47 [26] 
afternoon we made 10 a ae In the latter part of our march we 
reached a creek called Avro co; (dry creek,) but it was now so far from 
being dry that we could hanya Gites it. This creek flows towards the east, 
and falls some miles below into the Sacramento. From Arroyo Seco we 
_ travelled about three miles, till we reached the valley of the ype tiatair ee 
the famous battle-field six Sa afterwards. Of this valley, since 
time, so many accounts have been given, with drawings and husraions, 
that I consider it useless to secant on the locity but.a few rem 
may not be out of place, to recall it to the reader’s memory. 
he mountains above the Oerciiciito cae, Be other from the east 
and west, and narrow the intermediate plain to the width of about six miles; 
and on the Sacramento itself, where new spurs of mountains project, t idicinge 
three miles. The road from the Arroyo Seco to the Sacramento age 
first over a high plain; but as soon as the Sacramento comes in Sight, it ie 
scends abruptly to its valley and to the left bank of the cteek. Near where 
e road begins to descend, a ravine, with an opposite long hill, aie to the 
left or east of i it, and a level plain spreads out to the rightor west ofit. 
hill towards the east was a continuous line of batteries and entrenchments, 
and the principal ¢orce of the Mexican army was there collected. On the 
opposite plain from the west, the American troops, who had above the Ar- 
royo Seco already turned to the right of the road to gain a more favorable 
position, advanced in open field against their entrenched and by far more 
numerous enemies. How the ee artillery with the first opening of 
their fire struck terror into the Mexican ranks; how the brave Missouri- 
ans,-then on horseback and on foot, aed by on se, rushed through 
the ravine up to the cannon’s mouth, and, overthrowingand killing every- 
thing before them, took one battery after the other, till the whole line of 
entrenchments was in their posSession and the enemy put to complete flight; 
how they agers from here to the Sacramento and stormed on its right 
and will immortalize the brave volunteers of mis uri. Little Thid I 
dream, when I reached on that evening the lon e valley, that six 
months afterwards the cannon would roar here, cor that the blood of 
the Mexicans would stain. ie clear water of the creek. My o nly trouble 
I pa in, my horse had to swim. It was therefore impossible to cross it 
oe ie eager was sat 59° Fah. The elevation | this He ae. 
the sea is 4,940 feet, which makes it 300 feet higher than Chihuahua 
For the Fist time we had a clear night again, and without rain. . 
During the night the river had so considerably fa 
August 24.— fallen 
I could this morning ride over without swimming; and agrisa eon ay 
ord, we crossed with the wagons. There is a farm-hot tl 
other ‘side, el rancho de in Sag it lies at the foot of the leap hills 
where the fast defence was made by the Mexicans. — ; examined the rock: 
) ie aa the hill; oat, were perph yh rach) tic of many dif 
Lo 1, bl | gray. From here it is about: ee re 
ad leads over a level plain, r 
‘ 
