108 Ex." Doc. No. 41. 



/ 



neying; what we did see, however, did not impress us "favorably as 

 to its fertility. 



Although .this was the rainy season, no flowing streams were 

 . crossed after leaving the San Isabel, and the ground was destitute- 

 of grass. Our camp was in a valley, overgrown with large oak 

 trees and other shrubbery; but it was too dark to distinguish their 

 character. 



A party under Lieut. Hammond was sent to reconnoitre the ene- 

 my, reported to be near at hand. ]By some accident the party was 

 discovered, and the enemy placed on the qui vive- We were now 

 on the main road to San Diego, all the "by-ways" being in our 

 rear, and it was therefore deemed necessary to attack the enemy, 

 and force a passage. About 2 o'clock, a. m., the call to horse was. 

 sounded. 



I)ec€7n5er 6.— We marched nine miles before day-break over a 

 hilly country, leaving our packs to come on in the rear. The ge- 

 neral invited Mr. Warn'er and myself to ride with him, and taking. 

 four of my party, I left Messrs. Bestor and Stanly with the rest, 

 six in number, to take care of the baggage, and look after the in- 

 struments and notes. 



Wh 



to 



us, his fires shone brightly. The general and his party were in ad- 

 vance, .preceded only by the advanced guard of twelve men under 

 Captain Johnston. He ordered a trot, then a charge, and soon we 

 iound ourselves engaged in a hand to hand conflict with a largely 

 superior force. 



For an account of this engagement, reference may be made to j 

 the official report of the general, which has been published. The 

 subjoined topographical sketch will show the first and second posi- 

 tion of the enemy, and his final rout. As day dawned, the smoke 

 cleared away, and we commenced collecting our dead and wounded. 

 V\e tound 18 of our officei-s and men were killed on the field, and 

 Id wounded, 



Amongst the killed were Captains Moore and Johnston, and 

 l^ieutenant Hammond of the 1st drao-oons. 



Ti/r'^^T? general Capt. Gillespie, Cap°t. Gibson, Lieut. Warner, and 

 Mt. llobideau badly wounded. 



A large body of horsemen were seen in our rear, and fears were 

 entertained lest Major Swords and the baggage should fall into 

 their hands. The general directed me to take a party of men and 

 go back for Major Swords and his party. We met at the foot of 

 the first hill, a miie in rear of the enemy's first position. Return- 

 ing I scoured the village to look for the dead and wounded. The 

 first object which met my eye was the manly figure of Capt John- 

 ston. He was perfectlv lifeless a huU \.i ■ a ^lirectly 

 through the centre of hil head ' having passed direct J 



The work of plundering the dead had already commenced; hij 

 fwn \T P^^«' nothing being left of it but a fragment of the goU , 

 Cham by which it was suspended from his neck. By my directions 

 Sergeant Falls and four men took charge of the body and carried 

 It into camp; Captain Johnston and one dracroon were the only 



