460 HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA. 



that date the enemy were continually in sight of us, 

 intercepting all communication with the interior, and 

 driving off all the cattle from the neighborhood. A 

 party of our men who went out to endeavor to obtain 

 cattle, were driven in and narrowly escaped being cut 

 off. We succeeded in obtaining a few cows, however, 

 which were very necessary to us in the reduced state 

 of our provisions, as, in addition to our garrison, we 

 were obliged, in humanity, to sustain some fifty women 

 and children of the poor, who sought our protection 

 in the greatest distress. I found it necessary, as 

 soon as our fresh be-ef was consumed, to put all hands 

 on half allowance of salt provisions. We had no 

 bread. On the 4th of February, the enemy closed 

 around us more, and commenced firing upon all who 

 showed themselves at our port-holes, or above the 

 parapets. On the morning of the 6th the enemy ap 

 peared to be a little scattered, a considerable force 

 being seen riding about some distance from the town, 

 and at the same time a strong party of them posted 

 at the lower end of the street were keeping up an 

 annoying fire upon us. I judged this a favorable 

 opportunity to make a sortie upon them, and taking 

 twenty-five men with me, closed with them and dis 

 lodged them, driving them into the hills without the 

 loss of a man on our part, and returned to the cuartel. 

 On the morning of the 7th it was reported to me that 

 the enemy had broken into the houses on the main 

 street, and there was some property exposed which 

 might be secured. I took a party of men and went 

 down and brought up a number of articles belonging 

 to the Californians, who were in the cuartel ; some 

 distant firing took place, but no injury was sustained. 

 On the same day, hearing there were some stores of 



