PACIFIC AND BEERING’S STRAIT, 
363 
in the direction of the Cosemenes, bespoke the conflagration of the vil- CHAP, 
lage of the persecuted Gentiles. And on the day above mentioned, 
the veteran Sanchez made a triumphant entry into the mission of San Nov 
Jose, escorting forty miserable women and children, the gun that had 
been taken in the first battle, and other trophies of the field. This 
victory, so glorious, according to the ideas of the conqueror, was 
achieved with the loss of only one man on the part of the Christians, 
who was mortally wounded by the bursting of his own gun ; but on 
the part of the enemy it was considerable, as Sanchez the morning 
after the battle counted forty-one men, women, and children, dead. It 
is remarkable that none of the prisoners were wounded, and it is 
greatly to be feared that the Christians, who could scarcely be prevented 
from revenging the death of their relations upon those who were 
brought to the mission, glutted their brutal passion on all the wounded 
who fell into their hands. The despatch which the alferez wrote to his 
commanding officer on the occasion of this successful termination of his 
expedition will convey the best idea of what was executed, and their 
manner of conducting such an assault. 
Translation — “ Journal kept by citizen Jose Antonio Sanchez, 
ensign of cavalry of the presidio of San F rancisco, during the enterprise 
against the Gentiles called Cosemenes, for having put to death the 
neophytes of the mission of San Jos6. — Written with gunpowder on 
the field of battle ! 
“ On the morning of the 30th the troop commenced its march, and 
after stopping to dine at Las Positas, reached the river S4n Joachin 
at eleven o’clock at night, when it halted. This day’s march was per- 
formed without any accident, except that neighbour Jose Ancha was 
nearly losing his saddle. The next day the alferez determined to 
send forward the ‘auxiliary neophytes’ to construct balsas’^ for the 
troop to pass a river that was in advance of them. The troop followed, 
and all crossed in safety ; but among the last of the horses that forded 
the river was one belonging to soldier Leandro Flores, who lost his 
* These are rafts made of rushes, and are the Indian substitute for canoes. 
3 A 2 
