BY THE UNITED STATES. 337 



other march upon the City of the Angels with a detachment of 

 sailors, who now took some of the ship's cannons with them, 

 dragged by hand with ropes. At the Rancho Sepulrida, they 

 encountered the enemy, who were decoyed b} T Commodore 

 Stockton into a favorable position, and then fired upon with 

 the guns which had been concealed from their view. More than 

 a hundred were killed, one hundred and fifty wounded, a hun- 

 dred taken prisoners, and the whole force of the Californians 

 put to flight. Mounted on horses, while the sailors were on 

 foot, the enemy had, hitherto, the advantage of choosing his 

 own time, place, and distance of attack, but the means of 

 transportation were placed by this splendid victory in the 

 hands of the sailors, and as soon as they could be mounted, a 

 series of skirmishes were commenced, in which they displayed 

 the utmost courage and activity. 



Commodore Stockton found General Kearney at San Diego. 

 This meeting was opportune ; and the two commanders im- 

 mediately proceeded to fix upon a plan for bringing the war to 

 a speedy termination. On the 29th of December, their forces 

 composed of sixty dismounted dragoons, fifty California Vol- 

 unteers, and four hundred sailors and marines, started on the 

 march from San Diego to the City of the Angels. At the Rio 

 San Gabriel they found the enemy in a strong position, with 

 six hundred mounted men and four field pieces, prepared to 

 dispute the passage of the river. The battle was fought on 

 the 8th of January, 1847- The Americans waded through 

 the water under a galling fire, dragging their guns after them. 

 They reserved their own fire until they reached the opposite 

 side of the river ; here they repelled a charge of the enemy, 

 and then charged up the bank ; and after fighting about one 

 hour became masters of the field. The enemy made another 

 stand on the plains of Mera, in the hope of saving the capital ; 



