memoirs of general william t. sherman-1-第14章
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ion was only enlisted for one year； and the time for their discharge was approaching； and it was generally understood that the majority of the men wanted to be discharged so as to join the Mormons who had halted at Salt Lake； but a lieutenant and about forty men volunteered to return to Missouri as the escort of General Kearney。 These were mounted on mules and horses； and I was appointed to conduct them to Monterey by land。 Leaving the party at Los Angeles to follow by sea in the Lexington； I started with the Mormon detachment and traveled by land。 We averaged about thirty miles a day； stopped one day at Santa Barbara； where I saw Colonel Burton； and so on by the usually traveled road to Monterey； reaching it in about fifteen days； arriving some days in advance of the Lexington。 This gave me the best kind of an opportunity for seeing the country； which was very sparsely populated indeed； except by a few families at the various Missions。 We had no wheeled vehicles； but packed our food and clothing on mules driven ahead； and we slept on the ground in the open air； the rainy season having passed。 Fremont followed me by land in a few days； and； by the end of May； General Kearney was all ready at Monterey to take his departure； leaving to succeed him in command Colonel R。 B。 Mason； First Dragoons。 Our Captain （Tompkins）； too； had become discontented at his separation from his family； tendered his resignation to General Kearney； and availed himself of a sailing…vessel bound for Callao to reach the East。 Colonel Mason selected me as his adjutant…general； and on the very last day of May General Kearney； with his Mormon escort； with Colonel Cooke； Colonel Swords （quartermaster）； Captain Turner； and a naval officer； Captain Radford； took his departure for the East overland； leaving us in full possession of California and its fate。 Fremont also left California with General Kearney； and with him departed all cause of confusion and disorder in the country。 From that time forth no one could dispute the authority of Colonel Mason as in command of all the United States forces on shore； while the senior naval officer had a like control afloat。 This was Commodore James Biddle； who had reached the station from China in the Columbus； and he in turn was succeeded by Commodore T。 Ap Catesby Jones in the line…of…battle…ship Ohio。 At that time Monterey was our headquarters； and the naval commander for a time remained there； but subsequently San Francisco Bay became the chief naval rendezvous。
Colonel R。 B。 Mason； First Dragoons； was an officer of great experience； of stern character； deemed by some harsh and severe； but in all my intercourse with him he was kind and agreeable。 He had a large fund of good sense； and； during our long period of service together； I enjoyed his unlimited confidence。 He had been in his day a splendid shot and hunter； and often entertained me with characteristic anecdotes of Taylor； Twiggs； Worth； Harvey； Martin Scott； etc。； etc； who were then in Mexico； gaining a national fame。 California had settled down to a condition of absolute repose； and we naturally repined at our fate in being so remote from the war in Mexico； where our comrades were reaping large honors。 Mason dwelt in a house not far from the Custom… House； with Captain Lanman； United States Navy； I had a small adobe…house back of Larkin's。 Halleck and Dr。 Murray had a small log…house not far off。 The company of artillery was still on the hill； under the command of Lieutenant Ord； engaged in building a fort whereon to mount the guns we had brought out in the Lexington； and also in constructing quarters out of hewn pine…logs for the men。 Lieutenant Minor； a very clever young officer； had taken violently sick and died about the time I got back from Los Angeles； leaving Lieutenants Ord and Loeser alone with the company； with Assistant…Surgeon Robert Murray。 Captain William G。 Marcy was the quartermaster and commissary。 Naglee's company of Stevenson's regiment had been mounted and was sent out against the Indians in the San Joaquin Valley； and Shannon's company occupied the barracks。 Shortly after General Kearney had gone East； we found an order of his on record； removing one Mr。 Nash； the Alcalde of Sonoma； and appointing to his place ex…Governor L。 W。 Boggs。 A letter came to Colonel and Governor Mason from Boggs； whom he had personally known in Missouri； complaining that； though he had been appointed alcalde； the then incumbent （Nash） utterly denied Kearney's right to remove him； because he had been elected by the people under the proclamation of Commodore Sloat； and refused to surrender his office or to account for his acts as alcalde。 Such a proclamation had been made by Commodore Sloat shortly after the first occupation of California； announcing that the people were free and enlightened American citizens； entitled to all the rights and privileges as such； and among them the right to elect their own officers； etc。 The people of Sonoma town and valley； some forty or fifty immigrants from the United States； and very few native Californians； had elected Mr。 Nash； and； as stated； he refused to recognize the right of a mere military commander to eject him and to appoint another to his place。 Neither General Kearney nor Mason had much respect for this land of 〃buncombe；〃 but assumed the true doctrine that California was yet a Mexican province； held by right of conquest； that the military commander was held responsible to the country； and that the province should be held in statu quo until a treaty of peace。 This letter of Boggs was therefore referred to Captain Brackett； whose company was stationed at Sonoma； with orders to notify Nash that Boggs was the rightful alcalde； that he must quietly surrender his office； with the books and records thereof； and that he must account for any moneys received from the sale of town…lots； etc。； etc。； and in the event of refusal he （Captain Brackett） must compel him by the use of force。 In due time we got Brackett's answer； saying that the little community of Sonoma was in a dangerous state of effervescence caused by his orders； that Nash was backed by most of the Americans there who had come across from Missouri with American ideas； that as he （Brackett） was a volunteer officer； likely to be soon discharged； and as he designed to settle there； he asked in consequence to be excused from the execution of this （to him） unpleasant duty。 Such a request； coming to an old soldier like Colonel Mason； aroused his wrath； and he would have proceeded rough…shod against Brackett； who； by…the…way； was a West Point graduate； and ought to have known better； but I suggested to the colonel that； the case being a test one； he had better send me up to Sonoma； and I would settle it quick enough。 He then gave me an order to go to Sonoma to carry out the instructions already given to Brackett。
I took one soldier with me； Private Barnes； with four horses； two of which we rode； and the other two we drove ahead。 The first day we reached Gilroy's and camped by a stream near three or four adobe…hots known as Gilroy's ranch。 The next day we passed Murphy's； San Jose； and Santa Clara Mission； camping some four miles beyond； where a kind of hole had been dug in the ground for water。 The whole of this distance； now so beautifully improved and settled； was then scarcely occupied； except by poor ranches producing horses and cattle。 The pueblo of San Jose was a string of low adobe…houses festooned with red peppers and garlic； and the Mission of Santa Clara was a dilapidated concern； with its church and orchard。 The long line of poplar…trees lining the road from San Jose to Santa Clara bespoke a former period when the priests had ruled the land。 Just about dark I was lying on the ground near the well； and my soldier Barnes had watered our horses and picketed them to grass； when we heard a horse crushing his way through the high mustard…bushes which filled the plain； and soon a man came to us to inquire if we had seen a saddle…horse pass up the road。 We explained to him what we had heard； and he went off in pursuit of his horse。 Before dark he came back unsuccessful； and gave his name as Bidwell； the same gentleman who has since been a
