News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1890-10-23

IN The NlCh o. TINE.
Tour lodges, at night, and charged up to
the IRE, where the saT ages We're gathered
round the bodies of six roasting horses.
Two Indians were shot dead, and the rest,
panic stricken by the sudden blow, and be-
leVlng that the dar ing scouts lad re-en-
forcements in hiding, ran away Fifteen
live horses with their packs were recov-
cred, and the bofbes of the Mexf1ans capt
ured with them and slain, were found
and buried. Ora this trim Carson and
I1odey Travelled l5U miles 10 E2nrLy-tOU.
hours, and perbOrmed the daring and mag
unanimous service without other reward
thar the thanks of the distressed Mexicans.
When Fremont reached the California.
coast on his last expedition, and with
Commodore Stockton captured Los An
geles, Carson was sent overland toward the,
states as bearer of dispatches to the gov
eminent at Washington. He took the
route through New Mexico, along the old
Spanish trail, and was here met by Gen. S.
w. Kearny, of the United States army
who with an escort of 100 men was on the,
way to California. Carson's dispatches.
were sent to Washington by other hands,
and he turned about to guide Kearny to.
the Pacific coast. When the party reached
the frontier of California, Stockton and
Fremont, who were at San Diego, learned
of kearny's situation, and sent out relief
of forty men to open communications.
With the united Command of about 14O
the general pushed on toward San Diego
and at SanBernardinoat attempted to surprise
the Californians who were in arms against.
the United States. He was defeated, and
he established his men on hill of rocks.
intending to make a stand until relief came
from Stockton. The Californians were in
great strength, and were led by Gen, Don
Andres Pico, brother of the governor of
California. A party of messengers sent.
out by Kearny reached Stockton's camp
with the news of his situation, but on at
tempting to return MI reassure Kearny-
of hope of succor they fell into Pico's.
hands. Stockton, acsing on his informa--
ton, sent out a column to meet Kearny
but had it not beenfor Carson, with his
indomitable spirit, the junction of forces.
might never have taken place, and
the establishment OF United States au--
thorlty on the coast must have BEEN
indefinitely delayed All the cattle
in Kearny's camp had been lost in the.
fight, and his men were reduced to mule.
meat. Pico had large force completely
surrounding the American position. At
the end of four days siege matters were.
desperate for Kearny, and he determined
to try issue with his enemies, desperate as;
the undertaking seemed. Everything was
put in readiness, the baggage was destroy
ed, the wounded and sick placed on stretch
ers and the little caravan stretched itself
out in shape to show which route they
aimed to go. Suddenly there appeared i'm
view heavy corps of Pico's Mexican lane
ers, which moved into line along the road
selected by Kearny and stolidly awaited
his coming.
To go forward would mean surrender or
humiliation. A council was called and
the grave situation was discussed Should
it be surrender or a fight to the deaths
Many, even the suffering sick and wound
ed, preferred the latter, for Mexicans,
when their fierce passions are aroused, can
be as savage and cruel as Indians. The
only alternative was relief from Stockton,
and there were believed TO be insurmount-
able obstacles in the way of that But at
length the spirit of devoted heroism arose
as silver lining to the cloud that hung
like pail over that beleaguered. starving
band. A young midshipman, a mere boy,
who had come out from Stockton's camp
in the first party, offered to point out the
way to San Diego if kit Carson would |
go with him as bearer of tidings
Kearny at once demurred, and said that
Carson could not be spared from the coun-