462 HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA. 



the death of Passed Midshipman McLanahan, attached 

 to the United States ship Gyane ; a ball striking him 

 in the right side of the neck, a little below the thyroid 

 cartilage, lodged in the left shoulder. He died in 

 about two hours. He was a young officer of great 

 promise, energetic, of much forethought for his age, 

 and brave to temerity. All lamented his untimely 

 fate, and all bear willing testimony to his worth. 



On the morning of the 12th, at daylight, we dis 

 covered that the enemy had thrown up a breastwork 

 upon the sand, about one hundred and fifty yards to 

 the north-east of the cuartel, and entirely command 

 ing our watering place. We fired several round shot 

 at it, with little effect. We succeeded in getting in 

 being in strong force, and kept a close watch upon us. 

 Their force was over three hundred, speaking within 

 bounds. I immediately commenced digging a well in 

 the rear of Mott's house, which is the lowest ground. 

 I found that we had to go through rock, and judged 

 we should have to dig about twenty feet. I thought 

 it imprudent to blast, as the enemy, suspecting our 

 intention, would throw every obstacle in our way. The 

 men worked cheerfully on this and the succeeding 

 day against all difficulties. Our situation was becom- 



/ o 



ing now an imminently critical one, having with the 

 greatest economy but four days' water. On the 14th 

 we continued digging for water. We found that the 

 enemy had thrown up a second breastwork more to 

 the westward, giving them a cross-fire upon our water 

 ing place : there was a continual fire kept up upon the 

 cuartel during the day. At three o'clock, 30 minutes 

 P. M., a sail was reported in sight, which proved to be 

 the United Ship Cyane. She anchored after sun- 



