330 CONQUEST OF CALIFORNIA 



Governor. Here follows a portion of the letter : — " I am 

 making myself as strong as possible, in the intention that, if 

 we are unjustly attacked, we will fight to extremity, and 

 refuse quarter, trusting to our country to avenge our death. 

 No one has reached our camp ; and from the heights we are 

 able to see troops mustering at St. John's, and preparing can- 

 non. I thank you for your kindness and good wishes, and 

 would write more at length, as to my intentions, did I not fear 

 my letter would be intercepted. We have in no-wise done 

 wrong to the people, or the authorities of the country, and if 

 We are hemmed in and assaulted here, we will die, every man 

 of us, under the flag of our country." 



Castro continued his preparations for an attack against our 

 countrymen, but he took special care not to crowd them too 

 closely. 



Not wishing, however, to be the cause of embroiling his 

 nation in difficulties, Captain Fremont determined to abandon 

 his mission, and return to the United States, rather than con- 

 tinue it against the opposition of the Mexican authorities. 

 Accordingly, on the 10th of March, he left his encampment, 

 and retired towards Oregon, followed some distance by the 

 forces commanded by the Governor, which amounted to four 

 hundred men. But the valiant General always avoided com- 

 ing to an action, and on the same day returned to Monterey, 

 bringing with him some old clothes and two or three pack- 

 saddles, all thrown away as useless, when our people struck 

 their tents. These were paraded as trophies, and the Gover- 

 nor published a placard, in which he announced, that a band 

 of highwaymen, under Captain Fremont, of the United States 

 army, had come into his department, but that he had chased 

 them out with two hundred patriots, and if they dared to show 

 themselves again about Monterey, he would march out to 



