Ex. Doc. No. 41. 119 



el of irrigation. W 



to think there would be more formidable and united resistance by 

 the enemy, but he failed to show himself; and such was the unani- 

 mity of the men, women and children, in support of the war, that 

 not a particleof information could be obtained in reference to his 

 force or position. . . , 



After travelling ten miles we came to the Coyotes, a rancheria 

 ownedby a rich widow lady, who had just married a handsome 

 young fellow, who might well pass for her son. * These people we 

 lound at home, and we learned from them that the enemy intended 

 to give us battle the next day. Indeed, as we approached the ran- 

 cheria, several horsemen drew off, reconnoitring us so closely as to 

 make it doubtful if they were not some of our own vaqueros. 



January 8, — We passed over a country destitute of wood and wa- 

 ter, undulating and gently dipping towards the ocean, which was 

 in view. About two o'clock we came in sight of the San Gabriel river. 

 5>inall squads of horsemen began to show themselves on either flank, 

 and It became quite apparent the enemy intended to dispute the 

 passage of the river. 



»Jur progress was necessarily very slow, our oxen being poor, and 

 our wagons (the ox-carts of the country) with wheels only about 

 two feet in diameter. - 



t ti?^ ^.^emy did n9t yet discover his order of battle, and we moved 



the river in our habitual order of march, when near' the enemy, 



Tft fl ^^ division in front, and the 1st and third on the right and 



e t flanks respectively; the guard and a company of volunteer 



arbiniers in the rear; our cattle and the wagon train in the centre, 



aking for them^ what the sailors wittily termed, a Yankee corral. 



Th-^"^^ /^^ were distributed on the four angles of the rectangle. 



^ Atiis order of march was adopted from the character of the ene- 



own b 



J 



to k ^^^? ^^" unaccustomed to field evolutions, it was necessary 

 in x^^^ habitually in the order to resist cavalry attacks when 



eae^^^ °^ ^^^ enemy. We had no cavalry, and the object of the 



> was to deprive us of our cattle by sudden charges. 

 Q^ ^^^'^^ was about 100 yards wide, knee-deep, and flowing 



quick-sand. Either side was fringed with a thick undergrowth, 

 abl ^PP^.*^^^h OQ our side was level; that on the enemy's was favor- 

 ^ to him. A bank, fifty feet high, ranged parallel with the river, 

 point blank cannon distance, upon which he posted his artillery. 

 ene ^^ ^^^red the thicket, we received the scattering fire of the 

 four ^"^^P shooters. At the same moment, we saw him place 



A sn^^^^^^ artillery on the hill, so as to command the passage, 

 to ^^J.l^.^^?^? cavalry just showed their heads above the hill, 



y ^^^ ^^ ^^^ battery, and the same number were seen to oc- 

 ^Py a position on the left. 



^lie ri^ battalion was ordered to deploy as skirmishers, and cross' 

 opened^l^'' ^s the line was about* the middle of the river, the enemy 

 ^fot o ^^^^^y^ ^^^ ^^^^ *h^ water fly with grape and round 

 Polled artillery was now ordered to cross — it was unlimbered, 



over by the men, and placed in counter battery on the ene- 



