TO RINGGOLD BARRACKS. 501 
examine this work, which was but a few rods off, and 
took a sketch of the magnificent defile. Far ahead, 
we could just perceive the picturesque summit of the 
Sierra Mitra (Mitre Mountain), so named from the 
striking resemblance of one of the summits in the range 
to a bishop’s mitre. The place selected for the Mexi- 
can battery would have greatly embarrassed our army 
had it been maintained ; but after the fall of Monterey, 
it was abandoned. 
Soon after descending this hill, we reached the 
rancho of Rinconada in a curious little nook in the 
mountain resembling a horseshoe, which gives its name 
to the pass. From the number of fruit trees and cul- 
tivated grounds it had doubtless been once a thriving 
place. Every thing now seemed to be fast going to 
ruin. : 
We continued to descend the whole day ; yet, owing 
to the roughness of the road, and our three-wheeled 
wagon, we were obliged to drive with great caution, 
that we might not further disable ourselves. Our 
escort poimted out to us as we progressed another 
rancho, which was attacked by a band of Indians a 
few months before, and all the inmates murdered. 
We were unable to reach Monterey as we had 
hoped to do, and it was long after dark when we 
reached the village of Santa Catarina, at the base of 
the Sierra Mitra and about twenty miles from the Rin- 
conada, where we encamped. 
December 12th, Soon after leaving, we passed the 
Molino de Jesus Maria, a large flouring mill, and shortly 
after reached the Loma de Independencia upon which — 
stands the Bishop’s palace, so celebrated in the opera- 
