32 HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA. 



mounted on fine horses, and with artillery, had every 

 advantage. The sailors -were forced to retreat with a 

 loss of five killed and six wounded. 



Commodore Stockton came down in the Congress 

 to San Pedro, and then marched for the " City of the 

 Angels," the men dragging six of the ship's guns. At 

 the Rancho Sepulvida, a large force of the Californians 

 was posted. Commodore Stockton sent one hundred 

 men forward to receive the fire of the enemy and then 

 fall back upon the main body without returning it. The 

 main body Avas formed in a triangle, with the guns 

 hid by the men. By the retreat of the advance party, 

 the enemy were decoyed close to the main force, when 

 the wings were extended and a deadly fire opened 

 upon the astonished Californians. More than a hun- 

 dred were killed, the same number wounded, and their 

 whole force routed. About a hundred prisoners were 

 taken, many of whom were at the time on parole and 

 had signed an obligation not to take up arms during 

 the war. 



Commodore Stockton soon mounted his men and 

 prepared for operations on shore. Skirmishes followed, 

 and were continually occurring until January, 1847, 

 when a decisive action occurred. General Kearny 

 had arrived in California, after a long and painful 

 march overland, and his co-operation was of great 

 service to Stockton. The Americans left San Diego 

 on the 29th of December, to march to Los An^reles. 

 The Californians determined to meet them on their 

 route, and decide the fate of the country in a general 

 battle. The American force amounted to six hundred 

 men, and was composed of detachments from the ships 

 Congress, Savannah, Portsmouth and Cyane, aided 

 by General Kearny, with sixty men on foot, from the 



