature of 1854, from the
county of Calaveras. Mr.. Carson was one
of the earliest and most successful pioneers in
the mines. Some of the best dggings in the
county of Calaveras, owe their development
to his good luck and intrepidity, among which
are the Carson Creek placers, which he dis
covered and worked with great success, as
early as the fall of lS4S. They still retain
his name He was brave and good man.
whose natural qualities were embellished by
a highly cultivated mind, and pure and clas-
sical taste We have now in our possession
some of his published "sketches" of scenes
and events that passed before his eyes, which
are credit to the literature of the State.
That darker page than death, already allu-
ded to, upon which few of the names of the
company of '46 have since been inscribed, we
pass over with sigh. God befricnd thee,
which inspired your young hearts to risk life
in the battlefield, have proven false indeed.
The country for which, in old age, so much
honor was anticipated, has, in an evil and un-
guarded hour on your part, doomed your
names to obscurity, and blasted the feeble
remnant of your days.
We pass with pleasure from this saddening
groupe to notice one, the humblest, but not
the least meritorious of those that filled our
old camp. We mean the negro servant of
Capt Tompkins, Bill, as he was called, in
soger parlance Bill was true and faithful
friend of the soldiers and to his kind atten-
tions, many a lank stomach and aching head
was indebted for the relief which it could no
where else have obtained. Bill was a real
agrarian, and believed, with the "men of the
mountains" that the superhuities of the rich
should be divided amongst the destitute
Though respectful to the officers, in time of
need, he would not permit sub-lieutenant to
feast to safety on pork and biscuit, when he
knew of sick soldier who had nothing to
eat. lie was an expert, and carried his virtue
to the extreme of Spartan perfecton-he never
was caught. We are happy to add that he is
now engaged in an honest and lucrative busi-
ness. Bill is the porter of Wells, Fargo & Co.,
in the city of Stockton, and will do to bet on
Looking back through the long aisle of