Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-05-25
THIRTY YEARS ago.
DEPARTURE OF THE LANDER ExPE.
DITIoN FOR WAsH0E.
How Lawyer James Failed to Get Salts
faction from fhe Bulletin"
Editor-Local Notes.

still here.)-who were with Colonel Georgt
w. Morgan. of the Second Ohio Regiment
on his famous march from Monterey te
Marin, during the war in Mexico, in 1S47
including the desperate running battle with
General TREAS column. There are many
other Mexican War veterans in the State
who will doubtless read with interest the
following account, published in 1860, from
the pen of one who participated in the ex.
citing events of that march. Morgan-whc
afterward became General in the Union
army-distinguished himself by his bray.
cry and abilities as commander.
Morgan and his men were stationed al
Ceralvo, on the road between Camargo and
Monterey, with 800 men, when, on the 23d
of February, 1S47, information reached
him that Santa Ana was marching on
General Taylor with an Overwhelming
force and had sent General Urea around
with 1000 cavalry to cut off his supplies
and prevent his retreat. 1t was sixty miles
to Monterey, and he decided to march his
men there at once. All his stores were
burned on the plaza, and on the oath, at
daybreak, he resolved to move. Thus is
the story told by the narrator:
Suddenly, as day was breaking, we were
startled by deep roll, which appeared to
come from the mountain tops. Louder
and nearer it came, reverberating from
peak to peak-now strong and now weak,
until it was lost in the distance. Again
and again it was heard. There was no
mistaking tit was the roar of artillery.
All eyes were turned to our Colonel. Col
umn form hollow sQuare-quick march,
was his answer to our looks. He had
shifted danger in the morning air The
Mexicans were around us. But moments
consultation was held. Onward, though
Santa Ana and his whole army were in
front. And then commenced that famous
march. unparalleled, l believe, in history.
For sixty miles that little band marched in
square-day and night harrassed in front,
flank and rear. by Urea and his host of
Mexicans. Every town, rancho and house
deserted, and no news from the front
yet onward pressed Morgan. Boys, we
must make Marin this evening" said he,
at midday on the 25th, where we expected
to find Colonel Irwin. He was not there,
but the plaza gave abundant evidence of a
hard fight. Here we stopped, and for the
first time in two days we were to have a
hot meal. But no good luck was in store
for US. A few barrels of pork and bread
were found in house on the plaza. Or
ders were given to roll it out and burn it.
1t was misunderstood, and it was fired 10
the building. The wind was blowing a
gale, and in few minutes the town was in
a blaze. At IL o'clock the troops, sleepy
and tired, filed out of the burning town,
and again were on the road for Monterey,
twenty five miles distant. But slow prog
ress was made, as we were constantly har-
raised by TREAS Lancers. At daylight we
drove a strong picket guard from our front,
and succeeded in capturing prisoner.
From him we learned that Colonel Ir.
from Monterey the morning before, and
had left Marin but few hours before we
arrived. Instantly volunteer was called
for, to ride through, if possible, and bring
Irwin to our relief.
Lieutenant Stewart responded, Captain
Boxer, a Texan Ranger, giving him his
splendid horse. With cheers from the
command, he started, but had hardly left
Us when he received the fire of almost the
entire command of Urea on both sides OF
the road. We gave him up for lost, as il
was not thought possible for a human
being to run the IRE of so terrible CANT
let
Again the column moved, Morgan as
quiet and calm as man could be-his
actions encouraging the men more than
his words-now the Lancers threaten us
on front and rear, but they will not come
up to the bright bayonets-now a volley
from the TANKS, then from the 'front.'
always coming from where yon least ex-
pect it-and so for six miles did the COM
mand fight its way, marching in squares
THAT square marching makes my feet
ache yeti. The road now led us into a
deep ravine where the bills almost kissed
each other overhead. We had hardly
reached the bottom when Urea compressed
his lines, and there we were, surrounded by
., 200 picked Lancers of the Mexican army.
The woods were alive with them, and
they howled worse than savages-the bu-
giles sounded, and under cover of fire
from thousand carbiDes from fence
almost over our heads, down charged 500
lances upon US. They never reached our
lines; broke by the terrible fire poured at
them, they took to the chaparral Again
and again did they try to pierce our square,
but each time they were repulsed.
For six long hours did the fight con-
tinue, when the roar of artillery IS heard
over the hill in our front. Thinking il
was a Mexican gun, Morgan instantly
called for volunteers to storm it, but on
the instant we discovered the Stars and
Stripes on the brow of the hill, and the
whistling of grape and canister fired over
our heads at the Mexicaps in our rear told
the story in a minute. Lieuten ant Stew
art had made the trip and brought to onr
relief twenty-four men and two four.
Founders. Urea beat hasty retreat, with
the remark that all hi could not take the
Corporals guard now The Mexican loss
was about sixty killed and wounded
ours, two killed and two wounded. We
again took up our line of march, and with
out any further trouble reached the Black
Fort, near Monterey, about 10 O'Clock the
same evening"
......O On the oath of May, 1860, Colone
Lander's expedition broke camp near this
city and started for the Humboldt country
Nevada, to construct wagon roads. The
train consisted of nine covered wagons
each drawn by six mules. A guide rode
ahead in sulky, followed by twenty horse
men driving loose stock. The train passed
up street to Tenth. to K, down K to Sec.
ond. to ], and thence through the Plaza te
the Marysville road, and camped for the
night twelve miles out. The train was un'
w. II. West. AS the caravan passed
through the street it attracted great dea
of attention. The men numbered thirty
five, all young, athletic fellows, many o
whom had been on similar expeditions
Among the contents of the wagon wer,
portable FORCES and tools of all description.
with which to repair the wagons on tht
route or to work roads over which to pass
The expedition was headed for the Sink Of
the Humboldt, where IL was engaged tC
build wagon roads in various directions
The men were well armed and prepared Il
defend themselves from attack by Indians
or other banditti, and Colonel Lande
was known to be q brave and competen
leader.
5000. Colonel James, the noted crimina
LAWYER of San Francisco in those days, fel
aggrieved at some illusions made to him ir
the Bulletin, and sent the editor not,
stating that If retraction did not appear
he would demand 1.-The satisfaction due {
gentleman" and that his friend, DR.. Adel
berg. would wait on the editor. Thu
latter stated in the Bulletin that he did no
know Adelberg, but that if he waited on
him until he retracted what had been writ
ten. he would have long wait.
...... Placerville had organized new
fire company, with the following officers
Foreman, Joseph Todd; First Assistant
William Mccormick: Second Assistant
s. Mcfarland; Recording Secretary, j. W
Edwards; Financial Secretary, William
Lowell; Treasurer, ]. NJ. Anderson. Messrs
Todd, Mccormick, Crandall and Hogset
came to Sacramento to purchase an engine
and were given q banquet at the ST. Georg'