, 1864-12-17
UbitoQo Gribn11e.
OUR CALIFORNIA LETTER.
Political H4ttcr&-Shoutfng the Battle
Cry Of Freedom-ss We are Keody.ss

from our Special Correspondent
San FRANCISCO. Nor. II. 1861
PoLITlcs on THE PACIFIC COAST.
Tic result Of the elections In the three Pa
ciGc States Is already before you by telegraph.
VIC have done our whole duty, and can shake
hands cordially with you Of the West, over
the glorious result. 4 great and wholesome
change came over the sentiment Of our people
within the past six months, and with one ac-
cord all the loyal elements dropped minor
points Of difference, aud came up to the work
with will for Lincoln and the Union. The
Jews almost to a man, md the Irish also,
went for Mcclellan, Influenced in no small
degree ny the Incorporate and M-judycd at
lacks made on them by the campaign organ
of the Union party, a fash Of. the slang
whanging style, and Thousands Of the better
class Of Americans by birth would hare done
the same thing ont Of disgust. bad the Issues
involved been less than the life or death Of
the nation. Immense preparations for riots
and Instructions had been made here; the
police force armed and drilled in regular mil.
itary style and carried to the highest state Of
fornia volunteers and regulars, stationed In
the vicinity Of the city, were SO disposed as
to be fmmediatc1s available, the Provost
Guard was doubled, and "Citizen's Volun-
tcer Police oi nearly 5000 men was organ-
lied, armed and drilled. :
All, however, passed off quietly, and the
only excitement was manifested b. the Union
men when the returns from the interior and
from the East began to pour fn.
SHOUTING THE BATTLE CRY OF FREEDOM
As evening settled down on our city, on
Tuesday, November 6th, Montgomery. street
the broadway Of San Frnncisco-bccame
dcnse1y packed witt men and women, called
together around the Headquarters Of the
Union Central Committee, to learn the news
from abroad and hear how the battle had
gone. AS the dispatches were received FROM
the Altd office and other sources, they we're
read aloud to the vast conconrsc in the streets
below, from the windows Of the committee
ruoms, and cheer on cheer rent the air. From
time to time speakers came out on the balco-
MES and briefly addressed the multitude, and
magnificent military band played patriotic
airs. Every time the band started to pluy,
the crowd would call for " Rally round the
tlas Boys" and uniting Us one man in
would completely drown the strains Of The
1nusic With the thunder of their voices. At
length dispatches announcing the fact that
California, Oregon and Eevadn, had all cast
their vote for lincoln and the Union WAS read,
and shout wss raised. :" Bring out the dagn'
In IN instant the ensign Of liberty came out
Of tho building, and was swung back aud
ihe chanting was Ike the unbroEen roar Of
the sea. In less than five minutes, process
sion numbering thousands f1nen was formed
and started down the street, the band playinS
the same evcr.pop0iar air, the flag waving tu-
rnu1tuously in the breeze, the whole crowd
dies iu the windows all along the route
,saiving their landkerchiefs in en-
couragcmcnt, while the nir was fairly
ablaze with the light of burning
fireworks and bon1res. Cannon beloved
forth 4 tremendous salute in honor of the
direction. \ few Copprrheads started 10
raisc disturbance at the outset, but they
fared SO buddy at the hands of the excited
Union men, that the attempt was not repeat
ed, and the procession Wcnt on its way uuin-
teIrupted. as section after section passed
they chcercd zach in turn, continuously, until
nil had passed, and when all the leading
streets had been passed through, the excited
crowd still marched and counter-marclcd up
and down Montgomery street, singing, firing
and cheering, as II they could never be satis-
fed. lwent home at a late hour in the morn
ing, but the excitement was still unabated,
and il place Of The roar OF the sea, which 1
usually hear in the distance, ut this time.
heard only the sound Of many voices, relter-
ating with an enthusiasm indescsibable-
"1he Onlon forever, hurrah boys, hurrah!
Down with the traitors and up with the stars,
While we rally round the dsg, boys,
Rally once again.
Shouting the battle cry OF FnEEDoM!r
It was 4 scene such as never witnessed be-
fore in my life, hardly expect to witness again,
and shall neyer forget
We ARE READY.
A year since there was much apprehension
ef an EayS
glish pirate fleet from China, and the conli-
tlon Of our dcienses was au2iously discussed
by military men, as well rs civilians. Efforts
were made to prepare our harbor for defense
in case Of war with any maritime power, and
naha H.. ao II he 20 eeIs ia eoaa be sent
against us from any direction would be Of no
aran. A vessel entering the Golden Gate
must run directly under the guns Of Fort
Point, A&catraz 1Rfand, Angel Island and
posed TO direct fire OF several hundred guns
Of the heaviest calibre known to the service,
besides having to encounter the attacks or
the great monitor Caaa1ache Ito be launched
to-morfow), the iron-clad double-enaer 1tal-
e7ee, and other war vessels capable Of giving
good account Of themselves vi: any
time. The lonely rock OF Alcatraz, standing
in the center Of the channel at the entrance
Of the Bay Of San Francisco, fairly bristliny
with guns bearing in every direction, and al
ways fully manned and guarded. is in itself
about as hard Il nut to crack - ca.l be found
anywhere in tue world, and should not care
TO take the chauces Of being on hoard Il YES
sci in any fleet which Attempted to pass it.
Nor would land force fare any better In an
attempt to take San francisco. A landing
might be effected at Monterey or Half Moon
Bay, but. to reach the city it must pass
through long mountain defles, in which they
could he butchercd BY an opposing force like
50 many sheep, without chance Of defending
themselves; and on arriving at the narrow
promontory which connects the city and
county Of san Francisco with the main land,
every foot OF the ground could be successfully
best tltct in the world could not make an i'm.
preston On our deftnscs to-day, If energetic
ally defended. Our friends on fhe other side
IF the mountains need have no fear for our
Faftty hereafter, should foreign war occur
I only wish New York was as safe from at