84 HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA. 



been interrupted by the revolt. Commodore Stockton 

 and General Kearny having a misunderstanding 

 about their respective powers, Colonel Fremont 

 exercised the duties of governor and commander-in- 

 chief of California, declining to obey the orders of 

 General Kearny. 



The account of the adventures and skirmishes with 

 which the small force of United States troops under 

 General Kearny met, while on their march to San 

 Diego, in Upper California, is one of the most in- 

 teresting to which the contest gave birth. The party, 

 which consisted of one hundred men when it started 

 from Santa Fe', reached Warner's rancho, the fron- 

 tier settlement in California, on the Sonoma route, 

 on the 2d of December, 184b\ They continued their 

 march, and on the 5th were met by a small party of 

 volunteers, under Captain Gillespie, sent out by Com- 

 modore Stockton to meet them, and inform them of 

 the revolt of the Californians. The party encamped 

 for the night at Stokes's rancho, about forty miles 

 from San Diego. Information was received that 

 an armed party of Californians was at San Pas- 

 qual, three leagues from Stokes's rancho. A party 

 of dragoons was sent oat to reconnoitre, and they re- 

 turned by two o'clock on the morning of the 6th. 

 Their information determined General Kearny to 

 attack the Californians before daylight, and arrange- 

 ments were ac-cordiugly made. Captain Johnson was 

 given the command of an advance party of twelve 

 dragoons, mounted upon the best horses in possession 

 of the party. Then followed fifty dragoons, under 

 Captain Moore, mounted mostly on the tired mules 

 they had ridden from Santa Fe' — a distance of 1050 

 miles. Next came about twenty volunteers, under 



